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caitmarie24's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not quite sure how to rate this. On the one hand, the story kept me really interested, to the point where I was excited to pick it back up after I set it down, which is always nice. The artwork was wonderful, even if it did take me most of the book to figure out what was going on with the picture portion of the story.
The thing I had a problem with was there was virtually no world building. There was just hardly any depth to this story. I would have liked for things to be more fleshed out and find out why certain characters were doing things, that kind of thing.
But still, I enjoyed it quite a bit, I just think it could have been so much more than it was.
The thing I had a problem with was there was virtually no world building. There was just hardly any depth to this story. I would have liked for things to be more fleshed out and find out why certain characters were doing things, that kind of thing.
But still, I enjoyed it quite a bit, I just think it could have been so much more than it was.
kimberly88's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
This was really different, but enjoyable. It's half graphic novel and half regular novel. The two media seem to be telling two different stories until they connect near the end. I thought the joining of the two stories was done really well and the story happens to involve magic, mystery, and romance. What's not to like?
I recommend this to anyone looking for some unique storytelling.
This was really different, but enjoyable. It's half graphic novel and half regular novel. The two media seem to be telling two different stories until they connect near the end. I thought the joining of the two stories was done really well and the story happens to involve magic, mystery, and romance. What's not to like?
I recommend this to anyone looking for some unique storytelling.
jessethereader's review against another edition
2.0
The art in this book is absolutely stunning and I would give this book a 5 stars for the art alone, but I was disappointed in the written story. I found it easy to get lost while reading the story. I also had no connection with any of the characters. I didn't feel drawn to any of them, they each were kind of bland. It was an interesting story concept, but I don't think it was executed very well. I think it would have worked better if it was just a graphic novel.
heyjudy's review against another edition
4.0
~4-4.5/5
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
I am seriously impressed with this book. I was really intrigued by the story through art (with no words) and through words only, but I was also a little wary. I wasn’t sure if I would like the art, and I was afraid in general that I wouldn’t like the story. But I’m actually impressed with how good it was, and how much I enjoyed it.
First of all, this book is beautiful. It’s really heavy, because the entire book is in color, even the written parts. The written parts are pretty, but the artwork is also really, really pretty. I even went back a few times, or just paused on a picture, to admire it. And White, who I am a very big fan of and have read all of her previous books, writes in a style to match the feel of the artwork. It’s pretty, takes on a creepier feel. It’s really well done.
The story was also fantastic. I wasn’t sure where it was going, and the mystery goes on for a long time. There was probably about a third, maybe a quarter, of the book left when I really figured out what was going on. And I loved that. The way that the two stories intersect is really left a mystery for the longest time, and there were so many possibilities. While reading, I went back to previous picture sections so many times, trying to match up who it was, what was happening. It was fun to read, even. The climax took me by surprise, too, particularly in how it played out, and I really liked it.
I did not grow overly attached to the characters, and who ends up as a couple was kind of a guessing game for the longest time. But I did like all of the characters, and I really wanted them all to have a happy ending.
I loved the ending, how it all worked out. I wasn’t too sure how it was all going to work out, but I loved it. It’s impressive and exciting and surprising and beautiful. It was a pretty fast read, too, and I didn't want to put it down. I seriously just like looking at the book, and now want to recommend it to everyone.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
I am seriously impressed with this book. I was really intrigued by the story through art (with no words) and through words only, but I was also a little wary. I wasn’t sure if I would like the art, and I was afraid in general that I wouldn’t like the story. But I’m actually impressed with how good it was, and how much I enjoyed it.
First of all, this book is beautiful. It’s really heavy, because the entire book is in color, even the written parts. The written parts are pretty, but the artwork is also really, really pretty. I even went back a few times, or just paused on a picture, to admire it. And White, who I am a very big fan of and have read all of her previous books, writes in a style to match the feel of the artwork. It’s pretty, takes on a creepier feel. It’s really well done.
The story was also fantastic. I wasn’t sure where it was going, and the mystery goes on for a long time. There was probably about a third, maybe a quarter, of the book left when I really figured out what was going on. And I loved that. The way that the two stories intersect is really left a mystery for the longest time, and there were so many possibilities. While reading, I went back to previous picture sections so many times, trying to match up who it was, what was happening. It was fun to read, even. The climax took me by surprise, too, particularly in how it played out, and I really liked it.
I did not grow overly attached to the characters, and who ends up as a couple was kind of a guessing game for the longest time. But I did like all of the characters, and I really wanted them all to have a happy ending.
I loved the ending, how it all worked out. I wasn’t too sure how it was all going to work out, but I loved it. It’s impressive and exciting and surprising and beautiful. It was a pretty fast read, too, and I didn't want to put it down. I seriously just like looking at the book, and now want to recommend it to everyone.
sqeeker's review against another edition
4.0
- I bought this on a whim, and I'm glad I did. I was at a Kiersten White event for a different book, but when I flipped through this and saw the pictures, I knew I had to buy it!
- The illustrations are stunningly beautiful but also very eerie. It is awesome but disturbing at times.
- The pictures and the text work together so well to create a very atmospheric and haunting tale.
- I really enjoyed the story that the illustrations told, and I kept trying to figure out how it tied in with the written story. All things were revealed at the end, and I felt like I had to go back and read this again. I didn't, but I definitely want to reread this again.
- The written story was intriguing and mysterious. I liked the characters, but I think there were too many of them. It didn't bug me, but I just thought they all weren't needed.
- This whole book is an amazing and unique work of art! I wish there were more books out there like this!
- The illustrations are stunningly beautiful but also very eerie. It is awesome but disturbing at times.
- The pictures and the text work together so well to create a very atmospheric and haunting tale.
- I really enjoyed the story that the illustrations told, and I kept trying to figure out how it tied in with the written story. All things were revealed at the end, and I felt like I had to go back and read this again. I didn't, but I definitely want to reread this again.
- The written story was intriguing and mysterious. I liked the characters, but I think there were too many of them. It didn't bug me, but I just thought they all weren't needed.
- This whole book is an amazing and unique work of art! I wish there were more books out there like this!
channywax's review against another edition
I wasn't sure what to think about this book, but weird kind of came to mind when I first started reading it. But then I couldn't put it down. It had two stories, one told in art and one in prose. The art was amazing and the stories intertwined at the end with a great conclusion. Fascinating story about love, power, revenge and some crazy weird magic.
asimilarkite's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmm...interesting and innovative. I'm going to have to break this review out into "Things I Liked" and "Things I Didn't Like", 'cause it has a lot going for it on both sides.
Things I Liked:
--The two different story lines in two different mediums (words vs. art). Part of the suspense of the story involves trying to figure out how the two stories are intertwined, and once you figure it out you want to go back and look at the whole thing again. Kinda Memento-ish.
--Supernatural/creepy/ominous tone
--The art is really unique and interesting -- colorful and dark and eerie and kinda Dave McKean-ish
Things I Didn't Like:
--The sequential art is...kinda awkward and confusing. It felt like a painter's first attempt at the graphic novel format. The time between panels is too big...if that makes sense. Like, too much time passes between each panel, and my brain had trouble filling in the gaps. I spent a lot of time look at one picture and then the next, and thinking, "Huh...wait...what happened inbetween?"
--Also, I had trouble (in the art) telling who was who. Everyone kind of looked the same, and I found myself having to look really closely at people's faces to see if a certain scar was present to make sure I was looking at the character I thought I was.
--The romance is really dumb. It just didn't need to be there...it would have been a fantastic adventure-ish, creepy suspense story and didn't need the random love stories thrown in.
Overall this was an intriguing effort, and a good experiment in mixed-media story telling. I think it could easily lose some readers with its somewhat confusing story line, but I can think of some readers who would really get into it and find the perplexingness of the plot intriguing instead of frustrating.
Things I Liked:
--The two different story lines in two different mediums (words vs. art). Part of the suspense of the story involves trying to figure out how the two stories are intertwined, and once you figure it out you want to go back and look at the whole thing again. Kinda Memento-ish.
--Supernatural/creepy/ominous tone
--The art is really unique and interesting -- colorful and dark and eerie and kinda Dave McKean-ish
Things I Didn't Like:
--The sequential art is...kinda awkward and confusing. It felt like a painter's first attempt at the graphic novel format. The time between panels is too big...if that makes sense. Like, too much time passes between each panel, and my brain had trouble filling in the gaps. I spent a lot of time look at one picture and then the next, and thinking, "Huh...wait...what happened inbetween?"
--Also, I had trouble (in the art) telling who was who. Everyone kind of looked the same, and I found myself having to look really closely at people's faces to see if a certain scar was present to make sure I was looking at the character I thought I was.
--The romance is really dumb. It just didn't need to be there...it would have been a fantastic adventure-ish, creepy suspense story and didn't need the random love stories thrown in.
Overall this was an intriguing effort, and a good experiment in mixed-media story telling. I think it could easily lose some readers with its somewhat confusing story line, but I can think of some readers who would really get into it and find the perplexingness of the plot intriguing instead of frustrating.
poorashleu's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted here
As of writing this, this book is a 2o14 stand out for me. Told via two different mediums, text and illustrations it is genius. Di Bartolo’s illustrations are lush and luxurious and I want more of them. Which is awesome, cause he is good at his job. Tie that in with White’s prose, which I always love, I adored this book. It is not what I would consider a typical “Ashley” book but at the same time, typical Ashley books haven’t been working for me. I DNF 5+ books this month.
What works about this book is the fact that the illustrations and the text are two separate stories. This is not an adult picture book, or even a comic book. You root for the characters in the illustrations, the main characters in the written story, there is evil, romance, there are things I cannot even discuss because HELLO SPOILERS. But it works. The art is also completely luscious which works for this in ARC form and I cannot wait to see it in print form, because the print ARC is that delicious.
The main problem with this book is the fact you cannot actually discuss it without spoiling anything about it. Which, I know #firstworldproblem, but go read this book! ASAP!
As of writing this, this book is a 2o14 stand out for me. Told via two different mediums, text and illustrations it is genius. Di Bartolo’s illustrations are lush and luxurious and I want more of them. Which is awesome, cause he is good at his job. Tie that in with White’s prose, which I always love, I adored this book. It is not what I would consider a typical “Ashley” book but at the same time, typical Ashley books haven’t been working for me. I DNF 5+ books this month.
What works about this book is the fact that the illustrations and the text are two separate stories. This is not an adult picture book, or even a comic book. You root for the characters in the illustrations, the main characters in the written story, there is evil, romance, there are things I cannot even discuss because HELLO SPOILERS. But it works. The art is also completely luscious which works for this in ARC form and I cannot wait to see it in print form, because the print ARC is that delicious.
The main problem with this book is the fact you cannot actually discuss it without spoiling anything about it. Which, I know #firstworldproblem, but go read this book! ASAP!