It was interesting, but really seemed disjointed and...simple. I'm pretty sure the author didn't start out trying to rewrite His Dark Materials seriesIt was interesting, but really seemed disjointed and...simple. I'm pretty sure the author didn't start out trying to rewrite His Dark Materials series, but there were a lot of similarities. As with that series, this book ended with a simper instead of a bang. Good build up - then...nothing. Bleh. Frustrating....more
The original books were a good read, although the first novel was better than the second, which was a lot better than the third. I enjoyed the series The original books were a good read, although the first novel was better than the second, which was a lot better than the third. I enjoyed the series as a whole and found the character of Hatter Madigan simply wonderful. I am a fan of the medium of graphic novels, and looked forward to these with great anticipation because they were written by the original author, not another person's imagining of someone else character.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed with both the story and, even more so, the art. A lot of the story was an exact retelling of how Hatter got to this world. I understand it's needed for anyone who hadn't read the novels, but I had been hoping for a bit more...I don't know, additional information or maybe a little more drama. Instead we are told exactly what was said in the novel, now with pictures.
That leads me to the art...it's wispy, blurry, unfocused. That's the way Redd was described...and I find it annoying that the image they created of Hatter is not the focused, dark, rules-following cut and dried image that he was build up to be in the book. I was expecting something more realistic, dark and brooding, a real world feel, where the character of Hatter was thrown into the unexpected. I wanted to see how he reacted in 'our world'. Instead we got a glimpse of a fantastical world with little to tie its pieces together.
The characters Hatter meets are mostly tied to the story of Alyss, but what are the chances in a world this size they would end up meeting exactly the same set of bad guys? This graphic novel seemed disconnected, the bits fo story had little to tie them together and the story - right...what story. Hatter wonders into our world, then searches for Alyss. I guess he figures out how to navigate the portals, but that's not discussed, how else would he have been able to get from Europe to China in one page? From the story I had the image of a nomadic sort of search that took years at a time to complete. Instead we have a few moments of adventure barely tied together by the main character. He seems to have no specific plan, no real direction.
Anyhow - I ramble. The art does not suit the character. The story does not live up to its original medium. ...more
I picked this up as a FirstRead, and was under the impression that it was a graphic novel. It was not, there were black and white drawings thrown in tI picked this up as a FirstRead, and was under the impression that it was a graphic novel. It was not, there were black and white drawings thrown in throughout the book, but it was a novel with some illustrations - not a graphic novel.
It takes place in a futuristic New York with a lot of technology embedded into humans, much of it illegally. There is also a 'race' of people created in laboratories. The Pleasure Model is allowed extremely limited intelligence, but more than normal sex appeal and physical attributes. One of these is some of the evidence found at a crime scene.
A human dominatrix with personality modifications was also a witness, but she has fled the scene and doesn't really get involved until late in the book.
Plot - Interesting, but it could have been equally successful without the sexual aspects.
Setting - The best part of this novel. There was great descriptions of the city, the history and the tech/mech aspects.
Characters - Thin. Sometimes they were a bit silly, even. I liked Julia, the dominatrix side of the human woman. I thought a lot more could have been done with Rook. He seemed a really caring sort of guy, but he was in a world in which he seemed just ridiculously 'nice' compared to the overwhelmingly evil masses.
Pros: Fast read, entertaining, I do think the art adds to the story, but it was a turn-off for me as much of it was cheesecake and I'm a heterosexual female. I'm not the target audience.
Cons: I understand it wasn't meant to be high literature, but some of the writing was just...too simple. If the audience is young boys, then the writing is okay, but the subject matter is too mature. IF the audience is mature, then the writing is too juvenile...
Overall: I'm not the target audience, but I was able to get through the book without throwing it across the room. I almost didn't make it past the first scene with Plesur, but I liked the opening scene well enough to give it a chance. I will not be reading the second book in the series; although, The ending of this book makes it clear that Plesur has a very interesting future ahead of her......more
The first two books of the series revolved around the characters of Alyss and Redd, this book detours more into the characters of Arch and the caterpiThe first two books of the series revolved around the characters of Alyss and Redd, this book detours more into the characters of Arch and the caterpillars and I was left feeling that the ending that could-have-been would have been better if the author had stayed with Alyss and Redd.
I loved the first two books, but this one just fell flat. I never got into the character of Arch, so when he took over the plot line I sort of lost interest. I kept reading because I wanted to know that the rest of the characters were doing, but the more I read the less connected to the book I felt. The worms...well, they just drained the life out of the novel. I was curious about them, but in the end...they didn't do anything. They were flat and boring and their purpose made the ending of the book seem...flat.
Also, there was the budding romance with Alyss and Dodge...I expected it to be fleshed out in this novel, but instead it was pushed to the back burner until the very end when a bow was nicely placed around all those nagging loose ends. I loved the first two books and was hoping the third book would build on what was created, instead it tore it all apart and rebuilt it on a weak foundation. I was disappointed in this book, but I do look forward to reading the graphic novel, Hatter M....more
Loved it. If you're reading the series, this one's one of the best. Longer review later, trying to figure out how to avoid spoilers.Loved it. If you're reading the series, this one's one of the best. Longer review later, trying to figure out how to avoid spoilers....more
What a fun and entertaining book. It took a while to 'get' the world, but once I got comfortable with the oddity of the setting I was able to enjoy thWhat a fun and entertaining book. It took a while to 'get' the world, but once I got comfortable with the oddity of the setting I was able to enjoy the story. I read the book Wuthering High a while back and was sorely disappointed. I had thought it much be a gateway for youth into classic literature...bah. I was venting my disgust with that book to my friend Lisa and she suggested I read this one, instead. Thank you Lisa...this is SO much better. I will continue this series, and many of his other books look interesting as well. ...more
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