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zilver's review against another edition
3.0
3.5!
16-year-old Mary Shelley (yes, great great etc granddaughter of) feels the pressure of living up to her ancestors’ legacies. Problem: she has no idea what to do with her life. That is, until she figures out she’s able to resurrect dead creatures. Now, she still doesn’t know what to do with her life but she’s suddenly overrun by a range of ghosts, dead guys with a missing foot and harpies with ancient eggs and dental problems that all want her help.
Someone described Mary to me as the kind of novel that when you read it, you slightly feel as if you’re on drugs. 50 pages in I thought, “Well, it’s an interesting concept and fun in execution but on drugs? Nah.” 10 pages later I suddenly had an “Aha” moment (this was around the time the harpy with human tooth issues made an appearance. We’re not in the business of calling women harpies here, by the way. This is a literal actual harpy). Let’s say this though - they’re not bad drugs, Brent. Mary is great fun - both the book and the character. When previously mentioned harpy, named Polly, shows up in Mary’s treehouse, Mary self-awarely states, “I don’t want you here, and I’m 16. In a game of stubbornness you’re no match for me.” Who is a match for her? Oh, the giant rodent with laser eyes that comes to visit her, insisting he’s “a marsupial” and “closer to a kangaroo”.
That also brings us to a couple of... issues? There’s a lot going on in 146 pages. Maybe a little too much. Definitely a little too much to explain. I’m left with questions about when this story is supposed to be set because Adam says he’s 200 years old and to prove that he makes Grey’s Anatomy references? Sir that proves that you have been around for the past 10 years. The rest of the world looks vaguely 2010-2020-esque. And that’s just a small one. I have a whole bunch more worldbuilding questions that leave me feeling... a little unsatisfied by the end of the book. Maybe it’s pacing, partly. There’s so much happening so fast that all decisions and developments happen really fast as well, and I think a little too much without explanation for my tastes.
Again - great fun, though! Absolutely a delightful, light, funny graphic novel. Would recommend it for any teen who like a bit of spookiness, some monsters, and a whole lot of sass.
I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
16-year-old Mary Shelley (yes, great great etc granddaughter of) feels the pressure of living up to her ancestors’ legacies. Problem: she has no idea what to do with her life. That is, until she figures out she’s able to resurrect dead creatures. Now, she still doesn’t know what to do with her life but she’s suddenly overrun by a range of ghosts, dead guys with a missing foot and harpies with ancient eggs and dental problems that all want her help.
Someone described Mary to me as the kind of novel that when you read it, you slightly feel as if you’re on drugs. 50 pages in I thought, “Well, it’s an interesting concept and fun in execution but on drugs? Nah.” 10 pages later I suddenly had an “Aha” moment (this was around the time the harpy with human tooth issues made an appearance. We’re not in the business of calling women harpies here, by the way. This is a literal actual harpy). Let’s say this though - they’re not bad drugs, Brent. Mary is great fun - both the book and the character. When previously mentioned harpy, named Polly, shows up in Mary’s treehouse, Mary self-awarely states, “I don’t want you here, and I’m 16. In a game of stubbornness you’re no match for me.” Who is a match for her? Oh, the giant rodent with laser eyes that comes to visit her, insisting he’s “a marsupial” and “closer to a kangaroo”.
That also brings us to a couple of... issues? There’s a lot going on in 146 pages. Maybe a little too much. Definitely a little too much to explain. I’m left with questions about when this story is supposed to be set because Adam says he’s 200 years old and to prove that he makes Grey’s Anatomy references? Sir that proves that you have been around for the past 10 years. The rest of the world looks vaguely 2010-2020-esque. And that’s just a small one. I have a whole bunch more worldbuilding questions that leave me feeling... a little unsatisfied by the end of the book. Maybe it’s pacing, partly. There’s so much happening so fast that all decisions and developments happen really fast as well, and I think a little too much without explanation for my tastes.
Again - great fun, though! Absolutely a delightful, light, funny graphic novel. Would recommend it for any teen who like a bit of spookiness, some monsters, and a whole lot of sass.
I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
rbreade's review against another edition
What do you do when you come from a line of writers that stretches back to Mary Shelley, and you live with your mom, aunt, and grandmother, all of whom have successful writing careers, but you don't have the urge, nor, you suspect, the talent? That's where sixteen-year-old Mary finds herself in this quirky, fun take on familial expectations and dark-and-stormy monsters. Yes, it has a "modern Prometheus," but there are so many others, including a ghost-haunted Bun-Bun., and Yishan Li's crisp art and colors captures both the light and dark moments with equal skill.
jkenna1990's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for a free review copy of this book!
This was such a fun take on Mary Shelley. I loved that this was about her ancestors and that they all were famous writers. Except for Mary, who wants nothing to do with the family business. Mary doesn't really know what she wants to do and she tired of getting pressured by her family to decide on a career path. While on her way to her dad's clinic one rainy night, she runs into Adam, who is holding his severed foot in his hands. Mary soon discovers her true calling - being able to heal monsters. Her life quickly becomes more complicated as she deals with her new powers, her overbearing family, and still trying to pass her classes at school.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and I hope there's more! I liked the art style and the story was pretty good to. To me it was a little obvious what was going to happen but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. I think this would appeal to a lot of people, especially fans of horror.
This was such a fun take on Mary Shelley. I loved that this was about her ancestors and that they all were famous writers. Except for Mary, who wants nothing to do with the family business. Mary doesn't really know what she wants to do and she tired of getting pressured by her family to decide on a career path. While on her way to her dad's clinic one rainy night, she runs into Adam, who is holding his severed foot in his hands. Mary soon discovers her true calling - being able to heal monsters. Her life quickly becomes more complicated as she deals with her new powers, her overbearing family, and still trying to pass her classes at school.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and I hope there's more! I liked the art style and the story was pretty good to. To me it was a little obvious what was going to happen but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. I think this would appeal to a lot of people, especially fans of horror.
magicalbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the concept, especially during the spooky season!
I felt that it was too short and I was trying to find out if there was another volume in the works. I would have liked to have more details or more volumes. Mary Shelley could have so many adventures with her new found gift.
I also enjoyed the artwork and found it perfectly fitting for the storyline!
Thank you to #netgalley and #sixfootpress for the review copy!
I felt that it was too short and I was trying to find out if there was another volume in the works. I would have liked to have more details or more volumes. Mary Shelley could have so many adventures with her new found gift.
I also enjoyed the artwork and found it perfectly fitting for the storyline!
Thank you to #netgalley and #sixfootpress for the review copy!
dickenst's review against another edition
5.0
This was great! I hope she comes out with another soon.
cadeunderbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
4.75
I had a blast reading this and literally laughed out loud a few times -- some great absurdity and dialogue in this lil tome. I'm obsessed with the stuffed bunny that is possessed by the spirit of Shirley Jackson. Brilliant. This book is fast-paced and full of teen angst, and a bit light on plot, but I'm so down if there's ever a sequel.
1.4.24
1.4.24
ellelainey's review against another edition
4.0
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley
~
Mary: The Adventures of Mary Shelley's Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter
by Brea Grant, Yishan Li
★★★★☆
144 Pages
Mary is a cute teen story about finding yourself, your strength, and how hard it is to live up to expectation. With a dash of romance of the Twilight-esque variety.
The story was good, playing on cliches in teen romances, with a huge dose of Mary Shelley inspiration, and a lot of female empowerment. There were a mass of paranormal creatures involved, a best friend, a witch, a cute dead guy, and a whole lot of trouble that gets Mary grounded. Add in some good Emo angst, artwork that plays perfectly on the Emo, Goth, and Edgar Allen Poe vibe, and you have Mary, the graphic novel. Mary has a bit of an existential crisis on her hands, a romance with a dead guy, and a family to battle, with a mysterious enemy on the horizon, and self-doubt drowning her, while a host of supernatural creatures need her help. There is A LOT going on in this story, but it does end a bit vague. I imagine that means there will be more to come, but I'm undecided on whether I'll read it.
For me, the story was far more teen-orientated. I found myself wanting more and feeling uncomfortable with the love interest, who could appear a bit stalkerish at times. Then there was the familiarity between Mary's mother and Adam, the love interest, that wigged me out a little. And, is it a trend of YA or the author's experience that Mary calls her mother by her first name? I see this so often in YA fiction, but I don't get it. I'd never call my mother by her name.
With a few pet peeves, a heavy dose of angst, and a vague plot, I generally enjoyed Mary, but I'm not itching to read it again, or read more. It needed some expansion, a bit more time to develop, and that romance was entirely unnecessary, as was the way Mary prettied herself up – by masking her Goth/Emo vibe – for a boy she barely knew.
~
Favourite Panel
This panel is the moment Mary's life changes, and the story begins to take shape. I love how simple it is, that it tells you a lot in not a lot of visual material.
Copy received through Netgalley
~
Mary: The Adventures of Mary Shelley's Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter
by Brea Grant, Yishan Li
★★★★☆
144 Pages
Mary is a cute teen story about finding yourself, your strength, and how hard it is to live up to expectation. With a dash of romance of the Twilight-esque variety.
The story was good, playing on cliches in teen romances, with a huge dose of Mary Shelley inspiration, and a lot of female empowerment. There were a mass of paranormal creatures involved, a best friend, a witch, a cute dead guy, and a whole lot of trouble that gets Mary grounded. Add in some good Emo angst, artwork that plays perfectly on the Emo, Goth, and Edgar Allen Poe vibe, and you have Mary, the graphic novel. Mary has a bit of an existential crisis on her hands, a romance with a dead guy, and a family to battle, with a mysterious enemy on the horizon, and self-doubt drowning her, while a host of supernatural creatures need her help. There is A LOT going on in this story, but it does end a bit vague. I imagine that means there will be more to come, but I'm undecided on whether I'll read it.
For me, the story was far more teen-orientated. I found myself wanting more and feeling uncomfortable with the love interest, who could appear a bit stalkerish at times. Then there was the familiarity between Mary's mother and Adam, the love interest, that wigged me out a little. And, is it a trend of YA or the author's experience that Mary calls her mother by her first name? I see this so often in YA fiction, but I don't get it. I'd never call my mother by her name.
With a few pet peeves, a heavy dose of angst, and a vague plot, I generally enjoyed Mary, but I'm not itching to read it again, or read more. It needed some expansion, a bit more time to develop, and that romance was entirely unnecessary, as was the way Mary prettied herself up – by masking her Goth/Emo vibe – for a boy she barely knew.
~
Favourite Panel
This panel is the moment Mary's life changes, and the story begins to take shape. I love how simple it is, that it tells you a lot in not a lot of visual material.
kranna's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this graphic novel it is about a modern teenager who has to live up she's a legacy of her family one of which is Mary Shelley. Without giving you too much spoilers it really shows a young woman finding her own way and being unique in her own way.
zinzee's review against another edition
3.0
Just the description should give you enough thrill to pick up this graphic novel. I thought the story was very interesting. It was also relatable especially if you have family or siblings that you have to fight hard to live up to. It's like you can't do your own thing because everyone before you was so great. The art style and spookiness of it was really cool, I enjoyed that. The only thing was at times it wasn't holding my attention so I'd get bored and put it down.