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emmaprew's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m not sure if I set my hopes too high but I didn’t like this as much as I thought I would. The artwork and the overall design of the book was great but I struggled to follow the story. I didn’t really know who was who or what was going on. I think if I read it again, it would be clearer the second time around but I’m not exactly inspired to read it again…
flammewar's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
brandonadaniels's review
4.0
A great standalone (for now) fantasy story. The artwork and the quality of the book itself is spectacular. The story is compelling, but I question the choice of having the two groups of characters we are switching back and forth between look so similar. I get that it’s somewhat necessary to the story, but it was a bit too on the nose and visually confusing, even for a seasoned comics reader.
ogreart's review
4.0
The worldbuilding in this book is impressive. It is a complex story that is not always easy to read. There are the legends, and there is the truth behind the legends. Nothing is simple. Nothing is easy. Almost nothing is as it seems. It is definitely not a kids book.
mythical_reads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
easytocrash's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
trike's review
5.0
Oh my (last) god, this is astonishing. This is some truly epic fantasy in the classic mold: a quest to save the world from a monstrous god. But it is also modern in its grimdark take on the companions. These are not good people, but they’re just the sort to take on an ancient evil. Lots of secrets, plenty of double-crosses, oodles of action… all of it set in a landscape as fully realized as any fantasy world you can compare it to.
The writing is terrific, the worldbuilding comprehensive, and the art is amazing. I’ve never seen a comic with so much background stuff included. There are numerous maps, histories giving the world’s backstory, journals from various ages, and there’s even a section that hooks into Dungeons & Dragons, complete with stats, if you want to set a game in this world. Alongside the copious maps, I think it’d be easy to set a campaign here. Even more impressive is that this book, long as it is, barely scratches the surface of the world Johnson et al have created here. There are entire parts of the world which are not only unvisited, they go nearly unmentioned. There are tales untold here. Even the short story in the back gives only a glimpse of some creatures and areas the main story doesn’t touch.
This is just really impressively comprehensive front to back, and the story itself is excellent.
Honestly, I don’t know how any other graphic novel will be able to top this for my best of the year roundup come December, and it’s only January 11th!
The writing is terrific, the worldbuilding comprehensive, and the art is amazing. I’ve never seen a comic with so much background stuff included. There are numerous maps, histories giving the world’s backstory, journals from various ages, and there’s even a section that hooks into Dungeons & Dragons, complete with stats, if you want to set a game in this world. Alongside the copious maps, I think it’d be easy to set a campaign here. Even more impressive is that this book, long as it is, barely scratches the surface of the world Johnson et al have created here. There are entire parts of the world which are not only unvisited, they go nearly unmentioned. There are tales untold here. Even the short story in the back gives only a glimpse of some creatures and areas the main story doesn’t touch.
This is just really impressively comprehensive front to back, and the story itself is excellent.
Honestly, I don’t know how any other graphic novel will be able to top this for my best of the year roundup come December, and it’s only January 11th!
imakandiway's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
oagermann's review
1.0
I really tried to like this, but the way multiple different cultures and mythologies were rammed together made for something discordant masquerading as original.