The Divine by Asaf Hanuka, Tomer Hanuka, Boaz Lavie

Title: The Divine

Author: Asaf Hanuka, Tomer Hanuka, Boaz Lavie

Series: No.

Format: Finished Copy provided by First Second Publishing

Page Count: 160

Publisher: First Second

Age Range: 17+ due to graphic scenes and subject matter.

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Magical Realism

Description on Goodreads:

Mark’s out of the military, these days, with his boring, safe civilian job doing explosives consulting. But you never really get away from war. So it feels inevitable when his old army buddy Jason comes calling, with a lucrative military contract for a mining job in an obscure South-East Asian country called Quanlom. They’ll have to operate under the radar–Quanlom is being torn apart by civil war, and the US military isn’t strictly supposed to be there.

With no career prospects and a baby on the way, Mark finds himself making the worst mistake of his life and signing on with Jason. What awaits him in Quanlom is going to change everything.
What awaits him in Quanlom is weirdness of the highest order: a civil war led by ten-year-old twins wielding something that looks a lot like magic, leading an army of warriors who look a lot like gods.
What awaits him in Quanlom is an actual goddamn dragon.

From world-renowned artists Asaf and Tomer Hanuka (twins, whose magic powers are strictly confined to pen and paper) and Boaz Lavie, The Divineis a fast-paced, brutal, and breathlessly beautiful portrait of a world where ancient powers vie with modern warfare and nobody escapes unscathed.

Review:

This was something outstanding. The visuals, the story, the stereotyping(not in a bad way, well, kinda)… All magnificent.

This story is based almost completely off the story of one picture of two boys.

I went into this book blind, didn’t even read the flap of the book. I can tell you, it was worth it. Normally I don’t read these types of books. Not really my thing. Sure, it’s fantasy, but it’s more of a realistic fantasy. After this book, that may have changed.

The story telling, the real feeling of the characters, I felt like I was really there. Almost like a full emersion to the point I was crying.

The story is really a heartbreaking one, and shows how far people will go for money, revenge and peace. I highly recommend this.

My Rating: 4.5/5

Would I/Who would I recommend it (too): Anyone who loves magical realism, war stories and a good read.

Goodreads Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22718664-the-divine

Advertisement

Why I have been missing/Cover reveal for The Winner’s Kiss!

So, a lot has happened, and this is pretty much a update post. From tornadoes, to stress, rainstorms, graphic novels and a friend thought to be missing or worse… the last week has been crazy.

You can check it all out more in depth right here.

Please be on the look out for book reviews, random posts and a lot more to come!

Over and out.

~Rei’sa

…oh wait. You wanted a cover? I think I have one rrriiiggghhhtt…

HERE!

ITS SO PRETTY GUYS!… althought I wish it would have stayed with the C theme. ;_; I mean it’s still a Kuh-sound, but mmrrrffh. I do like it though! 😀

Anyways, time to fly!

~ Rei’sa

The Wicked + The Divine Vol 1: The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Matt Wilson

Title: The Wicked + The Divine Vol 1: The Faust Act

Author: Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Matt Wilson

Series: Yes.

Format: Softcover bind-up Graphic Novel

Page Count: 144

Publisher: Image Comics

Age Range: 18+

Genre: Fantasy

Description on Goodreads:

Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. The team behind critical tongue-attractors like Young Avengers and PHONOGRAM reunite to create a world where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are the ultimate gods. But remember: just because you’re immortal, doesn’t mean you’re going to live forever

Review:

Ooooh man. This was just what I needed, when I needed it. The story starts out with a bang, and the explosion stays all the way to the end. I love the characters I have met so far, each one of them completely rich and fluid. Yes, this is basically just the introduction to the story, but I can see myself falling into the series head over feet.

My Rating: 5/5 for the art, 5/5 for the story.

Would I/Who would I recommend it (too): Anyone who loves fantasy, graphic novels, is a fan of SAGA, and loves mythologies being intertwined.

Goodreads Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23093359-the-wicked-the-divine-vol-1

The Sculptor by Scott McCloud

Title: The Sculptor

Author: Scott McCloud

Series: No.

Format: ARC

Page Count: 496

Publisher: First Second

Age Range: 17+

Genre: Graphic Novel/Fantasy/Art/

Description on Goodreads: 

David Smith is giving his life for his art—literally. Thanks to a deal with Death, the young sculptor gets his childhood wish: to sculpt anything he can imagine with his bare hands. But now that he only has 200 days to live, deciding  what  to create is harder than he thought, and discovering the love of his life at the 11th hour isn’t making it any easier!

This is a story of desire taken to the edge of reason and beyond; of the frantic, clumsy dance steps of young love; and a gorgeous, street-level portrait of the world’s greatest city. It’s about the small, warm, human moments of everyday life…and the great surging forces that lie just under the surface. Scott McCloud wrote the book on how comics work; now he vaults into great fiction with a breathtaking, funny, and unforgettable new work.

Review: 

Before I state my review, I would like to say I recieved this for an honest review.

OH. MY. GOD. I did NOT go into this thinking this, the last book I read in 2014 would be the best damn thing I read all year round. This book was a roller coaster of emotions.

I recieved my ARC, I believe a little bit before Christmas. I was not expecting anything out of this book, because I had barely remembered requesting it!

David Smith is one sad man, lonely man. An artist, unappreciated. After having lost damn near everything; (his family, his job, home, friends, etc) I don’t blame him for making a deal with death… He has 200 days left on this Earth to make his art, his name known, whatever he desires!… but in exchange he will die after that limited time… even if he failed. He could even die before then. …but, he but he soon regrets it after meeting his Angel; Meg. The one person who could make him regret ever making that choice.

This tale was years in the making. Pulled painstakingly from the heart of Mr. McCloud, The Sculptor is nothing short of pure genius. It’s raw, emotional, something that will live on through the ages. I see it as being timeless even! I identified with both Meg and David for many, many reasons. Both surface and personal.

Beautifully drawn and elegantly written, this book deserves to be in every persons personal library. Even if you are not a fan of graphic novels.

My Rating: 5/5

Would I/Who would I recommend it (too): Everyone (that is over the age of 17+)

Goodreads Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22040598-the-sculptor