The story has the feel of a fairy tale in fact, one of the ways Kym learns about her world is by reading a book of fairy tales. She is a fascinating character in a fascinating world. What is the truth about Kym’s past, the wizard, and what’s happening to Bryre’s young girls?įrom the opening pages of Monstrous, MarcyKate Connolly’s debut novel, Kym’s story draws us in and compels us to read more. Not everything she learns seems to fit with what her father has taught her. While Ren reveals more about the city, Kym also beings having occasional visions, small snippets of memories from her prior life. Despite her father’s warnings, Kym eventually befriends him, and Ren shows her around Bryre.

However, one night she crosses paths with a boy named Ren. Kymera rescues one girl on each trip into the city, sneaking in and out without being caught. They would fear her and hate her, so it’s critical that she avoid being seen. Her father has warned her that they wouldn’t understand who she is. A curfew is in effect in Bryre because of the wizard’s spell, and Kymera hopes to avoid being seen by any humans. Once her training is complete Kymera begins sneaking into the city at night. Nearly as soon as she wakes up, Kym begins training because she was created with a purpose: to rescue the girls of Bryre and to defeat the evil wizard. This wizard continues to plague the young girls in the nearby city of Bryre, making them sick and then stealing them out of the city once they have fallen prey to his spell. Her father, and creator, tells her that she used to be his daughter but that she was killed by an evil wizard. She awakens one day as a hybrid, part human but also with a tail, wings, and claws. Support independent bookstores, and my classroom library, by purchasing this book through.

Monstrous marcykate connolly