Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Monstress - Despertar by Marjorie Liu

56 reviews

jadie_berg's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Slavery, Blood, Cannibalism, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent

kanra's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

This is a dark fantasy graphic novel about a girl with power she can't control. The artwork is absolutely stunning and the story sucks you in as you learn more about the world and what's happening. At first it switches between present and past so you can learn more about why the MC is making the choices she is but then it levels out into the present. There are also some cute lore pages between chapters to give you a little more insight into the world. I'll definitely be picking up the next volumes. If you dislike reading about death, abuse, gore, and slavery then this isn't for you. If you don't mind those topics and are looking for a good fantasy world then this might be for you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Gore

Moderate: Child abuse and Blood

Minor: Animal cruelty, Racism, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

litprof's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

Shockingly—I would say gratuitously—explicit, with graphic violence and death on nearly every page. Given that so many of the victims are portrayed as cute, I thought there might be an anti-meat messaging, but that didn't emerge.

The writer and illustrator clearly have a complex world in mind, but I found it difficult to follow the plot and relationships, or understand the world. My partner started reading it too, and even discussing the world didn't help clarify.

The lecture excerpts from the professor cat were somewhat helpful, but I still wasn't sure what was going on.

The illustrations are exquisite, but I will not be reading the subsequent volumes in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, and Child death

alcoholic_frog'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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and War

pastel_princess's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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? No

5.0

To start, the artwork in this book is amazing. Sana Takeda (Artist) did a wonderful job detailing the many characters you meet in this book. The story line is very clear and well written. Watching Maika learn about her past and reveal her story is sad and hard, but it is also besetting. I can't wait to read book 2!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

ithladin's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.5

Gorgeous art, good worldbuilding, interesting history... but all the triggers!! 

I would love to read something more happy/hopeful with the same art/worldbuilding though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Religious bigotry

millie's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Slavery, Torture, Blood, and War

nutmegandpumpkin's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

definitely mature readers only! graphic violence and gore, some nudity, heavy topics, and horror (definitely check content warnings)
- complex and interesting world building 
- morally grey protagonist 
- very dark and gory
- character design and setting design were really amazing 
- it dragged a bit in some parts

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content, Grief, and War

Minor: Death of parent

isabelborges's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Torture, and War

melsmagicalreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny tense 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? N/A

4.75

Kicking off 2022 with a graphic novel and I couldn't have chosen a better way to start my year! The world is on the brink of war, with humans and witches of the Cumaea against the Arcanics, half-human half-Ancient hybrids. Monstress follows a 17 year old girl, Maika, who travels deep into enemy territory. While doing this, she is fighting to keep a literal monster at bay who is residing inside her. With the unlikely traveling companions of a sentient cat and a cute little half-fox, she seeks answers to her unknown past while dodging all the different people who want her and her monster dead. 

I was so impressed by the depth of world-building in this graphic novel! It is so complex with multiple sentient species, warring factions, complex systems of power, and of course, monsters. The art is absolutely outstanding, unlike any other graphic novels I've read. It's definitely got a dark and gory steampunk vibe.

The story had the potential to be too dark for me, but the addition of sentient cats and a cute little half-fox sidekick for our monstress added much-needed comic relief. I imagine I will be flying through the next few volumes this week!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, and Trafficking