Monsters by Stéphane Servant Translated by Sarah Ardizzone Illustrated by Nicolas Zouliamis

Roll up, roll up to discover the Circus of Dreams!

The circus is coming to the village at the end of the world. There will be knife-jugglers and fire eaters, death-defying acrobats and wonders too strange to name!

Of all our fantastical acts, the most shocking and terrifying of all is the Monster of Dreams.

At the mid-of-night this fearsome creature will be revealed. Come and take a look - if you dare...

But what is a monster, really?

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Monsters by Stéphane Servant - a hauntingly illustrated tale that asks a simple question: who decides what a monster is?

Pre-Reading Thoughts
The immediate draw here is the artwork by Nicolas Zouliamis. Even viewed as a PDF, the stark black-and-white illustrations are striking - shadowy, theatrical, and full of atmosphere. This feels like the kind of book you’ll want to linger over, turning the pages slowly to take everything in.

The premise is equally intriguing: a travelling circus arrives at a village at the end of the world, promising knife-jugglers, fire eaters, daring acrobats - and their most terrifying attraction of all, the Monster of Dreams. Naturally, curiosity (and a little dread) kicks in immediately.

Post-Reading

As I thought…
The illustrations are absolutely the heart of the book. Zouliamis creates a world of deep shadows and eerie spectacle that suits the circus setting perfectly. It’s atmospheric without being overwhelming, striking that perfect balance between spooky and fascinating.

The artwork also plays a clever visual trick with perspective. Readers see the “monster” clearly long before they get a proper look at the villagers themselves - and only later realise just how strange the villagers appear. It’s a subtle, brilliant reversal that deepens the story’s message.

It surprised me by…
How thoughtful the story is beneath the spectacle. Rather than simply presenting a scary creature, the book quietly asks what makes something monstrous in the first place. Otto, dismissed by his village as the weakest boy, turns out to be the one person brave enough to question what everyone else accepts.

The translation by Sarah Ardizzone reads smoothly overall. Occasionally a phrase feels slightly formal, but it fits the fable-like tone of the story rather than standing out as awkward.

🎵 Featured Song
“Circus” — Britney Spears

🎶 Vibe Album
The Black Parade — The Black Parade

🎧 Artist Recommendation
Aurora

Vibe Check

🎨 Colour Palette: ink black, bone white, lantern gold
🎬 Soundtrack: creaking wagons, murmuring crowds, distant circus drums
🍂 Season: late autumn
🌫 Mood: eerie curiosity
🕯 Scent: woodsmoke and cold night air

Tarot Pull

The Moon - Fear grows easily in the dark, especially when stories turn shadows into monsters. The Moon reminds us that appearances can deceive, and that truth often hides behind spectacle and illusion. Otto is the only one brave enough to look closer - and what he sees reveals far more about the villagers than about the so-called monster.

For fans of

📚 The Arrival — Shaun Tan
🎬 The Greatest Showman

#Monsters #StephaneServant #NicolasZouliamis #illustratedbooks #kidlit #childrensbooks #circusvibes #bookreview #tarotreading

Monsters publishes on [DATE]. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.