Reviews

A Sparrow's Roar by Paolo Chikiamco, Cristina Rose Chua

cupcakesrawesom's review against another edition

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4.0

Thank you netgalley for the chance to review. I did enjoy this book, however in the beginning of the story I had such a hard time telling the difference between per and her sister elena.


During Elena's birthday she falls in battle. Her sister Per who just happens to look identical to her sister, impersonates Elena to try and save Estherpike. I really loved the illustrations, the artwork was pretty amazing. I would recommend to a friend who enjoys graphic novels and stories about knights.

moonsoup's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

jkenna90's review against another edition

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4.0

Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.

This was a fantastic graphic novel. I loved every second of it and I would highly recommend it to anyone. This story is about Per and her sister Elena. Elena is the leader of the Lions and a badass with a bow. After something goes horribly wrong, Per watches as Elena is killed on the battlefield. Per assumes Elena's identity as this rapidly spiral out of control. Will Per be able to keep her home safe? Will she get revenge on Elena's killer? You'll have to check this out and find out for yourself!

This was a really great graphic novel and I would highly recommend it. If you like badass ladies doing badass things then this one will be right up your alley.

zepysgirl's review against another edition

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2.0

The storyline was confusingly presented. Things jumped around a fair bit, and I was so disinterested in the characters, I wanted to speed-read & skip ahead (never a good sign).

theybedax's review against another edition

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3.0

I wanted to like this more but just found it to be a cute, fast read. I'm all for twin shenanigans but not to this extent. I think it's because the main character just isn't very like-able. I would of loved to read many volumes about Elena!

carroq's review against another edition

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3.0

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The idea of this book sounded really exciting to me. Who doesn't love stories about knights and political intrigue? And Per's story is good. She fights with her sister, struggles to be the best knight she can be, and gets into some shenanigans as leaders of surrounding nations jockey for power.

There are a couple things that didn't work for me though. The characters didn't feel distinct for a good portion of the book. I had a hard time distinguishing between Per, her sister, and some of the other characters toward the beginning. Going back and reading it again might have helped alleviate that problem. Some of the better moments in the book didn't have quite the impact on me as they should have because of that confusion.

The structure of the political balance is cool. It plays a big part in the conflicts of the story. The way that Per gets involved and the impact it has on her lends to some of the strength of this book. This story felt aimed at a younger audience, and I think someone in their teens would get a lot out of reading Per's story.

managedbybooks's review against another edition

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4.0

This was so good! I really enjoyed the art style and the plot was great.

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

eightbitblonde's review against another edition

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4.0

This review was originally posted on EightBitBlonde.

Growing up on a strict diet of helmeted heroines and woman warriors, I have long had an affinity for female-lead fantasy. So when BOOM! Studios revealed the striking cover and excerpt of A Sparrow's Roar, an original graphic novel from cartoonist C.R. Chua (Adventure Time, Regular Show) and co-writer Paolo Chikiamco (High Society, Mythspace), I knew I had to give it a read.

A Sparrow's Roar is all about sisterhood and the bonds associated, whether they are formed by blood or battle. It tackles the concepts of personal identity, feelings of inadequacy and stepping into shoes much larger than one's own only to learn how to run before you can walk. 

This fantasy mini-epic doesn't take place in a dank dungeon or a mountain pass but in the throes of political imbalance and change. The novel's fast pace, comedic timing, and deeply human characters keep it from becoming bogged down by longwinded legislative intricacies or the grim reality bearing down on the land of Esterpike, making it an approachable read for anyone who may pick it up.

The characters and setting of A Sparrow's Roar are instantly relatable and engaging, and while the reader gets a taste of each of the big picture motivations driving the story, I found myself wanting to know more about the nuanced and smaller details dotted throughout the story. The greater lore at work is established early on and while some aspects are explored and neatly tied up, others are left tantalizingly in the background.

This is especially true for the dynamics, friendships, and loyalties between the novel's female characters. Almost every single female-identifying character introduced to us is in a position of political or military power and have their own history with one another, histories that I would gladly read more about after scarfing down this helping.

The art is colorful and charming for a story with such a serious backdrop and is a great reflection of the heart and soul of the story being told. Bright color pallets reflect the mood and tone of each panel, while each character's emotions are conveyed with such clarity in moments that tug at the heartstrings, elicit a giggle or have you holding your breath.

In the end, A Sparrow's Roar is a female-lead fantasy with heart, nuance, realistic portrayals of the relationships that it explores, and room to grow if C.R. Chua and Paolo Chikiamco decide to see just how much further their little sparrow, Per, can soar.

This copy of A Sparrow's Roar by C.R. Chua by Paolo Chikiamco was provided by NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for the purpose of content creation and review. The opinions expressed in the article above have not been affected by, dictated or edited in any way by the provider.

nyrabloodreaver's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-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? No

4.0

hellocookie's review against another edition

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3.0

This is more like a three and a half stars for me. Really loved the art, and the story but it felt a bit rushed from start to finish. This emotional story could’ve benefited from some more character development to endear us a little more to the cast. But ultimately I really enjoyed the concept and story here which tells a tale about a young woman who wants to make things right by her family and her people.