The Monster and the Maze

Monkey King and the World of Myths #1

by Maple Lam

Follow along as the legendary Monkey King tries to save the world from a mysterious new threat—and smashes his way through the world of ancient Greek mythology in the process!

A long-forgotten evil has reemerged, determined to transform everyone—humans, beasts, and gods alike—into monsters. And there’s only one being who can stop it, or at least that’s what he thinks. Sun Wukong, aka the Monkey King, is said to be the mightiest of all beasts, and he’s made a deal with the gods. They will grant him his greatest wish and make him a god too. All he has to do is battle these monsters, defeat this evil, and basically save the world. What could possibly go wrong?

Wukong must first journey to Greece, where he’ll have to figure out how to escape the underworld alive, be a good pet-sitter for a three-headed dog, and ultimately find his way through a labyrinth. But when he comes face-to-face with the Minotaur, will he have what it takes to slay the monster . . . or will the Monkey King’s story end up a Greek tragedy?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Mythology, Fantasy, Childrens, Comics, Adventure

232 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Maple Lam loves creating characters and constructing worlds around them. When she is not illustrating or writing children's book, she is most likely reading books in a local Los Angeles library.

Reviews

[Meg]

This was hilarious and adorable and will definitely fly off my library shelves! I loved the mixing of mythologies from all over the world, and hope to see even more in book 2. Also... puppy Cerberus <3

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am actually obsessed with this book? Like, this is so fun and engaging and the perfect blend of Percy Jackson and Dragon Ball-Z in a graphic novel that is cute and funny and informative? What? How? I want 100 more of this series.

This worlds collide graphic novel starts with the myth of the Chinese Monkey King, Sun Wukong, who sneaks into the heavenly kingdom of the gods and makes a deal to become a god himself. Although told that beasts like him cannot become gods, he's determined to try and becomes a monster hunter in the hopes of earning his deification. His first mission sends him to the world of Ancient Greek myths where he must defeat the Minotaur of the labyrinth. Though neither the Chinese or Greek myth is told in it's most textbook formula, readers who are used to mythological retellings will be unfazed.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun middle grade graphic novel combining Chinese and Greek mythology. I would've really enjoyed it as a kid. It stars the Monkey King—Sun Wukong—on his quest to become a god. God Venus says to earn his godship, he has to defeat some monsters. First stop, Crete.

[Vivian Teo · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a universe divided into gods, humans, and beasts, Sun Wukong, a monkey with magical powers, is tired of being seen as a mere troublesome beast. Convinced that humans only respect and love gods, he is determined to attain godhood.

Sneaking into the heavenly kingdom, he causes chaos and is ultimately subdued by the gods, who then propose a deal to Wukong: defeat monsters and be granted godhood. Accepting the challenge, Wukong sets off to the Far West to find his first monster: the Minotaur in Greece. Can Wukong succeed in his quest? Will he achieve his dream of becoming a god?

Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and the Maze by Maple Lam is a delightful retelling of the Monkey King’s story, with a blending of Chinese and Greek myths. The vibrant and beautiful illustrations bring the story to life, while the witty and humorous narrative offers a valuable lesson of not judging people by their appearances. This is a fun adventure filled with heart and I can’t wait to see what other adventures Wukong will be up to in this series.

Thank you Experal Singapore for sending this wonderful graphic novel over for our review. I highly recommend this for those 8 years and older.

[Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

Representation: Asian characters
Trigger warnings: Military violence and war themes, physical assault and injury, xenophobia, animal abuse
Score: Seven out of ten.

The Monster and the Maze by Maple Lam, the first instalment in the Monkey King and the World of Myths series, was enjoyable.

It starts with Wukong, the Monkey King, as seen in the prophecies in the narrative. Lam executed the worldbuilding well with a scene detailing how deities, humans and beasts were at peace until a war ruined everything, which explains why they are so distant now. Wukong wants and tries to become a deity but fails. I like the message of the fact that people can change, and the tone is surprisingly and mostly hilarious, but it can be sombre sometimes.

The humour sometimes involves subversion of expectations and dialogue, which I enjoyed as much as reading most of the characters. I liked Wukong the most since he experienced character development. The art is okay but not innovative, with a full colour palette and the eyes being simplistic, with them either being black lines or dots. Also, the combination of Chinese and Greek mythologies worked.

An evil spirit is the antagonist, but the Minotaur and a Greek character weren't. The Minotaur discusses how he was only a neglected child, not a monster. The conclusion is fine.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sun Wukong doesn’t like being told he can’t go anywhere, so when told he can’t go to the realm of the gods, he sneaks in as a bug on the God Venus. Once there he can’t resist some peaches which were evidently meant for some lady goddess and had been growing for quite a while (like a thousand years). He ruffles some feathers, there’s an uproar, there’s a battle, and Wukong ends up in jail. There’s an evil entering the West, and the gods are worried it may upset the delicate balance between the three worlds. God Venus decides to give the Monkey King another shot and sends him on a quest to go stop the evil brewing in Athens. Along the way Wukong picks up a little three-headed dog in need of some training as a side-kick, and he’s off to Athens to deal with a monster.

I like the mashup of the Monkey King myths, other Eastern myths and legends (there are Chinese Taoist gods/legendary characters and Buddha is a visitor in the godly realm) and the Greek myths in this one (Hades, Cerberus, King Aegeus, and the Minotaur all appear). Puppy Cerberus is cute and provides some good comic relief as Wukong tries to train him for Hades. God Venus also leant Wukong his transport method, a magical cloud named Nimbus that also helps in the comic relief department (who knew clouds could be so emotive?!). I like the growth that Wukong displays over the course of the book. He starts off pretty selfish, but ends the story by wisely listening to both sides of a conflict and seeing to the root of an issue in a way that brings a family back together and brings peace to the land. Instead of just vanquishing his first guess at a monster to get on with things, he takes the time to help others and it shows a lot of growth in his character and makes him a more likable hero. I’m looking forward to picking up another volume in this series. I can see the kids who love mythological fantasies gobbling up this graphic novel series.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are some fight sequences, but no one is seriously or permanently hurt.
Ethnic diversity: Ancient Asian and Ancient Greek characters.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: A mix of mythological characters as well as the appearance of a deity still revered by many today (Buddha). Evil is an entity (called Yao-Qi) and it tries to take over a human, but is thwarted.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Monkey King aka Sun Wukong, hatched from a rock. His birth fulfilled a prophecy - he is destined to help unite the three kingdoms of beasts, humans, and gods. But first, he has to grow up. It's rough having a ton of superpowers. None of the other monkeys really want to play when they are unfairly outmatched. So the leader of the monkeys sends our young beastly warrior out into the world. First he goes to a city filled with humans and steals an offering left to the gods. The humans are outraged - because he stole the offering but mostly because he is a beast. But it is best not to make the Monkey King angry because he can cause a lot of damage and chaos. When he returns to the temple, he finds an old man eating the offering and insists that he share. Even after learning that the old man is indeed a god and the offering was meant for him, Monkey King is still a pretty rude little dude. But - he is quite young and still has a lot to learn. Fortunately, the god recognizes this and wants to help. Unfortunately, beasts aren't allowed in the realm of the gods. But Sun Wukong gets around that small detail by transforming into a small insect and hitching a ride into the heavens. Again - chaos ensues. Nobody likes the beasts. And this makes Monkey King really angry which, of course, equals a destructive temper tantrum.
Fortunately, once again his old man god friend intervenes. He realizes that the Monkey King can help them defeat the evil that has returned to the world and so he sends him off on his first quest - to the west - where he (and our readers) get a brief intro into some great Greek mythology.

The author stresses that she has always wanted to write a book that combined a lot of the different mythologies of the world and she has done that here. Curious readers may dig deeper into different world mythologies to discover who different beings are.

This was fun - bratty Monkey King gets a little old for me as an adult reader but I think kids will love him. And he does have a redemptive arc. Dog Man fans should like this one and any pre-tween/tween that is interested in mythology.

[Jamaica Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begun when Sun Wu Kong was born from a rock. Growing up, he knew he was different from the rest of his monkey pals. He could talk, transform, and even fight. As he came to age, he left the flower fruit mountain in seek of a new life where he chanced upon the god of venus. This led him to the heavens where he strike a deal with the gods to travel the world as a monster hunter. In return, if he is successful in his mission, they will have to grant him his wish of becoming a god.

His first mission saw him traveling all the way to Athens where he was first tasked to pet sit a three-headed dog belonging to hades, and to defeat a human eating monster. This journey was nothing but eventful and exciting!

I love this colored comic! The comic combines eastern and western mythology and the result is the story of Sun Wu Kong with a twist. The characters in the book are so vibrant and I actually managed to learn a little about Athen's mythology from reading this comic. Now I can't wait for the sequel!

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun middle grade mythology mash up. This first volume takes the Chinese mythological character Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, and inserts him into the Greek myth of the minotaur. This sounds random on paper, but Lam does a wonderful job with the world building. We spend a good chunk of this book in the realm of Chinese mythology and establishing that all these mythological systems coexist, so that by the time Sun Wukong heads off to Greece it actually makes sense in context. I'm not terribly familiar with the Chinese stories Sun Wukong is from, but I know Greek mythology well enough to know that there are some serious liberties taken with the story of the minotaur here. For some reason, this didn't bother me as much as it normally does. Maybe because the writing is really good, maybe because those changes felt like they were purposeful. I feel like this will be a great fit for middle grade readers who love Percy Jackson, or even for kids who aren't quite ready for Percy.

[Hwee Goh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sun Wukong has always known he’s destined for greatness, and yet he is rejected for the beast he is. He gets thrown out of the heavens, but God Venus takes a chance on him and sets him a task to hunt a monster in the west.

Wukong travels by nimbus to Greece, jumps off the cloud who forgets to catch him, and lands up in hell. Hades, trying to potty-train Cerberus, sends the three-headed puppy along with him to Athens.

Wukong finds a city threatened by King Minos of Crete, who demands a human sacrifice for the Minotaur locked in the labyrinth below. Wukong and Minotaur, both, refuse to be defined by the fact that they’re beasts.

They are not the true monster.

Maple Lam, who spent 11 years in Hong Kong before moving the US, says she’s always wanted to do a mix and match of mythology. Not only is this a tale with such a big heart, this is a graphic novel that was SO MUCH FUN.

📚: @definitelybookskids

[LiteraryCryptid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comedic yet thought provoking graphic novel, perfect for any young reader who loves mythology.

Follow the Monkey King - Sun Wukong - as he battles evil, saves the world, all in his journey to become a god. Because why shouldn't a beast be able to become a god? The first step of his journey sends him to Greece, where Wukong must consider what it means to be a beast, a monster, and establish companions to help on his journey.

The characters are absolutely adorable, I just love Cerberus! And the message within, not judging a person by their outward appearance, but by their actions - it's so well shown within, with Wukong going through a character development arc to learn this for the entire book.

I'd highly recommend this to any young reader looking for mythology, comedy, and adventure.


Thank you to Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.


#indigoemployee

[Nrlhakimin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember watching the Monkey King series on TV when I was in school, so I was equally excited when my kids received this book 😆

In this book, the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, sneaks into the heavens and makes a deal to become a god. Even though he’s told beasts can’t be gods, he decides to become a monster hunter to earn his place. His first mission takes him into Ancient Greek myths, where he has to defeat the Minotaur in its labyrinth.

This Monkey King graphic novel is so cute and adorable 🥹 Even the beasts look cute in here. With light humour, adventure, and action scenes, I don’t see why this graphic novel won’t win young readers’ hearts. It imparts good moral values and encourages a love of reading through its retelling of classic myths. The engaging story and charming illustrations make it a wonderful addition to any young reader’s collection. Super cool!

Thank you @definitelybookskids, for this delightful book that both educates and entertains.

[Wafflepirates · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

This is a wonderful introduction to the concepts of mythologies and story telling for young readers, perfect for those who are too young for Percy Jackson but still looking to read something similar. The choice to use Sun Wukong-legendary Monkey King from Journey to the West-as the main character is also genius, given the episodic nature and focus on a long journey involving quests and self-discovery of his source material. Sun Wukong may not be an immediately recognizable name for Western readers, but his character archetype is, and it fits well within the story being told here. A fun adventure with cute illustrations and a lot of heart, this book is a must read for the younger audience.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In graphic novel Monkey King and the World of Myths, Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, yearns to be a god. After first being denied because he is a beast, he finally strikes a deal with one of the gods that will allow him to become a god himself by taking on and succeeding at a challenging quest. The Monkey King sets off to Greece, where he encounters other mythical creatures who may—or may not—be what they seem to be. This action-packed mash-up of classic Chinese and Greek mythology will have readers rooting for the Monkey King as he sets off to slay some monsters to meet his goal. Great artwork and humor will draw in readers not familiar with the mythology the story is rooted in and may turn them into mythology fans along the way.

Thank y0u to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: bullying, violence, excrement

I actually enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, and I definitely will keep up with this series.

Chronicling the adventures of Sun Wukong the Monkey King as he hunts monsters to get rid of the Yao-Qi, Lam seamlessly blends Chinese and Greek mythology in this series opener. The pacing was good and I felt the illustrations was able to convey the story well. But what I really liked was the thematic elements of not letting others define who we are as well as recognizing and celebrating our differences, and I believe that Lam incorporated those themes in a meaningful way that Sun Wukong’s character development.

If you want a middle grade graphic novel that blends mythology from different cultures as well as have great messaging about embracing differences, I would recommend checking out this book.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Monkey King is a wonderful character in Chinese folklore/mythology. A trickster type of not-yet-god, WuKong seeks to become a god, so finds that he must do various tasks. This is an ongoing series, so in other books, there will be other mythological creatures he will fight. In this one he travels to ancient Greece, to battle the Minotaur, with Cerberus, who he picked up when he went to Hades.

Since the monkey king is silly, this whole story is silly, but a good adventure. There is just enough amount of adventure and danger to keep one engaged.

Cute illustrations. Two mythologies for the price of one. What more could you ask for?

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monkey King, Sun Wukong, fulfills a prophecy and is sent to unite the three lands (human, gods, and beasts). Nobody particularly likes him (he's fiery and always wants to fight), but he is able to get everyone on his side. He meets the gods, who promise him god-status if he becomes a monster hunter and finds the minotaur. Sun Wukong visits Hades, gains Cerberus, journeys to Athens, makes a deal with their king, heads to Crete, befriends the Minotaur, then defeats the actual monster, Yao-Qi (which is a bad spirit that possesses people.) The story combines myths from different culture, and is silly fun.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In return for battling monsters in Greece, Su Wukong (also known as the Monkey King) will be granted his greatest wish and become a god! All he has to do is escape the underworld, potty-train a three-headed dog, face the Minotaur, not get-lost-forever in a labyrinth, and prove that beasts (like himself) aren't inferior to humans. Easy, right?!

This is an action-packed graphic novel that freshly blends Chinese Buddhist and Greek mythologies while exploring themes of friendship and self-acceptance. Pops of humor and clearly drawn, easy-to-follow panels keep the pace brisk and the pages turning.

[Matt Glaviano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book quite a lot:
1. Combining different world mythologies into one coherent story is a weird idea. Lam does it effectively and creates a pretty cool "remix" of the myths in a fun and fast-paced narrative.
2. The art is cool. The different angles and perspectives that are chosen in many of the panels lead to effective and dynamic storytelling.
3. It's a pretty funny book, too.

I'd gladly read another volume in this series.

[Shaun M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maple Lam's graphic novel is a brilliant synthesis of Western and Eastern mythology, taking Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) and sending him on a journey to Greece where he encounters Hades, Cerberus, the Minotaur and more. The story is not just a cracking adventure (though it is that), it's also an examination if identity and self-determination. The artwork is adorable, and I want to pet the puppy version of Cerberus.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't feeling this at first, but I ended up pleasantly surprised. It has some nice lessons about perception and first impressions. I like the inclusion of the mythology element- I know I have students very interested in mythology. It works well for those who might not be ready for something as dense as a Percy Jackson. Lots of humor and adventure. As for the art, it wasn't my favorite, but I enjoyed it well enough

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this middle grade graphic novel because it is a Beehive nominee for my state. It is not particularly my cup of tea, but it had a good message, and I can see that it would appeal to some students. For me, it was only a two-star read, but I'm giving it three stars because of its potential to be intriguing to the library students I teach.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute - a graphic novel that combines elements of mythology and fighting (but not in a super violent way). I could see students in grades 3-5 enjoying this. I think younger kids may enjoy looking at the pictures but not quite get the whole story. It is also a bit on the long side for lower elementary school students. Definitely appropriate for an elementary school library.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quick-paced and really fun! Loved the range of mythologies from around the world and the messages about acceptance and love. We’re all different, but that doesn’t mean anyone should be separate because of it. Gorgeous illustration style too!

[Kayla Zabcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

70%

almost gave up a quarter of the way in because the Monkey King was such an insufferably annoying, thoughtless prat, but things get better once he starts on his mission. I enjoyed the mixing and matching of different mythologies around the world.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Very cool story involving eastern (Chinese ?) and western (Greek) culture and stories.

Beautiful illustration, engaging story and like-able characters. My son and I loved reading it and am looking forward to the next book 😎

I especially loved adding sound effects to the battles

[Jenny Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love graphic novels. It was great. It had different cultures like Greece and their beliefs. I recommend this for readers who are looking for more challenging words but also like to see pictures on every page. I do recommend this for third through sixth grade. - Dylan

[Roark Chadwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE the idea of putting mythic creatures and gods in the book.📕

[Libby Low · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun introduction and twist to some classic myths for younger readers with beautiful illustrations!

[Ryan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character is hard to root for at first, as he begins as an egotistical jerk. There is change, though, enough that I’d be interested in future books in the series.