Scan barcode
mitskacir's review against another edition
4.0
The art in this is amazing. Full color, amazing detail, and easy to follow the action. The story is quite complicated and you're thrown into the middle of the world without much exposition. By the end, I think I figured it out (except for the mysteries that are left for the subsequent volumes), but I'd like to read it again so that I can better understand the action at the beginning. So far some of the themes are a bit "been there, seen that", but there is enough unique world building and magic to hold my attention. I hope that in the next volumes the themes become more nuanced as we learn more of the backstory. Would not recommend to the squeamish - there is graphic detail on nearly every page.
Merged review:
The art in this is amazing. Full color, amazing detail, and easy to follow the action. The story is quite complicated and you're thrown into the middle of the world without much exposition. By the end, I think I figured it out (except for the mysteries that are left for the subsequent volumes), but I'd like to read it again so that I can better understand the action at the beginning. So far some of the themes are a bit "been there, seen that", but there is enough unique world building and magic to hold my attention. I hope that in the next volumes the themes become more nuanced as we learn more of the backstory. Would not recommend to the squeamish - there is graphic detail on nearly every page.
Merged review:
The art in this is amazing. Full color, amazing detail, and easy to follow the action. The story is quite complicated and you're thrown into the middle of the world without much exposition. By the end, I think I figured it out (except for the mysteries that are left for the subsequent volumes), but I'd like to read it again so that I can better understand the action at the beginning. So far some of the themes are a bit "been there, seen that", but there is enough unique world building and magic to hold my attention. I hope that in the next volumes the themes become more nuanced as we learn more of the backstory. Would not recommend to the squeamish - there is graphic detail on nearly every page.
nerwen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
el_ma's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
osborne2read's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
njdarkish's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very different experience than what I usually get from comics. For one, the art was much, much better than one typically sees, and it stayed consistently good throughout. The world was much more unique and fresh than a lot of comics or fantasy fiction in general that I come across. It was also nice to be treated as an intelligent reader who doesn't need their hand held-- the world is vivid and alive and doesn't slow down to explain itself to you. The main characters were interesting, particularly the heroine whose darkness literally cannot be held at bay.
I did question the cat characters, however. They seemed too light and silly in many ways to fit in with the otherwise grimdark world. They felt more like the obligatory small animal sidekicks you so often see in mediocre anime series rather than something that was organic to the world. I just felt like the writer or artist just has a thing for cats, not that their inclusion was actually right for the story.
Merged review:
This was a very different experience than what I usually get from comics. For one, the art was much, much better than one typically sees, and it stayed consistently good throughout. The world was much more unique and fresh than a lot of comics or fantasy fiction in general that I come across. It was also nice to be treated as an intelligent reader who doesn't need their hand held-- the world is vivid and alive and doesn't slow down to explain itself to you. The main characters were interesting, particularly the heroine whose darkness literally cannot be held at bay.
I did question the cat characters, however. They seemed too light and silly in many ways to fit in with the otherwise grimdark world. They felt more like the obligatory small animal sidekicks you so often see in mediocre anime series rather than something that was organic to the world. I just felt like the writer or artist just has a thing for cats, not that their inclusion was actually right for the story.
I did question the cat characters, however. They seemed too light and silly in many ways to fit in with the otherwise grimdark world. They felt more like the obligatory small animal sidekicks you so often see in mediocre anime series rather than something that was organic to the world. I just felt like the writer or artist just has a thing for cats, not that their inclusion was actually right for the story.
Merged review:
This was a very different experience than what I usually get from comics. For one, the art was much, much better than one typically sees, and it stayed consistently good throughout. The world was much more unique and fresh than a lot of comics or fantasy fiction in general that I come across. It was also nice to be treated as an intelligent reader who doesn't need their hand held-- the world is vivid and alive and doesn't slow down to explain itself to you. The main characters were interesting, particularly the heroine whose darkness literally cannot be held at bay.
I did question the cat characters, however. They seemed too light and silly in many ways to fit in with the otherwise grimdark world. They felt more like the obligatory small animal sidekicks you so often see in mediocre anime series rather than something that was organic to the world. I just felt like the writer or artist just has a thing for cats, not that their inclusion was actually right for the story.
vikrmm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.25
Pretty recondite read from what I expected. But it was very enjoyable overall. Bought just this volume to give it a shot and now I definitely plan to continue the series in the future. I definitely see it improving it on a reread. Incredible art from Sana Takeda. Stylistically, some of the best I’ve seen in comics lately. Writing felt very iffy and childish at points but it feels very characteristic in hindsight. It’s a fantasy world with rich, deep history, a lot of which is yet to be uncovered and even understood so I’m excited to jump back into this for the future
kistireads's review against another edition
5.0
I don't typically read a lot of comics or manga but Monstress is one that I'm very drawn to. One of my favorite things, aside from the story, is the artwork here - the colors and designs set such a dark and atmospheric tone - it is both beautiful and intricate.
From the imagery to the storytelling this comic is rich and complex and mysterious. I am compelled to continue even at this late hour. This is a very plot driven novel, and the plot moves quickly. I love the flashbacks and finding out more about the characters pasts and the world. The worldbuidling is done in a very clever and classroom type fashion - of the professor teaching his students of the history and politics of the different races in the world as the story goes on. The worldbuilding feels heavy but I feel as I ease into the comics more that this will all become second nature.
I am glad I read this twice as things as much clearer the second time around.
I'm not sure if comics/mangas go in depth about their characters but I'd love to see more of that in the coming novels and I have a feeling we will as the ending leaves us on quite the cliffhanger!
Second time around and I enjoyed it immensely and picked up on parts I hadn't picked up on the first time around. Highly recommended read!
Merged review:
I don't typically read a lot of comics or manga but Monstress is one that I'm very drawn to. One of my favorite things, aside from the story, is the artwork here - the colors and designs set such a dark and atmospheric tone - it is both beautiful and intricate.
From the imagery to the storytelling this comic is rich and complex and mysterious. I am compelled to continue even at this late hour. This is a very plot driven novel, and the plot moves quickly. I love the flashbacks and finding out more about the characters pasts and the world. The worldbuidling is done in a very clever and classroom type fashion - of the professor teaching his students of the history and politics of the different races in the world as the story goes on. The worldbuilding feels heavy but I feel as I ease into the comics more that this will all become second nature.
I am glad I read this twice as things as much clearer the second time around.
I'm not sure if comics/mangas go in depth about their characters but I'd love to see more of that in the coming novels and I have a feeling we will as the ending leaves us on quite the cliffhanger!
Second time around and I enjoyed it immensely and picked up on parts I hadn't picked up on the first time around. Highly recommended read!
From the imagery to the storytelling this comic is rich and complex and mysterious. I am compelled to continue even at this late hour. This is a very plot driven novel, and the plot moves quickly. I love the flashbacks and finding out more about the characters pasts and the world. The worldbuidling is done in a very clever and classroom type fashion - of the professor teaching his students of the history and politics of the different races in the world as the story goes on. The worldbuilding feels heavy but I feel as I ease into the comics more that this will all become second nature.
I am glad I read this twice as things as much clearer the second time around.
I'm not sure if comics/mangas go in depth about their characters but I'd love to see more of that in the coming novels and I have a feeling we will as the ending leaves us on quite the cliffhanger!
Second time around and I enjoyed it immensely and picked up on parts I hadn't picked up on the first time around. Highly recommended read!
Merged review:
I don't typically read a lot of comics or manga but Monstress is one that I'm very drawn to. One of my favorite things, aside from the story, is the artwork here - the colors and designs set such a dark and atmospheric tone - it is both beautiful and intricate.
From the imagery to the storytelling this comic is rich and complex and mysterious. I am compelled to continue even at this late hour. This is a very plot driven novel, and the plot moves quickly. I love the flashbacks and finding out more about the characters pasts and the world. The worldbuidling is done in a very clever and classroom type fashion - of the professor teaching his students of the history and politics of the different races in the world as the story goes on. The worldbuilding feels heavy but I feel as I ease into the comics more that this will all become second nature.
I am glad I read this twice as things as much clearer the second time around.
I'm not sure if comics/mangas go in depth about their characters but I'd love to see more of that in the coming novels and I have a feeling we will as the ending leaves us on quite the cliffhanger!
Second time around and I enjoyed it immensely and picked up on parts I hadn't picked up on the first time around. Highly recommended read!
_kjmac_books_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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