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geekwayne's review
3.0
'Muirwood: The Lost Abbey' is the first issue of a five issue Kindle serial. My review copy was only the first issue, so at 20+ pages, there isn't a lot to review without revealing spoilers.
Lady Marciana Soliven, aka Maia, is living in exile and locked inside a room when her father, the king, commands her to come see him. Apparently, he's learned something about his daughter and needs her to commit to a dangerous quest. The book then spends it's time with Maia debating the pros and cons of accepting the quest, but with 4 more issues due, we can already guess what her answer will be because 4 issues of Maia staring at the walls of her forced exile would be pretty unexciting.
The cover art is really good. The internal art is less so. Sometimes review copies have rough art or lower quality, so I'm hoping that's what happened here. There were definitely panels I liked better than others art-wise. The writing is not bad and the series is a tie-in with a series of novels.
I received a review copy of this single issue comic from Jet City Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this first issue.
Lady Marciana Soliven, aka Maia, is living in exile and locked inside a room when her father, the king, commands her to come see him. Apparently, he's learned something about his daughter and needs her to commit to a dangerous quest. The book then spends it's time with Maia debating the pros and cons of accepting the quest, but with 4 more issues due, we can already guess what her answer will be because 4 issues of Maia staring at the walls of her forced exile would be pretty unexciting.
The cover art is really good. The internal art is less so. Sometimes review copies have rough art or lower quality, so I'm hoping that's what happened here. There were definitely panels I liked better than others art-wise. The writing is not bad and the series is a tie-in with a series of novels.
I received a review copy of this single issue comic from Jet City Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this first issue.
ohheycourtney's review
3.0
When I requested this graphic novel I was super excited! The artwork on the cover was phenomenal and I couldn't wait to see the story unfold.
This issue is basically a world/story builder. We meet former princess Maia and learn some of her secrets, before being introduced to her father and plot.
Basically Maia's father stripped her of her title and locked her away for years, before calling on her and demanding that she go on a quest for him. Due to the strange relationship that the two of them share she decides to take her time in making her decision and takes a walk.
We get to see what is going on in the land, what's going on in Maia's head, and a bit of what is in store for her future.
I was really impressed with the artwork and think this series could be headed in a thrilling direction. I will definitely be looking out for issue two.
3/5 stars.
*I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This issue is basically a world/story builder. We meet former princess Maia and learn some of her secrets, before being introduced to her father and plot.
Basically Maia's father stripped her of her title and locked her away for years, before calling on her and demanding that she go on a quest for him. Due to the strange relationship that the two of them share she decides to take her time in making her decision and takes a walk.
We get to see what is going on in the land, what's going on in Maia's head, and a bit of what is in store for her future.
I was really impressed with the artwork and think this series could be headed in a thrilling direction. I will definitely be looking out for issue two.
3/5 stars.
*I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
angelarenea's review
3.0
I received this graphic novel as an advanced reading copy from Jet City Comics through NetGalley, so a big thank you to whoever approved me!
I saw this book on NetGalley and thought it had a pretty interesting summary. I've been looking for a few good science fiction or fantasy series to read and this one promises to be an intro/prologue to the Muirwood series so I thought I'd give it a try. I was pretty glad I did too!
There is a really good chance I will pick up this series! I like the basis for this story and I love that I can already tell it's a very well flushed out world (although I did not fully understand it yet) I think that someone who has already begun the series would be able to appreciate it a lot more than I could, so I will defiantly have to revisit this once I have a few of the main books under my belt!
I think that the art was very interesting, it reminded me of a stained glass window at times. There were lots of dark outlines with blurry middles. I'm not sure if I liked that or not, but it was beautifully done.
There is a lot of potential here and I hope that the next installment does not disappoint! I will absolutely be continuing on with this series and encourage anyone who likes the Muirwood books to pick this up!
My review on my blog
I saw this book on NetGalley and thought it had a pretty interesting summary. I've been looking for a few good science fiction or fantasy series to read and this one promises to be an intro/prologue to the Muirwood series so I thought I'd give it a try. I was pretty glad I did too!
There is a really good chance I will pick up this series! I like the basis for this story and I love that I can already tell it's a very well flushed out world (although I did not fully understand it yet) I think that someone who has already begun the series would be able to appreciate it a lot more than I could, so I will defiantly have to revisit this once I have a few of the main books under my belt!
I think that the art was very interesting, it reminded me of a stained glass window at times. There were lots of dark outlines with blurry middles. I'm not sure if I liked that or not, but it was beautifully done.
There is a lot of potential here and I hope that the next installment does not disappoint! I will absolutely be continuing on with this series and encourage anyone who likes the Muirwood books to pick this up!
My review on my blog
bigbear73's review
3.0
**I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - this review pertains to the first serial.**
I enjoyed this comic. Though the art could use some help (it was just sort of run of the mill), the story was interesting. It starts out feeling like something we've all heard before, but veers from the norm just enough to make me want to come back for more. Probably most importantly, it makes me excited for the upcoming related book.
It's always hard to say with this being the first in serial, but I think this one is definitely worth a look.
I enjoyed this comic. Though the art could use some help (it was just sort of run of the mill), the story was interesting. It starts out feeling like something we've all heard before, but veers from the norm just enough to make me want to come back for more. Probably most importantly, it makes me excited for the upcoming related book.
It's always hard to say with this being the first in serial, but I think this one is definitely worth a look.
ash06's review
4.0
I really enjoy all of Jeff Wheeler's Muirwood books, and this graphic novel is no exception. It is a quick and easy read...but it is just enough to keep you interested and ready for the next installment. The graphics are really great as well as it is nice to put images to the story. This first installment is really setting the tone for the rest of the series and getting the story started with background information, so if you aren't familiar with the other Muirwood books you may find this and some of the wording used slightly confusing, but overall it is still a great read. Looking forward to the next installment!
I received this copy free in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I received this copy free in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
wanderlustlover's review
3.0
Summer 2018, Comics & Prose:
Given I read both versions of this story last night, back-to-back, within an hour, I'm going to rate them together and double up their reviews. I stopped reading the Banished of Muirwood when it became clear you really did need to read the prequel first, and so I was about two chapters into the first book of this series when I stopped.
The comics version of this prequel involves far less novel terminology (used in the trilogy before this whole sequel trilogy collections), but it has far more art. Such as that it forsakes naming things the way we're used to them being (such as the creature being a Fear Liath, but never narrated or called one on the comic page) and yet it, also, made a better use of art in emotional moments (such as Maia giving up her life).
The prose part had so many more sweeping descriptions that did more justice to the surroundings -- the bones of the abbey where the ocean, the cavern in completion. The prose part was, thought, also, lacking a number of the conversations that took place in the comics and the entire lead-in section wtih Maia's father, the city scene with the boy, etc, are all missing entirely from the prose.
Given I read both versions of this story last night, back-to-back, within an hour, I'm going to rate them together and double up their reviews. I stopped reading the Banished of Muirwood when it became clear you really did need to read the prequel first, and so I was about two chapters into the first book of this series when I stopped.
The comics version of this prequel involves far less novel terminology (used in the trilogy before this whole sequel trilogy collections), but it has far more art. Such as that it forsakes naming things the way we're used to them being (such as the creature being a Fear Liath, but never narrated or called one on the comic page) and yet it, also, made a better use of art in emotional moments (such as Maia giving up her life).
The prose part had so many more sweeping descriptions that did more justice to the surroundings -- the bones of the abbey where the ocean, the cavern in completion. The prose part was, thought, also, lacking a number of the conversations that took place in the comics and the entire lead-in section wtih Maia's father, the city scene with the boy, etc, are all missing entirely from the prose.
critterbee's review
2.0
More of the tale of Maia, from the world of Muirwood! It is not necessary to be familiar with the Muirwood Universe to dive right in and start with Muirwood: The Lost Abbey #1
Consistently gorgeous art with an admirable yet imperfect heroine who immediately wins your loyalty and has broad appeal without restriction of reader gender.
Dark and intense story, told at a perfect pace, not too fast that it overwhelms with detail, not slow and self-indulgent (the pit fall of many other graphic novels) and no spoon-feeding.
Cannot wait to follow Maia through future issues!
**eARC netgalley**
Consistently gorgeous art with an admirable yet imperfect heroine who immediately wins your loyalty and has broad appeal without restriction of reader gender.
Dark and intense story, told at a perfect pace, not too fast that it overwhelms with detail, not slow and self-indulgent (the pit fall of many other graphic novels) and no spoon-feeding.
Cannot wait to follow Maia through future issues!
**eARC netgalley**
aziz_reads's review
4.0
Maia is a woman in a world afraid of women. The only reason she is alive is because of her father, the king, who opted to lock her away instead of killing her. That is, until he needs her to do what he fears most: use her power, bequeathed to her by the powerful ancestors who made men scared of women in the first place. Maia is defiant and hardened, but still holds a kindness that she doesn't want to lose by accepting the mission set by her father.
Reasons I like this book: graphic novels have a lot to offer. They're great for people short on time and the use of illustrations offers something you can't always get from writing alone. I like how the narration is set in a faded yellow, to set the scene and give the reader a sense of the time and type of world Maia lives in. Lovers of graphic novels, strong female leads, and magic should all read this book.
Reasons I like this book: graphic novels have a lot to offer. They're great for people short on time and the use of illustrations offers something you can't always get from writing alone. I like how the narration is set in a faded yellow, to set the scene and give the reader a sense of the time and type of world Maia lives in. Lovers of graphic novels, strong female leads, and magic should all read this book.
athravan's review
3.0
I really liked the art style of this graphic serial (I'm writing a review on book #1 as this is released in increments), but the dialogue was lacking. It didn't really have anything that grabbed me in terms of story. The dialogue was often thoughts and descriptions, which I don't feel really lends itself well to moving a graphic novel forward. It might be more apt to describe this as an illustrated storybook, rather than a graphic novel / comicbook.
The story was fairly tame and bland, and the heroine was flat - definitely not a strong protaganist and quite frankly, most of her actions made little sense. Of course, perhaps it might improve drastically, but I think it's going to be hard to keep people hooked on reading the next installment. Really, I'm afraid I found it a little boring.
I think that there is potential here and I genuinely loved the art style. I would like to see this form of book explored more often - but character, plot and dialogue are just as important as the art and these need to bring the pages to life which they failed to do here.
Overall, 3/5 - it has good points, and it has potential, but I don't think I would recommend it to a friend at this point.
I received a kindle edition of this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
The story was fairly tame and bland, and the heroine was flat - definitely not a strong protaganist and quite frankly, most of her actions made little sense. Of course, perhaps it might improve drastically, but I think it's going to be hard to keep people hooked on reading the next installment. Really, I'm afraid I found it a little boring.
I think that there is potential here and I genuinely loved the art style. I would like to see this form of book explored more often - but character, plot and dialogue are just as important as the art and these need to bring the pages to life which they failed to do here.
Overall, 3/5 - it has good points, and it has potential, but I don't think I would recommend it to a friend at this point.
I received a kindle edition of this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
elevetha's review
2.0
**An ARC of this book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
1.5 stars. (Rounding up cause I didn't hate it.)
Okay, technically I only read the first issue of this, which was about 24 pages, since that's what was on Netgalley. I wasn't impressed with those 24 pages, however, certainly not enough to bother continuing with the series.
This is a generic fantasy story.
Observe. Girl is special and can wield magic, and wants a magic stone, and has to save the kingdom, and a commoner soldier boy aids her on her quest.
Boring.
The art is pretty fantastically lame, with absolutely nothing to it to lend itself to anyone. The text of the story was mostly 1st person narrative, and incredibly dull. And the characters, whose names I cannot recall, were bland and lacking personality to set them apart as individuals.
Pass.
1.5 stars. (Rounding up cause I didn't hate it.)
Okay, technically I only read the first issue of this, which was about 24 pages, since that's what was on Netgalley. I wasn't impressed with those 24 pages, however, certainly not enough to bother continuing with the series.
This is a generic fantasy story.
Observe. Girl is special and can wield magic, and wants a magic stone, and has to save the kingdom, and a commoner soldier boy aids her on her quest.
Boring.
The art is pretty fantastically lame, with absolutely nothing to it to lend itself to anyone. The text of the story was mostly 1st person narrative, and incredibly dull. And the characters, whose names I cannot recall, were bland and lacking personality to set them apart as individuals.
Pass.