The Chancellor and the Citadel

by Maria Capelle Frantz

The world is over. All that remains is the Citadel, and the Chancellor who protects it from the hostility beyond its walls. But what can she do when a fearful and angry mob is convinced she brought the world to ruin in the first place, and are determined to make her pay for it by destroying the one bastion of hope the world has left?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Young Adult, Fiction, LGBT, Magic

130 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2019

Reviews

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though much about The Chancellor and the Citadel is intriguing, there's not enough meat to those bones to actually make me like this graphic novel. This feels like the skeleton of a story, rather than a full story. Reading the whole thing took less than 30 minute, placing it in the length of an early reader book and not allowing sufficient time for the complex moral points it tries to make. Frantz puts forward powerful messages, but there's not enough behind them.

For the most part, I'm left with questions. What happened in this world? Who is the chancellor? The people in the citadel refer to humans as different from themselves, but I am not sure who they are. Without an understanding of the world, it's hard to know how to take anything that happens within.

[Matt Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

So beautiful, but felt like an abridged version of itself.

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of some kind of protector for a city after the world has ended. There is some potential here but I think a lot of the elements were left too shadowy and confused. The people trying to break into the city were repeatedly referred to as humans, but the people in the citadel looked exactly the same. I was confused because I kept thinking to myself, "Aren't you human as well?" There's no explanation why some of the people are afraid of the Chancellor other than she has magic, but so do the people as we find out later. The story just needed a clearer narrative.

Received a review copy from Iron Circus Comics and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I absolutely ADORED this story and the amazing artwork I was a little bit disappointed by how short this graphic novel was. I read it in about 20 minutes and I was left wanting so much more. That being said, this was a fantastic graphic novel. The story was great (even if it left me feeling like I needed more) but the real shining star to me was the illustration. It was so beautiful. I would recommend this if you are looking for a quick read with some stunning visuals.

[Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I follow the author of this book on instagram and I had seen so much of the character development art and sneak peeks of panels that as I read it I almost felt like I had read it before. Not in a bad way! It felt like reading something I had previously read in a dream. It's a slim book but every page is textury and dark and rich. It's a novella in the vein of Tillie Walden's On A Sunbeam. It's set in a strange future in which most of the world has gone wild and uninhabitable except the Citadel, which is protected by the Chancellor. This mysterious and powerful being never shows her face- her expressive eyes show out from the shadow of her hood. Her closest friend is a baker and healer named Olive, who defends the Chancellor against those in the city who mutter than she has too much power and can't be trusted. A surprise attack by a ragged band of outsiders sets in motive a series of events that threaten the safety of the whole city. I'm not sure how widely available this book is, but I highly recommend it. I bought it because I knew I wanted to pour over the art and think about it for a long time. Frantz has a technique of combining digital colors over feathery traditional inks that I absolutely love (and want to learn myself someday).

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This work feels unfinished. While the premise is intriguing and the art captures your attention, the story itself is merely a set-up for something that could be bigger. An entire world, a shadowed past, and the guardian of both are shrouded in mystery with no hope of readers discovering answers. Rather than feeling philosophical and poignant, this makes the all-too-short graphic novel feel like the first part of a fantasy adventure rather than a stand-alone.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too simplistic to be a YA graphic novel. We didn’t get to delve deeply enough into this world in terms of world building / the past, the different groups living in the Citadel and those roaming the forests, and the magic systems. I found it odd that the main accusation thrown at the Chancellor is “witch,” when everyone in town seems to be able to sling magic.

So many questions!
- What are the adorable little ghost spirits?
- Can the rescued boy speak or do the roaming humans have a different language and can’t communicate with Citadel-dwellers?
- What differentiates Citadel-dwellers and humans? Magic? Are the former supposed to be faery creatures who survived after humans wiped themselves (almost) out, almost doomed to follow a similar path?
- Who is the Chancellor? Why would she be recognizable if she’s that old, having seen other adult characters grow up?

What I liked:
- Drawing style and color palette were very well done and looked wonderful. I liked how figures were drawn and didn’t seem to follow traditional body types and forms.
-The minimal expressions from the Chancellor that managed to portray so much
-The atmosphere of the book
- Olive and the Chancellor

It might’ve just been this book was too subtle for my jet-lagged brain, but after peeking at other reviews, it seems others were just as confused at the lack of details and explanation as I was.

I’d try more from the author though, as the basic ideas were enjoyable and entertaining!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Chancellor and the Citadel by Maria Frantz. 130 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Iron Circus Comics, 2018 $15

Language: G ; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – NOT RECOMMENDED

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Everyone lives in the Citadel and humans live outside of it. The mysterious Chancellor, a clocked and hooded woman, protects the Citadel. But even she needs healing on occasion and has a trusty friend Olive. When humans outside of the Citadel rebel, they Chancellor is in danger and uses violence to resolve the situation. She starts to question who is good and who is evil.

I put this as elementary since the publisher recommends it for 8-12 year olds but the book has an older feel with more of a political spin that might be better for older readers. That being said, I thought it was incredibly boring, confusing (humans live outside but the characters that live inside look human to me too), strange rather than mysterious or intriguing, and just depressing. I can imagine the cover appealing to young readers, but the content was not up to par. I am not saying there shouldn’t be graphic novels that question violence, but this one just doesn’t accomplish that goal for young readers.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[⠀annie. ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was cute. i read it in about ten minutes at work, haha. the art was adorable and the underlying messages are important for anyone of any age.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

a beautiful little story, and even more beautifully drawn

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. I think it's worth rereading a few more times before I send it back to the library, as I tend to get more curious about worldbuilding details than the point of the story. The world doesn't matter in this one- the message does.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot to like here, but this really felt like the second volume in the series. A lot isn't explained, apparently by design, but it made it more difficult to understand and connect to the world.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked many of the layout choices and the art is absolutely beautiful, but the story was underdeveloped to me. The stakes aren't really apparent and the difference between humans and spirits is never satisfyingly explained. The ending is also abrupt and felt unnatural.

[Zeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3.5 - it's beautifully illustrated and the world is interesting, but it feels like half the story is missing.

[Kenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise and the illustration made this quite an enjoyable read but a lot of the world building and plot remain a mystery to me. The Chancellor is an intriguing character and the world begs a lot of questions: Who is the Chancellor? Why can't they show their face? Why is this world protected by the Chancellor? Who are these little ghosts?

I would recommend this book for its wonderful use of color and beautifully illustrated settings, but I do wish more of the questions I have about the plot were answered in this. Not sure if this might become a series where some of these questions get answered, but on it's own it leaves a little too much to the imagination. I'm glad I read this and will be thinking about these dreamy magical locations!

[Paul Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book as an eARC from Iron Circus Comics via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

This middle grade graphic novel deals with some pretty cool concepts and plays with interesting moral quandaries. Pretty deep topics of morality and death. Although I was intrigued by the subject matter, I was confused for a majority of the book. I didn't quite understand exactly what was going on.

I give this book a 3/5. Cool art and interesting concepts, but I could not follow the story.

[Fei · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Looove the art, love the treatment of the characters but it's true that it's so short that you would think it's just an introduction to the universe.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather weird and quirky. I enjoyed the illustrations. That being said, I think a lot of kids would love it.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful art. While it kind of drops you into an existing world, there’s enough to go off of to not be lost. The imagery is incredible and overall I really enjoyed it!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is amazing and the story was pretty good, but it definitely could have been more fleshed out.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Chancellor and the Citadel' by Maria Capelle Frantz is a graphic novel that takes place in a mysterious citadel guarded by a mysterious Chancellor.

A hooded figure known as the Chancellor is tasked with protecting the people who live in a Citadel. The story takes place some time after the world has ended. The humans outside the city don't trust the Chancellor and see her as some kind of witch. There is something to be said about that, but Olive, a healer in the city sees otherwise.

I really loved this story for so many reasons. The first and foremost is the art which I adored. The second is the way gender stereotypes are reversed but not in a confrontational way. Women are in charge, and men are the ones that are sensitive and emotional in this world. The point is made gently, like the story. I can't wait to read more by this creator.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Iron Circus Comics in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a librarian, I'm always looking for new graphic novels for my students. And since the author of this book actually went to my elementary school, I was more than intrigued. The Chancellor and the Citadel did not disappoint. Although some of the thematic elements of the story may go over the heads of younger readers, they will all be drawn in by the lush and magical artwork. Older kids will find much to ponder about the use and misuse of power, compassion, and the vagaries of right versus wrong. I'm sure this book will be a hit anywhere fantasy graphic novels are popular. This is Frantz' first published work and I hope we'll be seeing more from her in the near future.

P.S. I shelved this as both middle grade and YA because I feel like it kind of rides the line between the two.

[Tory · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a nice, quick read with very pretty art, but it didn't really feel complete. This felt like being dropped right at the end of a longer story, but it was a little confusing without much explanation of the what had happened in-world previously or any details to explain the worldbuilding.

If this was expanded to explain some of the references that the characters made throughout (What's the conflict between the humans and whatever beings live inside the citadel? Why would the townspeople recognize Chancellor without her mask? Who was the magical being that Chancellor consulted in the middle of the story? Who is Eve, and what even was her problem?) As it is there's too much left unexplained to really enjoy this story.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful book. I can tell a lot of care went into creating colour palettes and the character designs were amazing. Olive was such a cinnamon roll. Would be interested to see Chancellors face in future volumes. I like a story where the main character is striving so hard to be a better person.

[ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was lovely, what amazing art with a visually diverse cast. a comic doesn't have to be long to have a nice story - and just because a comic is short doesn't mean it's just for children (at least, it was shelved in children's at my library!)

[Loz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic. Great art and colors, engrossing world setup. Definitely felt like this could've been more, but the simplicity felt right and true to the message. I look forward to more of Frantz's works!

[Ricki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5 stars of like. Kind of a poem of a book, in that it tries to get at complex problems (war, xenophobia) with glimpses and hints. I'm still not sure what it meant in the end though.

[RS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't really understand what was happening, but it was very pretty to look at, so, overall, I had a good time.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I loved this story, it was simply done, yet not lacking in anyway with a powerful message - one of acceptance for each other simply as we are. Olive and the Chancellors friendship was touching and helps to underscore that theme, reiterated to the final page. The art was mature and detailed, without taking away from the story itself or what the characters were doing, with all visuals compelling the reader along. I especially enjoyed the little ghosts that exist in the citadel, such charming creatures!

The only complaint I have is that it was too short! Obviously with independent published comics, there’s a certain number of pages to fill - no more, no less. However I came away with little hints of a deeper story and context, that I desperately hoped to have answered; what happened to the world outside? What IS the citadel? What are the characters if not human? How did the Chancellor fall into her role?? For these reasons and from Maria Capelle Frantz’s fantastic world building, I hope it’s not the last we see of the Chancellor, or her citadel.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and rather simple story, but what really pulled me in was the intensely atmospheric artwork, somewhere between spooky and fairytale. It tells a story of how fear and prejudice can tear a community apart, and follows a mysterious magical protector who takes care of a walled town, but people outside the wall fear and hate them as a witch, and some people inside the wall are uneasy that one person should have so much power, and fear what they might someday do with it. The magic and the reasons the world got this way are not fully explained, but that struck me as more dreamlike than frustrating in this case (the art helped world-build a fair bit where blatant explanations were absent), and anyway the point of this short story is the message, not the mechanics of this magic system. I recommend this for anyone looking for a short yet immersive fantasy or paranormal story with a positive message.