Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 4
Pace: 4
Plot development: 4
Characters: 5
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 4

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

I have always loved this story and this is a stunning adaption of it. The artwork truly brings the epic journey of Fiver and Bigwig and Hazel and all their friends to life as they struggle to escape the tyranny of General Wormwort and their old warren . I adore that while this is considered a children's classic in no way does the author or the illustrator shy away from the various traps, predators and horrors that face a wild rabbit. Their lives are often cut short by the many dangers they may face, be it man, fox , dog or their own kind. Truly enjoyable. The deft and intense battles, the wide watery tenderness in the eyes of the main characters that takes away none of their animal charm while making us understand only to clearly what they are thinking and feeling. The interwoven myths of the sun and the prince of rabbits are beautiful and stirring. Even the background and landscaping envoke the sound of running water a whisper of cool breeze through soft green grass in the shade of a tree or the rich scent of freshly turned dirt which makes the redness of blood shed all the more vivid. First class work from start to finish and a must read for all animal lovers bubbling with charm and excitement.

James Sturm has done the best possible job that one can do adapting such a vast and beautiful novel. By necessity, the plot and some characters have been pared down to allow for ease of storytelling. The essence of the book, the characters, and the beautiful storytelling within the book itself remain. WATERSHIP DOWN is one of my favorite books ever written, and being able to revisit it in graphic novel format was an absolute delight.

Joe Sutphin's illustrations are reminiscent of the film adaptation of the novel. Beautiful pastoral scenes, flowers and birds so beautifully drawn that you'll be able to identify the species. The story comes to life on these pages, and for a moment makes you wish that you could join the rabbits there on the downs. Each of the rabbits were distinctive enough that they could identified with just a glance, while still staying true to what diversity would be among the species.

This is an enchanting story. I'm hoping it will inspire more people to revisit, or for the first time read, Richard Adams' classic.

Thank you Netgalley, and Ten Speed Press, for giving me a copy of this graphic novel for review.

Watership Down is a Classic rabbit adventure story. It is a book that I don't feel students at my school would choose to pick up. By having a graphic novel version it guarantees students would pick it up. The artwork really brings the story to life. I found this version to be heart warming and engaging.

Watership Down was one of my all time favorite books as a kid, but I was not very keen on ordering it when I took over the library because it takes a strong reader for the age group I deal with and I didn't think that would apply to enough kids to justify it. I was SO EXCITED to see this come out as a graphic novel!

The graphic novel itself was so well done! While some parts had to be cut to keep the story a manageable size they kept the overall integrity of the original book. The pictures were realistic and not overly cartoony. There are fight scenes that don't shy away from blood and violence in nature. The individual rabbits had varying colors, patterns, and scarring to differentiate them and to avoid confusion. Just like the original book, there was a map at the beginning to show their journey and a glossary at the end to help with some of the rabbit's words.

I am definitely, definitely buying this book for our library when it comes out so I can introduce a whole new generation to one of my favorite books!

Emotional and beautifully illustrated. I have never actually read Watership Down in its original form but it has moved up my TBR list now. Highly recommended! 💜

I was finally able to download! I thought the art was stunning. It’s hard to condense such an immense novel into this format and I do feel like it’s missing some context. That said, this would be an amazing supplement for classrooms reading this novel (especially for students with lower reading skills) and/or families reading the novel aloud but to provide another option for children. Or, of course, for fans of the novel!!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up.

Thank you to Net Galley and Ten Speed Press for the ARC of this graphic novel. Having never read Watership Down before, I felt that this was a fun way to read it for the first time. I found the illustrations to be quite charming and moving. There were parts of the book that I felt were slower than others but overall I enjoyed it a lot!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Graphic for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

5/5 stars
The artwork is so stunning and beautiful! I have always wanted to read this daunting novel, but this graphic adaptation is more approachable. The story flows well, and the glossary was a great addition. Fantastic read!

I had this novel on my to be read list since forever, when I had the opportunity of reading the comic book I jumped at the chance of doing that.

I did like the drawings in the comic book, reminded me of the children book “Guess how much I love you” but in a much more serious mood, while you can read this comic book with young children from 8 up, there’s some violence, so its best to read it under some supervision, but the history is very interesting, the rabbits are given human characteristics and they face very unusual dangers, even learning that is not because someone is like them is safe to be around them, but I wont give spoilers, I really advice people to grab a copy and read this story for themselves, this is the kind of story that is good for all ages.

Thank you NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press, Ten Speed Graphic, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Clarkson Potter/ Ten Speed Press for three graphic novel, Watership Down, for an honest review. I have never read the classic, so this is all new to me. I thought the illustrations were nicely done. However I did not really like the story. I found reading about rabbits the whole time was boring. I finished though. 3 stars

I don’t remember reading Watership Down as a child but of course I had to read this graphic of the classic book.
The illustrations are very well done and even though the story is all about rabbits and there are many of them, they are all discernible by the illustration style.
The use of the Lapine language was well incorporated into the book and the glossary/dictionary was very appreciated!

Because I haven't read Richard Adam's classic, all impressions I state here are strictly about the graphic novel, I can't draw any comparisons between the novel and this adaptation.

The first impression was that this is a story I'd probably have liked better when I was younger and more attuned to enjoying anthropomorphic stories on their own merit. That doesn't necessarily mean I disliked the anthropomorphic aspect of this story, only that I'm perhaps more desensitised to it and it doesn't appeal or speak to me the way it would have when young. I have enjoyed other anthropomorphic stories as an adult, "Maus," "Animal Farm," etc., but those had a symbolism and metaphors that were easy to spot and understand.

Which leads to my first issue with this graphic novel: I can't see whatever metaphors or messages it was supposed to deliver. It's simply a story about and with rabbits. Now, before you come tell me the gazillion interpretations of this story from parable to allegory to political thesis, I would kindly remind you that this isn't the novel and most likely there's nuances that simply couldn't be put in illustration. For all I know, this story's message is glaringly obvious in the book. But it isn't in this graphic novel. Not that I could see it, and I tried very hard. I even looked up what the author had said his story was about, and everywhere I looked, he'd say the same: it's simply a story about rabbits, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jan/04/richard-adams-watership-down-interview">it's not meant to be a parable</a> or anything else. His daughters, for whom he created this story, say the same in interviews: It's just a story.

Which is fair, there's nothing wrong with just a story about rabbits. But here we circle back to my first point that, if so, I'm past the age when I'd appreciate just a story about rabbits best. At my age, I need more than just that. All the children's books I love, anthro or not, have something more. I love Ferdinand because I can see the metaphor quite clearly even though it's written like just a story about a bull. But if I don't see the metaphor in "Watership Down" clearly, then it means whatever it is will be one that comes from others' interpretation projected onto it rather than from my own reading of the story. And from what I can see, this isn't exactly lacking in interpretations.

Could it be the fact that this is an adaptation without input from the author? Very possible. James Sturm does admit in the author's notes that there's been omissions from novel to graphic adaptation and that there are cuts in terms of characters and scenes, as well as changes he had to made to fit the visual medium.

So let's judge it as "just a story," then. The beginning, when Hazel and Fiver decide to lead the rabbits from their warren into a new land to escape danger is confusing, and very slow. We don't know what the danger is, and we won't know till much later, through flashbacks at that, so for the majority of the first half, all you get is rabbits running and running, and having adventures. Whether you'll find these adventures interesting will depend on your age and tastes, and they didn't suit mine. It's overlong and boring, and the only saving grace was that I rather liked Hazel, whom I initially mistook for a girl rabbit. Hazel, and to a lesser extent Bigwig, were the only characters I cared about, because the rest of the rabbits were forgettable and could be lumped into one single rabbity blob, even Fiver.

Then the story starts to get darker, once the rabbits stop running aimlessly and find a place they want to dwell in in safety. They're faced with challenges that come not from men, the rather predictable and mostly faceless "danger" they had been running from originally, but from other animals. They find two warrens of rabbits, one wild and complacent and bloated, and another aggressive and dictatorial, and things finally become interesting. This was the part I liked best, it was the best-written and better paced part. And when the final stand at the underground warren when the Efrafa rabbits attack Hazel's people, I was really engrossed and almost deflated when I thought my favourite bit the dust.

Long story short: first half mediocre, second half good.

The art is another thing that saves this adaptation. It's beautifully done, and the main rabbits have distinctive features: Hazel's lines are softer (which is why I thought he was a girl rabbit) and his fur is slightly lighter, Fiver has the Crazy Prophet face of a madman, Bigwig has a gruff Clint Eastwood aura, General Woundwort looks like a big bully, and so on. The artist took care to not make all look rabbits indistinguishable, which is appreciated. The artwork delineates the characters better than the writing does, I'd hazard to say.

In conclusion, as a story about rabbits, it does stand on its own. It might be a tad too dark and bloody for what one is used to expect from anthropomorphic stories with animals one associates with harmlessness and cuteness, but that also can be a sell for audiences that like their cute a bit bloodied.

Watership Down is a classic tale about a society of rabbits and their adventures. I think this graphic novel is a wonderful addition. The artwork really brings the story to life. I haven't read the novel Watership Down but plan to add that to my list. I found the graphic novel to be engaging and heartfelt.

Loved it, sincerely and wholeheartedly.

It’s hard to explain why the seemingly simple story of a ragtag bunch of rabbits setting on a dangerous odyssey through English countryside has burrowed its way into my heart ever since I was a child and not only held up but got even better on each and every one of quite a few rereads. But capture my heart it did, and I regret nothing.

This graphic novel adaptation of Watership Down does the novel justice. It’s lovely, keeping a lot of Richard Adams’ text and condensing the story enough while still keeping the spirit of it. Just look at this art, simply beautiful and just absolutely perfect for the feel of the story, the lovely countryside that is the world of the rabbits, which at any moment can become quite a terrifying place in an eyeblink.

Can it be read without knowing Richard Adams’ novel? Well, yes — but for Frith’s and El-Ahrairah’s sake, why would you? It’s perfect for the fans of the original story, but for the newcomers I’d suggest to also read the original book to appreciate everything more. Because let me tell you - I’m a certified superfan of Watership Down (Bigwig and Hazel, you are my dream team!) and this looked exactly how I’d ever imagine the story, and if you love the original, I can’t fathom you not loving this as well.

(Oh, and if you have watched the 1978 British cartoon adaptation and was terrifyingly traumatized by Woundwort/Bigwig fight, you’re in luck. Ok, just kidding — it’s just as terrifyingly brutal as you remember, but awesomely so. I mean, fluffy bunnies, right? Right?)

(And just like in the original, you didn’t need any translation here to know exactly what Bigwig means when he tell Woundword to “Silflay hraka” :)

Easy 5 stars. It joins Slaughterhouse-Five, or the Children's Crusade and To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel as another adaptation done right.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson/Potter/ Ten Speed Press for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was awesome. The illustrations were great. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

This book was exquisitely drawn. I've always been afraid of Watership Down, because of the graphic scenes I had seen of the animated version. I wanted to read the book but didn't for the same reason, so I'm so happy to have been able to get to know the story through the graphic novel!!

Thanks to NetGalley & Clarkson Potter/ Ten Speed Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

This is a graphic novel adaptation of Richard Adams' 1972 novel of the same name. "Watership Down" follows the story of a small group of rabbits as they journey to find a new home and meet new friends (and enemies) along the way.

I've never read the original novel, but I have watched the (rather traumatic) film and the (adorable) 90s TV spin-off, so I knew who the characters were going in. The characters were well-drawn, I loved the lore and the language they used - of course it makes sense that the rabbits don't know the word "car" and come up with their own words. This graphic novel is beautifully drawn and brings the story of "Watership Down" to life. It might still be a little hard going for younger kids with the amount of violence shown, but it belongs in any family library.

A charming, compelling, and occasionally horrifying graphic novel - just like the original it's based on. In truth, this is quite a worthy adaptation, rendering Richard Adams's lapin epic into a new form with a surprising degree of faithfulness to the original as well as comprehensibility in a different mode. The art is the real star, managing to evoke by turns the bucolic loveliness of the English countryside and the nightmarish horrors of certain plotlines the rabbits encounter during their odyssey. The rabbits are all entirely distinguishable from one another and immediately recognizable as individuals (which, I have to say, I'm no expert on either character illustration or rabbits, but it seems like no mean feat to me), and deeply expressive without ever compromising...rabbitiness.

It's a beautiful adaptation, and I can imagine a lovely introduction to this epic story for many, and particularly younger, readers.

Thank you to the publisher, Ten Speed Graphic, for the advance review copy!

Beautiful but SO bummed I can’t read this on my scribe to get the full beauty of the photos. Really impacted my reading experience and ability to recommend.