Hi everyone! Welcome to Monday! Today I’m going to be reviewing the first book in Michael Grant’s new Gone trilogy: Monster.
Monster by: Michael Grant: It’s been four years since the FAYZ dome has come down. All the kids and teenagers who survived and were stuck in the dome are trying to live normal lives, but when something even deadlier than the dome show up, they no longer can have that normal life they crave. This novel was meant to be a new and exciting, and maybe a little terrifying after effects on the dome, but it just fell flat. The characters didn’t feel any different; there wasn’t much growth other than them wanting to move on from it all. The reader spent a lot of the novel wondering what the point of the novel was because it didn’t really feel necessary. Once the dome was destroyed it could have stayed the end of the story but now we’re looking into a spin off outside the dome, which feels a little like a cop out. The story wasn’t as engaging as the past novels; it was missing what made it fun and exciting. The pacing was good though, and the reader blew through most of the action and drama. The way it ended felt very unfinished as this is the first in a trilogy and only time can tell where this will all lead.
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I agree with you completely. I also felt like it could have ridden the waves of nostalgia if it had been carried more by the original characters we loved, but since it wasn’t the new characters and plot wasn’t strong enough to carry the story for me.
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It totally could of, but I just didn’t feel all that connected with these characters, and I didn’t really care for the plot. I may read the second book to see if things get better; I haven’t completely decided.
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I’m on the fence too. My only hope is that Sam will be in it more. It did make me miss my favorite original characters.
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Agreed!
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Oh great review for this book Meghan, though I’m sorry to see it was a bit of a disappointment for you. I haven’t read Michael Grant’s Gone series but I’ve seen so much about it on GR and just in and around bookstores that it strikes me as a really iconic series. I guess that makes it even more disappointing that this book wasn’t what you’d hoped it would be.
Still great review, and maybe the next book in the series will be better. I take it you still plan to read book two in this trilogy? 🙂
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Thank you Beth! 🙂 Yeah it was a bit of a flop but I think I’ll still read the next book to see where it goes, who knows it could be better!
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That’s all right! 😀 I’ll keep my fingers crossed the next book is better then. I’ve known series that have completely turned around with the second book. For better and for worse! 🙂
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Same, so I keep my fingers crossed as well! 🙂
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That’s a shame this wasn’t a better read, but I can understand your disappointments as I’m pretty sure I would have felt the same way. Great review!
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Thank you! It is, but I’m still kinda hoping the next novel will be better!
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