Reviews

The Heart Hunter by Mickey George

itslorei's review

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2.0

Thank you NetGally for letting me review this book.

What should I say?

Honestly, I was expecting a lot. I was really intrigued and thought that the concept is interesting.

However, I was left unsatisfied and underwhelmed, VERY, to be exact. Don't get me wrong, the art style is definitely good, I did like it but as for the execution of the story, no.

goodsewp's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

the_vegan_bookworm's review

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0


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witbeyndmehsure's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25


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jessicarose's review

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4.0

The island of Envacor is cursed. Everyone is doomed to wear their heart outside their bodies, and are immortal—unable to die, to change, to have children— until they find their soulmate. Paired soulmates are then turned mortal, freed from the curse, and are able to leave Envacor.
Psyche, our protagonist, is a Heart Hunter. People used to hire Heart Hunters to find their soulmates for the old-fashioned reason, a happily ever after. But times have changed, and people are finding that they might like immortality after all. Heart Hunters are now assassins for people who wish to keep their immortality, people like the King, who has just hired Psyche to find and kill his soulmate. But when Psyche finds Isaac, things don’t go quite to plan...


'The hallmark of a Heart Hunter is a broken heart.'


I loved this graphic novel! It has such an intricate, established world and characters. It explores grief, friendship, and different kinds of love. I adored the casual LGBTQ+ rep, and how many messages it had to tell. You could take away something new from this story every time you pick it up.

This is a fairly short novel, but so much was packed within its pages! I feel like I could talk about this world and it's mechanics for hours. The exploration of soulmates in particular, and how unique each case could be was so interesting.


"...isn't that what a soulmate is for? They're supposed to be the catalyst that changes you into what you're supposed to become."


Each of the main characters were so well developed, with really distinct personalities. Some were more likable than others (Isaac was my favourite- definitely one of the best characters I’ve read this year), but through the slow reveals and exploration of their backstories- which was absolutely heartbreaking, I found I had a soft spot for everyone by the end of the novel.

The art style perfectly matched the vibe of the book, it was bold and vibrant, and emotion was conveyed deftly through the panels.


Actual rating: 4.5 stars


Thank you to Netgalley and Legendary Comics for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

dinnureads's review

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4.0

I received an e-book copy of The Heart Hunter through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story was intriguing. The use of heart-related sayings intertwined together to tell a dark tale was ingenious (bleeding heart, broken heart, heart to heart, pouring one’s heart out, wearing one’s heart on a sleeve, heart of steel, heart of gold etc). The legend behind the curse was a bit hard to comprehend but the curse itself was well crafted and the story was captivating from the start.

perditism's review

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4.0

A big thank you to Netgalley and Legendary Comics for the ARC!

TW: gore, death, suicide

"Love is only mortal. It's human. In becoming deathless, we have outgrown our own humanity."

The Heart Hunter is a visually compelling graphic novel following Psyche, a heart-hunter who specializes in killing soulmates in a world where immortality can be achieved through that means. When the king sends her to murder his soulmate, Psyche finds herself an unexpected friend and ally in her supposed victim. Together, they set on a journey to defy the curse, with Psyche learning how to mend her broken heart along the way.

I thought the overall premise was an intriguing concept. The idea of soulmates is popular in fiction but it is the way that The Heart Hunter expands upon it that sets it apart from the trope. George explores the wider ramifications of having the soulmates system in place, providing depth to worldbuilding that only makes the story more fascinating to read. I also thought the manifestation of intangible concepts such as 'indifference' or 'twist of fate' into perceivable elements in the story was a very clever decision.

Both the art and the narrative was absolutely stellar. The art style is expressive and bold, narrated through a diverse cast with strikingly distinct personalities. The art translates each characters' idiosyncrasies endearingly. Gagnon and George do not let the amusing interactions and relationships between different characters distract from the gravity of the message the story conveys. The graphic novel handles dark and gritty topics, like the loss of a loved one or suicide, with graceful tenderness. It is, in the end, a hopeful story even with the multitude of suffering, approached with great compassion and love.

The only real problem I had with this graphic novel is that sometimes the lore and the worldbuilding got too overwhelming. I understand the writers' intention of trying to create a rich plot within the confines of a limited amount of panels, but at times, I found myself lacking behind from the sheer amount of information.

Overall, this was still an excellent read. I strongly urge anyone who enjoys a good subversion of the soulmate AU to give this graphic novel a chance.

thebookishunicorn's review

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4.0

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Legendary Comics for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really loved this standalone graphic novel. The story and world mythology were really original and the characters felt fleshed out for a story that had a lot of world building to do. The overarching theme of grief and dealing with a broken heart was woven into the story really well. The art was phenomenal and I absolutely loved the character designs and color palette.

What I really appreciated the most about this story that is focused so much on soulmates and love, is that it isn't all about straight/ heteronormative romantic love. The author has characters who are queer and also characters who experience familial and friendship love, and it all being shown as a valid form of how you feel about someone.

dame_samara's review

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5.0

I honestly loved this book full-heartedly.
It's gay, and it slaps!
It's got gay characters; it's got nonbinary characters. It's got some gorgeous art.

This, at its core, is a story of self-discovery and healing.

My only sadness is that we didn't end up with a wholesome Polycule at the end.

knifekun's review

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5