Experienced Old Man Partners Up with Innocent Demon
About:
Warning:
This review will contain spoilers for the manga and anime series Monster and the Beast. While the manga may vary slightly from all other forms of media, it may have similar story elements and could be considered spoilers.
Content Warning: There may be references to pedophilia (not between the main couple), war, violence, child abuse, human experimentation, sexual assault, rape, slut-shaming, stalking, blood, prejudice, attempted kidnapping, human trafficking, mentions of drugs, excessive drinking, prejudice, ageism, death, murder, bullying, memory alteration, reanimation, confinement, and corruption, as they appear in the manga.
Synopsis:
Cavo has lived his whole life alone. He’s a monster, a demon, and a beast – even a beast among beasts, as many of the creatures in the forest where he lives actively avoid him, whether from fear or instinct. That says nothing about the humans who happen to come upon him in the woods. Whether he helps them, saves them, or says nothing at all, they all view him the same: as a monster. And though he longs for companionship, especially from the humans who traverse his woods, he knows that his appearance will never allow such a thing.
That is, until Cavo meets Liam.
Liam was traveling with some companions who Cavo assumed were trying to assault him. Though Cavo was mistaken, Liam thanks him for his help, as it was clear these companions would have eventually turned on him once they neared their destination. Cavo is stunned. For one, he’s never been thanked before, but for two, this is the first human to ever stay and speak to him after seeing Cavo in all of his monstrous glory. Liam neither fears nor is disgusted by Cavo, and Cavo is desperate to stick close to the one and only person who has accepted him.
So, Cavo plays Liam’s guide through the forest, but what Cavo doesn’t realize is that he isn’t the only monster now traversing these woods.
Review:
This art style is a bit hit or miss for me. It’s very clean, which is a plus, the chibis are uber cute, and I absolutely adore Cavo’s design. I love long hair, and sure, Cavo is a monster, but that doesn’t mean I can’t love his long, long locks. However, the human designs are what bother me. The shapes of their heads are very unique, and I don’t personally care for them. That doesn’t mean it’s ugly by any means, but it’s a stylistic choice I don’t care for. They remind me of those small, round birds, which is cute for the birds, but less so for human heads. It is a very clean style overall, so I can’t fault it too much, even if it doesn’t necessarily align with my preferences.
The story, however, is much more compelling and in line with my taste. I love the aloof, hypersexual old man paired with the innocent and possessive monster. There’s also the apparent contradiction and irony in Liam being attractive and being perceived as such, but having a history of murder and human experimentation that would make most people consider him to be a monster. At the same time, Cavo may look monstrous, but inside, he longs for companionship and is generally kind. They don’t match in any way, but in that same way, they are perfect. I love how playful Cavo makes Liam, who is very much the cold doll he is revealed to be. It’s their differences that encourage Liam to become more human, which, again, plays into the irony of it all – that a monster could bring out the humanity in Liam.
But let’s get into Liam for a minute. He’s called attractive, but, admittedly, I didn’t find him all that attractive. I do think it’s purposeful, as he is meant to appear hollow and cold in preparation for revealing what he actually is. However, I was pretty confused about how anyone would be attracted to him by his looks, as a result, because even when he’s happy and smiling, he looks like he’s lying. But once it is revealed where he came from and what powers he has, it makes a ton of sense. Still, be prepared to be confused and distrustful in the beginning. While we are talking about Liam, it’s worth noting that his history is horrific, so please be mindful of the content warnings, as a majority center around him and what was done to him. We’re talking about being abused as a child, including sexual abuse. I wouldn’t say it’s explicitly shown, but we do see it happening in no uncertain terms, which is disgusting. Thankfully, it is treated as a monstrous and horrific act, but that doesn’t make it any less disturbing, so be prepared.
But this whole series plays with contradictions and irony. While this deals with very painful and horrible subjects, it has some of the cutest and playful moments out there. Even after the main mystery, which is Liam and his past, is solved, the story continues with Cavo’s and Liam’s adventures. These moments really bring out their personalities, and we get to see their potential relationship without the threat of people trying to capture and kill Liam. It is surprising how fluffy and sweet this whole thing is, and there are some beautiful romantic moments that are well worth all of the pain and fear leading up to it. The ending truly makes my heart sing, and I can’t recommend it enough because of that.
Results:
This is a treat. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect, mainly because the art isn’t my favorite and the story does move a bit fast for my taste, but it has some gems throughout. The relationship between Cavo and Liam is undoubtedly the strongest part, which is what matters in a romance like this. Whether you’re looking for smut, a romantasy, an adventure-narrative, or a dark, compelling mystery, you’ll find all of it in this series. I recommend it.
Have you read Monster and the Beast? If so, what do you think? Do you agree with my assessment? Do you not? Let me know, and comment below!