Milarepa by Eve Van Dam follows the titular character through his life, from his father's death, to learning black magick in order to gain revenge, and his enlightenment and transformation into a spiritual warrior.

It was the history and era that first drew me to this book. I liked the story well enough. I just felt so bad for him, and his family. Milarepa's relatives defied his father's dying wishes and stole everything from them after his father passed. What asshats… And his mother threatened to kill herself in front of her 15 yr old son's presence if Milarepa didn't succeed in learning black magick. She wanted him to avenge the years they lived in servitude to the relatives. Milarepa did as he was bade, but when his teacher scolds him for misusing his teachings, he retreats to live the life of a hermit. Eight long years of meditation gave Milarepa mastery over himself, and the ability to shapeshift. I just… that's kinda seriously messed up. Talk about laying a guilt trip. The art style seemed older, more appropriate to an earlier decade. It wasn't bad per se, it just felt off. Recommended!

***Many thanks to Netgalley & Shambhala Publication for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A very interesting story that was not able to sustain my attention for the totality of the narrative. An admirable attempt.