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.

Everyone in Mary's family is a writer her mother is hell bent on Mary being one as well. Then Mary discovers that other talents run in her family, like supernatural healing abilities. Mary is introduced to the world of monsters in a trial by fire way and has to choose to accept her gift, or run full speed in the opposite direction.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The art was on point, the story engaging, and the characters compelling. While this is a YA graphic novel, there's no reason an adult wouldn't enjoy it. I'm looking forward to reading more about Mary's adventures.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc.

Pros

I enjoyed the breaking out the 4th wall at the begin of the story with the family portrait, I’d love to see more of that

I main liked Mary, I liked her kindness, wittiness and style

I like that each family descendant writer seems to write in a different genre

I loved the art in this!

My favourite character was Shirley Jackson/Bun Bun, she was so fun and visually brilliant!

In fact, this was an all-round fun book, I enjoy it’s witty and sarcastic humour :)

★

Cons

I only had two problems, at the start, Mary seemed too sorry for herself to the point where it was starting to get a little annoying but she got a lot better once things got crazy.

Also, she seemed strangely unfazed by all the craziness happening around her, I didn’t want her to be scream and running away all the time but I think she could do with being more shocked.

★

Overall I enjoyed this, I'd love to read more! I think the writing and the art worked together brilliantly

My favourite quote was “Don’t worry things we get a lot weirder.” with the dead/now sort of alive frog :)

The art is absolutely stunning and our gothy main character is everything. The story developed a little too quickly for me but I genuinely adored everything else about it. It felt rather unique and I think young readers will truly love this.
I loved the idea that Mary Shelley had these powerful descendants. The author added a beautiful touch of feminism to the story which felt very true to Mary Shelley. Also, this is a perfect read to gear up for Halloween!

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.

This fictional graphic novel is about the lots-of-greats granddaughter of Mary Shelley. I didn't expect this book to be as interesting and as fun, as it was! I enjoyed the art, all of the characters were interesting (there was a harpy, a sort of possessed stuffed teddy and lots more) and the story was interesting. The concept is something I would have never thought of and because of this, every page I read was more and more entertaining.

All the Shelleys in the book are all different which was nice as I expected them all to be the same as they are all writers

Rating
4⭐

Would I read it again:
Yes

Would I recommend it:
Yes

Mary isn't interested in becoming a famous writer like the rest of her family or like her namesake. She soon discovers that all is not what is seems in her family, accidentally discovering hidden powers that allow her to heal monsters. Adam, a monster she meets one night allows her to reach her own potential and discover that she has a talent to heal.

I don't usually like to read books about writers or authors, however this graphic novel is one I recommend, the plot line about Mary's family being successful writers and her discovering powers turning it into a supernatural graphic novel made it interesting.

Overall this is a fun and easy read, the illustrations are done beautifully. If in need for a pick me up after a reading slump this is the book to pick up.

The name Mary Shelley is a recognizable one. I haven’t read Frankenstein yet, but I have seen some of the many iteration’s of the titular character in other media. So I was drawn to this graphic novel, which imagines what the descendants of Shelley would be like with a notably paranormal edge. Mary was a fun read. There was a lot I liked about the story, and overall it was good.

I liked the art style. The characters had a very unique look to them, and the setting was done quite beautifully. Though if you have read a lot of young adult novels, especially on the paranormal side, you will recognize a lot of the tropes used here. They were used effectively, and the end result was an enjoyable story perfect for October.

One of the highlights was the character, Mary, who didn’t seem to quite fit in with the rest of her family—who were all writers, whether it be for cookbooks, memoirs, or fiction. In many ways, her issues of feeling pressured by her family to follow in their footsteps—and feeling unsure of what she really wanted to do—felt very real. I can also say the same about the rest of her family. They meant well, but they could come across as overbearing. Still I liked how those themes—namely family and coming-of-age—were handled. I do have to note that Mary’s powers were extremely easy for her to master. There didn’t seem to be much effort at all, just some hesitation on her part.

That being said, I really enjoyed Mary. If there’s ever a sequel for it, I will likely read it.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Six Foot Press) via Netgalley for this review, thank you!

Thank you to NetGalley, Brea Grant, Yishan Li, and Six Foot Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

My specialty is the British Romantic period and one of my favorite works if Frankenstein. Of course, when I saw the subtitle of this book, I had some creepy, quirky expectations.

Mary is the great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Each member of the family has found some kind of specialty in writing, except for Mary. She just doesn't have the writing quirk. One day in science class, during frog dissections of course, Mary notices a spark. Just static, right? When a guy made mostly of dead body parts seeks Mary out, Mary learns she can heal monsters. Dead boy, Adam, seeks monsters out who are in need of help and begins to send them Mary's way. Her life just gets more and more bizarre as different monsters seek her help.

I thought the art was fun and the story was quite enjoyable. The graphic novel has a complete feel to it that makes it the perfect stand-alone, but with the possibility of more adventures for Mary as she learns about her newfound powers.

Thank you to the publishers for the proof.

I thought this was a fun spin, however I wish there was more of a buildup. Everything just kind of happened and fit into place. That being said I’d like to read the second instalment.

Mary, the great x4 granddaughter of Mary Shelley is trying to figure out how she will ever live up to the legacy of her namesake. From a family filled with talented writer women, Mary is a high school student struggling with expectations, and finding herself. This book shows her first steps on the journey to where she belongs in a world where it turns out monsters do exist. It was nice introduction to a new series. As a reader you end up feeling as confused by events as Mary does. Everyone else in the story seems to know what is going on, and isn't truly inclined to give Mary(or the reader) all the information she needs. A little more backstory or details for the reader would be helpful to understanding this new world, but this isn't a big enough issue to make the graphic novel unenjoyable. It does leave me with enough questions and intrigue that I would pick up the next volume when it comes out. The art was absolutely lovely, and what initially drew me to this work. It matches the feel of the story well, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the monsters in future stories look like.

I was drawn to this book because I thought it had an awesome cover. Plus I do love graphic novels especially since they are such quick reads. Then I saw it was a read now option on Netgalley so I thought I would give this graphic novel a shot.

I do have to say I overall thought it was a decent story. Mary is the great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Mary Shelley. All the woman that have come before her are known for being incredible writers. However, Mary hasn't found her passion to be a writer and is constantly bothered by her Mother to follow in her footsteps. However one day Mary discovers she can heal monsters and they won't stop bothering her to help them.

I do have to say the story kinda moved a bit fast for me. One minute Mary is complaining how she doesn't want to be a writer and then bam all of a sudden she has powers. I do kinda of wish there was just more of a buildup to the story. Yes you find out these powers run in the family but I just would have wanted more from it. Especially since this seems like it will be a series so I feel could have taken time to develop things more.

I did really enjoy the artwork! It was a bit blurry on my phone but I am okay with that since this was an e-arc. I would love to pick this up in the future to look at the art in person. Mary is very gothic and has major goth vibes which I just loved. This graphic novel gives off major mysterious and a bit darker vibes which I did enjoy.

Overall I did enjoy this. I would end up picking up the next graphic novel in the series. I do hope things slow down a little bit so I can get to know Mary better and learn more about her family. I also really want to read something by Mary Shelley because I still haven't read anything by her. I am happy to see this comes out in October. I feel it gives off so a lot of fall/October vies. So the timing is perfect!

*Thank you so much to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*