The One Who Eats Monsters by Casey Matthews

The One Who Eats Monsters by Casey Matthews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Neat book. Much more convincing, than I've some times seen, example of someone super old being super naïve about certain aspects of human life (Ryn lives, as much as possible, or had, in the 'wilderness' places that had smaller number of humans running around; though has spent longer than history could record (there's reasons I word it that way) watching humans being . . . humans.

One aspect that I didn't expect, though is hinted at in the book, was the part where Ryn ....um, hmm, probably not a spoiler since it doesn't really have an impact on this book. Even so - well, I can't say because it's a spoiler. Though does not have a direct impact on this book. I look forward to the next book in the series.

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Of note: There are a million and one point of views in this book, including various military/police investigators, demons, monsters, young teenagers, etc. This book is in no way just from the point of view of Erynis.
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Boiled down: this story is about a elite military person who stumbles across a young girl who, it appeared, had been brutally attacked by the people his unit was attacking. That individual, whose own story continues throughout the book, pulls Ryn, the young girl, from this wild untamed area and brings her back to his own country, the USA, to try to 'rescue' her. Unknown to him, Ryn - while she might have needed a little help down from where she was found, didn't really need to be rescued because she isn't actually a young girl, but an ancient creature that eats monsters (hence the book title).

Ryn is placed in an 'institution', not seen in this story, then into a group home - which is where her specific story restarted (after the wilderness part). The group home is run by a super creepy man and woman who give off massive pervy vibes. Ryn's powerful and stuff so . . ..

While out and about wandering as she liked to do, Ryn runs across a young human teenager named Naomi Bradford. 'A Senator's daughter' - pulled from book description. Something pulls them together, though it's Naomi who first approached Ryn - because Naomi is the type of rich young woman who looks for causes to support and is always on the verge of despising herself for having money. And Ryn was leaning very close to a mall railing - and one of Naomi's charges had recently committed suicide so . . . Naomi was hyper-alert for people near edges.

Naomi basically forces Ryn to eat a meal with her and her, Naomi's, two friends. Naomi was there to be with her friends and . . . I forget now what, shop? Ryn had been there to find monsters to eat. Ryn, though, has issues with large crowds (she, if you recall, has spent the majority of her time in less crowded wilderness areas), and had been having a kind of panic attack while against the railing. From all the people and noise. Though, and getting back to the point of this paragraph, Ryn was there tracking a specific monster. One who, in turn, had been tracking Naomi.

That monster attacks Naomi in a parking garage, Naomi shows she's more than just a helpless little girl, gets away, and Ryn plays with the monster.

Whereupon the other points of view come up - a fat slovenly police dude and that same military guy from the beginning of the book, now a police dude (rereading - two different people being described here), investigate the 'incident' in the parking garage - and later a bunch of other incidents that are directly linked both to monsters and Ryn.

Meanwhile - Senator daddy is super hyper and alarmed by his daughter's near rape/death and has basically put Naomi on house-arrest. Ryn shows how poor humans are at security, even when there are elite guards and stuff, by easily sneaking into Naomi's room and convincing her to go out (and keep the previously arranged 'date'). Whereupon Naomi, and group, again get into another 'incident' of grave danger.

And so the story unfolds. Ryn bouncing around chasing/eating monsters. Naomi falling into danger nonstop in the city, then on a camping trip. Ryn and Naomi becoming friends, then falling apart, etc. etc. Life happening, and stuff. Including the part wherein Naomi has a long-term plan involving romance/relationships/her life, and it definitely involves a boy/man - though she hasn't found that man yet (and definitely doesn't involve a girl, like, say, Ryn).

As noted - quite interesting fun read. Look forward to next in series.

Rating: 4.33

November 15 2017



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