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Geis (Curse of the Chosen) #1
Geis: A Matter of Life and Death
As the great chief matriarch lay dying, she gave one final decree: Upon her death there would be a contest. Having no heir of her own blood she called on the Gods. Let fate decide the one truly worthy to rule in her place. The rich, the strong, the wise, the powerful; many put forward their names in hope of being chosen. But when the night came . . . only fifty souls alone were summoned.
Book one in gripping action, supernatural, and historical fantasy graphic novel trilogy where souls battle in a contest to become the ruler of an island.
Alexis Deacon graduated in 2001 with a first class honors degree in illustration from the University of Brighton. Before graduating he was awarded the Burt Brill and Cardens award for the second best degree show at his university. The urge to draw has been with Alexis as long as he can remember. "I've probably drawn compulsively since the age of three or four." Whenever he got bored playing with a particular toy as a child, rather than put it down and pick up something else as most kids would do, he'd put the toy down and pick up a sketchbook to carry the game on through pictures on paper. He is best known for his children's picture books.
Book one in gripping action, supernatural, and historical fantasy graphic novel trilogy where souls battle in a contest to become the ruler of an island.
Alexis Deacon graduated in 2001 with a first class honors degree in illustration from the University of Brighton. Before graduating he was awarded the Burt Brill and Cardens award for the second best degree show at his university. The urge to draw has been with Alexis as long as he can remember. "I've probably drawn compulsively since the age of three or four." Whenever he got bored playing with a particular toy as a child, rather than put it down and pick up something else as most kids would do, he'd put the toy down and pick up a sketchbook to carry the game on through pictures on paper. He is best known for his children's picture books.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published February 9, 2016
4 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
About the author
Alexis Deacon
25 books78 followersAlexis Deacon is an acclaimed author and illustrator. Beegu and Jitterbug Jam, both of which he illustrated, were named as New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year. He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
August 30, 2016
The ruler of a kingdom dies leaving the courtiers squabbling over who should take over. Then a sorceress appears, scattering everyone, and whoever makes it back to the castle… becomes ruler, or something?
Geis (pronounced “gesh” - it’s Gaelic for “curse”) is a crap comic. The setting is generic fantasy, the story is poorly told and nebulous - if the sorceress wants to rule the kingdom, why scatter the court? Why not just kill them? What are they making it back to the castle for? - and the characterisation is minimal. I can’t recall any of their names, even the girl on the cover who I think is meant to be the main character. No idea who she is or what she’s doing at court.
The artwork is as bad as the writing. The painted art looks like it was drawn using half-dried-out felt tip pens and coloured with the most muted colours. Alexis Deacon can clearly draw but I still didn’t like the look of this book.
As I got nearer the end I began to wonder how Deacon would conclude his story given the dwindling page count and then the book just ends. Apparently, even though there’s no indication on the cover or title page, this is the first book in a trilogy, hence the abrupt ending! Well I’m definitely not coming back to see what happens next.
Maybe young readers might be taken with this comic - I think that’s the target audience anyway - even if I don’t think kids will find the washed out wavy art very appealing. Everyone else can continue ignoring Geis - you’re not missing anything special.
Geis (pronounced “gesh” - it’s Gaelic for “curse”) is a crap comic. The setting is generic fantasy, the story is poorly told and nebulous - if the sorceress wants to rule the kingdom, why scatter the court? Why not just kill them? What are they making it back to the castle for? - and the characterisation is minimal. I can’t recall any of their names, even the girl on the cover who I think is meant to be the main character. No idea who she is or what she’s doing at court.
The artwork is as bad as the writing. The painted art looks like it was drawn using half-dried-out felt tip pens and coloured with the most muted colours. Alexis Deacon can clearly draw but I still didn’t like the look of this book.
As I got nearer the end I began to wonder how Deacon would conclude his story given the dwindling page count and then the book just ends. Apparently, even though there’s no indication on the cover or title page, this is the first book in a trilogy, hence the abrupt ending! Well I’m definitely not coming back to see what happens next.
Maybe young readers might be taken with this comic - I think that’s the target audience anyway - even if I don’t think kids will find the washed out wavy art very appealing. Everyone else can continue ignoring Geis - you’re not missing anything special.
January 6, 2017
Whoa! Where did this come from? GEIS is a delightful but ghoulish little fantasy with a strong female protagonist and a quirky cast of side characters. The heroine, Io, is reluctantly thrust into a deadly tontine that will determine the next leader of her land and empower an evil witch. I cannot stop wondering how she will ever get out of this predicament. I'm 100% immediately addicted to this series and am seriously jonesing for the next volume.
June 4, 2018
The ruler of the kingdom dies and puts a geis (a curse) on 50 contestants to force them to complete challenges until only one remains to become the new ruler. If you fail, you die.
The premise has promise. The poor, soft charcoal, sketchy artwork and the 50 characters to keep track of though make it hard to like this book. You're often left with this feeling of "Wait, what just happened?"
The premise has promise. The poor, soft charcoal, sketchy artwork and the 50 characters to keep track of though make it hard to like this book. You're often left with this feeling of "Wait, what just happened?"
February 13, 2017
Supernatural historical fantasy with a strong main female character!
The story has a real potential but I wasn't a huge fan of the art.
The story has a real potential but I wasn't a huge fan of the art.
August 3, 2018
This is a beautiful graphic novel in the vein of a classic fairy tale. A young woman finds herself in a room with 50 nobles all of whom are waiting for the matriarch to die to that a new ruler can be declared. To their misfortune, the former matriarch has died but her body has been possessed by a witch who sends them flying from the Castle and tells them to be back before sunset. From this point on the reader observes the trials and tribulations of a few of these nobles as they try desperately to fight the "death magic" which has brought them to this place.
Geis is a graphic novel that is beautiful to read, because even if the narrative is borrowed directly from the fantasy/fairy-tale source, Alexis Deacon is able to make this world feel real. The artwork creates a mood that settles over the reader and I feel drawn into this space and this world. I would have liked a bit more complexity from some of the characters, but this is the first part of a trilogy and so the reader is sure to encounter these people again should they keep reading.
It's the strength of the book that this is an unapologetic fairy tale, and with this in mind Deacon tells an incredible fable.
Geis is a graphic novel that is beautiful to read, because even if the narrative is borrowed directly from the fantasy/fairy-tale source, Alexis Deacon is able to make this world feel real. The artwork creates a mood that settles over the reader and I feel drawn into this space and this world. I would have liked a bit more complexity from some of the characters, but this is the first part of a trilogy and so the reader is sure to encounter these people again should they keep reading.
It's the strength of the book that this is an unapologetic fairy tale, and with this in mind Deacon tells an incredible fable.
March 15, 2019
Yeah.... I just... I don’t know, dude.
I understand the premise, that the Chief of a group of people has died, and 50 people have to compete to select the new Chief to take over. Great. Wonderful. Not too original, but okay.
But... There is no indication that this is the first in a trilogy (??? Goodreads only admits to two works in this series). Had I known, I would have picked up both (all three?) in order to read them at the same time.
Not only that, but I feel as though this book is sloppily done. The artwork is mushy and hard to see, and the writing doesn’t do much to clarify things. I’ve read graphic novels with spare artwork before, and while it’s not my favorite, at least you could tell what was happening in those other works. Here, things are simply hinted at and the reader is supposed to read the author’s mind.
I think I’m better off forgetting I read this book.
I understand the premise, that the Chief of a group of people has died, and 50 people have to compete to select the new Chief to take over. Great. Wonderful. Not too original, but okay.
But... There is no indication that this is the first in a trilogy (??? Goodreads only admits to two works in this series). Had I known, I would have picked up both (all three?) in order to read them at the same time.
Not only that, but I feel as though this book is sloppily done. The artwork is mushy and hard to see, and the writing doesn’t do much to clarify things. I’ve read graphic novels with spare artwork before, and while it’s not my favorite, at least you could tell what was happening in those other works. Here, things are simply hinted at and the reader is supposed to read the author’s mind.
I think I’m better off forgetting I read this book.
April 28, 2023
All I could think of the entire time was Over the Garden Wall because of the art style. Can't wait to read book 2 though!
March 3, 2016
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
What sets Geis apart is that it is quite unique - featuring a cast of very nuanced (even sometimes thoroughly unlikable and self obsessed) characters. The plot is deceptively simple - so much so that it will likely take the next two volumes to fully understand the depth. As a result, this first volume (which does end on somewhat of a cliffhanger) feels more like a prelude than a full story arc.Story: When the chief Matarka dies without naming a replacement, her funeral is attended by all the dignitaries in the city - many hoping to secure the position. But things soon go very awry and a powerful magic is invoked, sending all the contestants into the areas around the City. They have until sundown to return or forever lose the chance to rule. But as they begin to return, several find out there is much more to this 'geis' that they unwittingly signed.
Most intriguing about Geis are the characters: they are a very realistic and grounded mix of conflicted individuals. Whether grappling with parent issues, greed, ambition, or ambivalence, they are all quite intriguing. Yet author Deacon keeps them from being too heavy or unlikable by remaining firmly within a cartoon fantasy milieu.
The artwork serves the story in a distinct way - contrasting a full page single panel with a heavily divided partner page (often 14+ panels on one page). The color palette is quite monochromatic and line drawing loose, nebulous, busy but not detailed. The looseness of the drawing style did make it difficult to distinguish characters at times and I relied heavily on dialogue in order to not get lost.
In all, I found the story intriguing but strangely unsatisfying as well. The tale is more about the people than the plot - and the large cast of characters could have used more than the book's 49 pages to establish the arc better. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
June 28, 2016
* I was sent this one for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review *
I wanted to really like this as the cover shows a young girl surrounded by rows of books and the story sounded like it would really be 'my thing' however I just wasn't captivated by this one. It's not a bad story, but the artwork style is not my favourite and often felt a little too blurred and muddled for me to appreciate and enjoy.
This is the story of an old woman who dies and leaves the people who knew her to fight for her position. When she dies she unlocks a sorceress who makes everyone there take part in the competition to take the old lady's position...on pain of death.
The story had some good moments and was one I do think children would enjoy, but for me the artwork was the real detractor (and of course that's very personal to everyone so I am sure there are many people who love the style and would happily give this a much higher rating). On the whole this wasn't bad, but I don't think it's a particularly beautiful, memorable or personal story for me, and so I gave it a 2*s rating overall - it was ok :)
I wanted to really like this as the cover shows a young girl surrounded by rows of books and the story sounded like it would really be 'my thing' however I just wasn't captivated by this one. It's not a bad story, but the artwork style is not my favourite and often felt a little too blurred and muddled for me to appreciate and enjoy.
This is the story of an old woman who dies and leaves the people who knew her to fight for her position. When she dies she unlocks a sorceress who makes everyone there take part in the competition to take the old lady's position...on pain of death.
The story had some good moments and was one I do think children would enjoy, but for me the artwork was the real detractor (and of course that's very personal to everyone so I am sure there are many people who love the style and would happily give this a much higher rating). On the whole this wasn't bad, but I don't think it's a particularly beautiful, memorable or personal story for me, and so I gave it a 2*s rating overall - it was ok :)
March 6, 2017
Sketchy wispy confident art style, the particular stylization of characters and facial expressions seems to be very much in vogue in European comics. I don't mind it, actually kind of like it, but many might find it underwhelming, it is a very particular kind of style. Works for me, but am curious as to how some of these super stylized comics will age over time. I like the coloring too, muted, subtle, nice.
Story just as wispy as the art. Kind of barebones, zippo character development, but there are some cute moments and fun instances within the comic.
Story just as wispy as the art. Kind of barebones, zippo character development, but there are some cute moments and fun instances within the comic.
April 3, 2019
The art, the writing style, the setting, the characters - all of these elements of Geis scream "fairy tale." But, much like the Grimm originals, Geis so much darker and far more intriguing than you might at first expect.
In Geis, the old ruler has died and a new one must be chosen. Numerous local figures are summoned to the castle in the middle of the night, where a sorceress informs them that they'll be tested in three ways to determine who should be the new ruler. As these characters complete the first test, they learn that those who aren't selected will be killed. Naturally, this leads to some frantic plotting to try to undermine the sorceress and other competitors in future volumes.
Deacon's writing style is effortlessly interesting. She offers light introductions to a few of the would-be rulers and tracks them as they compete in the first test. Actions speak louder than words in Geis, with the characters showing their true colors through how they respond to adversity. What at first appears to be a gentle tale of political wrangling quickly evolves into an action-packed narrative as the many competitors race to return to the castle. I was galloping through the pages by the end, entirely riveted.
At first glance, Geis doesn't appear to be the type of book that would rivet the reader - the strange art, with its muted, almost medieval colors, doesn't seem to lend itself to action scenes. Nonetheless, I found myself thoroughly enamored with Alexis Deacon's style by the end. Geis is a dark, complex fairy tale that's quite simply a must-read for me.
In Geis, the old ruler has died and a new one must be chosen. Numerous local figures are summoned to the castle in the middle of the night, where a sorceress informs them that they'll be tested in three ways to determine who should be the new ruler. As these characters complete the first test, they learn that those who aren't selected will be killed. Naturally, this leads to some frantic plotting to try to undermine the sorceress and other competitors in future volumes.
Deacon's writing style is effortlessly interesting. She offers light introductions to a few of the would-be rulers and tracks them as they compete in the first test. Actions speak louder than words in Geis, with the characters showing their true colors through how they respond to adversity. What at first appears to be a gentle tale of political wrangling quickly evolves into an action-packed narrative as the many competitors race to return to the castle. I was galloping through the pages by the end, entirely riveted.
At first glance, Geis doesn't appear to be the type of book that would rivet the reader - the strange art, with its muted, almost medieval colors, doesn't seem to lend itself to action scenes. Nonetheless, I found myself thoroughly enamored with Alexis Deacon's style by the end. Geis is a dark, complex fairy tale that's quite simply a must-read for me.
June 15, 2019
Une histoire comme un conte sombre où la sélection pour le prochain héritier se fait par des étapes menée par une sorcière qui en fait a manigancé la mort de tous pour récupérer toute leur énergie. Une galerie de personnages se retrouve éparpillés aux quatre coins du royaume et doit retrouver son chemin jusqu'au château. Chacun a ses épreuves petites ou grandes, certains personnages sont tout de suite remarquables et comprennent les dangers. D'autres suivent l'aventure petitement mais au final ils sont là pour aider les autres. Les dessins sont sympathiques avec ce style juste crayonné pas fini et des couleurs thématiques suivant les personnages et le lieux. Le tout donne une oeuvre intrigante et étrange mais passionnante.
July 17, 2017
I'm not really sure about this one, the story seems rather familiar (Stardust springed to mind rather readily) without any extra twists to give it its own unique twist, unless of course that comes later in the series. I do like the premise but there were so many characters I quickly got a little lost and I'm still not clear on who the girl on the cover is, she is obviously the main character but I don't know why.
June 18, 2018
Loved it, so interested to read the next one.
April 24, 2019
This was a good first volume in this series. It established the characters and the story very well. I liked the art style that it was drawn in as well. I'm interested to see where the contest goes in the next volume.
July 22, 2021
Loved this I really appreciated the first instalment of this ghoulish little fairytale
September 14, 2024
The art style is so pretty
February 26, 2017
Another beautifully bound book from Nobrow and a wonderful start to the trilogy. It feels like a European fairytale crossed with a Scandinavian children's book, both visually (think Tove Jansson meets Elsa Beskow) and in the tone of its storytelling. The colours are fantastic and do a lot to set the mood as well as looking stunning. The plot is immediately engaging with mostly ordinary, likeable people, rather than heroes, being cast into a fantasy adventure against their will. Like all the best fairytales there's an excellent sinister streak running throughout the story with some genuinely horrific events occurring. It's well written, lovely to look at, emotionally powerful, and the sudden ending just made me eager for the next two volumes.
December 21, 2019
Geis is the one of the most incredibly illustrated pieces of comic work I've ever read. I'm really blown away by Deacon's talent. I enjoyed the story, and the characters, but the thing that blew me away was the beautiful linework. Love!
October 3, 2018
The chief of the kingdom has died, and in her will has decreed that a contest will be held to find the next ruler. A series of challenges will be presented, and the winner will be crowned. However, a powerful witch has usurped the contest. Those who die during the challenges will become servants to the witch. Those who do not complete the challenges will forfeit their lives and the witch will feed on their essences. Those who signed their name to the scroll cannot withdraw. Only two of the contestants know the full rules, and they have been cursed to never be able to speak of it. One is the young daughter of the Kite Lord, the other is the Councillor Nemas. If death awaits all but the winner, Nemas decides that the easiest way to win is to kill all the other competitors. But the Kite Lord's daughter is stronger than she appears.
I liked this book & enjoyed the illustrations. The drawings are fairly simple, but with only a few lines, each character is different and even moves in a unique way.
I liked this book & enjoyed the illustrations. The drawings are fairly simple, but with only a few lines, each character is different and even moves in a unique way.
February 6, 2018
When the great matriarch dies, she left with one last request: since she has no blood heirs to take her place, she asks that the Gods hold a contest to let fate decide the next ruler. 50 people are chosen to partake in the contest, but only a few discover that if they fail, they will die.
I really enjoyed this! Clocking in under 100 pages, Deacon manages to pack a lot into a small package.
The world-building here is almost non-existent. It's a generic Fantasy world and readers are given very few details about the matriarch or the Gods, and every little character development takes place. You'd think that all this would make for an unsatisfying read, but Deacon infuses so much creepy atmosphere that I actually didn't mind the lack of exposition to orient readers into this world.
As I mentioned, there's very little character development and readers don't really get to know any of the contestants, but Deacon somehow makes this simplicity work. No one's particularly likeable, and you get hints some of depth, but Deacon never delves in too deep. Instead of turning me off, this intrigued me to learn more about this world and these characters (thankfully, this is the first installment in a trilogy).
Deacon's art is primarily what gives this world its texture and atmosphere. I'm not sure how to describe his style, but it looked really "European" to me - it's kind of loose and the colours are really soft and washed out. It almost looks like a picture book, lending the work a sort of fable/fairy tale feel which suits the morbid tone of this work perfectly.
This won't be to everyone's taste (I think the lack of detail will be a problem for a lot of readers) but if you're in the mood for something short and creepy, I highly recommend this. I can't wait to get my hands on the second volume.
I really enjoyed this! Clocking in under 100 pages, Deacon manages to pack a lot into a small package.
The world-building here is almost non-existent. It's a generic Fantasy world and readers are given very few details about the matriarch or the Gods, and every little character development takes place. You'd think that all this would make for an unsatisfying read, but Deacon infuses so much creepy atmosphere that I actually didn't mind the lack of exposition to orient readers into this world.
As I mentioned, there's very little character development and readers don't really get to know any of the contestants, but Deacon somehow makes this simplicity work. No one's particularly likeable, and you get hints some of depth, but Deacon never delves in too deep. Instead of turning me off, this intrigued me to learn more about this world and these characters (thankfully, this is the first installment in a trilogy).
Deacon's art is primarily what gives this world its texture and atmosphere. I'm not sure how to describe his style, but it looked really "European" to me - it's kind of loose and the colours are really soft and washed out. It almost looks like a picture book, lending the work a sort of fable/fairy tale feel which suits the morbid tone of this work perfectly.
This won't be to everyone's taste (I think the lack of detail will be a problem for a lot of readers) but if you're in the mood for something short and creepy, I highly recommend this. I can't wait to get my hands on the second volume.
June 7, 2016
Deacon's first flight into graphic novels for, potentially, young adults and above. I read this graphic novel in one sitting and intend to go right back to it. As with all Deacon's work, there is more going on here that at first it seems with so much to look at and discuss within each frame.
The story, the first in the trilogy, tells of a contest in which one of fifty people will become the new chief of the land. In order to do so, each contestant must undergo and overcome and wicked trial. One of the contestants, the Kite Lord's daughter, is confused as to why she has been chosen but feels that a dark, evil magic is at work here which could endanger all the contestants.
Deacon has a wonderful balance between fantasy, history and a wonderful sense of the human condition. It is difficult to capture what makes the reading of Geis so wonderful but what immediately springs to mind is that, as a reader, you care not only about the main protagonist but all the other contestants too. Deacon has clearly spent a long time thinking about each of the characters, their backstory, the landscape and world, architecture and culture and it all comes through without it being thrust down your throat. This is a world that is lived in and because of that, it will draw you back again and again.
I would love to share this with Year 6 but you would be cutting it fine. There are hints of a vicious death, some creepy creatures and blood too. Personally, I would be fine with this but you would need to know your class or the reader. I know that children (avid and reluctant readers) would soak this up.
The story, the first in the trilogy, tells of a contest in which one of fifty people will become the new chief of the land. In order to do so, each contestant must undergo and overcome and wicked trial. One of the contestants, the Kite Lord's daughter, is confused as to why she has been chosen but feels that a dark, evil magic is at work here which could endanger all the contestants.
Deacon has a wonderful balance between fantasy, history and a wonderful sense of the human condition. It is difficult to capture what makes the reading of Geis so wonderful but what immediately springs to mind is that, as a reader, you care not only about the main protagonist but all the other contestants too. Deacon has clearly spent a long time thinking about each of the characters, their backstory, the landscape and world, architecture and culture and it all comes through without it being thrust down your throat. This is a world that is lived in and because of that, it will draw you back again and again.
I would love to share this with Year 6 but you would be cutting it fine. There are hints of a vicious death, some creepy creatures and blood too. Personally, I would be fine with this but you would need to know your class or the reader. I know that children (avid and reluctant readers) would soak this up.
May 17, 2017
I don’t often find great storytelling, so I don’t often bother to leave a review on Goodreads. But Geis is great storytelling.
It’s a fast read. Dialogue, for the most part, is brief but used to great effect, conveying a lot with a little, and always hinting at more. I appreciate that it doesn’t try to follow the sarcastic "wit" of back and forth exchanges in modern comics and TV. The dialogue is, like the illustrations and characters, subtle and original. Each scene hints at a larger world. Character backgrounds slowly unfold. By the end of the first book, we’re fully committed to the characters, even though we’re just beginning to discover who they are.
This is perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Geis. It drops the reader into a fully-formed world, without bothering to give a bunch of exposition. Instead it immediately whisks us off on epic adventure, and trusts that we’ll pick up clues as we go. The effect reminds me of my first time seeing Princess Mononoke, or as a kid coming fresh to Star Wars: A New Hope. It’s rare to find a story that has such familiar elements (a plucky heroine, an impossible quest, a sorceress, magic, dragons) yet still manages to shake it all up and present something that feels completely fresh and new.
I picked up Geis from the library on a whim, but it’s a lovely book and I'm going to buy a copy of my own. I recommend you do the same.
It’s a fast read. Dialogue, for the most part, is brief but used to great effect, conveying a lot with a little, and always hinting at more. I appreciate that it doesn’t try to follow the sarcastic "wit" of back and forth exchanges in modern comics and TV. The dialogue is, like the illustrations and characters, subtle and original. Each scene hints at a larger world. Character backgrounds slowly unfold. By the end of the first book, we’re fully committed to the characters, even though we’re just beginning to discover who they are.
This is perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Geis. It drops the reader into a fully-formed world, without bothering to give a bunch of exposition. Instead it immediately whisks us off on epic adventure, and trusts that we’ll pick up clues as we go. The effect reminds me of my first time seeing Princess Mononoke, or as a kid coming fresh to Star Wars: A New Hope. It’s rare to find a story that has such familiar elements (a plucky heroine, an impossible quest, a sorceress, magic, dragons) yet still manages to shake it all up and present something that feels completely fresh and new.
I picked up Geis from the library on a whim, but it’s a lovely book and I'm going to buy a copy of my own. I recommend you do the same.
July 27, 2016
This is obviously a volume one as it ends so abruptly in the middle of the action that it left me rather annoyed actually. There are a lot of characters and it jumps around back and forth between them; it takes a bit in the beginning to understand and get used to this. A sorceress is choosing the new chief amongst the best and brightest who were yanked from their beds to her in the middle of the night. She will be testing them and, though they don't know it, the winner will be the only survivor. This volume deals with the first test. They are all sent to some far distant place and each must make their way back to the castle before dawn. The two main characters are really intense, the girl to save everyone and the young man to win, and yet we don't know anything about them yet to understand their persistence. It's an interesting fantasy, though, with potential, we'll see what happens next volume.
September 26, 2016
Beautiful! Happy to wait for the next one so that the same care can be taken with the art. I love the muted but still vibrant palette and the charcoal-style linework that allows for sharpness and softness in the same panel. This is a world where magic has its own rules and they follow themselves, not human logic. It concerns a contest that isn't fair, it just is what it is, and now all these interesting characters have to decide how they adapt to it once they are caught up in it. If you like darker Henson films you will like this, I think.
August 8, 2018
I'm all lalala I don't like fantasy ew yuck dumb witchcraft and stuff and then I'm like WHAT I AM TOTALLY INVESTED IN THESE WEIRD WACKY CHARACTERS WHAT IS UP. So, yeah, that's my summary of this book - the illustrations are great, the number of characters going in slightly different directions with just different enough motives but mostly good-ish ones are challenging but not overwhelmingly so. I just want them to get the big bad! Will they? I didn't realize it was a series and then this book and ended and I was like oh nooo everyone's in perilllll. And I read the second one. :)
May 25, 2017
Geis, pronounced gesh, is a Gaelic word for a taboo or curse. When a geis is placed upon you, it is like a spell that cannot be broken and certain rules must be obeyed. You might be prohibited from calling upon the aid of wolves, for example, or from breaking into someone's kitchen. If you ignore or break a geis, the consequences are dire.
But a geis is always broken.
As soon as it is spoken or written, your fate is set.
After providing this handy definition at the beginning of this book, the story begins with the summoning of fifty people to the deathbed of the great chief Matakra. She has no heir and her will stipulates that there will be a contest to determine the next great chief. Some rich and powerful people from the land have signed up, but some others are also brought, seemingly against their will. They debate about choosing among themselves when the spirit of Niope, a sorceress, rises from the body of Matakra and starts the first test in the contest. All fifty are magically thrown from the room to distant corners of the land and must return to the castle before the light of dawn touches the castle's front doors.
The people face various traps and challenges (some don't know the kingdom well enough to find their way back) as they try to return. A few decide it's not worth the bother. One, a witch, recognizes that Niope uses death magic and fears what will happen. A young girl is also among the candidates. She's the daughter of the Kite Lord and is able to fly back to the castle quickly. She and Nemas, a courtier, find out from Niope that only one contestant will survive and be ruler. All the others will die. They are forbidden from telling the others because this is a geis. A bit of mayhem ensues.
The book has a very intriguing set up and the first test is resolved by the end, but this is far from the story's end. I was hoping for more story. A lot of characters are introduced but not all developed. It's going to be hard to remember the storyline by the time the next volume comes out, but it is a quick read so it would be easy to reread. The art is a bit simple with a muted color palate, which actually helps the story move quickly and gives it a feeling of ancientness and otherness. I am interested in more and hope the next volume comes out soon!
December 1, 2018
The story's primary crime is that it isn't long enough. While I understand it is the beginning of a trilogy(I will definitely read the second installment when it is released), so much character work is just sorta shorthanded right off the bat. It creates this feeling where once you reach the final rush of the climax, the authentic emotion/gravitas that I feel the scene expects me to see isn't truly there. The rush of the scene(s) is there and it's well choreographed, it just fails in the work that has to be done to make me truly feel with these characters.
What this story did well:
The Art style-I find it charming, It could be taken right out of a children book. It gives serious panels a lot of power in accessing an unguarded part of you.
Panel to Panel transitions- Not much to say, meaning it's done well. If panels can guide you from scene to scene with no confusion in terms of time or placement, they've been done as well as I'd ask for.
Cast-Cast at it's basic level has a good balance for a decent story.
likable protagonist-
What's done bad:
Work done on characters-utterly lacking. More work needs to be put in to truly know who these people are. While throwing us right in was a good idea, I need to truly know who these people are for the pay off to work
Not enough work put into character scenes in the story-that's it
Overall, It's something that I'll definitely check in on when/if the second installment is released. A second part that puts effort into the really ironing these characters would give the works art and choreography a real time to shine. Just wish the work I want in the second installment was in the first. It's just far too short.
What this story did well:
The Art style-I find it charming, It could be taken right out of a children book. It gives serious panels a lot of power in accessing an unguarded part of you.
Panel to Panel transitions- Not much to say, meaning it's done well. If panels can guide you from scene to scene with no confusion in terms of time or placement, they've been done as well as I'd ask for.
Cast-Cast at it's basic level has a good balance for a decent story.
likable protagonist-
What's done bad:
Work done on characters-utterly lacking. More work needs to be put in to truly know who these people are. While throwing us right in was a good idea, I need to truly know who these people are for the pay off to work
Not enough work put into character scenes in the story-that's it
Overall, It's something that I'll definitely check in on when/if the second installment is released. A second part that puts effort into the really ironing these characters would give the works art and choreography a real time to shine. Just wish the work I want in the second installment was in the first. It's just far too short.
May 11, 2019
The art is what drew me to the book in the first place. The sketchy chalk outlines and soft pastel colors reminded me of art class and old fairy tale books. To say I was drawn to it is an understatement.
There was a ruler who had grown old and died, and without an air the ruler concocted a sort of contest as her last will and testament. 50 people are called to her death bed, most of them well known high standing members of the village; the judge, the high priestess, the grand wizard, most except some well to do people and a little girl [who feels very out of place there herself].
We learn that the will was a binding contract, a Geis of sorts [a spell that cannot be broken and certain rules have to be followed], and all that signed their name are bound to it. The previous ruler had hired a sorceress that works in death magic to concoct the contest. Basically the last person standing gets the throne, unfortunately all the people who fall out of the contest the sorceress gets to collect. She too is under control of the Geis, forced to watch over the contest and have it come to fruition.
I love that reading stories of clever women persevering. Our young protagonist is resourceful, she's determined, and she's not leaving people behind if she can help it. I'm excited to see what other hoops the contestants have to jump through and how we handle this sorceress after the contest is over.
There was a ruler who had grown old and died, and without an air the ruler concocted a sort of contest as her last will and testament. 50 people are called to her death bed, most of them well known high standing members of the village; the judge, the high priestess, the grand wizard, most except some well to do people and a little girl [who feels very out of place there herself].
We learn that the will was a binding contract, a Geis of sorts [a spell that cannot be broken and certain rules have to be followed], and all that signed their name are bound to it. The previous ruler had hired a sorceress that works in death magic to concoct the contest. Basically the last person standing gets the throne, unfortunately all the people who fall out of the contest the sorceress gets to collect. She too is under control of the Geis, forced to watch over the contest and have it come to fruition.
I love that reading stories of clever women persevering. Our young protagonist is resourceful, she's determined, and she's not leaving people behind if she can help it. I'm excited to see what other hoops the contestants have to jump through and how we handle this sorceress after the contest is over.
April 18, 2017
The word “geis” refers to a kind of curse that will affect people only when it is activated. It is both a burden and a kind of trap because the nature of magic makes it a Chekov’s gun—sooner or later, someone will activate the geis and suffer the consequences.
Geis: A Matter of Life and Death is a quest story, one that has people battling for the right to live and rule a kingdom. A fatal and terrible threat is introduced within the very first few pages as 50 people are tricked into a contest that will provide life for an evil sorceress and death for all the losers.
The color scheme is muted for the most part, lending the story a suitably grim tone. But the characters are well sketched out and the story is excellent, full of vigorous excitement. The engine of this story propels you eagerly from one page to the next as you read to see who will live or die.
The right to rule a kingdom isn’t something judged by how many lives you take or how many people you’re willing to trample underfoot. That alone would seem to make the outcome a certain one. In fact, many readers probably believe they know who the true ruler will be just from the cover alone. But I’m certain the creators of this graphic novel have quite a few surprises in store.
This is a story that I’m keen to finish. It’s just that good.
Geis: A Matter of Life and Death is a quest story, one that has people battling for the right to live and rule a kingdom. A fatal and terrible threat is introduced within the very first few pages as 50 people are tricked into a contest that will provide life for an evil sorceress and death for all the losers.
The color scheme is muted for the most part, lending the story a suitably grim tone. But the characters are well sketched out and the story is excellent, full of vigorous excitement. The engine of this story propels you eagerly from one page to the next as you read to see who will live or die.
The right to rule a kingdom isn’t something judged by how many lives you take or how many people you’re willing to trample underfoot. That alone would seem to make the outcome a certain one. In fact, many readers probably believe they know who the true ruler will be just from the cover alone. But I’m certain the creators of this graphic novel have quite a few surprises in store.
This is a story that I’m keen to finish. It’s just that good.
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