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etienne02's review
2.0
Another one of those that started good and original but soon felt into the same old fantasy things and totally loss what was making it interesting in the beginning...
reneetheunissen's review
3.0
I really liked this graphic novel, but it was so confusing.
Especially in the first part, we kept jumping back and forth in time without any explanation. I still have no idea what happened there and why it had to be so disorganized. Part of the story was very interesting. Kriss has immense powers and he seems to be haunted. However, this story isn't explored until later in the graphic novel.
In the meanwhile, we follow Anja and Kriss their friendship, which is... ok. There are some feelings left unanswered, she dates someone else, typical boring story. I do think that this story could develop further and become more interesting, however, not in this part, unfortunately.
Overall, this graphic novel has so much potential and it is enjoyable, but there are some questionable parts in it that could have been a lot better.
Especially in the first part, we kept jumping back and forth in time without any explanation. I still have no idea what happened there and why it had to be so disorganized. Part of the story was very interesting. Kriss has immense powers and he seems to be haunted. However, this story isn't explored until later in the graphic novel.
In the meanwhile, we follow Anja and Kriss their friendship, which is... ok. There are some feelings left unanswered, she dates someone else, typical boring story. I do think that this story could develop further and become more interesting, however, not in this part, unfortunately.
Overall, this graphic novel has so much potential and it is enjoyable, but there are some questionable parts in it that could have been a lot better.
destdest's review
3.0
I do not have a lot of feelings about this story. If this is a standalone, it is lacking something, but, if it’s only volume one, then I would like to see Kriss discover his origins. One thing I enjoyed about this story was the implications. Everything didn’t have to be spelled out. Like, Anja being pregnant? All of the characters speak with an old-timey accent which was fine. I think the cartoony art style is cute, but when it came to dramatic moments where we were supposed to see brutal wrath displayed, we are left feeling like a frozen slice of pizza. Like, we should be able to enjoy it, but we cannot in this format. I think some speed lines or giant exclamatory marks might have made the punches and whatnot feel more dynamic. On the other hand, the sabertooth spirit looked perfectly creepy.
Despite the rumors and predictions, it’s nice that Kriss and Anja were simply just friends (tho I wouldn’t have minded the cliché route. boy and his childhood friend? Come on, that’s just too cute). Kriss seems like a little sad-sack, emo-boy, but I did not dislike him. Anja was vaguely interesting, but we didn’t see enough of her. Vanya, the older brother, had Kriss in his head rent-free. I don’t know why he had such raging jealousy toward Kriss, but it was annoying to watch his shenanigans.
Overall, the pacing with the time skips just felt too fast. Still, I'm game for a volume two tho. I think the last few pages were fitting.
Despite the rumors and predictions, it’s nice that Kriss and Anja were simply just friends (
Overall, the pacing with the time skips just felt too fast. Still, I'm game for a volume two tho. I think the last few pages were fitting.
effy's review
4.0
I have definite mixed feelings about this book. The dialogue felt a little stilted to start, I think mostly because the world wasn't really established yet the main character was repeatedly being insulted for being "Northern". Later in the book, it felt like there was a bit of a disconnect as the book feels as though it is aimed towards a younger audience but the language and themes were definitely adult.
Overall, I think I really enjoyed the book and I am sad that it seems to finish just as it starts but I will be looking out for further books in the series.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Overall, I think I really enjoyed the book and I am sad that it seems to finish just as it starts but I will be looking out for further books in the series.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
cosygirlreads's review
3.0
7/10
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Avenging the murder of his best friend’s mother Kriss accidentally kills a demon from Darkovia. The spirit blesses him great powers and commands him to reclaim his father’s lost kingdoms. But Kriss would rather find acceptance in the village he was abandoned in…
This is a really exciting new YA graphic novel series - filled with gothic notes and violent scenes. The world building in it is very well done, giving you enough to be so that you can’t stop reading. The characters are compelling and complex. And the art is fantastic.
Age range - definitely not for younger readers, but a great title for YA readers.
Overall, when does the next one come out?
Coming out in OCTOBER 2019.
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Avenging the murder of his best friend’s mother Kriss accidentally kills a demon from Darkovia. The spirit blesses him great powers and commands him to reclaim his father’s lost kingdoms. But Kriss would rather find acceptance in the village he was abandoned in…
This is a really exciting new YA graphic novel series - filled with gothic notes and violent scenes. The world building in it is very well done, giving you enough to be so that you can’t stop reading. The characters are compelling and complex. And the art is fantastic.
Age range - definitely not for younger readers, but a great title for YA readers.
Overall, when does the next one come out?
Coming out in OCTOBER 2019.
rosseroo's review
3.0
A lot of classic tropes and elements come together in this teen-oriented graphic novel that appears to be the first in a series. In a medievalish world, Kriss lives in a small village (check!), where he is different from everyone else (check!), and has strange dreams (check!) that suggest he might be the offspring of a king (check!). Meanwhile, a possibly supernatural beast (check!) terrorizes the woods, and kills the mother of the kind-hearted blacksmith's daughter who is his only friend.
This sets Kriss on a path of vengeance, which is more or less theme of the story -- will he give in to the dark side (check!) in order to become more powerful?There's a kind mentor, a nasty villain, a travelling circus, and a clueless princeling (check! check! mmmm. and check!) -- all of whom present opportunities tempting Kriss to call upon his dark side. It's much more atmospheric and dark than I make it sound -- the art is quite good -- but there are some tonal shifts between some goofy gags and Kriss' struggle that don't quite work.
All in all, decent stuff with an unexpected twist or two, but very much an origin story. The final panel definitely sets the table for further tales of Kriss' destiny to come. Not sure if I care enough to keep an eye out for the next in the series.
This sets Kriss on a path of vengeance, which is more or less theme of the story -- will he give in to the dark side (check!) in order to become more powerful?There's a kind mentor, a nasty villain, a travelling circus, and a clueless princeling (check! check! mmmm. and check!) -- all of whom present opportunities tempting Kriss to call upon his dark side. It's much more atmospheric and dark than I make it sound -- the art is quite good -- but there are some tonal shifts between some goofy gags and Kriss' struggle that don't quite work.
All in all, decent stuff with an unexpected twist or two, but very much an origin story. The final panel definitely sets the table for further tales of Kriss' destiny to come. Not sure if I care enough to keep an eye out for the next in the series.
enchantedtoreadyou's review
3.0
3 stars for this dark graphic novel.
I was very confused at the beginning, but as the book went on I got more into the story. It's a story of Kriss finding his destiny, then accepting it and leaving everything he thinks he loves behind. I started really enjoying the graphic novel about halfway though, and will probably read the sequel!
I was very confused at the beginning, but as the book went on I got more into the story. It's a story of Kriss finding his destiny, then accepting it and leaving everything he thinks he loves behind. I started really enjoying the graphic novel about halfway though, and will probably read the sequel!
kaycee_k's review
3.0
In this graphic novel, we meet and follow Kriss who has always been on the outsider. I have mixed feeling about this book there are a few things I liked about it, like the art style. But the story didn't stand out that much for me. I read a lot and this book was nice and fast but it didn't blow me away. Kriss is skinny and pale and no one is nice to him but the blacksmith's daughter, Anja (Who I liked as a character because he didn't care if people thought the was odd she wanted to be friends with him.) There is more going on with Kriss that I'm not going to go in to because of spoilers. But I was a fast read with one of a kind art style.
chasmofbooks's review
2.0
Disclosure: I received this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given, offered, or taken to impact this review.
I really liked the premise for this graphic novel; I think it had a lot going for it. However, I felt like the story was a bit rushed and Kriss's story could have been a lot more flushed out than it was. The art was fine, but I wish there had been more reaction panels instead of there being dialogue in nearly every picture. I really enjoy those reaction panels in graphic novels and I think adding those into the mix brings some depth into the story.
The characters were all pretty one dimensional and with such an interesting premise I think there was a lot of room to have interesting characters. Some of it was a bit confusing in the beginning and I couldn't always tell who was speaking.
All in all, this has a great premise but the execution was lacking and the art was fine but not great.
I really liked the premise for this graphic novel; I think it had a lot going for it. However, I felt like the story was a bit rushed and Kriss's story could have been a lot more flushed out than it was. The art was fine, but I wish there had been more reaction panels instead of there being dialogue in nearly every picture. I really enjoy those reaction panels in graphic novels and I think adding those into the mix brings some depth into the story.
The characters were all pretty one dimensional and with such an interesting premise I think there was a lot of room to have interesting characters. Some of it was a bit confusing in the beginning and I couldn't always tell who was speaking.
All in all, this has a great premise but the execution was lacking and the art was fine but not great.
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