Hello hello and welcome or welcome back to my little bookish corner of the internet. Today I’m sharing my review of 21% Monster, the first book in a series of the same name, perfect for adventurous souls.
I did review the second book, 21% Monster: Ice Giant, last month as part of a blog tour, and you can find that review here.
Synopsis
Fun, fast-paced, high-octane action adventure, 21% Monster is a perfect page-turning new series for fans of Alex Rider, Percy Jackson and the MCU generation.
When Darren Devlin is arrested for destroying his school with his bare hands, it’s not just the police who are after him. Enter Marek Masters, 14 years old, 19% alien, and the most intelligent, most wanted “almost human” alive. Marek is here to tell Darren the truth – he is 21% monster, and together they must take down the secret organisation that created them.
Darren and Marek are wanted, powerful and dangerous. And now it’s payback time.
Review
This ended up being my last read of 2022. I finished it curled up on New Year’s Eve under a fluffy blanket and with a cup of tea, and it was a great way to see out the year.
Darren goes through a lot at school. Picked on for being different, it’s normally his big sister Daisy who supports him through the low times. But with her being away from school for a day, things go horribly, horribly wrong, and soon Darren finds himself locked in a secure facility. He is quiet and observant, having learned the hard way that he needs to read situations quickly to protect himself.
When Marek enters the scene, things are immediately thrown into action. Marek encourages Darren to get more in touch with his ‘monster side’, seeing his abilities as skills more than something to be ashamed of, which is how he has always been told to see them. Working together, they start to see things more clearly, although it’s not the easiest of rides; they are very different people, and it takes them a while to find a routine that works for them.
They are, however, united in that they may be the only person for each other that understands how they feel. Marek is an alien, and Darren is a monster, and this unites them, especially the more they think about the other Project Helix children who didn’t get the chance they did.
It’s a hard hitting read at times, and one that unites the tropes of found family with being a ‘chosen one’ to produce a read that will grab and keep your attention long after the book has closed.
Thanks for stopping by for this review today, and be sure to check out my review of the second book as linked to above too.
And On She Reads 