3 stars
A story of shapeshifters, villains, and heroes. It’s up to the reader to decide who is who. I initially read this a few years ago and thought it was okay. With the release of the film, I was interested in revisiting it. I did like it better the second time. The film is also great, by the way, though it is pretty much a completely different story.
Full of nuance and subtlety, this book questions what it is to be good and evil. The book is more the story of Ballister Blackheart, rather than Nimona. This threw me the first time, based on the title. We see more of Blackheart’s backstory, his tense relationship with Ambrosius Goldenloin, and his internal conflicts. Nimona plays a huge role in creating complete chaos, which knocks Blackheart out of his routine.
Nimona is definitely a very funny character. She’s so random and hilarious. However, I couldn’t help being a little apathetic toward her. We never really get a clear understanding of her backstory or who she is so it was hard for me to connect with her.
As this started as a webcomic, you can definitely see the way the art matured as it went. I wasn’t very taken in with the starting drawings, but as shadows and layers were added, the art became more engaging for me.
I did really enjoy the science-fiction/fantasy mashup. On one page a knight is watching the news on a screen and on another medieval guards use some weird taser-spear. It was cool the way magic works with science in the book.
Overall, the story was interesting. Chaotic and thought-provoking. I did find it difficult to connect to the characters, but overall I enjoyed the book.