I really enjoyed String! The art is solid overall, though I did notice a couple of continuity errors—like a character’s glasses disappearing and reappearing in the same scene without explanation. That aside, the storytelling kept me fully engaged from start to finish.

The villain was a real standout: completely unhinged, delusional in his self-righteousness, and utterly detached from reality. It made him all the more compelling and unsettling.

Litty was my favorite character, hands down. I also really liked Luke, the cop partner—I found myself wanting to know more about them. And Yoon, the main character, was great too. She’s definitely a bit loony, but that just made her all the more interesting to follow.

Plus, the cast was wonderfully queer, which is exactly how I like it.

This book had a really interesting premise, but I’m not entirely sure the execution landed for me. Yoon-Sook Namgung sees strings—blue ones connecting people who’ve had sex, and black ones linking murderers to their victims. It’s a wild and original concept that immediately caught my attention.

Throughout the story, Yoon-Sook solves several murder mysteries while trying to figure out the meaning behind a new black string that’s suddenly appeared. The art style is absolutely stunning, and the characters had depth and intrigue, especially Yoon-Sook herself.

That said, the pacing felt a bit rushed. We were constantly jumping from one event to the next, and there wasn’t much time to let anything sink in or emotionally settle. It got a bit disorienting at times—I found myself wanting more breathing room between the twists.

Still, it’s a creative, visually striking story with a unique twist on murder mystery and supernatural abilities. I think it’ll resonate with readers who enjoy dark, fast-paced graphic novels with a touch of the surreal.

String has a great premise—Yoon, a Korean-American woman, can see strings that connect sexual partners and murderers to their victims. It gave me Shingetsutan Tsukihime vibes and had a lot of potential, but the execution didn’t work for me.

The pacing felt rushed, with plot points resolving too easily and little room for character development. The dialogue had that “men writing women” energy—awkward and unconvincing. Yoon’s partnership with Luke didn’t feel necessary or well-developed. I also found the story over-sexualized, both in the artwork and commentary, often prioritising style over substance.

This had all the ingredients for a unique and compelling read but ultimately missed the mark.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a proof in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much for letting me read this graphic novel. This was one hell of a roller-coaster ride and I was here for it.

This book and, hopefully series, is so much fun! I enjoy the social commentary as well as the suspense in this. I appreciate the representation throughout and the subtle social Justice cues as well. The main characters have great chemistry together and the illustrations are fabulous.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

Pretty fun premise. Good set up for future stories and shenanigans. Art style felt pretty classic comic book which I personally love. Visually there's a lot to look at especially in any scene where you get a lot of strings. I imagine all characters will be fleshed out more as the series goes on. Overall a fun set up and should be a good series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios for providing me with an eARC of this book.

2.5

This book offers a compelling blend of queer representation and an intense mystery, laced with explicit sexual elements. Nothing like anything I've read before. Beyond the eye-catching cover of 'String,' the story's intriguing and original concept truly piqued my interest. Initially, I was blown away by the illustrations. The art style was exceptional, and the bold colors made the story visually unforgettable.

I thought the concept of Yoon's powers was quite intriguing. Her character, overall, was interesting and relatable. From her hairstyle, to her type of humor, to hobbies, to the cases she was working on. There was never a dull moment with her.

Which leads me to some of my issues with this story. Halfway through the story, I started to see a slightly annoying pattern. I noticed the writer likes to have calm moments before having these abrupt, action filled scenes. It was exciting the first couple of times, but after awhile, I was getting metaphorical whiplash and would rather a smoother transition into the action. Often when that approach was utilized, it wasn't enough suspense for me prior to the action. Not to mention, there was a highly unnecessary chase scene in the beginning of the story. A random, "crazy" woman on the road tried to run over Yoon because... she assumed Yoon, then Luke slept with her husband?? This scene wasn't mentioned again in the story and it only delayed the plot.

My next point, this book is very sexual, even overly sexual to the point that I'm wondering what some of these side stories and interactions have anything to do with the plot, outside of expanding Yoon's powers through sexual references. Most of them, have some relation to sex, and if I'm not mistaken, she could also spot murderers and their victims. There's a way angle your character in a nonsexual way. Way too many times, I see Yoon's bum or frontside in the panel to show she's talking or seeing something in the distance. You can easily draw her side profile or her feet/ legs or perhaps ANYTHING else on her body to show she's talking or looking at something without entirely taking up the panel. Also, in one of her side stories, if the family is having sex with the butler, why are the strings black for murder and not blue for sexual connections?? Overall, the level of sexualization was just a bit too much and unnecessary for me at times. Was the 'naughty girl' remark from Finch really necessary? It felt incredibly gross.

The ending was fairly decent. I found it to be a very powerful moment for Yoon to finally confront the main antagonist and stand in her truth!! However, I felt no ways about the antagonist their self. This person was barely mentioned in the story and though I was proud of Yoon for embracing her genuine self, I felt absolutely nothing for the other person. I know they're supposed to represent all the haters and doubters in Yoon's life, but if I had more information about said person, then I'd feel more of a emotional connection in that moment.

I appreciate the author's choice to not reduce Litty as just some promiscuous, overly sexual being just because she's a porn star. She also does plenty of charity work, she's a dog lover, dare I say a book reviewer, and seemingly a hockey enthusiast.

Regardless of my mixed feelings, String still was an exciting, intriguing, fast paced story. If you're into queer narratives and high-stakes mysteries with explicit sexual content, this is definitely for you!

Yoon-Sook Namgung has a weird but useful talent: she can see the connections between people. Blue strings link sexual partners, while black strings connect murderers to their victims. Naturally, this makes her pretty good at solving crimes (and confirming cheating scandals—yikes). Life’s messy, but it’s manageable.

Until one day, she notices something horrifying—a black string tied to herself. Meaning she’s either about to kill someone or get murdered. Fantastic. Now she’s on a mission to figure out who’s at the other end before it’s too late.

She’s not in this alone, though. The detective she works with is skeptical, exasperated, and somehow still putting up with her. Their dynamic adds a fun push-and-pull to the mystery, balancing Yoon’s chaos with some much-needed structure.

String is one of those stories with a killer premise (pun intended) and the execution to back it up. Yoon is sharp, funny, and just the right amount of a disaster, making her an easy protagonist to root for. The murder mystery angle keeps things tense, while the whole “string-seeing” ability adds a fun supernatural twist. Plus, the art does a great job of visualizing all these invisible connections without overwhelming the page.

It also looks like this is just the beginning of Yoon’s story. A lot of questions are still left unanswered, and I’d love to see what the future has in store for her. If this really is the first in a series, count me in for whatever comes next.

If you like mysteries with a supernatural edge, a lead who reacts to impending doom with sarcasm and determination, and a detective just trying to survive her nonsense, String is absolutely worth checking out.

I really love the unique way this was written. It was refreshing to see the “string” theory work in such an interesting way. Truly a cool new universe I’d love to see more of.

This was fast paced and a really interesting idea. The main character sees two types of strings, one that connects people who have been intimate and the other connects murders to their victims. When a string shows up on herself it sets off events to her either becoming or finding her own murderer. I would love to see more of this story but I also think it wraps up really nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this before publication.

I was not familiar with the inspiration behind this story, but was very intrigued. I like the queer rep in this one and the art-style was nice to look at.

What a cool concept!! I absolutely love how the strings work in this book! I enjoyed the characters and their development. It kept my attention the whole time and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next! The art style is beautiful as well!! I’ll definitely be getting the rest of the series because this was phenomenal! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

First and foremost, thank you to Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios for allowing me to read an ARC of this. I'm really happy 💕 Who thought that there's a graphic novel out there for ADULTS?! This might not be news for others but this is news for me. 'Cause this can't be categorized as YA, probably a NA and Adult Graphic Novel.

Anyways, love love love the storyline. Our girl, can see the connection between people, which are called Strings. Blue Strings for relationships/those who slept with someone else, and Black for murders. What an easy way to catch a criminal right? But who says it would be easy? But the stars of the show for me are Grapefruit and Turtle 🤭 Love those two 😘

The graphics have this type of comic-vibe. The colors are perfect and appealing, you'll just want to read more. I'll definitely be waiting for the next book!

✅LGBTQ+ Representation
✅Mystery/Thriller
✅Humorous Banters
✅Fast-paced
✅A perfect read when you're on a reading slump


5.0⭐!!!

String, written by Paul Tobin, is a graphic novel that delves into an intriguing concept: Yoon-Sook Namgung, a young woman with the ability to see two types of "strings"—the blue ones that connect lovers and the black ones that link murderers to their victims. This original twist initially caught my attention, offering a unique premise that, although fascinating, fails to maintain the pacing and depth one might expect from a story with such potential.

Visually, String is a treat. The illustrations are stunning and vibrant, with bold use of color that brings the story to life in an impactful way. Yoon-Sook, as the protagonist, is beautifully designed, capturing the essence of her character, and the overall artwork is one of the strongest aspects of the graphic novel. The illustrations, without a doubt, stand out as a highlight.

However, the storytelling presents certain issues. The plot feels rushed, with quick jumps between different settings, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in each scene. The speed at which the story moves from one place to another leaves little room for emotional connection to key moments.

On the other hand, the relationship between the main characters, Yoon-Sook and Luke, never deepens significantly, making it hard to invest emotionally in their connection.

While String presents an intriguing narrative and boasts stunning visuals, it is a unique work that might appeal to those who enjoy graphic novels with a different twist.

3 Reasons to Read String

1. Unique and Intriguing Premise: The concept of the "strings" that connect people in different contexts is innovative and provides a fresh perspective on themes of love and crime.

2. Stunning Artwork: The illustration in String is vibrant and detailed, capturing the essence of the story in a visually appealing and emotionally intense way.

4. Fast-Paced and Exciting Adventures: If you enjoy narratives with rapid pacing, unexpected twists, and a tense atmosphere, String offers a dynamic and unique experience.

This was such a unique take on the idea of the red string of fate. Instead of red strings linking you to your soulmate Yoon-Sook sees strings that links any lovers you’ve had and black strings between victims and their murderers.

String was action-packed and at times humorous. The idea was intriguing, but the execution kept me hooked all the way through. I had such a fun time reading this comic. Following Yoon-Sook as she tries to find the person who intends to murder her was a wild ride.

This is a great comic for adults who are interested in unique concepts and like action. The art and the story work together beautifully. String is the full package. I loved it!

"String" is a fast paced mystery that balances suspense and whimsy while telling a familiar story in a new and innovative way. At the heart of this story, is its protagonist, pink-haired, hard core Gen-Zer Yoon, who is witty, brave, more than a little world weary and just happens to have a paranormal gift that makes her of interest to police and criminals alike. Expect a fair number of twists and turns, a decent - if underdeveloped partner in crime solving, lots of cute pet action and a somewhat lackluster villain. This book is recommended for anyone who enjoys magical realism and quirky protagonists.

4.5 stars out of 5.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Mad Cow Studios, for providing me with an eArc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.

First, the graphics in this book are excellent. I wish I would have been able to see how this looked on my color e-reader but enjoyed them just as well on my phone, although I did have to zoom in on my phone. That did tend to disrupt the flow of reading a bit. With that being said, I think that a bigger screen this wouldn't be an issue.

In this story, we are following a young woman who can see "strings" that ultimately join the relationships between people. This is a twist or different take on the Red String theory and I was here for it. Purple is connecting people with intimate relationships and a black string connects victims to their murderers. This is a twist or different take on the Red String theory and I was immediately drawn to this because of that.
The female lead is out to find out why she has a black string attached to her and enlists some help.
Overall, I enjoyed this book,. The only thing I would change is more of an explanation of WHY she can see these strings to begin with. I will definately be reading the next installment. If you like graphic novels and mysteries, this will be enjoyable for you too!!

Mystery? Yes!
Blue strings showing relationships everywhere? Yes!
Black strings showing anyone with murderous intentions? Hell yes!
And I really loved the art.
Hope to read the next volume soon.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Yoon-Sook Namgung is a 25-year-old Korean-American woman with the remarkable ability to see two types of “strings” connecting various people. The first is blue and stretches between sexual partners. The second—dark black—connects murderers and their victims.

I am a big fan of color and this blew my expectations out of the park, wow. The artwork was beautiful and detailed. I could tell right away the setting was Seattle and each character was so unique. Yoon was my favorite with her bright pink hair and sass, I loved the fight scenes and the concept is amazing. I need more!!! Maybe some Luke & Yoon more as friends scenes hahah


Thank you for the arc netgalley

Don't be fooled by the colorful cover - String is a gritty tale for mature audiences, full of on-page violence, romance, and death that will keep you reading until the last page.

I'll start by saying I adored the art and color choices. In a sea of dark tales in muted colors, the artists for String chose to stand out with bubbly art in pinks and pastels, no matter how violent and dramatic the story got. Yoon, the protagonist, has such an iconic and memorable design that she pops off the page whenever she appears. There's also a lot of humor and chaos injected into the story through the art, which made this really entertaining to read and probably a good one to revisit.

The premise and plot were certainly intriguing and got my attention right away. What if someone can see strings connecting lovers and murderers/victims? There's a lot of exploration around the effects of this power on people around Yoon, with some looking to use it to their advantage, while others fear it and run away to avoid being discovered. She gets to interact with all layers of society, from authorities to gang members, but the danger didn't always come from where she expected it.

If you're into gritty detective tales with a fun twist, you'll love String.

✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.