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lilbooktopus's review
4.0
When there's a magical disease spreading in the neighborhood, who you gonna call? Who indeed, in a world where magic has been banned and the ones who practice and are of magic are persecuted? Lambana has fallen and the magical folk who could once freely cross between our world and theirs are stuck here. And it seems that only they could help the ailing Conrad, aided by the mysterious Ignacio, be free of the blooming (literally) disease that has invaded heart. In this one-night adventure, we follow the two as they navigate the city landscape we know so well and its side that is hidden from our knowledge.
Apart from the supernatural disease and Conrad's quest for a cure, we also get a glimpse of the complex socio-political dynamics between the two worlds, which is a vast and interesting subject to explore. Victoria's ability to smoothly weave the mythical into the modern fibers of society is amazing, as always, and thins the divide between the what is real and what is not.
The novel's art by Malonzo brings the story to life and in itself tells the tale with brilliant contrasts and framing. The immersive art style pulls the reader into the very world Conrad and Ignacio walks.
I encountered a few setbacks along the way. First, font used for the diwata language made reading harder I had to squint to understand the words as the edges of the letters were a bit blurry. Second and last, the story, while very interesting may not be the strongest point of the novel, with some important expositions rushed towards the end.
Being a sucker for mythology, and especially thirsty for anything with Filipino mythology, I walked right into the beauty that After Lambana is. Eliza Victoria's storytelling has always captivated me and this tale of hers was no exemption. Mervin Malonzo's art is mesmerizing in its bold and bright colors, weaving magical glow into each panel, dragging the reader into trippy scenes with a flip of the page. The story felt a little bit crammed. Still, the rest of the story is well-paced and Victoria's narrative, paired with Malonzo's art style, makes After Lambana the page-turner that it is. Whether you're an old fan of a) Eliza Victoria, b) Mervin Malonzo, c) Filipino Mythology, or a newcomer on all or some of these three, you'll find yourself enjoying After Lambana.
Apart from the supernatural disease and Conrad's quest for a cure, we also get a glimpse of the complex socio-political dynamics between the two worlds, which is a vast and interesting subject to explore. Victoria's ability to smoothly weave the mythical into the modern fibers of society is amazing, as always, and thins the divide between the what is real and what is not.
The novel's art by Malonzo brings the story to life and in itself tells the tale with brilliant contrasts and framing. The immersive art style pulls the reader into the very world Conrad and Ignacio walks.
I encountered a few setbacks along the way. First, font used for the diwata language made reading harder I had to squint to understand the words as the edges of the letters were a bit blurry. Second and last, the story, while very interesting may not be the strongest point of the novel, with some important expositions rushed towards the end.
Being a sucker for mythology, and especially thirsty for anything with Filipino mythology, I walked right into the beauty that After Lambana is. Eliza Victoria's storytelling has always captivated me and this tale of hers was no exemption. Mervin Malonzo's art is mesmerizing in its bold and bright colors, weaving magical glow into each panel, dragging the reader into trippy scenes with a flip of the page. The story felt a little bit crammed. Still, the rest of the story is well-paced and Victoria's narrative, paired with Malonzo's art style, makes After Lambana the page-turner that it is. Whether you're an old fan of a) Eliza Victoria, b) Mervin Malonzo, c) Filipino Mythology, or a newcomer on all or some of these three, you'll find yourself enjoying After Lambana.
symptomatic's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The premise was intriguing, but I felt like I didn't get to know the main characters that well throughout the story, so it was hard to relate to and feel for them by the time the climax happened. I didn't get the emotional payoff I was hoping for. The art was great, though, and I was thrilled as I went through the pages. I loved the world the author and artist created; the plot and characters just needed more time to develop in the world they were inhabiting.
elisha's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
dee2799d's review
4.0
A collaboration between Eliza Victoria and Mervyn Malonzo? Please count me in! And it doesn't disappoint. Mervyn Malonzo's own works are usually set in the past and it's quite a treat to see him draw contemporary scenes (can we say even futuristic ones?) for After Lambana. My only problem is I wish this was longer because I would have liked to see more of the story. The pacing is good for the most part, but I feel like the reveal is somewhat rushed.
Definitely something to read again and savour, though. And see what details I missed the first time.
Definitely something to read again and savour, though. And see what details I missed the first time.
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