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mattdoylemedia's reviews
81 reviews
Dragons of a Fallen Sun by Margaret Weis
4.0
I only really started reading the Dragonlance novels recently, starting with the Elven Nations Trilogy. This book was a fair bit different to said trilogy, but that's not the sort of thing that will bother me. Variety is the spice of life and all that.
So, how was this one? Well, let's start with the key characters. Tasslehoff is a wonderful little creation, fun, cheeky and just generally enjoyable to read. Gerard meanwhile is the polar opposite to Tasslehoff but also somehow a pleasure to get to grips with. Medan fast became a favourite of mine if just for his outlook in the face of the adversity he faces. On the other hand, Mina started off as someone who was just kinda cool for me but by the end of the book ... I'm not so sure. There's definitely something about her that I don't like, but I'm not sure what.
Story wise it's a good start to the trilogy that leaves plenty open for the second book, so I can't really complain there. While not yet as enjoyable as the Elven Nations trilogy, this one is off to a good start.
So, how was this one? Well, let's start with the key characters. Tasslehoff is a wonderful little creation, fun, cheeky and just generally enjoyable to read. Gerard meanwhile is the polar opposite to Tasslehoff but also somehow a pleasure to get to grips with. Medan fast became a favourite of mine if just for his outlook in the face of the adversity he faces. On the other hand, Mina started off as someone who was just kinda cool for me but by the end of the book ... I'm not so sure. There's definitely something about her that I don't like, but I'm not sure what.
Story wise it's a good start to the trilogy that leaves plenty open for the second book, so I can't really complain there. While not yet as enjoyable as the Elven Nations trilogy, this one is off to a good start.
The Blotted Line by Mehreen Ahmed
5.0
I previously became aware of Mehreen Ahmed’s work when she gave me a copy of her magnificent stream of consciousness piece, Moirae, in return for an honest review. While I enjoyed the book, and in fact gave it the full five stars, I did state that the style of the book makes a difficult read. Here, Mehreen takes us in a different direction, offering a series of short stories in a more recognisable prose style.
Mehreen has a very clear ‘feel’ to her writing, and this shines through in this collection. The blurb makes it clear that the stories are linked by a thematic feeling of loss, but don’t be fooled into thinking that this will mean that the tales cross-over. Each story is very much its own beast, and they are all given plenty of room to grow in their own way. In fact, outside the aforementioned theme, the only real link between them is Mehreen’s ability to craft an emotional tale. For me, this was most apparent in ‘The Anomalous Duo’, a tale of two lovers as the issues they face when one is forced into an arranged marriage. Regardless of whether such a situation is directly relevant to your own life, it’s hard not to empathise with the characters as they traverse what is an often controversially viewed tradition. Then, there are stories such as ‘Eye-Opener’, that show how life can sometimes provide us with unexpected, and undoubtedly unwelcome, surprises, even when in the company of those that we know well.
In all, I am very happy to have been offered a copy in return for an honest review, and I personally found it to be a rewarding read. Like any short story collection, there is every possibility that there will be a story or two that just don’t click with you, but that just makes it all the sweeter when you find the one that does. Mehreen’s talent is never in question, and there is such a good variety of tales on offer here, that most people should find something to enjoy therein. For that, it is deserving of another five stars.
Mehreen has a very clear ‘feel’ to her writing, and this shines through in this collection. The blurb makes it clear that the stories are linked by a thematic feeling of loss, but don’t be fooled into thinking that this will mean that the tales cross-over. Each story is very much its own beast, and they are all given plenty of room to grow in their own way. In fact, outside the aforementioned theme, the only real link between them is Mehreen’s ability to craft an emotional tale. For me, this was most apparent in ‘The Anomalous Duo’, a tale of two lovers as the issues they face when one is forced into an arranged marriage. Regardless of whether such a situation is directly relevant to your own life, it’s hard not to empathise with the characters as they traverse what is an often controversially viewed tradition. Then, there are stories such as ‘Eye-Opener’, that show how life can sometimes provide us with unexpected, and undoubtedly unwelcome, surprises, even when in the company of those that we know well.
In all, I am very happy to have been offered a copy in return for an honest review, and I personally found it to be a rewarding read. Like any short story collection, there is every possibility that there will be a story or two that just don’t click with you, but that just makes it all the sweeter when you find the one that does. Mehreen’s talent is never in question, and there is such a good variety of tales on offer here, that most people should find something to enjoy therein. For that, it is deserving of another five stars.
The Family: The Brotherhood by Donte M. McNeal
5.0
Background: Donte is a Detroit native who, outside being the author of The Family: The Brotherhood, is also a freelance editor, beta reader, and lover of anime. Today’s book was published on 19th August 2016 and tells the story of Leone King, the leader of The Family, a gang born of good intentions. Here, they are pitted against their ruthless antithesis, The Brotherhood, who are themselves headed by Leone’s childhood friend Nicholas Black.
The Good: Stories can often live or die by their lead. A dull protagonist makes it difficult to wade through a book, even if the story itself is good. Leone King though, is far from dull. He is beautifully characterised as a young man who simply wants to do what’s right. His gang holds a great deal of power within the country of Levanna, and his own goals are grounded with noble intentions. To this end, he follows a strict no-violence policy and strives to ensure that his gang acts as their moniker: a family. But it’s not all plain sailing. As mentioned above, The Brotherhood are The Family’s opposites in every way. Where Leone rules with compassion, Nicholas rules with fear, and where Leone fights to avoid violence, Nicholas thrives in it. This sets up an interesting conflict for Leone as, as things escalate, he is faced with the hard truth that he and his cohorts will need to start crossing lines to bring about the peace that they’re aiming for. This flies in the face of what Leone believes in, and Donte does a wonderful job of showing his pains and struggles. It’s hard to be king.
On the other hand, Nicholas is as brutal as they come. For him, it’s less a case of it being hard to be king, and more a case of it being fun to flaunt to his power. He comes across as borderline psychotic at times, and is certainly ballsy (as is demonstrated when he walks in on a funeral for a member of The Family), but it’s not directionless. There is plenty of backstory to explore, and even if Nicholas is misguided in his actions, he certainly has enough justification to not have to worry about things like self-doubt in the way that Leone does. He’s vicious, but he’s also damaged, and that makes for a fiery combination in this case.
The gangs themselves are also interesting, with Donte clearly putting a great deal of thought into
how the they operate and the hierarchical structure of each. Leone being the character that we spend most time with, we learn more about The Family in this respect, but that’s OK. They’re a good bunch of heroes to follow, and the way they interact comes across as very realistic. The little snippets we learn about the different characters as a result of this helps flesh out the supporting cast nicely and gives us some insight into what informs their actions. On top of that, the switches to POVs other than Leone’s all serve the purpose of advancing the story and the characters, and never fall foul of the risk of pulling you out of the story. That deserves some praise.
Oh, and while we’re talking it, the story itself is a well-crafted piece in general. From the setting to the way the tale advances, everything has clear rules in place that are designed to assist progression rather than hinder it. It’s also worth noting that things continue to escalate throughout the book, and build to a violent crescendo that is both a satisfying conclusion to this particular conflict and a nicely choregraphed set piece.
The Bad: As is often the case, what you consider to be good or bad will be highly subjective. As such, everything I say here will have different mileage for different people. The thing is, I don’t have any real complaints myself. The story is fun, the book is a breeze to read, and Leone is a great lead. There are two things that may cause issues for some readers though. The first is the violence. While not as graphic as watching a grindhouse movie, I know that people’s tolerance levels will vary. The blurb should make it clear that the book will not be plain sailing for the characters, but it’s worth being forewarned.
The second potential issue is the end of the book. Again, I enjoyed it, and felt that it not only brought this stage of the story to a decent conclusion, but also acted as a decent set up a sequel. The final twist does come out of the blue though. Unless I missed something, part of it seemed to appear out of nowhere, and this has the potential to throw some readers off. Of course, being the first book of a series, there’s every possibility that this will be explained in book two. Alternatively, I certainly could have just missed something subtle.
Final View: The action comes hard and fast, and we’re treated to a complex but sympathetic lead that takes us on a journey through a near future world marred with societal imperfections. Donte has crafted a great first adventure for Leone King, and if the sequel can maintain (or even exceed) this quality, the series will be well worth a look-in. This is an enjoyably quick read that tackles the blurred lines of good and bad, and I’d recommend for those that like their books easy to devour but with enough complexities to take them above being simple and straight forward tales.
Final Score: 4.5 / 5
The Good: Stories can often live or die by their lead. A dull protagonist makes it difficult to wade through a book, even if the story itself is good. Leone King though, is far from dull. He is beautifully characterised as a young man who simply wants to do what’s right. His gang holds a great deal of power within the country of Levanna, and his own goals are grounded with noble intentions. To this end, he follows a strict no-violence policy and strives to ensure that his gang acts as their moniker: a family. But it’s not all plain sailing. As mentioned above, The Brotherhood are The Family’s opposites in every way. Where Leone rules with compassion, Nicholas rules with fear, and where Leone fights to avoid violence, Nicholas thrives in it. This sets up an interesting conflict for Leone as, as things escalate, he is faced with the hard truth that he and his cohorts will need to start crossing lines to bring about the peace that they’re aiming for. This flies in the face of what Leone believes in, and Donte does a wonderful job of showing his pains and struggles. It’s hard to be king.
On the other hand, Nicholas is as brutal as they come. For him, it’s less a case of it being hard to be king, and more a case of it being fun to flaunt to his power. He comes across as borderline psychotic at times, and is certainly ballsy (as is demonstrated when he walks in on a funeral for a member of The Family), but it’s not directionless. There is plenty of backstory to explore, and even if Nicholas is misguided in his actions, he certainly has enough justification to not have to worry about things like self-doubt in the way that Leone does. He’s vicious, but he’s also damaged, and that makes for a fiery combination in this case.
The gangs themselves are also interesting, with Donte clearly putting a great deal of thought into
how the they operate and the hierarchical structure of each. Leone being the character that we spend most time with, we learn more about The Family in this respect, but that’s OK. They’re a good bunch of heroes to follow, and the way they interact comes across as very realistic. The little snippets we learn about the different characters as a result of this helps flesh out the supporting cast nicely and gives us some insight into what informs their actions. On top of that, the switches to POVs other than Leone’s all serve the purpose of advancing the story and the characters, and never fall foul of the risk of pulling you out of the story. That deserves some praise.
Oh, and while we’re talking it, the story itself is a well-crafted piece in general. From the setting to the way the tale advances, everything has clear rules in place that are designed to assist progression rather than hinder it. It’s also worth noting that things continue to escalate throughout the book, and build to a violent crescendo that is both a satisfying conclusion to this particular conflict and a nicely choregraphed set piece.
The Bad: As is often the case, what you consider to be good or bad will be highly subjective. As such, everything I say here will have different mileage for different people. The thing is, I don’t have any real complaints myself. The story is fun, the book is a breeze to read, and Leone is a great lead. There are two things that may cause issues for some readers though. The first is the violence. While not as graphic as watching a grindhouse movie, I know that people’s tolerance levels will vary. The blurb should make it clear that the book will not be plain sailing for the characters, but it’s worth being forewarned.
The second potential issue is the end of the book. Again, I enjoyed it, and felt that it not only brought this stage of the story to a decent conclusion, but also acted as a decent set up a sequel. The final twist does come out of the blue though. Unless I missed something, part of it seemed to appear out of nowhere, and this has the potential to throw some readers off. Of course, being the first book of a series, there’s every possibility that this will be explained in book two. Alternatively, I certainly could have just missed something subtle.
Final View: The action comes hard and fast, and we’re treated to a complex but sympathetic lead that takes us on a journey through a near future world marred with societal imperfections. Donte has crafted a great first adventure for Leone King, and if the sequel can maintain (or even exceed) this quality, the series will be well worth a look-in. This is an enjoyably quick read that tackles the blurred lines of good and bad, and I’d recommend for those that like their books easy to devour but with enough complexities to take them above being simple and straight forward tales.
Final Score: 4.5 / 5
Daimonion by J.P. Jackson
4.0
Background: JP Jackson is a Canadian author of LGBT fantasy and horror, and Daimonion (released 10th July 2017) is his first full length novel. Outside this, he also appears in NineStar Press’s ‘Into The Mystic’ anthology, due for release on 31st July 2017.
Daimonion tells the story of Dati Amon, a demon tasked with hunting down children that hold latent demon blood. After a botched job some years ago, Dati finds himself reunited with the man the child he failed to retrieve has now become, and things are about to get very complicated. Dati’s Master has plans in mind, and dark schemes have been set in motion. The question is, can a series of unlikely alliances gain Dati his freedom?
The Good: As this is a book about a demon, it seems logical to talk about the demons that appear in the book first. I cannot stress enough how much work has clearly been done in terms of this. In some instances, such as with Dati, the author has created whole new species. In other cases, he has taken more commonly recognised character types, such as witches and shapeshifters, and given them a new spin. This combination ensures that the book has an eminently fresh feel to it rather than simply treading familiar floorboards in terms of setting.
But how do the demons come across as characters? Well, Dati is a surprisingly sympathetic lead. The superb opening chapter really sets the tone for the character, and gives us a clear glimpse of the internal conflict that he feels when out on a job. As the book progresses, we also get to see him struggle with his nature, strive to set himself free of servitude, and forge friendships with a myriad of unlikely allies. Of all the characters in the novel, he is by far my favourite, and is certainly the one that is given the most time to develop. That’s not to say that the other characters are abandoned in this respect though, and the young witch Jenae in particular is an interesting addition to the series.
Praise also needs to be given to JP Jackson’s ability to create vivid images of the magical aspects of the world. Demonic transformations, magical conflicts and the different forms that the characters take are all described in such a way that it’s hard not to get a clear picture in your head.
The book breezes by as well, and you’re unlikely to find any moments where you’re bored or wanting to skip ahead. This is a definite positive for me, and one that made it very easy to read through quite quickly. Any book that lets you get that easily lost within has plenty going for it in my eyes.
The Bad: This is a tough one to broach as the only things that I could view as relatively negative with the book are such that they won’t be detractors for everyone. Case in point, the clear pictures that the writing throws up for you may be problematic for some during the more gore laden scenes. It is also worth noting that the theme of incest is raised, and though this is neither depicted nor shown as being in any way positive, the fact that it’s there will be off putting for some. By the same token, the fact that Dati first saw Alyx as a child and then found himself to be attracted to him as an adult has the potential to make readers uncomfortable. These are less criticisms and more content warnings though.
I did feel that Alyx perhaps came across as a little less developed than the other characters. This was a shame as the other POV characters were so well rounded. If I want to be picky, I’d say that I’m more of a fan of positive depictions of satyrs too, but I’m not going to deduct marks for something so trivial when the rest of the book was such a fun romp through a dark world.
Final View: Daimonion is a quick, easy read that pulls you along on an often times very dark story. Dati Amon is an excellent companion for this trip, and his plight is one that will draw you in and leave you wanting more. Providing none of the themes already mentioned put you off, this one is well worth a look in.
Final Score: 4 / 5
Daimonion tells the story of Dati Amon, a demon tasked with hunting down children that hold latent demon blood. After a botched job some years ago, Dati finds himself reunited with the man the child he failed to retrieve has now become, and things are about to get very complicated. Dati’s Master has plans in mind, and dark schemes have been set in motion. The question is, can a series of unlikely alliances gain Dati his freedom?
The Good: As this is a book about a demon, it seems logical to talk about the demons that appear in the book first. I cannot stress enough how much work has clearly been done in terms of this. In some instances, such as with Dati, the author has created whole new species. In other cases, he has taken more commonly recognised character types, such as witches and shapeshifters, and given them a new spin. This combination ensures that the book has an eminently fresh feel to it rather than simply treading familiar floorboards in terms of setting.
But how do the demons come across as characters? Well, Dati is a surprisingly sympathetic lead. The superb opening chapter really sets the tone for the character, and gives us a clear glimpse of the internal conflict that he feels when out on a job. As the book progresses, we also get to see him struggle with his nature, strive to set himself free of servitude, and forge friendships with a myriad of unlikely allies. Of all the characters in the novel, he is by far my favourite, and is certainly the one that is given the most time to develop. That’s not to say that the other characters are abandoned in this respect though, and the young witch Jenae in particular is an interesting addition to the series.
Praise also needs to be given to JP Jackson’s ability to create vivid images of the magical aspects of the world. Demonic transformations, magical conflicts and the different forms that the characters take are all described in such a way that it’s hard not to get a clear picture in your head.
The book breezes by as well, and you’re unlikely to find any moments where you’re bored or wanting to skip ahead. This is a definite positive for me, and one that made it very easy to read through quite quickly. Any book that lets you get that easily lost within has plenty going for it in my eyes.
The Bad: This is a tough one to broach as the only things that I could view as relatively negative with the book are such that they won’t be detractors for everyone. Case in point, the clear pictures that the writing throws up for you may be problematic for some during the more gore laden scenes. It is also worth noting that the theme of incest is raised, and though this is neither depicted nor shown as being in any way positive, the fact that it’s there will be off putting for some. By the same token, the fact that Dati first saw Alyx as a child and then found himself to be attracted to him as an adult has the potential to make readers uncomfortable. These are less criticisms and more content warnings though.
I did feel that Alyx perhaps came across as a little less developed than the other characters. This was a shame as the other POV characters were so well rounded. If I want to be picky, I’d say that I’m more of a fan of positive depictions of satyrs too, but I’m not going to deduct marks for something so trivial when the rest of the book was such a fun romp through a dark world.
Final View: Daimonion is a quick, easy read that pulls you along on an often times very dark story. Dati Amon is an excellent companion for this trip, and his plight is one that will draw you in and leave you wanting more. Providing none of the themes already mentioned put you off, this one is well worth a look in.
Final Score: 4 / 5
The Wayward Astronomer by Geoffrey Thomas
4.0
Background: Geoffrey Thomas is an American author and blogger. The Wayward Astronomer, released on 9th May 2017 by Corvus Publishing, is his debut novel.
The story follows Hal Adhil and his friend Miri. Initially, things are pretty peaceful for the pair, even if they do have to hide the secret that Hal is an awakened Dreamkeeper. You see, in the world Anduruna, all people have the potential to awaken special powers. In Hal’s case, it gives him the ability to visualise the wavelengths of light. While itself fairly harmless, the power does lead the pair to a meteor … and so begins a period of major upheaval that will alter their lives forever.
The Good: My reviews of Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Dreamkeepers Graphic Novel Saga confirm that I’m a big fan of David Lillie’s art. This novel being part of the world that he has created, David has provided illustrations for the pages. I don’t want to spend too long focussing on this, as this is first and foremost a novel rather than a graphic novel, but I will say this: David’s work loses nothing in black and white, and the art provided for the start and end of each chapter really adds to the overall quality of the book.
Now, onto the story. It would be fair to question whether you need to have read the aforementioned graphic novels to understand The Wayward Astronomer. To that I would say that, while fans of the comics will certainly enjoy the story, it’s set up in such a way that you don’t need any prior knowledge of the world to enjoy it. Relevant points regarding laws, locations and technology are provided in both the story itself and the bonus material at the back of the book, so diving in here will definitely not leave you feeling too lost. That is definitely a positive.
The story itself is also marvellously paced, with even the slower moments speeding by as you read. In truth, had I not had other commitments, I would have likely finished this in one sitting, such was the ease of reading. The action scenes are well executed too. Of particular note is a scene about two thirds of the way through the book that is essentially the literary equivalent of a finale to the early Chow Yun-Fat/John Woo Hong Kong Blood Opera collaborations. That was certainly impressive.
As to the characters themselves, conversations never feel stilted, and each clearly has their own voice, which is a plus. Hal is a sarcastic little blighter at times, and I love his design (anthropomorphic velociraptor with a tail that features eyes and a mouth), and Miri, a purple haired anthro fox, is a good foil for him. The villains of the piece (I won’t name them as that would fall into spoiler territory) are an interesting bunch and certainly not unsympathetic, if at times misguided in their actions.
Also, the ending is pretty strong. While slower than the moments that preceded it, it gives a satisfactory conclusion to the tale and shows two characters finding a way to work together to provide balance in their lives.
The Bad: There are a few plot twists that you may see coming. While not strictly an issue, certainly from my standpoint, that may disappoint some. As always with this series too, I would say that the violence is worth noting, simply because many still view anthropomorphic animals as being within the realms of children’s fiction. Do not get this confused in that way, it is far from a children’s book.
In truth, there was only really one thing that bugged me with the book. I have no personal objections to good guys doing bad things, in fact, I am of the school of thought that it can add to a hero if they’re sometimes faced with such situations. There are some lines that I don’t tend to like heroes to cross though, as it moves them from hero to villain for me. Hal crosses one of those lines here. Again, I won’t say what happened, that would constitute a spoiler, but I will say that it made it harder to root for me to root for Hal in the final third of the book. In a way, this is counter-acted by Miri being such a sympathetic companion character for Hal, but it was still a step too far for me personally. This is subjective though, and I know that the scene in question will not cause an issue for many others, which is absolutely fine.
Final View: The Wayward Astronomer is a worthy addition to the Dreamkeepers universe. It captures the feel of the main series well, and provides a fast-paced, exciting tale with a colourful cast of characters. In all, this is a solid debut from Geoffrey Thomas, and is well worth recommending, whether you’re a fan of the original graphic novels or not.
Final Score: 4 / 5
The story follows Hal Adhil and his friend Miri. Initially, things are pretty peaceful for the pair, even if they do have to hide the secret that Hal is an awakened Dreamkeeper. You see, in the world Anduruna, all people have the potential to awaken special powers. In Hal’s case, it gives him the ability to visualise the wavelengths of light. While itself fairly harmless, the power does lead the pair to a meteor … and so begins a period of major upheaval that will alter their lives forever.
The Good: My reviews of Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Dreamkeepers Graphic Novel Saga confirm that I’m a big fan of David Lillie’s art. This novel being part of the world that he has created, David has provided illustrations for the pages. I don’t want to spend too long focussing on this, as this is first and foremost a novel rather than a graphic novel, but I will say this: David’s work loses nothing in black and white, and the art provided for the start and end of each chapter really adds to the overall quality of the book.
Now, onto the story. It would be fair to question whether you need to have read the aforementioned graphic novels to understand The Wayward Astronomer. To that I would say that, while fans of the comics will certainly enjoy the story, it’s set up in such a way that you don’t need any prior knowledge of the world to enjoy it. Relevant points regarding laws, locations and technology are provided in both the story itself and the bonus material at the back of the book, so diving in here will definitely not leave you feeling too lost. That is definitely a positive.
The story itself is also marvellously paced, with even the slower moments speeding by as you read. In truth, had I not had other commitments, I would have likely finished this in one sitting, such was the ease of reading. The action scenes are well executed too. Of particular note is a scene about two thirds of the way through the book that is essentially the literary equivalent of a finale to the early Chow Yun-Fat/John Woo Hong Kong Blood Opera collaborations. That was certainly impressive.
As to the characters themselves, conversations never feel stilted, and each clearly has their own voice, which is a plus. Hal is a sarcastic little blighter at times, and I love his design (anthropomorphic velociraptor with a tail that features eyes and a mouth), and Miri, a purple haired anthro fox, is a good foil for him. The villains of the piece (I won’t name them as that would fall into spoiler territory) are an interesting bunch and certainly not unsympathetic, if at times misguided in their actions.
Also, the ending is pretty strong. While slower than the moments that preceded it, it gives a satisfactory conclusion to the tale and shows two characters finding a way to work together to provide balance in their lives.
The Bad: There are a few plot twists that you may see coming. While not strictly an issue, certainly from my standpoint, that may disappoint some. As always with this series too, I would say that the violence is worth noting, simply because many still view anthropomorphic animals as being within the realms of children’s fiction. Do not get this confused in that way, it is far from a children’s book.
In truth, there was only really one thing that bugged me with the book. I have no personal objections to good guys doing bad things, in fact, I am of the school of thought that it can add to a hero if they’re sometimes faced with such situations. There are some lines that I don’t tend to like heroes to cross though, as it moves them from hero to villain for me. Hal crosses one of those lines here. Again, I won’t say what happened, that would constitute a spoiler, but I will say that it made it harder to root for me to root for Hal in the final third of the book. In a way, this is counter-acted by Miri being such a sympathetic companion character for Hal, but it was still a step too far for me personally. This is subjective though, and I know that the scene in question will not cause an issue for many others, which is absolutely fine.
Final View: The Wayward Astronomer is a worthy addition to the Dreamkeepers universe. It captures the feel of the main series well, and provides a fast-paced, exciting tale with a colourful cast of characters. In all, this is a solid debut from Geoffrey Thomas, and is well worth recommending, whether you’re a fan of the original graphic novels or not.
Final Score: 4 / 5
Dreamkeepers Volume 1: Awakenings, Special Edition by David Lillie, Liz Thomas, Brad Higginbotham
4.0
Background: Dreamkeepers is written and illustrated by David Lillie, and is published through his own Vivid Publishing imprint. The copy I own is the 2010 second edition (I’m not sure what the difference between this and the first edition is as I never saw the original pressing). The book runs to 100 full colour pages and covers the first three chapters of the story.
On the story front, we’re cast into a universe linked to our own, where ‘Dreamkeepers’ (anthropomorphic creatures with supernatural powers) fight hordes of living Nightmares that are intent on destroying all sentient life. As humans, we are safe, just as long as our own Dreamkeeper lives. But that’s all ancient history. When we join the tale, there hasn’t been a Nightmare sighting for centuries, and the violence free city of Anduruna has outlawed all Dreamkeeper powers. And why wouldn’t they? The city is perfect, and Nightmares are just old wives’ tales … aren’t they?
The Good: As you can probably guess from the above, Nightmares do indeed return to the city of Anduruna. The premise itself should also make it clear that there is scope for the story to get pretty dark … and my word, it certainly does that. Why, we open with a graphic sacrifice and the return of the big bad, and from the presentation, this is set as a clear warning shot for what’s to come. The whole scene introduces Lord Void as a truly menacing force, and it lets you know that death is a distinct possibility in the story. That, thanks to the art style of the book, is an important thing to set straight early on.
So, what do I mean by that? Well, the art is very cartoony. To me, it’s how I would imagine a collaboration between Disney and Tex Avery, and I truly mean that as a compliment. The feel of the art for everything that sits between the opening scene and the end of chapter two is that of a decent quality children’s book, and that is, I would guess, a stylistic decision made to create a certain amount shock when the darkness creeps in. Hell, if the first few pages are the warning shot, the end of chapter two is the first assault. I won’t give away what happens, but I will say this: it caught me off guard, and part of the effect it had is due to the art being of a high enough quality that the combination of style and content brings a superbly jarring effect into play.
Character wise, we have a few leads introduced here: an orphan named Mace (as well as his cutesy fuzzy companion Whip), the Viscount’s daughter Lilith, and her half-sister Namah. All three are given plenty of time to show their personalities to us in the three chapters, and their individual arcs are set up and nudged along well enough that you’re left with both a comfortable familiarity for each and a desire to see where they’ll end up. There are other characters too, of course, but outside Grunn (the orphanage owner) and Tinsel (the narcissistic fiancée of Lilith and Namah’s father), we only get a bare snapshot at this point. That’s no bad thing though; while the book is a good size, packing it out with too much would have interrupted the flow far too much.
The Bad: There isn’t too much that I can say here, and what I am about to say will not hold true for all readers. First of all, while I loved the conflicting feel of the art style and dark content, this won’t suit everyone. It was a bold move on David Lillie’s part, and I’m happy that he did it, but if I’m being objective, then it would be fair to say that someone flicking through the middle of the book may get a bit of a shock when they read the rest of the story. That’s also not helped by the category that the book won the award for: while not without humour, and certainly cartoony, that label will likely be read by some as meaning that the story will be closer to what you’d expect from the art style.
Secondly, the price is an issue for me. The book is absolutely beautiful, and you certainly get what you pay for, but if you’re buying from outside the USA (like I am), the postage is going to be hefty. Yes, the electronic version is dirt cheap, but I personally prefer something solid in my hand when it comes to comics. I don’t want to seem too negative about this though, I am certainly aware that international postage costs are not under David Lillie’s control, it’s just something that bugs me a bit, and may be a sticking point for others.
Final View: Much like most first books, Dreamkeepers Volume 1: Awakenings is surpassed in quality by the books that followed, but don’t let that put you off. If you’re a fan of stories that mix humour and darker themes, you have no objection to anthro art, or you simply want something more than a little surprising, it’s a worthwhile purchase. Be warned though; it’s an easy story to get hooked on.
Final Score: 4 / 5
On the story front, we’re cast into a universe linked to our own, where ‘Dreamkeepers’ (anthropomorphic creatures with supernatural powers) fight hordes of living Nightmares that are intent on destroying all sentient life. As humans, we are safe, just as long as our own Dreamkeeper lives. But that’s all ancient history. When we join the tale, there hasn’t been a Nightmare sighting for centuries, and the violence free city of Anduruna has outlawed all Dreamkeeper powers. And why wouldn’t they? The city is perfect, and Nightmares are just old wives’ tales … aren’t they?
The Good: As you can probably guess from the above, Nightmares do indeed return to the city of Anduruna. The premise itself should also make it clear that there is scope for the story to get pretty dark … and my word, it certainly does that. Why, we open with a graphic sacrifice and the return of the big bad, and from the presentation, this is set as a clear warning shot for what’s to come. The whole scene introduces Lord Void as a truly menacing force, and it lets you know that death is a distinct possibility in the story. That, thanks to the art style of the book, is an important thing to set straight early on.
So, what do I mean by that? Well, the art is very cartoony. To me, it’s how I would imagine a collaboration between Disney and Tex Avery, and I truly mean that as a compliment. The feel of the art for everything that sits between the opening scene and the end of chapter two is that of a decent quality children’s book, and that is, I would guess, a stylistic decision made to create a certain amount shock when the darkness creeps in. Hell, if the first few pages are the warning shot, the end of chapter two is the first assault. I won’t give away what happens, but I will say this: it caught me off guard, and part of the effect it had is due to the art being of a high enough quality that the combination of style and content brings a superbly jarring effect into play.
Character wise, we have a few leads introduced here: an orphan named Mace (as well as his cutesy fuzzy companion Whip), the Viscount’s daughter Lilith, and her half-sister Namah. All three are given plenty of time to show their personalities to us in the three chapters, and their individual arcs are set up and nudged along well enough that you’re left with both a comfortable familiarity for each and a desire to see where they’ll end up. There are other characters too, of course, but outside Grunn (the orphanage owner) and Tinsel (the narcissistic fiancée of Lilith and Namah’s father), we only get a bare snapshot at this point. That’s no bad thing though; while the book is a good size, packing it out with too much would have interrupted the flow far too much.
The Bad: There isn’t too much that I can say here, and what I am about to say will not hold true for all readers. First of all, while I loved the conflicting feel of the art style and dark content, this won’t suit everyone. It was a bold move on David Lillie’s part, and I’m happy that he did it, but if I’m being objective, then it would be fair to say that someone flicking through the middle of the book may get a bit of a shock when they read the rest of the story. That’s also not helped by the category that the book won the award for: while not without humour, and certainly cartoony, that label will likely be read by some as meaning that the story will be closer to what you’d expect from the art style.
Secondly, the price is an issue for me. The book is absolutely beautiful, and you certainly get what you pay for, but if you’re buying from outside the USA (like I am), the postage is going to be hefty. Yes, the electronic version is dirt cheap, but I personally prefer something solid in my hand when it comes to comics. I don’t want to seem too negative about this though, I am certainly aware that international postage costs are not under David Lillie’s control, it’s just something that bugs me a bit, and may be a sticking point for others.
Final View: Much like most first books, Dreamkeepers Volume 1: Awakenings is surpassed in quality by the books that followed, but don’t let that put you off. If you’re a fan of stories that mix humour and darker themes, you have no objection to anthro art, or you simply want something more than a little surprising, it’s a worthwhile purchase. Be warned though; it’s an easy story to get hooked on.
Final Score: 4 / 5