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The City on the Other Side
When a wealthy and sheltered young girl stumbles into a pitched war between two fairy kingdoms, the fate of San Francisco itself hangs in the balance!
The first decade of the twentieth century is coming to a close, and San Francisco is still recovering from the great earthquake of 1906. Isabel watched the destruction safely from her window, sheltered within her high-society world.
Isabel isn't the kind of girl who goes on adventures. But that all changes when she stumbles through the invisible barrier that separates the human world from the fairy world. She quickly finds herself caught up in an age-old war and fighting on the side of the Seelie—the good fairies.
The first decade of the twentieth century is coming to a close, and San Francisco is still recovering from the great earthquake of 1906. Isabel watched the destruction safely from her window, sheltered within her high-society world.
Isabel isn't the kind of girl who goes on adventures. But that all changes when she stumbles through the invisible barrier that separates the human world from the fairy world. She quickly finds herself caught up in an age-old war and fighting on the side of the Seelie—the good fairies.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 24, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
May 25, 2018
The setting is San Francisco soon after the earthquake in the early 1900s. Isabel is a little girl who lives with her mother in a fancy house with servants attending to her every need. But what Isabel wants is to feel like her mother and father, who lives in Carmel, actually do love and care about her. Isabel is in for the adventure of a lifetime when she steps into a whole new world and discover two factions of faeries at war with one another. In possession of a magical necklace, Isabel just might have to power to stop the fighting but she will probably need the help of a few friends. This is a graphic novel geared towards middle grade readers.
This was a cute story about a little girl who just wants to feel loved. There are some good lessons along the way including learning how to get along with those who are different than you. I can't say I was particularly interested in the fairy potions of the story although I did enjoy how that part of the plot was wrapped up. Although I wish the book would have explored more of the historical aspect of 1900s San Francisco within the story, I was pleased to read the added bonus type chapter that goes into a little more detail. Overall, the book had colorful illustrations but parts of the story prevented it from being a really great read.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
This was a cute story about a little girl who just wants to feel loved. There are some good lessons along the way including learning how to get along with those who are different than you. I can't say I was particularly interested in the fairy potions of the story although I did enjoy how that part of the plot was wrapped up. Although I wish the book would have explored more of the historical aspect of 1900s San Francisco within the story, I was pleased to read the added bonus type chapter that goes into a little more detail. Overall, the book had colorful illustrations but parts of the story prevented it from being a really great read.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
August 15, 2022
A story for middle-school aged children about a sheltered, rich girl with absentee parents who crosses over into faerie and is inducted into a mission to stop a war between the seelie and unseelie. The book is big on plot and action but I feel it missed an opportunity with the Great San Francisco Earthquake. If I hadn't read the blurb for the book, I wouldn't have known that was the earthquake referred to. For some reason the author steers around it to the point where I don't even know why it was made a story point in the first place.
August 27, 2023
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Isable (mc) is Latinx; Benji (sc) is Filipino.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
▷ Representation: Isable (mc) is Latinx; Benji (sc) is Filipino.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
November 15, 2021
Cute, but too childish for me.
September 15, 2017
The City on the Other Side is a graphic novel set in 20th century San Francisco, after the events of the great earthquake of 1906. The story follows young Isabel, finding herself on a quest to return a magical necklace.
The City on the Other Side's story is one of urban fantasy. There is a war between the Seelie and the Unseelie, and alas, it is Isabel's job to save the day.
I found The City on the Other Side to be quite predictable. The story didn't impress me too much, the writing felt like it was rushed, and the plot could've honestly been better. I also wished that the novel included more historical background of the surroundings of San Francisco, and was disappointed to find there wasn't a lot of it there.
But something that I LOVED LOVED LOVED about this book was the art. I mean, in a graphic novel, the art is 1/2 the book, and I have to say that I had no problems with it whatsoever. It was incredibly vivid, vibrant, and colorful, and it made the world so much more real. Although my digital copy was a bit blurred, obviously when this book will be published, the art in the physical form will be magnificent. Honestly, I couldn't get enough of the art. I'd read this book only for the art if I had to.
Although this book wasn't personally for me, this book would be a magical read for younger readers, especially those just diving into reading. The novel has a lot of elements that appeal to younger readers looking for adventure and magic in a story, and the brilliant artwork in this book will only help its case to excel.
* I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The City on the Other Side's story is one of urban fantasy. There is a war between the Seelie and the Unseelie, and alas, it is Isabel's job to save the day.
I found The City on the Other Side to be quite predictable. The story didn't impress me too much, the writing felt like it was rushed, and the plot could've honestly been better. I also wished that the novel included more historical background of the surroundings of San Francisco, and was disappointed to find there wasn't a lot of it there.
But something that I LOVED LOVED LOVED about this book was the art. I mean, in a graphic novel, the art is 1/2 the book, and I have to say that I had no problems with it whatsoever. It was incredibly vivid, vibrant, and colorful, and it made the world so much more real. Although my digital copy was a bit blurred, obviously when this book will be published, the art in the physical form will be magnificent. Honestly, I couldn't get enough of the art. I'd read this book only for the art if I had to.
Although this book wasn't personally for me, this book would be a magical read for younger readers, especially those just diving into reading. The novel has a lot of elements that appeal to younger readers looking for adventure and magic in a story, and the brilliant artwork in this book will only help its case to excel.
* I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2018
3.5/5 – super quick & cute gahhhh
May 18, 2018
I now choose to believe that all natural disasters are caused due to concerns on the other side of the veil. Let's all keep the other dimensions happy, ok?
See our picks for natural disasters and the books we think caused: http://bookcrush.in/blog-tour/girl-po...
See our picks for natural disasters and the books we think caused: http://bookcrush.in/blog-tour/girl-po...
May 26, 2018
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
THE CITY ON THE OTHER SIDE is an excellent middle grade graphic novel. With an interesting historical setting, a fun adventure story, and amazing artwork, this book is sure to charm younger readers.
Obviously in a graphic novel the art is responsible for telling a lot of the story. I thought that THE CITY ON THE OTHER SIDE was well done in that regard. The fairies were unique and the colors super vibrant and wonderful. One aspect I really liked was the creative take on the fairy world being a mirror of the human world and each world affecting the other. The way this was shown through the artwork was lovely and I really enjoyed the scenes where we saw what the fairy version of a human landmark looked like.
The story was fun, and I thought it was well paced. Isabel's adventure starts pretty early on in the book, no slow starts here. Then, the action keeps up through the whole book. While I've seen some reviews that say it's a bit predictable, I didn't feel it was predictable as much as there weren't a lot of plot twists and turns, but that seems appropriate for the intended readership. I certainly didn't guess anything that was going to happen! But nothing really surprised me completely, either.
A well done story with diverse characters and amazing artwork, THE CITY ON THE OTHER SIDE is definitely worth picking up for the middle grade reader in your life.
Sexual content: N/A
THE CITY ON THE OTHER SIDE is an excellent middle grade graphic novel. With an interesting historical setting, a fun adventure story, and amazing artwork, this book is sure to charm younger readers.
Obviously in a graphic novel the art is responsible for telling a lot of the story. I thought that THE CITY ON THE OTHER SIDE was well done in that regard. The fairies were unique and the colors super vibrant and wonderful. One aspect I really liked was the creative take on the fairy world being a mirror of the human world and each world affecting the other. The way this was shown through the artwork was lovely and I really enjoyed the scenes where we saw what the fairy version of a human landmark looked like.
The story was fun, and I thought it was well paced. Isabel's adventure starts pretty early on in the book, no slow starts here. Then, the action keeps up through the whole book. While I've seen some reviews that say it's a bit predictable, I didn't feel it was predictable as much as there weren't a lot of plot twists and turns, but that seems appropriate for the intended readership. I certainly didn't guess anything that was going to happen! But nothing really surprised me completely, either.
A well done story with diverse characters and amazing artwork, THE CITY ON THE OTHER SIDE is definitely worth picking up for the middle grade reader in your life.
Sexual content: N/A
May 17, 2018
Rather predictable in terms of plot, and sorely lacking on the historical side. But this graphic novel is gorgeously illustrated and I would love to read more about the (Un)Seelie world and the diverse cast that exists just on the other side of the Veil. Perhaps with a time skip so we can see how our MCs have aged and evolved? They were a bit two-dimensional as plucky heroine and redeemed thief, so I wish more time had been spent getting to know them instead of dashing about the city.
Fun, and I’m sure that kids will enjoy it. Too bad it doesn’t go as deep as Faith Erin Hick’s series.
Fun, and I’m sure that kids will enjoy it. Too bad it doesn’t go as deep as Faith Erin Hick’s series.
June 26, 2022
Really cool look at the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 mixed with fairies. Nothing too outstanding but the art is nice and colorful and the plot was fairly straightforward.
August 29, 2018
City on the Other Side begins with a young girl named Isabel living in San Francisco just after a devastating earthquake in 1906. Isabel comes from a wealthy family and largely absentee parents and when she finds a way into the world of the fae, she encounters an adventure she never expected. When a message is left in her hands, it’ll be up to Isabel to deliver it before the wars between the fae break out into her own world. Despite not being the adventurous type, Isabel will find both friends and foes aplenty on her mission to save the worlds.
City on the Other Side is a relatively gentle adventure with a young girl whose life has been very restrictive and who feels lost even among her own family. Her interactions with the fae lead to several friendships that will be tested by her role in the wars between the fae and the story plays with the concept of friendship and duty in a compelling way that will be appealing to kids. It’s also a gentler introduction to the nastier fae than most others I’ve seen and the art really makes the story come to life.
City on the Other Side won’t be as exciting as experience fantasy readers might be expecting but it’s a good introduction to the nuanced view of the fae and the lovely artwork will entrance younger readers.
December 1, 2017
Isabel isn't having the greatest time at either of her homes -- her mother doesn't seem interested in her and her father appears to be more comfortable working with his sculptures than interacting with her. When Isabel stumbles upon a dying fairy who bequeaths her a necklace and a mission, she doesn't hesitate to enter the world of fairies, where a battle between the Seelie and Unseelie is raging. The Unseelie wish to destroy the human world, while the Seelie understand that the human world provides a counterbalance to their own. Isabel, with the help of an adorable mushroom-like imp, Button, and an unlikely interloper, sets out to fulfill her found fairy's dying wish . . . and learns many valuable lessons along the way. Gorgeous art and a delightful story.
May 12, 2018
I really liked this graphic novel! The art is amazing, and I love all the diversity in both the Fae and the humans. Set in San Francisco (and it's Fairy equivalent on the other side of the Veil) just after the Earthquake and subsequent fire of 1906, it tells a tale of a neglected girl who wants to have adventures and gets more than she bargained for! The story wrapped up so perfectly - it made me very happy!! (Check out the last few pages for more information on the basis for the story, super cute!)
April 24, 2018
This was so cute! I loved the art. The fairies all looked like different kinds of monsters.
It’s a good read-a-like for the Amulet books. Though, I feel maybe for a slightly younger audience.
Another good one-sitting kinda read.
It’s a good read-a-like for the Amulet books. Though, I feel maybe for a slightly younger audience.
Another good one-sitting kinda read.
April 16, 2019
Opens with a magic-folk battle, slides into a family story (kid doesn't want to spend the summer with her dad), and ultimately has ramifications for historical San Francisco.
I wanted to like this more than I did, but I enjoyed all the different types of beings and creatures.
I wanted to like this more than I did, but I enjoyed all the different types of beings and creatures.
January 2, 2023
This was great! Is there more to this world?
January 12, 2019
Very cute, quick read! Loved the art style. Button was my favourite.
July 16, 2018
A fun modern-ish take on the human and fairy worlds. Good story, fun art and it draws a lot of different mythologies.
July 3, 2018
The City on the Other Side was such a complete delight to read. I was pretty excited to hear about the premise, as the idea of both a real world and a fantasy world co-existing is one I have always enjoyed, and early 20th century San Francisco isn't something I have seen much of in other stories. That said, this exceeded my expectations.
Mairghread Scott's story worked really well for me. The characters were endearing, the dialogue was fun and funny, the story was interesting, the setting was interesting, and the ending was satisfying. It was great to see the Latinx and Filipino main characters considering the diverse history of San Francisco. The characters were interesting, and many were particularly adorable. Button was completely necessary to my life. Robin Robinson's art was fantastic and suited the story perfectly. I liked that they were willing to address that just because the bad guy is defeated doesn't mean that is the end for either those who sided with or against him. I do wish the story had been a bit lengthier, but I can't have it all.
I definitely recommend this for the target middle grade audience, but I also enjoyed it a ton as an adult, and won't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who is interested.
Mairghread Scott's story worked really well for me. The characters were endearing, the dialogue was fun and funny, the story was interesting, the setting was interesting, and the ending was satisfying. It was great to see the Latinx and Filipino main characters considering the diverse history of San Francisco. The characters were interesting, and many were particularly adorable. Button was completely necessary to my life. Robin Robinson's art was fantastic and suited the story perfectly. I liked that they were willing to address that just because the bad guy is defeated doesn't mean that is the end for either those who sided with or against him. I do wish the story had been a bit lengthier, but I can't have it all.
I definitely recommend this for the target middle grade audience, but I also enjoyed it a ton as an adult, and won't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who is interested.
July 2, 2017
I love stories of the Fey folk, and this one was fun because it took place in an alternative version of San Francisco, which is where Isabel ends up, when she gets her hands on a magic necklace that allows her to travel to the land of the Fey.
Although I love that this story took place in post 1906 earthquake San Francisco and Carmel, I find it a pity that there wasn't as much used of the actual cities. Plus the mother referring to smog, which was not that common in 1906. Considering how much of the city was destroyed, it is unclear where Isabel and her mother are even living. I sort of wish that had not been so vague.
But the rest of the story, that takes place in the land of the Fey, that is quite good, as Isable finds her way through it all. She is a good strong character, and I enjoyed that part of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Although I love that this story took place in post 1906 earthquake San Francisco and Carmel, I find it a pity that there wasn't as much used of the actual cities. Plus the mother referring to smog, which was not that common in 1906. Considering how much of the city was destroyed, it is unclear where Isabel and her mother are even living. I sort of wish that had not been so vague.
But the rest of the story, that takes place in the land of the Fey, that is quite good, as Isable finds her way through it all. She is a good strong character, and I enjoyed that part of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
February 28, 2018
The City on the Other Side is a cutesy story of a young girl in post 1906-Earthquake San Francisco. Her distant mother ships her off to spend the summer with her artist father who seems to be too busy to pay much attention to her.
Lonely, she takes to wandering and accidentally finds herself in the middle of a fairy war. When she is handed a magical necklace by a dying Seelie fae, she finds herself in the fairy realm on a mission to help find the Seelie Queen in hopes of defeating the Unseelie leader.
City is a cute title that would work well for middle grade readers who are interested in fantasy. While I enjoyed the story, I'm probably more than a little too old to be the target audience. I found parts of it to be pretty simplistic, but again...not a middle grade reader. Really though, this was a cute story and children's librarians should consider adding this one to their collections.
Lonely, she takes to wandering and accidentally finds herself in the middle of a fairy war. When she is handed a magical necklace by a dying Seelie fae, she finds herself in the fairy realm on a mission to help find the Seelie Queen in hopes of defeating the Unseelie leader.
City is a cute title that would work well for middle grade readers who are interested in fantasy. While I enjoyed the story, I'm probably more than a little too old to be the target audience. I found parts of it to be pretty simplistic, but again...not a middle grade reader. Really though, this was a cute story and children's librarians should consider adding this one to their collections.
October 12, 2017
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
The City on the Other Side is a cute story about a young girl, Isabel, living in San Francisco after the earthquake in 1906. She is on a quest to help restore balance to the world of the Fey by delivering a magical necklace to a person in the Seelie court. This novel has a cast of endearing and interesting characters. You don't see much of San Francisco, but you do get to see a lot of the Fey world. I enjoy stories about magic and the Fey and this book was no exception.
The City on the Other Side is a cute story about a young girl, Isabel, living in San Francisco after the earthquake in 1906. She is on a quest to help restore balance to the world of the Fey by delivering a magical necklace to a person in the Seelie court. This novel has a cast of endearing and interesting characters. You don't see much of San Francisco, but you do get to see a lot of the Fey world. I enjoy stories about magic and the Fey and this book was no exception.
July 21, 2018
The City on the Other Side is colorful, exciting, and cute, and features charming middle-grade protagonists who will directly appeal to the middle-grade audience. For the older reader, there's an unfortunate lack of world-building, particularly with consideration to actual history - the story takes place during the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake without ever exploring that event. Missed history lesson - perhaps cut to keep this speedy story moving? Because it absolutely churns through plot and action. At least the Seelie vs Unseelie fairy war is adequately outlined. And the art perfectly demonstrated how the fairy world is a circus mirror vision of the real world.
July 4, 2018
Rating: 4.5 stars
The art is really cool, and the story is short and sweet :)
The art is really cool, and the story is short and sweet :)
May 4, 2018
I found this very difficult to follow and rather confusing. It was hard to understand Isabel's situation with her parents and the world building felt incomplete. I did love the illustrations, but otherwise I was a bit disappointed. It's almost like the story could have used 40 more pages at the beginning to develop Isabel more fully and clarify the fantasy situation too.
June 14, 2018
I liked the art and the story equally in this one.
Isabel is feeling like her parents don't really see her. They know she's there but she feels like an inconvenience. When she is sent to her father's for the summer, she accidentally stumbles into a war between the Seelie and Unseelie courts. She has to learn to find her voice and make it heard, or not everyone is going to make it out alive.
Isabel is feeling like her parents don't really see her. They know she's there but she feels like an inconvenience. When she is sent to her father's for the summer, she accidentally stumbles into a war between the Seelie and Unseelie courts. She has to learn to find her voice and make it heard, or not everyone is going to make it out alive.
August 29, 2018
2.5
Pretty art but a predicable story from start to finish. I liked the idea of a 1900's setting but it was so rushed that all the history and world building came in a bonus cartoon at the end-- the jacket and bonus are the only places a time frame is even mentioned-- so unless a kid had learned about the San Francisco earthquake they'd have no idea when or where this takes place.
Pretty art but a predicable story from start to finish. I liked the idea of a 1900's setting but it was so rushed that all the history and world building came in a bonus cartoon at the end-- the jacket and bonus are the only places a time frame is even mentioned-- so unless a kid had learned about the San Francisco earthquake they'd have no idea when or where this takes place.
July 14, 2017
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
The City On The Other Side is a fairly standard urban fantasy, albeit one with an historical milieu. I had been hoping to find something more original - a spark or reason for the story other than a rather tenuous tie to the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. The historical aspects are nearly non existent (though there are some middle-grade aimed factoids at the end) and I really wanted to see 1906 San Francisco rather than the alternate fairy world.Plot: Isabel is fairly forgotten in her world - her San Francisco socialite mother binding her to the harsh mores of the era while her father lives in Carmel carving stone. One day while visiting her father, she chances upon a dying fairy. Before passing, he gives her a necklace and begs her to find the queen of the seelies and give her the necklace. Isabel soon finds herself in the middle of the cold iron war between the seelie and unseelie courts. With the help of a human boy hiding in the fairy world and stealing in order to survive, they will free the imprisoned queen and bring balance back to the fairy world.
Most of The City On The Other Side is a road quest; our heroine spends a chunk of the book looking for a seelie general and then the queen herself in fairyland. Perhaps because of this, there was little to no flavor of historic San Francisco. This takes place a bit (months maybe?) after the earthquake so there is no dwelling on that event. It's just randomly explained in the story that it was caused by the unseelies as part of their war. And it's more of an afterthought at that.
Our character Isabel is plucky but I have to admit that she feels just as disaffected as her parents. I never got much of a flavor of her personality or spirit other than that she wishes her parents noticed her more. Oddly, there is a reconciliation with one of them while the other remains completely disenfranchised from her daughter. Similarly, her friend Benjie is fairly cardboard and mushroom shaped seelie companion Button has an odd mix of flavors so that he is hard to pin down.
Readers may be surprised at some of the seeming anachronisms. Isabel's mother's use of the word 'smog' feels off since it was a word only just coined that year. Similarly, a museum night watchman using an electric flashlight (also recently invented at the turn of the century) also feels off. Both are possible but not plausible So, too, is it glaring that Isabel is confined by social mores and not by her gender as was custom in that era.
Admittedly, I didn't find much to interest me in this title. The lack of historic San Francisco really felt like a miss and I'd have enjoyed this more had the author/illustrator researched the locale/time and then put our hero/heroine through a San Francisco streets chase rather than situating so much in the fairie world. Since research was done on different types of fairies by the author, that clearly is where the focus went on the story. But younger, less sophisticated audiences may find this entertaining, if a bit bland. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
April 27, 2018
Inhalt
Nach dem tragischen Erdbeben in San Francisco zur Jahrhundertwende lebt die wohlbehütete Isabel bei ihrer Mutter. Doch im Sommer soll sie einige Wochen bei ihrem Vater verbringen – der ebenso wenig Zeit für sie hat wie die vielbeschäftigte Gesellschaftsdame. Isabels Fluchtweg führt sie ins Reich der Seelie, doch dort tobt ein Krieg mächtigen Ausmaßes. Während die Unseelie das Weltengebilde bedrohen, ist es an Isabel, mit einer geheimnisvollen Kette den Frieden wiederzubringen …
Meine Bewertung
„The City on the Other Side“ war mal wieder ein englischer Comic für mich, der mich aber eher zwiegespalten hinterlassen hat. Das historische Setting im San Francisco von 1906, gepaart mit den Welten der Seelie und Unseelie, hat ziemlich große Hoffnungen in mir geweckt, aber leider wurde ich von Anfang an nicht wirklich mit der Geschichte warm.
Was mich am meisten gestört hat, waren die Charaktere. Leider wurden sie alle sehr stereotypisch und überhaupt nicht facettenreich ausgeführt, gerade zu Isabel, der jungen Protagonistin, habe ich keinen richtigen Draht gefunden. Sie stolpert eher von einem Ereignis ins nächste, als dass sie wirklich etwas anpackt, und auch ihre Beziehung zu den anderen war ziemlich nichtssagend. Von ihren Eltern wünscht sie sich mehr Interesse – mehr habe ich von ihr nicht mitgenommen. Auch der kleine Pilz Button und Benjie, der auf sie aufmerksam wird, waren sehr einseitig und haben nicht wirklich zur Auflockerung oder dem Voranschreiten des Plots beigetragen.
Auch der Plot war alles in allem eher zäh und überhaupt nicht flüssig. Ich mochte die Idee dahinter, aber einerseits gab es so gut wie kaum Weltenbau, die Menschenwelt wurde komplett in den Hintergrund gerückt, und der Plot an sich war auch noch ziemlich banal und schnell zu durchschauen. Aufregung kam bei mir nicht wirklich auf, Spannung habe ich vergeblich gesucht, egal, was gerade passierte. Selbst die Kämpfe waren eher lahm und nicht besonders interessant. Mir hat da einfach das gewisse Etwas gefehlt, die richtige Motivation der Helden, die eher in das Ganze reingeschlittert sind und dann eben mitgemacht haben, weil es der Plot so verlangt.
Was mir aber wirklich gut gefallen hat, war der Zeichenstil. Meine digitale Vorab-Ausgabe war leider etwas pixelig, aber die Farben und die Illustrationen waren trotzdem ein wunderschönes Meisterwerk und das hätte ich gern auch in der Story widergespiegelt gesehen. Die Darstellung der Charaktere und der Städte war sehr vielfältig, nur leider waren mir manche Panels etwas zu überladen und zu wirr.
Alles in allem war „The City on the Other Side“ leider nicht mein Fall. Mich konnte die Geschichte nicht abholen und auch die Charaktere blieben blass und zum Großteil eher indifferent. Manche interessante Gedankengänge steckten schon dahinter und auch der Zeichenstil konnte mich überzeugen, aber ich habe die Spannung und das Abenteuer vermisst, die mir der Klappentext versprochen hat.
Nach dem tragischen Erdbeben in San Francisco zur Jahrhundertwende lebt die wohlbehütete Isabel bei ihrer Mutter. Doch im Sommer soll sie einige Wochen bei ihrem Vater verbringen – der ebenso wenig Zeit für sie hat wie die vielbeschäftigte Gesellschaftsdame. Isabels Fluchtweg führt sie ins Reich der Seelie, doch dort tobt ein Krieg mächtigen Ausmaßes. Während die Unseelie das Weltengebilde bedrohen, ist es an Isabel, mit einer geheimnisvollen Kette den Frieden wiederzubringen …
Meine Bewertung
„The City on the Other Side“ war mal wieder ein englischer Comic für mich, der mich aber eher zwiegespalten hinterlassen hat. Das historische Setting im San Francisco von 1906, gepaart mit den Welten der Seelie und Unseelie, hat ziemlich große Hoffnungen in mir geweckt, aber leider wurde ich von Anfang an nicht wirklich mit der Geschichte warm.
Was mich am meisten gestört hat, waren die Charaktere. Leider wurden sie alle sehr stereotypisch und überhaupt nicht facettenreich ausgeführt, gerade zu Isabel, der jungen Protagonistin, habe ich keinen richtigen Draht gefunden. Sie stolpert eher von einem Ereignis ins nächste, als dass sie wirklich etwas anpackt, und auch ihre Beziehung zu den anderen war ziemlich nichtssagend. Von ihren Eltern wünscht sie sich mehr Interesse – mehr habe ich von ihr nicht mitgenommen. Auch der kleine Pilz Button und Benjie, der auf sie aufmerksam wird, waren sehr einseitig und haben nicht wirklich zur Auflockerung oder dem Voranschreiten des Plots beigetragen.
Auch der Plot war alles in allem eher zäh und überhaupt nicht flüssig. Ich mochte die Idee dahinter, aber einerseits gab es so gut wie kaum Weltenbau, die Menschenwelt wurde komplett in den Hintergrund gerückt, und der Plot an sich war auch noch ziemlich banal und schnell zu durchschauen. Aufregung kam bei mir nicht wirklich auf, Spannung habe ich vergeblich gesucht, egal, was gerade passierte. Selbst die Kämpfe waren eher lahm und nicht besonders interessant. Mir hat da einfach das gewisse Etwas gefehlt, die richtige Motivation der Helden, die eher in das Ganze reingeschlittert sind und dann eben mitgemacht haben, weil es der Plot so verlangt.
Was mir aber wirklich gut gefallen hat, war der Zeichenstil. Meine digitale Vorab-Ausgabe war leider etwas pixelig, aber die Farben und die Illustrationen waren trotzdem ein wunderschönes Meisterwerk und das hätte ich gern auch in der Story widergespiegelt gesehen. Die Darstellung der Charaktere und der Städte war sehr vielfältig, nur leider waren mir manche Panels etwas zu überladen und zu wirr.
Alles in allem war „The City on the Other Side“ leider nicht mein Fall. Mich konnte die Geschichte nicht abholen und auch die Charaktere blieben blass und zum Großteil eher indifferent. Manche interessante Gedankengänge steckten schon dahinter und auch der Zeichenstil konnte mich überzeugen, aber ich habe die Spannung und das Abenteuer vermisst, die mir der Klappentext versprochen hat.
August 21, 2018
The story sets in early twentieth century San Francisco, somewhere between the time of the 1906 earthquake and the San Francisco World Fair. Isabel is a young girl, who lives a sheltered life with her mother. This changes when Isabel goes to spend summer with her father and stumbles through the veil to another city, where a war rages between Seelie and Unseelie courts. The war is also affecting San Francisco, even if humans don't even realize it and Isabel is the only one who can stop it, with a help of a magical necklace and few friends. But can she do it before the fairy world and her own get destroyed by the war?
I liked how the story was set in ground of a real historical event and started building and linking a magical story of friendship, war and other things into it. Isabel was a great character, not too whiny nor not too perfect either and her friends were also nicely written and versatile. Some of the Unseelie persons lacked character a bit, but had still enough that something to keep me interested in the story. The story progressed in a good phase, though at parts in the end it felt a bit jumpy and the ending came in a bit fast.
The artwork is great, very colorful and quite detailed, though some of the characters looked a bit funky to my eyes, but maybe it was to disthinguise the difference between the Seelie and Unseelie. The text was a bit hard to read at times, but it didn't lower the overall experience. Overall, a nice graphic novel, that was fun to read. 4 stars.
I liked how the story was set in ground of a real historical event and started building and linking a magical story of friendship, war and other things into it. Isabel was a great character, not too whiny nor not too perfect either and her friends were also nicely written and versatile. Some of the Unseelie persons lacked character a bit, but had still enough that something to keep me interested in the story. The story progressed in a good phase, though at parts in the end it felt a bit jumpy and the ending came in a bit fast.
The artwork is great, very colorful and quite detailed, though some of the characters looked a bit funky to my eyes, but maybe it was to disthinguise the difference between the Seelie and Unseelie. The text was a bit hard to read at times, but it didn't lower the overall experience. Overall, a nice graphic novel, that was fun to read. 4 stars.
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