Monstress Volume 1: Awakening

by Sherri

Monstress is a captivating story about a young woman who has survived a shocking amount of trauma - and has somehow developed a link to a horrible monster. Is it inside her? Is it connected to her? Is she herself the monster?

The story is set in a steampunk Asia that is very rich with style and lore. The artwork is extremely detailed but dark and graphic. This book leans heavily into it's grim story but sprinkles tiny crumbs of levity to keep you breathing.

I liked it a lot and have continued to read the next volumes in the series. My main complaint however is that the world-building is so complex and the lore so detailed, that when you combine it with writing that leaves us the reader more confused than the main character... it's hard to follow the plot. I had to reread a couple times to really grasp what's happening. Sometimes even going back to earlier volumes now that I've received clues in later volumes.

Despite the complexity and sometimes gruesome themes, Monstress is a gripping, dark, and unique read, that I definitely recommend.