Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Monstress, Vol 3: Haven

Like Volume 2, this entry in the series is more like a chunk of the middle of a story than a complete story, but the story is finally starting to get into the meat and action. Maika is still hunting for answers, but she keeps finding more questions (or at least I do, since I as the reader get to see conversations and events that Maika doesn't) and in this volume her enemies have started finding her.

I am loving the dynamic developing between Maika and the progressively-more-talkative demon creature inside her, who now has a name and some of a backstory. Zinn, the demon, is expected to be a bad guy (by the tropes and by most of the characters in the story), but compared to violent and recklessly self-endangering Maika, it almost seems like the voice of reason. Maika is now up against enemies who are proving she is actually not basically unkillable, but that doesn't stop her from knowing she can take whatever pain they throw at her and continuing to fight.

And the more this series goes on, the more I love Kippa. The little fox is so young but insists on seeing and believing the best of Maika and it's just so darn sweet. No matter how much Maika tries to push Kippa away, Kippa still cares for her - and this entry in the series shows that Maika may actually care for Kippa a little, too.

As always, the art is stunning and the plot is fantastic. I struggle to keep track of all the warring factions in this world, but I'm not sure if that's a problem with the storytelling or my difficulty in reading graphic novels. I am grabbing Volume 4 immediately.

Content Warnings

dorian_gray's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

More...