I've been a fan of Delilah S. Dawson's writing for a while now, although before Sparrowhawk I hadn't had a chance to check out her comics. I've heard amazing things about her other series, Ladycastle, but somehow Sparrowhawk slipped past my radar while the single issues were releasing. So when I heard about this bind-up coming out, I knew I had to see what it was all about.

Sparrowhawk feels like a perfect mashup of several things I love deeply. It has the dark, gritty familiarity of the American McGee's Alice games, with the fun world building of the I Hate Fairyland comics.

Dawson has a knack for snappy humor, both in life and in her writing, and that trademark is definitely present here. Crispin the Wolpertinger was my favorite character, an ever-present devil on the shoulder of the main heroine, Artemisia. The retorts these two lobbed at each other were fantastic throughout. Humor isn't the only strength Dawson's writing boasts though. The storytelling through each issue was spot on, hitting the necessary beats while also carrying the overarching story at a pace that never lagged. My only issue was the attempt at a love story. It felt rushed and wholly unnecessary. I would have rather seen Art and Warren develop a truly strong friendship rather than a quick, see-through romantic relationship.

I've seen others complain about the art style in Sparrowhawk, but I personally loved it. And that's the thing about art, it's subjective and everyone has their own tastes. I enjoyed the simplicity of it. Paired with the colorful scenery and gorgeous world building it truly complemented the story. I love the way Art's transformations were illustrated, those panels being some of my absolute favorites overall. Overall the art was a great example of how there's both darkness and beauty to be found in the world.

Sparrowhawk is one of the best comics I've read this year. I don't know if it will continue, the ending seemed to wrap things up while also leaving definitely potential for more, but I've been unable to find anything that points toward future issues happening. I would love to see it continue though. The themes within were beautiful to read, and I think it has a lot of crossover appeal for YA readers. Dawson's storytelling paired with Basla's illustrations is a fantastic combo and really drives the message of this story home. And now I'll just leave you with my favorite passage, one that's stuck with me since I finished Sparrowhawk, words that I think all of us could do with hearing from time to time: "You are a creature of dark and light. You are a wonder. Never forget that."

"Teen Victorian Fairy Fightclub!" Well that description got me hooked. I wasn't disappointed either. Artemisia is a misfit in her own family, trying to fit in and be loved. That is, until she's pulled into Fairyland by the Fae Queen. Now she must fight her way back home. Will the twisted world of the Fae make her stronger? Or will she leave more ruthless than she began?

This graphic novel is a throw back to the classic girl goes to fairyland story, just don't expect a happy ending. The beautiful illustrations were a great juxtaposition to the darker tale. This was a great refreshing look at the Fae. The tale gets darker but is somehow still full of love and hope.

When I opened this and saw how different the inner artwork was from the cover, I didn't think I'd like it very much. While the artwork grew on me a bit after a few issues, it's still not my favorite. There was less detail than I would have preferred, and the fight scenes were often hard to follow (kind of important when you describe your story as "teen Victorian fairy fight club").

BUT. I'm still a sucker for any story inspired by Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass. And the darker and more gruesome the retelling, the better.

Artemisia is unceremoniously yanked through a mirror into Faerie by the Unseelie Queen. She spends the majority of the volume journeying through the unfamiliar world fighting fey and leveling up so she can return to earth and keep the twisted queen from taking over. On the way she manages to her bond herself to an untrustworthy wolpertinger (a Bavarian cryptid similar to a Jackalope), who guides her through grey areas that become increasingly dark as she nears the end of her journey.

In the end, she isn't the same girl who started out and the evolution exacts a high price. This volume doesn't have a "happy" ending. And I think that makes it better.

This was a decent fantasy adventure story. The art was good, the story was fun, but it was a bit gruesome. It did leave the end open for another book but if so I don't think I'll be reading it.

*Received via NetGalley for review*
Artemisia is the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of a naval captain, shunned by her family and destined for a life of more of the same. When the Unseelie queen appears in her mirror and switches places with her, Art is now in the fairy world while the queen wears her skin and plans to conquer the new world she finds herself in.

She meets a creature that offers to be her guide back home... for a price. One fond memory later, Art finds herself unraveling and forgetting why she wants to return home in the first place, slashing and killing all manner of creatures in order to grow powerful enough to defeat the queen. Art struggles against the darkness for a little bit, but is unceasingly drawn in.

Of course, this may not be the case. We learn almost immediately that her companions are manipulating her and, while not outright lying, disguising the truth in order to direct her to their goals. The Unseelie queen could be someone who went through something similar, but at the point of their meeting, Art is too far gone to care.

A truly beautiful and engaging graphic novel. The color palette is gorgeous, as are the characters (who are also all unique and well-realized), and the story leans hard into the mischievous and cruel nature of fairies.

I'm a sucker for a anti hero comic book.

You really get to see Artemisia's development, how easy it is to push others away and give in to darkness. She goes from making her first kill totske revenge on the brute force that kills the small inoccent creature into killing the inoccent herself while making a thousand excuses. The way her appearance reflects her kills is chilling as well. Especially they way she becomes the spitting image of the queen when she later returns.

That ending is golden in a miserable kind of way, did not see it coming and I have to say it leaves me wanting more.

This book was interesting. I found myself sucked in but also annoyed with some aspects of it. I loved the premise of the plot. It had a very Holly Black and Alice in Wonderland type feel, which are two favorites of mine. The characters, I found to be likeable enough, though I wish they had been developed a little further, and the voices and sentence structure of the characters got a little annoying sometimes. It almost felt like they were trying too hard to sound certain way and it felt forced at times. I loved the colors used in the illustrations, they really drew me in and gave a feeling of fantasy within the story. Although at times it felt the illustrations themselves were a little rushed and haphazard.

Overall, enjoyed it! If there's a second I would read it.

3.5 stars.

An interesting almost Alice In Wonderland meets The Cruel Prince mash up series.

I felt it lacked a little with regards to character development, I feel that each segment could have been a little longer. They could have gone into more detail, really woven the story together, making you feel a little more for the characters and the world itself.

But overall I enjoyed it.

**Disclaimer: I was given an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

I love faeries. I love Delilah Dawson and her books. THIS COMIC WAS AMAZING. I can't wait to have a physical copy in my hands.

I've read one Delilah S. Dawson book and while the concept was interesting, the execution was not my cup of tea. This on the other hand, was right up my alley. Falling into a faerie world? Yes please! I really enjoyed this graphic novel, all of the faerie creatures, our MC Artemisia, and I hope there's more to come!

There is something about books with fairy tale influences that I find fascinating. Sparrowhawk shows what happens to a young lady after a Fairy Queen takes her place. I loved the setting within the fairy realm, where our heroine battles all sorts of creatures in an attempt to return to our world and defeat the queen. Despite the questionable decisions that she makes along her journey, it was satisfying to see the way various elements came together through the inevitable showdown.

The art is wonderful. Each of the creatures is unique. I particularly like the way the color palette contrasts with the content of the story. It adds to the tricky nature of the fairy realm. I also like the way that Artemisia changes visually as her journey progresses.

Sparrowhawk is a graphic novel which take the main character Artemisia into Faire, there she must kill to be able to go back home.

I really enjoyed this, the art beautiful and the story intriguing! I really liked the questions it rose about how you do evil for something good, and how one can change doing these actions. The end left me gasping, and I was very surprised how the overall dark the whole story was. It was trickery and clever, so of course I liked it! 4/5 stars.

Arc copy gladly received by netgalley.

Artemisia is a brave, smart, young mixed teen in a world not ready for what she has to offer. She was the heart & soul of her family, yet all but her step sister treated her like nothing more than a family servent. Her step mother would put her down every chance she got & her father was just worried about marrying her off. Her step mother is just prepping her to hopefully move out soon. Suddenly she's looking at a warped reflection of her own face & when she wakes up she's in a world not her own. Here she meets many new, fascinating, & quite scary creatures. She makes a deal with her Faerie guide but she doesn't really understand the idea behind the deal & just exactly what it is she's losing in return for going back home. She learn the warped imagine was the faerie queen breaking into her world. She must fight her way out of this world & in doing so it changes her drasticly both mentality & physically. She's transformed into something she doesn't recognize. She meets the love of her life & simultaneously loses him due to her growing strength. She's also lost part of her memory & as hard as she tries she can't for the life of her remember what else she's lost. Finally making it back home to save her world & as soon as she's done so it's just as it was before, with her critical step mother & careless father. But suddenly she remembers what she's lost, but yet again it's too late.

This graphic novel honestly had me put it down once or twice out of sheer anger & love for the characters. I truly loved Warren & I was very much hoping for q happy ending for him even though I knew he was from the Faerie world & he was an unseelie "monster". He deserved to escape & I'm happy Art made it back home but I can help but wonder if shell go back now knowing what she's lost & also knowing how to get around that world as well as what needs to be done there to gain power.

I think the concept of the story is really interesting and cool. The world that our main character gets thrown in is colorful and lively and the stakes are high, making the pacing feel urgent.
Overall I wasn't a fan of the art style, it felt very rough and forceful and it felt like it didn't really match the story all that much. I preferred the art on the covers throughout the book rather than the consistent art. Which was an entirely different style and varied, but it felt more impactful and meaningful than the rest of it.
It was a bit go a struggle to get through this one, even though it's a rather short graphic novel.
I was rather disappointed by the storyline and wished I cared for the characters and the outline more than I did.
I really did like the concept and the whole "victorian faerie fight club" idea sounded really cool, it was just in its execution that I was disappointed.

I liked that the story took a 'Alice In Wonderland' turn on the land of Faerie.
Main character and POC, Artemisia gets dropped in the land of Faerie and makes a trade with an 'abomination': a single memory for the information and assistance in getting out of Faerie.
Art journeys through the land, meets new 'allies?', and learns how values change as you yourself do.

I enjoyed the twist at the end, and would like to see a continuation of the series.

I finished this book literally now. I give him 3.5 stars because at the beginning it is very confusing in my opinion, it took me 5 minutes to understand what was happening. But I also give 5 stars for the setting seelie that I LOVE. it mirrors how I've always imagined it, cruel, ruthless and "wild hunt" made me relive certain memories with Seelie and Unseelie. the protagonist we say in the media but the final blow was an atomic bomb. BRAVA!

A great graphic novel with fantastic illustrations and a dark story to go with it. I really enjoyed the style of the illustrations and the plot was well thought out. Sparrowhawk had the feel of a real dark fairytale and I loved the tiny details in each panel, especially with each change she went through and her new appearance.

I received a copy from NetGalley for review.

This is an interesting take on mixing fairy lore and a sort of Alice in Wonderland - down the rabbit hole kind of feel.

Artemesia is sort of unladylike and doesn't fit in with her family, but she loves her younger sister. When tragedy strikes, Artemesia is told it's up to her to marry well and is to be presented at a ball to find a wealthy husband or her sister Caroline will be offered up next, in her stead.
Before she can be presented, the Unseelie Queen pulls her into her world and takes her place as a changeling, wearing her skin. Trapping Artemesia in Faerie. Where she must become strong enough to get out and defeat the Queen she must kill, and as she goes about she loses her humanity in the process. Becoming less like the sister she wants to save, and more like the world she is trapped in.
It was a quick fun, but kind of sad cyclical cycle of gore.

Sniff* oh poor Warren. I wish he had played a bigger part.

Set in the Victorian era, this portal fantasy has Artemesia - an illegitimate child of a colonist and a slave living with her step family - travel to a dark fairyland where she must defeat monsters and conquer obstacles in order to return to her own world. The story is engaging right from the start and never loses pacing on its way to a twist conclusion. The artwork is good and I especially loved the different fonts used for each character which made following the comic a breeze. I had previously read the author’s other graphic novel Ladycastle and wasn’t as impressed by the execution as I was by the synopsis so this was a very pleasant surprise. Definitely recommend this to fantasy fans.

3.5/5 stars

Artemisia is the biracial daughter if a British naval captain and a slave. Asan infant, she was brought back to England, and raised with her father, stepmother, and 2 half-sisters. However, she was never fully accepted by society and certainly not be her stepmother. To cope, she adopted a thick skin and a penchant for following her own path, consequences be damned. When that path pulls her into the land of Faerie, she must kill others in order to gain her wings and the strength to go back to her own world a defeat the Unseelie Queen. On her journey, she is “aided” by a Cheshire-Cat-like jackelope and the pacifist Unseelie heir, Warren. Will she complete her journey? Will she get back to England and save everyone from the evil queen? Or will she be so transformed that her true self, her desire to Save the World is compromised?

Still plugging along, trying to learn to appreciate the graphic novel medium. Sparrow hawk was better in regards to the strong female protagonist and her journey from human to faerie and how her morals change over the course of the story. However, there are still some aspects of the graphic format that scream out at me as plot holes that we wouldn’t have if this were written as a narrative instead. For instance, Artemesia’s molting journey is too quick. It seems to happen in one day. Unlikely. Also: her instantaneous success with weapons? Like, I get that she could have had some training back in jolly old England, but not enough to make her successful in defeating hordes and monsters, but also great evil in the face of The Hunt. And, she and Warren fell in love??? When did that happen? The story, overall, was too rushed and doesn’t make sense time-wise.