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Book Review: The Crying Forest by Venero Armanno

Cover art for The Crying Forest by Veneno Armanno

( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

The Crying Forest by Venero Armanno

IFWG Publishing Australia, 2021

ISBN-13: 9781925956559

Available: Paperback, Kindle

 

Paul Munro and his young daughter Lía move from Hong Kong into a large country house in Australia. It becomes clear early on that Lía is more than what she appears. She sees things and has a power that others want to harvest for themselves. Agata Rosso, an ancient Italian witch, is one such individual. She used to hold so much power, but that power, and her youth, are long gone for her and her ailing husband, Giancarlo. Another party interested in restoring his vitality and power is the lecherous and wealthy Karl Haberman. After Agata Rossa endears herself to Karl by way of offering him something of a youth elixir, presented to him by a mutual acquaintance, Donatello Zappavigna. The old wretch and the aged witch join forces to track down the rich source of power in their midst.

 

Venero Armanno’s folk horror combines a good mystery, interesting characters, and both inhuman and very human monsters. I found myself unable to put the book down, while at the same time needing to take breaks to properly digest the chapters. Most of the characters are multifaceted, especially Donatello. I could go from having immense sympathy for him in one chapter, and absolutely hating him in the next. I liked discovering more about Lía as the story progressed, including details about her previous schooling and why she had to leave the hallowed halls of that school. She’s full of mystery and surprises, and a strength that shines through even from the first pages. I would recommend this for adult readers who enjoy folk horror works.

There is a content warning that needs to be addressed. Karl Haberman has certain sexual appetites that are disturbing. When Agata Rossa tells him what kind of person he needs to look for to pinpoint their target, it is revealed Karl has a liking for young girls.

Contains: blood, sex, pedophilia

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on January 25, 2021 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Hopeless, Maine (vol. 1) by Tom and Nimue Brown

cover image for Hopeless, Maine

Hopeless, Maine (vol. 1) by Tom and Nimue Brown   ( Amazon.com )

Sloth Comics, 2016

ISBN-13: 9781908830128

Available: Paperback

 

Hopeless, Maine tells the story of Salamandra, an orphan girl who is taken in to a home for orphans; strangely not many adults are around. Sal discovers the strange and sometimes nightmarish creatures on the island are things best to be avoided. She befriends another young girl, but no one else seems to be able to see her. Their friendship takes a dark turn when the young girl discovers Sal’s magical abilities. The girl also becomes jealous of other friendships that Sal tries to form. When Sal discovers the girl’s true nature, she must protect herself and a new friend, Owen, that she has made at the orphanage. They both want desperately to make their own ways and break the hold the island has over them. Sal finds out she may have family on the island and will do anything to know more about her kin and herself.

I like the dynamic between Sal and Owen, the headmaster’s son. Sal is outspoken, while Owen is more reserved and thoughtful, acting as almost a way to calm Sal when she gets her hackles up about something. She’s quite strong-willed, and Owen’s relaxed demeanor is a lovely complement to Sal’s headstrong ways. The artwork is rich and well executed. The character and creature designs are unique, and the colour palette that the artist chose is oppressive,  but that really brings out the glow of the candlelight and magic that is central to the story. It’s quite beautiful.

Hopeless, Maine contains a piece of poetry, two complete stories, a short story, and extra artwork. While the story and the artwork are wonderful, there are two major issues with the book. The size of the book is smaller than the typical loose comic or graphic novel size. A larger format would have helped both problems. First, it would be easier to read, especially the poetry at the beginning and short piece at the end. Frankly, I had to skip over them because the white text against the black background was far too small to be read comfortably. It’s definitely smaller than a ten-point font. Going with a larger format would also improve the text in the graphic novel portions of the book. Second, a larger format might have actually helped me appreciate the artwork more considering there are some subtleties to it that I had to squint in order to really pick up. Recommended if you have good eyesight.

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on July 21, 2020 by , Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen by Helen Mullane, art by Dom Reardon, layout art and title page by Matthew Dow Smith

NIcnevin

Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen by Helen Mullane, art by Dom Reardon, layout art and title page illustration by Matthew Dow Smith

Humanoids, 2020

ISBN-13: 9781643377131

Available: Paperback, Kindle, comiXology

 

Nicnevin “Nissy” Oswald and her younger brother Gowan are sent to spend the summer with their mother in Northumberland, something about which Nissy is less than pleased. While they are there, Gowan comes across a dead body when he is out playing football with his friends. A modern-day druid is committing ghastly murders, thinking he could free the power of the ancient gods of Great Britain. When he targets Nissy, he makes a terrible mistake. She has a connection with the land and animals around her, one that she hasn’t accepted yet.

page4     Most of the story is great. Nissy discovering her family history, who she really is, and what she can do, offers an interesting coming-of-age tale. The folk horror content is solid.  Reardon’s artwork is perfect for a story full of folk horror, mythology, and ethereal creatures. The illustrations of the Wild Hunt were especially eerie and beautiful.

 

A few parts of the story were lacking. For instance, I’m not sure why Nissy, Gowan, and their mother are spending the summer in Northumberland. It is clear there is a strained relationship between her and her mother, but it doesn’t seem like a divorce situation, given how the parents give each other a parting kiss prior to their leaving. Readers can see the partial content of a letter regarding Nissy being expelled from school. We see Nissy’s frustration and anger toward her mother about having to be away from her friends for the summer. Nissy simply comes across as argumentative for the sake of being argumentative. We don’t get a glimpse of her previous life, and what has led her to become so angry with her mother.

 

Another aspect of the story I can’t come to terms with is Nissy’s crush on a 35-year-old man named Reggie. There is a series of panels where Nissy pleasures herself while thinking about him, and the animals outside engage in sex outside the cottage. While it helps illustrate her connection to nature, I can’t help but wonder if there was another way this could have been played out. A troubling panel depicts Reggie and Nissy nude together. Later, she attempts to engage him in a kiss, which he thankfully refuses. if you are squeamish about teens exhibiting sexuality, you might want to skip this. I don’t mind a healthy dose of sex and sexuality in my horror, but I’m not a fan of this particular type.

 

Contains: brief nudity, murder, sexual content, violence against women

Recommended, with reservations

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on March 11, 2020 by , Reply
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