“For a moment I feared her, like the bud about to blossom fears the sun.”
Part western, part folktale this new graphic novel mixes genres and characters to tell a fresh story with hints of traditional tales. The narrators of the tale are the spirit of a dead bunny and a butterfly who tell the readers a tale of revenge, redemption and mythos.
“You are only blind to that which you don’t deserve to see.”
A girl named Beauty is put in a tower by her husband so that she can be protected from covetous men. While there she falls in love with and is impregnated by Death. They have a child who becomes the reaper of vengeance. Sound confusing? The story remains partially shrouded in mystery and is not for readers who need things carefully spelled out. Philosophical dialog and ideas are sprinkled throughout the book with lush, sweeping and emotive illustrations.
Several of the main characters are strong women, both innocent and evil but most a more realistic marbling of the two. Author Kelly Sue Deconnick and illustrator Emma Rios begin a fascinating story in this first installment of Pretty Deadly.
“It’s the dying that makes the living matter.”
*Please note there is violence and nudity in this book. This is a graphic novel for mature readers.
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publication Date: April 2014
ISBN: 978-1-60706-962-1
Page Count: 132 pages
Publisher: Image
*Thank you NetGalley for sharing a review copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
HipMamaJenn 