Cucumber Quest: The Ripple Kingdom

Cucumber Quest #2

by Gigi D.G.

The quest to save Dreamside continues! After a surprise attack at sea, Cucumber finds himself in the Ripple Kingdom, home to white sand, blue waves . . . oh yeah, and the giant, terrible squid monster holding Almond and Sir Carrot captive. Can our so-called "legendary hero" rescue his companions from the nefarious Splashmaster?Nah, probably not.Good thing Princess Nautilus is here! With her wit, charm, and positive attitude, there's no way they can lose. But saving the day won't be as simple as it seems once a 500,000-year-old secret comes to light . . .Adapted from Gigi D.G.'s popular webcomic series of the same name, Cucumber The Ripple Kingdom is the second book of a clever, adorable, and hilarious four-volume heroic adventure that is sure to make you hungry for sweets and action.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Middle Grade, Adventure, Humor, Fiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 27, 2018

Reviews

[Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO STINKING CUTE.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

That spongebob reference 👌
This one was a lot better than the first volume. I connected more with the story and the characters, probably because all the set up happened in the first volume. I felt like I was really getting into the story and of course the art is fantastic as always.

[First Second Books]

Join nerdy magician Cucumber and his feisty knight-in-training little sister, Almond, as they set out to retrieve the Dream Sword, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat Evil Queen Cordelia’s Nightmare Knight. Cucumber Quest: The Ripple Kingdom is the second of a series of delightfully pun-filled middle grade graphic novel that anyone would love!

[Fiebre Lectora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aventura, personajes estrafalarios y entrañables, y situaciones irrisorias y surrealistas. ¿Se puede pedir más? Ah, que no se nos olvide: las ilustraciones y los colores tan brillantes son geniales, con mucho detalle y con un estilo muy personal. Me encantan.
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

[Lucía Cafeína · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡Divertidísimo, surrealista y original!
Las ilustraciones y los colores me parecen de lo mejorcito, y la historia, además, se hace de lo más graciosa. Estoy deseando que se publiquen el resto de libros de la saga, porque son geniales.

[Lauryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute and fun series!!

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

so cute, so fun, so funny, so good

[Penny Geard · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to warm up to this volume compared to the last one. I think mainly because I found Princess Nautilus annoying, even though she is pretty. But we were back to the fun and hilarious adventure once the story moved beyond her introduction.
My absolute favourite of this volume was Splashmaster 💙🐙
I also really enjoy the bonus character interviews at the end. It shows how much depth there is to the character development!
----
Re-read thoughts: I still love Splashmaster 💙🐙

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this series a lot a lot.In Dreamside in a house in the Doughnut Kingdom a young rabbit named Cucumber is preparing to head to magic school. His plans are dashed when his parents reveal that Cucumber is the latest in a line of Legendary Heroes and it is his destiny to save The Doughnut Kingdom and Dreamside from the Nightmare Knight.

While Cucumber appreciates the predicament, he'd much rather go to magic school and leave saving the world to literally anyone else. Luckily (or perhaps not) Cucumber's younger sister Almond is all about adventure, swords, and fighting so she is more than ready to drag Cucumber along on this epic quest.

Saving the kingdom won't be easy when allies include a hapless Dream Oracle and a knight armed with little more than charm and a flimsy spear. The quest will take both young rabbits far from home as they travel across Dreamside to gather the tools they need to save the day.

Cucumber Quest: The Doughnut Kingdom is a great introduction to D. G.'s vivid and bizarre world (which started life as a webcomic before the volumes were collected by First:Second) as Cucumber and Almond embark on their journey to try and stop the Nightmare Knight. The adventure continues in Cucumber Quest: The Ripple Kingdom when (spoiler) the Nightmare Knight does in fact return and he and his minions need to be stopped--one kingdom at a time.

The first book includes a great map of The Doughnut Kingdom (shown above) and trading card style intros for all of the characters. Volume Two's bonus material has more character trading cards and a tourist guide to Cucumber and Almond's next stop: The Ripple Kingdom. D. G. uses a surprisingly color palette that is bright without being jarring. The comic panels are dynamic and filled with amazingly expressive characters.

These comics are zany and incredibly clever. The cast is filled with strong characters including the mysterious thief, Saturday, and the charmingly forgetful Princess Nautilus. Then of course there's Almond, the girl who would happily save the world if only any of the adults in Dreamside would let her. Cucumber astutely engages with a lot of the obvious flaws in quest stories (How is Cucumber really the best choice for this? Why is it so easy to resurrect the Nightmare Knight anyway? What's up with his dad in that cell?) while also embodying everything that makes quest stories so fun (reluctant hero! adventure! mayhem!).

I can't wait to see what happens when Cucumber, Almond, and the rest of their team head to The Ripple Kingdom.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was at the library, I could only find this second book of the series. I knew my son Cedar would like it, so I checked it out. Cedar and I made this our daily bedtime story. We took turns reading each character's voice. I read Princess Nautilus, and he read the main character Cucumber. I recommend graphic novels/comics for parents to read with their children.
The format kept my son engaged, since it is dialogue based. It made it easy for him to participate in the reading.
We had so much fun while finishing this book. My son loves anything ocean themed, so he enjoyed that the focus of this story is "the Ripple Kingdom" of Princess Nautilus, which includes hilarious talking crabs. The entire story has a good sense of humor. Cedar loves the art style, and he even wants to be Cucumber for Halloween!
Now we just have to read the actual first book, as we continue the series (:

[Re • · Rating 4 out of 5]

ahhh this one was so dang cute, not my favourite but i love how much more exposition was added into this one. there was one part in this that has be breathing heavily because FEELS!! i think in this one i think my love of Almond grows, and a few others and such, of course the illustrations are really lovely and i'm just in love with this story as it progresses.

[Claire Geraghty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome tale. In this one it’s al about the Ripple Kingdom with Princess Nautilus whose memory isn’t that great on things she said she’s been studying all her life haha. I do like the humour in these books. So good. The illustrations are beautiful and I like the Random quirks in it and the book club questions at the end hahaha

[Paula Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

En esta casa nos subimos a cualquier barco y capitaneamos a tope.
Tengo curiosidad por el Señor de las Pesadillas.
Me encanta que tengamos que visitar diferentes reinos.
El apartado de preguntas y arte conceptual lo mejor.
Me está recordando a la serie de 5 mundos, que también me encantó, por los colores tan vibrantes y la lucha contra el mal.

[Shi'Asia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another webtoon turned graphic novel and I really enjoy the art style of this one. While the jokes and references aren't ground breaking, I think this series has so much voice and personality. I'm sad there's no animated series because it would be a hit!

[Elizabeth Mellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super cute and satisfying sequel, these are so fun to read and I love the art style so much. I'll be picking up the third one ASAP

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars as I personally wasn't a huge fan of the squid character (Splash Master). Other than that, a darling addition to the series!

[_Asterisk_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG this series is SO CUTE!!!

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the first book in this series a bajillion times, I finally picked up the second book. And I was not disappointed! This second book was just as cute and fun as the first one!

[Toad Soup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did just watch an actual murder happen in this one, but still quality work

[Nay Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the new world and cast of characters. Was just as comical and quick to read as book one. Once again, the artwork is stunning.

[Owen]

Silly in generally good ways. A bunch of goofballs on a quest to save the world against bad guys that are...kinda also goofballs who don't want to admit it.

[Diego R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the adventure and all the charater's. It has a great story plot line. It also the second book to a serious meaning you should read the first book first. This book is also colorful, quirkey, and it brings a smile to my faxe. I picked up the first because I wanted something to read. And I loved the first book. So when I heard a second book was coming I was so HAPPY. I recommand it becuase it amazing

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo leí en español

[prplltrs · Rating 5 out of 5]

part 2 of Cucumber Quest, our hero finds himself in the Ripple Kingdom. Destined to defeat the Nightmare Knight, he must travel to all seven kingdoms in Dreamside to unlock the powers of the Legendary Sword that will defeat the villain. Sounds like an awesome adventure, but Cucumber would rather be studying magic than wielding a sword like his brave little sis Almond. Cucumber along with Princess Nautilus, Almond and a host of other characters along the way, set off on an adventure to save Dreamside for good.

Cucumber Quest 2: Ripple Kingdom by Gigi D.G. is the second graphic novel in the Cucumber Quest series, behind Cucumber Quest: Doughnut Kingdom. The story begins with Cucumber washing up on the shores of Ripple Kingdom and running into Princess Nautilus. From their first meeting, irony is front and center and makes their interactions funny and engaging. Their personalities, expertly expressed, are a great combination, contrasting just enough from the start to make them interesting. Cucumber, reluctant and quite uncertain about his role in defeating the Nightmare Knight with the Legendary Sword, has some doubts at first about being a hero. Nautilus, unable to recall very important aspects of the legend she’s studied her entire life, must get back to her palace.

Already carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, Cucumber discovers that the Nightmare Knight cannot be truly defeated. Every 5,000 year he returns after his defeat and has done so 99 times before!

Together, Cucumber and Princess Nautilus acquire the Legendary Sword then rescue Almond, Queen Conche and Sir Carrot from Splashmaster, the first of the Nightmare Knight’s monsters. Challenging Splashmaster to a limbo contest, Princess Nautilus takes back her crown as the Limbo King. Once they’ve saved the day, they head to the Melody Kingdom to see Princess Parfait.

Cucumber Quest was adapted from a webcomic and is featured on http://cucumber.gigidigi.com/. I had never read this webcomic or the graphic novel published before this edition but I’m glad that I did.

This adventure novel is in a word, awesome. I was so on board for this ride. Visually fun and interesting, it is perfectly imagined for kids and tweens and even grownups like myself who love to read graphic novels and comics.

My goodness, I’m such a fangirl. The art was phenomenally created using Photoshop. The artwork features brilliantly vivid colors, beautifully reflecting the upbeat scenes through bright hues and scarier scenes through dark hues. I loved that the story featured strong female characters in uncharacteristic roles. For example, Almond is more “hero” than her brother and many of the characters are females that have some sort of leadership role as a good guy or bad guy. So, from a gender standpoint the author has ensured equal representation.

The writing is funny and relates well to the tone and theme of the story. It features mild language that is suitable for kids 8 and up. The sequence of events is logical and explained well, however, I felt the conflict developed from Cucumber discovering that the Nightmare Knight is immortal was unnecessary. It seemed to add a level of complexity to the story that wasn’t needed.

Overall the story was interesting and artfully created. It had lots of adventure and it was easy to read and understand. I look forward to reading more from Gigi D.G. in the future.

[Holly Claxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review may contain mild spoilers for the book. Please read with caution.

I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Funny story: I actually didn’t realize this was volume 2 until volume 1 came through my workplace. I instantly recognized the title Cucumber Quest: The Donut Kingdom and decided to read that before reading before reading volume 2. (That’s how a series works after all!) Before I start on my review for Cucumber Quest: The Ripple Kingdom, I want to go ahead and say I loved Cucumber Quest: The Donut Kingdom and wanted to learn more about these characters as soon as I had finished it.

Cucumber Quest: The Ripple Kingdom immediately picks up where volume 1 left off. Cucumber, the young bun forced to choose saving the world over continuing his education, wakes alone on an island without his sister Almond or their companion, Sir Carrot. Cucumber finds Princess Nautilus, and after helping her escape the clutches of some crab bros, she offers her own assistance in finding his lost companions. Meanwhile, Almond wakes to find she is in the lair of the evil Splashmaster, unable to break free. Cucumber and Nautilus work together to save Almond, along with Sir Carrot and Queen Conch.

Just like the first volume, The Ripple Kingdom is full of humor. Characters make faces that don’t quite fit in with the cute art style. Common sense isn’t always the voice of reason. And poor Cucumber, you can’t help feeling sorry for him. Each volume comes with fun extras at the back too, where characters from both good and bad sides answer questions. I’ve always been a big fan of character development and how they interact with readers, so these extra bits at the end are some of my favorites.

Cucumber Quest also has amazing art. Gigi D.G. is so talented and has an incredibly unique style. I especially love how the cutesy art can be twisted depending on the situation. Nautilus is a prime example of this, as she made all sorts of faces when asked the tough questions. Many times I find myself just staring at the art, studying the textures and color blends. It is incredibly nice, and I hope to buy physical copies of the books in the future so I can reread the stories and admire the art over and over again.

The next volume of Cucumber Quest is already available on NetGalley, and because I’ve enjoyed the series so much, I anticipate I’ll be reviewing it soon. This series is fun for all ages!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wanted to start this off by saying if you’re looking for a quick, cute and just generally happy graphic novel I’d pick this series up.

This was such a cute and colorful continuation to this series. Of course there’s Cucumber, Almond and Carrot from the last story. After the events at the end of the first volume they’re all separated. As Cucumber tries to find his way back to his sister and friend he meets Princess Nautilus. She needs Cucumber’s help. Together they travel across the Ripple Kingdom and eventually save her mother along with the rest of the heroic group set on saving the world of Dreamside.

This was volume was longer than the first and I absolutely loved that. It really starts to show the villains of the series. I’m still very curious about Peridot. She’s a great villainous character. Cosmo is... something. I don’t even know where to begin with that one. Then there’s the Nightmare Knight. He does something at the end of this book that has me CONFUSED. It was very knight worthy, but not nightmarish...

I can’t wait to read more of this. :D The Melody Kingdom is next.

[Ro Menendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Cucumber Quest graphic novel series was as action packed and humorous as the first installment! Cucumber continues his passive resistance of his hero calling, trying to correct anyone he encounters that refers to him as the hero they are all waiting for. Almond continues to save the day, and we learn more about the Nightmare Knight that has been unleashed to help Cordelia take over Dreamside and all its kingdoms. As many other books for MG readers, the adults in the plot are pretty useless, and it is up to the young characters to come up with lasting solutions to problems they have not created. This is the big reveal in Book 2 and one that threatens to drain all hope of even trying to defeat the Nightmare Knight, but with the help of Princess Nautilus of the Ripple Kingdom, who's major power lies in being an optimist, they continue on their quest. As in Book 1, interviews with the characters, Character Profiles, Concept Art, and a glimpse at Cucumber's next adventure are included at the end.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The quest continues in this graphic novel series. Cucumber is the most unlikely of heroes to try to save Dreamside, but he is willing to give it his best. When he ends up in the Ripple Kingdom where a squid has captured Sir Carrot and Almond, he is unsure what to do. But Princess Nautilus is around to save the day and rescue everyone. Fans of this graphic novel series are in for some surprises and twists and turns as characters behave in some surprising ways with even one of the villains turning out to have soft spots in his heart. I continue to find the world created in this series to be intriguing and original. I'm not a fan of the dark artwork and panels or the ways the characters are drawn, but those choices seem to work for the story. It will be interesting to see how all these different parts of the story come together and how the characters develop. There are some very strange individuals living in this imaginary world.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ripple Kingdom (Cucumber Quest) by Gigi D.G., 233 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. First Second (Roaring Brook Press), 2018. $22.

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.

EL - OPTIONAL

A group of heroes, in the form of rabbits from different lands, collaborate to defeat the Splashmaster who has kidnapped their friends and family. His defeat is the first in a series they need to complete in order the save the kingdoms.

My favorite part of this book is the back matter that includes interviews with the characters and concept art. The book alone is a bit hard to follow with jumps in character and setting with no indication that a jump is happening. I also think most young readers would miss much of the sarcastic quips that carry the book. That said, the characters are brightly illustrated and have a sense of adventure kids would love.

Jen Wecker.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...