Once There Was

By: Kiyash Monsef

Narrated by: Nikki Massoud

An Odyssey Award Finalist

A New York Times bestseller!
A Morris Award Finalist

Impossible Creatures meets Neil Gaiman in this “striking and heartfelt” (Kirkus Reviews) novel about an Iranian American girl who discovers that her father was secretly a veterinarian to magical creatures—and that she must take up his mantle, despite the many dangers.

Once was, once wasn’t.

So began the stories Marjan’s father told her as a little girl—fables like the story of the girl who sprung a unicorn from a hunter’s snare, or the nomad boy who rescued a baby shirdal. Tales of mythical beasts that filled her with curiosity and wonder.

But Marjan’s not a little girl anymore. In the wake of her father’s sudden death, she is trying to hold it all together: her schoolwork, friendships, and keeping her dad’s shoestring veterinary practice from going under. Then, one day, she receives a visitor who reveals something stunning: Marjan’s father was no ordinary veterinarian. The creatures out of the stories he told her were real—and he traveled the world to care for them. And now that he’s gone, she must take his place.

Marjan steps into a secret world hidden in plain sight, where magical creatures are bought and sold, treasured and trapped. She finds friends she never knew she needed—a charming British boy who grew up with a griffon, a runaway witch seeking magic and home—while trying to hide her double life from her old friends and classmates.

The deeper Marjan gets into treating these animals, the closer she comes to finding who killed her father—and to a shocking truth that will reawaken her sense of wonder and put humans and beasts in the gravest of danger.

Critic reviews

"Massoud has an engaging storytelling timbre, which is particularly evident in the chapters that share the mythical stories Marjan’s father told her when she was growing up."

Re listened immediately

The unexpected way the narrative went between girl coming of age and fantastic fairytales really had me fully invested. Well done!

Once and Again

Excellent story. The writing is strong, narrator well developed, supporting characters charming, some little plot twists that are well done, and the world building is appropriate for secret magic within the mundane world. The stories within the story are gems as well, lending an additional facet of enjoyment. The narrator for this audiobook is wonderful, I was easily drawn in and became absorbed with the tale because of her performance. Such a good pairing of story and voice. I could see middle - high school students who enjoy fantasy diving into this as an independent read, and older elementary students engaging with this book as a family read. I would recommend this book to anyone though. Listen to it.

Sweet.Magical, a new classic for me.

Obsessed with the layers and loveliness in this tale. Highly recommend giving it a listen.

Fabulous Fantasy Story

Overall I loved this fresh fantasy story with modern elements. The main character was a bit young for her roll, but this is fantasy. I highly recommend checking out this story with fantastic creatures and a heroine with her head on her shoulders. I’m looking for more by this author.

Wonderful

A wonderful tale. Filled with mythical beasts, intrigue, action and friendship. Well worth a listen.