I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved that this about a sad character, but not just any sad character, a barbarian. The pictures were catchy and the story was fun. I highly recommend it.

not great visually. I look for selections with clear & bright colours. Not great criteria perhaps, but I follow what my readers take out, & that's an important discriminator.

Received a review copy from Lion Forge and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.Oothar the Blue is a children's book about a barbarian who doesn't feel like slaying the dragon or pillaging catacombs. He ultimately gets so frustrated at being sad he takes it out on his immediate location which leads to a new more fulfilling job opportunity. The art is wonderful and detailed. The story wry and humorous.

Oothar is feeling down; for a barbarian this is a problem. He doesn’t want to do his usual barbarian to-do list (like defeating dragons, and fighting ogres). In short, Oothar is depressed. I really enjoyed this book because it has a very original take on your average strong-man fantasy story. Oothar finds a way to deal with his difficult feelings (hard for any barbarian) and learns how to be productive. This story had charming illustrations, and I believe would be perfect for reluctant readers, and for children who have trouble dealing with their emotions. I gave it 4 out of 5 because the illustrations looked a bit pixilated to me and were just a bit too unpolished. That is a matter of taste, and most children wouldn’t notice (or care) about that at all.

Really cute, unique; a hopeful book on how to harness difficult feelings.

This story was so tongue in cheek that that I had to go see an orthodontist after I read it. Oothar isn't literally blue, notwithstanding the book's cover. In fact, Oothar is not withstanding anything. He ignores bedraggled dragons. He can't be bothered with railing, wailing wraiths. And he certainly isn't interested in gouging rouge rogue ogres. Nothing seems to bring him pleasure until he finds, after a fit of constructive rage, that a career change is in order, and suddenly, everything is coming up roses!

I'm not sure exactly who this forty-some-page graphic novel book is aimed at, but I think it would entertain anyone, especially barbarians with its Aryan barbs. It did me, anyway. I recommend it.

Oothar the Blue by Brandon Reese is a colourful tale of Oothar the Barbarian who realise one day that pillaging and monster slaying no longer excite him. Try as he may, nothing helps. Oothar has a bit of a fit, bashing and banging around. Little does he know, he's just accidentally helped a very thankful minotaur. Oothar realises that helping people is more pleasing, and he starts his own business that turns out quite successful.

This was a cute little read, with lovely artwork. My cubs and I all enjoyed it. This would be a great addition to any youngling’s library, perfect for bedtime stories, or for reading on one's own.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Diamond Books/ Lion Forge for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"Oothar the Barbarian is blue. He just doesn't feel like slaying dragons today. He can't bring himself to banish uberwraiths to the ninth dimension. His gauntlet of a thousand souls has lost its luster. What is a melancholy barbarian to do?"

A depressed Barbarian with such a tantalising introduction? I'm in!



Oothar the Blue takes place in the Land of Carpoothia His gauntlet of a thousand suns had lost his luster. I can really, really relate to this book because:

1) I love fantasy and barbarians

2)I have been in a mood like Oothar ever since I've had to write an extra week of exams, and some other bad things life always likes to throw at you in the worse possible times.

3)The drawings are unique, lively and colourful. They change to the mood of Oothar, which is a small detail that I love!

I know I'm getting personal here - but that's what this book is all about. What makes you blue? What can you do about it?

This concept is so beautifully and aesthetically unique. Sometimes, you just don't feel like slaying a dragon. And that's okay.

The reason this really, really resonates with me and deserves a 5 stars is because I can relate on a fundamental level. And I think many, many other readers will too. This little gem also provides commentary on when to stop helping someone - when to take a break to focus on yourself.

It also makes a statement that there are things that can wait - you don't necessarily HAVE to cook dinner tonight - get take out. You don't HAVE to do all your child's homework. You don't have to explore those caves. Go read a book or trim your bonsai.


Oothar tries to go outside. The thrill of banishing a horder of uberwraiths to the ninth dimension was gone. No witchers could help Oothar. I think this is commentary that sometimes only YOU can cure your blues. So long story short - Oothar was sick of feeling so, so down!


So Oothar takes out his frustration on ground, earth and dirt. So Oothar, by taking out his frustration in a healthy manner, ends up helping a bull in a bathrobe!!! It's random, but it really reflects how we should take out our frustrations. Taking things out in a healthy manner - like charity or offering to make someone tea - will make you feel better than just grumbling on.

And so, Oothar becomes a landscaper through exploration. And he prefers it over barbarian-ing. I think that this book is not a children's book, per say - it's for everyone. I think it's especially aimed at fantasy lovers. We're a complicated bunch that tend to get hit by the blues quite often. We're thinkers and character lovers! So this book is so important for all of us reading weirdos. And kids!


Thanks in advance to NetGalley and the publisher. NG, you always find the weirdest and most uniquely crafted books that speak to my soul

So cute! This was an adorable juvenile graphic novel. It would be on the younger end of the spectrum, as it reads more like a picture book. The illustrations are well done, and the story itself was a good one. The theme was cute, with Oothar turning his frustrations and anger into a constructive business. It works great as a stand-alone, but I'd love to see more books featuring Oothar in the future.

Highly recommended for any childrens/juvenile graphic novel collections.

The only word for this book is awesome. It’s like the author took all the good things from 70's and 80’s sci-fi like Flash Gordon, Beastmaster, and Conan, to create Othar. But Othar is no longer happy being this 80's style all challenging warrior. He is blue. And it will take a Minotaur of Clash of the Titans proportions to make Othar realize that there just might be something out there to find his happy. Absolutely wonderful story with wonderful illustrations. Please make more.

Oothar the Blue is a charming story of a barbarian whose life of sacking and pillaging is not as satisfying as he would like. He learns quite by accident that we don't always have to take the preordained path in life. We have options if we just take the time to look for them.

Oothar the Barbarian is feeling blue. He's become downright bored with the life of a barbarian. Pillaging. Looting. There has to be something more! One day, while on a rampage, someone points out his skills can be put to another use. An even better use. Now filled with purpose, his life is made all the better for it.

I really enjoyed this. It's quite silly and pokes fun at a lot of fantasy tropes. Although some parents might have issue with the violence of Oothar's rampages, the violence is very cartoonish and greatly outweighed by the positive message. There's a Pilkey feel in some ways to the humor, although Reese's artwork is a bit more traditional (but no less fun). I know several young kids who come to my library will love this and I look forward to sharing it with them.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really cute book with great artwork to support the story. Sometimes doing the same old thing every day can become boring and depressing. Oothar got tired of dragon slaying and pillaging so he threw a temper tantrum that landed him a landscaping gig. All of his prior enemies became employees and everyone lived peacefully together.

5 stars.

This was a very quick read. I thought it was a graphic novel, but it's more of a children's book. I'm not sure, however, the ending will be something that most children get or get entertained by.

That being said, the illustrations were nice, and the story is a good one that speaks to parents as much as the children who they'll be reading the book to.

The lesson it teaches is really that happiness comes from being recognized for a job well done and that, if you aren't happy with your job, you should look at your strengths and your interests to strike a balance

'Oothar the Blue' by Brandon Reese is about a famous barbarian who doesn't feel up to being a barbarian today. What will he do?

Oothar wakes up one day and he doesn't feel like killing dragons or smashing ogres heads. He just wants to lay in bed. He is feeling a bit blue. The things that usually bring him joy don't today. Finally, he takes his frustration over his feelings out by slashing at grass and pulling out stumps and stomping on the ground. Will this help Oothar not feel blue?

This story made me smile. I loved the fantasy theme and the drawings of a slightly overweight Oothar and all the monsters he normally fights with. I'm not sure about the lesson of having a tantrum and having everythign work out is necessarily a good one, but I do like the lesson of trying something new when you find yourself stuck.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Oothar The Blue was a funny tale about a man who is sad. He takes his anger out on objects and things around him and ends up cleaning up a place accidentally! I don't like the lesson that this may teach kids that expressing our anger should be done physically. However, I'm glad the main character learned work and responsibility in the end.

I had a blast reading ‘Oothar the Blue’ It took me on an amazing journey. Oothar goes through a few emotions as this story is being told, and it turns out one leads him to a happier purpose. Once this happens to him, he will never be the same again. This story shows that you never know what is going to happen next, but when it does your life can become fuller and more satisfying. Kids are going to love this story and the beautiful illustrations.

Oothar is normally a true barbarian, slaying dragons, chasing ogres, pillaging catacombs, if you are looking for someone fierce and wild running havoc all day long, he’s your man.
But not today. Oothar suddenly feels blue and listless. He’d rather stay in bed all day long.

It’s quite interesting to see, even barbarians suffer from depression sometimes.

The sensible thing to do, even for Oothar’s, is to ask your local GP for help. For our barbarian it means a visit to the Fettle Wizard, but the magic spell doesn’t do the trick this time.

Oothar is fed up with feeling blue (well, who wouldn’t be?) and he gets very angry. He uproots trees, cuts through hedges. Suddenly there’s a “Halt!” Now, who dares to stop a barbarian throwing a tantrum?

The thing is, the Minotaur really likes what Oothar did. The gardens surrounding his estate are now in the best shape ever. The old rotten tree – gone, the overgrown hedges – in shape. The Minotaur is very happy and as a result Oothar receives a sack full of gold and a recommendation to all the Minotaur’s friends as the best landscaper around.

What will happen now? Has our barbarian found his true vocation?

Oothar the Blue is quite a unique story. On one hand there are fabulous and colourful comic style illustrations with wizards and dragons and lava and slimy worms and endless cheerful details. The pages are huge fun to look at.

Don’t miss out to take a closer look at the map of “The Land of Carpoothia” at the start and end of the story, as there are quite significant changes to discover.
I also find the name of Oothar’s country very well chosen. In German the word “kaputt” means destroyed, broken and I like to think, that’s where Carpoothia is derived from.

And again, it also is quite something, Oothar’s transformation from villain to dedicated landscaper and successful business owner. I can fully understand the author’s idea. The best thing to get you out of a blue spell, is appreciation, praise, feeling needed and valued.

On the other hand, this is sadly where Oothar falls a bit short for me. He actually HAD an important job to do, didn’t he? The dragons were spitting fire and the evil ogres were up to mischief and he was the one sorting them out and chasing monsters. OK, the forests were dark and dangerous, the gardens wild and magical, but I actually really liked them.
Now, there are trimmed hedges, smooth lawns, everyone wears a uniform, the Minotaur landlord is sipping his cuppa and handing out payments for tamed “wilde beasts”.

The book is definitely worth a read, because it’s huge fun, the artwork is stunning and it’s pretty unique to see a barbarian changing the way he does here, but the end result doesn’t completely work for me.

Four star shaped clipped hedges for Oothar the Blue.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. First time reading this author. This is a children's book. The graphics are fantastic and go really well with the story. Very young children can listen to the story and look at the graphics to understand the story. Its a cute, fun story. I rated this a 4.5! I think most children will enjoy this book. I would recommend this book to all.

It is such a cute graphic novel. Illustrations are lovely and beautiful. I read it with my brother and he enjoyed as much as i did.

An adorable book about Oothar the Blue, who is sick and tired of chasing Ogres, and fighting dragons. Instead, he decides to find a better calling. I can see this book being a big hit with children, as the illustrations are done wonderfully. The colors are vibrant and crisp, and the story has enough going on that it should keep the little ones one their toes. Loved it!

I have received a much appreciated digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.