A review by monicalaurette
The Black Mage by Daniel Barnes, DJ Kirkland

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I don’t know why when I started this book that I thought it was going to be a great snowy day read, because I finished it in like an hour. It was that good. I first heard about this graphic novel when I followed the artist on Tik Tok and they talked about it. Then I went only to learn more about it, really liked the story, and bought it. Now granted, I have had the book on my TBR pile for a while but I knew it would be a great book to read and boost up my numbers just a little bit more.

The way that this book was both a captivating story and a call-out for the way that people of color are treated (all the stereotype questions asked of Tom when he first arrives and the way the white characters talk about him) even today. I felt it was an great take to kind of show that even though the civil war ended years ago, slavery ended years ago, there are still those terrible feelings and ideologies out there today. I’m just glad Lindsay turned around because I liked her from like the first chapter.

I gave The Black Mage 5 stars because it was such a quick and reflective read for me (as a white woman). I loved the characters that Daniel and D.J. brought to life in these pages. *Thor voice* ANOTHER! (please I want to know what Tom and Jim do in the future, and also Lindsay; make them fight more racists).

When I realized the meaning of Tom ‘Token’ and the crow named ‘Jim’ I just about screamed because like it was subtle but also not at the same time.

 
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