Reviews

Monstress, Book One by Marjorie Liu

Only show reviews with written explanations

thecolourblue's review

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? Yes

5.0

Fantastic comic series. Absolutely perfect art, just amazing. Great characters, great world-building, great moral ambiguity and willingness to let the protagnist express hurt and rage and destructiveness without becoming someone you stop rooting for.

Book One collects Volumes #1-3 (Awakening, The Blood, Haven) / Chapters #1-18

Volume One: Throws us right into this world. Instantly brutal - there's slavery and child sacrifice, plus war, massacres and very literal monster. Sets up the political factions of the world without needed exposition dumps. I love the developing dynamic between Maika and the monster in her body.

Volume Two: Kippa shows what an important source of unconditional love they are for Maika. More of Zinn's backstory is revealled, and they become a more interesting - potentially even heroic - character in their own right. The majority of the volume is focused on the groups travel to the Isle of Bones, which is just outstanding art.

Volume Three: The world gets more complex as we learn more about the history of our characters. I'm fully fully invested. Not entirely sure why Tulya is making some of the choices she is - the exact timeline of Maika and her backstory doesn't quote make sense to me yet.

Spoiler

The group travel to Tear Shed, and island refugee camp in the "safe" territory of Poitius. Corvin is back to ...maybe help? Maika tries to deal with the Poitius powers-that-be, and royally fucks shit up. There's a giant god battle and it's epic. Zinn has feelings.

I'm resisting the urge to binge read this whole series without sleep.

woolandwhiskey's review

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5.0

I am not usually drawn towards graphic novels but Monstress might have converted me (or spoiled me?) The artwork is splendid. The world-building is marvelous. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment.

ktxx22's review

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3.0

This was good, but it took ages to get there and I spent probably half of this book confused on what all exactly was happened and who exactly these folks were. The artwork is stunning and I was compelled to continue but not quickly it was mostly just whenever. However as the second half of this came about it got better and better and more entertaining overall… I was finally invested

shksprsis's review

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

averykatepe's review

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense

5.0

choccyfish's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I will say I wasn’t 100% on board for the first 7-ish chapters but when it gets going it is so good. Like the opening I found was a little too confusing and I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. I think that’s my only real reason for a 4.5 rating. The only other thing I’m not a fan of is some of the dialogue. The use of fuck is absolutely fine and can really emphasise things but I feel it is used too often and sometimes actually detracts from things.

The art is absolutely breathtaking. Like absolutely amazing. The world building, once it gets into it properly is really great. I’m so excited to see what else happens and I’m picking up the next book instantly.

Also really good disability and queer rep from a couple characters.