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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought this was great. I liked the art and seeing the boxer rebellion through the eyes of a peasant turned revolutionary is a really interesting story. I burned through this in a few hours on a train. I wasn't quite done when I reached my stop and had to sit down in the station and finish it before moving on.
I went into this blind, not knowing anything about it. I was surprised at the topic, and then continually surprised at the direction the story took. The author doesn't shy away from tough questions about morality, right and wrong, and war, in general. Really powerful- I'm glad it exists.
dark
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
The companion setup of this book with Saints sets up such a compelling story of the Boxer Rebellion. The two books literally take two sides of a story and make them exciting.
History the way it should be told. I only wish there was a mini-epilogue to tell more detail about the context of the Boxer Rebellion.
History the way it should be told. I only wish there was a mini-epilogue to tell more detail about the context of the Boxer Rebellion.
I know this is an unpopular view, but the connection between art and story really didn't work for me. Yang's drawing style is deliberately simplistic and cartoonish, and the story is very violent. To me the art served to distance me from the action of the narrative and made the violence seem cartoonish as well. I think Yang's project, to teach about the Boxer Rebellion and the causes of war and atrocities is very admirable, but the tone to me felt off and disjunctive.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A nicely researched and entertaining graphic novel about the Boxer rebellion, with a bit of the supernatural thrown in. A companion volume to Saints, which I'm currently reading. I always enjoy Yang's work.