Reading comics is a relatively new thing for me. It was only during lockdown, when I had the attention span of a fig, that I discovered the joy and page-turning wonder of graphic novels. Joe Hill's Locke & Key and The Walking Dead were my gateway series but I soon began to discover a theme with the graphic novels I was reading: they are pure art. A lot of work goes into the art, colour and expressions and the experience can often be deeper than normal novels.

I realise I'm probably the last person on earth to discover this.

Jonathan Hill's Odessa piqued my interest given my obsession with post-apocalyptic landscapes.

Eight years ago an earthquake - the Big One - hit along the Cascadia fault line, toppling cities and changing landscapes all up and down the west coast of the United States

Vietnamese-American Virginia Crane and her two younger brothers have grown up in this landscape, a strange new world based on bartering and luck. The earthquake unearthed primordial species from deep below the earth's surface, resulting in entirely new systems of fauna and flora. All of the strange new plants, creatures and bugs that emerged after the Big One are part of this world that the Crane kids have grown up in.

Ginny, Wes and Harry are used to not having a mom around. She disappeared so many years ago that only Ginny can remember her and their father has brought them up alone. When a strange package arrives from her mother on Ginny's 18th birthday, she sets off across the post-apocalyptic wasteland towards what used to be California. Little does she realise that her two younger brothers have followed her.

In a journey filled with peril, betrayals and deceit, Ginny, Wes and Harry travel across the crumbling remains of America in search of their mother. They meet strangers and long-lost relatives along the way, some of whom they can trust and some of whom they definitely can't.

Will they be successful? Only time will tell because Odessa ends on a heck of a cliffhanger!

I enjoyed Odessa a lot. The art work was simple but powerfully portrayed the desolate and crumbling landscape through which the kids travel. I enjoyed the story too, especially the idea of new plants and bugs being unearthed by the Big One. I'm definitely looking forward to the next graphic novel in the series but there is no news on a release date yet. Hill has mentioned just how much work a graphic novel is - and he is doing both art and story - so hopefully that process is going well.

I give Odessa an excellent four out of five stars and recommend to post-apocalyptic graphic novel lovers.

I received an electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley. I will always provide an honest review, whether books are provided to me or purchased by me.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.

Firstly the art style in this graphic novel is stunning! The pink, white and black palette really gives you a sense of the devastation across this world. I liked the story as a whole but I felt some 9f the characters very hard to invest in. Also disappointed not to get a story resolution as I didn't know this was the first in a series.

Odessa is a unique and action packed graphic novel with an almost unexpected kick of adventure. It is a suspenseful ride filled with high stakes, in fact much higher stakes than I expected. This is a fun and fast paced story with a unique art style. I didn’t love the art but it wasn’t because it wasn’t good, instead it just wasn’t quite my style. The characters weren’t boring but they also all felt like something that I’ve read before. This book is still a good book and it definitely wasn’t boring, however it didn’t blow my mind and it wasn’t something that will stick with me forever. In short it’s a fun graphic novel that will definitely be someone else’s five star but not mine.

The concept of this book really intrigued me and was why I decided to give it on try on Netgalley.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book, it definitely pulls on your emotions, with the decisions that Ginny has to make throughout the story to protect herself, her brothers and others.

I liked that overall, there is a only the smallest hint of romance, but overall the story is about the love of family and protecting your family at all costs.

The art in this book is lovely, I like how simple the colors are but how the shading helps to portray emotions or important objects in the scene.

Overall, a really good post-apocalypse story. Would recommend.

Odessa is an amazing Graphic novel with beautiful cartoon line. This novel is about the adventure of siblings. When old sister gets the necklace and letter from their mum, who left their family 8 years ago, Ginny decides to find her. Their living in California, after a big earthquake, which change the world and the people. There's a gang war on the streets, but they are still moving forward despite the many losses.
I really like this book. It was funny and amusing. I appreciate showing the characters of the main figures and their problems. Also I liked theme od end world.
I recommend it, it's worth reading.

3 Stars ☆☆☆

Overall, this was a solid read. First of all, I loved the colour palette, the dash of pink was stunning. I really liked the art as well, there was something charming about it. The story was very unique, and isn't something I'd seen before in a graphic novel. I will say, I would've liked a little more information on how the world ended up like that. I know the earthquakes were mentioned, but maybe at the start there could've been a little part actually showing what happened to the world to result in it being so ruined. I really liked the characters, they were cute and had their own little personalities which I liked, however there was something preventing me from actually caring about the characters. I loved the little added touches like the jinx root, that was interesting.

I enjoyed this, it was a good graphic novel.

What happens to Harry?!?!