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juushika 's review for:
When I Arrived at the Castle
by E.M. Carroll
I'm an easy sell for "short graphic novel about violence, identity, magic, and lesbians," but this gave me all I wanted and more. Its brevity allows for experimentation and excess that might be overwhelming at length. The narrative coils and layers on itself in 3+ recontextualizations; I read it twice in succession, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that it's perfectly cogent on reread and richer for that density. Not all elements of the style work for me, but the cumulative effect--of strong black/white/red, of thick and curving female bodies, of panels that contrast fluid structure with sharp negative space, of a stylized and visceral script ("lies slid their way from my stomach to my tongue")--is delightful. It's exactly the sort of indulgence and erotic tension and self-reflection I want from a gothic fairy tale. (4.5 stars, bumped up because this is my jam.)