Welcome back to the fourth day of our book club readalong for OwlCrate's February book, Only A Monster!
Just a reminder that this will be a SPOILER discussion for Chapters 11-13 of Only A Monster, so make sure you read are finished this section before continuing.
Discussion questions are listed below, and anyone who participates in the comments will be entered to win a free OwlCrate box! Don't forget, you can also post about the readalong on Instagram with the hashtag #OCOnlyAMonster for another chance to win!
The story continues...
Chapter 11:
Joan wakes the next day to find Aaron and Ruth eating breakfast at the table together. She sits down with them and seems determined, no matter what Aaron says, to try to fix the timeline. Aaron huffs out of the room, going to get some era appropriate attire. Once Aaron has gone Ruth tells Joan that there are rumors, and only rumors, of changes to the timeline. The Liu’s family’s power is perfect memory, and it’s said they sometimes remember things that never happened, potentially because of changes in time. Joan wants to go speak with them, but first, must become a proper 90s teen. They meet up again with Aaron in the market and after finding their appropriate outfits Aaron says he will take her to see the Lius. Ruth, on the other hand, feels she likely isn’t welcome as she has taken a thing or two from them over the years.
Once at the Liu’s they meet with Ying, who takes them to a back garden to talk. When Joan explains she wants information Ying tells her that in exchange she must owe them a favor, to be called in when the Lius see fit. He also tells her that she is the daughter of Maureen Hunt, estranged daughter of Dorothy Hunt, and tells Aaron he is the son of Marguerite Nightingale, executed second wife of Edmond Oliver.
Ying explains that it is true that there are powerful members of the Liu family who believe they remember another timeline, one that was erased and replaced with the current one, but he won’t reveal anymore. That is until, having nothing left to bargain with, Joan offers him the necklace her grandmother gave her. He inspects it, attention grabbed, and tells her that it is said the King used a device to erase the original timeline and replace it with this one, his own. And that device is located in the Monster Court. Lucky for Joan, the necklace happens to be a key. Ying returns the necklace to her.
Chapter 12:
They head back to the market, noticing Court Guards raiding sellers with technology from out of its time. Back upstairs with Ruth they head to the roof where they won’t be overheard. They explain what happened to Ruth and when Joan reveals they need to get to the Monster Court, Aaron flat out says no. He has no intention of helping her get to the Court, and definitely not to try to steal a device likely heavily guarded. He wants them to just settle in this time and get on with their lives. But Joan knows Gran gave her the necklace for a reason.
Needing to clear her head Joan goes for a walk and settles in at a touristy diner, ordering a pot of tea. To her surprise when it arrives someone sits down opposite her. Nick.
Chapter 13:
Nick grabs her wrists, restraining her from moving. Seeing her necklace, he shifts his posture and unclasps it, pocketing it for himself. Joan swears she will find him and she will kill him.
Questions:
- Why do you think Aaron’s mother was executed?
- If Joan’s mother is truly estranged, do you think that possibly mean she’s alive?
- How do you think Nick travels through time? And how do you think he knew about the necklace?
- Recommend another time travel book!
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