Eliza and Her Monsters

by Francesca Zappia

[nitzan_schwarz]

I can't really decide how to write this review. I have written it and started over a few times. I just don't what I want to say, or how to word it even when I do.

This book is not without its issues. But at the end of the day, it's such a... pure creation. It overflows with genuine emotions. I have no doubt that Zappia loves Monsterous Sea as much as Eliza does. It simply pours off the page (and I, for one, would not mind if she pulled a Rainbow Rowell and wrote that series. In fact, I insist on it. Like, shut up and take my money, now)

And, I'll admit it, I cried at the end. Full on tears. It's funny how these type of stories do that to me - they make me connect with the main character, and then they make her emotions my own, and BAM I'm bawling.

That's not to say I was immediately connected to Eliza, though.

In fact, my initial reaction was kind of weird. From basically page one, I knew I loved the dialogues in this novel. They feel like conversations I've had with my friends if that makes any form of sense. From the very first chapter, I knew I was in love with Monsterous Sea with its beautiful drawings and kick-ass plot (god, I want to read it so badly). From the first time we saw a snippet of Wallace's transcription of the comic, I wanted my hand on that beautiful piece of writing. Seriously, Wallace's writing hooked me so bad. From the first moment Wallace and Eliza started to interact, I was giddy with this feeling of first love on all its anxiety and butterflies, shipping and cheering on these two puppies.

Which is why it was so, so, so, so strange that I didn't like the writing as narrated by Eliza. It took me a huge chunk of the novel--probably around 50% of it--to grow used to her style. I don't know what it was, maybe it was the contrast between Wallace's novel and her own voice, but there you have it. Obviously, I got over it, but I felt compelled to mention it.

Anyways, I think this is a book a lot of people can relate to. Anyone who is part of a fandom, really, and let's face it... You're on goodreads. Of course you're part of a fandom >D

Now, for the few things that felt iffy to me, in spoilers!


1. Eliza dragging out the Lady Constellation thing - I mean, I get it. This is your climax, you need to draw it out. But at a certain point, it began to feel inorganic. Eliza had thought so many times of sharing this fact with Wallace--of wanting to share it--that it became this thing she doesn't do just so we can have all the emotional final act.

2. Wallace's reaction - part of the reason I don't really read fanfiction is that a lot of the time, characters become people they are not, simply to fit the story the fan fiction tries to tell. This is how I felt with Wallace when he suddenly sprung that publishing deal, pressuring Eliza to continue with the comic and brushing her off when she doesn't.

This is not the Wallace to whom you introduced me throughout the entirety of this novel! This is not the Wallace Eliza fell in love with! This is not the boy who saw the darkness in his father but failed to act on it, leading to a life time of guilt and what ifs!!

Wallace would not do it, especially as he sees how bad Eliza is. Not the boy who is okay with the silence, and understands the anxiety, and the social fear, and the love to Monstrous Sea. Not the boy who loves Eliza Mirk. Without even asking how she feels! There is a difference between anger, to which he is justified, and this. And then, of course, when this rans its course and lead to THE SCENE, he reverts back to the Wallace he has always been.

Again, it felt like something that was put it inorganically to add more drama to this final act.

But those were really my only complaints. You can be certain I will check out more of Zappia's writing in the future!