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laura_hole's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
elnorman's review
4.0
I enjoyed this graphic novel, both the story of Epgyptologists discovering King Tut's tomb as well as a scholar living in the 1990s. Both drawing styles were very different and showed the illustrator's range of skills. Both story lines were compelling and linked enough for me. I do wish the book dealt a bit more with ethics and ownership of the items from King Tut's tomb.
quizkidpatrick's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Fior art always on point. I found the romance to be charming and believable. I never knew about how Egyptians viewed the past and future, that was a fun detail in the story. I already want to read it again.
seherina's review
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!
Love love love the style of this graphic novel. It does truly feel like art and I adore it.
The bits in German were nice because they help place the story and the struggles she’s facing
As a character a bit erratic because of her sleep which I understand because I had that too for so long. The way she snaps at him when they were almost found out in that place, the way she can be so hard were all things I found really relatable and very real in her.
All in all, love it!
Love love love the style of this graphic novel. It does truly feel like art and I adore it.
The bits in German were nice because they help place the story and the struggles she’s facing
As a character a bit erratic because of her sleep which I understand because I had that too for so long. The way she snaps at him when they were almost found out in that place, the way she can be so hard were all things I found really relatable and very real in her.
All in all, love it!
magenta_menace's review
2.75
thanks to netgalley for a free arc in exchange for an honest review. to start, the art in this is so unique for a graphic novel, almost with a watercolor element. i really enjoyed the way this book was illustrated. however, pacing was bizarre. it was hard to track the progress of teresa and ruben's relationship because i wasn't quite sure how much time was passing between scenes. because of this, i wasn't sure whether their actions in their relationship were believable or not. additionally, the notes in carter's section were near-illegible for me. when including handwritten elements, especially ones that are VERY important to the narrative, they shouldn't be hard for a reader to understand.
thewordsdevourer's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
Unfortunately, I did not particularly enjoy this graphic novel. While Hypericum attempts to frame its narrative and explore its themes through the two interconnecting storylines of the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and an early 2000s upcoming exhibition of the aforementioned tomb in Berlin, in my opinion the effect lands quite flat as the overall story seems to exist in a vacuum, bereft of any other connections or real examination of both the before and after of the events and characters.
I was not moved or affected by the story as I did not feel connected to any of the characters, even the main ones such as Teresa or Ruben. I did not learn much about them as characters, and thus did not care what happened to them. The main so-called romance of the two characters - rather than romantic - comes off as puzzling and befuddingly spontaneous. What do those two see in one another? Why should I care about their relationship when even Teresa herself acknowledges that she knows nothing about Ruben? Throughout the book, the couple viscillates between making love and breaking off, but it is not even ezplained how they get back together in the end. I also thought Fior's approach to Teresa a bit weird and at least mildly objectifying.
The art, however, is pleasant especially when it comes to the scenes in Egypt and Berlin's metropolitan architecture, and I admire how Fior is able to paint the novel wholly in watercolor especially in so much detail. Overall, this graphic novel is good visually but not so much story-wise.
Unfortunately, I did not particularly enjoy this graphic novel. While Hypericum attempts to frame its narrative and explore its themes through the two interconnecting storylines of the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and an early 2000s upcoming exhibition of the aforementioned tomb in Berlin, in my opinion the effect lands quite flat as the overall story seems to exist in a vacuum, bereft of any other connections or real examination of both the before and after of the events and characters.
I was not moved or affected by the story as I did not feel connected to any of the characters, even the main ones such as Teresa or Ruben. I did not learn much about them as characters, and thus did not care what happened to them. The main so-called romance of the two characters - rather than romantic - comes off as puzzling and befuddingly spontaneous. What do those two see in one another? Why should I care about their relationship when even Teresa herself acknowledges that she knows nothing about Ruben? Throughout the book, the couple viscillates between making love and breaking off, but it is not even ezplained how they get back together in the end. I also thought Fior's approach to Teresa a bit weird and at least mildly objectifying.
The art, however, is pleasant especially when it comes to the scenes in Egypt and Berlin's metropolitan architecture, and I admire how Fior is able to paint the novel wholly in watercolor especially in so much detail. Overall, this graphic novel is good visually but not so much story-wise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
jay_mack9712's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
This was an interesting read and I am not fully sure what to think about it. I really liked the art style and that is what drew me to the story. But the rest of it was choppy and confusing at times. Both timelines had great potential but I was left wanting more.
This was an interesting read and I am not fully sure what to think about it. I really liked the art style and that is what drew me to the story. But the rest of it was choppy and confusing at times. Both timelines had great potential but I was left wanting more.
bruxifixion's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
4.0
When I can't sleep, time slows down, then finally becomes immobile. It deteriorates... and rots, repeating itself to infinity.
Hypericum by Manuele Fior is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that fully encompasses the spirit of discovery, a love for history, and respect for archaeological study. Written in part with a journalistic style, in part day to day life alongside gorgeous, warm toned images often shown with a fuzzy, nostalgic, and sometimes photographic style, it leads the reader through the story of Teresa's 1990s love for Egyptian history and fatality of the human heart.
The exploration of the relationship between Teresa and Ruben is beautiful, rich with yearning not just for each other, but with all that comes with life. It showcases an appreciation for the beauty in the world and the people within it. It is often philosophical, not just about history, or relationships between two people, but also about the indomitable human spirit.
At its core, it is a painfully honest, introspective, and personal tale that professes a love for the present reflected within the past, and for the past reflected within the present.
Thank you Netgalley, Manuele Fior, and Fantagraphics Books for this advance copy!
Hypericum by Manuele Fior is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that fully encompasses the spirit of discovery, a love for history, and respect for archaeological study. Written in part with a journalistic style, in part day to day life alongside gorgeous, warm toned images often shown with a fuzzy, nostalgic, and sometimes photographic style, it leads the reader through the story of Teresa's 1990s love for Egyptian history and fatality of the human heart.
The exploration of the relationship between Teresa and Ruben is beautiful, rich with yearning not just for each other, but with all that comes with life. It showcases an appreciation for the beauty in the world and the people within it. It is often philosophical, not just about history, or relationships between two people, but also about the indomitable human spirit.
At its core, it is a painfully honest, introspective, and personal tale that professes a love for the present reflected within the past, and for the past reflected within the present.
Thank you Netgalley, Manuele Fior, and Fantagraphics Books for this advance copy!
vrqhdz's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
midnightreads1803's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content