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ecorinnes's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
izzya's review
adventurous
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
3.75
kimwritesstuff's review
adventurous
dark
funny
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
4.0
I liked this so much that I've added the comic to my watchlist so I can read the next issues as they come out. The fun thing about this comic is that there are a lot of familiar elements. If you're a fantasy fan, you know about Orcs and can easily be transported to a world where Orcs exist. Even with the familiar, almost D&D type storytelling, the story still manages to surprise you. The Vangol are a worthy and somewhat spooky adversary, plaguing both Orcs and Humans.
Of course, Humans and Orcs don't get along, so they must forge a tenuous alliance by allowing an Overlord's beloved cousin, Tara, to go with a human commander, Callum. Again, the story seems familiar; we see two outcasts of their kind, Tara and Callum, work together against the Vangol. While elsewhere we follow the Orcs and how they feel about this peace treaty. I do feel like there could have been more worldbuilding, and we could have seen more about humans. I didn't really get a sense of how magic or lack of works in this world. I know this is only the first section of what is set up to be a long saga, but it just felt like some backstory was missing.
Overall, this was a fun read, and I'm looking forward to the next issue in the series!
Thanks to Netgalley and IDW Publishing.
Of course, Humans and Orcs don't get along, so they must forge a tenuous alliance by allowing an Overlord's beloved cousin, Tara, to go with a human commander, Callum. Again, the story seems familiar; we see two outcasts of their kind, Tara and Callum, work together against the Vangol. While elsewhere we follow the Orcs and how they feel about this peace treaty. I do feel like there could have been more worldbuilding, and we could have seen more about humans. I didn't really get a sense of how magic or lack of works in this world. I know this is only the first section of what is set up to be a long saga, but it just felt like some backstory was missing.
Overall, this was a fun read, and I'm looking forward to the next issue in the series!
Thanks to Netgalley and IDW Publishing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Blood
allemala's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.25
In this high fantasy graphic novel orcs and humans, after centuries of battling over rich lands, now have to sign an alliance and work together to fight a greater threat, an old enemy that unexpectedly arrived on their shores.
In this first volume, the storyline is rather simple but sets a nice premise for the story to continue and develop further. I would have liked a little more backstory on what made the land so barren and why the two factions fought over it for so long. Nonetheless, it gave us enough information to understand their reasons. The graphic style is beautiful and very detailed. It makes you easily immerse yourself in the world and relate to the characters' emotions and concerns. I would definitely check out the next volume when it comes out!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
twicomb's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Give us volume 2, stat! I must know what happens!
This first volume drops us deep into the world of orcs and humans, their age-old conflict, and their new need to form a truce and present a united front to a more terrifying enemy than either has ever seen before. Unifying forsworn enemies often means arranged marriages between the two sides, and things are no different in this fantasy world. One of the main characters is an orc princess who finds herself wed not to the orc overlord she had been unofficially betrothed to (and in love with) since they were both children, but instead a rough-n-tumble human who leads a ragtag band of fighters who are nevertheless fearsome in determination to save their lands. The orc overlord, in turn, finds himself paired up with another orc girl who had been friends with his erstwhile orc princess, also when they were all children. Lo, how the tangled threads do interweave. But all of this is presented in such a heartfelt and realistic way, through a story driven by the universal emotions of hope, fear, and uncertainty, that it feels immediate and relevant in a way you wouldn’t expect such a fantasy story to feel. There’s also plenty of violent warfare to keep readers from labeling this as merely a soap opera; and a soap opera it most certainly is not. Matters of the heart are experienced with the same depth, whether orc or human, and that’s one of the underlying messages being delivered in this first volume of the series.
Let’s not forget about this absolutely gorgeous art, which is what truly brings these universal emotions to life on the characters’ faces and in their body language, more than any dialogue can do. The world itself is detailed and elegant, rendered with finesse that makes you believe you can feel the slimy mud of the swamp, and hear the wind soughing through the pine trees over the snow. The orc kingdom’s fortresses and temples are a particular delight for the eyes, with crumbling plinths and still-imposing fortifications.
So I’ll once again request: please hurry up with volume 2! This is one saga I hope will continue for many volumes to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review.
reedmorebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
5.0
The Hunger and the Dusk is a call back to old school high fantasy, with modern writing and social sensibilities, in all the best ways!
In volume 1 we're introduced to a world where a long standing war between humans and orks must become a tense alliance in the shadow of a more fearsome enemy, the cannibalistic Vangol. As brutal and epix as the battles are however, the real meat, and soul, of the story lies in the characters.
G. Willow Wilson's writing and Chris Wildgoose's art are both top notch in this first arc and I can't wait to read more! Hunger & Dusk has all the style of modern D&D and Warcraft, without the gags, and depicts brutal battles without being mired down in grim dark like so much fantasy post Game of Thrones. It's a return to fantasy roots, while embracing modernity and we need more of it!
*Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley & the publisher (Image) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*
In volume 1 we're introduced to a world where a long standing war between humans and orks must become a tense alliance in the shadow of a more fearsome enemy, the cannibalistic Vangol. As brutal and epix as the battles are however, the real meat, and soul, of the story lies in the characters.
G. Willow Wilson's writing and Chris Wildgoose's art are both top notch in this first arc and I can't wait to read more! Hunger & Dusk has all the style of modern D&D and Warcraft, without the gags, and depicts brutal battles without being mired down in grim dark like so much fantasy post Game of Thrones. It's a return to fantasy roots, while embracing modernity and we need more of it!
*Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley & the publisher (Image) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
witchy_woo_13's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I absolutely adore anything that G. Willow Wilson puts her name on so it came at no surprise to me that I would come to absolutely devour this one. I loved it. The storyline was great and so was the artwork. I love the air of mystery around the Vangols. I love that Orcs are portrayed as somewhat peaceful warriors and that it's only land that really is making them war with humans. The D&D vibes are immaculate and I really cannot wait to read more from this series. *Netgally ARC*
lattes_lipstick_literature's review
fast-paced
4.0
As fantasy graphic novels go, this was very well done. In fantasy, you typically see Orcs as the antagonists and in 'The Hunger and The Dusk' it seems like it was how it was before the Vangol started invading. Fighting for land and resources, now they must ally to fight and survive. The alliance is of course fragile as they don't trust each other. The story while seen before, is incredibly well done, and you just absolutely want to make sure the characters survive and what happens throughout. The artwork is amazing, each character is distinct and memorable, with the background being detailed as well. The fight scenes are done amazingly and while fast-paced are easy to follow.
helenareadsbooks's review against another edition
3.25
The Hunger and the Dusk vol. 1 collects issues #1-6 of the series. This comic features a dying world where only humans and orcs remain. They are mortal enemies, but when a group of ancient humanoids known as the Vangol pose an even greater threat, the humans and orcs form an alliance to take on this new threat together. This alliance is fragile but it’s the only way to move forward. The survival of both groups lies in the hands of a commander of a band of humans and a high-ranking orc healer.
This story has an adventurous Game of Thrones/Dungeon & Dragons vibe which I enjoyed, and the vibrant art brings the characters, action and scenery to life. Unfortunately, everything else about the book fell flat for me. I wanted more worldbuilding and I feel like I don’t have a reason to care about the characters. And because I don’t care about the characters I also don’t care about the romance. There was an interesting moment where we learn about the Vangol, but it wasn’t fully explored. I know there’s only so much that can be done in six issues, but I was left feeling underwhelmed. This genre is so popular and overdone, and so far I feel like The Hunger and the Dusk isn’t bringing anything new to the table. Hopefully this will change as the story continues. I’m interested in reading the next volume to see if my opinion changes.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC to review.
bailey0414's review
3.0
What I loved most about this ARC was the art itself. It was easier to lose myself in the story strictly because of the art. However, the storyline itself felt a bit choppy, a bit rushed, and I didn’t get much background throughout the first six issues. It kept pulling me out of the story anytime I felt like I was understanding a piece of the story or how rushed it all felt.
The humans and the orcs coming together to defeat the Vangol is a great concept, especially with the ticking time bomb that is their planet due to climate issues, but I felt a bit lost on the characters backgrounds and such. Hopefully more gets answered in future issues that I’ll keep an eye out for though!
The humans and the orcs coming together to defeat the Vangol is a great concept, especially with the ticking time bomb that is their planet due to climate issues, but I felt a bit lost on the characters backgrounds and such. Hopefully more gets answered in future issues that I’ll keep an eye out for though!