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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Medieval stories always get me, especially manga. Talli, Daughter of the Moon reminds me of reading adventures when I was a kid, there's something old-school and heartwarming about it. The art is a little rough, but the action scenes are picturable and the adventure is fun!
Talli is a Summoner, perhaps the last, hailing from an ancient line of powerful women. Using blood they would call fierce and magical beings called chimeras, and speak with animals. Many stories use blood for power sources, but what I appreciated most was how menstruation came into discussion and how it was handled. It plays a part when Summoner's receive their powers, and traditionally they even had to go into the woods to learn their strength to prevent accidents with summoning. It was handled maturely and openly discussed, which I noted as a great touch.
The world-building and adventure have caught my eye and I will be looking out for the next volume of Talli, Daughter of the Moon. Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the ARC.
Talli is a Summoner, perhaps the last, hailing from an ancient line of powerful women. Using blood they would call fierce and magical beings called chimeras, and speak with animals. Many stories use blood for power sources, but what I appreciated most was how menstruation came into discussion and how it was handled. It plays a part when Summoner's receive their powers, and traditionally they even had to go into the woods to learn their strength to prevent accidents with summoning. It was handled maturely and openly discussed, which I noted as a great touch.
The world-building and adventure have caught my eye and I will be looking out for the next volume of Talli, Daughter of the Moon. Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the ARC.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am the translator of this book!
Originally published in France, this new English-language edition is arriving in Fall 2022 from Oni Press. Three volumes (of a planned five) have already come out in French, so American readers can expect a new volume of this series every year like clockwork.
Which is a very good news, because in my (obviously biased but honest) opinion this fantastic (in every sense of the word) manga/bande dessinée series is definitely designed to get its hooks into the reader, and you'll want more as soon as you turn the last page! The talented French/Laotian cartoonist Sourya has created wonderful adventure comic featuring fun, engaging characters for the reader to root for, surprisingly intense action sequences and combat, and a lively, charming medieval fantasy world to explore.
Sourya openly draws inspiration from old-school JRPGs like Dragon Warrior and the films of Hayao Miyazaki, but he elegantly blends these influences into something that is both familiar and quite unique. The mythology of the world is intriguing, with a deeper history of fallen demigods, blood magic, and epic wars, but the focus is firmly on the eponymous heroine Talli (an exiled princess with a great power she struggles to control) and the motley crew of allies she gathers around her as the story progresses. The tale begins in medias res with a raging battle and never lets up, with the characters getting to know each other as they race across a low-magic fantasy world that's full of dangers and intrigue (but there's still time for the occasional feast).
Sourya's art and visual storytelling are top-notch here, with refined action playing off of an intentionally old-school, black-and-white manga aesthetic. As with the storyline, the visuals are familiar but surprising, and completely unique to this book.
Personally I think that this is a great fit for manga and comics fans ages 12+ (there is a good amount of battlefield violence (beheadings, etc), a refreshingly direct discussion of menstruation, and the seeds of romance). A wonderful fit for fans of films like Princess Mononoke or Naussica of the Valley of the Wind.
I think that Sourya has done a fantastic job of creating an old-fashioned and engaging epic fantasy manga. I have been loving this immersive YA fantasy adventure, and I can’t wait for American audiences to discover the charming universe Sourya has created. Volume One comes out this fall with more volumes to follow annually... And if you find that you enjoyed this first volume, as the translator I've gotten to read ahead and I can honestly tell you that the upcoming volumes in this series only get bigger and better!
Originally published in France, this new English-language edition is arriving in Fall 2022 from Oni Press. Three volumes (of a planned five) have already come out in French, so American readers can expect a new volume of this series every year like clockwork.
Which is a very good news, because in my (obviously biased but honest) opinion this fantastic (in every sense of the word) manga/bande dessinée series is definitely designed to get its hooks into the reader, and you'll want more as soon as you turn the last page! The talented French/Laotian cartoonist Sourya has created wonderful adventure comic featuring fun, engaging characters for the reader to root for, surprisingly intense action sequences and combat, and a lively, charming medieval fantasy world to explore.
Sourya openly draws inspiration from old-school JRPGs like Dragon Warrior and the films of Hayao Miyazaki, but he elegantly blends these influences into something that is both familiar and quite unique. The mythology of the world is intriguing, with a deeper history of fallen demigods, blood magic, and epic wars, but the focus is firmly on the eponymous heroine Talli (an exiled princess with a great power she struggles to control) and the motley crew of allies she gathers around her as the story progresses. The tale begins in medias res with a raging battle and never lets up, with the characters getting to know each other as they race across a low-magic fantasy world that's full of dangers and intrigue (but there's still time for the occasional feast).
Sourya's art and visual storytelling are top-notch here, with refined action playing off of an intentionally old-school, black-and-white manga aesthetic. As with the storyline, the visuals are familiar but surprising, and completely unique to this book.
Personally I think that this is a great fit for manga and comics fans ages 12+ (there is a good amount of battlefield violence (beheadings, etc), a refreshingly direct discussion of menstruation, and the seeds of romance). A wonderful fit for fans of films like Princess Mononoke or Naussica of the Valley of the Wind.
I think that Sourya has done a fantastic job of creating an old-fashioned and engaging epic fantasy manga. I have been loving this immersive YA fantasy adventure, and I can’t wait for American audiences to discover the charming universe Sourya has created. Volume One comes out this fall with more volumes to follow annually... And if you find that you enjoyed this first volume, as the translator I've gotten to read ahead and I can honestly tell you that the upcoming volumes in this series only get bigger and better!
Talli, Daughter of the Moon Vol. 1 is the first entry into a fantasy manga series be French-Laotian cartoonist, Sourya. In this story, we follow Talli, a child adopted by Lord Koska who has a hidden talent-she is one of the last known summoners. When Koska castle is ransacked by his enemy, Lord Ulric, Talli is forced to go on the run with her faithful companion, Sir Alan. With Ulric’s deadly captain Nina on their trail, they pick up some interesting companions and learn more about Talli’s origin.
I am kind of torn on how I feel about this installment. While some of the art was absolutely gorgeous, there were several panels that felt more cartoony in style. You start off in chapter one right in the middle of the action and have to pick up clues as to what is going on as you read. It was very confusing to me at points. You also don’t learn a whole lot about Talli’s powers in the volume.
It did have a good fantasy feel. I think it felt more like a video game than anything. The last bit of the volume has the author talking about his process while creating this story and it mentions Dragon Quest as a source of inspiration which I think definitely shows. I think as a first volume, this one wasn’t the strongest but the last chapter built up for the next volume to be much better so I will probably continue. I am always a fan of a story with a ragtag group that has to beat the odds.
I am kind of torn on how I feel about this installment. While some of the art was absolutely gorgeous, there were several panels that felt more cartoony in style. You start off in chapter one right in the middle of the action and have to pick up clues as to what is going on as you read. It was very confusing to me at points. You also don’t learn a whole lot about Talli’s powers in the volume.
It did have a good fantasy feel. I think it felt more like a video game than anything. The last bit of the volume has the author talking about his process while creating this story and it mentions Dragon Quest as a source of inspiration which I think definitely shows. I think as a first volume, this one wasn’t the strongest but the last chapter built up for the next volume to be much better so I will probably continue. I am always a fan of a story with a ragtag group that has to beat the odds.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
fast-paced
I received an e-galley of Talli, Daughter of the Moon Vol. 1 by Sourya from OniPress in exchange for an honest review.
Lady Talli is on the run from those who know who she really is - she is a summoner with powers that others fear. She is protected by a knight she's known ever since she was taken in by Lord Koska and along the way, she finds aid from others including the heretics who continue to protect and pass down the stories of the summoners. In this first volume, readers are quickly introduced to these characters and the plot hurries along at a good pace. The adventure is thrilling and I am eager to see how Talli will master her skills as she strives to survive against those who continue to hunt her down.
Lady Talli is on the run from those who know who she really is - she is a summoner with powers that others fear. She is protected by a knight she's known ever since she was taken in by Lord Koska and along the way, she finds aid from others including the heretics who continue to protect and pass down the stories of the summoners. In this first volume, readers are quickly introduced to these characters and the plot hurries along at a good pace. The adventure is thrilling and I am eager to see how Talli will master her skills as she strives to survive against those who continue to hunt her down.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Upon attack of King Borin's castle, his daughter Talli and a trusted knight must flee to try to reach safety. Talli's existence was a secret from most, because the King knew her life would be in danger if others knew. Because Talli is the last of the summoners or daughters of the moon. With their blood, they can summon large creatures to do their bidding. As Talli and the knight flee, they join forces with unexpected allies and encounter enemies along the way. This series will especially appeal to teen readers of adventurous, action-packed manga. Bonus points for its open discussion of menstruation, and its relation to summoner powers.
adventurous
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this! Not only was this graphic novel an enjoyable, quick read, but the art style was beautiful and conveyed fighting, food, and emotions beautifully! The characters are well established in this universe and the author so gracefully encapsulates the nuances of well thought out characters who fit well in their environment, while also having them be fleshed out enough to generate meaningful interactions with those around them. I also like how these devices play well with the exaggerated expressions the illustrator chose to use with the characters. This is truly an enjoyable story that I intend to purchase when it is released in September, as well as subsequent novels to come so I want to know where the story goes after the ending of Vol.1! The combination of beautiful writing, a well thought out story, and an impeccable art style will definitely see me recommending this graphic novel to my fantasy / graphic novel loving friends!
Thank you Netgalley and Oni-Lion Forge Publishing for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and Oni-Lion Forge Publishing for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: War
Minor: Blood