jkw7072's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
gimchi's review against another edition
4.0
really liked this! difficult to follow at first, but did the thing where i read and skim and let it wash over me and it gelled together.
gemtastic's review against another edition
4.0
“Fear and superstition are weapons far more terrifying than rifles and bombs. Even in a world where the strangest events can occur, anxiety and bland beliefs foster violence.”
Ain’t that the truth! Beautiful art and great story. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Ain’t that the truth! Beautiful art and great story. I look forward to reading more from this author.
thekipling's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
oolymee's review against another edition
4.0
I love the West African art style in this book. This was the first graphic novel I've read in this art style, and it made me want to go read more. The story itself was a bit difficult for me to follow at the beginning, but when I got into it, I really enjoyed it. Definitely read the information the artist includes about West African folklore at the back of the book.
myqz's review against another edition
3.0
Loved Ba's artwork, the way the story connected to fables I was unfamiliar with, and the way things came together in the final chapter- looking forward to checking out more from Juni Ba.
lovebliss's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the art, all these vibrant colours, the reimagining of mythology, oral history and african culture. Wish the story was more fleshed out. The book felt really short even though it tackled some interesting subjects.
I'm a sucker for all of these magical tales and stories that normally all the nanas and aunties tell us, so... 3 stars.
I'm a sucker for all of these magical tales and stories that normally all the nanas and aunties tell us, so... 3 stars.
novelerachavela's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
livlamentloathe's review against another edition
I'm not always a big fan of elaborate fantasy/adventure. I'm more into characterization than worldbuilding; this one was hard for me to follow so I decided to skip it after trying for 1/4 of the book. This is a personal preference, not a reflection on the book or writing.
I imagine it's probably a very cool story--but I struggle with pronunciations as is, so it lost me pretty quickly. Maybe I'll try again in the future. But DNF for now.
I imagine it's probably a very cool story--but I struggle with pronunciations as is, so it lost me pretty quickly. Maybe I'll try again in the future. But DNF for now.
altlovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a (partial?) digital ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
It's difficult for me to rate/review this fully, because the copy provided to me appears to only be a sneak peek. It bothers me a little that I can't rate based on the entire book and thus feel like this may be a bit of a misleading review. In any case, the 28 pages I was provided was an interesting take on folklore. I think this is my first Senegalese graphic novel, and I really liked the striking, bold art. Lots of blacks, lots of reds, and very bold lines.
The story was a little confusing to follow, especially considering the short preview I received. You're dumped straight in the middle of the story, and much like Mansou, have to find your own way. There's a brief page or two of exposition at the beginning, talking about a wizard who brought the apocalypse down and sealed himself in his ivory tower, and then we're straight in the thick of it. I found it rather confusing to follow though, even with the inclusion of side notes and clarifications by the author in-line.
In short, an intriguing but a little confusing glimpse into a post apocalyptic fantasy/sci fi world using folklore as the framework for a new story.
It's difficult for me to rate/review this fully, because the copy provided to me appears to only be a sneak peek. It bothers me a little that I can't rate based on the entire book and thus feel like this may be a bit of a misleading review. In any case, the 28 pages I was provided was an interesting take on folklore. I think this is my first Senegalese graphic novel, and I really liked the striking, bold art. Lots of blacks, lots of reds, and very bold lines.
The story was a little confusing to follow, especially considering the short preview I received. You're dumped straight in the middle of the story, and much like Mansou, have to find your own way. There's a brief page or two of exposition at the beginning, talking about a wizard who brought the apocalypse down and sealed himself in his ivory tower, and then we're straight in the thick of it. I found it rather confusing to follow though, even with the inclusion of side notes and clarifications by the author in-line.
In short, an intriguing but a little confusing glimpse into a post apocalyptic fantasy/sci fi world using folklore as the framework for a new story.