Monstress Volume 5 (Monstress, #5)

by Marjorie M. Liu

[nannah]

I keep forgetting how much I love this world, the world building, and the characters. I was saving this volume for an unlucky bad-book streak (like now), but I might actually enjoy binge-reading this comic rather than reading it with large breaks in between each volume. There's just so much information and detail that's lost--and it takes a while to get back into it, to understand what's going on.

Content warnings:
- as usual, lots and lots of gore
- as well as lots of eye and body horror

Representation:
- the protagonist is South Asian and sapphic
- many other characters are sapphic
- this comic takes place in an alternate 1900s Asia, so everyone is Asian, from all over the continent

The Human Federation marches on Ravenna to begin the war against the Arcanics, and Maika's friends plan to help the Arcanics fight. To protect them, Maika must embrace Zinn's power--her own power--and its horrifying cost.

I honestly don't have much more to say other than this world is so lusciously created and wonderfully realized. I always love the little history lesson inserts by Tam Tam the cat that add additional depth and helps us understand more about the characters and the story.

The plot always seems to center around a war, but I end up drawn in and invested, despite that repetition. This is honestly the world building I've been hungering for from adult fantasy for years and years. It's dark and it's horrific, but also inspiring and beautiful.

I look forward to the next volume!