A sharp, clever few chapters that have left me excited for what the rest of this book has in store. Just from the open pages, J. M. Miro has crafted a vivid, gritty, grimdark fantasy world with high stakes and keen action. I’m interested by the characters we get to see in these pages, and I’m definitely going to get the full book

My experience towards this book can only be described as reminiscent. I got a bit of this and a bit of that, it reminded me of at least 200 other books and stories, it was a recipe made of all the things you know and like and this is exactly why many people will be excited about Ordinary Monsters. I wasn't.
It's a well balanced book, to be honest, it doesn't really have something bad or unforgivable to be hated or to dnf. However, i couldn't feel the grip to it, i couldnt feel its sould because it has so many inside of the pages. It was dark academia, then mix it with HP, Miss Peregrine, The house on the cerulean sea, XMen, Umbrella Academy, A great and terrible beauty, Every heart a doorway.... So it ended up being one of these many things in the mix.

The beginning of Ordinary Monsters does an excellent job of grabbing the readers attention and drawing them into the story with intrigue and mystery. I will definitely be picking up a copy of this book so I can finish reading the whole thing!!

Anyone who is a fan of Historical Fiction with a twist of Fantasy will love this! Equal parts dark and magical, this Gothic Fiction set in Victorian London was full of mesmerising world building and lovable characters. A winding novel full of poetic writing that I would recommend to anyone looking for a great Dark Fantasy to get lost in.

A short exclusive that I wished had been the whole book! I couldn't put it down.

Eliza is being hunted when she finds an orphaned child on the train, his dead mother next to him, but there's something strange about him- he glows blue.

And so begins the start of our journey meeting the ordinary monsters. Definitely a book I'll look into finishing.

What an introduction to this world, can’t wait to read more!

Dark historical fiction with a supernatural twist in a colourful world that is really well written.

I was offered an extract of Ordinary Monsters as an ARC by NetGalley. The extract was enough to pique my interest and would probably try the full book if I came across it.

This is an imaginative piece of historical Gothic fantasy. The worldbuilding, characters and prose came together to offer a unique and nauced story.

Awaiting for the full version to be released.

This review extract is only 2 chapters long but sets up the story nicely, with an enticing mixture of history and sci-fi. Individuals with special ‘gifts’ is always an intriguing premise and sucked me in very quickly to the different story strands.

I did dock one star because I wasn’t sure that I totally liked the writing style - it kept me at too great a distance from the characters- but that would probably have passed if I had been able to continue reading.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of an extract of this novel in exchange for an honest review..

This extract was enough to whet my appetite for the whole book. I picked this up the other day so I can finish reading it soon. I loved the X-Men meets Miss Peregrine’s vibes and have a good feeling this will end up a four or five star read for me. Loved Miro’s writing style and the atmosphere of the settings.

I was given an exclusive extract of this book to read as an arc from Netgalley. Thank you to Bloomsbury publishing for this.

With just an extract this story has me hooked. The world is dark, creepy and akin to a Tim Burton setting. I will definitely be picking up the full copy asap!

Ordinary Monsters
Author: J.M.Miro

I want to thank the author and the publisher for providing me with an ARC extract in exchange for a honest review.

My review is based on the first two chapters of this book. The opening chapters start immediately with a dark storyline vibe. A young woman is on the run to escape her master's darkness.

She then discovers Marlowe who has been left behind in a railroad. A mysterious organization is on the hunt for them. Would they survive and which adventures awaits them?

Dark opening of a long storyline with interesting characters. You would love this book if you like dark fantasy books. I definitely think that this book would end up being very popular in its genre.

A brilliant start, the characters seem very easy to relate to and the plot is being set up brilliantly. Can't wait to read the whole novel.

This was a great preview, and seriously I can not wait to read the rest. Just the preview illicited a range of emotions in me, from horror to shock, to compassion and back to anger. If reading only this small amount did that, I hate to think what a mess I'll be in once I read the rest!

Such a great short excerpt from a fantastic premise!!

I love the strength and emotion already apparent in the first few pages of this sampler. It was gritty, dark and I already love our main character. He's mysterious and there's something so eerie about him that I couldn't stop reading. The writing is beautiful- straightforward with a lyrical prose. It was so compelling and I can't wait to see more from these characters!

Thanks to NetGalley for a sampler!

Since this is an extract I do not feel I have much to say other than..

OMG I need to read this!
It was full of angst, stress, magic, weirdness and all the things I love!

I just hope it gives us time to breathe at times cause I really did have the feeling once I finished reading the extract that I needed to let out a breath I did not know I was holding...! :D

Oh my goodness, what an exciting and fascinating start to a book. This extract really grabbed my attention and made me want to read the whole book.

Ordinary Monsters by J M Miro

This review is based on receiving a free sample of chapters 1 & 2, roughly 30 pages of a 670-page book. Ordinary Monsters is a historical fantasy. Initially, we are introduced to two orphaned children with extraordinary powers. Marlow in Edinburgh of 1852, who glows with a strange bluish light. Charlie Ovid in the Mississippi in the USA discovers, he has a gift for healing. The story was intriguing, both characters captured my attention from the first page. The story certainly had a dark and gritty feel to it. By the end of chapter two, I was hooked and wanted to know what happened next. I will pick this up and continue the story.

My thanks to both NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing, all opinions are my own.

With thanks to the author, Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC extract of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A truly engrossing and engaging first two chapters in this short extract, in which Marlowe and Charlie (who I assume will be the main characters of the story) are introduced in their respective realities in London and Mississippi. We also learn a little of the two detectives assigned to bring Charles to Edinburgh, and the dynamics of their relationship. Finally, there is the vague reference to the Cairndale Institute in Scotland, and what mysteries may await at that location. Lots of different storylines introduced, and lots to look forward to in seeing how they unfold in this book that will apparently be the first in a trilogy.

I am really excited about this book coming out, I have received a physical proof of it, which I've read in 3 days. It has a really good pacing, the character are well written and you could believe the decision they're maiking, the worl building was interesting and it definitely has the same feel to it than Penny Dreadful (which I loved).