jcschildbach's review against another edition
4.0
I'll eventually have to go back and read all of these one after the other, because there are a lot of different factions and characters that can be hard to track when you're only reading 6 issues at a time, several months apart. But this book continues to be beautiful to look at..I especially enjoy studying the black-on-black inked pages. But really, every image has much to digest. And you can never quite be sure who is on whose side, or where this will all end up.
rorycb's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, this book needs an extensive recap section and a reference table for the characters and factions at the front of the book to help me keep everything straight.
Otherwise, I eventually got into the rhythm of the book, but it can be hard work at times. The storyline is progressing pretty well, and it ended on a cliffhanger of sorts, so I guess I'll be seeking out Volume 4.
Otherwise, I eventually got into the rhythm of the book, but it can be hard work at times. The storyline is progressing pretty well, and it ended on a cliffhanger of sorts, so I guess I'll be seeking out Volume 4.
leleisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nclcaitlin's review against another edition
3.75
Maika is needed to restore the Shield around Potus, one of the last safe cities refugees can flee to, to stop naval attacks.
Others seek to restore the pieces of the mask as the ancients plot and greater beings stir.
This is the shortest volume so far, but probably my 2nd favourite. We see refugee camps, madness, friendship, and hope.
I wish I could copy and paste the art work into this review because it is just STUNNING. I actually managed to convince someone in the library to pick it up when I returned it just by flashing them a few pages.
Others seek to restore the pieces of the mask as the ancients plot and greater beings stir.
This is the shortest volume so far, but probably my 2nd favourite. We see refugee camps, madness, friendship, and hope.
I wish I could copy and paste the art work into this review because it is just STUNNING. I actually managed to convince someone in the library to pick it up when I returned it just by flashing them a few pages.
schnoebs13's review against another edition
2.75
In this volume, Maika is on a mission to finally figure out what her mother was keeping from her before she died in hopes that it will help get the being living inside of her gone for good. At the same time, many have started to learn about the power that is inside of her and they’ll do what they can to obtain it and the mysterious piece of a mask she possesses. Only issue is, the world seems to be on the brink of war again and there’s only so much that can be done when one of the biggest players are the old gods.
I will definitely say that this series is extremely unique and very complex for a graphic novel format. The level of world building and diversity in characters puts it on the same level as many of the most popular fantasy book series of our day. Additionally, the attention to detail in the actual art style is beautiful. It really shows how much thought has been put into this story, especially with the individual designs of each of the arcanics. Another great addition that I think helps to really make it stand out is the author’s approach to world building. Sometimes you will get details while following along to the story while at other times you come across these pages at the end of chapters that break down big concepts of this world through the eyes of students in the academy for cats. This is definitely a style that I don't think would work as well in a normal book setting but with a graphic novel broken into issues originally before the full volume is released, it doesn’t give you the feeling of being taken out of the story but rather you start to anticipate and look forward to those education sidebars.
I had originally started reading this series when volume 2 was only just released and I absolutely loved it and I wanted more. Sadly, the next volume wasn’t going to be out for a while so the series went on the back burner. Only recently have I restarted it and since then, I’ve realized that my tastes have changed a lot and I don’t think this series is for me anymore. I still stand by the fact that it’s one of the most beautiful art styles I’ve seen in a graphic novel series in a very long time and I’m still impressed by the story telling in this series but I felt like I was forcing myself to get through this issue just like I was the last time. The intrigue that I used to have for the series seems to have waned and doesn’t make me want to really know more about Maika’s journey. Overall, I’m happy I finally came back to this series to give it another try but I don't think I’ll be continuing on with it.
I will definitely say that this series is extremely unique and very complex for a graphic novel format. The level of world building and diversity in characters puts it on the same level as many of the most popular fantasy book series of our day. Additionally, the attention to detail in the actual art style is beautiful. It really shows how much thought has been put into this story, especially with the individual designs of each of the arcanics. Another great addition that I think helps to really make it stand out is the author’s approach to world building. Sometimes you will get details while following along to the story while at other times you come across these pages at the end of chapters that break down big concepts of this world through the eyes of students in the academy for cats. This is definitely a style that I don't think would work as well in a normal book setting but with a graphic novel broken into issues originally before the full volume is released, it doesn’t give you the feeling of being taken out of the story but rather you start to anticipate and look forward to those education sidebars.
I had originally started reading this series when volume 2 was only just released and I absolutely loved it and I wanted more. Sadly, the next volume wasn’t going to be out for a while so the series went on the back burner. Only recently have I restarted it and since then, I’ve realized that my tastes have changed a lot and I don’t think this series is for me anymore. I still stand by the fact that it’s one of the most beautiful art styles I’ve seen in a graphic novel series in a very long time and I’m still impressed by the story telling in this series but I felt like I was forcing myself to get through this issue just like I was the last time. The intrigue that I used to have for the series seems to have waned and doesn’t make me want to really know more about Maika’s journey. Overall, I’m happy I finally came back to this series to give it another try but I don't think I’ll be continuing on with it.
nyahdn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0