ac5206's review
4.0
I really enjoy all of Jeff Wheeler's Muirwood books, and this graphic novel is no exception. It is a quick and easy read...but it is just enough to keep you interested and ready for the next installment. The graphics are really great as well as it is nice to put images to the story. This first installment is really setting the tone for the rest of the series and getting the story started with background information, so if you aren't familiar with the other Muirwood books you may find this and some of the wording used slightly confusing, but overall it is still a great read. Looking forward to the next installment!
I received this copy free in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I received this copy free in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
wanderlustlover's review
3.0
Summer 2018, Comics & Prose:
Given I read both versions of this story last night, back-to-back, within an hour, I'm going to rate them together and double up their reviews. I stopped reading the Banished of Muirwood when it became clear you really did need to read the prequel first, and so I was about two chapters into the first book of this series when I stopped.
The comics version of this prequel involves far less novel terminology (used in the trilogy before this whole sequel trilogy collections), but it has far more art. Such as that it forsakes naming things the way we're used to them being (such as the creature being a Fear Liath, but never narrated or called one on the comic page) and yet it, also, made a better use of art in emotional moments (such as Maia giving up her life).
The prose part had so many more sweeping descriptions that did more justice to the surroundings -- the bones of the abbey where the ocean, the cavern in completion. The prose part was, thought, also, lacking a number of the conversations that took place in the comics and the entire lead-in section wtih Maia's father, the city scene with the boy, etc, are all missing entirely from the prose.
Given I read both versions of this story last night, back-to-back, within an hour, I'm going to rate them together and double up their reviews. I stopped reading the Banished of Muirwood when it became clear you really did need to read the prequel first, and so I was about two chapters into the first book of this series when I stopped.
The comics version of this prequel involves far less novel terminology (used in the trilogy before this whole sequel trilogy collections), but it has far more art. Such as that it forsakes naming things the way we're used to them being (such as the creature being a Fear Liath, but never narrated or called one on the comic page) and yet it, also, made a better use of art in emotional moments (such as Maia giving up her life).
The prose part had so many more sweeping descriptions that did more justice to the surroundings -- the bones of the abbey where the ocean, the cavern in completion. The prose part was, thought, also, lacking a number of the conversations that took place in the comics and the entire lead-in section wtih Maia's father, the city scene with the boy, etc, are all missing entirely from the prose.
critterbee's review
2.0
More of the tale of Maia, from the world of Muirwood! It is not necessary to be familiar with the Muirwood Universe to dive right in and start with Muirwood: The Lost Abbey #1
Consistently gorgeous art with an admirable yet imperfect heroine who immediately wins your loyalty and has broad appeal without restriction of reader gender.
Dark and intense story, told at a perfect pace, not too fast that it overwhelms with detail, not slow and self-indulgent (the pit fall of many other graphic novels) and no spoon-feeding.
Cannot wait to follow Maia through future issues!
**eARC netgalley**
Consistently gorgeous art with an admirable yet imperfect heroine who immediately wins your loyalty and has broad appeal without restriction of reader gender.
Dark and intense story, told at a perfect pace, not too fast that it overwhelms with detail, not slow and self-indulgent (the pit fall of many other graphic novels) and no spoon-feeding.
Cannot wait to follow Maia through future issues!
**eARC netgalley**
aziz_reads's review
4.0
Maia is a woman in a world afraid of women. The only reason she is alive is because of her father, the king, who opted to lock her away instead of killing her. That is, until he needs her to do what he fears most: use her power, bequeathed to her by the powerful ancestors who made men scared of women in the first place. Maia is defiant and hardened, but still holds a kindness that she doesn't want to lose by accepting the mission set by her father.
Reasons I like this book: graphic novels have a lot to offer. They're great for people short on time and the use of illustrations offers something you can't always get from writing alone. I like how the narration is set in a faded yellow, to set the scene and give the reader a sense of the time and type of world Maia lives in. Lovers of graphic novels, strong female leads, and magic should all read this book.
Reasons I like this book: graphic novels have a lot to offer. They're great for people short on time and the use of illustrations offers something you can't always get from writing alone. I like how the narration is set in a faded yellow, to set the scene and give the reader a sense of the time and type of world Maia lives in. Lovers of graphic novels, strong female leads, and magic should all read this book.
athravan's review
3.0
I really liked the art style of this graphic serial (I'm writing a review on book #1 as this is released in increments), but the dialogue was lacking. It didn't really have anything that grabbed me in terms of story. The dialogue was often thoughts and descriptions, which I don't feel really lends itself well to moving a graphic novel forward. It might be more apt to describe this as an illustrated storybook, rather than a graphic novel / comicbook.
The story was fairly tame and bland, and the heroine was flat - definitely not a strong protaganist and quite frankly, most of her actions made little sense. Of course, perhaps it might improve drastically, but I think it's going to be hard to keep people hooked on reading the next installment. Really, I'm afraid I found it a little boring.
I think that there is potential here and I genuinely loved the art style. I would like to see this form of book explored more often - but character, plot and dialogue are just as important as the art and these need to bring the pages to life which they failed to do here.
Overall, 3/5 - it has good points, and it has potential, but I don't think I would recommend it to a friend at this point.
I received a kindle edition of this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
The story was fairly tame and bland, and the heroine was flat - definitely not a strong protaganist and quite frankly, most of her actions made little sense. Of course, perhaps it might improve drastically, but I think it's going to be hard to keep people hooked on reading the next installment. Really, I'm afraid I found it a little boring.
I think that there is potential here and I genuinely loved the art style. I would like to see this form of book explored more often - but character, plot and dialogue are just as important as the art and these need to bring the pages to life which they failed to do here.
Overall, 3/5 - it has good points, and it has potential, but I don't think I would recommend it to a friend at this point.
I received a kindle edition of this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
elevetha's review
2.0
**An ARC of this book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
1.5 stars. (Rounding up cause I didn't hate it.)
Okay, technically I only read the first issue of this, which was about 24 pages, since that's what was on Netgalley. I wasn't impressed with those 24 pages, however, certainly not enough to bother continuing with the series.
This is a generic fantasy story.
Observe. Girl is special and can wield magic, and wants a magic stone, and has to save the kingdom, and a commoner soldier boy aids her on her quest.
Boring.
The art is pretty fantastically lame, with absolutely nothing to it to lend itself to anyone. The text of the story was mostly 1st person narrative, and incredibly dull. And the characters, whose names I cannot recall, were bland and lacking personality to set them apart as individuals.
Pass.
1.5 stars. (Rounding up cause I didn't hate it.)
Okay, technically I only read the first issue of this, which was about 24 pages, since that's what was on Netgalley. I wasn't impressed with those 24 pages, however, certainly not enough to bother continuing with the series.
This is a generic fantasy story.
Observe. Girl is special and can wield magic, and wants a magic stone, and has to save the kingdom, and a commoner soldier boy aids her on her quest.
Boring.
The art is pretty fantastically lame, with absolutely nothing to it to lend itself to anyone. The text of the story was mostly 1st person narrative, and incredibly dull. And the characters, whose names I cannot recall, were bland and lacking personality to set them apart as individuals.
Pass.
electricbloom's review
1.0
I got this as an Ebook ARC from Edelweiss.
WHAT A SNORE-FEST.
A young princess that was banished from the castle by her father...is called upon by her father to go search for an abbey. Banished...then needed.
This was just the first part of this series and it was a total snore. Yeah, you have to build the story up a bit, but within those pages nothing really happened. It was very boring. Just lots of internal monologue by the main character, Maia. I found the the writing was just very boring and it didn't keep my attention- good thing it was only a few pages long (on my kindle).
It's the same old song and dance with Maia: girl is unneeded, she is common, after a a while someone needs her and what do you know! she's got some type of special power, because of her power she's the only one who can save the day. Her story is like so many fantasy type heroines. It's been done again & again...and again.
The artwork on the cover was amazing - that is what made me want to request this book. When I got to the first page of the story I was so sad to see that the illustrations were not good at all. Everything seemed blurry and out of focus. The colors were drab and the style itself just wasn't good. I barely even paid attention to the illustration after the first few frames because the artwork was nothing to write home about.
Overall, very disappointed. I wouldn't recommend it at this point. Yes, it's only part one, but part one did nothing for me. I will not being continuing with this series.
WHAT A SNORE-FEST.
A young princess that was banished from the castle by her father...is called upon by her father to go search for an abbey. Banished...then needed.
This was just the first part of this series and it was a total snore. Yeah, you have to build the story up a bit, but within those pages nothing really happened. It was very boring. Just lots of internal monologue by the main character, Maia. I found the the writing was just very boring and it didn't keep my attention- good thing it was only a few pages long (on my kindle).
It's the same old song and dance with Maia: girl is unneeded, she is common, after a a while someone needs her and what do you know! she's got some type of special power, because of her power she's the only one who can save the day. Her story is like so many fantasy type heroines. It's been done again & again...and again.
The artwork on the cover was amazing - that is what made me want to request this book. When I got to the first page of the story I was so sad to see that the illustrations were not good at all. Everything seemed blurry and out of focus. The colors were drab and the style itself just wasn't good. I barely even paid attention to the illustration after the first few frames because the artwork was nothing to write home about.
Overall, very disappointed. I wouldn't recommend it at this point. Yes, it's only part one, but part one did nothing for me. I will not being continuing with this series.
hyosun's review
3.0
I enjoyed this graphic novel/comic. I had no idea there were novels connected to this story but now that I have read this I am interested in reading the novels as well. I liked but did not love the art in this as I tend to prefer more clean, detailed artwork, this is however a personal preference and I am not saying the art is bad at all. I like Maia a lot, she seems very strong and not likely to take any crud from people. I'm curious as to how her magic is going to work and where it's going to take the story. I'm excited to read the next instalment when it comes out.
marie_thereadingotter's review
3.0
Review:
http://pagestoexplore.blogspot.com/2015/08/review-muirwood-lost-abbey-by-jeff.html
http://pagestoexplore.blogspot.com/2015/08/review-muirwood-lost-abbey-by-jeff.html
neftzger's review
3.0
The first episode in this serial shows some promise, and how it plays out remains to be seen. In reviewing this book, I feel as if I'm being asked to make a judgement on the whole book based on only reading the first chapter.
The story line and premise are being set in this first serial, but we don't yet know how the characters will grow and develop over the course of time. The book begins with a common theme of a woman being held captive, but this protagonist shows some potential for being a stronger character than what she's portrayed in this brief episode.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story line and premise are being set in this first serial, but we don't yet know how the characters will grow and develop over the course of time. The book begins with a common theme of a woman being held captive, but this protagonist shows some potential for being a stronger character than what she's portrayed in this brief episode.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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