I really enjoyed this! I don’t really read a lot of graphic novels, so this was kind of a surprise for me. I thought that the plot was fast paced and fun, i enjoyed and didn’t expect a lot of the plot twists, and it packed an unexpected emotional punch. My only real complaint was that the action scenes could sometimes be hard to follow. The illustrations were sometimes a little confusing, so at times it was a little difficult to tell what was happening.
I really don’t read a lot of comics, so I don’t know how trustworthy my review is. I really enjoyed this, but I also don’t have much to compare it to. If you’re deciding if you want to read this book, I wouldn’t just go off of my review alone. Check out some of the other reviews, because my review is very subjective.

Somehow I'm drawn to post-apocalyptic stories (wonder why, or maybe I don't even wanna know), I thought this would be perfect choice. Not sure after reading it.

Colour choice of this graphic novel is black-white-salmon pink (interesting selection). Sketching is quite rough which may not be for everyone but I don't mind. It gives nice atmosphere.
For story and characters, I can't say I like main ones. Sometimes they were so annoying I felt like slap someone (Ginny was annoying in the beginning the same as at the ending). I wasn't very interested in any of them and quite didn't care what happened (on the other side, sometimes I was negatively happy to whatever happened to them, which is bad. you shouldn't cheer up for nasty things to happen).
Also the East side (where the story begin) is supposedly divided by great wall from West side of US, and I'm kind of want to know what's on the other side.

Overall, if I get across the second book, I will read it, but I'm not gonna track it.

Graphic novels really aren't my thing, this one was just too much. The storyline was really basic and predictive. Imagine the most cliche apocalypse book and this is it. I DNF this book at about 70%. I really tried, but I just couldn't do it. The animations were good. If this was an actual book, not a graphic novel, I wouldn't make it past the first chapter. I really can't think of anyone to recommend this too. I just feel as if this has already been done before, and the plotline is too predictable. I picked up this book hoping there would be something interesting or different about it, but it's plainer than as described.

2/5 stars!

"The world ended, right? But it didn't. We're still here. Things never end. They just change.

This book contains: earthquakes, explosions, boat trips, talking bottles, trades, bears, jynx roots and gangs.

Odessa takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where three siblings try to find their mother, who abandoned them and their father after the earthquakes started. This journey starts when Ginny, the older sister, receives a birthday present from her mother. She wonders where she is and why she left her family behind eight years ago, so she decides to go look for her and try to get some answers back. Without her knowing, her brothers followed her and now they team up to try and find her.
To be honest I was not the biggest fan of the story. The art and color scheme were cool and very appropriate for the post-apocalyptic world, but the story is very slow-paced and nothing interesting happens. The characters were okay, but I feel like I would appreciate the book more if there was more character development.
To be completely fair, I didn’t think the book itself wasn’t bad, it was just not that interesting for me. I probably won’t be continuing this series.

***A big thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review***

Odessa is a dystopian story set after a catastrophic earthquake where a young woman makes her way across the country to find her mother.

I loved the art style for its dynamic and loose feel and the way it conveyed the broken and lonely feeling of the world the characters inhabit, but it made it hard to follow the action at times and keep characters apart. Subsequently, I found myself having to go back and try to figure out if there was any information I had missed which ultimately kept me from being fully immersed in the story.

Ultimately, I didn't love the sibling relationship as much as I'd hoped, given that it's the central relationship in the story. I found most of Ginny, Wes and Harry's interactions quite annoying and not as heartwarming as I assume I was meant to feel about them.

Overall, this had a solid premise but didn't quite deliver for me.

Post-apocalyptic stories are far from my favorite, and it takes a lot for something in that genre to wow me. While Odessa was a good story, it wasn't a great one. The pink and black art was interesting, the characters were endearing, and there were some well-explored themes around family and change and what it does to you to try and survive (although those do seem pretty post-apoc standard). But the relentless cruelty and bone-crushing hopelessness of the setting didn't help, as did the mostly standard plot beats. The worst part, though. was ending a 300+ page comic on a major cliff hanger. Unsatisfying.

I tried, but I just couldn't get into this one, and I wouldn't recommend it to it the intended audience. Even as a character-driven work, this does not work for me. It is too long for children and not mature enough for adults. And I didn't like the artwork. I don't think a book should be bashed because it doesn't live up to expectations. However, even if the book wasn't what I expected, it should still hold my attention, and if I couldn't get into it, I don't see how middle graders will. A good editor could have helped the author cut out pointless scenes, and then the plot may have gone somewhere.

Honestly, I was very scared going into this book. I loved the cover, the art is fantastic, and I was so excited that I got approved for this title on NetGalley. But then, I scanned the top Goodreads reviews and they were almost all negative, or at least unenthusiastic. I was worried that this graphic novel would be boring and long.

Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed reading Odessa! I think the main issue with most of the Goodreads reviewers is that they went in expecting something completely different than how Odessa actually is. Based on the premise of 8 years post big one, I think people assumed this would be a post-apocalypse type story. While it is, the ruin of society is not the main focus of the story, and for that I'm glad.

Each of the characters are well developed and realistic. Ginny and her two younger brothers, Wes and Harry, have a true relationship. As the oldest of three myself, I was laughing and nodding my head when the youngest boy used his imagination to entertain himself during their journey, stopping to pee often, and being "annoying" to his siblings. When Kevin came into the story, I couldn't think of anything that would have been more natural than a kid's imaginary bottle friend.

The plot of the story made sense, and it was done really well. Ginny and her brothers leave their home to find their mother who left them eight years prior, despite the danger in venturing away from home into ruins and gang territory. I was reminded a lot of The Walking Dead with the various gangs/groups that formed, and the facts that despite a disaster, it was still other PEOPLE that posed the greatest threat. There were many twists and turns in the plot that I DID NOT EXPECT, and was surprised when each one happened. I was shocked by the ending, but at the same time appreciated it because it felt like a natural, despite frustrating for the reader, point to end this story (at least for now). With Four Dollars dead, Harry with a missing arm, Maya a part of the gang, and a CLIFFHANGER ENDING (!!!), I am caught and left needing the next chapter of this story. I never predicted any of those twists, especially Four Dollars being their Uncle Frank and the direct conflict with the Gogu gang.

The art style is beautiful. Each panel is detailed and there is a lot to look at and discover, revealing much about the characters and this world. I LOVED the pink, black, and white color scheme––it fits perfectly with the ~vibe~ of the story and was lovely to read.

And some quick bonus points, shouts to the author for presenting a diverse cast of characters from both a ethnicity, ability, and sexuality standpoint. I really appreciated it and I HOPE to see Ginny and Maya develop their relationship in further chapters!

I really enjoyed reading Odessa and I would highly recommend anyone to read it. There is something for all readers in this story, and the artwork and storytelling is lovely. I will definitely read more from this author as well as continued volumes in this series (which I hope come soon).

Rating: 4 stars

**I will be adding a review of Odessa to my blog, readbyroe.com, on November 1oth when it is officially published.

I have a huge weakness for post-apocalyptic stories and graphic novels so this one sounded right up my alley. "Odessa" tells the story of 18-year-old Ginny, who's living in a world post-enormous earthquake that ruined the World As She Knew It (or, at least, part of it, as we later find out). She's living with her two younger brothers and her dad, scavenging sites in order to get enough stuff to trade for food. Her mother has left them - or that's the thought until Ginny receives a letter from her mum and decides to set out and try to find her.

I'm at odds about whether I liked the style of this one. I don't think the art itself was entirely my thing - though I did really appreciate the land- and cityscapes. The way people think the world will change and overgrow when humans (have to) stop being involved fascinates me. I did like the use of colour - simple yet really effective.

The sibling dynamics between Ginny, Wes & Harry were great. Very accurate and funny and endearing to see. To see Ginny shift back into more of a sister-role as they go on the road, after having felt like she needed to be their mum at home.

I will say I think the story and the storytelling left me a bit unsatisfied. I didn't feel like I had a great grasp of the characters, and at times they came off a bit flat because I felt like there wasn't a lot of space to really get to know them besides their sort of core-characteristics, which we get to know pretty early on. I'd have liked to see more about their past, or get to know and understand the world they live in currently a bit better. A lot of that was left a bit too vague and distant for my liking, making it difficult to really connect.

I'm curious what the next part will bring, though, and I'm sure I'll get answers to some of my questions when that comes around!

Odessa is a graphic novel that follows three siblings travelling a post-apocalyptic world in search for their mother who left them, and their father, eight years prior following a massive earthquake.

The artwork is lovely and really gives the reader a sense of the scale, however; the story was just kind of bland. I liked it, and I will likely recommend this book to others, but it was just "OK." Too much of the story was a lucky coincidence after another, no "children in danger" kind of vibes I hoped for. As said my previous reviewers, I thought Odessa might be a play on the word Odyssey and there would be more of an adventure feel to the story. While I did enjoy Odessa, my expectations were a bit let down.

In short, Odessa didn't quite live up to what I was hoping for after reading the description. I felt like the background/set up was lacking and I was frequently wishing for a bit more information about how we find ourselves in this post apocalyptic America? The description tells us "the Big One" hit and that's about it.. I felt like the book description gave more background info than the book itself. What has happened in the 8 years since "the Big One?" What is going on in the rest of America? That being said, I did still find this book enjoyable and felt compelled to finish it. I like Jonathan Hill's art style and the limited color scheme (I'm not sure the actual term to be used here)
I was a bit disappointed when I got near the end of this book and realized the original plot had not really progressed much, but I do still feel intrigued enough that I would read the continuation.

I had high expectations on this book becasue of the premise and format, but it ended up being such a bore. I read this small book in ten days because it didnt manage to keep my attention.
The illustrations were fairly decent but the storyline, characters and dialogues were not very good or intresting.

This was my first time reading anything like this. Though it’s definitely not my cup of tea, if it’s yours then you will probably love it. It’s very well done. It’s an own voices book, and it shows diversity and a post-apocalyptic world. It was an interesting read and I am glad that I gave it a shot!

I felt like this graphic novel would be great for an older audience, new adult or adult, not a young adult audience.

It was a gritty depiction of a girl who is looking for her mother and really for herself in a place that has been devastated by something--at the beginning it is unclear.

I really loved this book! Initially I was a little put off by the names of the characters. Very Harry Potter and I feel like not a lot of thought went into them. But the illustrations and the story had me so gripped that by the end of the book I was devastated it was over and now I’m desperate for more!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Jonathan Hill and the publisher for a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my review

I really loved the art style of this graphic novel, and the peachy pink colour tone felt perfect for the post apocalyptic world we were taken into. I thought the story was a little slow in places, but as the first installment I thought it was a strong start and would be happy to read more volumes.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the chance to read this in return for an honest review.

Dystopian stories and graphic novels are two of my favourite things but I didn’t like this book and I think that was down to the drawing style. It just wasn’t for me. A interesting story that develops well but I can’t say I would read other volumes in the series.

This comic:
- is basically a post-apo YA novel (it's even novel-length),
- has great supportive friendships/found family vibes,
- also has a cute fluffy Sapphic slow-burn romance.
It's a graphic novel about a teenager and her two younger brothers traveling across a post-apocalyptic wasteland to find their missing mother (that's the 'Odessa in the title). On their way, they meet some cute friends and dangerous enemies.
Ginny, the main character, is an independent and strong teen focused on getting to the truth and protecting her brothers. Wes and Harry are children, but they are completely different. Wes is the angsty one and Harry is the nice one, who would befriend everyone, including an empty bottle (its name is Kevin).
The characters are diverse in terms of their personalities and characteristics, but I wish there was some more realistic diversity in terms of ethnicities and skin tones.
Despite its setting, the comic book isn't dark at all. There is hardly any gore and everything is in a shade of peach pink. It shows that even in dark times, children will be children, and this is the type of lightness I needed right now. But! Don't be fooled. Despite the pink exterior, this story gets really sad really quickly.
It ends on such a damn cliffhanger I really want to read the next volume asap.

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.
When I read that this story was comparable to the styles of Neal Shusterman and Scott Westerfeld, I knew I needed to read it. Although I’ve never read either of those authors in GN form, I can confidently state that Odessa has the same gritty, boundary pushing elements. However, it is also a bit more fantastical.
I enjoyed the story, but the art, although fine, didn’t resonate with me in a meaningful way. However, the rosy hue did make the story seem less bleak and a little more hopeful to me. I definitely appreciated that and will probably read the next volume to see what happens next.

A heart warming graphic novel about a family in a post-apocalyptic world.

The story was quite dark and the graphics complemented the story well.