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teatowel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jenhurst's review against another edition
2.0
Blog Post
I got this book from Netgally in exchange for an honest review.
The artwork in this book is amazing. It's beautiful, surreal and gothic, with just the right amount of creepiness. This book has octopuses, lesbians, bad ass females, foxes and family relationships. Oh and an obsession with teeth. The story has a sense of melancholy to it and quirkiness.
There wasn't a lot of world building or character development, which is my complaint with the book. It didn't wow me, and based off of the blurb I was excited for it. Gnlsts and an ancient king? Adventurous friend that shows the way to more excitement? Things I typically love. I also do enjoy graphic novels, and wasn't expecting a ton of character development or world development due to the method of presentation. Even still, it didn't reach that for me. This could very likely be a me, not you moment but it wasn't for me. After I read this I learned that it was middle grade, which surprised me with the artwork, but makes sense with the character development and simplicity of the story.
2 wineglasses out of 5.
I honestly think this was just me. The story just didn't work for me, because lack of world building and character development are deal breakers for me. It felt a little too simple of a story for me. For a middle grade novel, it is good. The artwork is great and the story is on par for MG books. I'd recommend it to that age group, but I wouldn't recommend it to adults.
Cheers,
Jen!
I got this book from Netgally in exchange for an honest review.
The artwork in this book is amazing. It's beautiful, surreal and gothic, with just the right amount of creepiness. This book has octopuses, lesbians, bad ass females, foxes and family relationships. Oh and an obsession with teeth. The story has a sense of melancholy to it and quirkiness.
There wasn't a lot of world building or character development, which is my complaint with the book. It didn't wow me, and based off of the blurb I was excited for it. Gnlsts and an ancient king? Adventurous friend that shows the way to more excitement? Things I typically love. I also do enjoy graphic novels, and wasn't expecting a ton of character development or world development due to the method of presentation. Even still, it didn't reach that for me. This could very likely be a me, not you moment but it wasn't for me. After I read this I learned that it was middle grade, which surprised me with the artwork, but makes sense with the character development and simplicity of the story.
2 wineglasses out of 5.
I honestly think this was just me. The story just didn't work for me, because lack of world building and character development are deal breakers for me. It felt a little too simple of a story for me. For a middle grade novel, it is good. The artwork is great and the story is on par for MG books. I'd recommend it to that age group, but I wouldn't recommend it to adults.
Cheers,
Jen!
brianne_k's review against another edition
4.0
Many Thanks to Net-Galley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy. This did not affect my rating.
*4/5*
This was a haunting and intriguing little graphic novel. I was drawn in by the cover, because the art is absolutely stunning. The story was intriguing as well - but I wanted more.
*4/5*
This was a haunting and intriguing little graphic novel. I was drawn in by the cover, because the art is absolutely stunning. The story was intriguing as well - but I wanted more.
geekwayne's review against another edition
3.0
'Watersnakes' with art and story by Tony Sandoval is a weirdly beautiful book, but somewhere along the way lost coherence for me.
Mila is a loner. One day during summer vacation she meets a strange girl named Agnes. She is attracted to Agnes, but Agnes is a ghost who has a mouth full of teeth that used to be the guardian warriors of a king. Mila follows Agnes on a quest to return a strange octopus back to the sea and fight off other evil.
The book has a sort of dreamlike look and story, and if I'd been able to stay in that place, I might have liked the book a bit more. I think the story loses it's way, then tries to be more important than it is. Still, that art by Tony Sandoval is probably better than anything else I've seen him do, and that's saying something.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Mila is a loner. One day during summer vacation she meets a strange girl named Agnes. She is attracted to Agnes, but Agnes is a ghost who has a mouth full of teeth that used to be the guardian warriors of a king. Mila follows Agnes on a quest to return a strange octopus back to the sea and fight off other evil.
The book has a sort of dreamlike look and story, and if I'd been able to stay in that place, I might have liked the book a bit more. I think the story loses it's way, then tries to be more important than it is. Still, that art by Tony Sandoval is probably better than anything else I've seen him do, and that's saying something.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
samflowerv6's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
that funny moment when you think you might be a lesbian so you kiss your friend anda literal octopus comes out of her mouth #justgirlythings
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
4.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This graphic novel is honestly a bit trippy, but that's definitely the style and the intention. And I will fully admit that when I read graphic novels, I'm all about the artwork, and I LOVE the style of the artwork in this book. Some parts of the story were ... strange and a little disturbing (for instance, there's a bit of a weird tooth fetish thing going on that I didn't quite understand---and an army of teeth creatures that ... yeah, I'm not sure). Still, I found myself compelled to keep reading, and while I was sometimes confused and a little disturbed I was entranced by the story. Definitely an upper/mature YA graphic novel, though. If you like dark and creepy and a little bit weird, you'll definitely be a fan.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This graphic novel is honestly a bit trippy, but that's definitely the style and the intention. And I will fully admit that when I read graphic novels, I'm all about the artwork, and I LOVE the style of the artwork in this book. Some parts of the story were ... strange and a little disturbing (for instance, there's a bit of a weird tooth fetish thing going on that I didn't quite understand---and an army of teeth creatures that ... yeah, I'm not sure). Still, I found myself compelled to keep reading, and while I was sometimes confused and a little disturbed I was entranced by the story. Definitely an upper/mature YA graphic novel, though. If you like dark and creepy and a little bit weird, you'll definitely be a fan.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
aylincoolcat's review against another edition
4.0
Nachdem ich meine Irritation darüber, dass ich eine ganz andere Geschichte zwischen den Buchdeckeln befand als angenommen überwunden habe, habe ich diesen bizarren Comic von Tony Sandoval noch mal von vorne begonnen. Beim zweiten Mal konnte ich mich viel besser auf die surrealen Traumelemente, die düstere Magie und die absurde Handlung einlassen.
Ich kann dieses Werk nicht wirklich gut beschreiben, weil es sehr facettenreich ist. Lasst euch aber gewarnt sein, dies ist keine Abenteuergeschichte mit Wohlfühlcharakter sondern dunkler, düsterer Surrealismus. Verstörend, bizarr, brutal und zum Ende hin sogar schockierend blutig.
Für mich war der Comic und die Geschichte eine unerwartete Überraschung und nach dem ich meine anfänglichen Erwartungen über Bord geworfen hatte, konnte ich mich voll und ganz auf dieses faszinierende Setting mit seinen atmosphärischen Zeichnungen und fantastischen Elementen einlassen.
Leider nicht für jeden geeignet, aber für die eine oder den anderen vielleicht eine kleine Perle der Neunten Kunst.
Ich kann dieses Werk nicht wirklich gut beschreiben, weil es sehr facettenreich ist. Lasst euch aber gewarnt sein, dies ist keine Abenteuergeschichte mit Wohlfühlcharakter sondern dunkler, düsterer Surrealismus. Verstörend, bizarr, brutal und zum Ende hin sogar schockierend blutig.
Für mich war der Comic und die Geschichte eine unerwartete Überraschung und nach dem ich meine anfänglichen Erwartungen über Bord geworfen hatte, konnte ich mich voll und ganz auf dieses faszinierende Setting mit seinen atmosphärischen Zeichnungen und fantastischen Elementen einlassen.
Leider nicht für jeden geeignet, aber für die eine oder den anderen vielleicht eine kleine Perle der Neunten Kunst.
bubblechase's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
3.0
Goodreads review: "teeth kink? but make it sapphic? and gorgeous? weirdly very up my alley, this was a fun, sweet, melancholic read 😌"
I remember the feeling of reading this book so well; outsider in an almost video-game eerie setting.
I remember the feeling of reading this book so well; outsider in an almost video-game eerie setting.