bookswithsmee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“It is dangerous not to care for the small things that need you.”
Milly and Billy, Chinese-American twins living in New York City, are experiencing the financial blows of the pandemic at their restaurant. On top of that, their stern mother Ipo is making them spend time tending to the terrifying and abandoned house across the street. What first appears to be a lesson in discipline soon becomes a nightmare as Milly and Billy learn there is more to their parents than meets the eye.
Welcome to 2023, the year of the graphic novel. I love graphic novels, and haven’t been reading anywhere near enough of them, so this is my first attempt to remedy that this year.
The art in this is UNREAL, and did an excellent job of using the colouring to differentiate between the parts of the story being told in the present human realm, the present demon realm, Hong Kong in the 1950s and Hawaii in the 1970s-90s. The fact that all of those are possible settings in this graphic novel should be enough to convince you to read it.
Also, despite being a horror, She Eats the Night was also genuinely funny. The relationship between Milly and Billy and their parents is equally chucklesome and painfully relatable. Also for those of y’all that like a grumpy sunshine dynamic, Milly and Billy’s parents are THAT.
At its core, this is also a story about immigrant identity, told through a supernatural lens. If you have ever struggled with your cultural identity or cultural disconnect from your wider family, I am sure that the story of Milly and Billy will resonate with you.
I cannot wait for the next volume.
The Playlist Eaters:
- Family Line // Conan Gray
- Hunger // Florence + the Machine
- Sleepy Hollow // Su Lee
Ipo breaking my heart:
“I was afraid that what came from me would be more powerful than your father’s kindness.”
Milly and Billy, Chinese-American twins living in New York City, are experiencing the financial blows of the pandemic at their restaurant. On top of that, their stern mother Ipo is making them spend time tending to the terrifying and abandoned house across the street. What first appears to be a lesson in discipline soon becomes a nightmare as Milly and Billy learn there is more to their parents than meets the eye.
Welcome to 2023, the year of the graphic novel. I love graphic novels, and haven’t been reading anywhere near enough of them, so this is my first attempt to remedy that this year.
The art in this is UNREAL, and did an excellent job of using the colouring to differentiate between the parts of the story being told in the present human realm, the present demon realm, Hong Kong in the 1950s and Hawaii in the 1970s-90s. The fact that all of those are possible settings in this graphic novel should be enough to convince you to read it.
Also, despite being a horror, She Eats the Night was also genuinely funny. The relationship between Milly and Billy and their parents is equally chucklesome and painfully relatable. Also for those of y’all that like a grumpy sunshine dynamic, Milly and Billy’s parents are THAT.
At its core, this is also a story about immigrant identity, told through a supernatural lens. If you have ever struggled with your cultural identity or cultural disconnect from your wider family, I am sure that the story of Milly and Billy will resonate with you.
I cannot wait for the next volume.
The Playlist Eaters:
- Family Line // Conan Gray
- Hunger // Florence + the Machine
- Sleepy Hollow // Su Lee
Ipo breaking my heart:
“I was afraid that what came from me would be more powerful than your father’s kindness.”
baileymorrison's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
tcgarback's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Critical Score: B+
Personal Score: B-
Reading Experience: 📘📘📘📘📘(5/5)
This is was fine! I liked it more than Monstress, and I’m interested in continuing the trilogy for sure. I wasn’t exactly in the mood for this, yet it still kept me invested, mostly thanks to it being a really quick read once you get through the first act.
The characters strike a balance between cartoonish and rich. The monster plot feels just fresh enough. The art is satisfying.
I’m like sort of meh on this? No big complaints but I don’t feel enthusiastic either.
Critical Score: B+
Personal Score: B-
Reading Experience: 📘📘📘📘📘(5/5)
This is was fine! I liked it more than Monstress, and I’m interested in continuing the trilogy for sure. I wasn’t exactly in the mood for this, yet it still kept me invested, mostly thanks to it being a really quick read once you get through the first act.
The characters strike a balance between cartoonish and rich. The monster plot feels just fresh enough. The art is satisfying.
I’m like sort of meh on this? No big complaints but I don’t feel enthusiastic either.
mermaidmoonqueen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ktindol's review against another edition
5.0
(I won my copy from a Goodreads giveaway)
What an absolute treat. Beautiful and creepy art. A family drama with some supernatural, and at times hilarious, twists.
What an absolute treat. Beautiful and creepy art. A family drama with some supernatural, and at times hilarious, twists.
cadeunderbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.75
This is a story that embodies my top tier book tag "I'll eat you up I love you so"! It feels both familiar, like I've popped in a VHS tape of my favorite old monster martial arts mash-up flick, but is also a very present (the Covid19 pandemic is a reality here) & modern immigrant family story. Of course, Sana Takeda's art is gorgeous!! It crackles with energy, & honestly I felt like I could hear those creepy dolls clicking as they turned their heads to look at where Ipo had been so casually smoking her cigarette on that decrepit couch. & Marjorie Liu's deft, layered storytelling is a terribly lovely dream, that buoyed me along page by page, because I wanted to know more about this beautiful family & their shadowed legacy. Ooooh, I'm so excited to read the next volume!!
zoltarspeaks's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
e_lace's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
anuajit's review against another edition
4.0
Many thanks to Netgalley, Titan Comics and the author, for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda are auto reads for me. Ever since I stumbled into their Monstress universe, I have been fascinated and completely spell bpund by both the art and the story telling.
Milly and Billy are trying their best to keep their business afloat and to keep their mother happy. But no matter what they do, their mom Ipo is not impressed and more than often seems to be mad at them. There is a secret lying hidden in the past of their parents Ipo and Keon, something terrifying, gory and bloody.
I won't lie I was so confused as to where this story is going in the first half, and even though I did get some answers I am still reeling with questions. I cannot for the life of me wait for book 2.
TW: Blood, Gore, Terror, death
Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda are auto reads for me. Ever since I stumbled into their Monstress universe, I have been fascinated and completely spell bpund by both the art and the story telling.
Milly and Billy are trying their best to keep their business afloat and to keep their mother happy. But no matter what they do, their mom Ipo is not impressed and more than often seems to be mad at them. There is a secret lying hidden in the past of their parents Ipo and Keon, something terrifying, gory and bloody.
I won't lie I was so confused as to where this story is going in the first half, and even though I did get some answers I am still reeling with questions. I cannot for the life of me wait for book 2.
TW: Blood, Gore, Terror, death
regaliaofchaos's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore