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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
This might be my favorite thing I've read all year. Holy shit, this series is INCREDIBLE. I read all 7 volumes in about a week, so I will not be posting individual reviews for each. This will be the review for volumes 1-3.
If you know me, you know I love a murderous woman. From page one, I fell in love with Maika. From the very beginning, you know what she's about, and I'M WITH HER. All the other characters are just as complex as Maika, with their own motivations, backstories, and personalities. No one is one dimensional in this story, and they all live in a grey area between good and evil. No one character stands out at the "bad" or "good" guy. The bad guys are given moments of empathy and kindness, and the good guys often make terrible and horrific decisions. This dynamic of characters makes for such a compelling story. I found myself rooting for all of them and none of them while reading.
The world that has been created is also SO incredibly unique. There's still so much of the world that has yet to be uncovered, but each corner that has been revealed has a wealth of history, traditions, religions, and ways of governing. Some of it was hard to keep track of, but that's often because I'm a poor reader, not because the author/illustrator has delivered the world poorly.
The plot never stops moving in this story. There's constantly another secret to be revealed or a major twist that takes our characters in an entirely new direction. The story is dark, ruthless, and gruesome. I loved every second of it.
Finally, I've never really read a graphic novel before, and this book really just made me appreciate the work it takes to create one. The level of craft it takes to tell a story in both pictures and dialogue is incredible! I will be picking up more just because of this one! I can not recommend this more highly!
If you know me, you know I love a murderous woman. From page one, I fell in love with Maika. From the very beginning, you know what she's about, and I'M WITH HER. All the other characters are just as complex as Maika, with their own motivations, backstories, and personalities. No one is one dimensional in this story, and they all live in a grey area between good and evil. No one character stands out at the "bad" or "good" guy. The bad guys are given moments of empathy and kindness, and the good guys often make terrible and horrific decisions. This dynamic of characters makes for such a compelling story. I found myself rooting for all of them and none of them while reading.
The world that has been created is also SO incredibly unique. There's still so much of the world that has yet to be uncovered, but each corner that has been revealed has a wealth of history, traditions, religions, and ways of governing. Some of it was hard to keep track of, but that's often because I'm a poor reader, not because the author/illustrator has delivered the world poorly.
The plot never stops moving in this story. There's constantly another secret to be revealed or a major twist that takes our characters in an entirely new direction. The story is dark, ruthless, and gruesome. I loved every second of it.
Finally, I've never really read a graphic novel before, and this book really just made me appreciate the work it takes to create one. The level of craft it takes to tell a story in both pictures and dialogue is incredible! I will be picking up more just because of this one! I can not recommend this more highly!
Let me preface by saying that I absolutely love this series and will without a doubt continue reading it. However, in many aspects, I feel like it's bitten off a bit more than it can chew. It's trying to tell a story while also attempting to build a complex yet understandable world mythology. I feel that this hinders the actual ability to read it in some ways, simply because trying to understand how this world works ends up kind of distracting from the story itself. I really feel that it would have worked better as a novel. Again, that being said, it's a compelling series.
Once again, this volume absolutely swept me away. I love the development of the characters and their relationships, especially regarding Zinn, Ren, and Kippa.
I'm really excited to pick up the next volume!
Spoiler
One of my favorite moments in this volume was when Kippa gave Zinn the flower while telling the god that it couldn't eat people. Kippa is so precious, I swear if anything happens to her I will lose it. I'm also glad that Maika and Tuya's relationship is explicitly shown. I was getting some ~vibes~ in the earlier books but I'm happy that it's unmistakably canon.I'm really excited to pick up the next volume!
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
2.5
I think I'm done with the series now, for some reason I just don't connect and it doesn't make a lot of sense most of the time which is a shame because the artwork is stunning.
I think I'm done with the series now, for some reason I just don't connect and it doesn't make a lot of sense most of the time which is a shame because the artwork is stunning.
This volume turns things up to 11. The whole series has been exciting and brilliant, but with this volume things seem to finally be making more and more sense and anticipation is building as tensions rise between the arcanic and cumaea groups. Everyone seems to want to capture Maika as she takes refuge in Pontus, making a deal for protection if she can get their shield working to protect them from everyone else and possible attacks. However doing so means she must push herself and the old god she has within and ultimately go to the Shaman-Goddess's lab to search for parts. There are secrets and possible betrayals looming in the future, that and more made this an exciting read. The reader is kept informed of events elsewhere beyond what is directly happening with or to Maika; this and more make the world-building beautiful and intriguing. It's a bit horrible (just like real life) and a bit amazing . And definitely it is beautiful, the colors and illustrations add so much to the story. It's rather unlike any other graphic novels I have read. The issues seem longer and everything is so detailed and fantastical. It feels as complete as a 300-page fantasy book.
Spoiler
as an old god peaks through to their realm at the end of the volume
This bok was as beautiful as it was confusing. I still don't have a clue what is going on. There are a number of factions that pop in and out and aren't fleshed out in any useful way.
The plot is still moving forward and a few more bits of mythos and world being pieced together, but it still heavily relies on ignorant or untruthful narrators, it wants to keep you in the dark. I like that sometimes (it's not my favorite story telling method) but I don't feel like this story is doing it very well.
What keeps me going is the world building, while confusing, is getting cool. Some of the characters are fun (mostly Ren, Kippa, and the two tigers).
The art is exceptionally well done. Again, same critique, too chaotic. But it really does draw you in and make you want to keep reading... And so I will.
The plot is still moving forward and a few more bits of mythos and world being pieced together, but it still heavily relies on ignorant or untruthful narrators, it wants to keep you in the dark. I like that sometimes (it's not my favorite story telling method) but I don't feel like this story is doing it very well.
What keeps me going is the world building, while confusing, is getting cool. Some of the characters are fun (mostly Ren, Kippa, and the two tigers).
The art is exceptionally well done. Again, same critique, too chaotic. But it really does draw you in and make you want to keep reading... And so I will.
This series is so fun. So many dark and terrible things, with other lovely and amazing things. The art is amazing. The story is nuanced and interesting. Really enjoying it.