Title: I Hate Fairyland, Volume 1: Madly Ever After
Author:
Skottie Young
Contributors: Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Nate Piekos of Blambot, Rian Hughes
Genre:
Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Fairies/fae, Humour
Series: I Hate Fairyland (#1-5)
Release
Date: 20-26 Apr 2016
A
few starting notes:
I
received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair
and honest reviews.
Didn't really know what to expect from this one: but it looked mad as the proverbial box of cats, so I went for it.
And you know what?
It was most definitely mad as the proverbial box of cats.
Premise:
Little Gertrude was brought to Fairyland when her wish to go there was granted.
To get home, she just has to finish her quest and find a key.
To get home, she just has to finish her quest and find a key.
Turns out, quests aren't Gertrude's strong-suit.
Flash forward twenty-seven years, and still looking like an eight-year-old, Gertrude is pi*sed (in more ways than one,) and making chaos and killing the hell out of sh** wherever she goes.
And she's still trying to get that damned key!
Best
bits:
You know when something is so random, and so off-the-wall that its just ridiculously funny? That's how I find this book.
It's difficult, as a reviewer, to call something funny, without it sounding fake or forced.
But I mean it - I found this really funny, and I was actually laughing at more than one point while reading it.
It has Deadpool-style humour: lots of violence, lots of randomness, lots of breaking the fourth wall in pretty b*lls-out style.
The artwork is perfectly balanced for the blend of randomness and violence - cartoony, but not kids-style cartoony.
It's bright, but not cutesy, with enough hints of fairyland to make the violence stand out more without resorting to dark and brooding. Dark and brooding this book is not.
And I love the fact that Gert's natural hair colour is apparently green. I mean, why not, right?
Not
so great bits:
THIS BOOK IS NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS.
I can't tell you that enough. This ain't for kids, folks.
Lots of gore and violence, and lots of Gert giving pretty much everyone the finger.
Most of the gore and violence is perpetrated by someone who looks eight, and is in fact, fairly damned bloodthirsty.
So, if that's not your thing, you've been warned.
Other than that, there's very little to fault with this book.
Maybe it all felt a little loose and out-of-control in a few small places, but then, with a plot this random I'm just surprised there was any semblance of control at all, really.
Verdict:
Quite simply - I loved it.
It's not going to be for everyone. Because if it doesn't suit your sense of humour, you will hate it.
But the randomness, the off-your-head plot, the insanity of it all?
Well, it was all very me, wasn't it?
If it sounds like it's you too, then give it a try.
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I'm so glad that you enjoyed it! It was soooo hilarious :)
ReplyDeleteI also recently reviewed it!
Aeriko @ The Reading Armchair
I know - the randomness was just fab :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by :)