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Court of the Dead
Court of the Dead: The Chronicle of the Underworld
In the sprawling citadels of the Underworld, deep within the vast libraries of Voxxingard, a curator sits. Staring at an empty tome, he ponders the puzzle that has been laid out before him by his Master, the shepherd of souls known as Death — a question deceptive in its simplicity, “What is the purpose of the realm of the dead?”
To answer this, the curator must write a journal chronicling the rise of the Underworld and the history of the never-ending war of Heaven and Hell. From the lowest scavenger of corpses to the highest chancellor, all those within the Underworld must be questioned and examined. For what is the purpose of the land of the Dead? Is it a haven for the refugee spirits of the mortal world? A sinister part of the celestial war machine that threatens to consume reality itself? Or does it instead serve to bring true balance to the long abandoned promises of Heaven and Hell? Accompany Death’s curator on his strange journey as he unravels the most terrible and wonderful secrets found within the Court of the Dead.
To answer this, the curator must write a journal chronicling the rise of the Underworld and the history of the never-ending war of Heaven and Hell. From the lowest scavenger of corpses to the highest chancellor, all those within the Underworld must be questioned and examined. For what is the purpose of the land of the Dead? Is it a haven for the refugee spirits of the mortal world? A sinister part of the celestial war machine that threatens to consume reality itself? Or does it instead serve to bring true balance to the long abandoned promises of Heaven and Hell? Accompany Death’s curator on his strange journey as he unravels the most terrible and wonderful secrets found within the Court of the Dead.
- GenresGraphic NovelsFantasyArt
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 25, 2020
**I received a free eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Court of the Dead serves as a guide to the Underworld, showing us all the places in it and the creatures that live in them.
I do love creepy stuff, and I actually enjoy drawing things like that, so I knew right away that I had to get this. I'd really recommend it to artists, since I found it to be a great inspiration. The art is very beautiful and full of detail, and I really liked the color palette, seems like it was chosen very carefully and put together beautifully.
This is one of those books that you would love to have as a coffee table book, since it's so pretty to look at. The writing is also very interesting, it's like an encyclopedia, with all its meanings and descriptions, and I found that to be pretty cool.
I wasn't familiar with the Sideshow Collectibles, but I still enjoyed this and I guess fans could enjoy it even more.
More reviews on my blog: Lipstick and Mocha
Court of the Dead serves as a guide to the Underworld, showing us all the places in it and the creatures that live in them.
I do love creepy stuff, and I actually enjoy drawing things like that, so I knew right away that I had to get this. I'd really recommend it to artists, since I found it to be a great inspiration. The art is very beautiful and full of detail, and I really liked the color palette, seems like it was chosen very carefully and put together beautifully.
This is one of those books that you would love to have as a coffee table book, since it's so pretty to look at. The writing is also very interesting, it's like an encyclopedia, with all its meanings and descriptions, and I found that to be pretty cool.
I wasn't familiar with the Sideshow Collectibles, but I still enjoyed this and I guess fans could enjoy it even more.
More reviews on my blog: Lipstick and Mocha
May 6, 2016
When I tell people that I’m “working on my novel” what I really should say is;
“I’m currently designing one of the seven different writing systems used by the nobility in my imaginary world that I’d love to see printed and published, but that will never ever happen because I write like an angsty teen and also because much of my imaginary universe is eerily similar to an universe I won’t name but its name sounds somewhat like Smiskworld.”
Yeah. Worldbuilding. Love it. Luckily, I’m not the only one, there’s even an entire subreddit dedicated to the creation of new worlds. https://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding Sort by top rated and prepare to lose at least two hours of your valuable time.
Court of the Dead is good worldbuilding. Imagined by Tom Gilliland and written by Landry Walker and Corinna Bechko, with stellar art by give or take thirty different artists.
The art is ON POINTTT. Reminded me of Keith Thompson and Requiem Vampire Knight Vol. 1: Resurrection
CotD reads like an almanac, it describes every single horrid detail of the Underworld; from its creator (The Alltaker, but you might know them as Death) to the different cities, the three factions ruling the underworld, the clothes they wear and even the pets they keep. The descriptions can get a little bombastic, though, to the point that it gets silly and reminds you of the poems your gothic ex-BF used to write on his bedroom walls with shoplifted black lipstick and markers.
*tips fedora*
But ignore the flowery language, and you’ll notice that there is some real potential behind the CotD universe. It’s so incredibly vast and detailed, I fully expected there to be some kind of Tabletop Role Playing Game based on CotD and was honestly surprised when I found out that there’s nothing more than this book and the standard Sideshow figurines. Don’t get me wrong, the statues are beautiful, but I’ll really start throwing money at my screen as soon as they release something like Fate Core based Tabletop RPG campaigns. CotD deserves more.
BTW! I appreciate a good pair of tits, and this book has a lot of them! There’s really something for everyone, take a look;
Tits carried by the Heavy Metal-esque skeletal hand bra
Purple tits
Boney green tits
Cramped tits
And have some more skelebra tits
Truly amazing! But there’s something I appreciate even more; naked dudes. A nice dick. Some butt maybe. It doesn’t even have to be lewd, I can look at a pair of pale shoulders for ages. Forearms. Yes, absolutely.
THERE’S NONE OF THAT, THOUGH.
I know, there’s little to work with, and I’m not itching for some Alltaker (which is, btw, the most badass name for Death that I’ve ever heard) side dong, but here’s Exraile;
Hell wouldn’t be hell without a fallen angel!
Look at that pretty boy. That’s a face with potential. I wanna know what’s under those GODDAMN SEVEN LAYERS OF CLOTH, SIDESHOW.
Some ‘raille butt would’ve been nice? Maybe him showing off some pecs? Maybe give him less clothes? Hell is pretty hot, right? And most of the girls have it good with their skimpy outfits, so why give the only handsome dude a goddamn turtleneck?!
Honestly, the fact that there’s an excess of breasts doesn’t even bother me -Sideshow wouldn’t be Sideshow without female nudity- but it’s time to give those of us that appreciate the ~male form~ something to ogle at as well. Thank you.
I LOVED the art, and liked the narrative. Three stars.
Netgally provided me with a free copy to read&review.
April 22, 2016
Court of the Dead is a richly detailed tour through the Underworld. I very much liked the narration. The narrator addresses you directly, making Court of the Dead much more of a literal tour than a figurative one. A second narrator, a demon, also peppers the pages, adding to the atmosphere inherent in such a tour. Together you walk through the streets and halls of Death's domain, learning about about the heroes and villains, characters both major and minor, and all of the elements that weave the larger culture of this in between place between Heaven and Hell.
The main selling point of the book isn't the writing, however; it's the artwork. Court of the Dead is a rich collection of dark fantasy prints. They're good. Good enough where I could see some being sold on their own or attached to a Collector's Edition of this book. The art in this book wonderfully illustrates the people, places, and concepts your tour guide points out.
The only downside to this book is that it really is more of an encyclopedia than anything else. There is history here, but very little in the way of a here-and-now story. This book would make a wonderful collector's item or coffee table book for the horror fan, but it's not something you'll pick up to enjoy a dark fantasy or horror story. It's just not there.
Overall, I enjoyed Court of the Dead: The Chronicle of the Underworld quite a bit. I do wish there were more narrative hooks, but I found it fascinating nonetheless. Definitely give it a read.
The main selling point of the book isn't the writing, however; it's the artwork. Court of the Dead is a rich collection of dark fantasy prints. They're good. Good enough where I could see some being sold on their own or attached to a Collector's Edition of this book. The art in this book wonderfully illustrates the people, places, and concepts your tour guide points out.
The only downside to this book is that it really is more of an encyclopedia than anything else. There is history here, but very little in the way of a here-and-now story. This book would make a wonderful collector's item or coffee table book for the horror fan, but it's not something you'll pick up to enjoy a dark fantasy or horror story. It's just not there.
Overall, I enjoyed Court of the Dead: The Chronicle of the Underworld quite a bit. I do wish there were more narrative hooks, but I found it fascinating nonetheless. Definitely give it a read.
April 25, 2016
I received a digital copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis:
A fictional non-fiction tome exploring the world, characters and factions of the Underworld, from the original creations of Sideshow Collectibles.
Let me begin by saying that this was not what I expected it to be. I wasn't aware of the Sideshow Collectibles figures and that this was an existing characterscape before I opened the book. Having said that, if you are a fan of the original character figures, this book will be a wonderful addition to your collection and serve to really fill out the world of the characters.
The book itself reads like a guidebook to the Underworld, the realm of Death, and the creatures who populate it. Apart from the guide, interjections by Malavaestro, a strange, jester-like being, add creep factor to the proceedings. The illustrations are mind-bogglingly detailed and beautifully rendered, even if the majority of the female characters parade around in nothing but a strategically placed bit of skeletal offcut.
If you aren't already aware of the figures available from Sideshow, this will probably be a very strange reading experience, but it can certainly be enjoyed without prior knowledge of the world. Overall it was a bit too detailed and specific for my tastes, but I would recommend it for fans of the weird and decidedly creepy.
Ten Second Synopsis:
A fictional non-fiction tome exploring the world, characters and factions of the Underworld, from the original creations of Sideshow Collectibles.
Let me begin by saying that this was not what I expected it to be. I wasn't aware of the Sideshow Collectibles figures and that this was an existing characterscape before I opened the book. Having said that, if you are a fan of the original character figures, this book will be a wonderful addition to your collection and serve to really fill out the world of the characters.
The book itself reads like a guidebook to the Underworld, the realm of Death, and the creatures who populate it. Apart from the guide, interjections by Malavaestro, a strange, jester-like being, add creep factor to the proceedings. The illustrations are mind-bogglingly detailed and beautifully rendered, even if the majority of the female characters parade around in nothing but a strategically placed bit of skeletal offcut.
If you aren't already aware of the figures available from Sideshow, this will probably be a very strange reading experience, but it can certainly be enjoyed without prior knowledge of the world. Overall it was a bit too detailed and specific for my tastes, but I would recommend it for fans of the weird and decidedly creepy.
May 19, 2016
This is an odd book. It proports to be a guide to the land of the dead, and goes into great detail about what you will find there.
There is no plot. There is just a guide telling the reader what they will find int he land of the dead, as well, as what to watch out for, and what factions to avoid. This reminds me a bit of the guides that came out in the 1980s that told the true information about the land of fairies.
So lavishly illustrated, and lots of "research", but I got bored, and stopped caring.
Not sure who this book would be for, unless they wanted to find out the author's view on what the afterlife was.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
There is no plot. There is just a guide telling the reader what they will find int he land of the dead, as well, as what to watch out for, and what factions to avoid. This reminds me a bit of the guides that came out in the 1980s that told the true information about the land of fairies.
So lavishly illustrated, and lots of "research", but I got bored, and stopped caring.
Not sure who this book would be for, unless they wanted to find out the author's view on what the afterlife was.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
June 1, 2016
*I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This graphic novel looked stunning, and the artwork is fantastic! Just my cup of tea.
Unfortunately, this is not a product I would categorize as a "graphic novel".
It's an illustrated book.
The text to art ratio is way higher than I would have liked.
I go to graphic novels after reading massive tomes, but this isn't what I was looking for.
The story itself is not much of a story.
It's basic explanations of the world building and mythology, not a cohesive plot.
A big let down.
This graphic novel looked stunning, and the artwork is fantastic! Just my cup of tea.
Unfortunately, this is not a product I would categorize as a "graphic novel".
It's an illustrated book.
The text to art ratio is way higher than I would have liked.
I go to graphic novels after reading massive tomes, but this isn't what I was looking for.
The story itself is not much of a story.
It's basic explanations of the world building and mythology, not a cohesive plot.
A big let down.
December 19, 2017
Bookworm Speaks!
Court of the Dead: The Chronicle of the Underworld
by Tom Gilliland, Landry Q. Walker, Corinna Bechko
****
Acquired: Half-Price Books
Series: Court of the Dead
Hardcover: 192 Pages
Publisher: Insight Comics (May 17, 2016)
Language: English
Subject: Fantasy, Graphic Novels
****
The Story: Delve into the dark and chilling history of the Underworld itself in this immersive companion to Sideshow Collectible’s hottest new property, Court of the Dead.
In the sprawling citadels of the Underworld, deep within the vast libraries of Voxxingard, a curator sits. Staring at an empty tome, he ponders the puzzle that has been laid out before him by his Master, the shepherd of souls known as Death—a question deceptive in its simplicity, “What is the purpose of the realm of the dead?” To answer this, the curator must write a journal chronicling the rise of the Underworld and the history of the never-ending war of Heaven and Hell. From the lowest scavenger of corpses to the highest chancellor, all those within the Underworld must be questioned and examined. For what is the purpose of the land of the Dead? Is it a haven for the refugee spirits of the mortal world? A sinister part of the celestial war machine that threatens to consume reality itself? Or does it instead serve to bring true balance to the long abandoned promises of Heaven and Hell? Accompany Death’s curator on his strange journey as he unravels the most terrible and wonderful secrets found within the Court of the Dead.
The Review: “Now THAT was fun!!!”
That was the first thing Bookworm said upon the completion of this book. One of the greatest mysteries that has stirred the imaginations of men since the dawn of history is what happens to our beings once we depart the world of the living. Tales abound in the creative sphere that attempt to answer that question and this book answers it in a way that is both familiar and unique.
While it does share many elements from a variety of mythologies, this book truly feels like a unique take on what comes when we die. The nature of Heaven and Hell stands out among these concepts. For one thing: traditional Judeo-Christian concepts such as “God” and “Satan” the rulers of Heaven and Hell, seem to be absent. Heaven and Hell are actually portrayed as places that are equally bad places for a soul to end up. Good and Evil are concepts that have no meaning to either angels or demons. The only thing that seems to matter is the is orientation that one’s soul leans towards. If you lean towards order: you go to heaven. If one is on the side of chaos, they go to hell. The end result is the same for all though: Nothing more than raw material for the endless wars that rage beyond existence. It makes the Underworld not sound like such a bad place to end up. In the underworld, one can maintain a semblance of freedom
Something that Bookworm really likes is how death is portrayed in this book. Human beings fear death greatly and as a result, characters that embody death are more often than not the villains or antagonists. The Grim Reaper chasing the terrified soul through the wood, but this is not accurate…
Death does not need to chase you.
No matter where you go, it is there. Waiting for you.
Surprisingly, this actually reflects a more accurate portrayal of these entities. Gods of death were not inherently evil. Rarely were they ‘good’ but they were recognized as part of the order of the universe. Death was much more prevalent in ancient cultures than it as in our bountiful, modern world and a much more accepted part of life.
Death, in this book is portrayed as a more tragic character. An entity that is more of a shepherd than a hunter. He is called the Alltaker because that is his divinely appointed task, to take all that lives and guide it toward its afterlife. Death knows of the great injustice that has being inflicted upon the essence of the departed and thusly, the Court of the Dead was born. While there are many stories to be had among the lands of the Underworld, but thus overarching story continues to be among the most compelling. It makes the reader yearn to dive in deeper. If this is truly the fate that awaits a soul that burns particularly bright, the Death’s Court does not seem like such a bad place to end up.
If there is anything to criticize about this work, the main one would be that it was over far too soon. It feels like the reader only got a tasted of the wonders that can be beheld in the realm of Death. There was so much left to explore that Bookworm can only hope that Sideshow Collectible’s deigns to grace the Court with a second volume. Novels and comic books would do nicely as well.
The Final Verdict: At the time of this writing, this book had only been out for a little over a year and it appears that Court of the Dead has not been out for much longer either. Bookworm could not be more excited! Normally, when they have discovered a franchise, it already has a dedicated fanbase and Bookworm has to struggle to keep up! Here, Bookworm is right at the beginning. Bookworm cannot wait to explore more of the Underworld and the Court of the Dead.
The Rating: Five Grim Reapers out of Five
BUY ONE NOW!!!
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
Court of the Dead: The Chronicle of the Underworld
by Tom Gilliland, Landry Q. Walker, Corinna Bechko
****
Acquired: Half-Price Books
Series: Court of the Dead
Hardcover: 192 Pages
Publisher: Insight Comics (May 17, 2016)
Language: English
Subject: Fantasy, Graphic Novels
****
The Story: Delve into the dark and chilling history of the Underworld itself in this immersive companion to Sideshow Collectible’s hottest new property, Court of the Dead.
In the sprawling citadels of the Underworld, deep within the vast libraries of Voxxingard, a curator sits. Staring at an empty tome, he ponders the puzzle that has been laid out before him by his Master, the shepherd of souls known as Death—a question deceptive in its simplicity, “What is the purpose of the realm of the dead?” To answer this, the curator must write a journal chronicling the rise of the Underworld and the history of the never-ending war of Heaven and Hell. From the lowest scavenger of corpses to the highest chancellor, all those within the Underworld must be questioned and examined. For what is the purpose of the land of the Dead? Is it a haven for the refugee spirits of the mortal world? A sinister part of the celestial war machine that threatens to consume reality itself? Or does it instead serve to bring true balance to the long abandoned promises of Heaven and Hell? Accompany Death’s curator on his strange journey as he unravels the most terrible and wonderful secrets found within the Court of the Dead.
The Review: “Now THAT was fun!!!”
That was the first thing Bookworm said upon the completion of this book. One of the greatest mysteries that has stirred the imaginations of men since the dawn of history is what happens to our beings once we depart the world of the living. Tales abound in the creative sphere that attempt to answer that question and this book answers it in a way that is both familiar and unique.
While it does share many elements from a variety of mythologies, this book truly feels like a unique take on what comes when we die. The nature of Heaven and Hell stands out among these concepts. For one thing: traditional Judeo-Christian concepts such as “God” and “Satan” the rulers of Heaven and Hell, seem to be absent. Heaven and Hell are actually portrayed as places that are equally bad places for a soul to end up. Good and Evil are concepts that have no meaning to either angels or demons. The only thing that seems to matter is the is orientation that one’s soul leans towards. If you lean towards order: you go to heaven. If one is on the side of chaos, they go to hell. The end result is the same for all though: Nothing more than raw material for the endless wars that rage beyond existence. It makes the Underworld not sound like such a bad place to end up. In the underworld, one can maintain a semblance of freedom
Something that Bookworm really likes is how death is portrayed in this book. Human beings fear death greatly and as a result, characters that embody death are more often than not the villains or antagonists. The Grim Reaper chasing the terrified soul through the wood, but this is not accurate…
Death does not need to chase you.
No matter where you go, it is there. Waiting for you.
Surprisingly, this actually reflects a more accurate portrayal of these entities. Gods of death were not inherently evil. Rarely were they ‘good’ but they were recognized as part of the order of the universe. Death was much more prevalent in ancient cultures than it as in our bountiful, modern world and a much more accepted part of life.
Death, in this book is portrayed as a more tragic character. An entity that is more of a shepherd than a hunter. He is called the Alltaker because that is his divinely appointed task, to take all that lives and guide it toward its afterlife. Death knows of the great injustice that has being inflicted upon the essence of the departed and thusly, the Court of the Dead was born. While there are many stories to be had among the lands of the Underworld, but thus overarching story continues to be among the most compelling. It makes the reader yearn to dive in deeper. If this is truly the fate that awaits a soul that burns particularly bright, the Death’s Court does not seem like such a bad place to end up.
If there is anything to criticize about this work, the main one would be that it was over far too soon. It feels like the reader only got a tasted of the wonders that can be beheld in the realm of Death. There was so much left to explore that Bookworm can only hope that Sideshow Collectible’s deigns to grace the Court with a second volume. Novels and comic books would do nicely as well.
The Final Verdict: At the time of this writing, this book had only been out for a little over a year and it appears that Court of the Dead has not been out for much longer either. Bookworm could not be more excited! Normally, when they have discovered a franchise, it already has a dedicated fanbase and Bookworm has to struggle to keep up! Here, Bookworm is right at the beginning. Bookworm cannot wait to explore more of the Underworld and the Court of the Dead.
The Rating: Five Grim Reapers out of Five
BUY ONE NOW!!!
thecultureworm.blogspot.com
May 9, 2017
Unbelieveable! Sideshow Collectibles augments their amazing statues with a story of "what is the purpose of the Underworld, the realm of the dead? Death himself has posed this question to the curator of this ream. The book is the recording of the history, purpose, design, court and characters of the Underworld. Also it provides a look at its purpose between Heaven and Hell and what Death hopes to achieve in striking a balance between the two divine realms. For, you see, Death has a plan. As Heaven and Hell fight their never-ending battle, Death and his queen plan to rise up with their minions and become victors over both. Ambitious and it seems, doable.
I can never get enough of the incredible artwork. That alone is worth having this book. But once you get into the story, you can't stop wanting to know more about these characters. So unique in design and purpose. The whole realm reminds me of Neil Gaimon's Sandman's series but this is so much richer and darker.
Sideshow plans to develop a game, comics and a movie based on this story. The book tells all. And I am caught in Death's grip. This is one book you can enjoy over and over.
I can never get enough of the incredible artwork. That alone is worth having this book. But once you get into the story, you can't stop wanting to know more about these characters. So unique in design and purpose. The whole realm reminds me of Neil Gaimon's Sandman's series but this is so much richer and darker.
Sideshow plans to develop a game, comics and a movie based on this story. The book tells all. And I am caught in Death's grip. This is one book you can enjoy over and over.
June 25, 2019
'Court of the Dead: The Chronicle of the Underworld' by Tom Gilliland, Landry Q. Walker, Corrina Sara Bechko and Sideshow Collectibles is an imaginary tour through the Underworld with an official and unofficial tour guide.
Welcome to the world of the dead. Fortunately for you, you've got someone to fill you in on how things work. Death is in charge, but he has a whole court of beings under him. Splitting things up more are the official factions of bone, flesh and spirit. There are also unofficial factions, so caution is needed. The type of soldiers who fight for death and their most famous members are described. Along for the ride is skeptical Malavestros, who is willing to try to clue you in to the real truth.
This feels a bit like a worldbuilding book for a D&D campaign. The art is pretty good, but it is lacking in a narrative structure if that is what you are looking for. There is some good writing along the way, though.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Insight Editions and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Welcome to the world of the dead. Fortunately for you, you've got someone to fill you in on how things work. Death is in charge, but he has a whole court of beings under him. Splitting things up more are the official factions of bone, flesh and spirit. There are also unofficial factions, so caution is needed. The type of soldiers who fight for death and their most famous members are described. Along for the ride is skeptical Malavestros, who is willing to try to clue you in to the real truth.
This feels a bit like a worldbuilding book for a D&D campaign. The art is pretty good, but it is lacking in a narrative structure if that is what you are looking for. There is some good writing along the way, though.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Insight Editions and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
February 12, 2018
Ever since I saw this on Sideshow Collectibles I have been drooling to buy the book. Their action figures / collectibles/ statues are brilliant in their own right, and this original property is just as excellent. The design, narrative, feel, theme, concept, ideas... CotD is sheer genius! I wrote a novel a few years ago ('Long Live Death', currently in editing phase for a second-edition publishing in the near future) and have been fascinated with Death ever since. Not in the gory sense, but in the realistic, philosophical, and creative sense. I love 'Court of the Dead', and wish to thank everyone who made this work possible for inspiring this indie-writer to up his game, and go on exploring the magnificence of Death. 'Memento Mori'...
December 18, 2018
What a great art book detailing the setting of the Court of the Dead boardgame! The book is laid out as a primer to the recently deceased into the secrets of life and death and what is really going on. The illustrations and text perfectly complement each other. I hope there’s a future role playing game to explore this IP.
April 22, 2018
Wow - amazing art and world building going on here. Love this fully realized backstory of a fictional creation mythology. Had to read this prior to the boardgame launching on KS tomorrow, and well worth it.
March 20, 2017
I'm honestly not sure what this is supposed to be a tie-in to, but you don't have to know. It's beautifully illustrated and designed, and the idea behind it is interesting. Recommended to those who enjoy the creepy, or fans of role-playing games with highly developed mythos.
April 27, 2016
I got this to review through NetGalley. This was an incredibly creative book with some beautiful illustration throughout. This book is basically a tour of and guide to the Underworld. We meet the members of the Court of the Dead and learn about different factions there. The book is broken up into sections about the court, factions, daily life in the land of the dead, and the relation of the land of the dead to human and celestial realms.
This is very much a coffee table type of book. It’s fun to read little sections of the book at a time and the history of the Underworld has been very thoroughly fleshed out and shows excellent creativity and imagination.
This is probably not the type of book you want to sit down and read all at once. For all it’s creativity this is a book of facts about the Underworld. There is a bit of story here about how Death came to rule the Underworld and some hints of a story about wars and rebellions that have plagued the Underworld. That being said it is primarily a book of imagined facts and the reading can get a bit dry at times. The amount of information (albeit imaginary) thrown at the reader is a bit overwhelming too.
The illustration is well done and ranges from sketched out black and white drawings to fully fleshed out beautiful color renditions of this world. In the color plates the tones tend toward teals and purples for the most part; lending a dark atmosphere to this book about the Underworld. Some of the members of the court we meet are fairly disturbing; so I would recommend for older YA and adult readers.
Overall this was a creative and well done book that introduces readers to the Underworld. The world explored here is very well fleshed out but more of a dictation of facts than a story. As such I think it is best read in small doses; otherwise all these facts can get a bit overwhelming and boring. The illustration is beautiful. This would be a great coffee table type art book for those interested in dark fantasy. I would recommend taking a look at some of the art before buying to see if it appeals to you.
This is very much a coffee table type of book. It’s fun to read little sections of the book at a time and the history of the Underworld has been very thoroughly fleshed out and shows excellent creativity and imagination.
This is probably not the type of book you want to sit down and read all at once. For all it’s creativity this is a book of facts about the Underworld. There is a bit of story here about how Death came to rule the Underworld and some hints of a story about wars and rebellions that have plagued the Underworld. That being said it is primarily a book of imagined facts and the reading can get a bit dry at times. The amount of information (albeit imaginary) thrown at the reader is a bit overwhelming too.
The illustration is well done and ranges from sketched out black and white drawings to fully fleshed out beautiful color renditions of this world. In the color plates the tones tend toward teals and purples for the most part; lending a dark atmosphere to this book about the Underworld. Some of the members of the court we meet are fairly disturbing; so I would recommend for older YA and adult readers.
Overall this was a creative and well done book that introduces readers to the Underworld. The world explored here is very well fleshed out but more of a dictation of facts than a story. As such I think it is best read in small doses; otherwise all these facts can get a bit overwhelming and boring. The illustration is beautiful. This would be a great coffee table type art book for those interested in dark fantasy. I would recommend taking a look at some of the art before buying to see if it appeals to you.
Read
May 6, 2016When I first began reading this book I was sure that this was a companion piece to an RPG game, where they give more description so players can flesh out their gaming experience. A little reconnaissance shows that while there's no game, there is a line of figures by Sideshow Collectibles and apparently this book is a tie-in. This explains quite a bit, since I kept feeling like the book was a part of something else and not something on its own.
The book has a few things to offer readers, namely its mythology and artwork. The writing here is interesting enough and for what it is (a guidebook to the Underworld and its occupants) it's pretty well detailed. If you did want to use this as the base for a RPG, you wouldn't be disappointed since all of the basics are covered. Readers are given just enough to know what's going on, although I'll say that the best portions come when the creepy court jester Malavestros inserts his own opinions and reflections that frequently contradict the narrator, an official Underworld historian.
Where the book shines is in its artwork and I'd wager that this will likely be the most popular aspect of Court of the Dead for most readers. It was certainly my favorite aspect, as the pictures are just lavishly done and beautiful enough that I'd say that if you're looking into getting this, I'd recommend the print version. (Assuming that there will even be an e-book edition.) This was gorgeous in my e-book ARC, but I know that it won't hold a candle to the larger print copy.
4/5 stars
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
The book has a few things to offer readers, namely its mythology and artwork. The writing here is interesting enough and for what it is (a guidebook to the Underworld and its occupants) it's pretty well detailed. If you did want to use this as the base for a RPG, you wouldn't be disappointed since all of the basics are covered. Readers are given just enough to know what's going on, although I'll say that the best portions come when the creepy court jester Malavestros inserts his own opinions and reflections that frequently contradict the narrator, an official Underworld historian.
Where the book shines is in its artwork and I'd wager that this will likely be the most popular aspect of Court of the Dead for most readers. It was certainly my favorite aspect, as the pictures are just lavishly done and beautiful enough that I'd say that if you're looking into getting this, I'd recommend the print version. (Assuming that there will even be an e-book edition.) This was gorgeous in my e-book ARC, but I know that it won't hold a candle to the larger print copy.
4/5 stars
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
April 11, 2016
A wonderfully produced and illustrated art book, conveying all the characters, mythology and so on of some weird, hellish fantasy franchise, replete with licence-to-print-money art prints and statues. It'll like as not mean nothing to the newcomer, for it witters on about all of Death's offspring and the factions and associations they have – nowhere you look will you find a lack in minor characters obviously deserving of their own merchandise. It then goes on into everything about this form of the afterlife, right down to the clothing. I wanted something to come of the two narrators – an encyclopaedic guide and a bickering, green ink using demon – but no, nothing. People with the money to spend out on collecting this dross will lick their lips copiously at what's included here, but for anyone else this is a dense, rich mythos somewhat spoiling some nicely demonic, painted fantasy art.
June 12, 2016
This guidebook; this description of the realm of the dead is fascinating. The art is weird, ugly, and beautiful.
The stories and descriptions the inhabitants and worlds are really intriguing.
And the maps! I love maps. And these are fantastic.
But who would I recommend this to? Anyone who loves fantasy art, as long as it’s a bit dark.
And I really think that this would make a great resource for role-playing.
It’s a great coffee table book, IMO. But I guess that depends on what kind of guests you have!
Check it out if it’s your cup of tea.
Thanks to NetGalley and Insight Editions for a copy in return for an honest review.
The stories and descriptions the inhabitants and worlds are really intriguing.
And the maps! I love maps. And these are fantastic.
But who would I recommend this to? Anyone who loves fantasy art, as long as it’s a bit dark.
And I really think that this would make a great resource for role-playing.
It’s a great coffee table book, IMO. But I guess that depends on what kind of guests you have!
Check it out if it’s your cup of tea.
Thanks to NetGalley and Insight Editions for a copy in return for an honest review.
April 24, 2016
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review. My 14 year old son reviewed this book for me. Here is his review.
It gave me an insight into the underworld and what might occur there! It speaks about death and his followers who are members of the court all of which were moulded by his own hand with different personalities, beliefs and jobs. The format was not what I was expecting as it was in the graphic novels section. However, I really enjoyed the book even though it was not what I was expecting.
It gave me an insight into the underworld and what might occur there! It speaks about death and his followers who are members of the court all of which were moulded by his own hand with different personalities, beliefs and jobs. The format was not what I was expecting as it was in the graphic novels section. However, I really enjoyed the book even though it was not what I was expecting.
July 10, 2016
This is a very interesting book. It is not your standard narrative, but more like a combination between a graphic novel, a D&D book of the underworld, and a choose your own adventure without any choices.
It takes a bit to get use to when you start reading, but once you get use to the style/method it opens up quite nicely.
Enjoyed the experience a lot.
I can see how a lot of this work can be adopted for use in many many other text/game/graphic novels/ and even movies. A+ on the creative scale!!!
It takes a bit to get use to when you start reading, but once you get use to the style/method it opens up quite nicely.
Enjoyed the experience a lot.
I can see how a lot of this work can be adopted for use in many many other text/game/graphic novels/ and even movies. A+ on the creative scale!!!
October 6, 2016
There are not many books out there that I feel that I must have, However, this one spoke to me in its own way or may I say the maker of this thing made it so. if you ask me if it was worth it then I would say yes. This is the kind book I would pick up if I wake up dead. Well, I am not looking for that no time soon. It gives a most interesting view on death on so many levels. This is better than the bible.
July 10, 2016
I was quite surprised by this. A tour through the underworld, the prose was well written, to the point and an interesting story. the illustrations were quite beautiful, really clean and dark. Overall if you're a Fantasty fan, Definitely check this out.
I recieved an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
I recieved an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
May 2, 2017
I knew when I bought that this book that it would be unlike anything I've ever read. And I was right. This book is utterly unique. I can't tell you the story, because there isn't really one. I can't tell you much about the characters, because there isn't much by way of their appearances in a traditional "story" sense. But what I can tell you is that this is one of the darkest, most absorbing worlds I've ever read. Almost everything you could imagine was covered in this book, from mythology and history to war stories and fashion. Every page was unique and brilliant and I wondered what I would learn next. I truly felt like a traveler in this haunting world and couldn't get enough of their varied factions. Most importantly, the illustrations were STUNNING. Gruesome and creepy, yes, but still so so beautiful and detailed. I spent minutes just gawking at the impressive detail and creativity of every character, building, and weapon. I absolutely loved this book and cannot recommend it to horror and goth fans enough.
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