Ordinary Monsters: A Novel

by J. M. Miro

Overview

NATIONAL BESTSELLER * "Charles Dickens meets Joss Whedon in Miro’s otherworldly Netflix-binge-like novel." —The Washington Post

MOST ANTICIPATED SFF BOOK of 2022 by Tor, The Nerd Daily, BookBub, Philadelphia Inquirer, Goodreads, CrimeReads, Buzzfeed, Professional Book Nerds, and more!

BEST BOOK OF SUMMER 2022 by SheReads, Book Riot, Goodreads, Gizmodo, Daily Beast, Paste Magazine, and more!

IN THIS STUNNING HISTORICAL FANTASY, journey to the Victorian era, as children with mysterious powers are hunted by a figure of darkness in a battle of good vs. evil...

"Ordinary Monsters is a towering achievement: a dazzling mountain of wild invention, Dickensian eccentrics, supernatural horrors, and gripping suspense. Be warned... once you step into this penny dreadful to end all penny dreadfuls, you'll never want to leave." —Joe Hill, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman and Heart-Shaped Box

Charlie Ovid, despite surviving a brutal childhood in Mississippi, doesn't have a scar on him. His body heals itself, whether he wants it to or not. Marlowe, a foundling from a railway freight car, shines with a strange bluish light. He can melt or mend flesh. When Alice Quicke, a jaded detective with her own troubled past, is recruited to escort them to safety, all three begin a journey into the nature of difference and belonging, and the shadowy edges of the monstrous.

What follows is a story of wonder and betrayal, from the gaslit streets of London, and the wooden theaters of Meiji-era Tokyo, to an eerie estate outside Edinburgh where other children with gifts—like Komako, a witch-child and twister of dust, and Ribs, a girl who cloaks herself in invisibility—are forced to combat the forces that threaten their safety. There, the world of the dead and the world of the living threaten to collide. With this new found family, Komako, Marlowe, Charlie, Ribs, and the rest of the Talents discover the truth about their abilities. And as secrets within the Institute unfurl, a new question arises: What truly defines a monster?

Riveting in its scope, exquisitely written, Ordinary Monsters presents a catastrophic vision of the Victorian world—and of the gifted, broken children who must save it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250833679
Publisher:	Flatiron Books
Publication date:	07/11/2023
Series:	The Talents , #1
Pages:	672
Sales rank:	35,796
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.20(h) x 2.20(d)

About the Author

J. M. Miro is the author of Ordinary Monsters (Flatiron, 2022), the first in the Talents Trilogy. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his family. He also writes under the name Steven Price.

Editorial Reviews

Indie Next Pick for June

"Charles Dickens meets Joss Whedon in Miro’s otherworldly Netflix-binge-like novel." —The Washington Post

"This grim but poignant debut showcases a bleak Victorian England, engaging characters, and the desire to belong." —Library Journal

"A compelling, complex tale—one that sucks you into the magically grotesque underbelly that seethes throughout this alternate history of the late 19th century... The worldbuilding is also immaculate and impressive in its detail and expansiveness... I can’t wait for the next book comes out to see where the story goes from here." —Tor.com

"Miro intersperses crucial flashbacks to characters’ backstories during intense moments, creating a gleeful and maddening ride between the past and the present as each character’s arc is explored in full detail... Miro cleverly adapts beloved fantasy tropes and swirls them into Ordinary Monsters, a book about life and death, magic and monstrosities, with plenty of mysteries for readers to solve." —BookPage

"As effective a Gaslamp fantasy as I’ve read...The prose is compelling with a dreamy tendency, elaborating on details and then skipping over transitions to insist only on the most important parts. Miro likewise writes emotional and situational complexity with a light, deft touch...Engaging from start to finish, and well-written to boot." —Geekly, Inc.

"Haunting, tense, earth-shattering … A riveting mix of magic and terror." —Tamora Pierce, author of
Trickster's Choice and In the Hand of the Goddess

"Brilliant, subtle, bone-breaking. A book that creeps up on you, wearing brass knuckles." —Conn Iggulden, author of The Dangerous Book for Boys

"From the very first page, you're pulled into a world of hope and fear, dark and light, the known and the unimaginable. A world that is equal parts magic and pain. Readers should prepare themselves: there's nothing ordinary about Ordinary Monsters." —Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor and The Hunger

"Ordinary Monsters is one of my favorite books of the year—it’s full of surprises, atmospheric as hell, and moves like a runaway train. Nothing in this book is what you expect it to be and it couldn’t be more satisfying." —Kelly Braffet, author of Save Yourself and Last Seen Leaving

"J.M. Miro's Ordinary Monsters reads like a Dickensian X-Men. At once lush and refined, grounded and fantastical, it will pull you into its world in the way of the most fulfilling entertainments." —Andrew Pyper, bestselling author of The Residence and The Demonologist

"Epic, sprawling, and evocative—a sweeping and richly-imagined gaslight fantasy that takes readers on an incredible journey. Miro immerses us in the grime and grit of life, but also makes them believe that monsters and miracles are possible." —A.C. Wise, author of Hooked

"Miro’s debut has a fascinating magical system...The vivid cinematic quality of the world and its magic will appeal to classic-fantasy lovers." —Booklist

"A fast-paced novel whose action and intrigue make short work of its daunting page count..." —Kirkus

"A complex, layered, and often uncomfortably bleak tale with a length that can occasionally feel daunting, but its rich, intriguing array of characters and consistently expanding scope make Ordinary Monsters anything but." —Paste Magazine

"This sprawling historical fantasy feels like a perfect blend of Miss Peregrine, Penny Dreadful, and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell vibes." —Buzzfeed News

“A grand historical fantasy in a unique world full of complex characters, including menacing and compelling villains. Anyone who appreciates a good Victorian setting or a swashbuckling thriller will enjoy this fresh take on the genre.” —Kristine Jelstrom-Hamill, Buttonwood Books and Toys, Cohasset, MA

From the Publisher

02/28/2022

Miro debuts with a sweeping historical fantasy that takes readers on an epic, continent-spanning journey, but the intricately constructed world and engaging characters don’t quite make up for the plot’s bleakness. When teenage Eliza, fleeing her abusive employer in Victorian England, discovers an infant glowing blue in the gloom of a freight car, she adopts the baby and names him Marlowe. The tale widens its scope with each subsequent chapter, but Marlowe remains central, as good and evil forces seek to harness his inexplicable powers. The labyrinthine plot risks becoming convoluted, but Miro retains masterful control over the details throughout. Marlowe and the diverse group of companions he accumulates—including other mysteriously powered children like him—are fascinating and easy to care about, and the prose shifts nimbly from thrilling fight scenes to quiet moments of connection. The world, however, is painfully austere, largely lacking in joy or even comfort, so much so that reading can feel like a slog despite the well-maintained pace. Still, readers who can stomach the grimness will be richly rewarded. (June)

Publishers Weekly

09/01/2022

The first book in Miro's "The Talents Trilogy" series is set in 1882 and follows two children who have magical abilities. They are recruited by an institute in Scotland where other children with abilities—Talents—reside. A mysterious man made of smoke stalks the children, and the veil between the world of the living and the dead is thinning. The Talents must discover the truth about their abilities and prevent the two worlds from colliding. This historical fantasy was exhaustive, though some characters lacked depth; there were so many introduced throughout the book. The start of the novel was fun and mysterious, the end was compelling, but the middle was a slower read. Narrator Ben Onwuke's performance is enjoyable. His deep voice gave gravitas to the novel, and he was great at differentiating the multitude of character voices and accents. VERDICT Listeners looking for a sweeping fantasy series with a lot of moving parts and different timelines might enjoy this novel.—Danielle Arpin

Library Journal - Audio

05/01/2022

DEBUT In Miro's historical fantasy, set in 1880s London and Edinburgh, two children are hunted by a man made of smoke and learn to harness their mysterious powers. Sixteen-year-old Charlie Ovid was much abused in his native Mississippi, yet he is still physically unscathed because his body can heal in an instant, while eight-year-old orphan Marlowe can melt a person into a puddle of flesh. Charlie and Marlowe are recovered by a flinty female detective who sets them on a path to London and the Cairndale Institute, a haven for children with strange powers that also harbors deeper, darker secrets. As Charlie, Marlowe, and the others at the Institute discover the truth, they learn that monsters can hide in plain sight. Miro's world may be too bleak for some readers, but the action and characters' connections are lights in the dark. The plot tangles are confusing, but Miro's skillful prose will lead readers through the maze. VERDICT This grim but poignant debut showcases a bleak Victorian England, engaging characters, and the desire to belong.—Kristi Chadwick

Library Journal

Ben Onwukwe deeply engages the listening audience with this electrifying dark fantasy, which features characters with special powers who are in danger. They are being protected by a troubled female detective as they journey to a safe destination. Listeners must pay attention to the twists and turns that take them from London to the U.S. and other far-off places. The novel’s impeccable attention to detail vividly comes alive through Onwukwe’s tone and resonant timbre. He is distinct with accents and with the various personas in this fantasy. Most important, his ability to bring this story to life in an eerie, mysterious way keeps the adventure enticing. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2022 - AudioFile

Ben Onwukwe deeply engages the listening audience with this electrifying dark fantasy, which features characters with special powers who are in danger. They are being protected by a troubled female detective as they journey to a safe destination. Listeners must pay attention to the twists and turns that take them from London to the U.S. and other far-off places. The novel’s impeccable attention to detail vividly comes alive through Onwukwe’s tone and resonant timbre. He is distinct with accents and with the various personas in this fantasy. Most important, his ability to bring this story to life in an eerie, mysterious way keeps the adventure enticing. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2022 - AudioFile

2022-04-12
In Victorian London, two foundling boys with unusual talents find themselves at the center of an ancient battle between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Charlie Ovid is a 16-year-old mixed-race orphan in Reconstruction-era Mississippi who has been convicted of murdering a White man. So far, he has been executed three times for his crime, but in spite of the nightly beatings inflicted upon him ever since, Charlie remains physically unscathed, his uncanny healing power a mystery even to himself. Marlowe is another orphan, found as a baby gently glowing in a freight train at a dead woman’s breast and raised by two adopted mother figures, the timid Eliza and the muscular, tattooed Brynt. “The shining boy,” as he comes to be called, is raised in the slums of London and then as part of a sideshow act in a traveling circus crisscrossing the American heartlands. His origins, his powers, and his fate are as much mysteries to him as Charlie’s cycle of suffering and healing, until they're each visited by Frank Coulton and Alice Quicke, a detective duo employed to find remarkable children like Charlie and Marlowe and bring them back to the mysterious Cairndale Institute in the far north of Scotland, where they will be protected and trained in the uses of their powers. Cairndale, a labyrinthine manor house on the shores of a dark, fathomless loch, turns out to be as full of secrets as the children themselves, and Charlie and Marlowe—along with a Japanese dustworker named Komako; Ribs, the invisible girl; and shy Oskar and the flesh giant Lymenion who sleeps under his bed—must unravel the true motives of their inscrutable guardian, Dr. Henry Berghast, before Jacob Marber, a figure of tremendous power who used to be an unusual child just like them, can tear apart the seal between the worlds of the living and the dead. A fast-paced novel whose action and intrigue make short work of its daunting page count, this tome is clearly set up to be Book 1 of a larger series. However, while the world is intricate and the characters finely drawn, there is such a sheer volume of people, plotlines, backstories, and lore being introduced that the autonomy of the novel itself suffers.

Epic in scope and size, this book sets itself up for many sequels to come.

Kirkus Reviews