A review by destdest
Oksi, by Mari Ahokoivu

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

There’s a lot going on here, and it gets dark despite the cute art style. I was confused at
Spoiler Poorling’s origin, but, if I have this right, Emuu, the mother of creation and the bear's momma went through an elaborate scheme to get her daughter to cut her ties to Earth and her cubs, so she could be with her again on the other side/afterlife.
Poorling, the main character, is unnatural but an innocent child, so many plot points come with emotional implications. 

The artwork is lovely and the way scenes are framed, like trees being the actual borders or no borders at all, was an interesting design choice. I liked the touches of gold but the golden font was a bit unreadable. Whenever there’s a splash of color, it makes an impact. 5 stars for the artwork!

I liked seeing Finnish folklore, especially the shadow creatures, but I think knowing the actual story is essential for maximum enjoyment. Without having that background, the story felt erratic. I'm sure those familiar with the folklore will appreciate the story in this form.

What I think some of the themes were…
Spoiler being tricked by the “devil?”/deity/moral-less entity, the strong bond of motherhood, turbulent mother-daughter relationships, not fitting in, God’s creations rebelling, should a God give his creation free will, death, etc
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