Ordinary Monsters

Indie Next Pick for June

"Charles Dickens meets Joss Whedon in Miro's otherworldly Netflix-binge-like novel." -The Washington Post

"This grim but poignant debut showcases a bleak Victorian England, engaging characters, and the desire to belong." -Library Journal


"Miro intersperses crucial flashbacks to characters' backstories during intense moments, creating a gleeful and maddening ride between the past and the present as each character's arc is explored in full detail... Miro cleverly adapts beloved fantasy tropes and swirls them into Ordinary Monsters, a book about life and death, magic and monstrosities, with plenty of mysteries for readers to solve." -BookPage

"As effective a Gaslamp fantasy as I've read...The prose is compelling with a dreamy tendency, elaborating on details and then skipping over transitions to insist only on the most important parts. Miro likewise writes emotional and situational complexity with a light, deft touch...Engaging from start to finish, and well-written to boot." -Geekly, Inc.

"Haunting, tense, earth-shattering ... A riveting mix of magic and terror." -Tamora Pierce, author of
Trickster's Choice and In the Hand of the Goddess

"Brilliant, subtle, bone-breaking. A book that creeps up on you, wearing brass knuckles." -Conn Iggulden, author of The Dangerous Book for Boys

"From the very first page, you're pulled into a world of hope and fear, dark and light, the known and the unimaginable. A world that is equal parts magic and pain. Readers should prepare themselves: there's nothing ordinary about Ordinary Monsters." -Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor and The Hunger

"Ordinary Monsters is one of my favorite books of the year-it's full of surprises, atmospheric as hell, and moves like a runaway train. Nothing in this book is what you expect it to be and it couldn't be more satisfying." -Kelly Braffet, author of Save Yourself and Last Seen Leaving

"J.M. Miro's Ordinary Monsters reads like a Dickensian X-Men. At once lush and refined, grounded and fantastical, it will pull you into its world in the way of the most fulfilling entertainments." -Andrew Pyper, bestselling author of The Residence and The Demonologist

"Epic, sprawling, and evocative-a sweeping and richly-imagined gaslight fantasy that takes readers on an incredible journey. Miro immerses us in the grime and grit of life, but also makes them believe that monsters and miracles are possible." -A.C. Wise, author of Hooked

"Miro's debut has a fascinating magical system...The vivid cinematic quality of the world and its magic will appeal to classic-fantasy lovers." -Booklist

"A fast-paced novel whose action and intrigue make short work of its daunting page count..." -Kirkus

"A complex, layered, and often uncomfortably bleak tale with a length that can occasionally feel daunting, but its rich, intriguing array of characters and consistently expanding scope make Ordinary Monsters anything but." -Paste Magazine

"This sprawling historical fantasy feels like a perfect blend of Miss Peregrine, Penny Dreadful, and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell vibes." -Buzzfeed News

"A grand historical fantasy in a unique world full of complex characters, including menacing and compelling villains. Anyone who appreciates a good Victorian setting or a swashbuckling thriller will enjoy this fresh take on the genre." -Kristine Jelstrom-Hamill, Buttonwood Books and Toys, Cohasset, MA