Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

White Shadows

Rate this book
Deception can be a deadly thing . . . A kidnapped prince may be the key to a kingdom in conflict. But the beast who took the boy may pose more threat than the hushed fairy tales suggest . . . One of Antoine Carrion’s first published works, White Shadows is medieval intrigue in the fine tradition of George R.R. Martin, full of hidden political agendas woven between a wide cast of players who are individually dead set on occupying the throne. With hints of the supernatural underlying everyone’s fears, this tale by writer Antoine Ozanam will have you imagining what else might be at work. And given Antoine Carrion’s beautiful scenery, your imagination will be well fed.

Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2026

1 person is currently reading
17 people want to read

About the author

Antoine Ozanam

97 books8 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
3 (6%)
4 stars
12 (26%)
3 stars
21 (46%)
2 stars
9 (20%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Radwa.
Author 1 book2,315 followers
November 27, 2025
A wonderful mixture of court politics and intrigue, interesting setup, nd unexpected ending. Maybe my main issue was the number of characters for how short this comic was
Profile Image for Kuu.
409 reviews4 followers
November 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This graphic novel was incredibly well drawn, with an interesting plot of court intrigues, monsters, and lots of blood and gore going on. The juxtaposition of cold and warm colours, as well as the art style and, of course, the writing all give this graphic novel a unique flair, and it is difficult to guess where the plot might take you next.

The only issue I have with this - and it's a small one - is that the plot felt somewhat... disjointed. The beginning felt out of context, and several of the schemes and conspiracies felt like there was a backstory, potentially given in a previous part of the series, that is now lacking - except there is no previous part to this, as far as I can tell. So it lacked in impact, because several of the betrayals etc. felt kind of random.

Still, very beautifully drawn, and the plot is interesting nonetheless.
Profile Image for Alia.
127 reviews1 follower
November 9, 2025
The artwork and atmosphere are undeniably beautiful—haunting, moody, and full of eerie charm. However, while the premise intrigued me at first, I found the story itself a little dull. It had that strange, mysterious tone that I usually enjoy, but I struggled to stay fully engaged. Still, it’s a unique graphic novel with stunning visuals that some readers might appreciate more than I did.

Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sam.
691 reviews261 followers
November 12, 2025
My Selling Pitch:
A Game of Thrones style political fantasy graphic novel.

Pre-reading:
The cover gives “Hamlet” haha. Love it.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Ophelia? That you?

The king is spooky! And a corpse?

So many names being thrown at me.

Poison is infamously a woman’s weapon-

Tiger? That's a white lion lol.

The prince’s mom?

Poor horse.

All the women in this are so hot, and the men are weird little rats lol.

Oh, so they actually are cannibals. Very Khal Drogo.

Oh shit, I didn’t realize he could possess him!

The story is so juicy. It’s very Game of Thrones.

What an odd ending. I still don’t know where she came from or who his wife is.

Post-reading:
I was sat for the juicy, political plot, but there is zero character development. It’s a large cast and all their names are thrown at you at once with nothing to differentiate them. Half of them die as quickly as they're introduced, so their deaths feel hollow. I don't know who they are to care that they're dead. There's a lot of plot points left hanging. I'm curious if this is meant to be a series, but there was nothing to indicate that in the arc release or in the blurb. I wanted to know why a certain lady was sold into slavery. We never find out who the mercenary’s wife is. We don't get to see what happens to the burned lady. It was very frustrating. Despite having female characters outmaneuver their male opponents, the book still reads pretty male-gaze oriented. Rape’s treated for laughs to cop a feel. All the women are in skintight outfits and drawn younger and more attractively than their love interests. It’s not so egregious as to ruin the story, but it is something to note. I don't think you need to rush out and read this, but I don't think you'll regret your time either if you pick this up.

Who should read this:
Game of Thrones fans

Ideal reading time:
Winter

Do I want to reread this:
No

Would I buy this:
No

Similar books:
* The Pale Knight by Peter Milligan-historical, magical realism, political fantasy, graphic novel
* Sons of Darkness by Gourav Mohanty-sci fi, political fantasy, myth retelling

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sabrina Jo.
82 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 18, 2026
Political intrigue, medieval fantasy, and a promise of Game-of-Thrones-level drama… ⚔️

The cover illustration is stunning, and the 𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚 inside is absolutely 𝙜𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨. 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠, 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙮 vibes? Yes please.

While that ambition is definitely there, the execution didn’t fully work for me. With only about 105 pages, there’s just too much going on. Too many characters (who often look very similar), too many plot threads, and not enough time to really connect to anyone…or even remember names. 😅

Some plot points were predictable, while others were confusing. At times it felt like I had jumped into the middle of an already-established series, instead of a standalone graphic novel. Important reveals require very close attention, and if you miss a detail, the impact is lost entirely. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I appreciated the tone of the story and its visual ambition, but there was too little information to fully understand the world, the motivations, or the stakes. By the end, I was left with more questions than I started with.

𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡, White Shadows didn’t quite work for me narratively, but the art alone is undeniably gorgeous and will likely appeal to readers who prioritize visuals over clarity in storytelling.

𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘥 | 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 @netgalley & @magneticpress 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺!
Profile Image for Jeff.
298 reviews7 followers
November 8, 2025
Since this is a graphic novel, let us talk about the art in “White Shadows”. It is gorgeous. It is like looking at a painting. Well, a painting with heads flying, hands chopped off, and people being sliced open. But a painting. I kept getting lost in the images and searching out every detail.

“White Shadows” is all about political agendas, revenge, cut-throat climbs to the top, and betrayals. Thank God those barbaric days are over. But that is also part of the problem for such a short graphic novel. There were so many twists and “who is working for whom” type moments that if you are not 100% vested in the story, you will get partially lost. Through all of this, it never truly felt like there was a good guy in “White Shadows”.

Oh, and the creators got to a certain panel and decided, “You know what, we haven’t had any gratuitous nudity. Let’s throw in a couple of panels for no apparent reason.

This was a good graphic novel. It had the potential to be great. But it just didn’t quite get there.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.

Profile Image for Loreleï Loreleï.
Author 3 books8 followers
November 15, 2025
The cover had led me to expect something completely different, which only added to my disappointment.

The drawings really weren't my cup of tea. I found it difficult to distinguish between the characters, which made it hard to follow the story, especially as the political intrigues are dense and require good readability to understand the issues between the different factions.

The story is full of plot twists, too many for a one-shot of only 105 pages. There is also a profusion of names and characters thrown at us, some of whom barely appear before they die, which limits their impact and further muddles the narrative.

Finally, several storylines remain unfinished: we don't know what happens to the burned woman, the identity of the mercenary's wife remains unclear... Too many plots are left open without being fully explored, leaving a feeling of incompleteness.

The positive point remains the king, who is particularly creepy in his bed.
Profile Image for Maykala.
247 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 31, 2025
White Shadows is a medieval fantasy graphic novel that is compared to A Game of Thrones.

The story starts with a prince who has been kidnapped and the political machinations that follow.

I found that this overall story was intriguing. There were twists and turns and even though the author kind of just throws you into this world, it is easy to grasp. My main critique of this work is that I feel like I never really got to know and understand the characters. Most of them are trying to capture the crown, or they are working to help someone else do so. I just left wishing I knew more about them and their motivations. The art style wasn’t my favorite, but it isn’t bad either. It reminds me of older, more classic comic art styles. Even with these small nitpicks, I still really enjoyed this and would continue to read on if there is more to come.

*e-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Profile Image for Little Batties.
353 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 13, 2026
White Shadows is a strange and unusual story, filled with beautiful illustrations and designs. The concepts within the novel was far from new, but Ozanam was able to capture the craze of a political climate in a way that was different and somewhat engaging. However, parts of the story were predictable, which took away from the overall potential of the story.

It follows a large family with a dying king whose son goes missing, and all those who have a potential reason to make the son disappear come to the kingdom to aid in his search. As the story continues, a number of events unfold, leading to a not so surprising, dramatic reveal. There are moments of action and adventure, with a sprinkle of romance that borders gross more than cute.

Overall, it was an underwhelming storyline, but the illustrations are gorgeous so some of that can be forgiven.

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for giving me an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
59 reviews
November 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for an eARC in exchange for my review!

I was immediately drawn in by the cover, and the art kept me intrigued. I loved the art style and the set up. The only part I struggled with was keeping all of the names and relationships straight. There seemed to be a lot of backstory and names that maybe would have played out easier to follow in a series rather than a singular story installment. It felt very game of thrones with many overlapping political relationships and court intrigue.

Based on the cover I think I was more hoping for the story of some kind of femme fatale assassin character, but that is on me for picking based off of a book's cover! I did enjoy the graphic novel, but I think it would have been even better with some additional storytelling and lengthening into several parts.
Profile Image for InfiniteLibrary.
458 reviews24 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 23, 2025
Thanks to Antoine Ozanam, Oni Press and Netgalley for a complimentary e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

There's a lot packed into this short stand alone graphic novel - politics, court intrigue, assassinations and love stories. It manages however to tell an exciting tale of the fight for the crown of the dying king after the prince's kidnapping with a surprising amount of depth and character. The art really suits the medieval setting and darker themes and each character is given their moment in the spotlight. I could definitely have read more but it manages to tell a complete and conclusive story in just one volume. Comparisons can definitely be made here with Game of Thrones, with magical elements and various competing factions and twists.

I would definitely check out more from this author/artist.
Profile Image for Reading Xennial.
538 reviews2 followers
November 20, 2025
This fell a little flat for me. I think I was expecting something else but the description is accurate to what you get, but I interpreted it differently. I liked the artstyle overall but some of the characters looked too similar and then they were killed off so quickly that it felt like writing them in was a waste of time. There were a lot of characters created just to die. I didn’t mind the gore because it was the vibe of the book. There is some decent plot in there, but it is a lot of information crammed into a 100ish paged graphic novel. I am glad I read this and I hope it finds its audience because it is still pretty good.

Thank you, NetGalley and ONI Press for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Profile Image for Kathleen Carbone.
10 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2025
I was sucked into White Shadows by the gorgeous art and intriguing subject matter of the cover and while I was expecting something just a little different than what the narrative gave, both art and storyline were solid and interesting. I warn, this is an intricate plot that involves medieval-style political intrigue and complex characters. Think A Song of Ice and Fire. It may be less some people’s cup of tea, so to speak, but I think many people who love a good story of complex relationships and power plays would really appreciate this one. It’s kind of a slow start, but it picks up quickly.

Art felt very classic for this type of story; not mad at all.

Overall, 4/5 stars . Thank you to Antoine Ozanam, Oni Press, and NetGalley for the eARC!
Profile Image for Jeremy Fowler.
Author 1 book31 followers
November 27, 2025
A Stunning Fantasy Adventure!

White Shadows is a dark, twisty plunge into medieval intrigue with a supernatural edge. Antoine Ozanam spins a tale where a kidnapped prince and a mysteriously dead Beast could throw an entire Kingdom into chaos. The blood starts pouring, and the political machinations take center stage as characters come and go in the fight for the throne. Think Game of Thrones meets gothic fairy tale. This story is packed with scheming families, shifting alliances, and secrets lurking in every shadow. Antoine Carrion’s art elevates the tension, turning every page into a cinematic feast of moody landscapes and ominous beauty. If you love political drama with a dash of the uncanny, this one will sink its claws into you and not let go.
Profile Image for Shari.
299 reviews11 followers
December 7, 2025
The cover led me to believe this graphic novel would be very different, so I ended up being a little disappointed with the content.
Once I got into the story a little more, it was intriguing enough to keep me reading until the end, but I can’t say I really enjoyed it. The story would jump from one thing to another and I didn’t really like the sequences. It was also pretty bloody, but I guess that did fit with the time and setting the story was in.
The drawings were well done and fit the story, they gave a good representation of the medieval setting.
Overall, not bad, but not at all what I expected and a little too fractured for my liking.
Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC.
2,5
1,186 reviews35 followers
November 8, 2025
Medieval set fantasy with vibes of George G. G. Martin narratives. The cover artwork is different and intriguing. Maybe a little shocking. I opened the cover pages with an idea of what I might find within. In many ways I was right in my thinking.

However having read this comic I’m not entirely sure I understand the backstory to what’s going on. The final artwork, before the extras, complements the cover. But didn’t lead improving to my understanding. I see I’m going to need to get the next installment.

As to this installment. The artwork, the colours and style, complement the story line.

Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
Profile Image for Lucsbooks.
539 reviews4 followers
December 2, 2025
I requested "White Shadows" because of the George R. R. Martin comparisons, but without many expectations.

To my surprise, I devoured this because the more I read, the more I enjoyed it.
If you enjoy medieval-inspired stories about a bunch of awful people making a play for the throne, complex characters and plot twists after plot twists, this is a great read.

The only thing I have to complain about is the panel formatting, which makes it difficult to read on a small screen. This is one of those stories that is better enjoyed on paper.

Thank you to NetGalley, Magnetic Press and Oni Press for this DRC.
Profile Image for Bibliophileverse.
724 reviews43 followers
December 7, 2025
White Shadows by Antoine Ozanam is set in a medieval world filled with power struggles between kings, creating a tense and action-driven atmosphere. While the storyline begins strongly with its fast-paced sequences, I found myself getting a bit confused toward the end. New characters kept appearing abruptly, disrupting the flow and making it harder to stay connected to the plot. Although the graphics are visually appealing and capture the medieval tone well, the overall narrative fell short of expectations. The story had potential, but the uneven pacing and sudden character introductions made the experience less satisfying than I had hoped.
219 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 1, 2026
For such a short graphic novel, "White Shadows" manages to weave an exceptionally complex web of political intrigue. Both art and story are beautifully and gruesomely crafted, and while there is clearly a lot of backstory that readers do not get in this slim volume, Ozanam does a wonderful job of portraying just enough to understand what is happening. Convoluted in the way stories of multiple houses and kingdoms trying to claim the throne of another kingdom typically are, the greatest success of this book is to weave many threads elaborately together and bring them all to a conclusion within such a limited number of pages. Expertly crafted.
Profile Image for bundleofmeh.
149 reviews2 followers
December 18, 2025
Court politics and plots for a thrown. A bit too thick of a mixture of names and people for me but i was still able to follow along with the storyline with ease, I was just as immersed as i would've liked. Im not sure if i understood smth at the end correctly but either way we didn't get much about a magic system just a hint of its presence. I thought there would have been more.
The picture on the cover and the premise made me think something that wasn't it at all but i'm not disappointed about the story but i still want to read the one i assumed this to be so i will search for it.
Profile Image for Nina.
143 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 1, 2026
I recieved a copy of this ARC thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press. I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this story. There was a lot going on, and the characters were detailed and complex. However, I did feel that there was a little too much for a graphic novel. This needed to either be packed into several volumes and spread out or turned into a proper book. Things got a little confusing in places and I think some areas could have done with a little more explanation and detail.

Still, it was a good story, and the art was amazing, too.
Profile Image for Chelsea is Booked.
142 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 19, 2026
White Shadows is a graphic novel about a kingdom in conflict. The prince has been kidnapped, a monster is on the loose, and everyone is out for the throne.

This one definitely has a lot of potential. I love a story with good political intrigued but this one fell a little flat for me. There were just too many characters for the length. I felt like I was missing back stories and a better idea of who was who. This would probably be great if redone as a series. The art is fantastic though and really sets the eerie, gorey stage.
Profile Image for Haruka.
209 reviews1 follower
December 2, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this chance to read this book in advanced.
.
.
It a great read. The plot was great. I totally didnt expect the ending. Just that there a lot of character names to remember but it was worth it to read the story.
The art is soooo beautiful to me. I was drawn to read this because of the cover and the art doesn't disappoints~
I enjoy reading this book!!
Profile Image for Amanda.
460 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 16, 2025
NetGalley ARC

The cover for this is what really drew me in but the story wound up being much different from what I expected based on the cover. The artwork, though wonderful, made it hard to distinguish between some of the characters. For a story with so much political intrigue, the jumping around between POVs, made everything really hard to follow. I often times found myself lost as to what was going on but I guess I got the gist more or less. The very ending just made me really confused.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Michelle.
942 reviews2 followers
January 29, 2026
The art of Antoine Carrion is the best part of this dark medieval fantasy by Antoine Ozanam and translated by Paul Kane. A prince is kidnapped, and then the lords and ladies of neighboring countries and barons all start vying for the crown. Add in a mercenary and a sexy tracker and the plot thickens. Some would say too much. The art gives everyone and the groups distinct looks and it helps to keep the plot a bit more clear. Warning: The gore is on page.
Profile Image for Maddie.
383 reviews7 followers
December 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and magnetic press for the ARC!

This boom was interesting. Very game of thrones like in nature and I enjoyed it a lot. I don’t feel like I connected too much with any of the characters because it just went by so fast if that makes sense. Too many POVS for me. But I think the art work is gorgeous and the ending was very much Alas Poor Yorick
Profile Image for Federica.
408 reviews115 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 2, 2026
I received a copy of this graphic novel via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Better in intention than in execution. Intriguing because of the complex web of political plots and the historical setting, but I found the narrative confusing in places and difficult to follow in others. Nice, but it didn't particularly impress me.
Profile Image for Kay West.
545 reviews25 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 3, 2026
There's a wildly cruel and lazy use of a rape threat at the 75% mark. The author wanted to give a woman character a reason to kill a character, but the entire book is full of men killing each other without needing that excuse.

The art is a 4, the story is a 3 (fine, but boring), the casual use of a rape threat is a big 0.

Average is 2.

There are better books to read.
Profile Image for Janna  Felix.
760 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 23, 2026
White Shadows delivers moody medieval intrigue with clear ambition, blending courtly power struggles, a kidnapped prince, and whispers of the supernatural into a richly imagined setting. The political maneuvering and wide cast give the story a classic epic-fantasy feel, and the atmospheric artwork and scenery do a lot of heavy lifting in establishing tone and tension. That said, the sheer number of players and competing agendas can feel overwhelming at times, making it harder to fully connect with individual characters or follow the emotional throughline. While the plot hints at deeper mysteries and darker forces at work, it occasionally holds its cards too close, slowing momentum. Overall, it’s an intriguing and visually striking read that fans of slow-burn medieval fantasy may appreciate, even if it doesn’t fully reach its potential.
Profile Image for Curious Madra.
3,118 reviews120 followers
November 10, 2025
I liked the art but the killing and gore in this was wayyyyyy over the top. I didn’t even get enough time to get to know the characters with the amount of killing in this! It was just meh all around tbh….

Got this via Netgalley and publisher for free with thanks.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.