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A review by zach_collins
Monstress, Book One by Marjorie Liu
5.0
Mesmerizing artwork, extravagant worldbuilding, and complex characters? Sign me up!
Set in a steampunk alternate reality with talking cats and shadowy Old Gods on the edge of war, Monstress tackles themes of racism, xenophobia, trauma, and guilt, and though it is a fantasy it feels real and vital, especially in the world's current climate. The characters sound like clichés at first (a rugged loner with survivors-guilt, a wide-eyed innocent child, and shadowy double-agents), but they feel fresh in the author's and illustrator's telling, not at all dusty or overused.
I only hesitate to recommend those who struggle with expansive fantasy works. But if you can follow the political intrigue of Game of Thrones and the rich cultural studies of Tolkien's elves, then add this to your to-read pile.
Set in a steampunk alternate reality with talking cats and shadowy Old Gods on the edge of war, Monstress tackles themes of racism, xenophobia, trauma, and guilt, and though it is a fantasy it feels real and vital, especially in the world's current climate. The characters sound like clichés at first (a rugged loner with survivors-guilt, a wide-eyed innocent child, and shadowy double-agents), but they feel fresh in the author's and illustrator's telling, not at all dusty or overused.
I only hesitate to recommend those who struggle with expansive fantasy works. But if you can follow the political intrigue of Game of Thrones and the rich cultural studies of Tolkien's elves, then add this to your to-read pile.