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Between Monsters and Marvels
In the next standalone high-stakes middle-grade fantasy by Alysa Wishingrad, the author of the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection The Verdigris Pawn, a misunderstood young girl named Dare is shipped to the mainland from her tiny island and uncovers startling secrets behind her father’s death, the island itself, and the monsters that lend its lore.
Monsters are still lurking on Barrow’s Bay.
Dare Coates is sure of it. No drifter or ruffian could have killed her father, the Captain of the Guard, while he was on patrol. But everyone insists that monsters have been gone for years now. Dare’s mother. Her classmates. Even the governor, who swiftly marries her mother just months after her father’s death.
Dare’s suspicions grow even stronger when the governor suddenly ships her off to the mainland, away from any hope of uncovering the truth about her father’s death.
Or so she thinks. But when Dare finds solid proof that monsters still exist, she starts to question everything she’s always known. Was her father who she thought he was? Who can she trust? Where is the line between good and evil?
The truth hides behind danger and deception.
But with the help of an unlikely crew of cohorts and a stray beastie, nothing can stop Dare from finding out what happened to her father and exposing who the real monsters are.
Monsters are still lurking on Barrow’s Bay.
Dare Coates is sure of it. No drifter or ruffian could have killed her father, the Captain of the Guard, while he was on patrol. But everyone insists that monsters have been gone for years now. Dare’s mother. Her classmates. Even the governor, who swiftly marries her mother just months after her father’s death.
Dare’s suspicions grow even stronger when the governor suddenly ships her off to the mainland, away from any hope of uncovering the truth about her father’s death.
Or so she thinks. But when Dare finds solid proof that monsters still exist, she starts to question everything she’s always known. Was her father who she thought he was? Who can she trust? Where is the line between good and evil?
The truth hides behind danger and deception.
But with the help of an unlikely crew of cohorts and a stray beastie, nothing can stop Dare from finding out what happened to her father and exposing who the real monsters are.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2023
3 people are currently reading
2710 people want to read
About the author
Alysa Wishingrad
2 books122 followersAlysa Wishingrad writes fantastical stories for young readers, tales that ask; is the truth really true? Her favorite stories are those that meld the historical with the fantastic, and that find ways to shine a light on both the things that divide and unite us all.
She is the author of Between Monsters and Marvels and The Verdigris Pawn, which was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Alysa lives in the Hudson Valley with her family and two demanding rescue dogs, who are either monsters or marvels, depending on the day.
You can find her at www.alysawishingrad.com
Twitter at @awishingrad
Instagram at @alysawishingradwrites.
She is the author of Between Monsters and Marvels and The Verdigris Pawn, which was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Alysa lives in the Hudson Valley with her family and two demanding rescue dogs, who are either monsters or marvels, depending on the day.
You can find her at www.alysawishingrad.com
Twitter at @awishingrad
Instagram at @alysawishingradwrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
September 12, 2023
Alysa Wishingrad's latest #mglit is a treasure. It's a story of so much: of how destructive "history" can be when people cling too close to legends over truth, of how easy (and horrific) it is to take advantage of our natural resources (and the creatures that live within), and how governmental corruption can lead to massive inequities in society.
Even with those big themes rumbling in the background, the story zips along. It draws upon some of the best-loved elements of middle grade fiction—a Dickensian city, complete with exhausted industrial workers; theater, including a theater of mysteries where all is not what it seems; adventure on the high seas, with a journey to the crow's nest; and the challenges when your parent marries someone truly evil—and includes a very modern concept: inventive monsters that are simply part of the natural environment, gentle until harassed (and then they turn deadly). These are a delight of the story. The monsters (or marvels, depending on the character's perspective) are beautiful and terrifying, a whirl of furs, feathers, beaks, claws, or shells. And we see them in action.
One other element this novel handles beautifully is its protagonist. Dare Coates is a character we all need in our lives. She's utterly fearless, unafraid to be different (she uses the sharp edges of her personality as strengths, not points to be softened), and is stalwart in her sense of right and wrong. Through this twisty, engaging narrative, she discovers that truth is not so easy to find. When she begins to see the world for what it really is, she grows, and does so beautifully, without losing any of what made her special at the start. I loved reading this new kind of tough female protagonist. She's a worthy addition to the pantheon of this genre.
This is a highly original tale steeped in classic elements, a pitch-perfect fantasy, a book to savor, and a read that's sure to be a classroom favorite.
Even with those big themes rumbling in the background, the story zips along. It draws upon some of the best-loved elements of middle grade fiction—a Dickensian city, complete with exhausted industrial workers; theater, including a theater of mysteries where all is not what it seems; adventure on the high seas, with a journey to the crow's nest; and the challenges when your parent marries someone truly evil—and includes a very modern concept: inventive monsters that are simply part of the natural environment, gentle until harassed (and then they turn deadly). These are a delight of the story. The monsters (or marvels, depending on the character's perspective) are beautiful and terrifying, a whirl of furs, feathers, beaks, claws, or shells. And we see them in action.
One other element this novel handles beautifully is its protagonist. Dare Coates is a character we all need in our lives. She's utterly fearless, unafraid to be different (she uses the sharp edges of her personality as strengths, not points to be softened), and is stalwart in her sense of right and wrong. Through this twisty, engaging narrative, she discovers that truth is not so easy to find. When she begins to see the world for what it really is, she grows, and does so beautifully, without losing any of what made her special at the start. I loved reading this new kind of tough female protagonist. She's a worthy addition to the pantheon of this genre.
This is a highly original tale steeped in classic elements, a pitch-perfect fantasy, a book to savor, and a read that's sure to be a classroom favorite.
April 18, 2023
I was fortunate to read an early edition of this forthcoming title by Alysa Wishingrad. I loved THE VERDIGRIS PAWN, but have to admit that I think I love this story even more. The main character, Dare, had heard all her life that she's an awful girl, and she believes it. But that theory is really put to the test when she's sent from her home on an isolated island to live with a distant relation on the mainland. There, Dare learns that the stories she's always heard about monsters being extinct might not actually be true...and that there might be things more monstrous in the world than monsters themselves.
Magic, mystery, dark creepy things, and adventure, all in one fabulous story. Librarians take note: Your readers will be clamoring for this one when it hits shelves!
Magic, mystery, dark creepy things, and adventure, all in one fabulous story. Librarians take note: Your readers will be clamoring for this one when it hits shelves!
June 2, 2023
With fully-imagined, heart-drawn characters, transportive world building, and a captivating plot full of mischief and monsters—and much deeper truths—Between Monsters and Marvels is a must read, must own, must share book!
July 6, 2024
Between Monsters and Marvels is a fantastic read! It has mystery, adventure, magic, monsters and more! I really enjoyed this book! The characters are complex and you can help but like them! The descriptions of the monsters and the settings are done so well that you can clearly picture every single one and place! The young readers are going to love this and will be asking for more!
January 2, 2024
This was an enjoyable and heartfelt middle grade. The Characters, world building, plot were all imaginative, transportive, and lovable. I think the author did a great job of weaving together a story about mischief and monsters but also including messages with deeper meanings, such as taking for granted things we rely on.
June 10, 2023
When you sob in the last chapter >>>
Another instant favorite by Wishingrad. I absolutely adored Dare, Gil, Nell, Beastie, and all the twists throughout. Highly recommend for upper elem/ms libraries.
Another instant favorite by Wishingrad. I absolutely adored Dare, Gil, Nell, Beastie, and all the twists throughout. Highly recommend for upper elem/ms libraries.
October 13, 2023
This was a thrilling and wonderful read. It echoed 19th century industrial period so well! I loved the themes of truth and who the monsters are. Loved it. On a short list for my school book club next year for sure.
September 9, 2023
Young Dare Coates has a monster-hunting father, and she's her father's daughter to to the core, born with his knack for truth-seeking and willingness to be disagreeable. So, when he dies under mysterious circumstances and her mother is quickly remarried to a powerful man on their island home, she knows something is not right. But she couldn't possibly imagine the scope of what's going on, at least until she is shipped off to the mainland, away from her mother, where she uncovers so many layers of falsehoods and misperceptions that she doesn't know who to trust. Are pirates and monsters always bad? Are people with secrets always untrustworthy?
Alyssa Wishingrad has an amazing ability to create worlds that are on the edge of familiar, but open up to reveal so much more. Her fantasy writing weaves in real issues that are going on in the world, while also keeping them grounded in the universal challenges young teens and tweens face around trying to discover who they are and what they're willing to fight for.
Dare is a fierce, nuanced heroine and the rest of the characters are drawn in vivid colors and temperaments that will have the reader cheering the successes and gasping at the MANY twists.
Alyssa Wishingrad has an amazing ability to create worlds that are on the edge of familiar, but open up to reveal so much more. Her fantasy writing weaves in real issues that are going on in the world, while also keeping them grounded in the universal challenges young teens and tweens face around trying to discover who they are and what they're willing to fight for.
Dare is a fierce, nuanced heroine and the rest of the characters are drawn in vivid colors and temperaments that will have the reader cheering the successes and gasping at the MANY twists.
July 2, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed Alysa Wishingrad’s first book, Verdigris Pawn, but the creativity of Between Monsters and Marvels is far better and the twists and turns kept me on my toes until right up to end. Middle grade readers, ages 10-13, who enjoy fantasy will be immediately intrigued by the thought of a world with monsters and those who protect others from their beaks, camouflage abilities, whiplike tails and other, less lethal qualities. Main character and spitfire Dare loses her beloved father early on and her life spirals downhill after the tragedy, friends may be foes, her mother remarries and sends her off to live with an elderly aunt but it is with her that mysteries of the monsters (or are they really marvels?) may be solved. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and while there is some violence, it is not overdone or particularly bloody.
Thanks for providing an electronic arc, NetGalley.
Thanks for providing an electronic arc, NetGalley.
April 23, 2023
An utterly absorbing read!
Dare's journey takes readers from the bright sunlight to the darkest shadows and back again in a fast-paced, twisting adventure. The characters are so fully imagined that they feel like people I know, and the fantastical creatures and settings were an effortless joy to imagine.
For fans of The Midnight Children and The Last Mapmaker.
Dare's journey takes readers from the bright sunlight to the darkest shadows and back again in a fast-paced, twisting adventure. The characters are so fully imagined that they feel like people I know, and the fantastical creatures and settings were an effortless joy to imagine.
For fans of The Midnight Children and The Last Mapmaker.
June 26, 2023
Opening Line: Dare Coates was an awful girl."
Everyone in Barrow's Bay has always said that she's an awful girl. She's even being setup to be the monster for Founders Day, when she'd rather be playing Louise, even though Louise doesn't get saved in time. Dare is perfectly happy not being considered as one of the "good" people. Her dad is the Captain of the Guard, chief monster hunter. Although everyone says that the monsters are all gone, killed off. Yet, Dare senses it's not true. Especially, when her father is killed while on patrol and the governor tries to pass off his death as an encounter with a thief. He even gets her mom to marry him and now she's being shipped off to a great aunt on the mainland. How is she to uncover the truth now?
Once at her aunt's, Dare is shocked to learn of the difficulties that her aunt's theater is having, and she then becomes immersed in a local Palace of Wonders whose owner knew her father. The city is very different from her previous life on the island. It's corrupt, loud, crowded and both dirty and cold. The primary means of income are its factories which don't pay a fair wage and are ruining the air quality in the city. It's here she meets Nell, a young girl performer her age and Gil, a mysterious boy who comes and goes helping Dare on her search for answers. The story has lots of twists and turns as Dare navigates the city. She's also faced with many troubling truths. And more questions, like did her father infiltrate Tupper's gang (a sailor she met from her voyage across to the mainland), and for what purpose? Meanwhile, monsters continue to haunt Dare's dreams and theirs a lingering stench in the city that she can't explain. When Dare goes to a Millinery shop, she's awakened to the question whether the creatures she's seen are monsters or marvels.
Dare is considered an awful girl, but she's very proud of that distinction. She's clever, decisive, willful, and maybe a little judgmental but she loved her father with all her heart. His death has left a huge hole. When she comes to learn that the story's she's been told don't match the facts around her, she's left questioning her father, Tupper and even Gil and Nell. When they try to be nice to her, she can't figure out why? I enjoyed the message of the story, to question things and seek out your own answer's. To not except things at face value and just because something is told over and over it doesn't make it true. This a lovely story with its themes about social inequality, labor exploitation, environmental degradation and commentary on endangered species.
Everyone in Barrow's Bay has always said that she's an awful girl. She's even being setup to be the monster for Founders Day, when she'd rather be playing Louise, even though Louise doesn't get saved in time. Dare is perfectly happy not being considered as one of the "good" people. Her dad is the Captain of the Guard, chief monster hunter. Although everyone says that the monsters are all gone, killed off. Yet, Dare senses it's not true. Especially, when her father is killed while on patrol and the governor tries to pass off his death as an encounter with a thief. He even gets her mom to marry him and now she's being shipped off to a great aunt on the mainland. How is she to uncover the truth now?
Once at her aunt's, Dare is shocked to learn of the difficulties that her aunt's theater is having, and she then becomes immersed in a local Palace of Wonders whose owner knew her father. The city is very different from her previous life on the island. It's corrupt, loud, crowded and both dirty and cold. The primary means of income are its factories which don't pay a fair wage and are ruining the air quality in the city. It's here she meets Nell, a young girl performer her age and Gil, a mysterious boy who comes and goes helping Dare on her search for answers. The story has lots of twists and turns as Dare navigates the city. She's also faced with many troubling truths. And more questions, like did her father infiltrate Tupper's gang (a sailor she met from her voyage across to the mainland), and for what purpose? Meanwhile, monsters continue to haunt Dare's dreams and theirs a lingering stench in the city that she can't explain. When Dare goes to a Millinery shop, she's awakened to the question whether the creatures she's seen are monsters or marvels.
Dare is considered an awful girl, but she's very proud of that distinction. She's clever, decisive, willful, and maybe a little judgmental but she loved her father with all her heart. His death has left a huge hole. When she comes to learn that the story's she's been told don't match the facts around her, she's left questioning her father, Tupper and even Gil and Nell. When they try to be nice to her, she can't figure out why? I enjoyed the message of the story, to question things and seek out your own answer's. To not except things at face value and just because something is told over and over it doesn't make it true. This a lovely story with its themes about social inequality, labor exploitation, environmental degradation and commentary on endangered species.
September 18, 2023
A unique middle grade fantasy with a big dose of mystery! When Dare's father is killed, everyone says it's a random stranger, but she doesn't believe it. She's sure that a monster killed him, even though monsters were supposedly eliminated completely. Dare is sent away from home, but she doesn't stop searching for answers. Dare is one of those characters who you can't help but love. She's super scrappy and won't take no for an answer. She's smart, but not so smart that she always knows exactly what next steps to take. That leaves room for the reader to be unsure as well, which leads to some fun twists. Plus, the monsters in the story are just really cool!! I highly recommend this book to MG fantasy readers (or even mystery or historical readers who are willing to branch out a little)!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
September 14, 2023
Alysa Wishingrad writes the kind of beautiful, whimsical, adventurous, comforting, daring books I wished I had as a kid. I’m so glad i have them now.
Between Monsters and Marvels is an absolute legend of a book. I loved the twists and turns, the steadfast friendships, and most of all, lovely, persnickety Dare, whose quips had me laughing quite frequently. 1000% recommend.
Between Monsters and Marvels is an absolute legend of a book. I loved the twists and turns, the steadfast friendships, and most of all, lovely, persnickety Dare, whose quips had me laughing quite frequently. 1000% recommend.
May 14, 2023
Between Monsters and Marvels by Alysa Wishingrad
Five Star Read!
Release day is 9/12/23.
I have to tell you about this high-stakes middle grade fantasy novel that I just read. It’s called Between Monsters and Marvels and was written by Alysa Wishingrad.
To say that Dare Coates has a difficult life is somewhat of an understatement. I mean, it started out okay for her, who doesn’t want to live on an island that monsters used to inhabit? It gives mystery to the place you love most… home. Dare’s father, who is captain of the guard starts acting funny, and not really giving her the attention that he normally does, but on day while out on patrol, he ends up dead. Dare is crushed, as he was her favorite person in the whole world. Dares suspicions grow that monsters could still be on the island.
Which just starts this mystery.
It is a wonderful read for anyone, full of mystery and suspense, and yes… monsters!
I didn’t guess the end either which is a wonderful treat for me as a reader! Well done, Alysa!
Be sure to pick up this book when it comes out on September 12th!
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Children’s Books, and Alysa Wishingrad for this ARC copy.
The books description has been copied below. I really can't wait until you guys can get a hold of your own copies! I know I'll be buying one for myself and my nieces, too. set reminders in your phones to grab one when they come out in September!
Books Description:
A standalone high-stakes middle grade fantasy by Alysa Wishingrad, author of the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection The Verdigris Pawn. Monsters are still lurking on Barrow's Bay.
Dare Coates is sure of it. No drifter or ruffian could have killed her father, the Captain of the Guard, while he was on patrol. But everyone insists that monsters have been gone for years now. Dare's mother. Her classmates. Even the governor, who swiftly marries her mother just months after her father's death.
Dare's suspicions grow even stronger when the governor suddenly ships her off to the mainland, away from any hope of uncovering the truth about her father's death.
Or so she thinks. Soon Dare finds solid proof that monsters still exist and she starts to question everything she's always known. Was her father who she thought he was? Who can she trust? Where is the line between good and evil?
The truth hides behind danger and deception. But with the help of an unlikely crew of cohorts and a stray beastie, nothing can stop Dare from finding out what happened to her father and exposing who the real monsters are.
Perfect for fans of Ellen Oh's Spirit Hunters
and
Lauren Oliver's The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street.
Have a great day guys! And remember... Inspire Readers, Inspire Writers, Inspire Each Other!
Five Star Read!
Release day is 9/12/23.
I have to tell you about this high-stakes middle grade fantasy novel that I just read. It’s called Between Monsters and Marvels and was written by Alysa Wishingrad.
To say that Dare Coates has a difficult life is somewhat of an understatement. I mean, it started out okay for her, who doesn’t want to live on an island that monsters used to inhabit? It gives mystery to the place you love most… home. Dare’s father, who is captain of the guard starts acting funny, and not really giving her the attention that he normally does, but on day while out on patrol, he ends up dead. Dare is crushed, as he was her favorite person in the whole world. Dares suspicions grow that monsters could still be on the island.
Which just starts this mystery.
It is a wonderful read for anyone, full of mystery and suspense, and yes… monsters!
I didn’t guess the end either which is a wonderful treat for me as a reader! Well done, Alysa!
Be sure to pick up this book when it comes out on September 12th!
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Children’s Books, and Alysa Wishingrad for this ARC copy.
The books description has been copied below. I really can't wait until you guys can get a hold of your own copies! I know I'll be buying one for myself and my nieces, too. set reminders in your phones to grab one when they come out in September!
Books Description:
A standalone high-stakes middle grade fantasy by Alysa Wishingrad, author of the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection The Verdigris Pawn. Monsters are still lurking on Barrow's Bay.
Dare Coates is sure of it. No drifter or ruffian could have killed her father, the Captain of the Guard, while he was on patrol. But everyone insists that monsters have been gone for years now. Dare's mother. Her classmates. Even the governor, who swiftly marries her mother just months after her father's death.
Dare's suspicions grow even stronger when the governor suddenly ships her off to the mainland, away from any hope of uncovering the truth about her father's death.
Or so she thinks. Soon Dare finds solid proof that monsters still exist and she starts to question everything she's always known. Was her father who she thought he was? Who can she trust? Where is the line between good and evil?
The truth hides behind danger and deception. But with the help of an unlikely crew of cohorts and a stray beastie, nothing can stop Dare from finding out what happened to her father and exposing who the real monsters are.
Perfect for fans of Ellen Oh's Spirit Hunters
and
Lauren Oliver's The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street.
Have a great day guys! And remember... Inspire Readers, Inspire Writers, Inspire Each Other!
May 7, 2023
As a fan of Alysa’s “The Verdigris Pawn”, her new middle grade book BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS was one I had been eagerly awaiting. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
When I read MG books, I always think back to my own days as a kid, often reading under the covers past bedtime with a flashlight. BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS is most definitely a book kid-Barb would have not been able to put down.
Dare Coates is an awful girl. She’s been told that her whole life and she believes it. But Dare is so much more than what she, and everyone else thinks she is. Dare is wise and inquisitive and utterly fearless. One of my favorite quotes about Dare is:
“She was happy to be a thornbush among the lilies for even the sharpest thorns serve a purpose.”
After tragedy strikes and Dare is sent away from her isolated island home to live with a distant relative in a gritty city on the mainland, Dare discovers the stories she’s been told all her life about monsters may not be precisely true.
Beyond Dare’s quest to uncover the truth about the monsters, giving the reader ample pages of action, mystery, magic, and creepy moments, this book also tackles deeper themes including grief, societal inequalities, and corruption. I think it’s important for young readers to delve into stories that show a MG protagonist questioning the actual truth of what has been considered “known” history.
One of my absolute favorite things about Alysa Wishingrad’s writing is her ability to completely command my attention with details that immerse me into the story and make me not want to leave. Her vivid descriptions of the island, Dare’s time on the ship, the city, and especially the theater centered me into Dare’s world. I also love that Dare finds friendship in unexpected places and how she learns that maybe she doesn’t have to always go it alone. That’s an important message for any age of reader.
I highly recommend BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS for middle grade readers, teens, and adults because there is something there for every age. It’s a beautifully written book and I’d love to read a sequel because I wasn’t ready to leave Dare and her world when I hit the last page.
When I read MG books, I always think back to my own days as a kid, often reading under the covers past bedtime with a flashlight. BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS is most definitely a book kid-Barb would have not been able to put down.
Dare Coates is an awful girl. She’s been told that her whole life and she believes it. But Dare is so much more than what she, and everyone else thinks she is. Dare is wise and inquisitive and utterly fearless. One of my favorite quotes about Dare is:
“She was happy to be a thornbush among the lilies for even the sharpest thorns serve a purpose.”
After tragedy strikes and Dare is sent away from her isolated island home to live with a distant relative in a gritty city on the mainland, Dare discovers the stories she’s been told all her life about monsters may not be precisely true.
Beyond Dare’s quest to uncover the truth about the monsters, giving the reader ample pages of action, mystery, magic, and creepy moments, this book also tackles deeper themes including grief, societal inequalities, and corruption. I think it’s important for young readers to delve into stories that show a MG protagonist questioning the actual truth of what has been considered “known” history.
One of my absolute favorite things about Alysa Wishingrad’s writing is her ability to completely command my attention with details that immerse me into the story and make me not want to leave. Her vivid descriptions of the island, Dare’s time on the ship, the city, and especially the theater centered me into Dare’s world. I also love that Dare finds friendship in unexpected places and how she learns that maybe she doesn’t have to always go it alone. That’s an important message for any age of reader.
I highly recommend BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS for middle grade readers, teens, and adults because there is something there for every age. It’s a beautifully written book and I’d love to read a sequel because I wasn’t ready to leave Dare and her world when I hit the last page.
April 24, 2023
Sometimes the best protagonists are humankind themselves. The evil that men do can be worse than the most horrible monsters.
This books starts out slowly, as we learn that Dare loves her father, and her life on the island where the last monsters were killed hundreds of years ago, a fact that is still celebrated with festivities. Then, her father is killed, by a monster, or a man, we are never quite sure. Dare is sure it is a monster, but she is told it was a man.
Then she is shipped off to the mainland, to get her out of the way, or so we are lead to believe.
There is a lot of hints, here and there, that something else is going on. Even the plays about the great monster killing, the stories all children are told in school, seems to be a lie. Or a series of lies.
It is an interesting world building, because we keep getting pulled this way and that with what the monsters are. Are they monsters or are they marvels? And why do the evil men seek them.
And who is the mysterious boy that helps Dare? We get hints, along the way that he is more than he seems.
An excellent book, that kept me, in the last half, on the edge of my seat, so to speak. You just have to get through the first few chapters to realize there is so much more.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This is coming out the 12th of September 2023.
This books starts out slowly, as we learn that Dare loves her father, and her life on the island where the last monsters were killed hundreds of years ago, a fact that is still celebrated with festivities. Then, her father is killed, by a monster, or a man, we are never quite sure. Dare is sure it is a monster, but she is told it was a man.
Then she is shipped off to the mainland, to get her out of the way, or so we are lead to believe.
There is a lot of hints, here and there, that something else is going on. Even the plays about the great monster killing, the stories all children are told in school, seems to be a lie. Or a series of lies.
It is an interesting world building, because we keep getting pulled this way and that with what the monsters are. Are they monsters or are they marvels? And why do the evil men seek them.
And who is the mysterious boy that helps Dare? We get hints, along the way that he is more than he seems.
An excellent book, that kept me, in the last half, on the edge of my seat, so to speak. You just have to get through the first few chapters to realize there is so much more.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This is coming out the 12th of September 2023.
April 20, 2023
Fantastic. This is one of the most atmospheric books that I've read in a long time. I got a full sense of the squalor and decay that is prevalent in every home, every business, and every street of the region—from the decaying wallpaper, to the dust and soot, to the threadbare clothes. Great worldbuilding.
A very good mystery/action/thriller-type plot, filled with great life lessons. Wishingrad reminds readers to question everything—to not blindly take information as truth, to question authority, even to question your own senses. Research, learn, think for yourself.
Beautiful story, beautiful morals, beautiful learning moments.
A very good mystery/action/thriller-type plot, filled with great life lessons. Wishingrad reminds readers to question everything—to not blindly take information as truth, to question authority, even to question your own senses. Research, learn, think for yourself.
Beautiful story, beautiful morals, beautiful learning moments.
September 27, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
4.5/5 STARS
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Synopsis:
Dare lives in a town riddled with dangerous monsters. When her father is killed by one, she is sent away by her new stepfather. She then discovers that the monsters she knew may actually be non dangerous marvels.
This was a very creative fantasy story! The first half of the book I was not sure where it was going but then it sucks you in and you will fall in love with the characters. The concept that not all monsters are bad stays with you through the book and you don’t know who to trust. It has adventure and a lot of mystery. There is even a sweet surprise at the end I really liked.
Thank you to Harper Kids for the ARC! 👹
4.5/5 STARS
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Synopsis:
Dare lives in a town riddled with dangerous monsters. When her father is killed by one, she is sent away by her new stepfather. She then discovers that the monsters she knew may actually be non dangerous marvels.
This was a very creative fantasy story! The first half of the book I was not sure where it was going but then it sucks you in and you will fall in love with the characters. The concept that not all monsters are bad stays with you through the book and you don’t know who to trust. It has adventure and a lot of mystery. There is even a sweet surprise at the end I really liked.
Thank you to Harper Kids for the ARC! 👹
April 26, 2023
Get ready to be whisked away into the world of Dare, her father, and the monsters/marvels! From the first page, Dare brings you into her complicated world, navigating people who do not understand the important role her father plays to people who want to create illusions about what is right and what is wrong. Delightful fantasy with a few twists that will keep older elementary and middle schoolers engaged in finding out what happens next!
May 4, 2023
Wishingrad does it again, creating a unique fantasy world with fabulous creatures! Are they monsters or marvels or both! As young Dare learns more and more about the world around her, history and her family, she has to decide what is good or evil? Who is friend or foe? And how can she use her own knowledge and powers to help others? You won't want to put this one down!
May 29, 2023
What, exactly, is the difference between a marvel and a monster? Should we always believe the stories we are told? This book, like Wishingrad's first, made me think. Thank you for sharing an early copy with #bookposse!
March 27, 2024
A rich fantasy setting akin to a magical Victorian London. . . starkly divided by class, rife with crime, the filth of industrialization, and - whether people want to admit it or not - monsters. [Booklist]
August 15, 2023
Just a masterclass in storytelling, characterisation and voice! I loved every second of this book. Alysa has smashed it with another absolutely fantastic book.
May 7, 2023
BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS is truly a wonder!
In this delightful middle grade fantasy, author Alysa Wishingrad uses imagery and language to bring her story to life in ways that made me feel immersed in a painting or mesmerized by a movie. The colorful and charming word choice is almost a character of its own, but nothing steals the show from Dare Coates, the sometimes-angry, sometimes-sparkly, always-impressive protagonist. While speaking to themes of social inequality, labor exploitation and the plight of endangered species, Wishingrad's novel never loses the plot to the writing or the messages, instead they all lift each other up to make a unique and thrilling read. Teachers will find ample material to share with students throughout this exciting read. I adored this story and am sure kids will, too.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author and publisher for an early copy.
In this delightful middle grade fantasy, author Alysa Wishingrad uses imagery and language to bring her story to life in ways that made me feel immersed in a painting or mesmerized by a movie. The colorful and charming word choice is almost a character of its own, but nothing steals the show from Dare Coates, the sometimes-angry, sometimes-sparkly, always-impressive protagonist. While speaking to themes of social inequality, labor exploitation and the plight of endangered species, Wishingrad's novel never loses the plot to the writing or the messages, instead they all lift each other up to make a unique and thrilling read. Teachers will find ample material to share with students throughout this exciting read. I adored this story and am sure kids will, too.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author and publisher for an early copy.
January 18, 2024
I loved this middle grade title—even if it was predictable, I think that’s what made it rather wonderful.
July 9, 2023
I adored this fantastical tale of Dare, a girl whose drive and determination match her name. She struggles to uncover the truth of her beloved father’s life and death, the allegedly long gone monsters, the definitely present marvels and the frustrating, gray and dangerous nuance in between.
Like her debut, The Verdigris Pawn, Wishingrad again takes us through a journey of friendship and trust, class and power, and the stakes of life or death. Layered action will keep readers turning the pages as Dare navigates the world in between, while remaining true to herself.
Like her debut, The Verdigris Pawn, Wishingrad again takes us through a journey of friendship and trust, class and power, and the stakes of life or death. Layered action will keep readers turning the pages as Dare navigates the world in between, while remaining true to herself.
April 7, 2023
This book captured my attention from the very start! I loved Dare, the spunky protagonist who was tough and didn’t put up with anybody’s crap. She loved her father with a fierceness like no other and when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges after his untimely death, she discovered that those supposedly unseemly qualities turned out to be some of her best assets!
This book also has a deeper meaning underneath the storyline. It it makes the reader think about the stories from history we’ve always been told that we grew up believing but might not be as real or true as we have been led to believe.
I will definitely be adding this title to my middle school collection when it comes out! And I really truly hope we see more of Dare in future books.
This book also has a deeper meaning underneath the storyline. It it makes the reader think about the stories from history we’ve always been told that we grew up believing but might not be as real or true as we have been led to believe.
I will definitely be adding this title to my middle school collection when it comes out! And I really truly hope we see more of Dare in future books.
September 1, 2023
“Look for the people who know what they don’t know. Who ask questions, who know everything is gray and ever-changeable.”
In this MG fantasy a girl name Dare is shipped to the mainland from her tiny island and uncovers startling secrets behind her father’s death, the island and the monsters lurking on the bay. When Dare finds proof that monsters still exist, she begins to question everything she’s ever known. Was her father who she thought he was? Who can she trust and where is the line between good and evil.
I enjoyed the many twists and turns this book took. I think it will be a favorite among middle grade readers.
“We have to stop looking for what we know and begin questioning everything we don’t.”
In this MG fantasy a girl name Dare is shipped to the mainland from her tiny island and uncovers startling secrets behind her father’s death, the island and the monsters lurking on the bay. When Dare finds proof that monsters still exist, she begins to question everything she’s ever known. Was her father who she thought he was? Who can she trust and where is the line between good and evil.
I enjoyed the many twists and turns this book took. I think it will be a favorite among middle grade readers.
“We have to stop looking for what we know and begin questioning everything we don’t.”
February 4, 2024
Alysa Wishingrad’s new standalone middle-grade fantasy Between Monsters and Marvels is a memorable and whimsical tale that is reminiscent of a cross between Netflix’s Wednesday and How to Train Your Dragon. The premise of this book is super cool, and I love the cover. Monsters are thought to have been eradicated, and Dare and her monster hunter father are seemingly the only ones who believe otherwise. After her father’s death, Dare is thrust into a new environment where she must learn more about her heritage and the truth of how he died.
Dare is a super cool main character. She reminds me of a lovable, slightly thorny and cantankerous old lady. Her whole life, she’s been told she’s been different but she takes that and uses it as a strength instead of something to be ashamed of. There are some surprises that come to light later in the book about her heritage and gifts, and I really appreciated how that played into the overall storyline. Her friends Nell and Gil round out the story well, and even though reading the synopsis does spoil some of the events of the book a bit it kept my attention throughout the story. The mystery aspect of figuring out what happened to Dare’s father was a fun touch. Early on in the book, I did think all of the adults were villains or kind of useless in general but my opinion changed by the end of things.
The world building is interesting. It reminds me a bit of a Victorian setting, but there are elements of the setting that come across as more familiar. It was fun getting to learn about the different monsters (The Garbinol and the Occisor were super cool in my opinion), though I do wish there would have been some sort of bestiary pages I could refer back to as it was hard to keep track of all of their different characteristics as I was reading.
The book is very whimsical and fun, befitting a middle-grade level novel, but it doesn’t shy away from some of the tougher themes. While there are literal ‘monsters’ in this book, the author also explores the idea of what makes a monster a monster. In particular, some of the monstrous things that humans can do (for the right price, or just out of sheer desperation) are highlighted within the story. There’s also an overwhelming sense of loss - we meet Dare’s father briefly at the beginning of the book before his untimely death. That ultimately allows readers to connect to him and Dare’s loss a bit more than if we had entered the action after his passing. While I am past the age of the intended audience for this book, I always try to take a moment to recognize and acknowledge books that don’t dumb down or dilute tough things for young readers, as I think it’s important for kids to be exposed to that as they go through the process of figuring out themselves and how they relate to the world.
Overall, Between Monsters and Marvels was a very entertaining read. I love the the take on the idea of ‘monsters and marvels’ that the author presents within the book. Narrator Carlotta Brentan did an excellent job bringing the story to life with her performance in the audiobook version of the book. If you or a young reader in your life would enjoy a standalone story that crosses fantasy with a bit of mystery (and monsters of all shapes and sizes), you’ve come to the right place.
Thank you to the author, the publisher HarperCollins, Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book as part of my participation in the tour. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
Dare is a super cool main character. She reminds me of a lovable, slightly thorny and cantankerous old lady. Her whole life, she’s been told she’s been different but she takes that and uses it as a strength instead of something to be ashamed of. There are some surprises that come to light later in the book about her heritage and gifts, and I really appreciated how that played into the overall storyline. Her friends Nell and Gil round out the story well, and even though reading the synopsis does spoil some of the events of the book a bit it kept my attention throughout the story. The mystery aspect of figuring out what happened to Dare’s father was a fun touch. Early on in the book, I did think all of the adults were villains or kind of useless in general but my opinion changed by the end of things.
The world building is interesting. It reminds me a bit of a Victorian setting, but there are elements of the setting that come across as more familiar. It was fun getting to learn about the different monsters (The Garbinol and the Occisor were super cool in my opinion), though I do wish there would have been some sort of bestiary pages I could refer back to as it was hard to keep track of all of their different characteristics as I was reading.
The book is very whimsical and fun, befitting a middle-grade level novel, but it doesn’t shy away from some of the tougher themes. While there are literal ‘monsters’ in this book, the author also explores the idea of what makes a monster a monster. In particular, some of the monstrous things that humans can do (for the right price, or just out of sheer desperation) are highlighted within the story. There’s also an overwhelming sense of loss - we meet Dare’s father briefly at the beginning of the book before his untimely death. That ultimately allows readers to connect to him and Dare’s loss a bit more than if we had entered the action after his passing. While I am past the age of the intended audience for this book, I always try to take a moment to recognize and acknowledge books that don’t dumb down or dilute tough things for young readers, as I think it’s important for kids to be exposed to that as they go through the process of figuring out themselves and how they relate to the world.
Overall, Between Monsters and Marvels was a very entertaining read. I love the the take on the idea of ‘monsters and marvels’ that the author presents within the book. Narrator Carlotta Brentan did an excellent job bringing the story to life with her performance in the audiobook version of the book. If you or a young reader in your life would enjoy a standalone story that crosses fantasy with a bit of mystery (and monsters of all shapes and sizes), you’ve come to the right place.
Thank you to the author, the publisher HarperCollins, Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book as part of my participation in the tour. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
May 21, 2023
Between Monsters and Marvels by Alysa Wishingrad is an absolute gem of a book. With its compelling storytelling and richly imagined world, this enchanting tale will transport readers of all ages to a world filled with wonder and magic. Wishingrad's vivid prose breathes life into unforgettable characters, making them feel like old friends. The seamless blend of adventure, mystery, and heartfelt emotions will keep you turning the pages late into the night. Prepare to be spellbound by the incredible journey that unfolds between the pages of this extraordinary novel.
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