Francesca Simon

Enter the gates of Hel at your own risk. While I am a fan of myths and legends, I found myself disturbed by the book The Monstrous Child by Francesca Simon. Maybe it is the first person narrative, told from the perspective of the Norse Goddess Hel, neither hero nor villain of her own story but rather somewhere betwixt and between. Maybe it is this very betweenness that is unsettling. You don’t know if to feel sorry for Hel, to feel pity at her poor treatment and rotting life, to wish her a show more quick and merciful death, or to slap her for being so, so very mopey. And maybe it is the ending, the vague half breathed end of everything that brings more questions than answers and leaves poor Hel once again, finally and forever, alone. I admit the writing is at times witty, the idea for a first person narrative by young Hel is clever, and the whole story gives a new and interesting, if extra creepy, view of Norse mythology but reader beware this is a story that will leave you disturbed and ever so slightly queasy. show less

I was really excited when I received this beauty in the mailbox as a) it seemed like a really good read based on the blurb I had read online and b) I was immediately in love with the stunning cover art (I know, I know...always with the cover art right? I can't help it- I'm a sucker for a good cover!)

Hel is just your average 14 year old goddess, banished from her new place in Asgard in order to become the ruler of the underworld. Daughter of a god and a giantess with a wolf and a snake for show more brothers, Hel has not known much in the way of love and affection. Made more embittered and ravenous for revenge after her banishment, Hel bides her time in the underworld waiting for the end of times.

Told in the first person, this YA novel was a seriously fun read! Hel is witty and crass, sarcastic and cranky.... in other words, she's my kind of people. Her life as a goddess had many interesting parallels to real life as a teenager; parents who don't understand you, siblings who drive you nuts, peers who reject you, poor self esteem and self image, we've all been there right? The book follows Hel from her birth (like literally the moment she was born- she remembers it all) until, well, the end of times. I enjoyed all the myth and mythology that was central to the plot line and characters, and felt having the main character be an unlikely goddess, one perhaps not so revered and idolized in culture, was brilliant. Like I mentioned, this is a YA novel, but my 32 year old self found plenty of enjoyment in it so all you adults out there, don't write it off! show less

I liked the fresh take on Norse mythology. I liked that the story was told in the first person from Hel's point of view. The artwork on the cover and in the book was beautiful and complimented the story. The characters were good, I just wanted to know more about them. Even Hel seemed like more of a caricature than a real individual. It felt like the character was telling me the myth instead of me living the myth with the character. Overall it was a quick read that I am glad I read. It has show more made me curious enough about Norse mythology to look for other fictional treatments of it. show less

First things first: I saw on Goodreads that this book was compared to Percy Jackson in its style and manner of storytelling. If by that, the person meant it has to do with mythology and is told from the perspective of a more youthful narrative, then sure. But otherwise? This book is very different.

The author brings Hel, the Norse goddess of the underworld, to life with vivid imagination. I don't see the comparison to Percy Jackson because this book is more adult and definitely darker in show more tone. I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building and I thought the storytelling was perfectly done because, even though Hel is a goddess, there is always this sort of innocence about her because there is so much she doesn't understand, and in turn, we are even more so in her shoes because we, like our narrator, aren't in the loop with the "big gods" crowd.

Side note: this cover art is amazing. I would definitely read another young adult book from this author! show less