starmander's review
2.0
This series has gotten so confusing that I don’t even care what happens anymore.
kmfeeney's review
3.0
I enjoyed this but it was hella confusing. I kept thinking I was doing something wrong or missing something? Nope. I still don't QUITE understand what happened but I enjoyed each of the stories.
joshgauthier's review
4.0
Okay, there's a few different elements to discuss here, so let's break it down.
The smaller-scale stories in this volume carry a lot of what makes Rat Queens great. The characters are diverse and complex, there's some great humor, and the art overall works well. We get to see some different parts of the world--including one of the strangest sort-of-drug-trip sequences I've come across in comics. There are some wonderful moments here--both funny and serious--and some excellent writing that really looks at the core of the Queens and their world.
Also, this volume finally takes a stab at addressing some of the continuity and timeline issues that have been built into the series--which is something I have been waiting to see.
But the continuity-fixing is also where we run into this volume's biggest issues. The multiple-realities, time travel, colossal magic nothing solution leads to the second half of this volume being a chaotic, fractured, and somewhat confusing sort-of resolution to the question of what happened at the end of Vol. 3.
I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it made the end of this volume challenging to read and didn't quite deliver the satisfying answers I was hoping for. On the other hand, the confusion and fragmented nature of the story do build into the explanation and reinforce the chaotic nature of the magic and events at play--making them not a failure of writing, but a facet of the story itself as the reader faces the confusion and uncertainty alongside the characters.
On reflection, the messy resolution certainly has its flaws, but I've decided I'm overall happy with this volume, weaker points included. It certainly makes for a dramatic solution--and I can appreciate the ambition even if the execution was a little rough. So, ultimately, I think it works well enough for my linking.
Rat Queens works best when it operates on a smaller scale--a band of adventurers getting into all manner of profane, violent, funny trouble in their crazy fantasy world. There are a number of those smaller moments in this volume which definitely lend themselves to my enjoyment of it, and with some of the larger questions now answered, I hope that the series may return to the core of what it does best.
I'm still a fan, and I'm curious to see where it goes next.
The smaller-scale stories in this volume carry a lot of what makes Rat Queens great. The characters are diverse and complex, there's some great humor, and the art overall works well. We get to see some different parts of the world--including one of the strangest sort-of-drug-trip sequences I've come across in comics. There are some wonderful moments here--both funny and serious--and some excellent writing that really looks at the core of the Queens and their world.
Also, this volume finally takes a stab at addressing some of the continuity and timeline issues that have been built into the series--which is something I have been waiting to see.
But the continuity-fixing is also where we run into this volume's biggest issues. The multiple-realities, time travel, colossal magic nothing solution leads to the second half of this volume being a chaotic, fractured, and somewhat confusing sort-of resolution to the question of what happened at the end of Vol. 3.
I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it made the end of this volume challenging to read and didn't quite deliver the satisfying answers I was hoping for. On the other hand, the confusion and fragmented nature of the story do build into the explanation and reinforce the chaotic nature of the magic and events at play--making them not a failure of writing, but a facet of the story itself as the reader faces the confusion and uncertainty alongside the characters.
On reflection, the messy resolution certainly has its flaws, but I've decided I'm overall happy with this volume, weaker points included. It certainly makes for a dramatic solution--and I can appreciate the ambition even if the execution was a little rough. So, ultimately, I think it works well enough for my linking.
Rat Queens works best when it operates on a smaller scale--a band of adventurers getting into all manner of profane, violent, funny trouble in their crazy fantasy world. There are a number of those smaller moments in this volume which definitely lend themselves to my enjoyment of it, and with some of the larger questions now answered, I hope that the series may return to the core of what it does best.
I'm still a fan, and I'm curious to see where it goes next.
pastel_princess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
rkstumblingbear's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kristikiwi's review
3.0
I am such a fan of this series. While there are always twists and turns, vol. 4 was such a cliff hanger. To tie it up with vol. 5 had me confused! There was a lot going on but the ending had me so sad. Can't wait to read vol. 6
smthuriot's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
See my series review here:
https://sarahoverbooked.wordpress.com/2023/07/06/rat-queens/
https://sarahoverbooked.wordpress.com/2023/07/06/rat-queens/
sneakyawe's review
1.0
Wtf did I just read? Super unimpressed with where this series is going. Is there even a plot any more?