Once a Monster: A reimagining of the legend of the Minotaur

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'All we're waiting for, you and I, is for something nobody's seen before to wash up on these beaches. Something so special and unique that its power cannot be denied. And there is every hope it will happen today. Perhaps it's out there, even now, begging for its chance to upend our world . . .' London, 1861: Ten-year-old Nell belongs to a crew of mudlarks who work a stretch of the Thames along the Ratcliffe Highway. An orphan since her mother died four years past, leaving Nell with only broken dreams and a pair of satin slippers in her possession, she spends her days dredging up coals, copper and pieces of iron spilled by the river barges - searching for treasure in the mud in order to appease her master, Benjamin Murdstone. But one day, Nell discovers a body on the shore. It's not the first corpse she's encountered, but by far the strangest. Nearly seven feet tall, the creature has matted hair covering his legs, and on his head are the suggestion of horns. Nell's fellow mudlarks urge her to steal his boots and rifle his pockets, but as she ventures closer the figure draws breath and Nell is forced to make a decision which will change her life forever . . . From the critically acclaimed author of The Toymakers comes an imaginative retelling of the legend of the Minotaur, full of myth and magic and steeped in the grime of Victorian London; perfect for lovers of historical fiction with a mythical twist.

Reviews

Engaging and enchanting . . . a fairytale for adults, with all the wonder and terror that that entails . . . it is the sense of joy that lingers in this fine book -- The Observer on The Toymakers
Beautifully captures the hazy dissonance of storytelling and invention -- The Guardian on Paris by Starlight
There is magic at the heart of The Toymakers, a glittery inventiveness that shimmers through the dark corners of a story about love, war and sibling rivalry . . . Robert Dinsdales imagined toys are truly glorious . . . a gripping, moving story -- Sunday Express on The Toymakers
Like the magic at the heart of the story, this vivid, haunting novel is both vast and intimate. A wonderful and thought-provoking read -- Katherine Arden, author of The Winternight Series
What an extraordinary and wonderful achievement this novel is! I was gripped, and thrilled, and touched, and above all I was completely swept into the magic of the book . . . And the scope of the thing! Such a broad chronological range, such sweep, all with the lightest touch. Just astonishing -- Adam Roberts
Truly magical . . . Anyone whos ever stepped inside a traditional toyshop and marvelled at the wonders on display will instantly be captivated by this book, which transports readers to The Emporium in London. Prepare to be charmed by this utterly enchanting tale * CultureFly *
Magical * Metro *
A heartbreaking story, very powerfully dramatized -- The Times on Little Exiles
Gingerbread is a novel of perfect balance, where past reaches into present, cruel history into fable, and the land itself, the forests of old, into vulnerable human hearts. With each turn of the page the atmosphere intensifies . . . -- Ali Shaw on Gingerbread
Stunning -- The Times on The Harrowing
Extraordinary -- Daily Mail on The Harrowing
A writer of raw talent . . . sensational -- The Guardian on The Harrowing
Haunting and unforgettable -- The Daily Telegraph on The Harrowing

Author Bio

Robert Dinsdale was born in North Yorkshire and currently lives in Leigh-on-Sea. He is the author of five previous critically acclaimed novels including the bestselling The Toymakers, which was his first venture into magic.