Instead of “Once upon a time…” the fairy tales that we read in Kiyash Monsef’s wonderful fantasy novel “Once There Was” begin with different words. When the main character Marjan’s father, who was from Iran, told her the childhood tales about mythical creatures, he started the stories with “Once was, once wasn’t…” The first story is about a trapped unicorn saved by a young girl; that encounter changes the young girl and the lives of some of her descendants. We learn that Marjan is one of those who descended from that girl.

When we first meet Marjan, she is a bitter high school student. Her father, who had become cold and distant after the death of her mother years before, was recently killed. Marjan has been trying to keep her father’s veterinary practice running and to continue attending high school. Then she starts receiving strange phone calls and requests to help strange creatures.

In her first person narrative, we feel the wonder and amazement along with Marjan as she realizes that griffins are real. In fact, she is sent to England by a mysterious group to heal one. The griffin has been with a wealthy British family for generations, and it’s old and weary and in pain. The family loves their griffin, who has been a part of their family for hundreds of years. Marjan isn’t a veterinarian, she’s just a high school student, but she has inherited her father’s ability to communicate with fantastical, mythical creatures. When she puts her hands on Kipling, the griffin, she feels what he is feeling.

With her newfound ability to connect with the fantastical creatures, Marjan meets Horatio Prendergast, a billionaire who collects such mythical animals. She also comes into contact with another group whose alleged purpose is keeping the creatures healthy and protecting them. When the creatures get sick, they put the owners in contact with someone who can help. That used to be Marjan’s father, but now the responsibility rests with her.

But what Marjan discovers is that things are not as they appear to be. And both of those who purport to help the fantastical creatures are not necessarily doing so because of noble purposes or deeply held moral beliefs. In fact, one thing that readers will learn from this fantasy is that there are those who might have lofty goals but are willing to do terrible things to accomplish those goals. And there are also those who purport to be ethically motivated but whose real purpose is pure greed.

Marjan, however, is a wonderful main character. She is not perfect, and that makes her all the more admirable. She struggles to incorporate her high school friends with her new friend, a self-proclaimed witch who comes with a fox who is not well. This novel is a perfect blend of fantasy and real-life friendship problems, as well as a tutorial about greed and capitalism. It’s captivating, and we delight in meeting the amazing and at times frightening creatures. Even the unicorn is not what we would expect.

The author demonstrates a masterful ability to use symbolism and repeating themes in the story as he ties together the unicorn and the theme, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” The solution to the mystery that Marjan struggles to solve about who killed her father is a clever twist that is unexpected, but which makes perfect sense when thinking about the novel as a whole. I loved every minute of living in Marjan’s world; and while I wouldn’t want to meet a manticore, I’d love a nine-tailed fox or a griffin companion.

And while this book is written as a young adult novel, adults will also find it beautiful. Even middle grade readers will enjoy this compelling tale.

Please note: This review is based on the final, hardcover book provided by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, the publisher, for review purposes.