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tawfek's review
5.0
i would really love to know the name of the book where the original sleeping beauty story and other folk stories are told
halfmanhalfbook's review
4.0
The ninth in the Sandman series gathers a number of threads, some started as far back as the second book in the series, and brings them to a conclusion. Morpheus is a stubborn character, someone who is not always prepared to compromise, and sometimes makes difficult choices. Characters from earlier books, including Hippolyta Hall, three witches, a Norse god and Thessaly are determined to settle those grudges
But there is a cohesive and separate storyline in the book too. A child is taken, and the mother thinks it is Morpheus and is set on destroying him. She turns to two ladies, The Kindly Ones, who she persuades to help her in this quest. Faced with the greatest challenge in his life, Morpheus confronts his foes and fears from a high and desolate peak surrounded and may have to make the greatest sacrifice yet.
"It's never what they want, and if we give them what they think they want, they like it less than ever."
The longest so far of the books, this is follows in the same vein as the last couple in the series, in that it has a set of stories that all hang together. Still dark though, but this time with an intensity and sinister and other worldly elements that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Sadly the artwork was not up to the quality of the previous books, not totally sure why, just lacked the detail. Other than that great book.
But there is a cohesive and separate storyline in the book too. A child is taken, and the mother thinks it is Morpheus and is set on destroying him. She turns to two ladies, The Kindly Ones, who she persuades to help her in this quest. Faced with the greatest challenge in his life, Morpheus confronts his foes and fears from a high and desolate peak surrounded and may have to make the greatest sacrifice yet.
"It's never what they want, and if we give them what they think they want, they like it less than ever."
The longest so far of the books, this is follows in the same vein as the last couple in the series, in that it has a set of stories that all hang together. Still dark though, but this time with an intensity and sinister and other worldly elements that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Sadly the artwork was not up to the quality of the previous books, not totally sure why, just lacked the detail. Other than that great book.
izzorizzo's review
5.0
It was after I read this that I wholeheartedly fell in love with the Sandman series.
sookieskipper's review
4.0
If only the art wasn't the way it is. After Brief Lives, my expectation for the final chapter was very high. Story wise Gaiman does deliver it with all lose ends tied, some old tales justified and the characters deserving the end that was hinted at very beginning of the book.
But but but.
There are instances where characters are confusing, especially in the middle act. The shifts between dreaming and real world give a whiplash with the speed in which they take place and the jarring way the mood shifts. This has been done by Gaiman in earlier volumes but it hasn't worked this bad ever. Those are the moments when you want to skip the pages (as the art isn't helping much) and get to the finish line quicker.
The final scene is very anti climactic which I personally liked. But with the kind of time Gaiman spent on other minor characters, Dream and death needed more time and more space. They were just crammed in the end and somewhere in a small middle panel, it just ends.
I hate to go on about art again but its the main thing that turns me off from this volume with its cartoon-y depiction of characters and it half ruined the finale for me.
But but but.
There are instances where characters are confusing, especially in the middle act. The shifts between dreaming and real world give a whiplash with the speed in which they take place and the jarring way the mood shifts. This has been done by Gaiman in earlier volumes but it hasn't worked this bad ever. Those are the moments when you want to skip the pages (as the art isn't helping much) and get to the finish line quicker.
The final scene is very anti climactic which I personally liked. But with the kind of time Gaiman spent on other minor characters, Dream and death needed more time and more space. They were just crammed in the end and somewhere in a small middle panel, it just ends.
I hate to go on about art again but its the main thing that turns me off from this volume with its cartoon-y depiction of characters and it half ruined the finale for me.
werds's review
5.0
He dieieieieieieied! But he didn't! And OMG here is my heart, Sandman Chronicles. Bury it between your pages, because I don't want to have it if I can't have you.
jorybear's review
5.0
As a pure story, this is the best Sandman volume by far. By far, and I've loved every single one of them. This one starts to delve into some of the themes and events brought up in the first volume. How did Dream manage to be imprisoned by a mere mortal? Isn't he supposed to transcend humans and gods? All sorts of disparate threads and characters from the previous stories are brought together in a truly masterful way - it felt right, like that's how it was supposed to be, rather than forced. The biggest problem I had was that the art style was so different that it didn't fit. I liked the art style for a different comic, but the Sandman series started out with a pretty iconic art style that seems to me to have been lost as the series matured (since the series ended up being a revolving door for artists). It was enough that every time I picked it up, I whined about the art. I wish the best writing and best art could have been combined into one unbeatable volume, but alas.
arizona's review
5.0
This was pretty epic. [spoilers ahead]
The Corinthian is back!! I like the second one a LOT more than the original, maybe because he appears a little less psycho. I’m sad about the ending, but glad that Daniel gets to take on a new role. I really hope Abel and Merv come back in the next volume. Matthew is one of my favorite characters, and I can’t wait to see what he gets up to next.
The art was refreshing as always, and Delirium’s rants are still as enchanting as before. The cohesiveness of the plot in this one was really cool.
The Corinthian is back!! I like the second one a LOT more than the original, maybe because he appears a little less psycho. I’m sad about the ending, but glad that Daniel gets to take on a new role. I really hope Abel and Merv come back in the next volume. Matthew is one of my favorite characters, and I can’t wait to see what he gets up to next.
The art was refreshing as always, and Delirium’s rants are still as enchanting as before. The cohesiveness of the plot in this one was really cool.
stephmeister02's review
5.0
This and the last volume really do tie up everything and conclude an amazing series. The Kindly Ones are scary as fuck, and Dream is the only one not scared of them.
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