Monuments

Monuments
Monument Duology Book One
Written by Will Kostakis
Fantasy, Adventure, LGBT, #loveozya
288 Pages
Published August 27th 2019
Thanks to Hachette Australia
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★★★★★
When Connor Giannopoulos discovers a Monument under his high school, he doesn't have any idea how much his life is going to change forever. It turns out that immortality and strength beyond his wildest dreams is a bit more responsibility than he bargained for.

All 16 year old Connor is trying to do is avoid his ex best friend when he stumbles upon a trapdoor to a secret chamber under his school. But when Sally Rodgers breaks into the same secret chamber looking for an ancient being, things take an unexpected turn. And Connor's life will never be the same again.

Along with the mysterious Sally and, later on, his new friend Locky, Connor discovers the Monuments, gods who have been buried for generations, who created the world and hid themselves away from humanity to keep everyone safe. But now they're exposed and vulnerable, and Connor isn't sure who, himself included, can be trusted with the knowledge and the power these gods have.
Connor Giannopoulos is boring according to his former best friend but when Connor skips class for the first time at his prestigious private school, he never expected to stumble upon a secret chamber at Charlton Grammar and if videogames have taught him anything, this is about to become the most excellent of quests and adventure is afoot. Connor just didn't count on random girl Sally Rodgers stumbling into his life, trespassing on school grounds and looking for her own adventure.

Hidden underground in four of Sydney's most prestigious and pretentious schools are the Monuments, Godly beings that resemble crumbling garden statues that have been in slumber for years and hidden underground to escape the Hounds.  Humans who have inherited the ability to sniff out the godly garden statues. New partner in crime Sally has an ulterior motive, awakening the Gods who believe they are facing a grave and terrible danger from a local Hound who just happens to be a confused pizza delivery boy who thinks the ethereal giants smell like eggs.

The Gods are beginning to raise suspicion and there aren't enough wigs in the world to allow Connor to look convincing as a teenage girl, but when he stumbles across the handsome and also very gay Locky, he begins to realise that his life will never be boring again.

Monuments is an adventurous, brilliantly entertaining and laugh out loud storyline of mischief and mythology, written by one of Australia's finest young adult authors. Connor isn't boring, he's just a stickler for rules but he's feeling pretty lonely of late after his best friend blew him off because he didn't go to a party, a party he wasn't even invited to. He'd rather stay home and watch trashy reality television with his mum. Up on the school roof while wagging class, Connor comes across an underground crypt, a bizarre girl and a far fetched prophecy, it'll be a massive up yours to the friend who didn't want him. Good riddance to the asshole.

I loved the dynamic between Connor and Sally, he's sceptical of her at first but reluctantly believes her expired library card that she is who she says she is and seeing he has nothing better to do, tags along. He's even considering interviewing her for the recently vacated best friend position she's adamant she doesn't actually want.

The awoken Monuments are a little like naive tourists, they're also not entirely sure what's happening but follow Connor and Sally around the suburbs of Sydney as they try to find the other Monuments. They're a packaged deal, you have to collect them all in the great migration known as the Movement. Although they're Gods, they're not indestructible and practically crumble to dust at the first signs of trouble brewing. Before they pass on, they choose an heir to inherit their powers. What ensues is a lighthearted and hilarious adventure throughout the suburbs of Sydney.

Upon meeting Locky when Connor and Sally sneak into a debutante ball in stolen wedding attire, the unconventional meet cute romance is super cute and super gay, in fact Connor blurting out how gay he is. Both Connor and Locky are lovable characters and their romance is endearing, you can tell it's an Australian novel by the characters being accepting of a giant garden statue God and going with the flow. It's very much a case of no worries mate, she'll be right and I loved each and every moment.

Gay, Greek and Indigenous Australian representation with themes of family, friendship and finding your way. It's perfection. I love a Will Kostakis novel, whether he's ripping your heart out or inviting you into his big Greek family, his writing is superb and one of Australia's finest authors. If you love a good dose of humour, boys kissing and a Rick Riordan style adventure, then have at it kids. It's absolutely brilliant!

19 comments

  1. i keep meaning to read something by this author. This one sounds so good, and really imaginative!! I'm glad you enjoyed this one so much, and that the characters were so well done. I'm a big fan of great characters after all. ;-) And yay for gay characters!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. It's amazing Lauren! He's an incredible author, whether he's writing contemporary or fantasy adventure. I do hope you can pick up a copy of this one, it's wonderfully entertaining!

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  2. This review is INCREDIBLE.
    I am thoroughly convinced that I need to pick up Monuments sooner rather than later!
    This sounds like such a fun read!
    I am so glad you liked it. There's going to be more books, I think? That's exciting, too! 💜

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    1. Thanks so much Star! I believe it's going to be a duology and I can't wait for the second installment! It's funny, brilliantly entertaining and wonderfully diverse.

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  3. I love a good "up yours" to the haters and nay-sayers. Good for Connor. Sounds like this book has a bit of everything that can appeal to a wide audience - action, adventure, romance, humor, and some mythology too.

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    1. It's amazing and one of my favourite reads this year. It has massive Percy Jackson vibes which I adored as well.

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  4. This one was SO FUN. I loved the humour and omg Connor was such a fantastic chaotic and awkward hero. 😂 WIll Kostakis books never disappoint!

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    1. So brilliant and I loved that this felt like a new direction from him but still incorporated that sense of family. It's one of my favourite aspects of his books. I can't wait for book two!

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  5. This sounds so good. I'm always down for a novel that incorporates mythology -- of any kind. And I also love the representation. Lovely!

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    1. It's brilliant Joy, warm and so incredibly funny. Absolutely loved it!

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  6. This sounds so fun! I totally love your review. I need to check out this book!

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    1. I hope you can and soon! I'd love to see what you think of it!

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  7. This sounds amazing -- everything about it just makes me gleeful and WK is such a gem!

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    1. He totally is! I've loved all his previous novels but this was just absolutely brilliant, adventurous while still giving us those warm family vibes. I hope everyone picks up a copy, it's pure entertainment, diverse and a incredible adventure!

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  8. I'm not familiar with the author but the book sounds absolutely fantastic!

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    1. He's a brilliant Aussie young adult author who typically writes about warm and wonderful Greek Australian families, a little like Melina Marchetta. He's absolutely wonderful Suzanne, I think you'd really enjoy his work.

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