Michael Grant: Monster (Gone, #7) – review

Author: Michael Grant
Publish Date: 17 October 2017
Genre: Sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian
Audience: Young adult

It’s been 10 years since the Gone series started, and there is no denying that it has developed something of a cult following. With an immersive world and powerful characters, it’s easy to understand why fans and those alike have been pining for a return to the FAYZ – and Monster has come back with a bang.

Monster continues the story of the FAYZ, set four years after the chaotic events that brought down the dome. New meteorites like the one which crashed into the nuclear power station all those years ago have begun to arrive, now threatening to expose the entire world to its otherworldly effects. As a new set of superpowers begin to spread, heroes both old and new must fight back against those who are out of control.

Something which never fails to deliver in a Michael Grant novel is the insane amount of imagination which has been poured into it. In the original Gone series, most superpowers were relatively as expected (e.g. mind control, teleportation, healing powers, etc.), and yet there was always a little extra amount of detail which set them apart from the sci-fi norm. In Monster, however, Grant goes above and beyond. It is established early on that physical morphing is a large part of the powers this time around, and the amount of description which is dedicated to every character is simply immense, from the changing of the limbs to the texture of their skin. And yet astonishingly, there is still room for your own imagination to imagine these terrifying hybrids, allowing you to become fully involved in the creation of the world. As a result, every character feels unique and memorable, despite the constantly changing point-of-view which occurs with every chapter.

As ever, Grant provides quite a simple writing style. It’s almost child-like in its perceptions and observations, but it works perfectly at capturing a naive innocence amongst such a threatening and destructive world. Additionally, a basic writing style loaded with absurd and unusual descriptions is a sure-fire way to create a page-turner of a novel – and it proves, as Monster‘s plot is fast-paced and addictive. In a true successor to the Gone series, you can be assured that it’s hard to find a moment to put it down.

But what really stood out most about Monster is its ability to invoke an extreme sense of nostalgia, whilst introducing a new and exciting plot and characters. There are frequent mentions to characters from the original series, with even a full plot line focused around Dekka, and it’s welcoming to see how they have (or haven’t) moved on from past events. The introduction of new strong and determined characters is also a pleasing read, seeing how they cope on their own but also how they interact with the FAYZ veterans. Amongst this inevitable assurance of a powerful plot and characters you can root for, however, there is never any sign of an end goal, as to where the story is ultimately heading. In some circumstances this may be frustrating, but it allows Grant to completely play with your expectations, providing an undoubtedly unpredictable reading experience – and its exhilarating.

Overall, Monster is a wondrously welcome return to the world of the FAYZ. With old faces that will make you squeal with excitement, and new ones that you’ll grow to love, it holds all of the same excitement and uncertainty that is so iconic to the original series. In all honesty, a lot of your love for this book may depend on your feelings towards the origins; if you’re obsessed, you’ll adore this addition, but if you ‘just liked’ the originals, this may not be as invigorating. However, there is no denying that Michael Grant holds one of the most imaginative minds in the department of YA fiction, and Monster is a thrilling start to what should be a gripping trilogy.