3 out of 4 stars
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Seth Chamber’s The Different Kinds of Monsters introduces Dylan, a young child exploring dinosaurs in a museum, whose blood had spilled blood on the remains of Emily, an Allosaurus. Now, having disturbed her eternal rest, the beast has attacked Dylan’s father and remains a threat to the rest of the family in search for revenge. Will Dylan survive from Emily's endless pursuit or will his dysfunctional life be swallowed whole by a merciless creature?
This book includes three different time periods and perspectives: Dylan in the present, his childhood, and the Jurassic period through Emily’s eyes. The author manages these different settings in a manner that syncs the growth and coming of age of both characters. Throughout the whole story, the time periods exchange the spotlight with one another in order to provide a correlation between the ancient reptile and Dylan’s family in a manner that leaves the reader with even more questions. That being said, there is plenty of character development and family history to discover. Chambers does a great job correlating the natural instincts of monsters with that of humanity’s misdeeds and temptations after undergoing adolescence.
The story accomplishes in providing a variety of scenarios in order to achieve an emotional experience for the readers. The buildup of the book has a relatively slow pace, which sets the stage for unsettling experiences to sympathize with. This includes sexual abuse and violence that are not at all discreet. These experiences deteriorate Dylan’s naivety as he learns that the world is filled with monsters that are recognized as such by different monsters. However, as he opens the doors that his family kept locked and hidden away for his sake, Dylan begins to give in to human temptation and becomes a monster of his own.
The Different Kinds of Monsters is especially suitable for readers who appreciate a tragic story with a gradual build-up towards the climax of the story. However, those who are easily left unsettled by darker topics may find themselves uncomfortable in certain portions of the plot. Also, keep in mind that this is not the kind of science fiction that has futuristic technology. This story includes the modern weapons and tools. Nevertheless, the book should still be enjoyable for anybody who seeks action.
I rate Seth Chamber’s book 3 out of 4 stars. I deduct one star simply due to some grammatical errors in punctuation that could be easily addressed, such as comma splices. I refuse to deduct more stars, however, because the story is certainly still readable and enjoyable. The emotional and figurative connection between the dinosaur and Dylan adds a touch of refinement—which I couldn't stop myself from appreciating.
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The Different Kinds Of Monsters
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