A review by twicomb
The Hunger and the Dusk, Vol. 1 by G. Willow Wilson

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.