Have you ever heard that fairies are born from a baby’s first laugh? Monsters however, come from a last dying sigh of regret.

Imp is a monster – formed by both of those things, looking like a twelve-year-old boy, but filled with monster thoughts and wishes by the breath of the King of Monsters. This king has plans for Imp. Big plans. Plans that will threaten life for all humans. Imp doesn’t know this as he is whisked away by gargoyles from The Hole (a pit deep underground where, pixies, bogarts, gargoyles and all manner of terrible monsters are born). He doesn’t know that a haggard crone and the Monster King have been trying for ages to make a monster just like him.

Once above ground, Imp meets Daniel, an angel that humans can’t see. Daniel looks out for Imp, wanting to give him a new name. But when Imp’s new Gargoyle family and Daniel learn that the Crone and King are after Imp, Daniel takes Imp to a place of safety. The very family that gave him his human side.

Imp is torn between his human side and his gargoyle side. Should he do what is right, following the sparkle and joy of a young human life, or succumb to the whispers and promises to his monster within?

The rich description of the monster’s lair deep within the earth, made me feel like I was there. It’s dark and deep, rank and frightening, but I cheered Imp on as he tried to choose a side. The decision didn’t come lightly and it’s  result surprising, pulling me even further into a story of souls and magic, angels and monsters, light and dark, and good and evil.

The Monster who Wasn’t is refreshingly different. Don’t let the bright cover fool you. These monsters want to eat you and use your bones for toothpicks! NOT for the faint-hearted.

Author – T C Shelley

Age – 10+

(Banshee, Pixies, Boggarts, Gargoyles, Pixies, Monsters, Family, Funeral, Loss, Grief, Kidnap, Good & Evil, Angel, Humour)