A review by danielles_reads
Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie Liu

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

3.0

We’re all the same inside the cage. When they put the collars on us.

This was fine. I spent most of it very very confused, until the random insert of the lecturing professor cat lol. I’m glad that was there to explain things, but that’s like the absolute worst kind of world building, so I wish the author would have woven that information in more seamlessly.

I’m like kind of curious what will happen next, but not very. There was so much violence and gore that seemed kind of gratuitous to me tbh. Very over the top. It doesn’t help that I still don’t really understand the purpose of the violence, like what the war is really over, and why is the mask so important? I do like that the world is mostly women, with all of the powerful figures women. The world building is pretty interesting with the different races (and I love talking cats hehe). The character designs and background designs are phenomenal. The art is beautiful, but I don’t like how the artist doesn’t color in the whites of people’s eyes unless they’re in a close-up? It’s very eerie to see eyes be basically the same color as skin…

(There’s also the fact that there was one fat character, who was pretty much sadistic, is literally called a pig, and then is killed right away. Since this was first published in 2015, I can only hope it progresses beyond fatphobic imagery in future issues.)

I am interested in Maika’s story, and I like her friendship with Tuya, but she is pretty heartless. Justice for Kippa, that bb was too loyal to someone who didn’t deserve it (even the cat didn’t!). 🥺 I’m not sure if I will continue the series. I’m not totally against it but I’m not excited about it either. Maybe one day.

Yes, Miss Halfwolf scares me. A lot. But that doesn’t make her a monster. Don’t be like the witches, Master Ren. They call us monsters because it makes it easier to hurt us. But monsters are people, too.
Oh, Kippa!! 🥺
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