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rereader33's review
3.0
I hate to say it, but this graphic novel started out pretty strong but was just okay in the end. Don't get me wrong, I loved the fact we got so many diverse characters and the artwork itself is adorable and colorful. The expressions the characters made were expressive as well, as opposed to simply drawing a sad face or angry face, Ellis really went all out to add shadows or bursts of color to truly express their emotions. The biggest problem I had was that there was way too much drama between Selene and Julie towards the end and it rubbed me the wrong way. I completely understand where the drama came from and I figured something would happen, but I didn't like how the lead up to the big, climatic showdown was those two getting into a fight. Considering how short this volume is, there just isn't enough content to balance out that tail-end drama. It is a good series and I do recommend it, it's just not as good as I thought it would be.
tishywishy's review
2.0
I enjoyed the blurbed celebrity segments over the story line. Art work is nice.
xlxa_x's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
fraeyalise's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
I really liked the art, but the story confused me a little. This isn't a dig against the book, though, I am frequently confused by graphic novels. Something about not picking up on the visual cues?
I really love the feel of this book I just wish I knew what was going on.
I really love the feel of this book I just wish I knew what was going on.
dembury's review
2.0
There were some enjoyable aspects to this, like the diverse cast, the array of magical beings, and the coffee shop setting. A couple of the minor characters, like Cass, were also fun to read on page.
But unfortunately, I just didn’t really click with much else. The storytelling is sloppy- the plot is slower at the start, has a strange mix of middle sections, and then gives a THREE PAGE CLIMAX. The buildup to the climax is also very stilted and wastes time introducing a rando side character who doesn’t add anything. Also, interspersed in the novel are pages from a book within the Moonstruck universe; these pages semi-reflect the plot but honestly did nothing to make the story more engaging.
There’s also the fact that a romantic couple starts to have issues, and never actually resolve them, but just kind of look at each other in the 11th hour and say “Welp, I guess we’ll go to therapy together lol!” Obviously therapy is a great resource, but using it here made for a completely unsatisfying ending, among other things. Maybe this gets wrapped up in another volume, but I just wish this was addressed better.
Finally, I found the background/atmospheric/everything but the character artwork to be utterly bland. Moonstruck somehow has taken a story with all these mythical creatures and magic and set it in the most basic-ass looking city I’ve ever seen. There is no charm in the surroundings and it makes this story just about as visually boring as possible.
I wouldn’t necessarily not recommend this...but there are also WAY BETTER graphic novels out there, so I’d say skip this one and try something else.
But unfortunately, I just didn’t really click with much else. The storytelling is sloppy- the plot is slower at the start, has a strange mix of middle sections, and then gives a THREE PAGE CLIMAX. The buildup to the climax is also very stilted and wastes time introducing a rando side character who doesn’t add anything. Also, interspersed in the novel are pages from a book within the Moonstruck universe; these pages semi-reflect the plot but honestly did nothing to make the story more engaging.
There’s also the fact that a romantic couple starts to have issues, and never actually resolve them, but just kind of look at each other in the 11th hour and say “Welp, I guess we’ll go to therapy together lol!” Obviously therapy is a great resource, but using it here made for a completely unsatisfying ending, among other things. Maybe this gets wrapped up in another volume, but I just wish this was addressed better.
Finally, I found the background/atmospheric/everything but the character artwork to be utterly bland. Moonstruck somehow has taken a story with all these mythical creatures and magic and set it in the most basic-ass looking city I’ve ever seen. There is no charm in the surroundings and it makes this story just about as visually boring as possible.
I wouldn’t necessarily not recommend this...but there are also WAY BETTER graphic novels out there, so I’d say skip this one and try something else.
janagaton's review
2.0
It was...cute. Loved the endless representation & creativity when it came to the characters. Some of the jokes did make me laugh. However, the plot is very childish and boring, and some dialogue is unnecessary in my opinion. I usually get some sort of lesson out of graphic novels one way or another, but this one gave me nothing, so 2 stars it is.
dazidoo's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5