Reviews

Oksi by Mari Ahokoivu, translated from the Finnish by Silja-Maaria Aronpuro, is a graphic novel following Poorling, a shadow creature adopted by a mother bear living deep in the forests of prehistoric Finland where dangers abound.
The art is largely watercolor, and is truly some of the most gorgeous I've seen in a graphic novel. The shadows and darkness feel almost overwhelming, but right when you're about to be swallowed whole they're contrasted with vibrant auroras and fires.
The story is sparse, so sparse that I actually thought at first there would be no text at all, and it's steeped in folklore. Due to the minimalistic nature of the storytelling, readers without prior knowledge of Finno-Ugric mythologies will likely struggle to follow what's going on. I wouldn't say this should deter anyone from reading it because it is so beautiful, just know that it's up to readers to do that legwork because this book is not going to hold your hand through it.
This is a story about mothers and daughters, abandonment and forgiveness, and gods both old and new, and despite its minimalism it packs a powerful emotional punch.

librarianryan's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious slow-paced

3.0

This is a Finnish creation story. What I can say is it is beautiful and it’s interesting and it’s heartbreaking. But I cannot say I understood it. There are the spirit gods, the bears, the offspring, the shadows. All living together, and for lack of a better term, hating each other. There is this black flame that thinks it’s a bear until it comes to find out it’s not a bear but the flame. It always thinks it’s a bear and it’s only the bear mother that says no you’re not go away. They are extremely sad points like when our poor fire learns how to make meat. Or when characters, die, and then die some more, and then even more die. This book is highly interesting, and the artwork is amazing. I could see literature classes, dissecting this book in the decades to come.

hereistheend's review

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3.0

Beautiful art but need more context to feel grounded in the story; I'm assuming this is riffing off Finnish myth/folklore I simply do not know.

inspiraationjaljilla's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

allie_fawn's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Just be warned and do not be deceived by the cover. This is not for kids and gets graphic.

Content Warnings

curiousnoel's review

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2.0

Wonderful artwork, but I couldn't connect to the story at all. Kept going anyway because the drawings are so lovely.

driedfrogpills's review against another edition

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5.0

I would probably have a better understanding if I knew the myth, but goddamn the art in this book is amazing. Five stars for that alone.

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