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evelinameiklejohn 's review for:
Nimona
by ND Stevenson
A quick and fun read, I found this book to be charming while dealing with some deeper topics. I waffled quite a bit between giving it three stars vs four stars; I probably would give it a 3.5/5 if I could. It's a good time and makes me excited for the 2023 film adaptation.
Now, SPOILERS AHEAD.
Not everyone is going to be a fan of the art style, but I think if you like Adventure Time, you'll enjoy the art in Nimona. I personally liked it and found it to be very cute. And I really appreciated the diversity and representation in the characters and background characters.
Regarding the story, I love that it was led by a snarky, heavy-set girl with piercings and a shaved head (a physique that she chooses as a shapeshifter) and a man with a disability (and a code of honor despite his status as villain). I love how their friendship builds and how they grow into that found-family dynamic. There's a lot in their relationship that I appreciated, that quest to be supportive of another person who has been self-reliant for so long that they become spiny at every threat. Their dynamic revolves around mental health and dealing with trauma and struggling with trust.
"It's not your responsibility to save everyone, you know."
"Don't call her that. She's not a monster."
I love how the story and characters are all about subverting the classic notions of "hero" and "villain," but I think the Institution becomes a very flat villain anyways despite being "the institution for heroes that is secretly malicious and doing horrible, illegal things." We never see the Institution try to masquerade as heroic. There are comments that they do things for order, but we don't see much of them trying to save face other than cutting newsfeeds. As readers, we're only shown the Institution as a nefarious entity, we don't see any reason why people would trust this place. Or how they operate in conjunction with the king? Is the king also a good facing, but actually evil entity? Or is he also being blindsided? Given how the Director mentions that the Institute could give Goldenloin a new nemesis... it brings up questions about how this society is structured? (And how the "Lands Beyond" fit into all of this??)
I'm a bit hazy on the world building in general. It's very strictly medieval fantasy except with an overlay of science and tech that feels a bit... slapped on? I just could have used more world building to help with that synergy and the understanding of the social constraints our cast finds themselves in.
Likewise, while I love Dr. Meredith Blitzmeyer, she feels like a pretty typical "humorously aloof mad scientist who is a genius" character. She seems to just be here to provide exposition about Gloreth and to provide a solution for Blackheart. I really like her friendship with Blackheart ("Gregor") and that they wind up opening a lab together, but she very much felt like a character brought into the story to steer things to an ending.
Then, regarding Goldenloin and Blackheart's relationship, I really liked it. I think there's a lot of interesting work being done here about culpability and apologizing; however, I feel like their romantic relationship was too understated. I picked up pretty early that they had romantic feelings/a romantic past, but it was only vaguely alluded to. They have some intimate touches, an interrupted attempt at saying "I love you," but that's it. I would have loved a bit more overtness in that.
I also would have loved seeing a one-on-one interaction between Nimona and Goldenloin. So much of this book is about Blackheart that I think having another scene between these other characters could balance some of the spotlight and add another interesting opportunity for exploring the book's themes.
I also couldn't help but notice that the panel showing Goldenloin destroying Blackheart's arm on age 6 shows him taking damage to the wrong arm. A nitpicky thing, sure, but still.
With all of that, there are quite a few things I really like about this book. I liked that Nimona wasn't some willowy, wilting flower type. She's funny, cunning, snarky, loud, a bit bullheaded at times, and a fighter. I love that she and Blackheart have a kind of Joel/Ellie dynamic (which Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey would do a phenomenal job playing Blackheart and Nimona in a live-action film). I especially liked the scene at the science fair and playing board games at home. I loved the complexity between Goldenloin and Blackheart (I just could have used more). And I enjoyed that we get to see and empathize with both sides of Blackheart and Nimona's friendship. We understand why Nimona pushes Blackheart away, why she has trust issues. We understand why Blackheart becomes terrified of her (after all, she did have her head cut off, then came back alive, and then started to transform into a monstrous shape while arguing with him). And I think there is a lot of heart and love in the messaging. I definitely think it's a book Middle School me could have used.
Now, SPOILERS AHEAD.
Not everyone is going to be a fan of the art style, but I think if you like Adventure Time, you'll enjoy the art in Nimona. I personally liked it and found it to be very cute. And I really appreciated the diversity and representation in the characters and background characters.
Regarding the story, I love that it was led by a snarky, heavy-set girl with piercings and a shaved head (a physique that she chooses as a shapeshifter) and a man with a disability (and a code of honor despite his status as villain). I love how their friendship builds and how they grow into that found-family dynamic. There's a lot in their relationship that I appreciated, that quest to be supportive of another person who has been self-reliant for so long that they become spiny at every threat. Their dynamic revolves around mental health and dealing with trauma and struggling with trust.
"It's not your responsibility to save everyone, you know."
"Don't call her that. She's not a monster."
I love how the story and characters are all about subverting the classic notions of "hero" and "villain," but I think the Institution becomes a very flat villain anyways despite being "the institution for heroes that is secretly malicious and doing horrible, illegal things." We never see the Institution try to masquerade as heroic. There are comments that they do things for order, but we don't see much of them trying to save face other than cutting newsfeeds. As readers, we're only shown the Institution as a nefarious entity, we don't see any reason why people would trust this place. Or how they operate in conjunction with the king? Is the king also a good facing, but actually evil entity? Or is he also being blindsided? Given how the Director mentions that the Institute could give Goldenloin a new nemesis... it brings up questions about how this society is structured? (And how the "Lands Beyond" fit into all of this??)
I'm a bit hazy on the world building in general. It's very strictly medieval fantasy except with an overlay of science and tech that feels a bit... slapped on? I just could have used more world building to help with that synergy and the understanding of the social constraints our cast finds themselves in.
Likewise, while I love Dr. Meredith Blitzmeyer, she feels like a pretty typical "humorously aloof mad scientist who is a genius" character. She seems to just be here to provide exposition about Gloreth and to provide a solution for Blackheart. I really like her friendship with Blackheart ("Gregor") and that they wind up opening a lab together, but she very much felt like a character brought into the story to steer things to an ending.
Then, regarding Goldenloin and Blackheart's relationship, I really liked it. I think there's a lot of interesting work being done here about culpability and apologizing; however, I feel like their romantic relationship was too understated. I picked up pretty early that they had romantic feelings/a romantic past, but it was only vaguely alluded to. They have some intimate touches, an interrupted attempt at saying "I love you," but that's it. I would have loved a bit more overtness in that.
I also would have loved seeing a one-on-one interaction between Nimona and Goldenloin. So much of this book is about Blackheart that I think having another scene between these other characters could balance some of the spotlight and add another interesting opportunity for exploring the book's themes.
I also couldn't help but notice that the panel showing Goldenloin destroying Blackheart's arm on age 6 shows him taking damage to the wrong arm. A nitpicky thing, sure, but still.
With all of that, there are quite a few things I really like about this book. I liked that Nimona wasn't some willowy, wilting flower type. She's funny, cunning, snarky, loud, a bit bullheaded at times, and a fighter. I love that she and Blackheart have a kind of Joel/Ellie dynamic (which Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey would do a phenomenal job playing Blackheart and Nimona in a live-action film). I especially liked the scene at the science fair and playing board games at home. I loved the complexity between Goldenloin and Blackheart (I just could have used more). And I enjoyed that we get to see and empathize with both sides of Blackheart and Nimona's friendship. We understand why Nimona pushes Blackheart away, why she has trust issues. We understand why Blackheart becomes terrified of her (after all, she did have her head cut off, then came back alive, and then started to transform into a monstrous shape while arguing with him). And I think there is a lot of heart and love in the messaging. I definitely think it's a book Middle School me could have used.