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kkaste's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
knittyreader's review
5.0
I received a free copy through Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
'The Count of Monte Christo' never was my favourite classic if I'm totally honest. The normal book was one I could hardly read, let alone for pleasure.
How different it was with this Manga Classic! It did make the story come more alive for me.
'The Count of Monte Christo' never was my favourite classic if I'm totally honest. The normal book was one I could hardly read, let alone for pleasure.
How different it was with this Manga Classic! It did make the story come more alive for me.
flattone's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
whitneymouse's review
4.0
**Thank you to Netgalley and UDON Entertainment for the eArc in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed my rating**
The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite books. It's one of the few Classics I've read more than once and enjoyed. It's HUGE and a very complex story, interweaving multiple plot lines and characters conflicts into the story of Edmond Danté's revenge. Knowing the text is well over 1,000 pages, I was intrigued to see how they would be able to adapt this into a manga.
Overall, I would say this this was easily my favorite of the Manga Classics series that I've read. The adaptation was very well done and the author was able to condense the main plot into a 400 page manga while keeping the integrity of the main storyline. This obviously isn't going to be a replacement for reading the original as they were (rightfully) unable to include some of the side plots, but no going in that that will be missing if you attempt that. There was a nice part at the end explaining how they made the decisions on what to cut or streamline that I appreciated. There was also a nice chart/Family Tree at the back of the book to explain the large cast of characters and how they relate to one another. I think I would've liked this more at the front of the book as, due to the nature of the book, you're likely to accidentally spoil yourself with it being in the back if you're using it for reference often. It was a helpful resource, however.
The artwork, as always, was beautiful and added to the story. These are always done well and I appreciated the work that went into a Historical Fiction Classic as detailed as this one.
Overall, this was a great addition to this series and one I would happily buy or recommend others add to their collection. 4/5 stars.
The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite books. It's one of the few Classics I've read more than once and enjoyed. It's HUGE and a very complex story, interweaving multiple plot lines and characters conflicts into the story of Edmond Danté's revenge. Knowing the text is well over 1,000 pages, I was intrigued to see how they would be able to adapt this into a manga.
Overall, I would say this this was easily my favorite of the Manga Classics series that I've read. The adaptation was very well done and the author was able to condense the main plot into a 400 page manga while keeping the integrity of the main storyline. This obviously isn't going to be a replacement for reading the original as they were (rightfully) unable to include some of the side plots, but no going in that that will be missing if you attempt that. There was a nice part at the end explaining how they made the decisions on what to cut or streamline that I appreciated. There was also a nice chart/Family Tree at the back of the book to explain the large cast of characters and how they relate to one another. I think I would've liked this more at the front of the book as, due to the nature of the book, you're likely to accidentally spoil yourself with it being in the back if you're using it for reference often. It was a helpful resource, however.
The artwork, as always, was beautiful and added to the story. These are always done well and I appreciated the work that went into a Historical Fiction Classic as detailed as this one.
Overall, this was a great addition to this series and one I would happily buy or recommend others add to their collection. 4/5 stars.
fireth's review
4.0
I’ve always wanted to read the novel, but the thickness of the volume scared me. Getting the manga adaptation from netgalley is a god-sent.
I’ve started reading on a Sunday evening and found it hard to put down.
Highly recommended who always wanted to read this classic but got intimidated by the sheer size.
I’ve started reading on a Sunday evening and found it hard to put down.
Highly recommended who always wanted to read this classic but got intimidated by the sheer size.
rickus90's review
3.0
I'd forgotten how complicated and dramatic this book is. But it was fun to reread it as a manga. It definitely was quicker than reading the book version and a lot more fun.
introverteddragonscribbles's review
5.0
Putting it out here now, Manga is not something I would normally foray into. But classics, however, is. I love reading classics. So when I saw that some of my favorite classics had been turned into Manga comic books, I couldn’t help myself. I had to read them. Which means more reviews of Manga classics will be coming your way.
To start it off, I decided to read The Count of Monte Cristo, as I have never read that one before. Needless to say, I was impressed. Not just by the story line, but also by beautiful artwork. I never thought that a classic tale could be translated so impressively into Japanese comic book art.
Of the storline itself, I was greatly impressed with the fact that Monte Cristo’s plans had plans, and those plans of plans had backup plans. He was very crafty and clever, and, to be honest, made Eabard Thawn from The Flash look like an amateur. If that’s not great writing, I don’t know what is. Alexandre Dumas, the original author of The Count of Monte Cristo, was a genius.
The sheer amount of people involved in his scheme was a tad confusing at points and I had to sit and think a moment to remember who was who, and how they pertained to the plot. So while it was confusing at times, in the end, it all made sense.
Monte Cristo’s character was very well-developed. As a man seeking vengeance for all the wrongs done to him, he could have easily come off as pathetic and weak, but he actually gave the impression of someone who was smart, cunning, ferocious and gentle, all at the same time. His ferocity, and his great scheming, however, take a sharp turn near the end of the book when a character he never intended to harm is killed because of his need for vengeance. His grief and repentance give his character depth, and make him seem even more human, and less like a fictional person.
In the end, this version of the classic has made me appreciate classic tales more than I already do and has left me with the need to read the original The Count of Monte Cristo myself.
NOTE: I was given an ARC copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To start it off, I decided to read The Count of Monte Cristo, as I have never read that one before. Needless to say, I was impressed. Not just by the story line, but also by beautiful artwork. I never thought that a classic tale could be translated so impressively into Japanese comic book art.
Of the storline itself, I was greatly impressed with the fact that Monte Cristo’s plans had plans, and those plans of plans had backup plans. He was very crafty and clever, and, to be honest, made Eabard Thawn from The Flash look like an amateur. If that’s not great writing, I don’t know what is. Alexandre Dumas, the original author of The Count of Monte Cristo, was a genius.
The sheer amount of people involved in his scheme was a tad confusing at points and I had to sit and think a moment to remember who was who, and how they pertained to the plot. So while it was confusing at times, in the end, it all made sense.
Monte Cristo’s character was very well-developed. As a man seeking vengeance for all the wrongs done to him, he could have easily come off as pathetic and weak, but he actually gave the impression of someone who was smart, cunning, ferocious and gentle, all at the same time. His ferocity, and his great scheming, however, take a sharp turn near the end of the book when a character he never intended to harm is killed because of his need for vengeance. His grief and repentance give his character depth, and make him seem even more human, and less like a fictional person.
In the end, this version of the classic has made me appreciate classic tales more than I already do and has left me with the need to read the original The Count of Monte Cristo myself.
NOTE: I was given an ARC copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
sqeeker's review
5.0
- I LOVE these Manga Classics. I love that they stay true to the original story.
- The story is so complex and interwoven. I love how characters effect each other, and how the Count uses connections to create his plans.
- The overall story is very sad, but there is some happiness in the end. Most of the characters are doomed to suffer though.
- The illustrations and character designs were beautiful! Each page was amazing.
- I think I attempted to read the book once. Dante spent so much time in prison, and it was so slow. I don't know if I'll try again.
- The story is so complex and interwoven. I love how characters effect each other, and how the Count uses connections to create his plans.
- The overall story is very sad, but there is some happiness in the end. Most of the characters are doomed to suffer though.
- The illustrations and character designs were beautiful! Each page was amazing.
- I think I attempted to read the book once. Dante spent so much time in prison, and it was so slow. I don't know if I'll try again.
simoneclark's review
5.0
Aaaaaaaah, yeeees, another great classic in manga format!!! I love everything about this one! I haven't read the story of the Count of Monte Cristo in many years and this brought back so many memories of my time in highschool. Some parts of the story I remember, others not so much. Great job turning this classic into a graphic novel!
Thank you, NetGalley and UDON, for a complimentary copy of this fantastic book!
Thank you, NetGalley and UDON, for a complimentary copy of this fantastic book!
jordannedunn's review
4.0
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you have read the Count of Monte Cristo, you obviously don't need me to give an overview of the plot, if you haven't then what the hell are you doing reading reviews on this book? Go and read the original. Now. It's amazing and you will not appreciate this book or the story unless you have read it. And not the abridged version, the whole 1300 page monster.
The Count of Monte Cristo is easily my favourite classic novel - perhaps my favourite book in general. I read it for the first time at the end of last year and fell in love with it, it just made me sad I was unlikely to have the time to read it again any time soon because, as I've said it's a monster of a book and really I think everything in it is important to the story, at least in prose form.
I have read a few other Manga Classics as a way to sort of experience the classics in a consolidated way, and also out of curiosity to how they will be depicted and generally have liked them all and this was no exception as it allowed me to experience the story in only 400 beautifully illustrated pages. The way the characters were depicted was brilliant and I love how this team adapts classic stories to the manga style. That being said, being only 400 pages it does gloss over large portions of the book - Edmond's time in prison for example. I understand why this is done but if you have not read the original, and don't know how to fill in the blanks, it loses something.
Either way, it's impressive how concisely they cut it down, and I also think it's clever how they changed the perspective slightly so that some of the 'insider info' or dramatic irony that the reader experiences in the novel is removed and then revealed in a more dramatic way, like an unravelling mystery, in this adaption.
I will most definitely be adding this to my hard copy collection, along with Pride and Prejudice.
If you have read the Count of Monte Cristo, you obviously don't need me to give an overview of the plot, if you haven't then what the hell are you doing reading reviews on this book? Go and read the original. Now. It's amazing and you will not appreciate this book or the story unless you have read it. And not the abridged version, the whole 1300 page monster.
The Count of Monte Cristo is easily my favourite classic novel - perhaps my favourite book in general. I read it for the first time at the end of last year and fell in love with it, it just made me sad I was unlikely to have the time to read it again any time soon because, as I've said it's a monster of a book and really I think everything in it is important to the story, at least in prose form.
I have read a few other Manga Classics as a way to sort of experience the classics in a consolidated way, and also out of curiosity to how they will be depicted and generally have liked them all and this was no exception as it allowed me to experience the story in only 400 beautifully illustrated pages. The way the characters were depicted was brilliant and I love how this team adapts classic stories to the manga style. That being said, being only 400 pages it does gloss over large portions of the book - Edmond's time in prison for example. I understand why this is done but if you have not read the original, and don't know how to fill in the blanks, it loses something.
Either way, it's impressive how concisely they cut it down, and I also think it's clever how they changed the perspective slightly so that some of the 'insider info' or dramatic irony that the reader experiences in the novel is removed and then revealed in a more dramatic way, like an unravelling mystery, in this adaption.
I will most definitely be adding this to my hard copy collection, along with Pride and Prejudice.