I have no idea what I just read. None of this made any sense in any kind of way, and the ending was just so sad, but like - WHY was it so sad? NOTHING MADE ANY SENSE!

I found this story to be confusing and lacking a plot. While the illustrations were nice, they weren't enough to save this work.

I like the illustrations an the friendship aspect but I am beginning to wonder if this was a weak translation. I did not see much of the deeper meaning or the "coming of age" aspect.

*I received an advance copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*
I like a graphic novel with beautiful art and to be honest, that’s all this graphic novel seemed to have going for it. I didn’t really understand the point of it since there wasn’t a plot and no character development. All I really got from it is that wind is a woman and a talking fox and a girl named Jeanne.
Overall, the art was cute, but not a graphic novel I really enjoyed story-wise.

Pistouvi is a kind of weird story and definitely not one for the masses. There basically is no over-arching plot, it's just a couple of chapters, showing the life of a girl and her fox in this very weird world. The art style is really great and everything had this mythical feel to it that I quite enjoyed. I would have liked to have an actual story better, but the symbolic nature of it all will definitely be interesting to many people.

This story was a dream within a dream within a dream, in a fantasy land where the wind is a benevolent woman, a half giant half tractor roams shaping the land, and a young girl and a fox live together facing the elements and the strangeness of birds. I call this a dream because the plot isn't crisp, I was never entirely sure what was going on, and it seems like there is a logic to going on in the world, until you look too close. I'm fine with the ambiguity,

Pistouvi is the story of Two Friends, Jeanne, a little girl and Pistouvi, a fox man. There are a bunch of strange characters in the book making it unique in its own way. The book comprises of unrelated episodes talking about their adventures. The storyline isn't very prominent yet the book leaves an impact on you. The monochromatic illustrations are the real appeal of the book making it very attractive. An interesting pick for people looking for an offbeat graphic novel.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited for this graphic novel because of the gorgeous looking artwork on the cover. However, this was highly disappointing.

Not only was the artwork not consistent throughout, particularly regarding the characters’ facial expressions, there was no plot and no development of any kind. The whole book felt empty and hollow. There were some interesting vignettes within the larger book but overall, I felt lost and underwhelmed throughout. Sadly I wouldn’t recommend this.

1 out of 5 stars!

While this strange graphic novel had its charms, I'm clueless as to the intended audience. The story of a young girl and a cute, mischievous fox living together seems sure to appeal to children, yet the tale is dark and dreary, and well, frankly - a little confusing. I did like the artwork, but the plot left me scratching my head.

This is such a sweet graphic novel with an important message. The storyline was well done, and the art. style engaging.

Beautiful artwork and monochromatic vignettes. It had some Calvin & Hobbes vibes, as in reminiscence of childhood imagination, but it wasn't funny or deep at any level and quite difficult to understand and not a cohesive story.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I love love the illustrations in this book, but the story or stories were choppy and did not flow cohesively.

I don't think I fully comprehended this story (maybe because it's translated?), it seems like more of a collection of vignettes, about a child and her wild imagination, as I assume. And as she starts to grow up, she starts losing her rich imagination and all the "friends" she made within her imaginary world. The art style was amazing and the atmosphere was wonderful, but the story wasn't very clear, I still enjoyed most of it.

I thank Netgalley for the digital ARC.

beautiful linework is not enough to save dead-eyed characters within a meaningless plot.

if "pistouvi" is supposed to be an extended metaphor, it fell flat for me. the components for a classic modern fairytale are all there – whimsical girl, anthropomorphic fox, wind spirit, machine man, ominous birds – but they remain the sum of their parts. there is no character development, no explanations, not even any true cohesion between chapters; the book simply starts and keeps going until it doesn't.

the art, while crisp and pleasingly stylized overall, contains several quirks: lifeless eyes, strangely detailed teeth (but only for the girl), and a few oddly-angled panels.

ultimately, i wanted from "pistouvi" something that it was ill-equipped to give. i wanted a fairytale; i got disjointed vignettes.

thank you to netgalley and diamond book distributors - magnetic press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, Pistouvi was dark and suffocating all the while being nice and fluffy. Such a great combination that makes your skin crawl. Jeanne is your normal and playful little girl who spends her days with a mischievous young fox called Pistouvi. The two play and live in their cute tree house. The normality in this case is wonky already. The two play pranks and tease the tractor-man and they want the wind lady to help them, mostly to blow away the nasty and scary birds. But the birds are on their way to get Pistouvi and there's nothing Jeanne can do. The whole thing is like dark liquid in which you are stuck knee deep. I love it how Merwan doesn't explain things and how the birds are just looming there until they ask why our duo makes their lives hard. Who's the bad guy really? This all sets a spiral going downhill and it's weird and wonderful.

The line art is beautiful and precise. I wish the comic was in colors, since it would fit this so marvelously. Now something is lost, which is a shame. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, since Pistouvi is like a nightmare, but you notice that only too late. Those of you who like their stories nice and clean? Perhaps not for you. But those who travel into exciting adventures at night? This is for you.

Young Jeanne and the witty little fox called Pistouvi live together in a treehouse, surrounded by a prairie full o strange and magical things, a scary-looking but kind-hearted farmer, and a gentle spirit. Together they explore, discover things, and gain valuable life lessons, all while embarking on smaller or greater life adventures.

Pistouvi is a beautiful story that gently reminds us about growing up and discovering the world, all while keeping our imagination alive and intact. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations, Pistouvi is a story worth exploring and enjoying. A recommended read.

Sometimes a book gets you right in the feels. The art is breathtakingly good, and it is in service of a story and characters that immediately capture your heart.

It is a story about growing up, friendship, and, how eventually everything changes. Pistouvi is a rascal given to fits of tempers and acts of general cheekiness that are, for the most part utterly charming. Jeanne, his best friend and who I think the story is really about, is brave, kind, and, because of her curiosity is often impatient.
Pistouvi is told in vignettes of almost self-contained stories. Some are eerie; others are wholesome. If I were to describe the tone and feel of the book, it would be somewhere between the melancholy weirdness of the Moomins and the eccentric fun of Adventure Time. A friend of mine once said Tove Jansen’s books taught her how to be human to other human beings. Relationships, especially the friendships we have as children are difficult things to maintain; people grow up, move away and change. Nothing lasts. Everything hurts more when you’re a kid. This book brought back a lot of emotions and memories I had growing up. I’m not saying I cried, but I’m not saying I didn’t.

This is a wonderful book. It does that Pixar thing of giving something substantial for both children and adults to enjoy. I loved this. I’ll be purchasing a copy for the little ones in my life, and I would recommend you do the same.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy through Netgalley. This in no way influences my opinion of the book.

content warnings below this review

I was honestly so excited to read this when I saw the cover, and was even more excited once I took a glance at the artwork but ... I don't think Pistouvi is for me. Jeanne, one of the main characters, is honestly so unlikeable. I've read books where the main character is unlikeable but she really does take the cake.

If there's something I've come to learn of myself as a reader is that I am not a fan of stories without a linear plot. Regardless of the subpar writing, the art is BEAUTIFUL.

I tried to take a step back but every time I thought about reading it I just kept thinking about how much I wasn't enjoying it and I finally decided that I was just going to dnf this one.

cw: animal death, animal torture

Got a copy of this graphic novel from NetGalley.

The intricate artwork in this is really interesting and it would be wrong not to appreciate the level of detail that makes up each panel.

The narrative is about a young girl and her fox. I found the intimacy between them a bit weird and almost...abusive? The girl has a temper. The fox has a fear of birds. There are crows and some sort of pond lake birds. There’s a bearded truck man person. Wind, the force of nature, is female. Altogether this story is bizarre and nonsensical, and I usually enjoy that blend but the structure of this felt really disjointed and I could not find any cohesive meaning in the various chapter divisions.

The ending, however, was interesting but abrupt...implying that our most prized possessions/attachments will one day...fly away from us, and that will be that.

This is without a doubt the worst graphic novel I have ever read in my life. The only recommendation I can make about it is not to read it. There is no plot. The characters are so flat and boring and the way the human girl's teeth are drawn is disturbing to say the least. The is no conflict or character development. This was a waste so many people's time. Honestly wish I could've given a half star.