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The Highest House #1-6
The Highest House
To be born a slave is a fact, not a fatality. And facts can be changed.
In the country of Ossaniul, there is a fortress that is as disproportionate as it is inaccessible: the Highest House. Its masters, the noble family of Aldercrest, reign over a veritable army of slaves. At the bottom of the ladder, young Moth performs the most thankless tasks and has little hope of living past childhood. Until the day he meets Obsidian, a mysterious prisoner of the House who whispers to him in his sleep. If Moth does what he asks, Obsidian will give him fortune and glory. And there's every indication that Obsidian can make good on his promises. Will Moth accept the offer?
Through a subtle alternate history, The Highest House takes us to a fictional country reminiscent of the Balkan kingdoms of the 16th century. Mike Carrey and Peter Gross (Lucifer, The Unwritten) draw from this context a captivating fantasy narrative that reflects on the human soul, the corrupting power of slavery, and the inequalities of class, all from the different perspectives of the House's many inhabitants. Both immediate and timeless, The Highest House is a multifaceted fantasy sure to stay with readers long after the final page has turned.
In the country of Ossaniul, there is a fortress that is as disproportionate as it is inaccessible: the Highest House. Its masters, the noble family of Aldercrest, reign over a veritable army of slaves. At the bottom of the ladder, young Moth performs the most thankless tasks and has little hope of living past childhood. Until the day he meets Obsidian, a mysterious prisoner of the House who whispers to him in his sleep. If Moth does what he asks, Obsidian will give him fortune and glory. And there's every indication that Obsidian can make good on his promises. Will Moth accept the offer?
Through a subtle alternate history, The Highest House takes us to a fictional country reminiscent of the Balkan kingdoms of the 16th century. Mike Carrey and Peter Gross (Lucifer, The Unwritten) draw from this context a captivating fantasy narrative that reflects on the human soul, the corrupting power of slavery, and the inequalities of class, all from the different perspectives of the House's many inhabitants. Both immediate and timeless, The Highest House is a multifaceted fantasy sure to stay with readers long after the final page has turned.
188 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2018
About the author
Mike Carey
1,284 books2,979 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Mike Carey was born in Liverpool in 1959. He worked as a teacher for fifteen years, before starting to write comics. When he started to receive regular commissions from DC Comics, he gave up the day job.
Since then, he has worked for both DC and Marvel Comics, writing storylines for some of the world's most iconic characters, including X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, LUCIFER and HELLBLAZER. His original screenplay FROST FLOWERS is currently being filmed. Mike has also adapted Neil Gaiman's acclaimed NEVERWHERE into comics.
Somehow, Mike finds time amongst all of this to live with his wife and children in North London. You can read his blog at www.mikecarey.net.
Mike Carey was born in Liverpool in 1959. He worked as a teacher for fifteen years, before starting to write comics. When he started to receive regular commissions from DC Comics, he gave up the day job.
Since then, he has worked for both DC and Marvel Comics, writing storylines for some of the world's most iconic characters, including X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, LUCIFER and HELLBLAZER. His original screenplay FROST FLOWERS is currently being filmed. Mike has also adapted Neil Gaiman's acclaimed NEVERWHERE into comics.
Somehow, Mike finds time amongst all of this to live with his wife and children in North London. You can read his blog at www.mikecarey.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
July 5, 2019
I am a huge Mike Carey fan. His "Lucifer" series was absolutely brilliant (please do not judge by that abortion of a tv show that stole the name and the L.A. bar idea and completely fucked everything else up). Well Mike Carey seems to have embarked on another amazing series.
The Highest House hits on all fronts. It has beautiful artwork that truly accentuates the story and feels nearly perfect for the setting. Kudos to the artist Peter Gross, his big panel scenes are quite fetching. The story has wonderful fantasy elements from mysterious entities to powerful lords and the boy with mysterious abilities. The plot itself is complex and the world setting quite believable, from a fantasy standpoint. Strangely, I feel so strongly about this volume even though I am not a fan of Moth.
In the land of Ossaniul, Moth is sold by his heartless mother to become a slave to Lord Aldercrest of the Aldercrest Family which is Highest House. He is immediately thrust into a world where the steward of the Aldercrest family, Cael Extat, turns out to be a mage and the politics of the great houses is dangerous, to say the least.
Moth adopts to life as a slave and works on the roofs with his trainer, Fless. But he has made a terrible enemy in the Highest House's cook and it is that wrath which leads him to find Obsidian. Obsidian is certainly my favorite character. Is he a stone? an entity within the stone? Something else? What we do know is that Obsidian has a plan for Moth and promises to protect him. At what price?
Meanwhile, House Aldercrst goes through many political issues and Moth is able to catch the eye of Lord Aldercrest. The story does a good job of tracing Moths gradual climb through the slave hierarchy and his odd relationship with Lord Aldercrest's daughter, Shurubai. There is a little here for everyone- from relationships and politics to magic and hidden demons. It is an arresting plot and I certainly look forward to the next volume to find out more.
Carey has created a wonderful fantasy world and filled it with some very interesting characters. For my money? I'm very interested in Obsidian. If you look at the artwork whenever Moth is interacting with Obsidian in some old places, the artist seems to drop hints as to who/what obsidian is..but you have to look for it and I won't spoil it. Plus I may be completely wrong. :)
Anyways this is what a great comic is all about- a win on all fronts. From art to story, from worldbuilding to interesting characters it looks like Mike Carey has created a fascinating new series for us. I can not recommend this enough to any fan of a good comic, a good story and good art. Well done! Count me in for Volume 2.
The Highest House hits on all fronts. It has beautiful artwork that truly accentuates the story and feels nearly perfect for the setting. Kudos to the artist Peter Gross, his big panel scenes are quite fetching. The story has wonderful fantasy elements from mysterious entities to powerful lords and the boy with mysterious abilities. The plot itself is complex and the world setting quite believable, from a fantasy standpoint. Strangely, I feel so strongly about this volume even though I am not a fan of Moth.
In the land of Ossaniul, Moth is sold by his heartless mother to become a slave to Lord Aldercrest of the Aldercrest Family which is Highest House. He is immediately thrust into a world where the steward of the Aldercrest family, Cael Extat, turns out to be a mage and the politics of the great houses is dangerous, to say the least.
Moth adopts to life as a slave and works on the roofs with his trainer, Fless. But he has made a terrible enemy in the Highest House's cook and it is that wrath which leads him to find Obsidian. Obsidian is certainly my favorite character. Is he a stone? an entity within the stone? Something else? What we do know is that Obsidian has a plan for Moth and promises to protect him. At what price?
Meanwhile, House Aldercrst goes through many political issues and Moth is able to catch the eye of Lord Aldercrest. The story does a good job of tracing Moths gradual climb through the slave hierarchy and his odd relationship with Lord Aldercrest's daughter, Shurubai. There is a little here for everyone- from relationships and politics to magic and hidden demons. It is an arresting plot and I certainly look forward to the next volume to find out more.
Carey has created a wonderful fantasy world and filled it with some very interesting characters. For my money? I'm very interested in Obsidian. If you look at the artwork whenever Moth is interacting with Obsidian in some old places, the artist seems to drop hints as to who/what obsidian is..but you have to look for it and I won't spoil it. Plus I may be completely wrong. :)
Anyways this is what a great comic is all about- a win on all fronts. From art to story, from worldbuilding to interesting characters it looks like Mike Carey has created a fascinating new series for us. I can not recommend this enough to any fan of a good comic, a good story and good art. Well done! Count me in for Volume 2.
August 26, 2019
The creative team behind Lucifer and The Unwritten bring you what amounts to an illustrated fantasy novel. (Yes, it's a graphic novel. It just has that feel of a fantasy novel.) Moth's mother is poor and sells him off into slavery. He's then sent to Highest House to work as a roofer. It's there he starts to hear voices, eventually coming across Obsidian, a creature trapped in the rock of Highest House. Obsidian promises him his heart's desire in exchange for his help. Through a series of adventures, Moth begins to move up the ranks within Highest House. The book is filled full of adventure, schemes, and political intrigue. I'm certainly looking forward to volume two.
Peter Gross is one of the unsung artists of the comic book industry. I've loved his art since his days on Book of Magic in the 90's. I love how he draws Moth racing across the rooftops as he's sent to deliver messages or see his friends. The book is printed in an oversize format that really showcases the art.
Peter Gross is one of the unsung artists of the comic book industry. I've loved his art since his days on Book of Magic in the 90's. I love how he draws Moth racing across the rooftops as he's sent to deliver messages or see his friends. The book is printed in an oversize format that really showcases the art.
April 19, 2019
This book had two surprises for me, one pleasant and one not.
First, I'm not usually a big fan of fantasy, so I was astonished to find myself swept up in what is basically a retelling of Aladdin. A young boy who has been enslaved to an important lord, secretly agrees to help free a powerful entity imprisoned in the lord's castle in exchange for three wishes. When he lays eyes on his lord's daughter, he unsuccessfully tries to renegotiate for a fourth. Needless to say the wishes don't play out the way he expects.
And the book does not end the way I expect, with an "End of Part One" shocker slapped down where I was anticipating a full story. AAARGH! I hate when the publisher does not indicate on the cover or title page that what I have in hand is but the first volume in a series. Despite that, I will certainly seek out the next installment.
First, I'm not usually a big fan of fantasy, so I was astonished to find myself swept up in what is basically a retelling of Aladdin. A young boy who has been enslaved to an important lord, secretly agrees to help free a powerful entity imprisoned in the lord's castle in exchange for three wishes. When he lays eyes on his lord's daughter, he unsuccessfully tries to renegotiate for a fourth. Needless to say the wishes don't play out the way he expects.
And the book does not end the way I expect, with an "End of Part One" shocker slapped down where I was anticipating a full story. AAARGH! I hate when the publisher does not indicate on the cover or title page that what I have in hand is but the first volume in a series. Despite that, I will certainly seek out the next installment.
January 5, 2019
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Every now and then you wander down the beautiful roads of literature and cross paths with a wild story that will fully enchant you with its flamboyant looks and its tantalizing stare. This latest discovery comes right in time to remind me that saturation is no where near my sights as great storytellers continue to find ways to capture a reader’s attention and hold it through words and pictures. Mike Carey and Peter Gross team up once again after having joined forces and delivered the Lucifer and The Unwritten series to offer readers around the world the chance to be absorbed into a unique self-contained fantasy world with slavery, politics and mysterious forces in the mist of it all. Collecting issues #1-6 in an oversized European dimension that was originally published in France and later released in the U.S. by IDW Publishing, this story marks the beginning of a brand new series for readers to explore.
The Highest House transports us to the country of Ossaniul where resides the incomprehensibly enormous fortress known as the Highest House. The story follows Moth, a newly-acquired slave to the noble family of Aldercrest, and looks to investigate his mysterious ascension through the mean and despicable social classes of this society composed of nobles and slaves. This unimaginable rise of a slave among the ranks wouldn’t however been possible without the help of an obscure force known as Obsidian. As they bond in quiet, away from the weary eyes of those who smell danger, there motives meld and become one while Obsidian’s intentions remain a secret from everyone. With mental and physical slavery at the heart of this tale, the ultimate question that arises from Moth’s journey is if he would do everything in his power to get what he wants for himself and those he cares for.
While I had no doubt that Mike Carey wasn’t likely to disappoint me in terms of world-building, especially when you know that he can write great stories (see his impressive list of work, including those written under the name of M.R. Carey), I was pleasantly surprised by my investment in this one. Unbelievable novelist and comic book writer, Mike Carey adds The Highest House to his collection and proves that his imagination still has no borders and that he is capable of anything. What makes this story so particularly captivating is its underlying theme of slavery. The imagery that is used to depict it through the narrative is impressive in its own right, from the kind of slave work Moth starts of doing to what he ends up becoming within the royal family. The pages used to explore some of the more mundane elements of the story also help unveil the complexity in the simplicity. The story also gradually develops to smoothly incorporate darker concepts that would otherwise have you cringe in disgust at the mere thought of them. There is something truly bewitching in the way the story is told and how it progresses.
Peter Gross and Fabien Alquier also deserve just as much praise for their artwork as it is quite outstanding how they are able to pack so much content within each page. With the oversized pages, a lot of room is left for the artwork for them to properly balance dialogue and art without letting one submerge the other. The balance they achieve in keeping it so gripping with each flip of a page is incredible considering that they very rarely let the artwork speak for itself. The colouring is also impeccable, giving the setting the perfect atmosphere that conveys the alternate history in which the story is folded in. Even the nuances that results from day and night help in capturing a unique vibe that easily tickles your imagination with secrecy and despair, yet truly feels innocent on the surface. It’s safe to say that the historical fiction fused with the fantasy lore was seamlessly portrayed through the artwork and that things are only getting started with this world.
The Highest House is a mesmerizing story reminiscent of the Balkan kingdoms of the 16th century that follows a young boy in his wishes to elevate himself from the suffocating grasps of society’s institution of slavery.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Every now and then you wander down the beautiful roads of literature and cross paths with a wild story that will fully enchant you with its flamboyant looks and its tantalizing stare. This latest discovery comes right in time to remind me that saturation is no where near my sights as great storytellers continue to find ways to capture a reader’s attention and hold it through words and pictures. Mike Carey and Peter Gross team up once again after having joined forces and delivered the Lucifer and The Unwritten series to offer readers around the world the chance to be absorbed into a unique self-contained fantasy world with slavery, politics and mysterious forces in the mist of it all. Collecting issues #1-6 in an oversized European dimension that was originally published in France and later released in the U.S. by IDW Publishing, this story marks the beginning of a brand new series for readers to explore.
The Highest House transports us to the country of Ossaniul where resides the incomprehensibly enormous fortress known as the Highest House. The story follows Moth, a newly-acquired slave to the noble family of Aldercrest, and looks to investigate his mysterious ascension through the mean and despicable social classes of this society composed of nobles and slaves. This unimaginable rise of a slave among the ranks wouldn’t however been possible without the help of an obscure force known as Obsidian. As they bond in quiet, away from the weary eyes of those who smell danger, there motives meld and become one while Obsidian’s intentions remain a secret from everyone. With mental and physical slavery at the heart of this tale, the ultimate question that arises from Moth’s journey is if he would do everything in his power to get what he wants for himself and those he cares for.
While I had no doubt that Mike Carey wasn’t likely to disappoint me in terms of world-building, especially when you know that he can write great stories (see his impressive list of work, including those written under the name of M.R. Carey), I was pleasantly surprised by my investment in this one. Unbelievable novelist and comic book writer, Mike Carey adds The Highest House to his collection and proves that his imagination still has no borders and that he is capable of anything. What makes this story so particularly captivating is its underlying theme of slavery. The imagery that is used to depict it through the narrative is impressive in its own right, from the kind of slave work Moth starts of doing to what he ends up becoming within the royal family. The pages used to explore some of the more mundane elements of the story also help unveil the complexity in the simplicity. The story also gradually develops to smoothly incorporate darker concepts that would otherwise have you cringe in disgust at the mere thought of them. There is something truly bewitching in the way the story is told and how it progresses.
Peter Gross and Fabien Alquier also deserve just as much praise for their artwork as it is quite outstanding how they are able to pack so much content within each page. With the oversized pages, a lot of room is left for the artwork for them to properly balance dialogue and art without letting one submerge the other. The balance they achieve in keeping it so gripping with each flip of a page is incredible considering that they very rarely let the artwork speak for itself. The colouring is also impeccable, giving the setting the perfect atmosphere that conveys the alternate history in which the story is folded in. Even the nuances that results from day and night help in capturing a unique vibe that easily tickles your imagination with secrecy and despair, yet truly feels innocent on the surface. It’s safe to say that the historical fiction fused with the fantasy lore was seamlessly portrayed through the artwork and that things are only getting started with this world.
The Highest House is a mesmerizing story reminiscent of the Balkan kingdoms of the 16th century that follows a young boy in his wishes to elevate himself from the suffocating grasps of society’s institution of slavery.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
August 2, 2018
4.5 stars (Read as single issues.)
More comic readers should know the name of Mike Carey. His seminal run on "Lucifer" was amazing, and onecthst deserves more acclaim, even years later. And "Unwritten" (whike sdmittedly a bit uneven at times) is an incredily rich and detailed concept and story..
Highest House had some big shoes to fill, and it was able to meet (and in some ways even exceed!) that challenge handily.
More comic readers should know the name of Mike Carey. His seminal run on "Lucifer" was amazing, and onecthst deserves more acclaim, even years later. And "Unwritten" (whike sdmittedly a bit uneven at times) is an incredily rich and detailed concept and story..
Highest House had some big shoes to fill, and it was able to meet (and in some ways even exceed!) that challenge handily.
November 27, 2020
Really, really excellent (not surprising, given the pedigree of Mike Carey and Peter Gross, which is why I read this in the first place). The only negative - and an incredibly disappointing one it is - is that it ends (clearly unfinished) with End of Part 1 ... and I can’t find anything re the existence of Part 2 anywhere.
February 26, 2019
Book blurb: A captivating fantasy narrative that reflects on the human soul, the corrupting power of slavery, and the inequalities of class, all from the different perspectives of the House's many inhabitants.
In the country of Ossaniul, the noble family of Aldercrest live in a fortress called The Highest House. The story starts with young Moth being sold into slavery, and we see things from his POV as he's inducted into the rituals of his new masters.
The art in this is wonderful, and the pages are fun to pore over. The story though is not as strong. The world building is good, and I liked some of the diversity on the page, but other than the paranormal angle there isn't really much new ground explored here. Moth is a slave, but most of the tension seems to be implied rather than factual. The pacing and plot lines seem rather choppy, though there are some fun moments. I liked it enough that I'll continue with the series.
In the country of Ossaniul, the noble family of Aldercrest live in a fortress called The Highest House. The story starts with young Moth being sold into slavery, and we see things from his POV as he's inducted into the rituals of his new masters.
The art in this is wonderful, and the pages are fun to pore over. The story though is not as strong. The world building is good, and I liked some of the diversity on the page, but other than the paranormal angle there isn't really much new ground explored here. Moth is a slave, but most of the tension seems to be implied rather than factual. The pacing and plot lines seem rather choppy, though there are some fun moments. I liked it enough that I'll continue with the series.
February 16, 2019
The team behind Lucifer and The Unwritten bring us a new fantasy and it's just as gripping as those prior works. The Highest House tells the story of Moth, a young slave boy, brought to the title domicile to be a roofer for Lord Demini Aldercrest. He starts to hear a strange voice in his head, that of Obsidian, a creature imprisoned in a rock, deep in the bowels of the main castle. The two of them strike a bargain and from there, Moth's fortunes start to rise. This is engrossing stuff and drawn by an artist at the height of his powers and printed on oversized pages that are beautiful to look at. Luckily, this is only Part One, so that means there's more story to come...
October 16, 2019
(4,5 of 5)
This comic falls between fairy tales and darker fantasy. There is a fair bit of magic included, but it's rather rare in this world of slavery and powerful royal families. And I love it. The story is nice, hopeful but also dark and gritty, the art is beautiful. I love the neat and precise drawing, reminding me of a technical drawing. The art looks like some artistic PC game, adventure or isometric RPG. The cover arts from Yuko Shimizu are fantastic (but Peter Gross' variants didn't work for me). I'm delighted with the result, art and story gave me that feeling which I love in Jiří Trnka's animated fairy tales. This was fantastic reading even if I needed the Merriam-Webster dictionary quite often to deal with rarely used words and archaisms.
This comic falls between fairy tales and darker fantasy. There is a fair bit of magic included, but it's rather rare in this world of slavery and powerful royal families. And I love it. The story is nice, hopeful but also dark and gritty, the art is beautiful. I love the neat and precise drawing, reminding me of a technical drawing. The art looks like some artistic PC game, adventure or isometric RPG. The cover arts from Yuko Shimizu are fantastic (but Peter Gross' variants didn't work for me). I'm delighted with the result, art and story gave me that feeling which I love in Jiří Trnka's animated fairy tales. This was fantastic reading even if I needed the Merriam-Webster dictionary quite often to deal with rarely used words and archaisms.
May 31, 2020
Don't let the lack of unnecessary sex and violence fool you, this story has teeth and shows them. While I started out thinking this wouldn't be anything for me -too kiddie-, the excellent pace and storytelling kept me hooked. A refreshing balance of real world grit and childlike innocence.
June 22, 2020
I can't say fantasy sagas normally appeal to me but The Highest House is excellent.
An alternate history drawing from the Balkan Kingdoms of the 10th Century, it tells a tale of one noble lad named Moth who is sold into slavery and his subsequent rise in heroic significance. He does this with the help of Obsidian, an ancient being inhabiting the black rock at the foundation of the titular Highest House, but this Faustian pact yields a surprisingly tender friendship between boy and monster.
Throughout his endeavours, Moth does the honourable thing in spite of Obsidian's dark influence and, in turn, changes his master Lord Aldercrest's mind on multiple political issues from slavery to paper currency. Also Moth's views of love and friendship are subtly and wonderfully altered by the women in his life.
The Highest House is a refreshing read though I expect no less of Carey who composed the brilliant Girl With All The Gifts. Gross's artwork compliments the admittedly rather wordy layout with some evocative and even fantastical line work.
I cannot wait to pick up the next volume of this series. I recommend The Highest House to those looking for socially-minded fantasy with attractive visuals.
An alternate history drawing from the Balkan Kingdoms of the 10th Century, it tells a tale of one noble lad named Moth who is sold into slavery and his subsequent rise in heroic significance. He does this with the help of Obsidian, an ancient being inhabiting the black rock at the foundation of the titular Highest House, but this Faustian pact yields a surprisingly tender friendship between boy and monster.
Throughout his endeavours, Moth does the honourable thing in spite of Obsidian's dark influence and, in turn, changes his master Lord Aldercrest's mind on multiple political issues from slavery to paper currency. Also Moth's views of love and friendship are subtly and wonderfully altered by the women in his life.
The Highest House is a refreshing read though I expect no less of Carey who composed the brilliant Girl With All The Gifts. Gross's artwork compliments the admittedly rather wordy layout with some evocative and even fantastical line work.
I cannot wait to pick up the next volume of this series. I recommend The Highest House to those looking for socially-minded fantasy with attractive visuals.
September 18, 2023
This was the most fully developed fantasy graphic novel that I've read.
It wasn't the kind of art style that I normally prefer (usually I'm a bright colours / clean lines kind of girl) but the story drew me in. I loved learning about the world and the mystery of the god(s). I loved how we follow Moth's experience but still get glimpses of the bigger political landscape in the background.
But then, I got to the end and it wasn't the end 🙀 apparently it's just part one but there is no news on if/when there will be a part two!? ☠️
It wasn't the kind of art style that I normally prefer (usually I'm a bright colours / clean lines kind of girl) but the story drew me in. I loved learning about the world and the mystery of the god(s). I loved how we follow Moth's experience but still get glimpses of the bigger political landscape in the background.
But then, I got to the end and it wasn't the end 🙀 apparently it's just part one but there is no news on if/when there will be a part two!? ☠️
April 5, 2022
It has been a while since I have read a graphic novel that was done up so beautifully. The storyline was fully fleshed out and the artwork was magnificent. I enjoyed the adventure with Moth and the companions he met along the way. My only issue that there is no sign of book 2. While this story ended well, it also left much more that needed to be discovered. As of this review, it has almost been 4 years since its publication. Which makes me wonder, is there a book 2 coming out or not??
December 17, 2022
Una historia clásica pero interesante. En un universo mágico regido por casas en plan Juego de Tronos, nuestro protagonista es vendido como esclavo para precisamente trabajar en una de ellas. Este es el inicio del camino del héroe en el que se embarca nuestro protagonista, que empieza a servir a la Casa Aldercrest como reparador de tejados en su palacio, conocido como La Casa Culminante.
Lo dicho, es una historia clásica pero interesante. Pretende ser una crítica social a muchas cosas, como la meritocracia, el machismo o la explotación. La pega que le pongo es que por ahora parece que el capitalismo va a ser la solución a estos problemas, y en la época de capitalismo tardío que nos ha tocado vivir parece ser que eso no va a ser así. Todo lo contrario, de hecho. El sistema de magia tampoco viene explicado en ningún sitio, pero está bien integrado en la historia. Además, la trama que rodea a la historia del enorme obelisco parlante enterrado en los sótanos de la casa está muy chula.
Empecé a leerlo pensando que sería tomo único, pero parece ser que no. Esperaremos a las siguientes partes.
Lo dicho, es una historia clásica pero interesante. Pretende ser una crítica social a muchas cosas, como la meritocracia, el machismo o la explotación. La pega que le pongo es que por ahora parece que el capitalismo va a ser la solución a estos problemas, y en la época de capitalismo tardío que nos ha tocado vivir parece ser que eso no va a ser así. Todo lo contrario, de hecho. El sistema de magia tampoco viene explicado en ningún sitio, pero está bien integrado en la historia. Además, la trama que rodea a la historia del enorme obelisco parlante enterrado en los sótanos de la casa está muy chula.
Empecé a leerlo pensando que sería tomo único, pero parece ser que no. Esperaremos a las siguientes partes.
October 20, 2023
When a medieval themed comic builds a plot where fiat currency is the source of conflict I am IN!
March 20, 2019
As always Carey and Gross' colaboration is seemless, close to perfection. This story remindes me of The Illustrated Gormenghast Trilogy, even if Mervyn Peake's work is darker in my mind (maybe the authors' somber black and white ilustrations helped imprint that atmosphere in my imagination).
The imensity of the House (like Peake's Gormenghast) is quite interesting. In this case it serves quite well to sugest a machine, or a structure that actualizes the inequality of the society, its power relations and fixed rules. Great story and gorgeous art that makes you slow down and enjoy each page more.
The imensity of the House (like Peake's Gormenghast) is quite interesting. In this case it serves quite well to sugest a machine, or a structure that actualizes the inequality of the society, its power relations and fixed rules. Great story and gorgeous art that makes you slow down and enjoy each page more.
August 3, 2019
Terrific world-building, an involving narrative, loads of intriguing characters, and a handful of decently surprising twists - The Highest House practically has it all. Well, okay, the one thing it lacks is a superb artist (Peter Gross is not to my taste), but what's on the page is almost always sufficient to convey Mike Carey's excellent story.
Moth, a young boy with a mysterious heritage, becomes a slave in the Highest House, the expansive palace for one of the most powerful lords in Carey's fantasy land. There, a voice in Moth's head reveals itself to be an ancient demon, trapped in a stone beneath the house. The demon grants Moth three wishes (shades of Aladdin?) that are slowly doled out over the course of the book. Often without the demon's magical help, though, Moth works his way up the ranks in the house, meeting numerous fascinating side characters and becoming embroiled in the complex politics of the world.
It's all wildly captivating, like any good fantasy should be. Carey's not necessarily breaking any new ground here, but he's using common tropes in interesting and compelling ways. He's also created an active main character in Moth, a young man eager to take the reins of his destiny. Aside from the generally average art, the only real letdown in The Highest House is that the book ends with an abrupt "End of Part One." Um, what? Maybe toss "Volume One" on the cover somewhere.
Moth, a young boy with a mysterious heritage, becomes a slave in the Highest House, the expansive palace for one of the most powerful lords in Carey's fantasy land. There, a voice in Moth's head reveals itself to be an ancient demon, trapped in a stone beneath the house. The demon grants Moth three wishes (shades of Aladdin?) that are slowly doled out over the course of the book. Often without the demon's magical help, though, Moth works his way up the ranks in the house, meeting numerous fascinating side characters and becoming embroiled in the complex politics of the world.
It's all wildly captivating, like any good fantasy should be. Carey's not necessarily breaking any new ground here, but he's using common tropes in interesting and compelling ways. He's also created an active main character in Moth, a young man eager to take the reins of his destiny. Aside from the generally average art, the only real letdown in The Highest House is that the book ends with an abrupt "End of Part One." Um, what? Maybe toss "Volume One" on the cover somewhere.
April 11, 2020
I picked up this graphic novel at The Comic Hunter, in Charlottetown PEI. I was visiting with a friend, who I had recently converted into a comics fan, and we thought we would stop in. Check this place out if you are in the area! We chatted about Magic the Gathering and comics; it was awesome. The owner ended up recommending The Highest House to me, and boy am I glad he did! I had only read the first volume of The Unwritten, Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity, so I didn’t have very much experience with this collaboration. I will be reading more. The artwork seems to add to the storyline perfectly. The use of colours paints vibrant pictures that I couldn’t stop appreciating.
I loved the storyline, but found the character changes in Moth to be quite alarming, perhaps. I’m nervous about how is interactions with royalty vs. slaves will continue in upcoming volumes. Speaking of which, hopefully, there is a next volume! The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I would love to see what happens next. The characters are put on the page beautifully and have incredible depth. There were a few twists and turns that shocked me but fit the plot and story so well.
January 11, 2023
4 medieval rulings out of 5
The enchanted, though wicked, path The Highest House takes you down is riddled with passages like the one above, that fuel your resolve to end slavery alongside the brave main character, Moth.
Sold at a young age by his mother, he must leave behind his siblings, including his beloved and visually impaired sister, Jet. His upbringing now falls into the hands of his masters in Aldercrest House, a powerful family living in the long-contested castle/fortified village called the Highest House.
There are many rumours about the Aldercrests.
Have they hidden the power of magic among them?
Did they earn their right to the Highest House?
Could there truly be an Old God living within their walls?
None of this stops Moth from carving his own path.. But what will be the repercussions? Can a slave become anything but a slave?
I absolutely loved the lore of this universe. Even the most terrible characters are intriguing. The only reason this doesn't get a 5-star is because I felt like the illustrations changed too often with each character, to the point where some profiles were unrecognizable from their face-on drawings, which made it confusing at times to figure out who was who.
I have so many unanswered questiooons! I need mooooore!
"That is where the real wall is set between the powerful and the powerless, child. Not in the world, but in the mind."
The enchanted, though wicked, path The Highest House takes you down is riddled with passages like the one above, that fuel your resolve to end slavery alongside the brave main character, Moth.
Sold at a young age by his mother, he must leave behind his siblings, including his beloved and visually impaired sister, Jet. His upbringing now falls into the hands of his masters in Aldercrest House, a powerful family living in the long-contested castle/fortified village called the Highest House.
There are many rumours about the Aldercrests.
Have they hidden the power of magic among them?
Did they earn their right to the Highest House?
Could there truly be an Old God living within their walls?
None of this stops Moth from carving his own path.. But what will be the repercussions? Can a slave become anything but a slave?
"Look away for a hundred years or so and you humans have found new names for all your old stupidities."
I absolutely loved the lore of this universe. Even the most terrible characters are intriguing. The only reason this doesn't get a 5-star is because I felt like the illustrations changed too often with each character, to the point where some profiles were unrecognizable from their face-on drawings, which made it confusing at times to figure out who was who.
I have so many unanswered questiooons! I need mooooore!
July 27, 2021
This book is absolutely excellent.
The scope, breadth and impression of the art alone is enough to make reading this worth it. The breathtaking amount of detail in the landscapes combined with the deftness of the intimate scenes make for such an engaging experience. The larger page size permits more detail, more effect and more storytelling.
The writing from both a characterisation and plot perspective have the deftness that I’ve come to expect from Carey. So much happens, and there are so many well-defined characters that I can’t do anything but imagine this castle as a fully-defined, thriving hub of life.
The only reason why this isn’t 5* is the lettering. Most of the time it serves the story fine, but there are too many places where text is either misaligned within a bubble, cramped up into a border or just plain out of order and ambiguous. It might seem pedantic to remove a star for that, but it took me out of the story each time.
I need to track down the second volume of this immediately.
The scope, breadth and impression of the art alone is enough to make reading this worth it. The breathtaking amount of detail in the landscapes combined with the deftness of the intimate scenes make for such an engaging experience. The larger page size permits more detail, more effect and more storytelling.
The writing from both a characterisation and plot perspective have the deftness that I’ve come to expect from Carey. So much happens, and there are so many well-defined characters that I can’t do anything but imagine this castle as a fully-defined, thriving hub of life.
The only reason why this isn’t 5* is the lettering. Most of the time it serves the story fine, but there are too many places where text is either misaligned within a bubble, cramped up into a border or just plain out of order and ambiguous. It might seem pedantic to remove a star for that, but it took me out of the story each time.
I need to track down the second volume of this immediately.
July 12, 2021
i forgot how much mike carey's comic work i enjoyed reading. Lucifer, Vol. 1: Devil in the Gateway and The Unwritten, Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity, both of the finest series ever made, are all in charge of him and peter Gross.
the noble aldercrest family rules from the highest house in the fantasy universe of ossaniul, a tremendous walled city that houses hundreds of servants. i mean slave owners by servants. one of the other serfs is moth, a young kid who cares exceptionally for the steward of the mansion. and he's not only that. moth is stuck in the house in a web of power skirmishes. can he endure? can he? and if so, how far can he rise up from enslavement into the social hierarchy?
the prose style is the very first thing i must point out. many writers are trying to mimic Brian K. Vaughn these days by having written small amounts of quirky dialogue. i liked Saga, Vol. 1, don't make me an idiot, and in an hour you could even burn a challenging scenario. in the upper house, the characters speak for quite a long time without becoming boring. this makes the story feel like real people if they wouldn't make their way to the next book.
April 1, 2024
4.5 stars
Such a surprisingly good read! When I bought this book, I was hesitant because of its art style, which is not usually what I like, but the premise was compelling enough. I'm genuinely blown away by how good it actually is. The worldbuilding is phenomenal and the characters are all interesting and, for the most part, complex. The book is just so well written and balanced as a narrative.
While it is not without flaws, like some pacing, I don't think it outweighs the good parts. My main issue is that this was written, or at least published, in 2018, ends on a cliffhanger and there is NO SEQUEL OUT. .
I am now impatiently waiting for the next book. So glad I took a chance on this book!
Such a surprisingly good read! When I bought this book, I was hesitant because of its art style, which is not usually what I like, but the premise was compelling enough. I'm genuinely blown away by how good it actually is. The worldbuilding is phenomenal and the characters are all interesting and, for the most part, complex. The book is just so well written and balanced as a narrative.
While it is not without flaws, like some pacing, I don't think it outweighs the good parts. My main issue is that this was written, or at least published, in 2018, ends on a cliffhanger and there is NO SEQUEL OUT. .
I am now impatiently waiting for the next book. So glad I took a chance on this book!
February 25, 2019
Carey and Gross should get to write anything that they like, whilst being handled chocolate and endless supplies of tea and coffee.
Gods, demons, slaves, masters, promises, happiness, power....all of those things plus exquisitely detailed art.
The Unwritten was a masterwork, mind-bending and full of intertextuality, Highest house promises just as much.
My only complaint is that such clever detailed work takes so long to complete!
Just don’t have a zombie apocalypse until they finish the story, ‘kay.
Gods, demons, slaves, masters, promises, happiness, power....all of those things plus exquisitely detailed art.
The Unwritten was a masterwork, mind-bending and full of intertextuality, Highest house promises just as much.
My only complaint is that such clever detailed work takes so long to complete!
Just don’t have a zombie apocalypse until they finish the story, ‘kay.
May 23, 2020
Yes, it's a faux-european, low fantasy, feudal system epic where a powerless boy finds out he was secretly special all along... and yet, I mostly liked it.
I like that Moth wants to end the feudal status quo through societal change, and how he uses improvements of his circumstances to help others. Though he is the only real main character, it's nice that women feature heavily in Moth's circle of allies - and there's even positive queer representation! And speaking of women and representation, I really appreciate that Peter Gross doesn't depict women like sexy scenery decorations - everyone looks like a human with a human body, which seems like it should be a low bar, but... yeah. It's not.
Be warned, this ends on a cliffhanger, and Part 2 does not (yet?) exist.
I like that Moth wants to end the feudal status quo through societal change, and how he uses improvements of his circumstances to help others. Though he is the only real main character, it's nice that women feature heavily in Moth's circle of allies - and there's even positive queer representation! And speaking of women and representation, I really appreciate that Peter Gross doesn't depict women like sexy scenery decorations - everyone looks like a human with a human body, which seems like it should be a low bar, but... yeah. It's not.
Be warned, this ends on a cliffhanger, and Part 2 does not (yet?) exist.
September 25, 2020
The story of a young boy sold into slavery who, through his own courage and a partnership with some sort of eldritch demon, rises through the ranks of his lordship. He falls in love, gets his heart broken, narrowly escapes danger, in an adventure that addresses the near end of slavery as coinciding with technological revolution. Oh, and magic, or 'magic', or whatever you call it. I was enjoying it pretty well until it through in the same god-awful trope of sexual violence in at the very end, which male authors tend to do (especially in fantasy) that tries to make the story "realistic" or "darker" or whatever but ends up being a giant uncomfortable OOF in the plot. Still, the volume was decent enough, though that might be because it reminds me of Monstress.
January 11, 2021
Tämän lukeminen oli hyvin hidasta: sanasto oli haastavaa, pehmeäkantinen, mutta kookas teos oli vaikea pitää käsissä ja sivut kiilsivät valon osuessa niihin. Maailma on runsas ja sivuhahmojakin riittää. Päähenkilöstä oli hieman vaikea saada otetta ja juoni eteni hitaasti. Hieman Game of Thronesin henkeä tässä oli. Piirrostyyli oli välillä todella kaunista katsella (etenkin kuvatessa kaupunkia ja puita), välillä hahmojen piirteet vääntyivät niin omituisiin irvistyksiin, että näitä oli vaikeaa tunnistaa.
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November 21, 2021Mike Carey and Peter Gross reunite for this very enjoyable fantasy series. Carey’s storytelling propels the reader along and Gross’ art is as beautiful as it’s ever been. I knew nothing going in and was engrossed throughout, even during the exposition pages. My one complaint is that the main character’s personality seemed to change from passive to active too quickly.
Apparently there will be a second volume, though I haven’t heard any news yet. I thought the story was ending by the fifth issue but it went into a new direction, leaving me confused until “end of part one” tipped me off.
Apparently there will be a second volume, though I haven’t heard any news yet. I thought the story was ending by the fifth issue but it went into a new direction, leaving me confused until “end of part one” tipped me off.
January 15, 2020
My biggest complaint with The Highest House is that it reads more like a tv show than a comic. The first third of the book is a depressing run through a feudal system, at which point the work becomes much more interesting as a matter of low fantasy political intrigue. I didn't think I'd have this opinion halfway through the book but I'm excited for more. Gross outdoes himself, is much more confident here than The Unwritten, while Carey lags a bit.
May 31, 2019
A very dark tale about servitude and magic. There may be a light at the end of the tunnel for the main character. The drawing is very European in style. I am very intrigued and am looking forward to reading the next parts of the series.
April 15, 2020
I enjoyed Highest House, but was surprised to see “End of Part 1” on the final page, and I couldn’t find any sign of a part 2, so perhaps it was cancelled? Whatever the case, Highest House ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I don’t know if I’ll ever actually see the full conclusion of the story.
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