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blackbookstasista's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.25
mcdal's review against another edition
Definitely one of those works I’ll have to take time to contemplate as well as revisit before giving my full thoughts
magenta_menace's review
4.25
a postcolonial eldritch horror tale with gorgeous illustration and intertextual bite, with a really striking play on the traditional cosmic fare typical of the genre.
brandonadaniels's review
4.0
Where Black Stars Rise is a modern take on The King In Yellow and “Lovecraftian” tales of madness. It is a short story that packs a lot of punch and contains some big ideas. It provides a unique, more human, twist on the “we can never truly know the world” concept prevalent in much of Lovecraftian fiction.
Marie Enger’s artwork helps give the story an even more unique and contemporary punch. The story really plays to the artist’s strengths. Their work is clearly inspired by Mike Mignola, perhaps the comic artist most associated with the genre, but it’s also brighter, more saturated, and, at times, even more abstracted and dreamlike. They also hand lettered much of the book, and the graphic elements blend in and out of the art with a unique effect. The reader is forced to slow down and study the imagery, even in its simplicity, for hidden meaning.
I was just a little underwhelmed by the ending. Parts of the main character’s identity felt emphasized over others, and some of the ideas felt a little underbaked.
Marie Enger’s artwork helps give the story an even more unique and contemporary punch. The story really plays to the artist’s strengths. Their work is clearly inspired by Mike Mignola, perhaps the comic artist most associated with the genre, but it’s also brighter, more saturated, and, at times, even more abstracted and dreamlike. They also hand lettered much of the book, and the graphic elements blend in and out of the art with a unique effect. The reader is forced to slow down and study the imagery, even in its simplicity, for hidden meaning.
I was just a little underwhelmed by the ending. Parts of the main character’s identity felt emphasized over others, and some of the ideas felt a little underbaked.
reedthetinker's review
3.5
I didn’t fully understand this book (probably because I’m not used to graphic novels) but I loved the message, the need to let people be themselves, to not try to fix them, to let them (and the self) heal from the inside out. This was a powerful book about therapy and cultural norms.
captwinghead's review
3.0
Wonderfully unique art style and an interesting concept for a story about a therapist.
Amal is a new therapist and struggling with how to help her first client, Yasmin. I thought the awkwardness between them was portrayed well. Amal is trying incredibly hard and getting weighed down by her rigidity and determination to keep things formal and clinical. Throughout this process, Yasmin is just struggling to find someone to believe her and not reduce her fears and nightmares to symptoms of her mental illness and that was a compelling aspect of the story.
The art style and use of colors (so much yellow!) made this a graphic novel I will remember for quite some time.
I also appreciated the rep included queer women of color.
Amal is a new therapist and struggling with how to help her first client, Yasmin. I thought the awkwardness between them was portrayed well. Amal is trying incredibly hard and getting weighed down by her rigidity and determination to keep things formal and clinical. Throughout this process, Yasmin is just struggling to find someone to believe her and not reduce her fears and nightmares to symptoms of her mental illness and that was a compelling aspect of the story.
The art style and use of colors (so much yellow!) made this a graphic novel I will remember for quite some time.
I also appreciated the rep included queer women of color.
joshgauthier's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
A fascinating, layered horror story of trauma, relationships, and old gods.
lemonlord_of_the_south's review
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Beautiful style! I really appreciated the vibrancy and "messy" appearance while keeping the page easily legible and not overwhelming
I felt some parts lacking and with a short book that does kinda make it less appealing
But the depiction of identity (queerness, being arab, away from family, and the way all these parts become one) is done well and could be felt in every page and detail
I felt some parts lacking and with a short book that does kinda make it less appealing
But the depiction of identity (queerness, being arab, away from family, and the way all these parts become one) is done well and could be felt in every page and detail
laurens_bookstagram's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis