Title: Once a Monster

Author: Robert Dinsdale

Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Publication Date: 21st September 2023

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Rating: 5/5

Cover:

Summary:

London, 1861: Ten-year-old Nell belongs to a crew of mudlarks who work a stretch of the Thames along the Ratcliffe Highway. An orphan since her mother died four years past, leaving Nell with only broken dreams and a pair of satin slippers in her possession, she spends her days dredging up coals, copper and pieces of iron spilled by the river barges – searching for treasure in the mud in order to appease her master, Benjamin Murdstone.

But one day, Nell discovers a body on the shore. It’s not the first corpse she’s encountered, but by far the strangest. Nearly seven feet tall, the creature has matted hair covering his legs, and on his head are the suggestion of horns. Nell’s fellow mudlarks urge her to steal his boots and rifle his pockets, but as she ventures closer the figure draws breath – and Nell is forced to make a decision which will change her life forever . . .

From the critically acclaimed author of The Toymakers comes an imaginative retelling of the legend of the Minotaur, full of myth and magic and steeped in the grime of Victorian London; perfect for lovers of historical fiction with a mythical twist such as Stone Blind and Circe.

Review:

I’m a little obsessed with Greek mythology and the myth of the Minotaur is one I find especially interesting, so I was incredibly intrigued by the premise of Once a Monster, which intertwines mythology and history with sublime results. The setting is a grimy and evocative Victorian London, filled with colourful characters, both good and evil. There is definitely a Dickensian tinge to the tale, however Dinsdale has a unique and thoroughly individual style all his own. Once a Monster is gorgeously written, with a lyrical and deeply entrancing immersive quality that I absolutely loved. Through the power of language, a dark and mysterious fairytale is interwoven with a Victorian gothic atmosphere to create a brilliantly unusual take on Greek mythology.

The main characters of Nell and Minos are beautifully crafted and the relationship between them is magical and moving. I found Nell easy to root for and Minos deeply intriguing and layered with myth and magic. Once a Monster looks at the nature of monstrosity and the morality of man with an imaginative vividness that makes for a truly special read. It is something rather different in the vast pantheon of mythological retellings and I would highly recommend adding it to your TBR list!

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Huge thanks to Chloe Davies and Pan Macmillan for having me on the tour and the beautiful copy of the book. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

Buy the book:

Waterstones | Blackwell’s | Amazon