REVIEW: "Low, Volume 1: The Delirium of Hope" by Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thanks Netgalley!

Type: Graphic Novel, Series, Comic Books, Futuristic, Good Concept?

About the book: Millennia ago, mankind fled the earth's surface into the bottomless depths of the darkest oceans. Shielded from a merciless sun's scorching radiation, the human race tried to stave off certain extinction by sending robotic probes far into the galaxy to search for a new home among the stars. Generations later, one family is about to be torn apart in a conflict that will usher in the final race to save humanity from a world beyond hope. Dive into an aquatic fantasy like none you've ever seen before, as writer Rick Remender (Fear Agent, Uncanny Avengers) and artist Greg Tocchini (Last Days of American Crime) bring you a tale mankind's final hour in the cold, deathly dark of the sea. [Description provided by Goodreads.com]

My Review: While most first volumes of a series just leave me wanting more, this first volume made me feel like this was just way too short. Not necessarily because I was desperate for more, but it just felt incomplete. I think "LOW" is a case of an amazing concept that just fell flat for me. 

There were parts I enjoyed. For example, the art was stylistic without being too far out there. It had a.. flourish, if you will. Something that made it stand out, but it wasn't so removed from the norm that we could tell these people are human like us. I liked the main characters unwavering optimism in a world where hope for the future doesn't exist anymore. And really, I liked the whole idea of this. I just didn't really like how it worked out. It got better towards the end, but just not enough to redeem it in my eyes. 

This might be a case of "not working right now." Maybe I wasn't in the mood for something so dark as the loss of an entire family. And for such a super futuristic world - I needed more world building before getting into the story. Maybe some extra exposition in the beginning? 

Cover Lovin': The cover is what drew me to this book - not only the color, but also the way the image flows like water.

Recommendation: For fans of darker, futuristic sci-fi.

Final Rating: TWO out of FIVE stars (2/5). It picked up towards the end, but over all - a let down for me. 

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~   

REVIEW: "Luminae" by Bengal

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy of this graphic novel in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Series, Book One, Magic, Demons, Dragons, Light vs. Dark, Fantasy, Thong Armor is Totally Impractical

About the Book: Six young warriors are tasked with protecting the mysterious Luminae, a holy creature of Light in exile from those forces of Darkness that would decimate humanity. When one of the warriors disappears, the others know it is the sign of a superior evil soon to arrive. A stylish dark fantasy by the celebrated artist of Naja and Meka. [Summary from Goodreads.com]

My Review: Nope. Just nope. I wish I could saw I enjoyed this, because it sounded really cool. But readers are thrown right into the middle of a story, with no explanation as to what is going on or why some of these people are important. While the several small story-lines are clearly all part of some over arching dangerous plot, there is no transition from one story-line to the next. So you go from girls searching for their sister to a king talking to his adviser, then suddenly to a kid in a village, with no apparent rhyme or reason.

This had a lot of potential, really. I think the story itself could have used more editing, especially when it came to transitions. Also, I was not a fan of the art. I liked the colors, though several of the characters ended up looking very similar due to their coloring. But what really made me roll my eyes, groan, and grumble were the outfits. Seriously? Why would this warrior girls be wearing thongs and a shirt? Not logical, in the slightest. And even when one character activated her special power, which created some seriously awesome looking armor - her thong was still clearly visible, which means her hips and thighs were very vulnerable. To the writer and artist - trust me, you can make women look sexy in armor without skimpy underwear.

Cover Lovin': This is a very eye catching cover. The art and color lines were what originally attracted me to this graphic novel.

Recommendation: For readers of graphic novels, and people who enjoy weird things with little explanation? In general: Not really recommended.

Final Rating: TWO out of FIVE stars. I saw some potential there, but this fell so flat. You can't have a huge fantasy world like this and then give it so little description, build up, or.. I don't know, explanation. 

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~