zana_reads_arcs's review
3.0
I'd describe this graphic novel as Junji Ito meets Midsommar. You have an MC, Wren, who has a huge obsession with finding out about her past as a child who lived in a closed-off cult-like society/environment called Blink. And when she confronts her past, everything spirals out of control pretty quickly.
I just wish there was some kind of prequel into her childhood since we only get snippets. So it was kind of difficult for me to understand why she's so obsessed with going back to what's essentially a haunted house with a murderous cult living in it. There's a lot of suspension of disbelief in the beginning so as the reader, you pretty much have to go along with it.
The art is colorful and hectic and really conveys the sense of desperation that Wren feels when she goes through the house/structure/compound. In a way it reminds me of the film As Above, So Below because you feel trapped, suffocated, and claustrophobic in the hellhole of a house as humanlike monsters chase Wren and company. Kudos to the artist.
The ending raises a lot of questions though instead of providing any answers. I also wished Cy, the nightmare creature that haunts Wren's dreams, had been more fully developed. They're inseparable and he's "real" to her, but why? I guess there's a volume 2 that might explain everything in more detail.
Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for this arc.
I just wish there was some kind of prequel into her childhood since we only get snippets. So it was kind of difficult for me to understand why she's so obsessed with going back to what's essentially a haunted house with a murderous cult living in it. There's a lot of suspension of disbelief in the beginning so as the reader, you pretty much have to go along with it.
The art is colorful and hectic and really conveys the sense of desperation that Wren feels when she goes through the house/structure/compound. In a way it reminds me of the film As Above, So Below because you feel trapped, suffocated, and claustrophobic in the hellhole of a house as humanlike monsters chase Wren and company. Kudos to the artist.
The ending raises a lot of questions though instead of providing any answers. I also wished Cy, the nightmare creature that haunts Wren's dreams, had been more fully developed. They're inseparable and he's "real" to her, but why? I guess there's a volume 2 that might explain everything in more detail.
Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for this arc.
reallife_kazbrekker's review
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
1.0
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.
This was incredibly confusing and I had no idea what was going on, so hence the low rating. The art was kinda cool tho.
This was incredibly confusing and I had no idea what was going on, so hence the low rating. The art was kinda cool tho.
raavenreads's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! I’m loving Oni Press lately. All of their graphic novels have been awesome!
When Wren was a child she escaped a traumatic situation that left her with PTSD. She forgot about the incident until as an adult she comes across a website called Blink that shows her as a child trapped in a room with her parents. She goes back to the building where she was held and attempts to uncover the secrets of Blink and why she was the only survivor.
I loved the art here. The monsters and horror were too tier here. There were a few pages that were amazing with how the creatures were presented. I really look forward to the rest of the story and how it’s going to progress.
When Wren was a child she escaped a traumatic situation that left her with PTSD. She forgot about the incident until as an adult she comes across a website called Blink that shows her as a child trapped in a room with her parents. She goes back to the building where she was held and attempts to uncover the secrets of Blink and why she was the only survivor.
I loved the art here. The monsters and horror were too tier here. There were a few pages that were amazing with how the creatures were presented. I really look forward to the rest of the story and how it’s going to progress.
roll6d20's review
5.0
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Oni Press publishing for the eARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not a graphic novel reader - I own only a couple of Sin City tomes and a lone Wolverine issue I think? But picked this book up from the NetGalley shelves due to the gorgeous cover art, and wasn't disappointed.
Some other reviewers mention that the story is erratic and I do agree: most questions go unanswered and it requires an large amount of suspension of disbelief, but that didn't take anything away from the experience for me. The art is as stunning as the cover, the paneling is creative and the narrative is compelling - we follow Wren through an inner exploration of her past and her fears along with an outer exploration of a massive complex full of terrors.
Definitely recommended for sci-fi horror readers, it's a short but wild ride.
I'm not a graphic novel reader - I own only a couple of Sin City tomes and a lone Wolverine issue I think? But picked this book up from the NetGalley shelves due to the gorgeous cover art, and wasn't disappointed.
Some other reviewers mention that the story is erratic and I do agree: most questions go unanswered and it requires an large amount of suspension of disbelief, but that didn't take anything away from the experience for me. The art is as stunning as the cover, the paneling is creative and the narrative is compelling - we follow Wren through an inner exploration of her past and her fears along with an outer exploration of a massive complex full of terrors.
Definitely recommended for sci-fi horror readers, it's a short but wild ride.
calsemplowski's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The first two issues in the volume were fantastic. I was pumped for the rest. The taut pacing gives way to overexplanatory exposition. The exposition starts to repeat itself. By the end this collected volume, which had so much promise and built genuine tension, is a mess. The art and coloring remain excellent but are drowned in first person narrative caption boxes and frequently-also-narrative dialogue bubbles, leaving little room for the initially innovative visual style to breathe.
deeoh's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Great storytelling and creatures!
seanorrhea's review
2.0
While the artwork in this was fantastic, the panel placement gave it a very unique, dynamic feel, the story itself was lackluster. It was a difficult experience to get through, despite the great artists that put their talents to work at great effect.
I wish I had more to say, but the story was such that once I finished it, it left my mind. Ironically (not even) forgotten in a blink of an eye, sadly.
The only reason this isn't getting a one star is because of the art, I can't justify going beyond two.
I'd like to thank netgalley for the review copy, in exchange for an honest review.
I wish I had more to say, but the story was such that once I finished it, it left my mind. Ironically (not even) forgotten in a blink of an eye, sadly.
The only reason this isn't getting a one star is because of the art, I can't justify going beyond two.
I'd like to thank netgalley for the review copy, in exchange for an honest review.
shaythereader's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Kidnapping, and Violence