I don’t know if you are familiar, but I’m obsessed with the podcast, Reading Glasses, hosted by author/actress/director Brea Grant and author/producer/filmmaker Mallory O’Meara, and when I heard Brea had written a comic about Mary Shelley’s great-great-great-great-great granddaughter, I didn’t need to know more. I hit that request button so fast!

I am happy to report that I was not disappointed, however, I do need more. And I need it soon. Mary isn’t like the rest of her family. She doesn’t believe in destiny, and she doesn’t want to be a writer just like every woman in her family all the way back to Mary Shelley. When a high school frog dissection goes weird, Mary discovers she has an even greater power. She can communicate with/help supernatural beings. So begins the adventure of Mary as she discovers her powers, flirts with a cute (dead?) guy, and helps a harpy protect a 200+ year old egg.

I loved everything about this graphic novel. The story. The characters. The art. I really hope this series continues, because now that the world has been established, there are endless possibilities for supernatural adventures, and Mary still has a lot to learn about her powers, and the real history of the Shelley women.

This one is out on October 6th. Perfect timing for all the spookiness of Halloween month. It’s an indie publisher, so make sure to support indie and purchase from your fav local bookstore, or request it through your local library.

Thank you to Netgalley and Six Foot Press for sending me an ARC!

I'm never really in awe with graphic novels and this one was no different. I must say the art style was quite nice and pleasing to they eye. I am guessing this is going to be a series and that's why we didn't really get to understand the lore of the story but it kept me wanting more than I got. There are many unanswered questions and random pieces of lore thrown in at weird places. This story is fast-paced, which is usually good, but in this case, it made me feel lost. Many things are just thrown at you. It also seems like the setting of this story isn't fleshed out enough. I would just want a little more from it. In summary, while it was just okay, it left me with more questions than answers.

There is so much to love in this inventive and eye-catching graphic novel. It would have flown off of my classroom shelf! A fantastic young adult read.

I would recommend this story if you are in for a fast-paced teen adventure that doesn't take itself too seriously. I would have loved to see more details of Mary Shelly’s biography being incorporated into the actual story (rather than the short bio in the back) - I felt the narrative didn't recognise her as anything more than the author of Frankenstein, which is a bit of a shame. What I loved about this comic was the great art – the character designs are literally so good – the undead frog and the plush bunnie possesed by Shirley Jackson's ghost were just adorable.

Mary is a teenager who struggles to live up to the expectations set on her by her family and discovers a magical part of the world that she never knew existed.

As far as premises go this caught my interest and seemed interesting enough for a quick read. Sadly I have to say that the execution of it all fell a little bit flat for me. It was just quite hard to be invested in the characters and the story just did not grab me.

There were just two characters that I was vaguely interested in. The main character showed some promise and there was a reanimated bunny plush that acted as the comedic sidekick for a couple of pages although that character was never in it for long enough to make a real impression. Everyone else just felt very flat to me and they had very little redeeming qualities that would make me want to read about them.

The story just rushed through things too quickly and never took its time to breathe and even explain things properly. One of the most glaring examples of this was when the main character decides to share what she knows to her best friend and she just comes in for a few pages - casually drops that she is actually a witch by the end of the sequence - and then leaves. None of this was really handled in a way that would feel natural and intriguing.

The Graphic novel does have a small saving grace though - The art was much better than the writing and I thought it was quite well drawn.

In the end, I felt like there was sadly not enough here for me to ever revisit this story.

"The beginning is always today."

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Mary in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good graphic novel, but I wished there were more details. For how mysterious the description seemed, it felt like everything happened so fast to the point where I had no idea what was going on.

The dialogue was okay (once again lacking detail), and Mary was an interesting character, but it just feels like there isn’t enough for me to go on to really say anything more. Some of the monsters were absolutely adorable and I wished they had more dialogue.

The art was amazing, though. Definitely one of my favourite art styles for graphic novels.

Overall: This can’t be the only volume because there’s a lot more that could happen with Mary, and I would like to see where her story goes.

A paranormal graphic novel!! This is too cute! Not too creepy.

Mary is trying to find out what she wants to do with her life, while going through high school. Living with her mom, grandmother, and aunt may not always be easy. Of course, everyone has an idea on what she should do. When a mysterious person appears, will they help or hinder or choices?

Anyone who loves the paranormal, will love this!!

I wanted to like this, but honestly it was just bad. The art was the only saving grace. The biggest issue for me was that the dialogue felt almost entirely disconnected from the panel art which left me feeling like there was no discussion between author and illustrator at all prior to finishing this graphic novel. At some points I almost thought that someone found this art and just threw their story on top of it, but I didn't think NetGalley would let anyone put that kind of plagiarism up on their site. A big yikes from me on this one.

I choose this graphic novel as something light and cute to read on Friday evening. I get everything I wanted. Short story of Mary Shelley and her descendants which is funny and kinda adorable. Especially Shirley Jackson who stole my heart with fluffy insides. Story shows how you and only you are responsible for your future so it's great read for younger reader.

This was my first time reading a graphic novel and I loved it! The characters were entertaining, the buildup of her power, and her family dynamics kept me flipping the pages! Definitely recommend for everyone.

I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Six Foot Press for giving me access.

Ever wonder what the descendants of an amazing writer have to live up to? This imagining of Mary, a great x5 granddaughter of Mary Shelley is a wonderful depiction of what like for future relatives could be like....but with a twist, after all these are the descendants of Mary Shelley.

I definitely loved the vibe that was given. Mary's storyline of finding her place in her family was heart warming. It's a journey she had to find for her self and I am hoping for more in the future.

I really enjoyed this novel. The family dynamic felt realistic especially with such an important legacy and the pressures put on Mary.. Her introduction into the supernatural world felt very natural and her voice was definitely authentic. Loved all the characters however I felt that the romance was unnecessary and that was the only thing that put me off. Otherwise it was an excellent and really fun read. Would love to read more.

Fun, engaging, and the illustrations were lovely. The pacing was a little fast for me, and everything unfolded a bit too quickly, but other than that it was a fun read! Definitely will recommend it to the teens I work with.

Thank you NetGalley and Six Foot Press for the ARC.

This YA graphic novel was amazing! The story and art were done so well. It is a story about the great great great great great granddaughter of Mary Shelley, who also happens to be named Mary Shelley. Their name is not the only thing they have in common though. Both of them have the power to heal monsters. Yes that's right Mary comes from a lineage of monster healers. I flew through this book, because it was just that entertaining. The art style was great too. There are quite a few great women characters in this story also, which I really enjoyed. Another thing I really liked is that Mary is an angsty teen, but she didn't annoy me. She also isn't afraid to speak up about how she is unsure what she wants for her future and doesn't think the path that everyone else wants is right for her. Also I have to mention Adam, there seems to be a budding romance between the two characters, but it doesn't consume Mary and it isn't the main focus of the story. This was such a great graphic novel that I hope there will be more of. Until then I will probably read this again and recommend it to all my monster loving and YA loving friends and family.

3 stars.

Mary as a character is fun to read, she’s snarky and I like that.
The storyline is interesting and I’d definitely read the next one in the series but I found the execution a little lacking and the conversation left a lot to be desired in some places.

I like the art style; it’s very creepy and atmospheric in places (especially the beginnings

I think its fair to say this comic will surprise you, whether that's a good thing or not I'll leave it for you to decide. There's unexpected turn of events on every page; even if you end up not liking this, it will definitely intrigue you with its weirdness, and I think that's just what the author was going for.

Do you ever have those few things that’ll make you pick up a book matter what? Maybe it’s a subject, a genre, even just an author or a name you really like - anything to do with it, and it’s in your hands, excitedly being paged through to satisfy voracious fixation. Everybody’s got their interests and their buzzwords, and they differ from person to person. That variety is what keeps new authors in food and clothes, what gives them the ability to bring fascinating new stories into the world.

Mary Shelley is one of those buzzes for me.

I credit it partially to my history as a feminist, and partly to my fascination with history and Gothic horror. Even beyond Frankenstein, Shelley’s life was fascinating in a morbid kind of way, from her famous heritage to her less-than-ideal love life - and honestly, what would you expect from someone who hung out with Lord Byron? Though I have yet to read a proper biography of her life, I’ll pick up anything that drops her name in its description, from retellings of her classic tale to Doctor Who stories that ties her up with a time-travelling hero who doesn’t look all too dissimilar from the Manfred author she hangs out with. (Looking at you, Big Finish.) She deserves more attention than a bunch of green-painted Frankensteins at Halloween, and that level of interest is exactly what led me to pick up Brea Grant’s upcoming graphic novel, Mary: The Adventures of Mary Shelley's Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter.

Illustrated by Shanghai artist Yishan Li, Mary tells the story of the Frankenstein writer’s several-greats-granddaughter, the only daughter in a long line of female descendants who wants nothing to do with writing. She doesn’t know her purpose in life, but she knows the one thing every teenager does when they’re sixteen and stubborn: she doesn’t want to be like her mother.

So, instead of being a writer, she discovers that she can...heal monsters?

Sure, I guess.

Mary pretty much fits the bill for your standard YA graphic novel these days - girl doesn’t fit in with her peers (except for one token friend), realizes she fits into the Chosen One archetype, then gets into all sorts of laughable trouble while hiding everything from her parents. There’s a rude, overbearing mother, an uninvolved father, and a cast of supernatural supporting characters to keep you interested when the protagonist gets too stereotypical for her own good. It completes a formula nearly guaranteed to get tween girls interested in it, and I give Grant and Li bonus points for using said formula to speak to all of the weird little girls of the world.

So, if you happen to be between the ages of thirteen and sixteen, love Beetlejuice and all things My Chemical Romance, and desperately want superpowers and a supernatural boyfriend that’ll make you seem cooler than the rest of your boring classmates, this is exactly the book for you.

But if you’re an adult Mary Shelley fan like me...maybe this isn’t your best choice.

On the surface, this book is fine. Great, even, if you’re the demographic I just described. If you’re looking for a quick, easy read, this is fun to burn through in a day without thinking too much about it. It’s harmless in the long run (unlike my last Ink Stains reading choice), and will probably produce a lot of future Frankenstein lovers.

But as the world of comics and graphic novels opens up to more than just kids buying them with pocket money, it becomes more and more of a reality that adults are likely to pick Mary up as well, and with that in consideration, it only feels appropriate to acknowledge the flaws that younger kids might miss.

Visually, Li’s art choices are beautiful, but I was underwhelmed with the actual character design itself. I understand the concepts of visual design, that making the titular Mary stand out is important in getting young readers to understand she’s special and fun, but I’m disappointed that they decided to go the standard “goth outcast” route for her. The Wednesday Addams, long-haired, all-black-wearing emo look is one that’s been overdone a million times in stories with even a hint of a supernatural element, and it feels a bit like a cheesy ripoff here. Yes, Mary Shelley was arguably the mother of all goths, but making Mary a standard “weirdo” makes her feel less like an original, unique character and more like someone straight out of “My Immortal”. (If you’re not familiar with what that is...be thankful.)

Additionally, while the other characters were fine in terms of design, they suffered seriously in the writing itself. I liked Adam as a kind of silly, trying-to-be-serious-but-comes-off-as-a-himbo character, but it felt like an odd choice for a YA book. Romantic interests in YA are always weird, and I don’t think Grant could decide whether she wanted him to be that or just a goofy sidekick when she already had plenty of those. A large amount of plot development was lost in Mary’s sudden desire to mack on the poor guy, and while it makes a marginal amount of sense for a teenager in a YA book to have those moments...why do we have to push romance in books for underage kids so much?

And with a zombie to boot?

Come on, y’all. We’re better than that.

I think, in all, I was hoping for Mary to have something a little more to do with the actual Mary Shelley as opposed to being just straight monsters and teen angst. The connection to her life and work is tenuous at best, and I had hoped for something that would give kids (little girls especially) an introduction to a woman whose work is a major hallmark in both literary and feminist history. Instead, I got Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, minus all the adult humor that made it fun. Grant’s horror roots are clear in her writing, and I think there are plenty of little girls who will love this series, I feel more than a bit misled.

(Also: get a sensitivity reader before the next volume. Having your One Token Black Character nearly get killed ain’t it in 2020.)

Artwork-wise Mary delivered completely. The style and colours are perfect for the story and feel this graphic novel is going for.

I really liked the premise and I want to continue with this series, admittedly though the first volume is a little jumpy and isn’t always clear to follow. It felt like there was a lot that wasn’t being crammed together.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a review!
I liked parts of this book--I loved the main character, Mary. But the story just didn't really resonate with me. It was interesting and I did like the art.

I received a free copy of this book from Six Foot Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mary is the great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. All of the women in her family are acclaimed writers, and her mother wants Mary to follow in their footsteps. Then, Mary discovers that she had the gift to heal monsters, like the original Mary Shelley.

This was an enjoyable read. I liked the characters, I liked the slightly gloomy mood, which made this a perfect fall read, and I'm hoping that this is the start of a series, because I would definitely continue reading.