carroq's review
5.0
A champion is needed
This is a world built on magic, but the magic is running out. In a last ditch effort, a rogue group of wizards work together to summon the great champion who brought magic into the world to begin with. What they end up with is wholly unexpected.
The creators did a phenomenal job of bringing the Autumnlands to life. The characters are drawn beautifully and infused with personality. They are each an anthropomorphic depiction of a different animal. And the setting itself is drawn wonderfully as well. The places where these characters live feel real.
There is a lot going on in this book, but it doesn't feel overdone or scattered. The various parts of the plot connect together well. Definitely recommended for fans of fantasy settings and political intrigue.
This is a world built on magic, but the magic is running out. In a last ditch effort, a rogue group of wizards work together to summon the great champion who brought magic into the world to begin with. What they end up with is wholly unexpected.
The creators did a phenomenal job of bringing the Autumnlands to life. The characters are drawn beautifully and infused with personality. They are each an anthropomorphic depiction of a different animal. And the setting itself is drawn wonderfully as well. The places where these characters live feel real.
There is a lot going on in this book, but it doesn't feel overdone or scattered. The various parts of the plot connect together well. Definitely recommended for fans of fantasy settings and political intrigue.
ohgeorgia's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
2whitie's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
erin_napkin's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
brenticus's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is one of those lovely first volumes that set things up alright, and the series seems pretty good, but it also seems like the next volume or two will be a pain.
The villains are transparently obvious, but of course hardly anyone notices. The twist with the champion was kind of boring on the whole. I'm not sure why we follow Dusty around so much, he doesn't do anything.
Still, the setting and the ritual and stuff were cool hooks off the bat, and generally the champion himself is fun, so I could go for a couple more of these.
The villains are transparently obvious, but of course hardly anyone notices. The twist with the champion was kind of boring on the whole. I'm not sure why we follow Dusty around so much, he doesn't do anything.
Still, the setting and the ritual and stuff were cool hooks off the bat, and generally the champion himself is fun, so I could go for a couple more of these.
sellachel's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
triscuit807's review
4.0
This is yet another non-superhero graphic novel that I enjoyed. The world setting is one without humans. Animals are sentient wizards living in cities magically floating in the air. There are other animals living a poorer existence on the ground which supply the cities with goods and food in exchange for magic. There is a problem: magic is fading. A group of wizards decide to invoke several spells that will bring forward in time the Champion who restored magic in the past. It does get a bit graphically violent at times which made me glad the color palette is muted. I read this for the 2016 Hugo nominations.
macnchz's review
5.0
I enjoyed the concept, the artwork, and the story. I look forward to reading more!
bluepigeon's review
3.0
I read this first volume TPB and wondered why I didn't like it as much as I should have. The story is certainly intriguing. The art is fantastic. There's a good blend of fantasy (magic, talking creatures, cities suspended in air, etc.) and sci-fi (some distant war with machines and robots and explosives and a bionic human form that past). But I think the problem was that there was nobody to root for. If anything, the story spends a lot of time with the controlling owl and the double-crossing fox than with Dusty, who is kind of set up at the beginning as the main focus of the story (he's also the narrator). Dusty's involvement picks up towards the end of this collection, but throughout there isn't enough to keep me rooting for him. That the magicians and animals from the fallen city are fighting against the farmers they've been abusing all these years with the help of this "savior" human they snatched from the past is a bit problematic; another reason why it is hard to root for Dusty's side.
Recommended for those who like rituals, flying ships, and swords for ladies.
Recommended for those who like rituals, flying ships, and swords for ladies.