What do you think?
Rate this book
Hexed: The Harlot and the Thief #5-8
Hexed: The Harlot & The Thief, Vol. 2
After stopping a supernatural sibling rivalry from setting a gallery (and the city) ablaze, there's no rest for Supernatural Thief Lucifer -- the surviving sister, Madame Cymbaline, wants Lucifer to join her organization, and won't take no for an answer. Cymbaline's quest comes at a great cost to both women, as their quest for vengeance takes them through dimensions and to their limits.
Ahexed The Harlot & The Thief marks the ongoing series debut for the character that launched PRETTY DEADLY Artist Emma Rios' career in 2008. Rios returns to provide the cover for this volume, while newcomer Dan Mora brings a lyrical and unique take to the artwork, paired with the script from one of comics' leading horror writers, Michael Alan Nelson (DAY MEN, 28 DAYS LATER, DINGO).
Ahexed The Harlot & The Thief marks the ongoing series debut for the character that launched PRETTY DEADLY Artist Emma Rios' career in 2008. Rios returns to provide the cover for this volume, while newcomer Dan Mora brings a lyrical and unique take to the artwork, paired with the script from one of comics' leading horror writers, Michael Alan Nelson (DAY MEN, 28 DAYS LATER, DINGO).
112 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2016
11 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Michael Alan Nelson
252 books100 followersMichael Alan Nelson grew up in a small Indiana farming community before moving to Los Angeles in 2002. He is the winner of the 2004 New Times 55 Fiction contest for his short-short "The Conspirators" and was awarded the 2011 Glyph Comics Award for Best Female Character for the character Selena from his series "28 Days Later." Michael is the author of the critically acclaimed comic series "Hexed," "Dingo," and "Fall of Cthulhu." His current ongoing titles include "Day Men" and the relaunch of the fan-favorite series "Hexed." His first prose novel, "Hexed: the Sisters of Witchdown" arrives May 5th, 2015. He lives in Los Angeles.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 15, 2020
I need more Hexed in my life. This series is fantastic.
After the events of the previous volume, Lucifer, Val, and Raina set up shop in a nightclub and begin to recover the magical artifacts they lost. They cross paths with Madame Cymbaline again and things go downhill from there.
Oh my, that cliffhanger! On to the next volume!
After the events of the previous volume, Lucifer, Val, and Raina set up shop in a nightclub and begin to recover the magical artifacts they lost. They cross paths with Madame Cymbaline again and things go downhill from there.
Oh my, that cliffhanger! On to the next volume!
August 8, 2021
With the gallery burned down, some of Val's magical artifacts have been let loose. Her treasures have been lost to the world and now Lucifer (and new necromancer sidekick Raina) has to find them! She starts with something that's supposed to be easy but things take a turn for the worse when Madame Cymbaline gets involved. The best part of this volume is getting a fully committed angry Lucifer by the end, willing to live up to the devil's namesake. Flipping through spells and abilities, disarming people in combat, almost literally raising Hell. It's fun!
June 12, 2018
I didn't like this *quite* as much as the first volume, but it was still very good. I think I was a little bit disappointed by it because the first volume was just incredibly magical with the traveling through paintings and visiting the harlot and spending time in that afterlife world, but this volume was a lot more urban and a lot less fantasy [until the last few scenes]. I mean I enjoy that as well, but I felt like the first volume definitely had a lot more going on and also a lot more opportunities for the art to shine through with some really neat designs. Still, this was a good volume and with the cliffhanger it ended on I feel like the next volume is definitely going to amp the magic back up again.
June 20, 2019
(This should have been marked read last year? The year before? But for some reason wasn't. So the date listed is a reread, and I will likely reread it again. Really enjoy this series.)
April 4, 2016
Holy sh-! So awesome. Longer review to come.
June 4, 2023
I really like this world and the characters, such a cool concept. I wish there were more issues so the story could take its time, we rush through very complicated back stories.
January 21, 2021
Unleash Hell!
This was amazing... At times thrilling, at times hilarious, at times horrifying... and the final chapter is a showstopper! Wow...
This was amazing... At times thrilling, at times hilarious, at times horrifying... and the final chapter is a showstopper! Wow...
December 30, 2020
This second volume of the rebooted series, also currently available on Kindle Unlimited, forms the first half of a two-parter with volume three.
The authors seem to have finally realised just what they had in this story universe. Rather than the bland high jinx of the previous book, they delve into the background of Mme Cymbaline and of the Harlot, as well as into the relationship between the Harlot and the Thief. Finally, there is some depth and emotion in the telling, although it tends to the sentimental, even to the mawkish.
Overall, the story is resolved satisfactorily, making reference back to the original miniseries, and tying up all of the story threads that had been left hanging in that miniseries as well as the previous volume of this series. The story is a big action spectacular, not particularly coherent, but entertaining.
The plot relies on too many easy solutions and there are too many tough-talk stand-offs to my taste. It’s still more of a superhero adventure than a paranormal mystery. Our protagonist always knows just what to do and she does not put one foot wrong. The action unfolds without real jeopardy, except that no one thinks to protect the gallery owner. That character’s death is a significant failure of the protagonist, who throws a vengeful tantrum rather than learning and growing. A real opportunity for character development has been squandered there. The convenient and conventional final scenes set up more of the same in episodes to come, rather than giving the sense of finality and closure such a tying up of lose ends requires. Really, this could have become a powerful story but it’s held back by safe comic conventions. So the score remains three rather than four stars.
As to the art, it’s still very good, but a little less crisp than in the first volume of this series. It’s all action comic conventions.
Overall, the second and third volumes of this series are better than the first. But there still isn’t the intriguing quality of the original miniseries.
The authors seem to have finally realised just what they had in this story universe. Rather than the bland high jinx of the previous book, they delve into the background of Mme Cymbaline and of the Harlot, as well as into the relationship between the Harlot and the Thief. Finally, there is some depth and emotion in the telling, although it tends to the sentimental, even to the mawkish.
Overall, the story is resolved satisfactorily, making reference back to the original miniseries, and tying up all of the story threads that had been left hanging in that miniseries as well as the previous volume of this series. The story is a big action spectacular, not particularly coherent, but entertaining.
The plot relies on too many easy solutions and there are too many tough-talk stand-offs to my taste. It’s still more of a superhero adventure than a paranormal mystery. Our protagonist always knows just what to do and she does not put one foot wrong. The action unfolds without real jeopardy, except that no one thinks to protect the gallery owner. That character’s death is a significant failure of the protagonist, who throws a vengeful tantrum rather than learning and growing. A real opportunity for character development has been squandered there. The convenient and conventional final scenes set up more of the same in episodes to come, rather than giving the sense of finality and closure such a tying up of lose ends requires. Really, this could have become a powerful story but it’s held back by safe comic conventions. So the score remains three rather than four stars.
As to the art, it’s still very good, but a little less crisp than in the first volume of this series. It’s all action comic conventions.
Overall, the second and third volumes of this series are better than the first. But there still isn’t the intriguing quality of the original miniseries.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2016
As with so many other comics I really enjoyed the first few issues of Hexed but it was downhill from there. The first storyline ended before issue 6, which is strange, and the next arc wasn't as entertaining. I should have been interested in the turn of events and the path the main character was forced down, but instead I thought it changed the entire tone of the story. It went from a fun sort of urban fantasy story to a let's make the two super-powered people fight kind of thing. It was just ok, and I felt like it had potential to be really great at first.
September 20, 2020
✨ Read for the 2020 KU Shitathon™ challenge - [Yearly Edition] - over at Maraya's Cave Of Freaking Wonders ✨
♠ Plan B: #3 of 3 -- Month: September ♠
♠ Plan B: #3 of 3 -- Month: September ♠
December 16, 2023
This was a re-re-re-read as Hexed is in my top ten favourite comic series. For anyone who loved Buffy or Supernatural or Charmed you will love this series. Nelson weaves super plots driven by interesting and funny characters that are easy to love and invest our time with. The artwork is fantastic and suits the characters and story. I had to head right into the next volume as soon as I finished. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
October 29, 2017
I'm still not happy with the Barbie Doll art, but the story has taken some surprising turns, and the image on the last page was a real surprise. One other problem I sometimes have is that the banter between Lucifer and her intern often sounds like a comedy team. But overall, my opinion of this series has gone up despite the art.
November 2, 2021
Il secondo volume è decisamente un livello superiore del primo. La storia si fa più avvincente. Ho amato i capitoli finali.
The second volume is definitely a higher level than the first. The story becomes more compelling. I loved the final chapters.
The second volume is definitely a higher level than the first. The story becomes more compelling. I loved the final chapters.
July 1, 2017
Just gets darker and better.
I have issue #8 signed by the writer. I cherish this issue.
I have issue #8 signed by the writer. I cherish this issue.
September 10, 2018
The second in a series in which continues the story of Lucifer (Luci Jennifer Inagcio Das Neves). Fun and exciting.
June 29, 2019
Solid, I STILL WISH THE SHIP WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
March 14, 2020
This is the perfect balance of action and plot advancement. Can not wait to FINALLY read the final volume!
September 7, 2021
Free flowing action. great pacing and top notch artwork. Good read!
January 6, 2017
Holy ballz.
August 19, 2022
One of the most batshit stories I've ever read and Nelson pulls it off *perfectly*. While it initially deceives one into thinking the story'll be about Lucifer and Raina recovering the items lost in the last arc, it takes a very different direction - it's a game of chess between Lucifer and Madame Cymbaline. Of course, there's one person who always knows the outcome, and will use it to their advantage...
Mora's art is even better; he's clearly developed his skill. And Gabriel Cassata's colors add so much to Mora's already wonderful drawings.
Highly recommended.
Mora's art is even better; he's clearly developed his skill. And Gabriel Cassata's colors add so much to Mora's already wonderful drawings.
Highly recommended.
November 24, 2016
Much cleaner storyline following the first volume with Lucifer trying to retrieve the stolen artifacts from Val's gallery. Nice twist killing Val because I seriously didn't like her. The ending also had a punch that makes me want to next volume. Seriously, without that ending given the dearth of plot I might not have continued on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2016
SO GOOD. Gah. That ending though. I need the next volume, stat.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews