eli_like_a_lie's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I'd say my biggest flaw in this is neither the art (which is stunning) nor the story which is complex and intricate.  It's the combination of them, there is so much text that it doesn't let the art breathe, and at times the story feels unnecessary slow for the sake of the art

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danielles_reads's review against another edition

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

3.0

We’re all the same inside the cage. When they put the collars on us.

This was fine. I spent most of it very very confused, until the random insert of the lecturing professor cat lol. I’m glad that was there to explain things, but that’s like the absolute worst kind of world building, so I wish the author would have woven that information in more seamlessly.

I’m like kind of curious what will happen next, but not very. There was so much violence and gore that seemed kind of gratuitous to me tbh. Very over the top. It doesn’t help that I still don’t really understand the purpose of the violence, like what the war is really over, and why is the mask so important? I do like that the world is mostly women, with all of the powerful figures women. The world building is pretty interesting with the different races (and I love talking cats hehe). The character designs and background designs are phenomenal. The art is beautiful, but I don’t like how the artist doesn’t color in the whites of people’s eyes unless they’re in a close-up? It’s very eerie to see eyes be basically the same color as skin…

(There’s also the fact that there was one fat character, who was pretty much sadistic, is literally called a pig, and then is killed right away. Since this was first published in 2015, I can only hope it progresses beyond fatphobic imagery in future issues.)

I am interested in Maika’s story, and I like her friendship with Tuya, but she is pretty heartless. Justice for Kippa, that bb was too loyal to someone who didn’t deserve it (even the cat didn’t!). 🥺 I’m not sure if I will continue the series. I’m not totally against it but I’m not excited about it either. Maybe one day.

Yes, Miss Halfwolf scares me. A lot. But that doesn’t make her a monster. Don’t be like the witches, Master Ren. They call us monsters because it makes it easier to hurt us. But monsters are people, too.
Oh, Kippa!! 🥺

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michela_ognibeni's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0


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mburnsides's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-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

4.0


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vincci's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

It took a bit for me to understand what was going on, and the violence/gore is a bit off-putting, but I am interested in reading the rest of the series. The illustrations are beautiful and the colour scheme really sets the tone (no pun intended) for the story. Interesting to see a work like this coming from a female writer-illustrator duo! 

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miayukino's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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twocents's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"Do you ever stop running? Or would that require you to be too much with yourself?"

Beautiful and compelling.

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jetix's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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kryskross's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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the_bookish_rose's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I’ve had this book waiting on my shelf for *a while*, so I’m glad I finally got around to it. I did not expect for it to be so dark, but the illustrations really make up for it! It isn’t a lighthearted tale, but I like the way it was handled for the main character to not be so much of a 100% good or bad guy.

My only wish is that I wish that some of the exposition would’ve happened sooner, since I didn’t fully understand the world building until I was almost done. I also wish I could’ve gotten to know the main character Maika more than what I got of her, but I think that leaves more suspense for the next volume 😅. I really like the magical system in the book, and I really look forward to continuing the series- I’ve been on a graphic novel kick lately and it’s really cool! 

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