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Ténébreuse #1
Tenebrosa. Libro primo
«Se vi serve una spada per una rapida guerra privata, sono l'uomo che fa per voi. Ma liberare principesse no, non è roba per me». Arzhur, cavaliere in disgrazia con poche speranze di redenzione, e Islen, principessa rassegnata a espiare le colpe dei propri genitori, vanno incontro a uno strano destino in un'avventura dai toni cupi e drammatici ma ricca anche di leggerezza e forza. Nessuno dei due è solo ciò che appare a prima vista: il cavaliere cinico rivelerà doti umane inaspettate e la tenebrosa principessa sfodererà un potere al limite dell'immaginabile. Dovranno affrontare molte e difficili prove, lottare contro pericoli mortali, annidati dove meno te lo aspetti, prima di trovare le risposte che cercano. Magnificata dal tratto virtuoso di Vincent Mallié, la sceneggiatura di Hubert si interroga sul peso del retaggio familiare, e ci consegna sotto le apparenze del racconto fantasy un'intima riflessione sui mostri che ci portiamo dentro.
72 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2021
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290 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
February 8, 2022
What is a disgraced knight without a coin to his name and hoping to restore his shattered reputation going to do when he's hired to rescue a princess held captive in a dark castle? Of course he's going to say yes, ignoring for a moment that the offer not only is too good to be trustworthy but that the hirers look even more suspicious than the mission. The prospect of regaining his good standing in the kingdom and earning some gold along the way is too tempting.
Problem is, Princess Islen neither wants nor needs to be rescued. She's far from a damsel in distress as she was painted to be. Not that Arzhur, our reluctant knight in tainted armour, is aware of this before he blunders into the castle and achieves what all good knights are supposed to. His mercenary gallantry sets into motion a series of tragicomic events that'll culminate in the reveal that there are secrets about the princess, her mother, and the kingdom at large that are more complicated than it's initially thought, and that will bring too many problems for everyone. A long string of twists that make for a fast-paced adventure story from beginning to end.
This being the first volume in a series, there are plenty of details that aren't clear yet and some characters that disappear presumably for the time being; so it's pretty much an introductory volume meant to set up the story and you shouldn't be expecting explanations for everything yet. As such, it also engages in many tropes of Epic Fantasy and knightly lore: the princess is beautiful and naïve, the knight is stoic and brave, the king is strong and fearsome, the queen is jealous and manipulative, the villains are gruesome monsters, and so on. It's standard for the genre, but that doesn't mean you have to expect it to be boring or predictable, because there is plenty of turns you mightn't see coming. The story seems to be going to walk the line between being reliably tropey, as in containing the hallmarks of the knightly Fantasy subgenre, and subversive, as in twisting expectations here and there.
I think that's what makes the story intriguing and engrossing. The writing is signature Hubert, whose work I had already enjoyed when he was scriptwriting for Kerascoët, similarly twisty and gritty subversions of fairy tale and fantasy tropes. Hubert likes to lure you in with the promise of the known elements you like, and then kicks it into subversion land, and he has a bit of a penchant for introducing small warped details that flirt with grimdark without quite staying there but are enough to shock. And he chooses great artists as well, I haven't seen him work with artists I've not liked, and the choice of Mallié to illustrate this graphic novel was excellent. His art is lovely, and he can do both gruesome scens and tender scenes just as comfortably, which makes him a perfect match for the storyteller's style.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Problem is, Princess Islen neither wants nor needs to be rescued. She's far from a damsel in distress as she was painted to be. Not that Arzhur, our reluctant knight in tainted armour, is aware of this before he blunders into the castle and achieves what all good knights are supposed to. His mercenary gallantry sets into motion a series of tragicomic events that'll culminate in the reveal that there are secrets about the princess, her mother, and the kingdom at large that are more complicated than it's initially thought, and that will bring too many problems for everyone. A long string of twists that make for a fast-paced adventure story from beginning to end.
This being the first volume in a series, there are plenty of details that aren't clear yet and some characters that disappear presumably for the time being; so it's pretty much an introductory volume meant to set up the story and you shouldn't be expecting explanations for everything yet. As such, it also engages in many tropes of Epic Fantasy and knightly lore: the princess is beautiful and naïve, the knight is stoic and brave, the king is strong and fearsome, the queen is jealous and manipulative, the villains are gruesome monsters, and so on. It's standard for the genre, but that doesn't mean you have to expect it to be boring or predictable, because there is plenty of turns you mightn't see coming. The story seems to be going to walk the line between being reliably tropey, as in containing the hallmarks of the knightly Fantasy subgenre, and subversive, as in twisting expectations here and there.
I think that's what makes the story intriguing and engrossing. The writing is signature Hubert, whose work I had already enjoyed when he was scriptwriting for Kerascoët, similarly twisty and gritty subversions of fairy tale and fantasy tropes. Hubert likes to lure you in with the promise of the known elements you like, and then kicks it into subversion land, and he has a bit of a penchant for introducing small warped details that flirt with grimdark without quite staying there but are enough to shock. And he chooses great artists as well, I haven't seen him work with artists I've not liked, and the choice of Mallié to illustrate this graphic novel was excellent. His art is lovely, and he can do both gruesome scens and tender scenes just as comfortably, which makes him a perfect match for the storyteller's style.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2022
I really enjoyed this mix of fantasy and horror. The art is great, and overall it reminds me of Thorgal, for some reason (which is high praise). Really looking forward to reading more of this series.
(Picked up a review copy through NetGalley)
(Picked up a review copy through NetGalley)
March 4, 2022
4/5 stars, a fast but very interesting fantasy graphic novel, with very cool art
Thank you to Europe Comics for this arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I found this cute little graphic novel when I was just scrolling through netgalley, and I figured I would try it out as I want to read more of these! It's hard at least for me to find fantasy ones that are really entertaining, and this totally measured up. The art style really reminded me of "Bone" the graphic novels series, which I read a lot of when I was younger so that was a welcome surprise.
It was a fairly short graphic novel so I won't have a long review here, but I don't really have anything bad to say about the story. From the very first page, it's entertaining and has mystery, while developing the few characters that you do see. All of the elements from the magic, knights, and hags as well as other unique creatures was super fun to experience! However, it was not an entirely light story and should be read by those who can handle both the trigger warnings and a light sex scene (you don't really see anything but it's there).
There are probably so many more layers to the magic that will be seen in coming graphic novels if more are published, and I hope they are. I would greatly look forward to them and try to read all of them. The classic story of a knight having to save a princess being turned a bit on its head was very fun too.
[TW: banishment, manipulation, gore and blood, death of a baby]
Thank you to Europe Comics for this arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I found this cute little graphic novel when I was just scrolling through netgalley, and I figured I would try it out as I want to read more of these! It's hard at least for me to find fantasy ones that are really entertaining, and this totally measured up. The art style really reminded me of "Bone" the graphic novels series, which I read a lot of when I was younger so that was a welcome surprise.
It was a fairly short graphic novel so I won't have a long review here, but I don't really have anything bad to say about the story. From the very first page, it's entertaining and has mystery, while developing the few characters that you do see. All of the elements from the magic, knights, and hags as well as other unique creatures was super fun to experience! However, it was not an entirely light story and should be read by those who can handle both the trigger warnings and a light sex scene (you don't really see anything but it's there).
There are probably so many more layers to the magic that will be seen in coming graphic novels if more are published, and I hope they are. I would greatly look forward to them and try to read all of them. The classic story of a knight having to save a princess being turned a bit on its head was very fun too.
[TW: banishment, manipulation, gore and blood, death of a baby]
May 19, 2022
A dark fairytale about a princess and disgraced knight, Arzhur, who saves her from the Black Castle, but all the trouble only begins there.
The art is nice, and I like it a lot. This is volume 1 (of 2). In Shadows is a very good graphic novel for those who like to read classical fairytales with a dark undertone.
Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
The art is nice, and I like it a lot. This is volume 1 (of 2). In Shadows is a very good graphic novel for those who like to read classical fairytales with a dark undertone.
Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
December 31, 2023
*3.5/5
Set in fantasy medieval times, this graphic novel follows Arzhur, a disgraced knight and Islen, a half human-half monster princess.
They meet when three elderly women give Arzhur the task to save the princess, which he attempts to do, only to later realize that he has been fooled by them and Islen didn't need any saving. In fact, they are the ones who seek to do her harm by getting her to her mother.
Islen, wishes to be taken to her father instead. Arzhur decides to accompany her, so she can be protected at all times, and on their way there, they get to know each other better and have a genuine care for each other.
I won't go into much detail because I don't feel like this turning into another review where I spoil the whole thing, but I am gonna talk about my thoughts regarding this book.
Generally speaking, this was a positive reading experience.
The story is unique, the creators seem imaginative, the relationships between the characters seem compelling and the artwork is phenomenal. I can totally see this receiving a Witcher-like adaptation. I believe fantasy lovers (but definitely not only them) will enjoy this.
But on the other hand, it felt as if like important parts of the story were missing, like this was the summary of a bigger story. I know there's a second part, but I'm still kinda worried that a lot of stuff will remain unanswered.
I will definitely read the second book and let you know!
If you made it this far, congratulations!
'Til next time, take care :) :) :)
Set in fantasy medieval times, this graphic novel follows Arzhur, a disgraced knight and Islen, a half human-half monster princess.
They meet when three elderly women give Arzhur the task to save the princess, which he attempts to do, only to later realize that he has been fooled by them and Islen didn't need any saving. In fact, they are the ones who seek to do her harm by getting her to her mother.
Islen, wishes to be taken to her father instead. Arzhur decides to accompany her, so she can be protected at all times, and on their way there, they get to know each other better and have a genuine care for each other.
I won't go into much detail because I don't feel like this turning into another review where I spoil the whole thing, but I am gonna talk about my thoughts regarding this book.
Generally speaking, this was a positive reading experience.
The story is unique, the creators seem imaginative, the relationships between the characters seem compelling and the artwork is phenomenal. I can totally see this receiving a Witcher-like adaptation. I believe fantasy lovers (but definitely not only them) will enjoy this.
But on the other hand, it felt as if like important parts of the story were missing, like this was the summary of a bigger story. I know there's a second part, but I'm still kinda worried that a lot of stuff will remain unanswered.
I will definitely read the second book and let you know!
If you made it this far, congratulations!
'Til next time, take care :) :) :)
February 5, 2022
I really enjoyed this comic, I totally devoured it.
I'm so excited to reread it for the next installment in the series.
The characters were so relatable and likable. I feel like the princess in my twin flame.
She made me feel understood and I haven't experienced that in a graphic novel before.
The art style was also perfect for the story.
I highly recommend checking this out.
I'm so excited to reread it for the next installment in the series.
The characters were so relatable and likable. I feel like the princess in my twin flame.
She made me feel understood and I haven't experienced that in a graphic novel before.
The art style was also perfect for the story.
I highly recommend checking this out.
June 8, 2022
3.5 De très jolies planches mais une histoire qui reste un peu en surface.
(Le chevalier déchu, la belle-mère aigrie, la princesse incomprise qui parle aux écureuils, les mariages forcés, on est pas vraiment l'originalité promise disons)
Je reste curieuse de voir si ca décolle un peu dans le second tome.
(Le chevalier déchu, la belle-mère aigrie, la princesse incomprise qui parle aux écureuils, les mariages forcés, on est pas vraiment l'originalité promise disons)
Je reste curieuse de voir si ca décolle un peu dans le second tome.
June 17, 2024
Kiedy widzę komiks, do którego scenariusz napisał Hubert, biorę go z półki bez zastanowienia. Uwielbiam historie, które wymyślał ten przedwcześnie zmarły, niezwykle utalentowany artysta.
Tym razem opowiada nam bardzo klasyczną baśń o tym, że prawdziwa miłość zawsze zwycięża. Mamy tu tajemniczą księżniczkę, obdarzoną magicznymi mocami, zamkniętą w mrocznym zamku, zniesławionego rycerza, który wyrusza jej na ratunek, zło, które czai się w niespodziewanych miejscach, knucia i zdrady, potężne siły ciemności i prawdziwe uczucie, które jest w stanie przebić się przez każdą ścianę. Chociaż historia jest dość przewidywalna i prosta, nie wyłamuje się z baśniowego schematu, to są tu rzeczy, za które bardzo Huberta cenię, czyli wątki światopoglądowe - jak zwykle feministyczny vibe, a teraz jeszcze prozwierzęcy i wegetariański - niejedzący mięsa i mówiący otwarcie o ich podmiotowości bohaterowie w czasach rycerskich to dość miłe zaskoczenie.
Rysunki bardzo przyjemne. Bez szału, ale w porządku, takie miłe fantasy.
February 18, 2022
Like a grimier Brothers Grimm.
Princesses, like most girls, had always held a source of fascination for me. One of my first pets was christened Princess by me- I know, how very creative- but as I have grown, as has my cynicism, and found those tales somewhat simplistic and saccharine.
In Shadows is a Fairy tale well suited for my palette. It’s dark, gritty, and nuanced. The characters are not paradigms of virtue; in fact the leads, especially Princess Islen, fall more in the category of anti heroes.
Princess Islen has a dark magical inheritance, she is scared of herself and where her nature may unwillingly lead her.
Though not all the princess tropes are done away with, she can speak to the woodland creatures, albeit she displays a marked preference for the company of monsters, pigeons, and rats. The disgraced knight, Arzhur, I must say did not make much of an impression on me one way or another, but that could change with the next installment. In this first part I found him fairly bland and I just wanted more focus on the princess.
The art work is decidedly the crown jewel of this work, beautiful, colorful, detailed and unique. I particularly liked how the princess is designed- I know, I won’t shut up about the princess, it’s like I'm a six year old again-
Princess Islen is curvy and a bit racially ambiguous, so not the Disney skinny blonde variety that is prevalent,
Granted & thankfully the tide is turning on that.
The main gripe I would have is that the dialogue was not distinguished, everything was told in a very common, just get the point across, direct way. I longed for that lyrical, romantic manner spoken in medical settings, and the dialogue decidedly detracted from the atmosphere the artwork and plot had so painstakingly created. However, as this is translated from it’s original French, it may lie with a no frills nor bells translation.
It is hard to rate this more that 4 stars as this was a short first installment in a graphic novel, but I am interested in seeing where this story goes and if the knight gets some personality.
If you enjoyed ‘Into the Woods,’ ‘Wicked,’ ‘Maleficent,” or would be interested in a more gritty version of ‘Shrek,’ then this is right up your alley.
I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Princesses, like most girls, had always held a source of fascination for me. One of my first pets was christened Princess by me- I know, how very creative- but as I have grown, as has my cynicism, and found those tales somewhat simplistic and saccharine.
In Shadows is a Fairy tale well suited for my palette. It’s dark, gritty, and nuanced. The characters are not paradigms of virtue; in fact the leads, especially Princess Islen, fall more in the category of anti heroes.
Princess Islen has a dark magical inheritance, she is scared of herself and where her nature may unwillingly lead her.
Though not all the princess tropes are done away with, she can speak to the woodland creatures, albeit she displays a marked preference for the company of monsters, pigeons, and rats. The disgraced knight, Arzhur, I must say did not make much of an impression on me one way or another, but that could change with the next installment. In this first part I found him fairly bland and I just wanted more focus on the princess.
The art work is decidedly the crown jewel of this work, beautiful, colorful, detailed and unique. I particularly liked how the princess is designed- I know, I won’t shut up about the princess, it’s like I'm a six year old again-
Princess Islen is curvy and a bit racially ambiguous, so not the Disney skinny blonde variety that is prevalent,
Granted & thankfully the tide is turning on that.
The main gripe I would have is that the dialogue was not distinguished, everything was told in a very common, just get the point across, direct way. I longed for that lyrical, romantic manner spoken in medical settings, and the dialogue decidedly detracted from the atmosphere the artwork and plot had so painstakingly created. However, as this is translated from it’s original French, it may lie with a no frills nor bells translation.
It is hard to rate this more that 4 stars as this was a short first installment in a graphic novel, but I am interested in seeing where this story goes and if the knight gets some personality.
If you enjoyed ‘Into the Woods,’ ‘Wicked,’ ‘Maleficent,” or would be interested in a more gritty version of ‘Shrek,’ then this is right up your alley.
I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 4, 2022
2.5 stars
(This a review for book 1 only)
A medieval romance + fantasy story, with sword fights, an evil step mother, court intrigue, & witches. I really like the art, but the characters have little depth or nuance, & the story is melodramatic & a bit clichéd.
[What I liked:]
•The art is lovely! I especially love the backgrounds & scenes in the forests. There is nice attention to detail.
•I am interested in finding out Islen’s mother’s backstory. Who/what exactly is she? Who are the hags? What exactly are the details of their evil take-over-the-world plans?
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Really? A Disney-esque princess who can talk to animals & all wild animals love her? How cliché. & she insists on being vegetarian, but doesn’t know how to forage or what plant foods are safe to eat, sigh.
•The characters are basically caricatures. The mother is evil, the stepmother is scheming & wicked, the father is easily manipulated, the heroine is jawdroppingly naïve, & hero is the sad & silent type.
•Okay, there’s a seriously disturbing scene where a child sees her parents naked & having sex. Why did that need to be included?? It’s not like she accidentally walked in on them, it’s like they got well & truly started before her nurse took her out of the room 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
CW: violence, child death
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
(This a review for book 1 only)
A medieval romance + fantasy story, with sword fights, an evil step mother, court intrigue, & witches. I really like the art, but the characters have little depth or nuance, & the story is melodramatic & a bit clichéd.
[What I liked:]
•The art is lovely! I especially love the backgrounds & scenes in the forests. There is nice attention to detail.
•I am interested in finding out Islen’s mother’s backstory. Who/what exactly is she? Who are the hags? What exactly are the details of their evil take-over-the-world plans?
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Really? A Disney-esque princess who can talk to animals & all wild animals love her? How cliché. & she insists on being vegetarian, but doesn’t know how to forage or what plant foods are safe to eat, sigh.
•The characters are basically caricatures. The mother is evil, the stepmother is scheming & wicked, the father is easily manipulated, the heroine is jawdroppingly naïve, & hero is the sad & silent type.
•Okay, there’s a seriously disturbing scene where a child sees her parents naked & having sex. Why did that need to be included?? It’s not like she accidentally walked in on them, it’s like they got well & truly started before her nurse took her out of the room 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
CW: violence, child death
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
October 13, 2021
Ce premier tome de Ténébreuse est à la hauteur des attentes. Avec les illustrations superbes et envoûtantes de Vincent Mallié et le scénario réussi d’Hubert, cette BD est une belle réussite. Une belle leçon sur les apparences, une histoire fascinante de sorcières et un début d’histoire captivant et touchant. J’ai adoré! Vivement la suite.
Critique complète sur yuyine.be!
Critique complète sur yuyine.be!
September 10, 2022
🇬🇧 English review below ⬇
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Schon in der Vorschau hat das Cover meine Aufmerksamkeit geweckt und als ich dann die Teaser Überschrift “Düsteres Fantasy Märchen” las, war für mich schon klar, dass ich Tenebrae lesen wollen würde.
Ein gefallener Held und eine ganz und gar nicht hilflose Prinzessin
Tenebrae, was übrigens Latein für Finsternis ist, beginnt ohne viel Tara direkt in der Geschichte. Wir lernen den Ritter Arzhur kennen, einst ein strahlender Held, doch nun aufgrund eines Fehlers in der Vergangenheit ein Trunkenbold, der sich als Söldner verdingt. Als dann drei mysteriöse alte Frauen erscheinen und ihm für einen Auftrag nicht nur Gold, sondern auch die Wiederherstellung seiner Ehre versprechen, ist Arzhur natürlich mehr als willig den Handel einzugehen. Und der Auftrag klingt auch wir die perfekte Gelegenheit, um aus der Sache wieder als tugendhafter und bejubelter Ritter hervorzugehen: Eine Prinzessin soll aus einer von Monster bewachten Burg gerettet und ihrem Vater, dem König zurückgebracht werden. Doch was wie eine einfache Heldentat klingt, ist nicht das, was es zu sein scheint.
Bei zwei geplanten Bänden zu je 80 Seiten kann sich jeder Denken, dass diese Heldenreise der anderen Art sehr zügig vonstattengeht und so ist es auch. Die Geschichte hält sich nicht mit allzu vielen Details auf und ist auch nicht sonderlich komplex, dafür hat sie einen hohen Unterhaltungswert. Arzhur und Islen als Protagonist*innen werden genug beleuchtet, dass man als Lese*in mit ihnen mitfiebert und die Geschichte hat genug Geheimnisse, die es zu lüften gilt, um konstant Spannung zu erzeugen. Die Handlung mag etwas geradlinig ablaufen, hat aber trotzdem den ein und anderen Twist vorzuweisen, die die klassische Heldenreise hinterfragen und wie schon der Teaser versprach, das Bild eines düsteren Märchens zeichnen. Zum Ende hin überschlagen sich dann die Ereignisse, werden nochmals düsterer und lassen einen sich im Hinblick auf die Entwicklung der Charaktere sehr auf den zweiten Band freuen.
Gekrönt wird die interessante Erzählung durch den wunderschönen Stil von Vincent Mallié. Die Mimik der Charaktere ist ausdrucksstark, selbst wenn mal nicht alle Details ausgearbeitet sind. Letzteres gilt vor allem für die drei Hexen, die oft nebulös und bedrohlich zugleich wirken. Sehr gut gefallen haben mir auch die Proportionen der Frauenfiguren. Unsere Prinzessin sieht nicht aus wie eine zarte Elfe, die in nächsten Moment droht davon geweht zu werden, sondern hat ein gesundes Gewicht und wirkt damit viel lebendiger. Und zum Schluss auch ein Lob an die tolle Kolorierung von Bruno Tatti, dem es meisterlich gelingt sowohl für die lichten, als auch düsteren Momente die richtige Farbstimmung auszuwählen.
Fazit:
Tenebrae erzählt keine allzu komplexe, aber dafür eine sehr unterhaltsame und spannende Geschichte, die mit düsteren Elementen spielt und klassische Helden hinterfragt. Begleitet von einem sehr ansprechenden Zeichenstil und stimmungsvolle Kolorierungen ist Tenebrae ein Leckerbissen für zwischendurch.
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❗Important note: English is not my first language. So that English-speaking community members can still read my review, my review has been translated with the help of a translation program (since I don't have the time to translate it myself every time). I therefore apologize for any mistakes and strange phrasing.
The cover already caught my attention in the preview and when I read the teaser headline "Dark fantasy fairy tale", it was already clear to me that I would want to read Tenebrae.
A fallen hero and a not at all helpless princess
In Shadows starts without much tara straight into the story. We are introduced to the knight Arzhur, once a shining hero, but now a drunkard due to a past mistake, who hires himself out as a mercenary. When three mysterious old women appear and promise him not only gold but also the restoration of his honour in return for a contract, Arzhur is naturally more than willing to make the deal. And the mission sounds like the perfect opportunity to emerge as a virtuous and acclaimed knight: A princess is to be rescued from a castle guarded by monsters and returned to her father, the king. But what sounds like a simple heroic deed is not what it seems.
With two planned volumes of 80 pages each, everyone can imagine that this hero's journey of a different kind will be very brisk, and so it is. The story does not dwell on too many details and is not particularly complex, but it has a high entertainment value. Arzhur and Islen as protagonists are illuminated enough for the reader to sympathise with them and the story has enough secrets to uncover to create constant suspense. The plot may be a little straightforward, but it still has one or two twists that question the classic hero's journey and, as the teaser promised, paint the picture of a dark fairy tale. Towards the end, the events come to a head, become even darker and make you look forward to the second volume with regard to the development of the characters.
The interesting narrative is crowned by Vincent Mallié's beautiful style. The facial expressions of the characters are expressive, even if not all details are worked out. The latter is especially true for the three witches, who often appear nebulous and threatening at the same time. I also liked the proportions of the female characters. Our princess doesn't look like a delicate elf who threatens to be blown away in the next moment, but has a healthy weight and thus seems much more alive. And finally, praise for the great colouring by Bruno Tatti, who masterfully manages to choose the right colour mood for both the light and dark moments.
Conclusion:
In Shadows does not tell an overly complex story, but a very entertaining and exciting one that plays with dark elements and questions classic heroes. Accompanied by a very appealing drawing style and atmospheric colouring, Tenebrae is a treat for in between.
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Schon in der Vorschau hat das Cover meine Aufmerksamkeit geweckt und als ich dann die Teaser Überschrift “Düsteres Fantasy Märchen” las, war für mich schon klar, dass ich Tenebrae lesen wollen würde.
Ein gefallener Held und eine ganz und gar nicht hilflose Prinzessin
Tenebrae, was übrigens Latein für Finsternis ist, beginnt ohne viel Tara direkt in der Geschichte. Wir lernen den Ritter Arzhur kennen, einst ein strahlender Held, doch nun aufgrund eines Fehlers in der Vergangenheit ein Trunkenbold, der sich als Söldner verdingt. Als dann drei mysteriöse alte Frauen erscheinen und ihm für einen Auftrag nicht nur Gold, sondern auch die Wiederherstellung seiner Ehre versprechen, ist Arzhur natürlich mehr als willig den Handel einzugehen. Und der Auftrag klingt auch wir die perfekte Gelegenheit, um aus der Sache wieder als tugendhafter und bejubelter Ritter hervorzugehen: Eine Prinzessin soll aus einer von Monster bewachten Burg gerettet und ihrem Vater, dem König zurückgebracht werden. Doch was wie eine einfache Heldentat klingt, ist nicht das, was es zu sein scheint.
Bei zwei geplanten Bänden zu je 80 Seiten kann sich jeder Denken, dass diese Heldenreise der anderen Art sehr zügig vonstattengeht und so ist es auch. Die Geschichte hält sich nicht mit allzu vielen Details auf und ist auch nicht sonderlich komplex, dafür hat sie einen hohen Unterhaltungswert. Arzhur und Islen als Protagonist*innen werden genug beleuchtet, dass man als Lese*in mit ihnen mitfiebert und die Geschichte hat genug Geheimnisse, die es zu lüften gilt, um konstant Spannung zu erzeugen. Die Handlung mag etwas geradlinig ablaufen, hat aber trotzdem den ein und anderen Twist vorzuweisen, die die klassische Heldenreise hinterfragen und wie schon der Teaser versprach, das Bild eines düsteren Märchens zeichnen. Zum Ende hin überschlagen sich dann die Ereignisse, werden nochmals düsterer und lassen einen sich im Hinblick auf die Entwicklung der Charaktere sehr auf den zweiten Band freuen.
Gekrönt wird die interessante Erzählung durch den wunderschönen Stil von Vincent Mallié. Die Mimik der Charaktere ist ausdrucksstark, selbst wenn mal nicht alle Details ausgearbeitet sind. Letzteres gilt vor allem für die drei Hexen, die oft nebulös und bedrohlich zugleich wirken. Sehr gut gefallen haben mir auch die Proportionen der Frauenfiguren. Unsere Prinzessin sieht nicht aus wie eine zarte Elfe, die in nächsten Moment droht davon geweht zu werden, sondern hat ein gesundes Gewicht und wirkt damit viel lebendiger. Und zum Schluss auch ein Lob an die tolle Kolorierung von Bruno Tatti, dem es meisterlich gelingt sowohl für die lichten, als auch düsteren Momente die richtige Farbstimmung auszuwählen.
Fazit:
Tenebrae erzählt keine allzu komplexe, aber dafür eine sehr unterhaltsame und spannende Geschichte, die mit düsteren Elementen spielt und klassische Helden hinterfragt. Begleitet von einem sehr ansprechenden Zeichenstil und stimmungsvolle Kolorierungen ist Tenebrae ein Leckerbissen für zwischendurch.
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❗Important note: English is not my first language. So that English-speaking community members can still read my review, my review has been translated with the help of a translation program (since I don't have the time to translate it myself every time). I therefore apologize for any mistakes and strange phrasing.
The cover already caught my attention in the preview and when I read the teaser headline "Dark fantasy fairy tale", it was already clear to me that I would want to read Tenebrae.
A fallen hero and a not at all helpless princess
In Shadows starts without much tara straight into the story. We are introduced to the knight Arzhur, once a shining hero, but now a drunkard due to a past mistake, who hires himself out as a mercenary. When three mysterious old women appear and promise him not only gold but also the restoration of his honour in return for a contract, Arzhur is naturally more than willing to make the deal. And the mission sounds like the perfect opportunity to emerge as a virtuous and acclaimed knight: A princess is to be rescued from a castle guarded by monsters and returned to her father, the king. But what sounds like a simple heroic deed is not what it seems.
With two planned volumes of 80 pages each, everyone can imagine that this hero's journey of a different kind will be very brisk, and so it is. The story does not dwell on too many details and is not particularly complex, but it has a high entertainment value. Arzhur and Islen as protagonists are illuminated enough for the reader to sympathise with them and the story has enough secrets to uncover to create constant suspense. The plot may be a little straightforward, but it still has one or two twists that question the classic hero's journey and, as the teaser promised, paint the picture of a dark fairy tale. Towards the end, the events come to a head, become even darker and make you look forward to the second volume with regard to the development of the characters.
The interesting narrative is crowned by Vincent Mallié's beautiful style. The facial expressions of the characters are expressive, even if not all details are worked out. The latter is especially true for the three witches, who often appear nebulous and threatening at the same time. I also liked the proportions of the female characters. Our princess doesn't look like a delicate elf who threatens to be blown away in the next moment, but has a healthy weight and thus seems much more alive. And finally, praise for the great colouring by Bruno Tatti, who masterfully manages to choose the right colour mood for both the light and dark moments.
Conclusion:
In Shadows does not tell an overly complex story, but a very entertaining and exciting one that plays with dark elements and questions classic heroes. Accompanied by a very appealing drawing style and atmospheric colouring, Tenebrae is a treat for in between.
February 8, 2022
Thank you for this ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review!
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2.5 stars:
+ I liked that this was historical, I tend to gravitate towards fantasy books in this type of setting.
+ It was fast-paced and the magic was interesting.
- I would have hoped that the princess had a more likeable personality instead of the typical damsel-in-distress.
- It’s very cliché, which sometimes isn’t a bad thing, it just didn’t have that “wow” factor or anything really new to offer.
Overall, it was a nice and quick read.
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2.5 stars:
+ I liked that this was historical, I tend to gravitate towards fantasy books in this type of setting.
+ It was fast-paced and the magic was interesting.
- I would have hoped that the princess had a more likeable personality instead of the typical damsel-in-distress.
- It’s very cliché, which sometimes isn’t a bad thing, it just didn’t have that “wow” factor or anything really new to offer.
Overall, it was a nice and quick read.
February 16, 2022
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
It's hard to judge a story from one single volume but, for me, it's off to a good start. Where the story goes from here is going to dictate if this is something I will adore or forget. The structure is very well known and could even be considered cliché but it works. I would love to see where this is going so I will choose to keep reading it if I have the chance, the art is absolutely stunning.
It's hard to judge a story from one single volume but, for me, it's off to a good start. Where the story goes from here is going to dictate if this is something I will adore or forget. The structure is very well known and could even be considered cliché but it works. I would love to see where this is going so I will choose to keep reading it if I have the chance, the art is absolutely stunning.
November 13, 2024
Po lekturze wydanych u nas przez Kulturę Gniewu "Męskiej skóry" i "Piękności", spodziewałem się baśni dla dorosłego czytelnika, więc brutalniejszej i podejmującej trudniejsze tematy niż opowieści kierowane do dzieciaków. To takie komiksy, w których wybór gatunku bywa mylący, a treść jest po prostu odważna i prowokuje ważne tematy społeczne. Fabuła "Ciemności" niby chce iść tym tropem, ale za szybko staje w miejscu, stając się tworem pośrednim, a przez to kierowanym do nikogo. Rysunkowo jesteśmy blisko Loisela, więc kreski na tyle lubianej, że będącej pewniakiem wśród miłośników frankofonów. Oczekiwałem więcej
October 21, 2023
Kind of a dark fairy tale, quite nice
December 5, 2021
Mystérieux et captivant
Mots Clés : bande-dessinée, fantasy, aventure
Clairement, et comme d’habitude, j’ai été attiré par la couverture de cette bande-dessinée. En plus, le titre faisait mystérieux donc je me suis lancée dans l’aventure.
J’ai beaucoup aimé. On début, on part un peu classique sur un chevalier déchu et une princesse à sauver de son donjon. Mais au final, je trouve que cela fonctionne bien. J’aime beaucoup le personnage d’Islen et j’ai hâte de savoir ce qui va lui arriver. Arzhur est intéressant mais il y a encore pas mal de mystère autour de son personnage. Le récit m’a captivé pendant tout le long, avec son aventure, ses intrigues et ses twists. De plus, les dessins sont vraiment beaux. J’ai apprécié cet univers fantastique et mystérieux. Vivement le tome suivant.
Je recommande aux personnes qui aiment la fantasy et l’aventure.
4/5
Merci Netgalley pour cette eCopie en échange de mon honnête opinion
Mots Clés : bande-dessinée, fantasy, aventure
Clairement, et comme d’habitude, j’ai été attiré par la couverture de cette bande-dessinée. En plus, le titre faisait mystérieux donc je me suis lancée dans l’aventure.
J’ai beaucoup aimé. On début, on part un peu classique sur un chevalier déchu et une princesse à sauver de son donjon. Mais au final, je trouve que cela fonctionne bien. J’aime beaucoup le personnage d’Islen et j’ai hâte de savoir ce qui va lui arriver. Arzhur est intéressant mais il y a encore pas mal de mystère autour de son personnage. Le récit m’a captivé pendant tout le long, avec son aventure, ses intrigues et ses twists. De plus, les dessins sont vraiment beaux. J’ai apprécié cet univers fantastique et mystérieux. Vivement le tome suivant.
Je recommande aux personnes qui aiment la fantasy et l’aventure.
4/5
Merci Netgalley pour cette eCopie en échange de mon honnête opinion
March 1, 2022
Average fantasy, that might want to say something about prejudice, and how the main female character is misaligned, perhaps due to the typical response to a certain type of forceful lady – but that boils down to a standard look at a standard world with standard magic and monsters and standard strife in the ruling family. Our hero is employed/goaded into rescuing a princess from a castle, which he does successfully – except she didn't want to be rescued, and neither did a lot of people want her on the loose, either, seeing too much of her monstrous mother in her. A literary piece will discuss how apples fall certain distances from trees, and so on – but this isn't literary, it's, as I say, standard. Things might improve in subsequent books, but it's one where it's best to get word of the whole shebang's success or otherwise once it is complete, and to keep it on the back-burner until then.
March 15, 2023
Terrible tropes, decent art.
February 7, 2025
Histoire sympa mais clichée. Ok la princesse ne veut pas être sauvé et il y a un petit message anti-spéciste (et encore très bref et peut-être pas très cohérent... à vérifier dans le T2) mais bon, passé ça, c'est du réchauffé. Dialogues simplistes, narration trop rapide au point que cela manque de fluidité et de logique pour passer d'une idée ou d'un moment à l'autre, pas de subtilité, tout est prévisible. Les dessins sont exactement ce à quoi on s'attend dans ce genre d'histoire inspirée d'un Moyen Âge légendaire avec des corps féminins sexualisés de manière stéréotypée : mythe sexiste de la femme fatale et des vieilles moires glaucquasses. Et les représentations des hommes sont tout aussi clichées.
On ne passe pas spécialement un mauvais moment à lire la BD mais bon, ça ne vaut pas une relecture. Médiocre somme toute...
On ne passe pas spécialement un mauvais moment à lire la BD mais bon, ça ne vaut pas une relecture. Médiocre somme toute...
November 10, 2024
Very pretty. Wish I had an omnibus version.
January 13, 2024
Classique ! Un petit air de Loisel...
October 20, 2024
Un conte fantasy agréable à lire.
On a envie de savoir la suite dans le tome 2, même si pour l'instant il n'y a rien de transcendant dans l'intrigue.
On a envie de savoir la suite dans le tome 2, même si pour l'instant il n'y a rien de transcendant dans l'intrigue.
March 12, 2022
I was in the mood for a fantasy story today, and with perfect luck I stumbled on the newest comic from Europe Comics, In Shadows – Book 1. The book is based on a script by Hubert Boulard, known just as mononymously as “Hubert”, who passed away in 2020 with this being one of the last things he was working on before his passing. It was picked up by Vincent Mallié and put together into this wonderful volume today. It tells the story of a disgraced knight that is given a chance at a second lease on life, only to be thrown headfirst into more trouble than he could ever imagine.
“Arzhur, a disgraced knight, has taken on a new mission to restore his honor: save Princess Islen from the Black Castle. The only problem is, the mysterious Islen doesn’t want to be saved…The reluctant pair must nonetheless cross the kingdom—pursued by a trio of sinister witches—in hopes of finding refuge with Islen’s father, the king. But will their secrets catch up with them first?”
This is a relatively short read, but good value for money and time considering the lush, gorgeous artwork and intriguing storyline. The entire time I was wondering what “the real story was” considering the motivations of some characters seem somewhat iffy, but I can’t imagine we’ll be seeing a total “we’re actually the bad guys” climax, but who knows. Fans of things like Disney Princess stories might get a kick out of this for the simple reason that it plays around with some of the “princess tropes” we see in a lot of folklore. Yes, Islen can speak with woodland creatures great and small, but in this world that includes dragons and other monstrous beasts.
I enjoyed that the juxtaposition of the more mature things in the book (i.e gore, fighting, court politics) are mixed in with a “normal” fantasy world and don’t overtake the book with bleak dreariness. I have found that the HBO series Game of Thrones has somewhat tainted every modern fantasy story into being aesthetically and thematically similar, which is a true shame. That isn’t a blemish of that properties name by me, but I wish more writers would avoid jumping on the bandwagon. Luckily, Vincent Mallié avoids this and does his own thing which makes this book that much better.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book – it has wonderful art, an interesting story, and looks to be heading in a direction I was not expecting. Assuming Book 2 comes out before too long, I will be very excited to see where the story goes. It doesn’t really break any rules of what the fantasy genre is all about, but it has enough of an atypical sensibility that it’s not really derivative either. Europe Comics have published some great fantasy books as of late including Thorgal, Vesper, and The Lost Ages, all of which is well worth a look if you like this genre.
“Arzhur, a disgraced knight, has taken on a new mission to restore his honor: save Princess Islen from the Black Castle. The only problem is, the mysterious Islen doesn’t want to be saved…The reluctant pair must nonetheless cross the kingdom—pursued by a trio of sinister witches—in hopes of finding refuge with Islen’s father, the king. But will their secrets catch up with them first?”
This is a relatively short read, but good value for money and time considering the lush, gorgeous artwork and intriguing storyline. The entire time I was wondering what “the real story was” considering the motivations of some characters seem somewhat iffy, but I can’t imagine we’ll be seeing a total “we’re actually the bad guys” climax, but who knows. Fans of things like Disney Princess stories might get a kick out of this for the simple reason that it plays around with some of the “princess tropes” we see in a lot of folklore. Yes, Islen can speak with woodland creatures great and small, but in this world that includes dragons and other monstrous beasts.
I enjoyed that the juxtaposition of the more mature things in the book (i.e gore, fighting, court politics) are mixed in with a “normal” fantasy world and don’t overtake the book with bleak dreariness. I have found that the HBO series Game of Thrones has somewhat tainted every modern fantasy story into being aesthetically and thematically similar, which is a true shame. That isn’t a blemish of that properties name by me, but I wish more writers would avoid jumping on the bandwagon. Luckily, Vincent Mallié avoids this and does his own thing which makes this book that much better.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book – it has wonderful art, an interesting story, and looks to be heading in a direction I was not expecting. Assuming Book 2 comes out before too long, I will be very excited to see where the story goes. It doesn’t really break any rules of what the fantasy genre is all about, but it has enough of an atypical sensibility that it’s not really derivative either. Europe Comics have published some great fantasy books as of late including Thorgal, Vesper, and The Lost Ages, all of which is well worth a look if you like this genre.
April 24, 2022
Un récit de Hubert ? Je ne pouvais que craquer après avoir adoré Peau d'homme et ses thématiques.
"Ténébreuse" est un conte mystérieux dont on oublie vite les petites faiblesses scénaristiques au profit des dessins très expressifs, très détaillés de Mallié qui nous livre un travail magnifique. Le récit est sublimé par une palette de couleurs sombres qui s'accorde bien à la trame de la histoire et rythme les actions. Le tout, teinté de féminisme et d'un vent de liberté, est largement influencé par le mythe de Mélusine.
Une héroïne exilée dans un château, une étrange couronne de papillons, un anti-héro attachant, des personnages secondaires aux motivations malsaines, un contexte assez mystérieux où l'auteur prend plaisir à brouiller les pistes... Et des planches grouillantes de vie et de détails qui offrent une expérience de lecture immersive. Je dois dire que c'est ce dernier point qui m'a totalement fait basculer.
"Ténébreuse" est le premier tome d'une histoire intrigante, faite de fureur et de poésie macabre, que je prendrai plaisir à poursuivre.
"Ténébreuse" est un conte mystérieux dont on oublie vite les petites faiblesses scénaristiques au profit des dessins très expressifs, très détaillés de Mallié qui nous livre un travail magnifique. Le récit est sublimé par une palette de couleurs sombres qui s'accorde bien à la trame de la histoire et rythme les actions. Le tout, teinté de féminisme et d'un vent de liberté, est largement influencé par le mythe de Mélusine.
Une héroïne exilée dans un château, une étrange couronne de papillons, un anti-héro attachant, des personnages secondaires aux motivations malsaines, un contexte assez mystérieux où l'auteur prend plaisir à brouiller les pistes... Et des planches grouillantes de vie et de détails qui offrent une expérience de lecture immersive. Je dois dire que c'est ce dernier point qui m'a totalement fait basculer.
"Ténébreuse" est le premier tome d'une histoire intrigante, faite de fureur et de poésie macabre, que je prendrai plaisir à poursuivre.
February 13, 2022
I loved this story!! Ex-knight now mercenary Arzhur is hired by three old women to save the princess... who doesn't want saving and has a bunch of 'monsters' as pets. She can talk to animals and in general isn't really what she seems to be. What follows is a great and magical story with some dark twists. It gets a bit tropey at times (the beautiful and naïve princess, the manipulative second wife, the brave knight), but the story of who Islen is makes up for a lot of that. This is the first in its series, so we don't get much regarding answers. But I'm intrigued anyway.
I also have to say the art is lovely. Mallié does a wonderful job with both the quiet and beautiful scenes, but at the same time really knows how to make the gruesome moments dark and gritty.
This was a great read, and I'm very excited to continue the series (something I rarely do with graphic novels I receive through Netgalley). Highly recommend.
I also have to say the art is lovely. Mallié does a wonderful job with both the quiet and beautiful scenes, but at the same time really knows how to make the gruesome moments dark and gritty.
This was a great read, and I'm very excited to continue the series (something I rarely do with graphic novels I receive through Netgalley). Highly recommend.
February 24, 2022
There is a wonderful story in here, however, I think the pacing does it more of a disservice than it intends.
This is a beautifully illustrated world of lore and magic, one with storylines and characters that are intriguing if not a bit overused as fantasy tropes. From the first page, I was intrigued as to where the story was going, however, the dialogue was a bit stilted oftentimes, sounding cliched and corny; so much so I was often pulled from the story as it was distracting.
I wish there was a building of the world and characters, as I felt that the story raced to the finish, with no real stakes put into the characters as it came as if we did not get to know them. From the dishonored knight to the banished princess, they are tropes who sat one-dimensionally, if not visually intriguing.
Could be great if given slower pacing.
This is a beautifully illustrated world of lore and magic, one with storylines and characters that are intriguing if not a bit overused as fantasy tropes. From the first page, I was intrigued as to where the story was going, however, the dialogue was a bit stilted oftentimes, sounding cliched and corny; so much so I was often pulled from the story as it was distracting.
I wish there was a building of the world and characters, as I felt that the story raced to the finish, with no real stakes put into the characters as it came as if we did not get to know them. From the dishonored knight to the banished princess, they are tropes who sat one-dimensionally, if not visually intriguing.
Could be great if given slower pacing.
Read
February 26, 2022Appréciant particulièrement le travail de Hubert, j'étais impatiente de découvrir ce titre. Je remercie les éditions Dupuis pour cette opportunité (via NetGalley).
J'ai apprécié les graphismes de cet ouvrage. Les décors sont saisissants et j'ai aimé la palette de couleurs utilisées.
En revanche, le récit m'a moins envoûtée. Même si celui-ci est très bien conté, je l'ai trouvé relativement classique et prévisible.
J'ai tout de même apprécié y voir abordé des thèmes actuels : la place de la femme, la protection de la nature, le poids de l'héritage, l'acceptation de soi...
Malgré ce petit quelque chose qui m'a manqué, j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture avec ce premier volume. Je me demande ce que nous réserve la suite.
Ma chronique : https://psycheedelik-unehistoiredemot...
J'ai apprécié les graphismes de cet ouvrage. Les décors sont saisissants et j'ai aimé la palette de couleurs utilisées.
En revanche, le récit m'a moins envoûtée. Même si celui-ci est très bien conté, je l'ai trouvé relativement classique et prévisible.
J'ai tout de même apprécié y voir abordé des thèmes actuels : la place de la femme, la protection de la nature, le poids de l'héritage, l'acceptation de soi...
Malgré ce petit quelque chose qui m'a manqué, j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture avec ce premier volume. Je me demande ce que nous réserve la suite.
Ma chronique : https://psycheedelik-unehistoiredemot...
December 8, 2021
• On est plongé dans un monde fantastique medieval, sombre et passionnant empli de magie.
C'est l'histoire d'une princesse oubliées qui a fini par accepter et vivre sa vie avec ses bêtes. Jusqu'à l'arrivée d'un homme pour "la sauver" qui détruit tous ses compagnons. On découvre alors la vérité et l'histoire qui mine la princesse Islen et le mercenaire Arzhur.
Les personnages sont forts de caractères et emplis de convictions.
Cette histoire, raconte sous forme d'un conte est là pour nous questionner sur des thèmes de la vie. On y abordé la parenté, l'hérédité, l'avidité de l'homme, le regard des autres... et encore d'autres plus ou moins subtilement.
J'ai adoré les graphismes qui sont très détaillés et travaillés. Ils représentent si bien cet univers médiéval fantasy.
C'est l'histoire d'une princesse oubliées qui a fini par accepter et vivre sa vie avec ses bêtes. Jusqu'à l'arrivée d'un homme pour "la sauver" qui détruit tous ses compagnons. On découvre alors la vérité et l'histoire qui mine la princesse Islen et le mercenaire Arzhur.
Les personnages sont forts de caractères et emplis de convictions.
Cette histoire, raconte sous forme d'un conte est là pour nous questionner sur des thèmes de la vie. On y abordé la parenté, l'hérédité, l'avidité de l'homme, le regard des autres... et encore d'autres plus ou moins subtilement.
J'ai adoré les graphismes qui sont très détaillés et travaillés. Ils représentent si bien cet univers médiéval fantasy.
March 3, 2022
In Shadows is an epic fantasy graphic novel that plays with the tropes of the genre. It was a very pleasant fast read, with strong female characters and a mysterious fallen knight. Mallie's art will remind you of the beloved Loisel, voluptuous and fantasy rich, a joy for the eyes. The story might not achieve being as original as it wants, but it is a fantastic introduction to a new series that promises many more twists and secrets to unveil. I'm excited to see the next volumes come out!
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