The CoS post nerf is a solid suggestion. I would also look into getting a decent 2hander. A cheap one can be found for like 50-100pp, probably less if you ask the seller to drop their price. I know when I'm selling items around this price I am generally looking to beat the vendor price and am happy to see a newer player get use out of an item.
As for places to level here would be my recommendations. It is the same path my monk iksar did solo as well. However he was fairly twinked (SoS/Jade mace SCHW), however you will likely be a bit harder. So kills may not happen as fast but will be able to survive just fine.
*1-9 FoB (Field of Bone): Stay here till you can consistently kill the Scalebone skeletons.
*9-20 Kurns Tower: This. This is where exp really takes off. Has a HUGE zone exp modifier and basically everything is undead. I would recommend avoiding killing the moles so you can camp some of the named skellys in the basement w/o caster hell from the moles. Also as a side note, many twinks level here and let the armor that drop here rot on corpses. An ooc shout now and again can net you a decent set of armor.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Burynai_Hide_Armor /
https://wiki.project1999.com/Ruined_Scaled_Armor
*21-30ish Oasis of Marr: I enjoyed doing this camp. The caimans/crocs are non social so you can pull easily and solo them. You also get pretty consistent drive-by buff by higher levels on the docks.
*30-40ish South Karana: KFC, its old world mobs so they are pretty easy to crush. There is also a vendor that sells to iksar at the top of the bird nest and they are not KoS nor will they be KoS after the bird murder.
*40-52ish Crystal Caverns: This was probably my second favorite exp grind spot. Low 40's you want to stick to the velium crawlers in the water and the spiders in the center tunnel. One you his mid 40's you can move into taking on the geos. this will be an exp and cash camp that can take you all the way to 54 if you not in a hurry to hit 60. The gems off the named geos here vendor for 19-194pp (ive had days where I was lucky and netted like 3 grand in 2 hours). The dorf town has a bank you will have immediate access to may have to look into faction dance to be able to sell there. Or have someone sell for you for a fee.
*52-?? Waking lands Faerie drag / goo tunnels: This is where I am currently grinding it out. goos/faerie dragons drop some decent vendor loot (think sea fury clopses) at a lower frequency. Also the dragons will drop a great variety of armor quest gems. probably gonna camp this out till 56 or so then lord knows where I am off too.
Now I prefer to solo it out cause it means I have zero obligation of causing a group to collapse if a raid gets called or I want to run to town and trade skill for a hot min. However many of these zones offer grouping / duoing opportunities that you can take advantage of otherwise.
keep in mind this was my adventure that I went on and there are tons of other options should this not sound like the path you want to do on. Either way best of luck and most of all have fun!