2 stars
I found this at the library and was immediately drawn in by the creepy and quirky art style.
Now that I’ve finished it, it’s a bit hard for me to rate. I’m sort of between 2 and 3 stars, but I think I have to go with 2 because, on the whole, the story was just lackluster.
On a positive note, the artwork is amazing. What originally pulled me in did not disappoint. Throughout the book, the art is so weird and fantastical. I loved all of the crazy creatures and monsters, especially Phintesmo Blyme. That smile is going to stick with me for a while.
However, the writing just did not live up to the promise of the artwork. Some of the wording is weird and confusing. The story arc is rather predictable. Yes, the monsters and such were a nice surprise, but the basic layout was the same as any other quest story. Also, I had to double check that is was meant for children. The use of strange and over-complicated words was an odd choice for a graphic novel in the children’s market.
On that note, some sections were rather disturbing, especially for children. The ice cream story, though as an adult I could kind of see where it was going from the start, was very gross and horrifying and I don’t think it had a place in a children’s book. While the monsters and things were creepy, they provided entertainment and continued the plot, whereas the animal cruelty sections were just too much.
The overall combination of art and words was kind of weird too. Despite finding this in the graphic novel section, it was more like a really long picture book. The words just accompany the art, rather than being incorporated into it. It doesn’t necessarily feel like a comic.
Overall, I think the book would have benefited from being shorter. The whole thing felt like a rather bloated campfire story that just kept going and going. Okay read with amazing artwork, but the overall effect just wasn’t there for me.