Fantastic premise. Gorgeous cover.

But I stopped reading almost immediately. After two or four pages.

Maybe because of the confusing start with multiple locations and multiple characters.

Maybe because it was hard to read it on my phone.

To be honest, I prefer the drawing style of Faith Erin Hicks. I read "Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy" in one seating. And "Monomyth"... Well, I lost interest after the first couple of pages.

I'm sure that many readers would love it!
Unfortunately, I'm just not one of them.

a little too short and quite a but confusing but by the end you understand what’s happening. the art is very beautiful, the ideas are creative and original, making the story fairytale like. the characters are diverse and complex, with thought out backstories. it’s perfect for a quick, interesting read.

*thank you to NetGalley for giving me access*
3.5 stars
i liked the artstyle and the plot was pretty good. If I were to find this at the library, I'd definitely read it. It had a gay character, which I love and I think the sequel could be fun as well.
Partly why I didn't rate it higher was because I read it on my phone and that makes it harder for me to read the whole thing and judge it properly

This was a fun graphic novel!

It’s set in an old, dilapidated magic school that pits its inhabitants against each other. The cast is diverse and the story deals heavily with grief and the things in life that shape us and help us become stronger.

The artwork was really awesome and I really appreciated the attention to detail.

I LOVED the romance between Julia and Kerra. These two were the absolute heart of this story and it wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable without them.

I think this just needed to be longer, though. I wanted to spend more time with the lore and the history of the school and the magic system. There was flashbacks to a king and hints at magical bloodlines that I would have liked to see expanded on. I know a graphic novel can only show so much but I’ve also read graphic novels much longer and more detailed than this one.

The artwork is absolutely stunning. The story felt a little rushed and the character development was pretty minimal but I did enjoy the use of time and geography throughout. IT was definitely a unique story of magic and family/friendship.

This was really cool! It was like playing a soulsborne video game. It was a little confusing at parts but overall it was a really fun read! And super spooky too!

With magic nearly at its end, a wizard summons seven people to a decrepit castle in an attempt to revive said magic. But in the vein of the highlander, there can be only one. As they go through tests, they are slowly picked off one by one until they begin to realize that they are being pitted against each other. A horror comic that will surely give me nightmares.

Wow! A gripping and twisty graphic novel!
The drawings are PERFECT. The story is unexpectedly complex. The characters feel super alive. There are twists and turns, and it is somewhat dark and atmospheric.

In Monomyth, seven people wake up in an unfamiliar place with a “school” where they must learn to master deadly magic before they are killed by terrible monsters, and before they are turned against one another. As I was reading it it reminded me of the Netflix animated series “The Hollow,” but with more gore and death.
I loved the art style and the colors. The way the art was combined with the dialogue/narration made for a fast paced story that I couldn’t put down. I thought the book had really good pacing right up until the ending which felt a bit rushed. I also thought the magic system was INSANELY cool.
The characters were very well developed, and they all had very tragic and compelling backstories. I actually liked every single one of them, which is rare. Usually there is that one character who’s POV is boring compared to the rest, and that didn’t happen with Monomyth.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, and I’m interested in continuing the series!
Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the free digital arc!

Dark, brutal, twisted - that's Monomyth in a nutshell. It has a dark twisted magic, characters with tragic backstories, and an intriguing plot. The art looks great and plays nicely with dark colors and shadows. The plot doesn't always move as fast as I would prefer, but the build-up pays off later in the book.

All told, worth a shot!

Following 7 chosen wizards who get trapped in a tower by a wizard who calls himself Homonculus.

This was a wild ride following all 7 different characters as they navigated through their fears and what their reasons for being in the tower is.

These characters are forced to make difficult selfish choices that puts their lives on a scale of life and death.

The panels and colours of this graphic novel is incredibly done. It sucks uou in right away. I absolutely enjoyed reading this as it's a fast paced story with twists, tippng scales, weighted choices and old age secrets.

— 4 ⚝
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an e-arc of this graphic novel. all thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.

this was a very, very compelling story. the art and illustrations were so captivating. the storyline itself was extremely interesting. the characters are very distinct from each other and intriguing. the dialogues are very well thought out and witty. overall, a great premise, well rounded characters, witty dialogue and mesmerizing illustrations. recommend this to every fantasy lover that wants an easy read in a graphic novel. extremely excited for the new volume.

"Monomyth Vol. 1" by David Hazan and Cecilia Lo Valvo is a graphic novel that explores the theme of magic in a world where it is nearly extinct. The story revolves around the last ailing wizard who casts a desperate spell to summon the descendants of ancient bloodlines to a school for magic, even though it is in disrepair. However, the chosen ones soon discover that the school is not what it seems, and they must confront the darkest parts of themselves and overcome each other to survive.

The narrative introduces a suspenseful and mysterious atmosphere, where the characters are faced with challenges and dangers within the magical school. The concept of ancient bloodlines and the struggle for survival add depth to the plot, creating a compelling story for fans of mystery, fantasy, and graphic novels.

"Monomyth Vol. 1" promises an intriguing exploration of magic, self-discovery, and survival, making it an enticing read for those who enjoy comics, graphic novels, and fantasy with a darker edge.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

3.5
I wanted to like this, but it just didn't click for me. The way this story is written is very confusing. The way characters make speeches at certain parts just never landed with me emotionally, because you learn basically nothing about them. Some of the concepts were interesting, such as magic being interconnected with storytelling. But beyond that, it was just confusing. This didn't feel like the start of a series, it felt like the middle of one. The cliffhanger ending didn't compel me to seek out the next volume either. I did like the character designs, I thought they all looked very good. The art style I liked! It was rough and textured but looked really good. It made the monstrous elements look terrifying! There was a very weird style choice for the majority of the last chapter. That art style I didn't like that as much, it made everything look way too cartoony. I found myself being unable to take certain scenes seriously because of how cartoonish they looked. It also went back to the original art style right at the end, so the change was even weirder.

Amazing art and writing combine in this story. David Hazan is proving to be a wellspring of creativity and the imagery in this book is fantastic — and macabre.

I want to thank Netgalley for an advanced ARC of this graphic novel for a honest review, also all opinions in this review are my own.

Reading this graphic novel gave me dungeon and dragon vibes mixed with merlin and Nordic myths etc

I enjoyed and loved this from page one to then end and if you love High fantasy adventure with strength, courage, friendship and a journey of self discovery though ur own fears and perception then this first volume is for u 💖 and I cannot wait to continue with it when more is done.

Monomyth Volume 1 by David Hazan, Cecilia Lo Valvo and Federico Bertoni will be released December 26, 2023. Mad Cave Studios provided an early galley for review.

This year I have read several collections from Mad Cave Studios - all different and all entertaining. This looked to be another that fell into those categories. This volume collects the original six issues of the series and also includes some extras in the form of alternate covers by other artists.

The art style on the series has a very "classic" feel in that it evokes an old-world feel. The line work is often thick with colors that are rich yet muted. That fits very well for a fantasy book about magical legacies. It works very well to set the mood and tone of the story.

Speaking of story, it opens with a brief introduction of the cast and the bringing of them together. We get to know each of them as they get to know one another. It is a literary tool that works well here. It quickly turns into a tale of survival, of facing ones truth and accepting it. There are several layers at work here.

In the end, it was an interesting story that will appeal to readers looking for something a bit out of the norm.

Mad Cave is releasing some of the best indie comics out there right now, and this is no exception. Although I felt like the wrap-up was maybe rushed and had room to do more with some of the concepts introduced at such a late stage, overall the story was great. Similar in many ways to Once & Future but different enough to stand apart, it’s about stories and their power.

Also, the art for the most part is ridiculously beautiful. I felt like that also fell off in the 6th issue but overall, stunning.

Jeez dude, what a graphic novel this was. The art style was just so cool. The colors and the ambience of it all was very well done. Ancient, evil magic beings trying to manipulate humankind and we got 3 saviours instead of one. So thanks netgalley for this ARC. The art and the story was an interesting premise

An isolated secret school of magic.

Wizards from ancient magic bloodlines.

Staircases that lead every which way and change direction underfoot.

Siblings, rivals, and lovers that fill the castle halls and fight to be the best witch or wizard of their age.

It sounds familiar, doesn’t it? I’m actually talking about Monomyth, a magic-filled triumph of a graphic novel releasing next month. And, yes, it’s supposed to feel familiar but not because its derivative or trite. Monomyth is full of bloody magic and fire, but it also has a lot to say about family, art, and survival.

Monomyth is best if you throw out all your expectations of what a secret magic school should be. Forget the twelve-year-old boy with a lightning scar and his bearded headmaster and go into Monomyth with only the vaguest memory of his story and school. Because Monomyth is a story of its own. One desperate wizard casts one last spell on the eve of his death. His spell summons seven people from ancient wizarding bloodlines to a dilapidated wizarding school on a remote island. Enormous magical monsters are out to get them, and the new wizards must quickly learn to use their magic or die. If they use the magic incorrectly, they’ll die. Monomyth is brutal, intense, and full of death, blood, and even necromancy. However, it also tells clear stories about family, grief, regret, and staying true to oneself.

Monomyth knows that it feels familiar. Characters look around them at the wizarding classrooms full of scrolls and weird staircases and think, “Looks eerily familiar, wouldn’t you say?” Monomyth nearly goes so far as to directly address its influencing author and series. A character asks, “Can you separate the art from the artist?” She has an answer to her rhetorical question, but you’ll need to check out the series to read it.

Final Thoughts: A+ for originality and the brilliantly brutal take on a wizarding school setting. For such a deadly comic, the conclusion was a bit too easy for me and for the characters. I guess they did deserve a bit of a break after all that trauma, though. I’m hoping we get more in this series and that it continues with its dark themes. A++ for representation. Multiple BIPOC and queer characters in the cast. An excellent Teen+ graphic novel.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Thanks to Mad Cave Studios for an advanced copy of this graphic novel for review! All the above thoughts are my own.

Full blog post review will be posted on November 21, 2023, at the following link: https://backshelfbooks.com/2023/11/21/graphic-novel-review-monomyth-vol-1-by-david-hazan-and-cecilia-lo-valvo/