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kajalhalwa's review against another edition
5.0
Captivating and gorgeous. I quite enjoyed the humour and the quiet moments of storytelling.
destdest's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A lot is going on. Some of it is confusing, but it has my interest. Sibylla is mouthy and indecisive, and she knows as much about the curse as we do. I would read book two though. Brom's brother is beautiful, by the way.
I'm not familiar with the Scottish tale, so everything is new to me.
I'm not familiar with the Scottish tale, so everything is new to me.
banana83854's review against another edition
2.0
Meh, it had potential but no likeable characters yet
ecorinnes's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
3.75
driedfrogpills's review against another edition
5.0
I followed this when it was a web comic, and it's great seeing it in paperback.
meri's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
turrean's review against another edition
3.0
Beautifully illustrated, inclusive, with a delightful heroine. The story is a bit choppy, and a lot happens “off stage“ that readers are left to guess at. I’ll definitely be there for book 2, coming in a few months, but as much because I’m exasperated by the lack of answers as I am intrigued by the tale.
Spoilers: I was confused by a number of things in the story.
Names were a bit of a mystery; we don’t learn the name of the bird companion until far into the story. Readers were never told the name of the witch, so when Sibylla addresses her by name near the dénouement I was totally nonplussed. I didn’t recognize “Miss Witch” with her hair down. In the earliest scene, I mistook the pigmentation of her skin as shadows from the candles & fireplace playing over her skin, so I didn’t even have that clue to go by.
I found Sibylla’s character a bit mystifying. She swears she will be “content” with the bull, but she clearly is not. The verbal sparring was well written and entertaining, in a Taming of the Shrew kind of way (She is asking sensible, reasonable questions; he is giving clearly obstructive answers.) I wasn’t clear on what motivated her to act. Does she go for the adventure? Is she looking for Romance? Did they actually get married? The bull says, “ are you not to be my beloved?“ and “You are to be my bride.” But Esben greets her as his brothers “wife.”
Spoilers: I was confused by a number of things in the story.
Names were a bit of a mystery; we don’t learn the name of the bird companion until far into the story. Readers were never told the name of the witch, so when Sibylla addresses her by name near the dénouement I was totally nonplussed. I didn’t recognize “Miss Witch” with her hair down. In the earliest scene, I mistook the pigmentation of her skin as shadows from the candles & fireplace playing over her skin, so I didn’t even have that clue to go by.
I found Sibylla’s character a bit mystifying. She swears she will be “content” with the bull, but she clearly is not. The verbal sparring was well written and entertaining, in a Taming of the Shrew kind of way (She is asking sensible, reasonable questions; he is giving clearly obstructive answers.) I wasn’t clear on what motivated her to act. Does she go for the adventure? Is she looking for Romance? Did they actually get married? The bull says, “ are you not to be my beloved?“ and “You are to be my bride.” But Esben greets her as his brothers “wife.”
bookrebl23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
5.0
alistofsydneys's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this and can't wait to see where the second book will go!
crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning of this fable is spectacular. The Seatons' marriage of art and myth drew me right into the story in a way few young adult graphic novels are able to accomplish. And the art continues to be five stars all the way through.
Unfortunately, the protagonist in the story is kept in the dark about her husband's backstory, and each time she asks about it, we, the readers, are mired more and more in a convoluded tale that is never properly explained. In this way, we feel the same frustration she does. Unfortunately, I don't read books to feel frustrated, so I found the conceit annoying.
The ending of this book is disappointing and confusing. During her husband's "fight within himself" (siiiiiiiiiiiiigh), our hero ends up in a completely different place, and we are left with a "What Will Happen Next?" page.
If the book had been able to maintain the promise of its first thirty or so pages, I would be recommending this book to everyone. It's a cool premise with great art, but the longer the book went, the more disjointed and unnecessarily convoluted it became, and now I would only really recommend it to kids who devour fantasy books, and who don't mind when things aren't explained.
I might give the second book a shot when it comes out, but I'm not eagerly awaiting it.
Unfortunately, the protagonist in the story is kept in the dark about her husband's backstory, and each time she asks about it, we, the readers, are mired more and more in a convoluded tale that is never properly explained. In this way, we feel the same frustration she does. Unfortunately, I don't read books to feel frustrated, so I found the conceit annoying.
The ending of this book is disappointing and confusing. During her husband's "fight within himself" (siiiiiiiiiiiiigh), our hero ends up in a completely different place, and we are left with a "What Will Happen Next?" page.
If the book had been able to maintain the promise of its first thirty or so pages, I would be recommending this book to everyone. It's a cool premise with great art, but the longer the book went, the more disjointed and unnecessarily convoluted it became, and now I would only really recommend it to kids who devour fantasy books, and who don't mind when things aren't explained.
I might give the second book a shot when it comes out, but I'm not eagerly awaiting it.