Scan barcode
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-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
4.5
Chihiro has always dreamed of being a samurai. Her father was a well-known samurai until he got injured, and Chihiro is obsessed with Tatsuo Nakano. She is the only woman accepted into Kesi Academy, a samurai academy.
When Chihiro’s father is conscripted into service, Chihiro takes his place. Especially when she gets the chance to work with Tatsuo. Their mission? Kill the yamauba demon that is killing children from a local village. But Tatsuo isn’t what Chihiro expected she’d be. Will they be able to work together to save the village?
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an advanced copy of The Worst Ronin by Maggie Tokuda-Hall to review! I always enjoy Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s work, and I was excited to see a new graphic novel from her. And it didn’t disappoint!
This is a fast-paced, violent at times graphic novel that kept me hooked from the very beginning. Both the writing and art work together beautifully to tell this story. The characters are expressive, and the panels are composed really well. Plus, I always enjoy the whole “grumpy mentor” story arc. We get to see Tatsuo's background and understand why she is the way she is, and this was written so well.
Also, if you love expressive animal sidekicks, you’ll definitely enjoy Tatsuo’s horse. Wonderful addition to a story that is a bit dark at times. This story does flip between events in the present and the past, which is noted by different color palettes. Always useful in the graphic novel format!
My only complaint is that the inclusion of phones felt a bit out of place to me, but not enough to take me out of the story, honestly. By the end, it was kind of fun!
All in all, if you like fast-paced graphic novels featuring strong female leads, definitely pick this one up!
When Chihiro’s father is conscripted into service, Chihiro takes his place. Especially when she gets the chance to work with Tatsuo. Their mission? Kill the yamauba demon that is killing children from a local village. But Tatsuo isn’t what Chihiro expected she’d be. Will they be able to work together to save the village?
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an advanced copy of The Worst Ronin by Maggie Tokuda-Hall to review! I always enjoy Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s work, and I was excited to see a new graphic novel from her. And it didn’t disappoint!
This is a fast-paced, violent at times graphic novel that kept me hooked from the very beginning. Both the writing and art work together beautifully to tell this story. The characters are expressive, and the panels are composed really well. Plus, I always enjoy the whole “grumpy mentor” story arc. We get to see Tatsuo's background and understand why she is the way she is, and this was written so well.
Also, if you love expressive animal sidekicks, you’ll definitely enjoy Tatsuo’s horse. Wonderful addition to a story that is a bit dark at times. This story does flip between events in the present and the past, which is noted by different color palettes. Always useful in the graphic novel format!
My only complaint is that the inclusion of phones felt a bit out of place to me, but not enough to take me out of the story, honestly. By the end, it was kind of fun!
All in all, if you like fast-paced graphic novels featuring strong female leads, definitely pick this one up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, and Violence
lastblossom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Bright and energetic storytelling with messy, but lovable characters.
Thoughts
This has so much "webcomic from the 2000s energy," and I am here for it. The story is fast-paced, and energetic, moving quickly between fun comedy beats and some distinctly emotional hits. It's also packed with tongue-in-cheek anachronisms, namely the use of internet and cell phones, that all play into the story fairly well. The dual leads are both messy, imperfect, and a joy to watch interact as they stumble through from one fight to the next. Art is complementary to the story - sincere, poppy, and bright, with distinct character designs and the world's most expressive horse. Fight scenes tend to be a bit simplified, but they're still readable. If you're looking for a fun and earnest read, give this one a shot.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Bright and energetic storytelling with messy, but lovable characters.
Thoughts
This has so much "webcomic from the 2000s energy," and I am here for it. The story is fast-paced, and energetic, moving quickly between fun comedy beats and some distinctly emotional hits. It's also packed with tongue-in-cheek anachronisms, namely the use of internet and cell phones, that all play into the story fairly well. The dual leads are both messy, imperfect, and a joy to watch interact as they stumble through from one fight to the next. Art is complementary to the story - sincere, poppy, and bright, with distinct character designs and the world's most expressive horse. Fight scenes tend to be a bit simplified, but they're still readable. If you're looking for a fun and earnest read, give this one a shot.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, War, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, and Alcohol
More...