A review by mirmox
Insexts Year One by Marguerite Bennett
3.0
Writer Marguerite Bennett and artist Ariela Kristantina have created an indulgent Sapphic romance tangled up in a series of brutal Victorian horror stories.
Lady is in a bad marriage to a man with darker secrets than even she knows. She finds comfort in her chambermaid and lover, Mariah. The two dabble in a mysterious ritual as a means of setting them both free and creating the family they so long to have, with unpredictable results. The ensuing stories see the lovers take on monstrous forms with an uncontrollable evolution, as they battle even more monstrous cryptids and misogynistic men.
InSEXts is full of dark, bloody murder in the occult undergrounds of London and Paris. The story itself leaves some pivotal unanswered questions – notably where Mariah found out about the magic and why it morphs as it does – but readers looking for the sexy and the macabre may not care. The illustrations reflect this well, running the gamut from gory to erotic, and managing to twist together imagery that is both disturbing and beautiful in the same spread.
Bennett tackles many facets of patriarchy and misogyny, including the internalized hatred that women learn to use against other women. This subject is not approached subtly, as whole scenes become the venue for debates on how society views women, and the tropes and myths that shroud the reality of womanhood. The premise that women often have to accept being seen as monsters to truly find freedom is intriguing and will likely resonate with the right reader.
For graphic nudity and horror elements, this title is recommended for adults.
Review copy provided by Diamond Comic Distributors.
Read this review on Diamond Bookshelf.
Lady is in a bad marriage to a man with darker secrets than even she knows. She finds comfort in her chambermaid and lover, Mariah. The two dabble in a mysterious ritual as a means of setting them both free and creating the family they so long to have, with unpredictable results. The ensuing stories see the lovers take on monstrous forms with an uncontrollable evolution, as they battle even more monstrous cryptids and misogynistic men.
InSEXts is full of dark, bloody murder in the occult undergrounds of London and Paris. The story itself leaves some pivotal unanswered questions – notably where Mariah found out about the magic and why it morphs as it does – but readers looking for the sexy and the macabre may not care. The illustrations reflect this well, running the gamut from gory to erotic, and managing to twist together imagery that is both disturbing and beautiful in the same spread.
Bennett tackles many facets of patriarchy and misogyny, including the internalized hatred that women learn to use against other women. This subject is not approached subtly, as whole scenes become the venue for debates on how society views women, and the tropes and myths that shroud the reality of womanhood. The premise that women often have to accept being seen as monsters to truly find freedom is intriguing and will likely resonate with the right reader.
For graphic nudity and horror elements, this title is recommended for adults.
Review copy provided by Diamond Comic Distributors.
Read this review on Diamond Bookshelf.