Monstress, Vol 1: Awakening
by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda
A survivor of the war between humans and arcanics, Maika Halfwolf looks for answers as the monster inside her awakens.
I first read this 3 years ago and, at the time, I planned on re-reading it to better appreciate the complex world.
The world of Monstress is complex, with an extensive history of the different races and the war between them. Maika’s traumas of her past, and the uncertainty of what is living inside her, make her an interesting main character. The large cast of characters helping or hunting her each had a role and a goal in the overall plot. The vastness of this story makes it great, but it’s also what kept me from raising my rating from my first read.
There is so much to take in when reading this story. Everything ultimately makes sense and comes together, the structure of the world and the history of the people are clearly well thought out. But, there it so much going on, and so many things to keep track of, that, for me, it kept me from really being absorbed by the story. I think this is a great story, well-written, and the artwork is incredible. It just wasn’t the type of graphic novel I could lose myself in while reading, but I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a fantasy story with a rich world and an intricate plot.
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LessthanThreeD 