chamomile_calm's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? Yes
4.0
sydneygan's review
4.0
A big thank you to Netgalley and Legendary Comics for the ARC!
TW: gore, death, suicide
"Love is only mortal. It's human. In becoming deathless, we have outgrown our own humanity."
The Heart Hunter is a visually compelling graphic novel following Psyche, a heart-hunter who specializes in killing soulmates in a world where immortality can be achieved through that means. When the king sends her to murder his soulmate, Psyche finds herself an unexpected friend and ally in her supposed victim. Together, they set on a journey to defy the curse, with Psyche learning how to mend her broken heart along the way.
I thought the overall premise was an intriguing concept. The idea of soulmates is popular in fiction but it is the way that The Heart Hunter expands upon it that sets it apart from the trope. George explores the wider ramifications of having the soulmates system in place, providing depth to worldbuilding that only makes the story more fascinating to read. I also thought the manifestation of intangible concepts such as 'indifference' or 'twist of fate' into perceivable elements in the story was a very clever decision.
Both the art and the narrative was absolutely stellar. The art style is expressive and bold, narrated through a diverse cast with strikingly distinct personalities. The art translates each characters' idiosyncrasies endearingly. Gagnon and George do not let the amusing interactions and relationships between different characters distract from the gravity of the message the story conveys. The graphic novel handles dark and gritty topics, like the loss of a loved one or suicide, with graceful tenderness. It is, in the end, a hopeful story even with the multitude of suffering, approached with great compassion and love.
The only real problem I had with this graphic novel is that sometimes the lore and the worldbuilding got too overwhelming. I understand the writers' intention of trying to create a rich plot within the confines of a limited amount of panels, but at times, I found myself lacking behind from the sheer amount of information.
Overall, this was still an excellent read. I strongly urge anyone who enjoys a good subversion of the soulmate AU to give this graphic novel a chance.
TW: gore, death, suicide
"Love is only mortal. It's human. In becoming deathless, we have outgrown our own humanity."
The Heart Hunter is a visually compelling graphic novel following Psyche, a heart-hunter who specializes in killing soulmates in a world where immortality can be achieved through that means. When the king sends her to murder his soulmate, Psyche finds herself an unexpected friend and ally in her supposed victim. Together, they set on a journey to defy the curse, with Psyche learning how to mend her broken heart along the way.
I thought the overall premise was an intriguing concept. The idea of soulmates is popular in fiction but it is the way that The Heart Hunter expands upon it that sets it apart from the trope. George explores the wider ramifications of having the soulmates system in place, providing depth to worldbuilding that only makes the story more fascinating to read. I also thought the manifestation of intangible concepts such as 'indifference' or 'twist of fate' into perceivable elements in the story was a very clever decision.
Both the art and the narrative was absolutely stellar. The art style is expressive and bold, narrated through a diverse cast with strikingly distinct personalities. The art translates each characters' idiosyncrasies endearingly. Gagnon and George do not let the amusing interactions and relationships between different characters distract from the gravity of the message the story conveys. The graphic novel handles dark and gritty topics, like the loss of a loved one or suicide, with graceful tenderness. It is, in the end, a hopeful story even with the multitude of suffering, approached with great compassion and love.
The only real problem I had with this graphic novel is that sometimes the lore and the worldbuilding got too overwhelming. I understand the writers' intention of trying to create a rich plot within the confines of a limited amount of panels, but at times, I found myself lacking behind from the sheer amount of information.
Overall, this was still an excellent read. I strongly urge anyone who enjoys a good subversion of the soulmate AU to give this graphic novel a chance.
unapologetic_romantic's review
3.0
The Heart Hunter is unlike anything I've read before. The concept was new, slightly disturbing (which is always a good thing) and sweet all simultaneously. The heart-themed puns that run through his comic are wonderfully hilarious and made me giggle whenever they cropped up. However, most of this story is not lighthearted, not warm or fluffy, but quite sinister and dark *chef's kiss*. I enjoyed the darkness of this comic and how tortured most of the characters are. And the artwork? The artwork is fantastic, so detailed and wonderfully coloured. It fully immerses you into the story—overall, a solid comic with a great twist on soulmates.
kyfaha's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
blombern's review
Kind of confusing. Doesn't really explain the lore, like I feel there was a prequel I missed
emhaze's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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? Yes
3.5
dame_samara's review
5.0
I honestly loved this book full-heartedly.
It's gay, and it slaps!
It's got gay characters; it's got nonbinary characters. It's got some gorgeous art.
This, at its core, is a story of self-discovery and healing.
My only sadness is that we didn't end up with a wholesome Polycule at the end.
It's gay, and it slaps!
It's got gay characters; it's got nonbinary characters. It's got some gorgeous art.
This, at its core, is a story of self-discovery and healing.
My only sadness is that we didn't end up with a wholesome Polycule at the end.
tortime's review
5.0
The Heart Hunter is a beautifully illustrated story about Psyche, an assassin-for-hire type, who hunts down people’s soulmates to destroy their hearts and allow her clients to live forever. The king, Marius, recruits Psyche to hunt down his soulmate, Isaac, whose heart of gold allows him to heal the hearts of others. The journey takes Psyche on an emotional adventure, in addition to a trek through the woods, as she tackles the death of her first soulmate who left her broken-hearted.
The Heart Hunter used a fantastic mix of color to enhance the emotions of each character and the mood of the scene. The art style allows for tender moments of slow growing acceptance and understanding between characters and moments of tense action and stress. I loved how diverse and representative of different kinds of love were explored in this novel, including romantic, platonic, and familial love. I also loved the supernatural elements that wove throughout the story from the prolog to the epic climax. I can’t wait to check out more by both the author and illustrator.
The Heart Hunter used a fantastic mix of color to enhance the emotions of each character and the mood of the scene. The art style allows for tender moments of slow growing acceptance and understanding between characters and moments of tense action and stress. I loved how diverse and representative of different kinds of love were explored in this novel, including romantic, platonic, and familial love. I also loved the supernatural elements that wove throughout the story from the prolog to the epic climax. I can’t wait to check out more by both the author and illustrator.