THE HUNGER AND THE DUSK - graphic novel

I really liked this book.

I've been interested in reading more graphic novels lately, but have been somewhat disappointed by the offerings. This looked interesting, but I know that graphic novel covers are often not what the interior art looks like.  Not so in this case. The artwork inside is just as nice as this cover.

Humans and orcs are all that remain in the known land and they remain bitter enemies. But an alliance may be necessary when a humanoid race called the Vangol arrive on the shores. There are little enough resources for orcs and humans and now these interlopers want to take it for themselves ... and they have the power to do so.

The powerful orc overlord, Troth Icemane, sends his cousin, Tara (a high ranking healer), to fight alongside the human commander Callum Battlechild. Putting aside their differences and generations-old hatred toward one another will at first be difficult ... until Tara and Callum get to know one another better.  But will they have time to earn one another's respect with the Vangol danger so imminent?

The story is a little on the simple side, but author G. Willow Wilson does a really splendid job of switching between the storylines - human, orc, Vangol - which keeps it fresh and has us wondering what's happening with the other groups, so that we want to keep reading on.

What works best, however, are the characters.  The orcs aren't just stupid, aggressive ogres.  They have personalities and, as we see with Tara, they're not all obsessed with fighting. The humans are every bit as war-like as the orcs, and Tara's presence shows both races that there are things about the other that they haven't realized until now.

There is a touch of romance here, which comes on and ends a bit more abruptly than felt appropriate, but I liked the connection between the two, and it does drive two of the characters, and the story.

The Vangol are appropriately frightening and the questions surrounding who they are and where they came from keep a nice mystery.

The artwork is absolutely gorgeous.  This feels like time and care were given to producing something really stunning, rather than what often looks like a rush job to meet a deadline. This is easily some of the nicest, modern graphic novel art I've seen in a book in some time.

I would not say this is the most original fantasy story I've read, but it's well done and looks beautiful.

Looking for a good book? The Hunger and the Dusk is a fantasy graphic novel by G. Willow Wilson and Chris Wildgoose that has a delightful, unique energy that's been missing from the graphic novels I've read in the last few years.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

4-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

The Hunger and the Dusk

author: G. Willow Wilson

artist: Chris Wildgoose

publisher: IDW Publishing

ISBN: 9798887240824

paperback, 168 pages

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