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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was a beautifully multi-faceted adventure that was so much more than I was expecting. It introduces the story of Nyneve, a young witch who is hiding her true level of power to escape military conscription or death. It begins with her father being put to death for his power, and shows her experiences with her peers and the unjust nature of the magical military seeking to recruit them. The characters are diverse in skin tones, body types, gender identities, and pronouns. It follows her journey as she works to avoid conscription at all cost, ending up at a sanctuary for children whose parents have been killed for their powers. Ultimately she chooses to move on, a story that will be explored in the sequel.
The art style was lovely but what really made it pop was the stunning lighting changes through every panel. It gave such environmental depth without cluttering the pages or having details blend together. Truly some of the best lighting I've seen from my modern graphic novel reads.
The art style was lovely but what really made it pop was the stunning lighting changes through every panel. It gave such environmental depth without cluttering the pages or having details blend together. Truly some of the best lighting I've seen from my modern graphic novel reads.
‘If others pull you from the darkness, it's because they believe your life is worth living. Don't push them away because you don't feel you deserve it.’
Nyneve finds herself on the run when she defines the Witch Guard and cuts off her extraordinarily long hair—the source of magic for all witches—and evades conscription in this wonderful first part of the Witchy series by artists and author Ariel Slamet Ries. Welcome to witch kingdom Hyalin, a place of intrigue and danger where witches keep the ‘peace’. But Nyneve is uneasy with their ways, having grown up fatherless after he was executed by the guard for being too powerful, and does not wish to join them. Witchy, which began as a webcomic (read it here), is the first of currently two installments in a series that has some expansive and nuanced world-building, creating a fascinating landscape full of history and exciting characters that are a joy to watch butt heads and play out what is shaping up to be an epic story.
Classic moment of letting all the hair out so that it is messy and wild but also beautiful.
Admittedly, this one took me a bit to get into. There is a lot of set-up, which is fun, though the whole concept of the length of your hair being the strength of your power…is a bit awkward. Does it stay the same length always? You gather that cutting it is a massive offense, but they burn witches at the steak if their hair is too long, so there seems to be some logistical questions that could be better addressed here. Pushing that aside, this is really fun. The kingdom of Hyalin is inspired by a blend of Asian and Oceanic cultures, which is really exciting to see and the book has a wonderfully diverse cast. We also have queer and trans characters, so bonus points there too. While the art is bright and fun, it isn’t a style that particularly grabbed me and it can be tricky to follow along with at times with the layout (especially layout of dialogue) seeming a little chaotic.
I do appreciate the grit this graphic novel has and it does not shy away from difficult themes and conversations. Trauma and military violence are central to the story, and the need for resistance and progressive politics are addressed as well. Witch burnings and book bans give texture to the narrative, drawing connections with current day issues and struggles and allowing readers to consider the implications of them in a fantasy world where we can feel empowered.
Witchy is an interesting and fast paced action adventure and I will certainly be back for more. There’s a talking raven, how can you not love that!? It was a bit of a rough start for me but by the time I got to the end I was eager for more and fully hooked on the story, which is becoming more rebellious by the page. A delightful read.
3.5/5
Nyneve finds herself on the run when she defines the Witch Guard and cuts off her extraordinarily long hair—the source of magic for all witches—and evades conscription in this wonderful first part of the Witchy series by artists and author Ariel Slamet Ries. Welcome to witch kingdom Hyalin, a place of intrigue and danger where witches keep the ‘peace’. But Nyneve is uneasy with their ways, having grown up fatherless after he was executed by the guard for being too powerful, and does not wish to join them. Witchy, which began as a webcomic (read it here), is the first of currently two installments in a series that has some expansive and nuanced world-building, creating a fascinating landscape full of history and exciting characters that are a joy to watch butt heads and play out what is shaping up to be an epic story.
Classic moment of letting all the hair out so that it is messy and wild but also beautiful.
Admittedly, this one took me a bit to get into. There is a lot of set-up, which is fun, though the whole concept of the length of your hair being the strength of your power…is a bit awkward. Does it stay the same length always? You gather that cutting it is a massive offense, but they burn witches at the steak if their hair is too long, so there seems to be some logistical questions that could be better addressed here. Pushing that aside, this is really fun. The kingdom of Hyalin is inspired by a blend of Asian and Oceanic cultures, which is really exciting to see and the book has a wonderfully diverse cast. We also have queer and trans characters, so bonus points there too. While the art is bright and fun, it isn’t a style that particularly grabbed me and it can be tricky to follow along with at times with the layout (especially layout of dialogue) seeming a little chaotic.
I do appreciate the grit this graphic novel has and it does not shy away from difficult themes and conversations. Trauma and military violence are central to the story, and the need for resistance and progressive politics are addressed as well. Witch burnings and book bans give texture to the narrative, drawing connections with current day issues and struggles and allowing readers to consider the implications of them in a fantasy world where we can feel empowered.
Witchy is an interesting and fast paced action adventure and I will certainly be back for more. There’s a talking raven, how can you not love that!? It was a bit of a rough start for me but by the time I got to the end I was eager for more and fully hooked on the story, which is becoming more rebellious by the page. A delightful read.
3.5/5
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
I first came across this comic in tumblr some years ago. I remember really enjoying it, but for whatever reason I never read all the pages that were available. I don't understand why, but it showed up in my recommendations here on goodreads, so I decided to start reading it again.
It is so, so good! The worldbuilding is really interesting, the magic system seems very creative, I really like the characters and the art style is so expressive and fun. So I'll keep an eye on this comic so I can continue reading all future updates!
It is so, so good! The worldbuilding is really interesting, the magic system seems very creative, I really like the characters and the art style is so expressive and fun. So I'll keep an eye on this comic so I can continue reading all future updates!
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
J’aime bien l’univers mais au niveau de l’exécution rien ne va. le découpage de la bd, le graphisme, le pacing… rien n’est cohérent, tout est inabouti, c’est vraiment trop dommage. Je pense que la marge d’évolution de l’auteurice est très grande, mais je ne comprends pas comment ça a pu être publié tel quel.
The art was stunning and the story was enjoyable. It's not the most complex storyline but the emotion in the art and characters makes it well worth it!
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Un 4 por los dibujos que me parecieron preciosos y por la originalidad de conectar el pelo con la magia. También me gustó la diversidad de los personajes a todos los niveles. Sin embargo, la historia en sí me dejó un poco fría sobre todo porque creo que la historia de la protagonista es la menos interesante y la más "típica" de todas las posibles que se presentan.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes