Cover Image: No Gods, No Monsters

No Gods, No Monsters

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Member Reviews

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I went into No Gods, No Monsters expecting a straightforward urban fantasy with themes of racism and police violence. Which it was, except for the straightforward part. This is gorgeously rich and complex, in writing, themes and plot. I found it a difficult book to get into as it the narration jumps around a lot and there a lot of threads to follow, not all obviously connected until the end. On the surface it is the story of what would happen if we found out monsters were real, we start with following Laina, who’s brother has just been shot and killed in a police shooting. She is then given a video that shows him shifting into a warewolf just beforehand.

This is really a book that you have to not mind being confused for a good portion and just trusting that it will all come together, which is does phenomenally. This is an ambitious story that really worked for me. I am looking forward to the second book.

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This is a story about the monsters all around us.

I love this wave of books that feel inspired by cosmic fiction, but are directly confronting the prejudices Lovecraft held. I thought elements of this were excellent- the imagery and mounting dread were particularly deftly done… but I think I would’ve preferred fewer characters & found the flashbacks to be distracting at points.

Thank you so much Netgalley & Blackstone Publishing for the eArc!

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This had so much promise but I felt like there were too many overlapping storylines going on. It left me feeling lost, confused and unable to keep up with the disjointed connections. I’m heartbroken and I hope that if you read it, you find it easier to manage and absolutely amazing!!!

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While it took me a few chapters to get caught up in Cadwell Turnbull's stunning novel, No Giods, No Monsters, I was quickly swept away in Turnbull's powerful exploration of race, otherness, fear, gender, and the use and misuse of power, and in one of the most original and shattering novels I have read in some time. I am grateful to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an digital ARC of the novel, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a difficult book to write about - multiple narrators and points of view, multiple worlds which seem to exist simultaneously, and multiple plotlines all drive the novel to a powerful and breathtaking conclusion. It is easy to get lost with the many characters in the book, and the shifting timelines. However, once you surrender yourself to Turnbull's beautiful writing and fast-paced plot, the complex and intertwined stories become clearer (more or less). I know I will be back for another reading of the novel before the end of 2022. (a second book is in the works).

The premise of the book is straightforward: what if all the monsters we read about - werewolves, dragons, beings with incredible power - all the things that frightened us as a child - were actually real? What if they walked among us, and we didn't know it? What if secret societies championed these monsters, or fought against them? Then, one day, the monsters' existence became public knowledge. What if they wanted to be treated equally and live their lives openly? What if...?

So much weight for one novel to carry, and yet No Gods, No Monsters does so successfully. Is Turnbull writing about monsters, or does he have something else in mind? Is the book a metaphor for the society we currently live in? Perhaps.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its challenging complexities. It's not a book I will soon forget, that's for sure

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Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

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This was a really mesmerizing book, with language that enveloped me in a cocoon. I felt compelled to keep reading, to find out how these different characters and their stories would converge. It is, I think, on the literary side of fantasy, driven by character and mythology/world-building. I'm excited to see what comes next.

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Tried getting into this one, but ultimately the ambiguous way the author wrote it just wasn't to my taste, so I put it down after about 60 pages. I guess literary fiction and science fiction combining/melding is a no for me, because I can usually get behind authors not revealing things in books - but I've never read a sci-fi novel like this, and it wasn't for me.

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In a world that has just discovered the existence of monsters among its people, things have gotten complicated. With some monsters finally understanding that they're not alone and powerful interests trying to hide the truth, the world is not an easy place for anyone. No God, No Monsters follows many people through the history and present of how they have come to understand the world around them. With many stories but few answers, this book is a masterpiece about the human experience and otherness. The first book in the Convergence Saga; I cannot wait to read more from Cadwell Turnbull.

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Urban fantasy creatively melds with social justice in Cadwell Turnbull's No Gods, No Monsters. An unarmed young man is shot in the streets by a police officer. Leaked footage from the officer's body camera is uploaded to social media. In those moments, time stands still as people look on in disbelief. Monsters do exist. Turnbull delivers diverse, well-developed characters and a carefully constructed world with humans, monsters, secret societies, and a social unrest that is so palpable it threatens to destroy it all. Recommended for fantasy readers and readers who enjoy discovering a new voice in the genre.

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No Gods, No Monsters, focuses on monsters who live among us as our friends and families. The characters are complex and it doesnt shy away from sensitive topics such as police brutality.

The plot was completely new and thought-evoking and sweeps you in from the very start.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

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I really enjoyed the world that the author created for this book. However, I found that the plot became a little muddled for me in the middle and lost its impetus. I probably should have done a closer reading, but I ended up losing the thread with the time shifts/alternate universe/character perspective and sometimes an omniscient observer.

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Highly ambitious and written in intriguing prose, this novel lives and dies with whether or not it hooks you at the start, and that definitely won't be the case for everyone. The general concept, however ambitious, is really just a spin on a tired, overused allegory, yet this feels like a somewhat fresh take on it.

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This is Cadwell Turnbull’s long awaiting sophomore novel and he was right, this is nothing like The Lesson . Turnbull has matured in his writing and you will know it once you start reading this book. This book was truly atmospheric, you could feel the fear of the characters leaping off the page. What I love is how Turnbull is able to write characters that while they are flawed, you cannot help but cheer for them. He spends a lot of time building out his character, to the point where you become invested and immerse in their experience.

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So, this was a very ambitious book. And while I wasn't a fan, I give kudos to the author for his creativity and voice. I would say that my biggest issue with this story is the sheer amount of characters and the many threads that don't seem to go anywhere. When it starts, I felt like I could see where it was going and then it just went into an entirely different direction. I can see that some people would love this but I would have preferred something more cohesive to keep me engaged. I did like his writing style so for that I will say I'd be interested in reading something else by him in the future.

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This book was great! I need more people to read it and fall in love like I did. I enjoyed this story tremendously.

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In his debute novel, The Lesson, Cadwell Turnbull tells the story of an alien invasion and colonization of Earth, centered around his native U.S. Virgin Islands.

Rather than aliens from another planet, his second book, No Gods, No Monsters, features monsters who live among us as our friends, neighbors and even relatives. While ostensibly about the fantastical, the novel is grounded in reality with complex characters whose experiences touch on difficult but important issues like police violence, othering, and even fake news.

While the two books have different characters and storylines, Turnbull calls them “sister books.”

Aliens and monsters “are both versions of human fears manifested through these speculative elements,” Turnbull told me when I interviewed him on New Books in Science Fiction. “One is dealing with a threat from without, and one is dealing with a threat from within. And they both have similar thematic concerns.”

Among the topics we discuss in the episode are the human propensity to deny uncomfortable truths; the challenge of those with different beliefs accepting the same version of reality (even when reality is captured on video); how monsters can provide a window on intersectional marginalization; and how writing can be like solving a puzzle.

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NO GODS, NO MONSTERS is a thoughtfully provocative look at science fiction and marginalized groups - whether Turnbull is discussing race, gender, sexuality, or monsters, this book makes me want to be more, be better. My only real complaint is that it is sold as a standard standalone, whereas I feel it makes more sense as an anthology of sorts.

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I hate to DNF books. Authors put their blood, sweat and tears into them and I respect that. This one was just too confusing for me. I liked the character depth but the POV changes without enough world building in between just left me so confused. I found myself going back over and reading passages trying to figure out where this snippet fit in. I just found I wasn't enjoying the read so I decided to walk away at 30%.

Just because this one didn't work for me, doesn't mean that it won't work for you. If you are able to tie together the threads of multiple POVs that are drastically different and have the patience to wait to see where they go then give this one a chance.

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for access to this ARC. All opinions above are my own.

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I was really looking forward to this book but it was just okay for me. I was pretty confused about what was going on at first but once I figured it out, the stories started to make more sense. I didn’t realize that the stories were connected to each other, which caused even more confusion until I put it all together. A disappointing read, but not terrible. It wasn’t for me but I do think many others will find the book enjoyable.

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Interesting in concept with intricate writing that is elegant and vivid with its expansive descriptions which add to world and character building. Having said that it requires an attentive reader or risk missing plot line details that can lead a reader astray and feel bewildered. This is a book that is best read slowly with patience and a well steeped tea,
Thank you to NetGalley, Caldwell Turnbull and the publishers for the advanced readers copy.

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