mckellstar's review against another edition
3.0
This was just OK for me. I think it needed to be at least twice as long for me to really get invested in the characters and story. At the beginning, there was a very interesting authors’ note about the legend of the Pied Piper and the historical context. I didn’t know much about the legend at all besides the basic “he played a pipe/flute and all the rats followed him”, so that was pretty cool!
I also found that the ending was a bit rushed; it felt like the protagonist was acting completely out of character just to serve the authors’ needs in helping wrap up the plot.
3/5
I also found that the ending was a bit rushed; it felt like the protagonist was acting completely out of character just to serve the authors’ needs in helping wrap up the plot.
3/5
jenstef's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nikkihaske's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
hipolitaa's review against another edition
2.0
Este retelling del flautista de Hammelin me ha dejado un poco indiferente. Esperaba algo más, ya que la historia tiene potencial, pero creo que no se ha sabido explotar bien entre sus páginas.
Si que considero relevante resaltar que la ilustración es preciosa y presenta un gran juego de colores.
Si que considero relevante resaltar que la ilustración es preciosa y presenta un gran juego de colores.
americangirlemmie's review against another edition
3.0
Having just read The Prince and the Dressmaker, I admittedly picked up Piper hoping for a very light, but still compelling, graphic novel. And, boy, that was not what I got at all. However, what I did get, was still a wonderful read, on which I have thoughts…
I will NEVER decline a well done fairy tale (or even classic novel) retelling, especially when in graphic novel/manga form. I think it allows the material to be much more consumable for most young audiences, and adds new compelling components to the original story. That’s what we had here!
The Pied Piper was already a pretty dark story. It was one of those fairy tales that never had a bright and happy Disney retelling that took over in the public eye. It has always been… creepy. I loved how this graphic novel approached that. It gave the characters dynamic, reason, and a compelling plot that the original story didn’t have too much of (as it is mostly seen in a simple fairy tale form). This graphic novel also covered, though very briefly, the fact that the pied piper is supposedly a true story, which I find fascinating all together (hit me up if you ever want to discuss the facts behind the pied piper OR Peter Pan (which are suspisingly linked)).
This is one of those books that really makes you question the seemingly black and white idea of fairy tale villains versus heroes. There were some very dark themes covered in a very unique way in this graphic novel—it all helped the plot and didn’t make the story itself seem heavy. Reading it broke my heart, like honestly just give these poor people a break haha. But it was exceptionally thought provoking.
The art was also GORGEOUS. Fantasy graphic novels like this are not nearly popular enough, I need more of them in my life. Honestly, I picked it up because I thought the cover and character art were just gorgeous—the rest of it is too! There is absolutely no shame in just picking up this book because it’s beautiful, for it most certainly is.
If you’re interested in exploring some fairytale retelling and a little graphic novel, definitely check this out! It’s a quick read, but totally work reading.
4 out of 5 stars.
I will NEVER decline a well done fairy tale (or even classic novel) retelling, especially when in graphic novel/manga form. I think it allows the material to be much more consumable for most young audiences, and adds new compelling components to the original story. That’s what we had here!
The Pied Piper was already a pretty dark story. It was one of those fairy tales that never had a bright and happy Disney retelling that took over in the public eye. It has always been… creepy. I loved how this graphic novel approached that. It gave the characters dynamic, reason, and a compelling plot that the original story didn’t have too much of (as it is mostly seen in a simple fairy tale form). This graphic novel also covered, though very briefly, the fact that the pied piper is supposedly a true story, which I find fascinating all together (hit me up if you ever want to discuss the facts behind the pied piper OR Peter Pan (which are suspisingly linked)).
This is one of those books that really makes you question the seemingly black and white idea of fairy tale villains versus heroes. There were some very dark themes covered in a very unique way in this graphic novel—it all helped the plot and didn’t make the story itself seem heavy. Reading it broke my heart, like honestly just give these poor people a break haha. But it was exceptionally thought provoking.
The art was also GORGEOUS. Fantasy graphic novels like this are not nearly popular enough, I need more of them in my life. Honestly, I picked it up because I thought the cover and character art were just gorgeous—the rest of it is too! There is absolutely no shame in just picking up this book because it’s beautiful, for it most certainly is.
If you’re interested in exploring some fairytale retelling and a little graphic novel, definitely check this out! It’s a quick read, but totally work reading.
4 out of 5 stars.
leila_reads_too_much's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jada1_5's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Let's start with the good parts. This had amazing art, the character they think we'd pretty developed. It did a lot of showing, not telling, which I think is what a graphic novel wants to do, but sometimes it's hard. The bad parts it felt like I was like skipping pages in between. Like I would go to the next page. And it wouldn't translate better onto the next page. For characters suddenly, suddenly start talking about something else. But it's a little cute story.
littleshipofwords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
maliablue's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. I was really excited about this since I love the legend of the "Rattenfänger von Harlem", but while it began very promisingly, it fell short for me in terms of the ending and when it came to character's motivations.
Spoiler alert!
I mean, the whole idea of the story is that he steals the children and they mysteriously disappear. To have them be found in like a day and to have Maggie make up the ending as we know it just felt really anticlimactic to me.
Nonetheless, the drawings were beautiful, and some scenes were truly arresting, like the Piper playing the organ in the burning church.
Overall, it probably would have made sense to make the story longer and go into more depth.
Spoiler alert!
I mean, the whole idea of the story is that he steals the children and they mysteriously disappear. To have them be found in like a day and to have Maggie make up the ending as we know it just felt really anticlimactic to me.
Nonetheless, the drawings were beautiful, and some scenes were truly arresting, like the Piper playing the organ in the burning church.
Overall, it probably would have made sense to make the story longer and go into more depth.