Friends. Lovers. Monsters

Characters

Throughout the story, there were many interesting characters. However, I’d like to focus on the five I considered to play major roles in the story’s development.

Sophie was a fun and curious character right from the start. Both feisty and stubborn, she always had something to say (or think) about every situation she found herself in. Her book-smart nature came in handy many times throughout the story, specifically when it came to understanding the grisly creature’s origins. There wasn’t anything I particularly disliked about her. On the contrary, I came to see her as a friend, one with a keen drive to resolve problems and a level of determination and care to rival most.

In contrast to Sophie’s curious and wilful portrayal, Greg, the apartment manager, appeared shy and cautious upon first glance. He was always offering to help Sophie whenever she needed assistance, which quickly endeared me to his character. He seemed sweet and gentle, however, over the course of the story, his demeanour gradually shifted and he felt to me like more of a nuisance than a genuine help to the situation.

Detective Forth was another interesting character. This young man always seemed to be on edge and had a responsible and dutiful manner. He was the type of person who keeps others out of their personal affairs, closing himself off to the world at large. His serious demeanour and strictly rule-bound way of thinking and acting gave me the initial impression that he wouldn’t be likable, however, I was wrong. As the story progressed and I learned more about his past, I came to adore him, strict practicality and all. Of all the characters, he is definitely the one that grew on me the most.

Next, I’d like to discuss Mr Devoto, a decidedly creepy neighbour of Sophie’s. From the moment I first encountered him, he made me feel both nervous and curious. He was a nosy and heavily opinionated man, with a creepy way of turning up when you least expected him. At first glance, he appeared to be snobbish, putting on a posh air and voice, as if to impress, however, he simply came across as unsavoury and condescending. It’s fair to say that he made a strong impression on me and created a good deal of tension throughout the novel.

Finally, we come to Sophie’s younger brother, Devon. This cheeky and deeply sensitive young man was an enigma in my eyes. At first, he simply appeared to be the somewhat lazy younger brother of your typical university student, kidding around with his sister and eating her food while crashing on her sofa. However, as the story progressed, it came to light that his past was somewhat darker, with hidden secrets thereafter affecting his and Sophie’s once close relationship as siblings. My impression of him changed gradually over time as new information was revealed, piece by piece. Overall, I liked his character and felt genuine sympathy for his past struggles.