Once a Monster by Robert Dinsdale

Once A Monster by Robert Dinsdale
UK Publication: September 2023
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★★]

This ARC was provided by Pan Macmillan (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Two word review- Monstrously Good

Synopsis from Goodreads: 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 . . .

My Thoughts: Read this book during the winter months when the magic of a New Year and new chances approaches.

Dinsdale takes the legend of the Minotaur and turns it on its head, there is also a hint of beauty and the beast but without the romance angle.

This is the best kind of rags to riches story; there is heartache, heartbreak, tragedy, forgiveness and new beginnings just the kind of story to warm your heart when the nights are cold.

The writing is beautiful and from the opening line I was drawn into Nell’s world and I enjoyed every minute I spent there!

“Tonight, you get to curl up with a book and read this story. There are people out there who have to live it” Consider me hooked Robert Dinsdale!

I won’t say anymore as I fully expect you to read this for yourselves 😊

Who would like this? I would recommend this to those who enjoy retellings, those who love fairy tales and those who would just like to be somewhere else, somewhere magical for a few hours.