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Broxo
Can two young warriors defeat the walking dead?
Princess Zora of the Granitewings has traveled far to seek the reclusive Peryton Clan. But Peryton Peak is abandoned, and there's no sign of the civilization that once inhabited it.
No sign...but for a young warrior with no clan and no memory of his origins. His name is Broxo, and he is the key to a mystery that is far more dangerous than Zora can imagine.
Princess Zora of the Granitewings has traveled far to seek the reclusive Peryton Clan. But Peryton Peak is abandoned, and there's no sign of the civilization that once inhabited it.
No sign...but for a young warrior with no clan and no memory of his origins. His name is Broxo, and he is the key to a mystery that is far more dangerous than Zora can imagine.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
March 30, 2016
4.5/5 stars
In this wildly entertaining fantasy debut we meet Broxo, the only surviving member of a tribe of barbarians who once occupied a now-desolate mountain. All alone in the world, Broxo spends his time on the mountain hunting and avoiding the man-eating walking dead that periodically drag themselves out of a fetid lake.
Everything changes when Zora, a foreign princess, arrives on the mountain seeking Broxo's lost tribe. Can the two young warriors together defeat the living dead?
Broxo is the debut graphic novel by Zack Giallongo. I picked this book up on a whim because the cover was very intriguing. The art style was beautiful. There were a couple pages where there were only a couple words of dialogue. This was really interesting because many of the graphic novels I have read try to bombard you with dialogue to make up for the subpar scenery that doesn't change. This graphic novel kept you on your toes. With ghosts, zombies, witches, and an amazing friendship.
The only thing that made me lower my rating were awkward information dumps that were unneeded or weren't fully explained. The author would give you information out of the blue that you didn't think would pertain to the story, since they never explained why or what it is their saying, but then chapters later they would make references pertaining to this information. I felt like all o the characters involved knew what was going on except for me.
I felt really connected to the friendship that formed. The female lead was powerful and strong , and the male lead was strong but had a gentleness about him that made you want to melt. Together they were this cute and awkward fighting duo. And the best part? There wasn't any romance. None. At all. They just had this beautiful platonic, best friend, sibling, dynamic. And that was all they needed. They didn't need to be making out every time they killed someone or have awkward sexual tension when they went out hunting.
All in all this graphic novel has been one of the best I have read this year, maybe one of my all time favorites. The characters were realistic, the art was amazing, and the plot kept me guessing until the very end. I highly recommend this graphic novel to everyone.
In this wildly entertaining fantasy debut we meet Broxo, the only surviving member of a tribe of barbarians who once occupied a now-desolate mountain. All alone in the world, Broxo spends his time on the mountain hunting and avoiding the man-eating walking dead that periodically drag themselves out of a fetid lake.
Everything changes when Zora, a foreign princess, arrives on the mountain seeking Broxo's lost tribe. Can the two young warriors together defeat the living dead?
Broxo is the debut graphic novel by Zack Giallongo. I picked this book up on a whim because the cover was very intriguing. The art style was beautiful. There were a couple pages where there were only a couple words of dialogue. This was really interesting because many of the graphic novels I have read try to bombard you with dialogue to make up for the subpar scenery that doesn't change. This graphic novel kept you on your toes. With ghosts, zombies, witches, and an amazing friendship.
The only thing that made me lower my rating were awkward information dumps that were unneeded or weren't fully explained. The author would give you information out of the blue that you didn't think would pertain to the story, since they never explained why or what it is their saying, but then chapters later they would make references pertaining to this information. I felt like all o the characters involved knew what was going on except for me.
I felt really connected to the friendship that formed. The female lead was powerful and strong , and the male lead was strong but had a gentleness about him that made you want to melt. Together they were this cute and awkward fighting duo. And the best part? There wasn't any romance. None. At all. They just had this beautiful platonic, best friend, sibling, dynamic. And that was all they needed. They didn't need to be making out every time they killed someone or have awkward sexual tension when they went out hunting.
All in all this graphic novel has been one of the best I have read this year, maybe one of my all time favorites. The characters were realistic, the art was amazing, and the plot kept me guessing until the very end. I highly recommend this graphic novel to everyone.
November 28, 2018
This feels like the beginning of a great series. Why is this only a single book? This was a fun and interesting story. We know so very little about what is really going on. It seems to be the past somewhere. There are 5 clans that are trying to unite each other. There are Kings and Queens for each Clan. Broxo's clan has all died and he is the last of his clan.
Somehow there are weird creatures all over the place and lots of Zombies that used to be the clan members from Broxo's family. They now try and eat him.
I was entertained by the book. The artwork is great, plenty of color and style and character. There just needs to be more story.
Somehow there are weird creatures all over the place and lots of Zombies that used to be the clan members from Broxo's family. They now try and eat him.
I was entertained by the book. The artwork is great, plenty of color and style and character. There just needs to be more story.
November 2, 2015
[This isn’t a picture of my body exactly, but perhaps consider it a rough approximation.]
I used to be pretty athletic. Hiking, skimboarding, boogieboarding, skateboarding, running, jumping, destroying things that weren’t my body. It was an awesome time to be alive. I was reckless and wild and harboured little care for decisions that entailed in some form or other the principal question of How much is this going to hurt? Twenty years later, nearly every activity I choose to engage revolves distinctly around how much discomfort or outright pain the activity might incur. Because unfortunately, all those wonderful things I could do eventually seemed focused on a single goal: destroying things that were my body.
In my early-to-mid twenties, miscalculation and overestimation brought me injury after injury. Head injuries, neck injuries, back injuries. Ankles, shoulders, fingers, hands, knees, groin. Injuries so far as eyes could see and injuries in dark places hidden by layers of flesh and sinew. I was used to healing quickly and so used to returning to activity quickly, sometimes even instantly. As I grew older, the pace of my healing slowed but my habits didn’t care and so I bounced back from my wounds too quickly and, being off-balance, slow, and in a body that wasn’t one-hundred-percent operational, I compounded my injuries. The fallout of course is that now, so many years later, I live in near constant pain. From ankles that sprain and swell while Facebooking to a back that cannot survive a sneeze to shoulders that cannot throw a tennis ball overhand. Sitting on the ground for a half hour will ruin me for a week. Rolling over in bed means waking again for the tenth time in half as many hours. Fascinating, I know.[1]
The point of all this is to say that when I was younger, I wanted to be Broxo or Zora. Now though, I am content merely to take in their vagabond adventures. Even though half my concern for them is tied to how badly I would hurt the next morning had I the need to sleep in the conditions that make up their daily ritual.
The titular Broxo (of Zack Giallongo’s Broxo) is not the main character of his own book. That distinction goes to Zora, a warrior cut more from the mold of Miyazaki princesses than from Disney’s pampered-chef variety. She’s no fan of slumming in the wastelands, but she’s doing her bit to support her family’s vision of uniting the five clans under a single purpose—and because that end requires means so unappetizing as crawling the wastes, that’s what she will do. She’s pretty badass like that. Plus, she has awesome little decorative wings on the side of her headband and she’s easily the first character I’ve ever seen pull that one off. (Sorry Captain America. Sorry Hermes. Sorry Hawkman.) She’s also smart, tenacious, and maybe not so competent with a sword as the loner she meets, a boy king named Broxo.
[Really, it’s hard to argue, even if he has worse skinned knees
than my son. Who wobbles when he walks.]
Broxo opens with Zora cresting a plateau in search of the Peryton clan so that she might deliver the news of unification, that all the people of the Penthos might once more be as one. She finds instead a pretty shabby place, a land mostly of gloom and murk—deserted save for a small few inhabitants, each with their own things going on. One of these is Broxo, and the remainder of the book dwells on their interactions and adventures. These, despite their clash of cultures and the gathering darkness, are a joy to follow.
I’ll tell you this now: the fact that there isn’t presently a sequel to Broxo rushing from the printers to the publisher on its way to a speedy distribution breaks my heart. Because I want more of these two. I want more adventures that will make me hurt all over vicariously (even if the characters themselves seem immune to my own current frailties). Giallongo has charmed me.
[]
A large part of Broxo's depth is founded on its principal two characters. Both Zora and Broxo are mixes of strengths and weaknesses, a combination whose powers come to outweigh its inadequacies. Zora is brave but foolhardy and reckless. She’s good with a bow and okay with a sword. She’s driven by her ambitions but is a bit ethnocentric, leaning on the belief that her civilization (the one doing the uniting) is the superior and that what’s left of Broxo’s betrays barbarian savagery. To usurp Avatar, she’s got a lot to learn before she’s ready to unite anybody.
Broxo is himself a strong fighter, wily, and at home with the dangers of the plateau, but he’s ignorant of many things. He’s weighed down by a history he only partly knows and a past he’s largely forgotten. He’s far from socialized and despite his guileless overtures, he trips a number of social blunders that make working together with Zora a difficulty. He has a larger responsibility than he’s aware and swaggers a bit more than he deserves.
[That ma-ha-jick moment!]
The beautiful thing about Broxo is watching these two strong figures bend and snap and bend again in order to preserve their lives, understand each other, and ultimately evolve closer to that personal state that was previously sequestered in the realm of Mere Potential. As in any realistic growth situation, there’s friction and forgiveness. It’s a good and well-thought-out relationship and not one I expected to find in what is essentially a Conan-esque tale of adventure, fantasy, and zombie apocalypsis.
[]
Though threats come from several quarters and are due several motives, the most overt trouble comes from the Creepers. Also called the Ancestors, these undead roam across the plateau bringing doom where they tread. Their existence is new to Zora, so their plight on the plateau occupies a kind of facile mystery element in the story. They are the bow that Giallongo ties to neatly draw together so many of his narrative threads. That they’re well-conceived saves us from feeling that we’re reading one more overcooked zombie book in what has been something of a decade-long glut of the material. That they’re not just shambling once-deads is important and for me was first underscored when Broxo has to fend off a child Creeper. It’s a good story moment.
Giallongo’s art is lively and his figures well-composed. His staging, whether we consider his characters, their actions, or his landscapes, is immaculately designed. We’ll often read praise of certain novels or films in which the artist so invests the creative impulse into depicting the location that the location itself becomes a character. Paul Auster’s New York City in City of Glass and its sequels. Sergio Leone’s Old West in Once Upon a Time in the West. Et cetera. Giallongo does this very thing with his depiction of the Peryton’s plateau. Its very anatomy tells you who it is and alludes to the story it enfolds. I’m not sure it’s fair, but I couldn’t shake the sense that Giallongo is a man influenced by Miyazaki (as should we all be). Beyond the presence of his environments and some of his staging, many of Giallongo’s character designs may have fallen right out of, say, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. See? Check out this old lady:
[Sooooo Miyazaki!]
I’m glad I read Broxo, even if I squirmed to see the conditions in which these characters relaxed. (It’s one thing to tread a stony path and another to lounge on it.) There was a time when I may have been able to keep pace with their antics, but that is a distant history. It hurts to be reminded of my decline over the years, but the relish with which Giallongo approaches his characters and their plight brings out the sunshine again. I wasn’t entirely truthful in my earlier stated desire for a sequel to Broxo. The truth is I want four. At least.
_______
[Review courtesy of Good Ok Bad.]
_______
Footnotes
1) A particularly bitter irony is that I still subconsciously think of myself as an athlete. Playing with my kids, I still daily overextend myself without thinking. Even in the midst of incredible pain, I’ll thoughtlessly grab my daughter and flip her up high into the air, knowing that she loves it. Never mind that I won’t be able to move an hour later.
The saving amusement here is that I’m consistently able to quote to my wife from The Fantastic Mr. Fox: Do you think of me as an athlete? I think of me as an athlete, but I don’t feel like you think of me as an athlete.
Never fails to lighten our mood about the whole thing.
November 11, 2016
This was a really good story. I'm guessing it's the middle ages? I had to look up clans. Clans are mostly associated with families in the Scottish Highlands. But, the wing headband Zora wears looks more roman to me. Romans did depart Scotland in the 5th century, but Broxo doesn't seem roman so I'm not sure when this story takes place.
Anywho, back to the review. Zora is on a mission to find Peryton Peak to find the Peryton clan. If she can bring the Peryton clan back with her, the princess will gain some credit with her siblings and her father. While looking for this clan, Zora comes across a few wild beasts. Broxo the kid King of the mountain saves her from the WALKING DEAD. Basically they are the ancestors of Broxo, but they are angry and so they are always ready to bite and kill.
Zora's mission has been halted to help Broxo with his. Revenge the death of his people and fix the mistakes of a past enemy. Together the young duo must work together if they are to survive.
Loved the illustrations, this is another graphic novel from First Second publishing and I love almost everything they publish. Cute middle grade/ YA story. I recommend.
Anywho, back to the review. Zora is on a mission to find Peryton Peak to find the Peryton clan. If she can bring the Peryton clan back with her, the princess will gain some credit with her siblings and her father. While looking for this clan, Zora comes across a few wild beasts. Broxo the kid King of the mountain saves her from the WALKING DEAD. Basically they are the ancestors of Broxo, but they are angry and so they are always ready to bite and kill.
Zora's mission has been halted to help Broxo with his. Revenge the death of his people and fix the mistakes of a past enemy. Together the young duo must work together if they are to survive.
Loved the illustrations, this is another graphic novel from First Second publishing and I love almost everything they publish. Cute middle grade/ YA story. I recommend.
first-second-publications
December 20, 2012Doesn't every like a good zombie-barbarian teen love story?
(Okay, wait. The zombies and the barbarians don't fall in love. Just to be clear. I feel like love + rotting falling apart bits = not the best combination.)
This book is the story of Broxo, a barbarian who is the last of his clan. When a (girl) barbarian from another clan comes along on a quest to discover what's happened to his clan, all the secrets of his past start bubbling up and causing trouble for everyone.
This story has: witches, large furry animals (really large furry animals!), swords, and amnesia -- all the classics!
How could you not want to read that?
(Okay, wait. The zombies and the barbarians don't fall in love. Just to be clear. I feel like love + rotting falling apart bits = not the best combination.)
This book is the story of Broxo, a barbarian who is the last of his clan. When a (girl) barbarian from another clan comes along on a quest to discover what's happened to his clan, all the secrets of his past start bubbling up and causing trouble for everyone.
This story has: witches, large furry animals (really large furry animals!), swords, and amnesia -- all the classics!
How could you not want to read that?
January 12, 2016
Wow - this was a delight! The art, the story, the warm, evocative colors! Strong female characters, including a kick-ass granny.
This book should be eaten alive by Bone fans.
This book should be eaten alive by Bone fans.
October 9, 2012
Broxo is the debut fantasy graphic novel by Zack Giallongo and it is released today October 2, 2012. Although it is beautifully illustrated and does have brief moments of intensity and story clarity, there are too many confusing frames and sub-stories for me to fully recommend this title.
Broxo is the lone survivor of his village which was slain by their own ancestors who had become zombies because they didn’t blow on the Wylern to summon the Stag who would lead them to the underworld. Confused? I’m pretty sure that the projected teen and pre-teen intended audience will be too.
Broxo is visited by princess Zora who was sent to find the Perytons, the villagers who have been slain, in hopes that their villages could work and trade with each other. The adventure scenes are exciting and fabulously drawn, unfortunately when combined with the Norse, Neanderthal, Athenian, Lord of the Rings stew of mythologies they are complicated to follow. This is a beautiful book with a good sense of humor and will be appreciated by mid to late teen readers of deep fantasy but it’s too incoherent for the average graphic novel fan. Follow this link to see more of the book: http://us.macmillan.com/broxo/ZackGia...
My GoodReads rating: 3 stars
Broxo is the lone survivor of his village which was slain by their own ancestors who had become zombies because they didn’t blow on the Wylern to summon the Stag who would lead them to the underworld. Confused? I’m pretty sure that the projected teen and pre-teen intended audience will be too.
Broxo is visited by princess Zora who was sent to find the Perytons, the villagers who have been slain, in hopes that their villages could work and trade with each other. The adventure scenes are exciting and fabulously drawn, unfortunately when combined with the Norse, Neanderthal, Athenian, Lord of the Rings stew of mythologies they are complicated to follow. This is a beautiful book with a good sense of humor and will be appreciated by mid to late teen readers of deep fantasy but it’s too incoherent for the average graphic novel fan. Follow this link to see more of the book: http://us.macmillan.com/broxo/ZackGia...
My GoodReads rating: 3 stars
October 15, 2012
Graphic Novel Review by Chris
There is a really subtle brilliance with Broxo. The story is simple fare with an appropriate climatic ending, but the real power of this book is the moments in between the story. The characters feel alive in this book. The relationship that blossoms between the two main characters is tangible. Even the back story of secondary characters and the villain gain a life of their own. I could really see Broxo and Zoro being a kid's favorite new characters.
The book is very easy to read. It never feels heavy on the story, but it still seems to say so much. It has the feel of a classic about it. It reminds me of when I was a kid and I read these books that felt so real that I wanted to be in that world and I'd imagine myself there. That's what Broxo did. It transported me back to when I was kid and I pretend sticks were swords and trees were evil knights.
The artwork is expressive and character's emotions display vividly on the page. It ranges from humor to anger to embarrassment and delivers that all perfectly. The action sequences really carry a lot of speed and intensity.
You really can't go wrong with this book. I found myself wanting to snuggle up in bed with this book and be engulfed by it. Bonus points for zombies as well.
Graphic Novel Review by Kole
Broxo is all about the characters. The story may not be all that, but watching the characters and how they interact is a treat. Each one has their own personality and some you just hate. The author does a great job at pulling emotions from you for these characters. You root for the good guys and hate the baddies. It took a little while for me to understand what was going on, just because of the use of family names and places we don’t use, and the main characters constant curse word is different from ours. There are many parts of the story that will leave you wondering, not necessarily in the good way. There are just things that weren’t explained enough for me. But I put that aside and tried to judge this book based more on the characters and their growth throughout this graphic novel. I really wish we could see them in another book, but we’ll just have to settle for whatever new ones Zack Giallongo brings us. And by "settle for", I mean enjoy.
Book Received: For free from publisher in exchange for an honest review
There is a really subtle brilliance with Broxo. The story is simple fare with an appropriate climatic ending, but the real power of this book is the moments in between the story. The characters feel alive in this book. The relationship that blossoms between the two main characters is tangible. Even the back story of secondary characters and the villain gain a life of their own. I could really see Broxo and Zoro being a kid's favorite new characters.
The book is very easy to read. It never feels heavy on the story, but it still seems to say so much. It has the feel of a classic about it. It reminds me of when I was a kid and I read these books that felt so real that I wanted to be in that world and I'd imagine myself there. That's what Broxo did. It transported me back to when I was kid and I pretend sticks were swords and trees were evil knights.
The artwork is expressive and character's emotions display vividly on the page. It ranges from humor to anger to embarrassment and delivers that all perfectly. The action sequences really carry a lot of speed and intensity.
You really can't go wrong with this book. I found myself wanting to snuggle up in bed with this book and be engulfed by it. Bonus points for zombies as well.
Graphic Novel Review by Kole
Broxo is all about the characters. The story may not be all that, but watching the characters and how they interact is a treat. Each one has their own personality and some you just hate. The author does a great job at pulling emotions from you for these characters. You root for the good guys and hate the baddies. It took a little while for me to understand what was going on, just because of the use of family names and places we don’t use, and the main characters constant curse word is different from ours. There are many parts of the story that will leave you wondering, not necessarily in the good way. There are just things that weren’t explained enough for me. But I put that aside and tried to judge this book based more on the characters and their growth throughout this graphic novel. I really wish we could see them in another book, but we’ll just have to settle for whatever new ones Zack Giallongo brings us. And by "settle for", I mean enjoy.
Book Received: For free from publisher in exchange for an honest review
December 19, 2012
Daybreak by Brian Ralph and Broxo by Zack Giallongo
Why did I read it?
Daybreak: I referenced this book in my Teen Literature class for my Master's in Information and Library Science.
Broxo: It was an advanced reader copy that looked interesting.
What happened?
Daybreak: Your eyes snap open and you see a one-armed man walking toward you. He mentions that you don't want to be out in the open when night falls, so you follow him. After grabbing some food and meeting his dog, you settle in for the night. But sleep won't be easy with a horde of the undead outside...nor will surviving...
Broxo: Princess Zora has traveled way too long for her quest to be this pointless! Hoping to open negotiations with one of her fellow tribes, Zora had traveled for many months only to find the supposed home of the clan abandoned. All she finds instead is a lone warrior named Broxo, who has become accustomed to the harsh landscape and random undead that make life interesting. Even though Broxo doesn't seem to mind, Zora can't rest until she finds out what happened to the missing clan, and the real secret behind these monsters.
What did I like or not like?
You might be wondering why I put 2 reviews into 1 post this week. First of all, I'm taking a break for the holidays, so I figured I'd give you 2 books to try and hold you over lol.
The other reason was even though I heartily enjoyed both books, there wasn't a whole lot to make a review out of. The stories aren't too long, so I didn't want to give too much of the plot away.
But here are some things I can tell you. Both are graphic novels, and both include the undead, but that is really the only similarity between them. Daybreak is first person perspective (in a graphic novel which is cool), and Broxo is third person. Daybreak is more realistic fiction/sci-fi, and Broxo is more fantasy. Daybreak has a very limited color palette, and Broxo has a very lively color palette.
You know how sometimes you read a book and it wasn't necessarily heart-wrenching, hilarious, thought-provoking, or amazing, but was still enjoyable to read and worth your time? That is how I would categorize these 2 titles.
Let me know what you think when you read them, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Why did I read it?
Daybreak: I referenced this book in my Teen Literature class for my Master's in Information and Library Science.
Broxo: It was an advanced reader copy that looked interesting.
What happened?
Daybreak: Your eyes snap open and you see a one-armed man walking toward you. He mentions that you don't want to be out in the open when night falls, so you follow him. After grabbing some food and meeting his dog, you settle in for the night. But sleep won't be easy with a horde of the undead outside...nor will surviving...
Broxo: Princess Zora has traveled way too long for her quest to be this pointless! Hoping to open negotiations with one of her fellow tribes, Zora had traveled for many months only to find the supposed home of the clan abandoned. All she finds instead is a lone warrior named Broxo, who has become accustomed to the harsh landscape and random undead that make life interesting. Even though Broxo doesn't seem to mind, Zora can't rest until she finds out what happened to the missing clan, and the real secret behind these monsters.
What did I like or not like?
You might be wondering why I put 2 reviews into 1 post this week. First of all, I'm taking a break for the holidays, so I figured I'd give you 2 books to try and hold you over lol.
The other reason was even though I heartily enjoyed both books, there wasn't a whole lot to make a review out of. The stories aren't too long, so I didn't want to give too much of the plot away.
But here are some things I can tell you. Both are graphic novels, and both include the undead, but that is really the only similarity between them. Daybreak is first person perspective (in a graphic novel which is cool), and Broxo is third person. Daybreak is more realistic fiction/sci-fi, and Broxo is more fantasy. Daybreak has a very limited color palette, and Broxo has a very lively color palette.
You know how sometimes you read a book and it wasn't necessarily heart-wrenching, hilarious, thought-provoking, or amazing, but was still enjoyable to read and worth your time? That is how I would categorize these 2 titles.
Let me know what you think when you read them, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
January 17, 2013
Appeal Characteristics: strong female protagonist, humor, animals, undead human creatures, survival, homesickness, adventure, bravery, honor, spirits, outcast, stand a lone
This book is like Bones by Jeff Smith. It is kept in the Juvenile area...but it would be more appealing to YA readers. Due to the layout and just abstract concepts, I felt this book has potential to go either way. There was just a lot of implied stuff (that I love) and the storyline isn't necessarily linear so you might find it hard if you want to "really" understand the story. On the other hand, I really enjoyed it and felt I knew what was going on when it all came together. In saying that, kids could do it but they might be more concerned by the artwork, the humor, and the adventure. I really enjoyed it and it's been awhile since I've read a graphic novel that was a "stand a lone." That might be another selling point. If a kid doesn't want to start another LONG series...this is a pretty stand a lonish novel. I mean the ending is "open" enough that if he decides to keep going he can...but it's no Amulet.
In saying that the dynamic between Zora, Broxo, and Migo is pretty epic. I loved Broxo character development and I just loved the fact how take charge Zora was. They really balanced out nicely. The animals were adorable and I just pitied Ulith...I mean she's such that flawed "gray" area antagonist. I actually do think this book would make a great discussion for kids to want to explore that concept of that "shade of gray" character. She sorta reminded me of Gollum from LOTR.
Red Flags: Fantasy Violence
This book is like Bones by Jeff Smith. It is kept in the Juvenile area...but it would be more appealing to YA readers. Due to the layout and just abstract concepts, I felt this book has potential to go either way. There was just a lot of implied stuff (that I love) and the storyline isn't necessarily linear so you might find it hard if you want to "really" understand the story. On the other hand, I really enjoyed it and felt I knew what was going on when it all came together. In saying that, kids could do it but they might be more concerned by the artwork, the humor, and the adventure. I really enjoyed it and it's been awhile since I've read a graphic novel that was a "stand a lone." That might be another selling point. If a kid doesn't want to start another LONG series...this is a pretty stand a lonish novel. I mean the ending is "open" enough that if he decides to keep going he can...but it's no Amulet.
In saying that the dynamic between Zora, Broxo, and Migo is pretty epic. I loved Broxo character development and I just loved the fact how take charge Zora was. They really balanced out nicely. The animals were adorable and I just pitied Ulith...I mean she's such that flawed "gray" area antagonist. I actually do think this book would make a great discussion for kids to want to explore that concept of that "shade of gray" character. She sorta reminded me of Gollum from LOTR.
Red Flags: Fantasy Violence
May 6, 2017
Book talk:
Zora really wasn’t supposed to be there. In fact she kind of… snuck away from home. Her family might think she’s dead.
She climbed Peryton Peak in search of the Peryton Clan, hoping to forge an alliance that would make her own clan proud. But instead the Peak is deserted and the land defiled, with little to eat or drink.
That’s when she meets Broxo, who calls himself King. But where is his clan? He seems young to be a king, and while he’s proficient at using swords and axes to chop up the walking dead who roam the peak, he refuses to tell Zora anything about where they came from.
Then there’s Ulith, the strange witch who lives in a hill. Her powers can keep the dead at bay, temporarily. She could help both Zora and Broxo. But will she?
Zora really wasn’t supposed to be there. In fact she kind of… snuck away from home. Her family might think she’s dead.
She climbed Peryton Peak in search of the Peryton Clan, hoping to forge an alliance that would make her own clan proud. But instead the Peak is deserted and the land defiled, with little to eat or drink.
That’s when she meets Broxo, who calls himself King. But where is his clan? He seems young to be a king, and while he’s proficient at using swords and axes to chop up the walking dead who roam the peak, he refuses to tell Zora anything about where they came from.
Then there’s Ulith, the strange witch who lives in a hill. Her powers can keep the dead at bay, temporarily. She could help both Zora and Broxo. But will she?
May 3, 2017
This was an incredibly adorable read. It's kind of a mix of genres- horror, fantasy, and history. I really liked that Broxo's character spoke as though he was living all alone for years. Deep down the story is rather touching. I can't say much without giving away the plot, so I will just have to say that you should read it. This is more of a children's graphic novel, but I have no doubt that adults would enjoy it and find it adorable as well.
January 2, 2013
I really wanted to like this more. I mean it's zombies, barbarians and a witch. It fell flat and needed a bit more characterization and plot.
February 15, 2016
I enjoyed the illustrations and the story. The plot was smooth and does present a full story without needing a sequel. Although a sequel isn't out of the question.
February 9, 2018
Fun story, great art.
January 20, 2020
This was an interesting mix to me. It seemed like the humor and the level of subtlety of the plot was definitely for a younger audience. However, some of the violence seemed like it might be better for older kids. This could just be my biases getting in the way. The art was excellent and I laughed out loud at certain points. Good read.
August 7, 2012
Princess Zora is lost in a strange and desolate land. She's been looking for the Peryton clan so that she can lead them back to her father who hopes to unite all five clans together...and where she hopes to win the approval of her family. But at the moment she’s lost, cold, and far from home on a desolate mountain where she's being chased by beasts and by zombies coming from all directions. And the only person that she finds on that mountain is Broxo, a young warrior with no memory of his origins. Can Broxo and Zora solve the mystery of the missing clan? And can they stop the zombies before the zombies stop them?
The premise of the story is absolutely fantastic. I mean how can you go wrong with a missing clan and a princess warrior attempting to find them while avoiding zombies? And the story has so many familiar elements to it ranging from The Walking Dead to Bone to Avatar the Last Airbender. And that combination should create one of the most epic adventure stories ever. And it does...for about half the book. The good half is where we see the characters of Zora and Broxo finding their place in the world, discovering that they can do more than they think they can and together they can accomplish great things. And of course there is Migo (a giant bear/horse/mountain goat type creature) who is ten kinds of awesome and should have his own book. And...then in the other parts of the story it feels like we're missing pieces to the puzzle. For me it almost feels as if we're trying to combine too many different things together: Zora and Broxo finding their way; the mysterious villain, the missing clan, the zombies, and the death ritual of the clan. And I’m thinking that part of the problem is that the story is really built like Bone, in that it needs the gradual buildup to the climax and then an epic conclusion for the last battle sequence...and that just can't happen in 230ish pages. I think the work would have been better suited to be divided up among multiple volumes, where more depth can be added to the story line or to have one 400ish page story. That being said some younger readers may enjoy this story line and feel that it's absolutely perfect to their tastes (which maybe where the author was going.)
I do like the art style in the book. Much like the storyline it feels influenced by Jeff Smith’s work with Bone, with fluid line work creating interesting characters (especially Migo) and backgrounds to help draw the reader into the story. While the colors are somewhat muted, they really capture the intensity of the world, especially in the mountains and the storms that are constantly brewing and swirling. There are also some nice contrasts of lights and shadows that really help set the mood. I also like the character design, especially the nonhuman character, such as Migo. They just have a lot of life and vitality to them that make them entertaining to follow.
Although I think we're missing part of the story, I’d still give the book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I think this book could appeal to young middle school readers, especially those coming across zombies for the first time. I also hope that we get to see more of Broxo and Zora in another book to find out more about their universe.
Review copy provided by Gina at FirstSecond
The premise of the story is absolutely fantastic. I mean how can you go wrong with a missing clan and a princess warrior attempting to find them while avoiding zombies? And the story has so many familiar elements to it ranging from The Walking Dead to Bone to Avatar the Last Airbender. And that combination should create one of the most epic adventure stories ever. And it does...for about half the book. The good half is where we see the characters of Zora and Broxo finding their place in the world, discovering that they can do more than they think they can and together they can accomplish great things. And of course there is Migo (a giant bear/horse/mountain goat type creature) who is ten kinds of awesome and should have his own book. And...then in the other parts of the story it feels like we're missing pieces to the puzzle. For me it almost feels as if we're trying to combine too many different things together: Zora and Broxo finding their way; the mysterious villain, the missing clan, the zombies, and the death ritual of the clan. And I’m thinking that part of the problem is that the story is really built like Bone, in that it needs the gradual buildup to the climax and then an epic conclusion for the last battle sequence...and that just can't happen in 230ish pages. I think the work would have been better suited to be divided up among multiple volumes, where more depth can be added to the story line or to have one 400ish page story. That being said some younger readers may enjoy this story line and feel that it's absolutely perfect to their tastes (which maybe where the author was going.)
I do like the art style in the book. Much like the storyline it feels influenced by Jeff Smith’s work with Bone, with fluid line work creating interesting characters (especially Migo) and backgrounds to help draw the reader into the story. While the colors are somewhat muted, they really capture the intensity of the world, especially in the mountains and the storms that are constantly brewing and swirling. There are also some nice contrasts of lights and shadows that really help set the mood. I also like the character design, especially the nonhuman character, such as Migo. They just have a lot of life and vitality to them that make them entertaining to follow.
Although I think we're missing part of the story, I’d still give the book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I think this book could appeal to young middle school readers, especially those coming across zombies for the first time. I also hope that we get to see more of Broxo and Zora in another book to find out more about their universe.
Review copy provided by Gina at FirstSecond
February 27, 2013
This review, and others, can be found on my book blog at: http://brensbookstoread.blogspot.com/
Princess Zora is climbing the mountain to look for the lost tribe. After being chased by some really large, furry animal, losing all her supplies, and sleeping in the rough, she is ready to be welcomed by the clan. Instead of finding a thriving village, she finds nothing but decay, death and one lone boy who claims to be the king of the tribe.
Meet Broxo, the lone survivor of a tragedy that eliminated the rest of his clan. With no one but his pet beast Migo, he roams the mountain, fighting the undead that threaten him, and trying his best to survive. Uncultured and alone, Zora is a strange intrusion into his solitary life. He finds her struggling to find something to eat, takes pity on her, and leads her back to his cave.
Together, they start finding clues about what really decimated Broxo's clan. When Zora follows Broxo, the undead attack and Zora is hurt. Broxo takes her to the only person he knows that can help, the witch, Ulith. Slightly disturbed by her, Broxo and Zora need to discover what happened in the past, and if they can do anything to help put the undead to rest.
This was a really interesting, well told and gorgeously illustrated novel. Through flashbacks and little quirks, you get to know the characters and be invested in their welfare. You even have sympathy for the villain during part of the story, and you're not quite sure if this person is a villain or an ally (trying NOT to spoil the story..).
The layout is a little cluttered, occasionally making it harder to read the page. When this happens, you get little distracted from the story. Plus, while I like the flashbacks for the information they give on the characters, they chop up the flow of the story as well.
Themes in the book to look for: family (both blood and acquired), loyalty, courage, strength of character, and friendship.
Over all, I really enjoyed this, and look forward to other stories with these characters, or more by this author. Great book! I would recommend for late elementary (at the very earliest!), or more likely for middle school. While more geared toward boys, I think girls that like fantasy will like this as well, especially if they like zombies!
Princess Zora is climbing the mountain to look for the lost tribe. After being chased by some really large, furry animal, losing all her supplies, and sleeping in the rough, she is ready to be welcomed by the clan. Instead of finding a thriving village, she finds nothing but decay, death and one lone boy who claims to be the king of the tribe.
Meet Broxo, the lone survivor of a tragedy that eliminated the rest of his clan. With no one but his pet beast Migo, he roams the mountain, fighting the undead that threaten him, and trying his best to survive. Uncultured and alone, Zora is a strange intrusion into his solitary life. He finds her struggling to find something to eat, takes pity on her, and leads her back to his cave.
Together, they start finding clues about what really decimated Broxo's clan. When Zora follows Broxo, the undead attack and Zora is hurt. Broxo takes her to the only person he knows that can help, the witch, Ulith. Slightly disturbed by her, Broxo and Zora need to discover what happened in the past, and if they can do anything to help put the undead to rest.
This was a really interesting, well told and gorgeously illustrated novel. Through flashbacks and little quirks, you get to know the characters and be invested in their welfare. You even have sympathy for the villain during part of the story, and you're not quite sure if this person is a villain or an ally (trying NOT to spoil the story..).
The layout is a little cluttered, occasionally making it harder to read the page. When this happens, you get little distracted from the story. Plus, while I like the flashbacks for the information they give on the characters, they chop up the flow of the story as well.
Themes in the book to look for: family (both blood and acquired), loyalty, courage, strength of character, and friendship.
Over all, I really enjoyed this, and look forward to other stories with these characters, or more by this author. Great book! I would recommend for late elementary (at the very earliest!), or more likely for middle school. While more geared toward boys, I think girls that like fantasy will like this as well, especially if they like zombies!
October 5, 2013
Princess Zora risked it all to prove herself and help save her kingdom by finding the reclusive Peryton clan. But it was all for nothing. There is nothing left of the clan but a boy named Broxo who doesn't have any memory of the past. In the clan's place is a horde of walking dead. As Zora and Broxo fight for their lives they try to get to the center of the mystery of what happened to the Peryton clan, but it looks like Zora might have to go back empty-handed, if she survives to go back at all.
I like the atypical relationship between Broxo and Zora as they fight side by side and save each other's lives. Both are skilled warriors and spar with each other verbally and physically, but slowly grow to understand each other despite their differences. I enjoyed the witch character as well and the fact that she was such a morally complex character instead of a simple villain. Even the zombies were acting beyond their control and were eventually revealed to be more than just mindless killers. Of course I also loved Migo, the giant wolf-like character that watches over Zora and Broxo. The comic has excellent fight sequences and a lot of action, but in the end it goes beyond that to a moral about acceptance and living in the present. Peppered throughout all of that is a great sense of humor that leads to a well-rounded and engaging tale illustrated with beautifully detailed artwork.
Without giving too much away, I was a bit disappointed in how the witch's storyline concluded. Her costume bothered me as well. She wears what is essentially a fuzzy strapless bra and nothing else on her torso--even in the middle of a storm. Besides being uncomfortable it's highly impractical for wearing in an area so full of dangerous creatures. Even when she knowingly heads into a battle she doesn't bother to put anything resembling armor on or change her outfit in any way. Who is she dressing up for anyway? She's alone on the mountain except for Broxo and a bunch of zombies.
The book is action-packed and full of zombie fights, so it's naturally a bit gory. I'd save it for 5th grade and up. Fans of action-adventure comics and zombie battles will be sure to enjoy this tale.
Read more of my reviews at http://auldschoollibrarian.blogspot.com/
I like the atypical relationship between Broxo and Zora as they fight side by side and save each other's lives. Both are skilled warriors and spar with each other verbally and physically, but slowly grow to understand each other despite their differences. I enjoyed the witch character as well and the fact that she was such a morally complex character instead of a simple villain. Even the zombies were acting beyond their control and were eventually revealed to be more than just mindless killers. Of course I also loved Migo, the giant wolf-like character that watches over Zora and Broxo. The comic has excellent fight sequences and a lot of action, but in the end it goes beyond that to a moral about acceptance and living in the present. Peppered throughout all of that is a great sense of humor that leads to a well-rounded and engaging tale illustrated with beautifully detailed artwork.
Without giving too much away, I was a bit disappointed in how the witch's storyline concluded. Her costume bothered me as well. She wears what is essentially a fuzzy strapless bra and nothing else on her torso--even in the middle of a storm. Besides being uncomfortable it's highly impractical for wearing in an area so full of dangerous creatures. Even when she knowingly heads into a battle she doesn't bother to put anything resembling armor on or change her outfit in any way. Who is she dressing up for anyway? She's alone on the mountain except for Broxo and a bunch of zombies.
The book is action-packed and full of zombie fights, so it's naturally a bit gory. I'd save it for 5th grade and up. Fans of action-adventure comics and zombie battles will be sure to enjoy this tale.
Read more of my reviews at http://auldschoollibrarian.blogspot.com/
November 3, 2017
My 10-year-old read this and wasn't so into it, but I gave it a read and liked it. It's not my favorite graphic novel because I think the plot/storyline has some issues, but I like the subject matter (girl goes off in anger but finds herself and helps others) and I love stories with fights, swords, monsters in them. The story brings up issues of what it means to be part of community, family and what it means to be a friend all in a dark setting that feels like ancient times (way back when the majority of people lived in caves and small villages in remote areas).
July 9, 2018
I'm not sure why I didn't take to this, but there was something a little off for me here. Maybe the male/female dynamics. Broxo is developmentally stunted (having been alone for so long), but Princess Zora is very aware that she's a young woman and he's a young man. I don't know why, but the whole thing came off as a little uncomfortable. There is clearly strong relationship growth and character growth in the story, and the ending is very sweet, it just wasn't for me.
I would file this under Viking, Horror, and Mystery.
I would file this under Viking, Horror, and Mystery.
February 26, 2017
I was thrown off a bit by the flashbacks but otherwise a pretty good story. Good artwork.
September 12, 2017
The art was superb, but the story didn't grab me.
October 2, 2017
Way too short! I want more!
October 10, 2017
A good adventure story, a little confusing at first...
December 5, 2017
This one fell flat for me. Lack of plot and characterization.
January 28, 2018
Forgetting your past is like forgetting who you are.
February 16, 2018
Great art (I am a sucker for it). Light story, feels like the first effort of a future amazing storyteller.
Read
December 30, 2021So, okay. The world - early humans, zombies, elemental magic - was fairly interesting, and the art is nicely creepy, but the narrative was too disjointed. I feel like Giallongo had a strong handle on what heroes Zora and Broxo sound like, giving them distinctive voices, but wasn't as clear in conveying their characters, and definitely not in setting up the action and the causes of the (super obvious) zombie invasion. Zora and Broxo triumph, but their win doesn't feel like an exciting solution to their problem to me; it felt obvious, and not in the good way. Basically, I wanted this to be better than it felt to me. Heck, there's really no reason for the book to be named Broxo - if there's a central character between the two, it's definitely Zora. Also, Broxo can't speak properly. His family doesn't have this problem. Is this supposed to be because he's been alone for so long? It's weird, really weird. I could go on and on about stuff like this. Still, it's likely a lot of kids wouldn't be bothered by those issues. Swords and zombies can be hard to resist.
February 29, 2020
At first, this book seemed like the generic non-series book, but it is quite interesting. After reading this book and studying it, themes come up very quickly. One of the motives that I came across quickly was that "things are not as bad as it seems". The protagonist comes across a barren land, searching for a lost clan. She thinks that this might be the end of her, but she comes across another fellow human being. Events similar to this occurs very often in the book. It goes like this: Something bad happens-->characters expect the worst-->Nothing bad really happens. Obviously, there have to be a few bad things that happen. But, this type of event happens a lot. These events hint towards the theme and motive of the book.
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