Ok honestly, I walked into this graphic novel with a certain idea about it and I found out my assumptions were completely wrong. I thought this book was a retelling of a Darker Shades of Magic and I found out that this novel is actually a prequel. This series is a fantasy series and follows Maxim as he makes his rise to king. In this story, Maxim has a need for adventure and is reluctant to take the throne much to the dismay of his ruthless father. This graphic novel was a quick read with an excellent plot and intriguing characters. The art was beautiful and I felt it was a great representation of the Darker Shades of Magic series. I swallowed this comic in one sitting and I found myself thinking about it even a few days later. I think this is a solid way to start 2020. ( )

I haven't read the Shades of Magic series even though it's been on my list for a few years now. I've loved V.E. Schwab's other books, so I'm confident it will be equally, if not more, enjoyable! However, not reading the books didn't deter me from grabbing this comic when it was released.

I had no prior knowledge of the world, but thought Schwab did an awesome job explaining everything at the start. It was concise but not overwhelming, which is always a bonus. New worlds can sometimes be overexplained, but I only know the basics. There's still so much to see and learn!

Despite being unfamiliar with the world and the characters, I really enjoyed this comic! I'm curious to learn more about Maxim, the reasons for his exile, and why his father is so against reuniting the different worlds. If you know something, don't tell me!

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on November 13, 2018. ( )