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eli_abroad's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.5
In a steampunk fantasy world full of ancients (immortal, powerful animal-like beings), humans, arcanics (hybrids of ancients and humans), magical cats and other adoreable animals, old gods (aka monsters), and witches, a young arcanic discovers she has a special bond with a monster and becomes the center of a chaotic struggle for power.
This graphic novel is a completely immersive experience: the art is gorgeous, the story is complex, the characters are mysterious and fascinating, and the world is wonderfully textured. However, it was challenging to follow at times as the plot unfolds in a cocktail of perspective shifts, flashbacks, dream sequences, and intense world building with small but necessary info dumps done in such a cute way (cat school đš). All cuteness aside, it was dark, sometimes violent, and has, so far, thankfully been free of any romantasy vibes.
While the complexity is what gives this graphic novel so much to sink your teeth into, I often felt like I was drowning in the details. There are so many moving parts, I kept having to flip back and forth through the volume to get my head around what was going on, who was who, and how the pieces fit together. Fortunately, I read a collected volume that made this easy and can't imagine what it was like for people who read it as the issues were released.
In spite of any difficulties, I couldn't put it down and can't wait to get started on the next volume. Totally enjoyed it and recommend it to any fan of steampunk fantasy, even if graphic novels are not your thing.
This graphic novel is a completely immersive experience: the art is gorgeous, the story is complex, the characters are mysterious and fascinating, and the world is wonderfully textured. However, it was challenging to follow at times as the plot unfolds in a cocktail of perspective shifts, flashbacks, dream sequences, and intense world building with small but necessary info dumps done in such a cute way (cat school đš). All cuteness aside, it was dark, sometimes violent, and has, so far, thankfully been free of any romantasy vibes.
While the complexity is what gives this graphic novel so much to sink your teeth into, I often felt like I was drowning in the details. There are so many moving parts, I kept having to flip back and forth through the volume to get my head around what was going on, who was who, and how the pieces fit together. Fortunately, I read a collected volume that made this easy and can't imagine what it was like for people who read it as the issues were released.
In spite of any difficulties, I couldn't put it down and can't wait to get started on the next volume. Totally enjoyed it and recommend it to any fan of steampunk fantasy, even if graphic novels are not your thing.
hb_bookworm's review
5.0
reading each of these as the individual volumes, but I kept this on hand to reference back to - thank goodness for the glossary! I am enraptured with this story and can't wait for more.
embee007's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"To quote the poets, murder is terribly exhausting."
Beautiful art.
"'You have some talent...for murder...But...when it comes... to survival...you are lost...at sea...We are here...because you cannot...fight...alone...You cannot...survive...alone...' 'You're saying I need allies.' 'Allies are not...without
...their uses...& you can...always...eat them...when their...usefulness...is done...'"
Fantastic dialogue. (I needed to space this out so I could include more quotes đ )
"'It has been...three thousand years.' 'That's right. Maybe I should put you in a home for senile fucking gods.'"
Great (dense) storyline
"What do I have to give up of myself to be worthy of your ghost?"
So much lore...
"You're not awful. Actually, you're really fucked up."
I've already forgotten so much, & I just finished the book.
Even in the roughest, most forgotten places, civility can bloom. That is what I enjoy most about this coffee shop.
What do you do when there is a monster (god) taking residence inside you, & the world has gone to shit? Fight, give up & die, or make friends, figure out the mystery of your life & protect everyone you can?
"Do not stop. Do not stop becoming someone new, just because I am gone. Move forward, ALWAYS...Never back."
Representation: disabled, amputee MC, saffic relationships, characters are a mix of various races, & human, part human, & non-human.
"There won't be anything left of me if I keep paying what it takes to survive. "
Beautiful art.
"'You have some talent...for murder...But...when it comes... to survival...you are lost...at sea...We are here...because you cannot...fight...alone...You cannot...survive...alone...' 'You're saying I need allies.' 'Allies are not...without
...their uses...& you can...always...eat them...when their...usefulness...is done...'"
Fantastic dialogue. (I needed to space this out so I could include more quotes đ )
"'It has been...three thousand years.' 'That's right. Maybe I should put you in a home for senile fucking gods.'"
Great (dense) storyline
"What do I have to give up of myself to be worthy of your ghost?"
So much lore...
"You're not awful. Actually, you're really fucked up."
I've already forgotten so much, & I just finished the book.
Even in the roughest, most forgotten places, civility can bloom. That is what I enjoy most about this coffee shop.
What do you do when there is a monster (god) taking residence inside you, & the world has gone to shit? Fight, give up & die, or make friends, figure out the mystery of your life & protect everyone you can?
"Do not stop. Do not stop becoming someone new, just because I am gone. Move forward, ALWAYS...Never back."
Representation: disabled, amputee MC, saffic relationships, characters are a mix of various races, & human, part human, & non-human.
"There won't be anything left of me if I keep paying what it takes to survive. "
534534564587654323456789's review
4.0
Iâm not partial to the word âactressâ (can you imagine use âdoctressâ instead of âdoctorâ) , but somehow at the same time I think âhuntressâ, âlionessâ has a nice ring to it. Now, maybe âmonstressâ as well.
Female-centred worldbuilding
Queer Asian woman representation
Beautiful art, high fantasy,
Steampunk, Lovecraftian horror,
Donât know why itâs labelled YA at my local library
Female-centred worldbuilding
Queer Asian woman representation
Beautiful art, high fantasy,
Steampunk, Lovecraftian horror,
Donât know why itâs labelled YA at my local library
texastea's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
dykish's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
emfiander's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An absolute work of art, on every level.
This is my first foray into comic books (I've read other graphic novels, but they were standalones) and while it took me a little bit to get used to the cadence and other genre conventions (things happen very quickly, you meet a LOT of characters, it feels verrrrry episodicâwhich, to be fair, it literally is), I had such a fun time. It struck a perfect balance for me between indulgent, fun-loving fantasy entertainment and meaningful, well-crafted story. Most importantly for a graphic novel/comic book, it feels like it's a story that cannot be told in any other way. The hype is well-deserved.
This is my first foray into comic books (I've read other graphic novels, but they were standalones) and while it took me a little bit to get used to the cadence and other genre conventions (things happen very quickly, you meet a LOT of characters, it feels verrrrry episodicâwhich, to be fair, it literally is), I had such a fun time. It struck a perfect balance for me between indulgent, fun-loving fantasy entertainment and meaningful, well-crafted story. Most importantly for a graphic novel/comic book, it feels like it's a story that cannot be told in any other way. The hype is well-deserved.
cloudwriter's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
glains's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
anonymousbookwyrm's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
5.0