Manga Review: Monster and Parent manga Vol.1

Monster and Parent Vol. 1 manga story and art by: Ichi Sayo

Saika lost her mom and was adopted by a distant relative. The catch is that she has to raise a godling together with her three new good-looking stepbrothers. A review copy was provided by the publisher, Jnovel. 

We have here the quintessential orphan-to-found family/ stepbrothers/ cohabitation situation. Idol raising and other show business-related raising is not something new in reverse harem and shojosei, but behold we now have god-raising. Saika is tasked to become like a parent to a godling who will become a beast god someday. 

Even though the mangaka is intentional in writing the reverse harem, it doesn't feel like an all-out fan service manga which is good by the way. And for a first volume, I like the flow of the god-raising story interspersed with the beginnings of the reverse harem element.  It didn't go with the insta-love or love-at-first-sight route and it worked. Saika is struggling with taking all the new responsibilities and it doesn't help that her two older brothers are not exactly friendly. The mix of two tsundere and one friendly youngest brother makes a perfect combination. And the emphasis on the distant relative. There are other possible reverse harem members including the one in that cliffhanger final scene. Overall, the first volume makes you look forward to how the story and the characters are going to unravel.  

The cool, contemporary art style and edgy color palettes draw me in. While the eggs visual on the cover are reminiscent of Shugo Chara, the similarities end there. The character visuals of Saika's two older brothers go perfectly with their tsundere-ness. Is it obvious who I am rooting for? But I am not getting main lead vibes from anyone. I can be wrong though but I don't feel like the youngest is the one. (Also see 7 Types of Reverse Harem Endings) And an upset move can still happen especially with the possible reverse harem member mentioned earlier. 

There are a few expressions though that are too Western and that's coming from a non-native English speaker's POV. Personally, I prefer neutral expressions to sound more natural in a Japanese setting. I understand it is intended for a Western audience and I don't know the translation rules but I've been thinking of this for a while now with reading translations in general and it only dawned on me just now. But that just one or two tiny details. Please don't mind me. Everything is perfect. 

meta moment

If you are into mother hen type of titles, you can check out Atashinchi no Danshi jdrama and I Will Be Your Bloom/Kimi no Hana ni Naru jdrama (But this one has only one guy interested in her. See Levels of Reverse Harem). Meanwhile, the mangaka has also made manga adaptations of Ensemble Star!! and Juuza Engi - Engetsu Sangokuden. Let me know your thoughts about the manga in the comments.  

Purchase titles/ related to the titles mentioned: (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):

Monster and Parent Volume 1 manga https://amzn.to/42NPHUS

Monster and Parent Volume 1-3 manga https://amzn.to/42Oz6jC

Shugo Chara Vol. 1 manga https://amzn.to/49LltnH

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