Reviews

Another solid D&D story! There some fun nods to D&D that make the graphic novel feel more authentic, like the use of thieves’ cant, the explanation of elvish lore, the uniquely D&D spells, etc. The art direction is amazing, I love how the style changes with each volume, especially the last. The realistic, gritty style worked extremely well with the setting of Icewind Dale. The characterization was okay, they were all entertaining at the very least, and it was wonderful seeing Saarvin again, he was the absolute best part of the At the Spine of the World graphic novel. And, frankly, it was nice to see him with a more capable writer.

There were a few thing I didn’t love, though. There were a couple plot holes, mainly how the party got to Icewind Dale. They sort of explained it, but not very well. I also wish there was more actual character development. The plot goes way too fast and the pages are full of action, which is fun, but doesn’t do much for the characters. Beyond the characterization in the first volume (which was very good), we don’t see these characters grow in any meaningful way. They’re the same in the end as they were in the beginning. Krydle and Shandie’s relationship seemed like it could have been really deep, but the story never slowed down to let it develop.

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Higher marks for the first half. It's always hard to get used to new art styles part way through. The stories sometimes feel curtailed, but overall good. First couple adventures are definitely the best.