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notabookseller's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Major thanks to NetGalley and Legendary Comics for this ARC of The Heart Hunter by Mickey George in exchange for an honest review. The Heart Hunter is currently available for purchase.
You know that tumblr AU that’s like what if once you turned 18 you stopped aging until you met your soulmate? That’s the island of Envecor. You must literally carry your heart around with you, outside of your body, and you cannot die, age, or change at all until you meet that person, including but not limited to romantic suitors. This began as a curse placed on the island by Time and Death; however, people began taking advantage of this curse by having their soulmates hunted down and killed, namely Marius, the king of Envecor, to maintain their immortality. Marius has known Psyche since they were kids and he has sent hunter after hunter to take care of his soulmate, but for some reason none of them can get the job done. So he sends Psyche, the best of the best heart hunters to take care of things. This job becomes much more than just a job for Psyche once she actually meets Marius’s soulmate who ends up helping Psyche move forward with her life in a way she never thought she would.
I’ve known the premise of this universe for a long time and I’m glad to see that it’s finally getting published. I love the dark twist that George has taken in the universe, with those choosing power and immortality over love. This graphic novel is short (less than 200 pages) but the story is so full of life without the feeling that you’re missing out or trying to catch up on anything. The characters are funny and quippy, but they all have moments where they get very real with themselves and those around them. The writing and the art are beautiful and entertaining and just keep the reader so entrenched in the universe of the story. I would advise caution for any readers with trypophobia going in, though; I do have this and there were a few points during the story that triggered it, but in my experience it was not a hinderance to the story and I was able to quickly move past the offending panels.
One thing that I specifically loved about this story was the acknowledgement and understanding of the fact that soulmates are not exclusively romantic; they can be platonic or familial relationships. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys graphic novels, adventure stories, and fantasy genres.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Grief, Medical content, Terminal illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
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