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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is the book that everyone needs to read to understand how completely idiotic the concept of war is while also touching base on how the narrative can be completely controlled (in good and bad ways) by the government. I rank this in the leagues of The Hunger Games for sure.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
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:
Complicated
4.5 stars!
This was a great read!
Both the story and the art complimented each other really well. I especially loved the detailed, rich character and landscape designs that were very clearly inspired by the historical Middle East.
I loved the super expressive body language of our main character, Aiza. I loved how diverse the character designs were as well. All races, body types, and features were represented in this book which was so refreshing to see in a fantasy novel.
I feel like I need to study all the art in this book because the compositions, line work, color choices, and rendering style is all such an amazing masterpiece and work of labor and love! Also big emphasis on labor cause WHEW! this book is LONG for a graphic novel and I can only imagine the time it took to pencil, letter, line, revise, ink, color flat, and render each and every page!
The story itself is also just as high-quality as the artwork. Squire is a historical fiction story but it pulls heavily from and makes the reader really think about similar current events. We follow Aiza, a young girl from a conquered land who decides to join the army of her conquerer's, the Bayt-Sajji. Her goal is to become a noble, honorable Squire and escape the famine and poverty of her Ornu heritage by hiding her identity in the army.
Although the comparison is not one-to-one, I definitely saw a lot of parallels to the Ornu and the Palestinian plight. The theme of being second class-citizens in their own land and dreaming of a better life really struck a chord with me. Also the olive trees throughout the novel reminded me of Palestine quite a bit.
Squire encourages the reader to not take history at face value but interrogate who is telling the story and who is benefiting from the version of the story being told. There were quite a few quotes about history that I loved, especially one in the back matter that talked about how history in this book is as much as a weapon as a sword. The Empire of Bayt-Sajji survives off the story that they are the rightful owners of the conquered land and the Ornu are ungrateful heathens undeserving of the land. I think that's what makes Aiza so dangerous to the Bayt-Sajji empire, her very existence as a competent Squire dismantles the idea that the Ornu are incapable savages. Unlearning the justifications of colonialism and finding your own way is a really important theme in Squire and I loved it so much !
✧༺♥༻∞
"History is the story you tell about yourself."
“Characters are a tool. History, altogether, is a tool, and tools are neutral until they're wielded. When you listen to a story, think about who is telling it. When you listen to a history, think about who it serves.”
"Is it giving if it isn't you bearing the burden? If the only one standing in the ashes is you?"
“They dangle the prize of status, mobility, a better life. They use your bodies and train you and their sweet rewards stay in the future while you toil here, now.
"History is as much a weapon as Aiza's blade"
"You benefiting from a prosperous Empire while others suffer for it? That's war, too."
This was a great read!
Both the story and the art complimented each other really well. I especially loved the detailed, rich character and landscape designs that were very clearly inspired by the historical Middle East.
I loved the super expressive body language of our main character, Aiza. I loved how diverse the character designs were as well. All races, body types, and features were represented in this book which was so refreshing to see in a fantasy novel.
I feel like I need to study all the art in this book because the compositions, line work, color choices, and rendering style is all such an amazing masterpiece and work of labor and love! Also big emphasis on labor cause WHEW! this book is LONG for a graphic novel and I can only imagine the time it took to pencil, letter, line, revise, ink, color flat, and render each and every page!
The story itself is also just as high-quality as the artwork. Squire is a historical fiction story but it pulls heavily from and makes the reader really think about similar current events. We follow Aiza, a young girl from a conquered land who decides to join the army of her conquerer's, the Bayt-Sajji. Her goal is to become a noble, honorable Squire and escape the famine and poverty of her Ornu heritage by hiding her identity in the army.
Although the comparison is not one-to-one, I definitely saw a lot of parallels to the Ornu and the Palestinian plight. The theme of being second class-citizens in their own land and dreaming of a better life really struck a chord with me. Also the olive trees throughout the novel reminded me of Palestine quite a bit.
Squire encourages the reader to not take history at face value but interrogate who is telling the story and who is benefiting from the version of the story being told. There were quite a few quotes about history that I loved, especially one in the back matter that talked about how history in this book is as much as a weapon as a sword.
✧༺♥༻∞
"History is the story you tell about yourself."
“Characters are a tool. History, altogether, is a tool, and tools are neutral until they're wielded. When you listen to a story, think about who is telling it. When you listen to a history, think about who it serves.”
"Is it giving if it isn't you bearing the burden? If the only one standing in the ashes is you?"
“They dangle the prize of status, mobility, a better life. They use your bodies and train you and their sweet rewards stay in the future while you toil here, now.
"History is as much a weapon as Aiza's blade"
"You benefiting from a prosperous Empire while others suffer for it? That's war, too."
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A compelling and wonderful story with beautiful artwork.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, War
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
fast-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
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Classism