Home » Posts tagged "monsters" (Page 8)

Book Review: The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey– Two Reviews!

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, 2009

ISBN: 9781416987987

Available: Hardcover, paperback, mass market paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook

In The Monstrumologist, twelve year old Will Henry is thrust into danger when a grave robber brings a horrifying creature to his mentor, Dr. Warthrop, in the middle of the night. Dr. Warthrop is a monstrumologist, a monster-hunting doctor, and now Will and his mentor are in a race to find and stop these creatures before there is more bloodshed.

The Monstrumologist is an incredibly well written book that contains elements of mystery, horror, and adventure. Yancey fills this book with both atmosphere and gore. Written in a gothic style, there is no romance here, only a world of darkness and dread. The relationships of the characters, especially between Will Henry and Dr. Warthrop are complex and develop throughout the story. The difficult language will be a barrier for reluctant readers, though- this is a book for advanced readers and not for the faint of heart. In short, The Monstrumologist is a wonderful, old-fashioned horror tale, and since it is the first in a series, readers can expect to see more from Yancey soon. Readers advisory note: The Monstrumologist would make a good stretch title for those who are attracted by action and darker themes and are looking to read something more complicated and nuanced in the writing style. Highly recommended for middle and high school libraries and public library YA collections.

Contains: Gore and violence

Reviewed by Dylan Kowalewski

 

**********

A second look at The Monstrumologist:

The Monstrumologist is the first book in a continuing series. Rick Yancey explores the life and times of Dr. Pellinore Warthrop through the eyes of his young assistant/foster child Will Henry. Dr. Warthrop is a monstrumologist, devoted to studying the physiology and physiognomy of monsters. Through Will’s authoritative journals, we discover that they were quite prevalent in his childhood.

In this initial volume of the series, Dr. Warthrop and Will must do battle with the Anthropophagi– a headless primate version of a shark. A nest has developed in their New England town’s cemetery, and Dr. Winthrop must enlist the help of hunters, such as the cold-blooded Jack Kearns, to assist in the eradication of the monsters. The Monstrumologist is a fun, absorbing look into the dark recesses of the human mind. Recommended for advanced young adult readers, and older.

Contains: Violence and gore, cannibalism, medical dissection.

Reviewed by Ben Franz

Posted on August 5, 2019 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Monstress Volume 3: The Haven by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda

Monstress Volume 3: The Haven by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda

Image Comics, 2018

ISBN-13: 9781534306912

Available: Paperback, Kindle, comiXology

In Volume 3, Maika Halfwolf discovers more about her mother’s plan, herself, and her past, just as Zinn (the Monstrum living within her), is putting together their own plan. War between the Arcanics and humans is imminent. Maika may have no choice but to work with Zinn just to survive the entities close at her heels. Ren and Kippa still follow Maika in her quest as they make it to Tear Shed in the Pontus Waters, a place of refugees and neutral ground. There Maika reluctantly makes a deal with the Royal Engineer to help repair the region’s shield wall, which resembles a Monstrum itself. The Engineer, and others, are convinced that because of Maika’s bloodline, she will be able to make the repairs to the shield. In exchange, Maika and her allies will receive sanctuary in Tear Shed. While all of this is going on, the Cumea are plotting, the Blood Queens are closing in, and enemies and allies alike are on their way. Maika’s bloodline also opens the laboratory and archives of the Shaman-Empress, a place that has been locked for centuries. What greets Maika and Zinn is not only unexpected, but leads to major revelations for the Monstrum. Ren also commits the ultimate betrayal that results in Kippa’s abduction. I have no shame admitting that I cried when that discovery came to light. As with the two previous collected volumes, Professor Tam-Tam helps provide further context and history of the world of Monstress.

There is so much going on in this volume. I actually had to go back and reread sections of the previous two volumes to make sure that I was following everything that was going on. Most people would probably count this against Monstress, but I don’t see it that way. The world and storylines are so intricate that it is easy to miss something, unless you are paying close attention. As someone who likes to read and reread comic series, I appreciate this, and I am wondering when I do revisit the series what else I am going to pick up on that I missed before. I’m sure that there will be things on my next reading that will also fall into place based on a full reading. Liu is a great storyteller who has created such an immense world and tale that I don’t think it can all possibly be taken in with only one reading of Monstress.

I am so in love with Takeda’s artwork, so much so that I even requested from my favourite comic shop to pull her alternate covers for The Power of the Dark Crystal series for my box. That’s another series I recommend, but that is a story for another world…another time… Highly recommended.

Volume 3 collects issues 13-18.

Contains: blood, gore, nudity, PTSD, sexual situations

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Editor’s note: Monstress Volume 3: The Haven is a nominee on the final ballot for the 2018 Stoker Awards in the category of Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel. 

Posted on May 5, 2019 by , Reply

Book Review: Screechers by Kevin J. Kennedy and Christina Bergling

Screechers by Kevin J. Kennedy and Christina Bergling

Publisher: Independently published

ISBN-13: 978-1798052655

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

Screechers by Kevin Kennedy and Christina Bergling is a novella about a devastated, post-apocalyptic earth that is populated by a few bands of humans and monstrous hybrids. The time, the location, and the cause of the earthshattering catastrophe are unstated. Several mysteries egg the reader on.  What do the screechers look like? The authors only gradually describe them as giant-sized humanoids with translucent skin, rippling muscles, scaled backs, talons and fanged mouths.

Whatever caused the apocalypse accelerated mutations and produced hybrids. Screechers might have arisen from humans and another species, perhaps avian. They hatch from eggs, and females don’t leave the nest to hunt. Other monsters in this post-apocalyptic scenrio include pack-hunting apo-wolves with an elephant-sized alpha female, and crabs with scorpion tails, spewing venom. Each monster is vying to be the top apex predator. Way down on the list are the human survivors, who hunt small prey in ruins of a city.

A lightning storm destroys the screechers’ nest, forcing a lone surviving adult male and an infant to seek food far afield. The adult becomes addicted to a strange plant– another mystery. Then the humans’ community is burned out, and the three survivors flee the city. The humans and monsters meet in an epic free-for-all battle. Each species relies on its particular deadly gifts. Will a possible kindred between screechers and humans come into play?

The point of view of each chapter alternates between screechers, humans and apo-wolves. Adults and teenagers will enjoy this fast-paced novella: I only wished that it were longer, and answered more of the mysteries. Recommended.

Contains: graphic violence, mild profanity

 

Reviewed by Robert D. Yee

Posted on March 24, 2019 by , Reply
First « 678910 » Last