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risabella's review
5.0
I wish this was one was longer because I enjoyed this storyline more than Boxers. (I may be biased as a Catholic...) I really liked how this also had a magical element to it, St. Joan of Arc is also one of my faves. But tying both Joan and Vibiana's story together was really clever.
fionak's review
4.0
The genius of this duology isn't apparent until the end of the second volume and I think it a shame this wasn't published as a single book.
joliendelandsheer's review
3.0
I feel a bit guilty giving this 3 stars, seeing as the artwork is really beautiful and the story is very powerful. But I just didn't enjoy it enough to give it 4 stars.
It was very interesting to read this part of history, but since I am neither religious, nor Asian, I was quite far off the story and couldn't really connect with it. Still, it taught me about a rebellion I knew nothing of before.
It was very interesting to read this part of history, but since I am neither religious, nor Asian, I was quite far off the story and couldn't really connect with it. Still, it taught me about a rebellion I knew nothing of before.
thebooknerdscorner's review
3.0
"Saints" isn't nearly as good as "Boxers" but it really is only half a novel. Instead of being told from the Chinese Boxer's perspective, this tale in now told from the Christian's. Vibiana is a Chinese girl who decides to start worshiping Christianity for various reasons. This puts her on the opposing side to the protagonist of "Boxers" Little Bao. This book was really only worth reading for two reasons: to compare this novel to "Boxers" and Joan of Arc.
This novel obviously has many references to "Boxers" and fills in some of the gaps of the first book. It shows the other perspective on the war, allowing the reader to get attached to both sides. That is how these novels successfully show the complexities of war. Part of me thinks that this collection could have just been one novel with alternating perspectives, because then you would have been attached to both of the characters from the get-go.
I also liked how Vibiana would dream about Joan of Arc. Her journey would mirror Joan's as the story progressed, which was an extra touch that Yang did not have to add.
Overall, "Saints" was a fine novel, but doesn't stand on its own without "Boxers." For the most part that's okay, because one is supposed to read them together anyway. Vibiana was a pretty meh character, but "Saints" gives the reader more information, so I would read it if you read "Boxers."
This novel obviously has many references to "Boxers" and fills in some of the gaps of the first book. It shows the other perspective on the war, allowing the reader to get attached to both sides. That is how these novels successfully show the complexities of war. Part of me thinks that this collection could have just been one novel with alternating perspectives, because then you would have been attached to both of the characters from the get-go.
I also liked how Vibiana would dream about Joan of Arc. Her journey would mirror Joan's as the story progressed, which was an extra touch that Yang did not have to add.
Overall, "Saints" was a fine novel, but doesn't stand on its own without "Boxers." For the most part that's okay, because one is supposed to read them together anyway. Vibiana was a pretty meh character, but "Saints" gives the reader more information, so I would read it if you read "Boxers."
leannj's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This duology definitely feel like a situation where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Individually, both of these graphic novels were good, but put together, the overall reading experience feels all the more impactful leaves a lot for you to think about.
collkay10's review
3.0
After reading Boxers, I thought this would offer insight to the other historical perspective or answer some of my questions that I had while reading Boxers. Overall, I was left unsatisfied. I’m not sure what to make of the endings.
kat1137's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
edencruz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
raechsreads's review
5.0
Saints is the counterpart of Boxers. Saints tells the story of a young girl learning about Christianity and where she belongs in the world. Is she Chinese or a Chinese Christian? This she needs to discover for herself. The very end is an epilogue for both graphic novels.
a_brash's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25