My Selling Pitch:
What if being a magic school’s chosen one was a bad thing? Gorgeous art, as nd while the plot leaves you hungry for more, it doesn’t stand on its own well.

Pre-reading:
The white haired lady on the cover looks like Manon.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Love the art style already.

Very dynamic poses

There’s a whiff of Winx Club and Harry Potter about this.

Is this setting them up to be enemies to lovers when they’re grown, because DOWN!

I love how he draws eyes.

Everyone in this is too hot. If evil, why hot? That’s golden mafia Barbie.

A stellar setup, but not a complete story arc that stands on its own.

Magic as stylized font is so cool but I would not have seen it without this post-comic explanation.

Post-reading:
This world is so interesting! I could’ve used a bit more concrete plot for an opening volume. This is all set up, and while it tosses a lot of balls into the air, we don’t really catch any. I’m super invested in finding out what happens next, but I think if you read this, you’re gonna be left wanting.

The art is gorgeous. Everyone’s hot. The panels have such dynamic poses and there’s so much detail to the costumes and hair. I love how the artist draws eyes and lashes. It’s got just enough humor, but is firmly a darker dystopian. The idea of magic being stylized text is absolutely incredible. I just wish I could read it. I don’t think there’s any way to figure that out unless you read the author’s note at the end of the volume. So much work clearly went into crafting sentences of power, but they’re lost on the audience since they’re in multiple different languages and then stylized to boot. You can’t exactly throw them into Google Translate.

The good guys are actually the bad guys is always a compelling plot, and even though it’s been done before, I’m still not tired of it. The characters are lacking a bit of personality and backstory to really endear them to the audience, but this book had a lot of ground to cover. The panel where they explain the shard’s dimensionality is a real standout. It’s pretty complex, yet super digestible, and the illustrations fit perfectly. I’m looking forward to reading more, but I wish this had a satisfying arc to stand on its own.

Who should read this:
Winx Club fans
Harry Potter fans
Dystopian superhero fans

Ideal reading time:
Anytime

Do I want to reread this:
Yes, the art is so pretty.

Would I buy this:
Yeah, I really like the art.

Similar books:
* The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw-horror, urban fantasy, dark academia, unreliable narrator
* Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma-YA urban fantasy, dark academia, romance, mystery, enemies to lovers
* The Longest Autumn by Amy Avery-fantasy, dark academia, mystery, romance
* Court of the Undying Seasons by A. M. Strickland-YA fantasy romance, dark academia, family drama, mystery, queer
* The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers-fairytale retelling, magical realism, family drama, romance
* Bytchcraft by Aaron Reese-urban fantasy, graphic novel, queer, family drama

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As an introduction to a new series, this volume — has a lot of setup, from the various sides, and the offshoots of the various sides, the hint at the big bad, the introduction to the magic system, as well as introducing various characters — and it’s got a lot of infodumping moments. It also has some really nice character designs, promising world building, and engaging writing.

However, because it’s mostly setup there’s not really much to latch onto character wise. On one side, a collection of adults and their students; on the other young adults and their teachers, each of whom are escapees or castoffs from the other side … and while there are nice hints about how these things are connected, they’re still mostly hints. And with over 12 characters, it’s a little hard for all of them to get enough screen time to decide if I like them or not.

If you’re on the fence about this collection, it might be better to either pick this up from the library or wait for the next installment to see if the story picks up. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for the ARC!

Wow! This was quite the introduction! We get to know a lot about the world building, about how Aida may be the key to solving everything, with people at all angles trying to win her on their side. The story gives backstory in Aida and how she only remembers fragments of what happened before being picked up by Alex and Vasha in order to protect her by her mothers orders.

I will say we don't get much about other characters backstories, or more moments of the characters bonding with one another. It would have been nice to see a bit more on how Ezra and Aida became enemies considering the twist at the end. Not to mention there are a lot of characters we get introduced to in this volume alone, I can understand why it became difficult to make their relationships more thought out.

Aside from that, the art is stunning and both the characters and backgrounds are very detailed through and through. Will definitely be waiting for the next volume!

The UnChosen immediately grabbed me with its stunning artwork — truly phenomenal visuals that elevate every panel. The story is intriguing and full of potential, laying the groundwork for a world I can’t wait to explore more. I’m already eager for the next installment. A strong start and a must-read for anyone who loves beautiful art paired with a compelling narrative.

The Unchosen by Daniel Marquez completely blew me away! First off, the art style is absolutely gorgeous like, if I saw this art anywhere, I’d be hooked instantly, no plot needed. But the story itself? It grabbed me right from the start. The moment it hinted that she caused what happened to her home, I was like, wait, what?? Tell me more! And then the main character turning to the dark side so fast? Such a bold move and a perfect plot twist. It honestly gave me Amulet vibes in the best way possible. I also loved how it’s centered around the power of words, there’s so much potential there for symbolism and deeper meaning. Overall, The Unchosen was stunning, emotional, and full of surprises. Easy 5 stars from me, and I’m so excited to see what happens in the sequels!

Thank you NetGalley and iImage Comics for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Volume 1 collects issues 1-4 all of which very interesting. Got through them pretty quickly. Amazing setup for the future of the series. Loved the art style as well as the story.
Will definietly be waiting for what comes next!

Like an X-Men & Power Ranger Crossover!

The UnChosen by David Marquez is a wild, high-octane ride through a world where being “chosen” isn’t a blessing. It could very well be a death sentence. Aida, our main character, is trying to survive. Her journey hits hard, blending raw survival with the kind of moral gray areas that make you squirm in the best way. Marquez nails the tension between destiny and free will, all while serving up jaw-dropping visuals and a story that refuses to play it safe. It’s messy, it’s bold, and it asks the big questions without slowing down for breath. If you’re into stories that flip the chosen-one trope on its head and keep you guessing, this one’s a must.

I cannot wait to read more!