Closing out the past and planning for the future.
Creative Staff
Art/Story: Renji
Translation: Taylor Engel
Lettering: Chi Bui
What They Say
It all began with a chance encounter in a forest, when the hideous beast Cavo stumbled upon the dapper older gentleman Liam. Although they became close companions through their many travels, Liam’s background has remained a complete mystery to Cavo—until now. When Liam’s murky past comes to light, can Cavo cleanse the darkness from his dearly beloved’s heart…?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers and CONTENT WARNING – sexual abuse of a minor):
It was only a matter of time before Liam and Cavo’s pursuers caught up with them, and a part-time gig handing out flyers for a carnival blows the couple’s cover. Cavo isn’t thrilled with the idea of confronting the two but they only want to talk so Liam consents to a meeting outside of town.
Liam comes clean about his past to his pursuers, which includes child sexual abuse of himself at the hands of his creators. While the story doesn’t depict these events in a way that would make a reader run away screaming, it’s very clear what is going on despite the obscuration of the acts. It’s extremely uncomfortable and the other characters in the story make a note of such. I just wish that none of this had to be included. It paints Liam’s sexual escapades in a strange, dark light as distracts from the otherwise pleasant and consensual sexy times.
Although I still wonder exactly how consensual Liam’s other partners were if his animal magnetism is simply that high. I wonder how many of his booty calls regret the encounters with Liam the day after. At least Cavo doesn’t try to lock up Liam and his jealousy appears to be common and not possessive.
As Liam explains his past he can’t provide all the answers the reader might want to know, because Liam himself doesn’t know. It does show that while Liam was responsible for the death of the royal court it was entirely justified as they were basically trying to develop an incubus for use as a weapon of mass destruction. This explanation is enough for the B-plot soldiers to depart and leave Liam and Cavo in peace.
The rest of the story focuses solely on Cavo and Liam overcoming their last, biggest struggle in the bedroom. (This being a bookstore release from Japan everything is glowing cone territory, so yeah.) If you were wondering if Liam was a size queen, yes. Yes, he is. Is it ridiculous? Yes. This is monster erotica people, what did you expect?
It wouldn’t be a romance without the romance part, so Cavo finally figures out a way to tell Liam that he genuinely loves him. Liam’s terrifying mind powers and strange aging process don’t bother Cavo. (We learn Cavo is probably older than Liam because demons don’t age at the same rate as humans, or whatever Liam is.) Liam, however, has to tell Cavo that he’s not quite all there as far as emotions go. He likes Cavo (as we know he couldn’t stop thinking about him when they were apart) but Liam is emotionally stunted. Not that the story leaves the reader hanging, but the ending is very much a happily ever after. It is just the author being realistic that these things take time.
In Conclusion:
The oddest of odd couples open up to each other (extremely literally) in this closing volume of Monster and the Beast. Liam’s past finally catches up to him, however, the past is a subject that is painful both for Liam and his pursuers. I wish Liam’s past hadn’t included the material that it did, the experimentation would have been enough. As for the story overall, you are either in the Chuck Tingle crowd or not, and if you are you are gonna get your payoff.
Content Grade: B
Art Grade: B
Packaging Grade: B +
Text/Translation Grade: A –
Age Rating: Older Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: June 20, 2023
MSRP: $15.00 US / $19.50 CAN
