Reviews

Cooking with Monsters: The Beginner's Guide to Culinary Combat by Jordan Alsaqa, Vivian Truong

destdest's review

adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed the world-building and the food creatures a lot. The pacing was very slow, but the character arcs were completed nicely. None of the romantic elements were hitting.

Like, there was no chemistry or hints for any of the characters. Was it added last minute? Hana's crush on Olivia seemed abrupt, and when did Olivia start liking Bobby? Then, he says he's liked Olivia all along too? Here comes drama in book two! This is also a rare portrayal of platonic boy-girl friends who don't fall in love.

 

Still, I'd read more of this series.

bardicbear's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

lesbrary's review

4.0

While I felt like the beginning of this volume was a little bumpy, I was soon pulled into this world and the well-rounded characters. First of all, there are the monsters, which are all part animal and part food (think Mooseshrooms, which grow mushroom from their antlers). Some are violent and are defeated through combat. Others are cared for, with their fruits responsibly harvested. They’re such a fun visual element.

I mentioned already the diversity of the cast, but that really is woven into the story. Hana and Bobby are coded Japanese and Vietnamese, and they face racism and anti-immigrant sentiments from some people in their community—including a second year student who used to harass them. Olivia is Black. One side character is nonbinary, and another is a trans man with top surgery scars. I often lose track of a long list of characters, but each of them is distinct in both design and personality.

It’s this group of characters that, alongside the monsters, is the main strength of the graphic novel. I can definitely see how this can support a whole series, because I’m intrigued by even the characters we’ve only seen briefly. We’ve also gotten a look into Hana’s own weaknesses she has to overcome in her training, and I look forward to seeing what subsequent years are like at the academy!

This definitely lived up to my (high) expectations, and as I just keep saying in this review, I can’t wait for volume two to come out!

Full review at the Lesbrary.

jmontg18's review

adventurous funny 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

3.5

jugglingpup's review

4.0

To see a full review check it out here.

My biggest complaint was it was too fast paced. I didn't get to really know most of the characters or the world. Guess that means I need vol 2 immediately.

kieranl's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

Oh that hit me in my feels. Also monsters. And food. And awesomeness!

bookishlibrarian's review

3.5

 Still catching up on graphic novel reviews from my workshop/programs awhile back. I ran across this one while exploring resources in a class and was drawn to the fun premise. The Gourmand School of Culinary Combat is an elite academy for teaching its students how to slay monsters--and how to create dishes with them. This premise is explored in a fun way--spatulas as weapons--with a bevy of battles between the aspiring warrior chefs and some entertaining monsters, like the Scentsipede which exploits the sensory tie between smells and memories. In addition, though, it also does a great job of exploring different relationship dynamics--between friends, rivals, relatives, and mentor/mentee relationships. Probably 3.5. 

courtsport3000's review

4.0

Really cool concept executed in an incredibly fun, well-crafted package. The art is bright, colorful, and engaging to look at. I loved the unique monsters with connections to food - their designs are so imaginative. But one of the biggest strengths here is our diverse cast of characters, each given their time to shine and share their story without bogging down the overarching plot. This crew of kids is extremely lovable and you can't help rooting for them all.

Highly recommend in general, but especially for fans of the game Battle Chef Brigade. Can't wait to continue this series.

Special thanks to IDW for an ARC in exchange for review.

saviinvhetin's review

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

literarycavy's review

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0