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whatthefridge's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I really wish I could rate this higher, but as much as I appreciate (and do not regret paying for) having a graphic novel anthology by indigenous people with indigenous-centered "werewolf" stories... the quality is lukewarm at best.
The majority of the works are barely stories. They're more like the beginning of a premise or stream of consciousness. Of the ones that do try to have a beginning, middle, and end of sorts, the flow is just not flowing for me, like a boat constantly hitting stones at the bottom of a river.
The few I ended up enjoying the most came near the end of the anthology:
The majority of the works are barely stories. They're more like the beginning of a premise or stream of consciousness. Of the ones that do try to have a beginning, middle, and end of sorts, the flow is just not flowing for me, like a boat constantly hitting stones at the bottom of a river.
The few I ended up enjoying the most came near the end of the anthology:
- Gone Away to Die by Alina Pete
- Anaria "Starfall" by Leah Briere
- Kin by Tonia Laird
I admit they also fit more neatly into what you'd expect from a graphic novel in their art style and tone. But I also just really vibe with the short little stories they're trying to tell and would love to get more.
I'd say the best way to enjoy this anthology is to not think too hard or expect too much. Since most of it is in the style of stream of consciousness, that's also the mode with which you should approach it.
I'd say the best way to enjoy this anthology is to not think too hard or expect too much. Since most of it is in the style of stream of consciousness, that's also the mode with which you should approach it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Gore, Hate crime, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Colonisation, Genocide, and Grief
caedocyon's review
1.0
I hate to rate labors of love badly, but this was not well edited and very cheaply produced. Even the barcode on the back is wrong. There were maybe 1-2 good stories; many of the others were confusingly written and/or drawn and probably could have used some outside input and revisions.
I'm not rating on the art alone, to be clear---I've backed a number of kickstarter anthologies, and I can often find something to like about a story even when the art is not to my taste. This book made me realize that comics has a capacity for incoherence that surpasses any other kind of storytelling. At least you generally know what order to read books in. If dreaminess is the intent, as I think it could have been for at least one story (the one about kids playing basketball), the script still could have been edited so it wasn't in doubt.
Many of these stories could have been improved significantly by very a basic level of feedback to the artists, and I'm sad for them that they didn't get the chance to present themselves in their best light.
I'm not rating on the art alone, to be clear---I've backed a number of kickstarter anthologies, and I can often find something to like about a story even when the art is not to my taste. This book made me realize that comics has a capacity for incoherence that surpasses any other kind of storytelling. At least you generally know what order to read books in. If dreaminess is the intent, as I think it could have been for at least one story (the one about kids playing basketball), the script still could have been edited so it wasn't in doubt.
Many of these stories could have been improved significantly by very a basic level of feedback to the artists, and I'm sad for them that they didn't get the chance to present themselves in their best light.
ravenlily's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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