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panic_at_the_bookshelf's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
CW: gore, cannibalism and dolls
This graphic novel is so different than the usual horror I read. At first I thought the dolls would be the typical cliche scares a horror would throw at you, but it soon turned out that the scariest thing in the story didn't look as scary. And I loved that twist! I think this might be the first time where I felt myself to be on the side of dolls, things that usually scare me enough to hide underneath my blanket. Most of the time you read a horror story through the eyes of the victims, now you also got to see a few scenes through the eyes of the "bad guy". Therefore I think the story was original and creepy. The art style was very pretty to look at, while it also gave the right amount of goose bumps. The ending did go a bit fast. Suddenly a lot was happening, so I had to reread a few things.
I am very curious about the story behind this orphanage and the Nurk family!
I would highly recommend any horror lover to read this graphic novel during spooky season!
Special thanks to Netgalley, Diego Agrimbau, Juan Manuel Tumburús and europecomics for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This graphic novel is so different than the usual horror I read. At first I thought the dolls would be the typical cliche scares a horror would throw at you, but it soon turned out that the scariest thing in the story didn't look as scary. And I loved that twist! I think this might be the first time where I felt myself to be on the side of dolls, things that usually scare me enough to hide underneath my blanket. Most of the time you read a horror story through the eyes of the victims, now you also got to see a few scenes through the eyes of the "bad guy". Therefore I think the story was original and creepy. The art style was very pretty to look at, while it also gave the right amount of goose bumps. The ending did go a bit fast. Suddenly a lot was happening, so I had to reread a few things.
I am very curious about the story behind this orphanage and the Nurk family!
I would highly recommend any horror lover to read this graphic novel during spooky season!
Special thanks to Netgalley, Diego Agrimbau, Juan Manuel Tumburús and europecomics for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Cannibalism, Child death, Murder, Violence, and War
mel_books's review
dark
4.0
Short and creepy graphic novel. Set in 1917, in the middle of the first world war, somewhere in Europe, in a Nurk Orphanage. Only three children survived the typhus outbreak. And now they have to survive the extreme conditions.
The illustrations are excellent, nicely colored, but also very creepy. Expect some gore.
Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
The illustrations are excellent, nicely colored, but also very creepy. Expect some gore.
Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
lubleu's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Nurk Orphanage sits along the Polish and Russian border in 1917. The building is falling down, and slowly decomposing bodies populate the rooms. It has taken extreme measures, but three of the children have survived. Except one cannot face their harsh reality any longer. That is until he finds some new friends- the beautiful, eyeless dolls seated on the shelves.
Simply put, this is a beautiful story. It uses the graphic format well, conveying the despair of Otto and Ofelia in a poignant manner that left me wishing this was a full-length novel. The soft art style lends a dream-like air to events, reinforcing the fantastical elements in the otherwise realistic historical setting.
Simply put, this is a beautiful story. It uses the graphic format well, conveying the despair of Otto and Ofelia in a poignant manner that left me wishing this was a full-length novel. The soft art style lends a dream-like air to events, reinforcing the fantastical elements in the otherwise realistic historical setting.
svftsapphic's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
“You’ll never be alone, Otto.”
I recieved a copy on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, this story conflicted me a lot, I can’t tell if I enjoyed it or not. There is was certainly aspects I enjoyed like the art-style which was really realistic and gave the whole story such a unique flare. I also really enjoyed the concept of this I just feel as though it could’ve been executed a lot better.
This was a surprising dark story. Which I sort of expected because its set during war time but it got a lot creepier than I originally expected. That isn’t exactly a bad thing though. I feel like anyone who enjoyed books like Goosebumps or Coraline would adore this book too. The spooky/supernatural vibes are very similar to those.
The general plot was interesting but it just felt as though something was lacking. Whether it be how rushed it came across or something to do with the dialogue (that can be put down to the fact it was translated), it just felt incomplete somehow. I also wasnt really attached to these characters, we didn’t know enough about them for me to route for them so there was no opportunity for me to connect with this story.
This wasn’t a bad book by any metric, it just wasn’t for me. I can completely see why other people in the reviews seem to love it though.
I recieved a copy on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, this story conflicted me a lot, I can’t tell if I enjoyed it or not. There is was certainly aspects I enjoyed like the art-style which was really realistic and gave the whole story such a unique flare. I also really enjoyed the concept of this I just feel as though it could’ve been executed a lot better.
This was a surprising dark story. Which I sort of expected because its set during war time but it got a lot creepier than I originally expected. That isn’t exactly a bad thing though. I feel like anyone who enjoyed books like Goosebumps or Coraline would adore this book too. The spooky/supernatural vibes are very similar to those.
The general plot was interesting but it just felt as though something was lacking. Whether it be how rushed it came across or something to do with the dialogue (that can be put down to the fact it was translated), it just felt incomplete somehow. I also wasnt really attached to these characters, we didn’t know enough about them for me to route for them so there was no opportunity for me to connect with this story.
This wasn’t a bad book by any metric, it just wasn’t for me. I can completely see why other people in the reviews seem to love it though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Cannibalism
necronomiconreads's review
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Free copy received from Netgalley (thank you!) - review freely given.
Set in world war I, we follow a set of orphans left abandoned to their own devices. Struggling to find food, one savvy orphan has an idea to keep them going - and as the saying goes, life finds a way. Haunting and sad, the story itself never strayed far from these overtones, and added in a dash of horror and supernatural which was blended and was not a juxtaposition at all to the story.
The art style is hauntingly beautiful too. The colour pallette changes with the environments was really well done. I would recommend this to anyone who is a horror, sci fi, historical with a dash of horror or supernatural story fan - or anyone who loves a beautifully done graphic novel that doesn't mind the horror elements.
CW (I consider these spoilers to the story to read at your own risk) - body horror, gore, cannibalism, eyeball horror (if you're squeamish), murder,
Set in world war I, we follow a set of orphans left abandoned to their own devices. Struggling to find food, one savvy orphan has an idea to keep them going - and as the saying goes, life finds a way. Haunting and sad, the story itself never strayed far from these overtones, and added in a dash of horror and supernatural which was blended and was not a juxtaposition at all to the story.
The art style is hauntingly beautiful too. The colour pallette changes with the environments was really well done. I would recommend this to anyone who is a horror, sci fi, historical with a dash of horror or supernatural story fan - or anyone who loves a beautifully done graphic novel that doesn't mind the horror elements.
CW (I consider these spoilers to the story to read at your own risk) - body horror, gore, cannibalism, eyeball horror (if you're squeamish), murder,
avi5on's review
dark
3.5
3.5 Stars ~
What a weirdly morbid graphic novel. I can't say graphic novels are generally my thing, but this piqued my interest.
Sibling orphans Ophelia and Otto will do anything to survive the war, even if that means doing the unthinkable.
The translation from Spanish to English made it a little harder to follow, but it was a quick and enjoyable read.
Thank you, NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC for an honest review.
What a weirdly morbid graphic novel. I can't say graphic novels are generally my thing, but this piqued my interest.
Sibling orphans Ophelia and Otto will do anything to survive the war, even if that means doing the unthinkable.
The translation from Spanish to English made it a little harder to follow, but it was a quick and enjoyable read.
Thank you, NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC for an honest review.
apagecastingwitch's review
5.0
This was amazing! The artwork is absolutely breathtaking and the story…I don’t wanna say it’s cute because people will think I’m crazy, but I really really enjoyed it!
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
coleyreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this really creepy, unsettling, and dark story. The illustrations were an amazing addition to the tale and brought the whole thing to life. I would read more from this author! Thank you to the author, Europe Comics and NetGalley for the copy!
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