Reviews

Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie Liu

haleymicheled's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark fast-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

4.5

bigfatraindrops's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

absinthe's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.0

lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition

Gorgeous art, but a bit too grim for me.  Child death and torture is not something I like to read about.  

jasisreading's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Gore, Blood, Gun violence, and War

msrcreation's review against another edition

3.5

 I'm a bit torn between 3.5 and 4 stars for this. The art is of course gorgeous. I think every review you will see mentions this. It is brutal and entertaining but it does feel like a lot to learn and get used to in one volume as well as the feeling of being dropped in the middle of a story and missing the beginning. I do enjoy the characters and the different creatures. Especially seeing our main character being as rough as she is with a sweet side character is adorable. And I do plan on continuing with the story to see where this goes especially after that ending panel. 

batkat31's review against another edition

4.0

Gorgeous artwork and world building. I was a little confused at times but that was okay and probably my fault because I devoured it so quickly i probably went to fast. Harsh and beautiful, it was an intense read.

Merged review:

Gorgeous artwork and world building. I was a little confused at times but that was okay and probably my fault because I devoured it so quickly i probably went to fast. Harsh and beautiful, it was an intense read.

calhale1989's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 Stars

I can tell why Neil Gaiman wrote a blurb for this. There are definently moments of the same kind of dark beauty that he writes with, especially in Sandman, and I am so intrigued by the world of Monstress. I want to know more about Maika's past as well as the small cast of characters that seem to be surrounding her. The art in this graphic novel is stunning. I am obsessed with the clothing.

However, it took a while for me to start to understand what was happening. This may be because of the combination of Eastern and Western storytelling or just how much information is being presented to the reader.

Also, for other readers, this is a very graphic a brutal world. I would highly recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading.

I will be continuing the series this month and am looking forward to the next volume.

rattledragons's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.75

annashiv's review against another edition

2.0

The art is fantastic. The story doesn't interest me at all. It's also darker and more grim than I like. Too depressing. I wont be continuing this series.