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A review by princessrobotiv
Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie Liu
3.0
3.5
The introductory volume of this series was intriguing enough for me to place the second on hold about halfway through.
I was initially put off by the gore, which didn't so much improve as it did dilute as the plot finally began to take shape. The plot itself, and the tropes therein, are just up my alley. I'm a sucker for interesting relationships between dread monsters and young humans struggling for power (over themselves, their surroundings, or others). And the monster in THIS story already has my interest piqued, not the least because it actually looks like a monster: foreign, eldritch, repulsive. Good stuff. Likewise, the monster's interactions with Maika were handled well, just combative enough to feel natural and realistic but not so combative that it felt redundant.
The art style was arresting and beautifully intricate. Maika's facial expressions were a joy to see, every panel, and her anatomy was handled so well that I both forgot and never forgot her disability . . . if that makes sense.
You can tell how weary I am of seeing women brutally killed in media, though -- even in this refreshingly woman-centric fantasy world, where a great diversity of characters are represented, I struggled with the severe violence being inflicted on almost every woman. I'm not sure how I'll feel about it going forward. It depends on how it's handled. I am somewhat annoyed by the use of "bitch" in a supposed matriarchal society, though . . . Like . . . where did it come from? Why not make up your own slur, one that isn't tied to the patriarchy? Anyway. That's my grouse.
Merged review:
3.5
The introductory volume of this series was intriguing enough for me to place the second on hold about halfway through.
I was initially put off by the gore, which didn't so much improve as it did dilute as the plot finally began to take shape. The plot itself, and the tropes therein, are just up my alley. I'm a sucker for interesting relationships between dread monsters and young humans struggling for power (over themselves, their surroundings, or others). And the monster in THIS story already has my interest piqued, not the least because it actually looks like a monster: foreign, eldritch, repulsive. Good stuff. Likewise, the monster's interactions with Maika were handled well, just combative enough to feel natural and realistic but not so combative that it felt redundant.
The art style was arresting and beautifully intricate. Maika's facial expressions were a joy to see, every panel, and her anatomy was handled so well that I both forgot and never forgot her disability . . . if that makes sense.
You can tell how weary I am of seeing women brutally killed in media, though -- even in this refreshingly woman-centric fantasy world, where a great diversity of characters are represented, I struggled with the severe violence being inflicted on almost every woman. I'm not sure how I'll feel about it going forward. It depends on how it's handled. I am somewhat annoyed by the use of "bitch" in a supposed matriarchal society, though . . . Like . . . where did it come from? Why not make up your own slur, one that isn't tied to the patriarchy? Anyway. That's my grouse.
The introductory volume of this series was intriguing enough for me to place the second on hold about halfway through.
I was initially put off by the gore, which didn't so much improve as it did dilute as the plot finally began to take shape. The plot itself, and the tropes therein, are just up my alley. I'm a sucker for interesting relationships between dread monsters and young humans struggling for power (over themselves, their surroundings, or others). And the monster in THIS story already has my interest piqued, not the least because it actually looks like a monster: foreign, eldritch, repulsive. Good stuff. Likewise, the monster's interactions with Maika were handled well, just combative enough to feel natural and realistic but not so combative that it felt redundant.
The art style was arresting and beautifully intricate. Maika's facial expressions were a joy to see, every panel, and her anatomy was handled so well that I both forgot and never forgot her disability . . . if that makes sense.
You can tell how weary I am of seeing women brutally killed in media, though -- even in this refreshingly woman-centric fantasy world, where a great diversity of characters are represented, I struggled with the severe violence being inflicted on almost every woman. I'm not sure how I'll feel about it going forward. It depends on how it's handled. I am somewhat annoyed by the use of "bitch" in a supposed matriarchal society, though . . . Like . . . where did it come from? Why not make up your own slur, one that isn't tied to the patriarchy? Anyway. That's my grouse.
Merged review:
3.5
The introductory volume of this series was intriguing enough for me to place the second on hold about halfway through.
I was initially put off by the gore, which didn't so much improve as it did dilute as the plot finally began to take shape. The plot itself, and the tropes therein, are just up my alley. I'm a sucker for interesting relationships between dread monsters and young humans struggling for power (over themselves, their surroundings, or others). And the monster in THIS story already has my interest piqued, not the least because it actually looks like a monster: foreign, eldritch, repulsive. Good stuff. Likewise, the monster's interactions with Maika were handled well, just combative enough to feel natural and realistic but not so combative that it felt redundant.
The art style was arresting and beautifully intricate. Maika's facial expressions were a joy to see, every panel, and her anatomy was handled so well that I both forgot and never forgot her disability . . . if that makes sense.
You can tell how weary I am of seeing women brutally killed in media, though -- even in this refreshingly woman-centric fantasy world, where a great diversity of characters are represented, I struggled with the severe violence being inflicted on almost every woman. I'm not sure how I'll feel about it going forward. It depends on how it's handled. I am somewhat annoyed by the use of "bitch" in a supposed matriarchal society, though . . . Like . . . where did it come from? Why not make up your own slur, one that isn't tied to the patriarchy? Anyway. That's my grouse.