Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Magic Fish: A Graphic Novel by Trung Le Nguyen

112 reviews

lightningmc_logyn's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

I am blown away. This is now one of my favorite books of all time. The visual and textual story are breathtaking. The author really understands the medium and the power of graphic novel storytelling, as self-stated in the authors note end of the book. It’s woven together so beautifully. It is heartbreakingly profound and emotional. I was very moved by Tiên and Helen’s stories. The bond they have is beautiful. It was so raw and vulnerable. The art was simply beautiful, the line and color work amazing. It is powerfully delicate. It is inviting and detailed. The composition of each panel was purposeful and communicated the story perfectly. I particularly loved when only a sliver of something was shown in the panel-a wonderful use of spacial storytelling. I was shocked, moved, filled with joy and fear and tenderness and love while reading this book. I borrowed it from the library but I know I must own it someday. I wish I could put this book in the hands of every person on earth and have them read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia and War

Minor: Hate crime and Colonisation

All the listed content subjects are handled seriously and with care in the book. The tone is very much one of accepting painful life experiences and turning to loved ones to guide eachother.

palmkd's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

5.0

This is a touching story about relationships and family. Tiến's parents immigrated from Vietnam to the US. They speak a mix of languages at home and sometimes it's hard to find the right words in the right language. They read stories together which is a way to practice the language, but also a way to come together.

This story focuses mainly on Tiến and his mom, but is sprinkled with fairy tales, including some gritty dark ones, to highlight some great truths.

Highly recommend!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Grief

Moderate: Blood and War

Minor: Cannibalism

pheebabeeba_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

beautiful art. touching story. I loved the fairytales in between as well. I found them magical and dark but also very beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief

Moderate: Homophobia and Blood

Minor: Cannibalism and Murder

gillianengelbrecht's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Outing

Minor: Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Abandonment, and War

i_like_books123's review against another edition

slow-paced

1.0

It was a looooooooot darker then I thought, see my contact warnings to see what I mean.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, and War

Moderate: Violence and Blood

chalchiuhtli's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A masterful story woven with metaphor, a tale of how tales serve as their own language when the languages you speak don’t have the words you need. Very layered and beautiful narrative expressed in layered and beautiful artwork.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Homophobia

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Blood and Cannibalism

michaelion's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-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

4.75

Trung Le Nguyen you have a fan in me for life for the art style alone. It felt like I was watching a film. It's so vibrant! For life!!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Outing

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Incest and Cannibalism

cyberhavok's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Minor: Homophobia and War

tinysierra's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Beautiful storytelling.

I loved the use of color!
Past = yellow
Present = red
Fairytale = blue

If you like The Magic Fish, you might also like Lunar New Year Love Story which features Vietnamese characters and also uses color in an interesting way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Religious bigotry

dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

In a semi-autobiographical take on his coming out experience to his family and friends, Trung Le Nguyen transports readers to the heart of connection through the love of stories in spite of hate and fear. 

Not only is this just a graphic novel with pretty illustrations, Trung Le Nguyen has readers sucked into the heart of the story: whether that would be Tiến in the present trying to figure out how he can come out to his family or Tien’s mom reflecting on the sacrifices she’s made to become a U.S. citizen or the various fairytales Tiến reads to his mother. 

Full of heart despite the darker topics addressed in the book, readers will absolutely love the underlying message that happy endings are for everyone. If you’re looking for a graphic novel with coming out themes amidst examinations of fairytales throughout the world, you will definitely want to read The Magic Fish.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Grief

Moderate: Gore, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Outing

Minor: Cannibalism and War