Reviews with content warning for Gore - Monstress, Book One

Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Monstress, Book One by Marjorie Liu

12 reviews

g_whitt's review

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

4.5

The art and story of this work are incredible! The world is full and diverse, thought there is a lot of exposition as dialogue. This is not an easy work to read, but it is fantastic.

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mburnsides's review

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I had read the first volume months before the rest of the book and had not reread it before finishing, so the first six chapters I don't remember well. Sometimes the story could be hard to follow and I didn't start remembering characters' names until about halfway through. The art is phenomenal and the characters design, ugh *chefs kiss* If you like hot women, this story is for you. If you like matriarchal perspectives and eldritch horror, this story is for you. I enjoyed the greyness of Maika’s character and the story’s willingness to paint “heroes” as bad people.

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jessthanthree's review

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adventurous dark tense medium-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

5.0

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inamerata's review

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adventurous dark mysterious

4.5

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nannahnannah's review

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5.0

Damn, I love Monstress so much.
I was waiting for this monster of a collection since it was announced, and waited again when it said it would be published around July - but wasn't - and then finally in October ... I got my hands on it. And it's perfect.

Representation:
no one is white (takes place in 1900s fictional Asia - and yes, that includes S. Asia! Finally!)
many characters are sapphic, including our protagonist, Maika

So, in this 1900s re-imagined matriarchal Asia, Maika "halfwolf" not only struggles with PTSD (because that's definitely what it is; it's just not acknowledged) from war and slavery from her childhood, but now has to deal with a horror of a monster living inside of her. One that causes her to hunger for living flesh. And one that makes her the target of pretty much everyone, because not only is this monster a, well, monster, but a terrifying old god from before the days of the Ancient's (Maika's ancestors).

The world of Monstress is one of my favorites when it comes to world building. This place is vast and the mythology is so well developed. There's so much these writers haven't shown us yet, but give us in tiny pieces, teasing us. I want more! And they know that. They're also masters of tension, and each chapter increases the stakes, though often I just want Maika to have a break. Some bit of happiness. Anything.

Speaking of Maika, she's the "badass with a secretly kind heart" done right. Especially with trauma. She's not one of those annoying "tough girls" that swoons once she sees a hot guy (that would soon be her love interest in most man-written stuff). The graphic novels are very plot-driven, and it focuses more on character goals and arcs than romance. And if it does venture into romance, it definitely wouldn't be Maika swooning before a man, lmao! I love how strong the women are. Even little Kippa, who seems at first to be the weakest link. Her growth from the beginning of this collection to the end (

from being a rescued slave to leading the fox refugees to safety)

nearly makes me want to cry. Especially when relating it back to what's going on today.

Anyway, there's so much to talk about in this collection, but basically: world building is a+, and though more could be done with Maika character-wise, I'm sure it will be long and drawn-out with such a long series like this. I can't wait to see it though, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

But there's no denying it: this collection is BEAUTIFUL. There's no reason Sana Takeda had to go all out with the art like this, but she did. And the result is stunning. Together, she and Marjorie Liu are one hell of a force.

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vigil's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious relaxing 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

5.0

i’m utterly devouring this comic series! it’s definitely confusing at first, liu doesn’t take the time to fully introduce you to the world, instead throwing you in head first (making you feel as confused as our main character, maika.) but the learning curve is a very short one, and the pieces start to fall into place soon enough.

it’s not a comic for everyone. grimdark doesn’t begin to describe the setting, but it’s used for a purpose. marjorie liu doesn’t shy away from from the horrors of war and failed societies (many details she pulled from her own family’s experience during wwii, i believe) and the effects and tragedy left in its wake.

the series has its share of heartwarming moments, mainly in the form of kippa, and her relationship with the world and the people around her. it’s a world chockfull of bad guys, no good guys, and everyone with their backs to the wall and the choices they make because of it.

i just enjoyed this series so much that i’m giving it a five star despite its aforementioned issues (pacing, vagueness, entry confusion.) if you go into this series treating it like you would a sci-fi / fantasy novel where you stick through the beginning as you gain a hold on the story and setting, you’ll be much better off.

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