english review only

rating: 4.5 stars

Summary: Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones.

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

My review: I really enjoyed this A LOT!!!

When I started the book, I was in for a fun adventure of a small sunshine who starts to work with a big not so soft dude, who is totally soft for her. THE JOY I FELT. And I loved them working together, I loved their banter, I loved the relationship they build. I started to have all the "found family" feels.

BUT OH BOY. This book went into a completely different direction than I thought it would. And I got so many different feels. THE HEARTBREAK, THE HURT, THE "OH SHIT, WHAT'S HAPPENING, I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS" feels. It was A LOT.

I loved the story, I LOVED the characters. I LOVED THE ARTWORK. Holy shit, this book is freaking STUNNING.

I have appreciated Bryan Stevenson ever since I saw his TED Talk years ago.

This story highlights in stark and human terms how broken our criminal justice system truly is. 

The more I read this, the more I regret not having read it when I was younger. Had I done so I might have enjoyed it more than I do now, as now it just feels so cliched. I know that's unfair given how many of those clichés are traceable to Stevenson's novel, but it doesn't make my sense of it any less acute.

Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain and Nimona want to be his side-kick. Being a shape-shiftier would be helpful.

They have fun together and plotting plan to making chaos. 

Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin was supposed to be the good guy, working for the institute. He was a friend of Ballister before he fired a weapon and wounding him and make him lost his right arm. 

The story is rich and unexpected. The graphic is wonderful and it is such fine work that I read the whole thing in one setting. I want more. 

Highly recommended.