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Dungeons & Dragons: A Darkened Wish #1-5
Dungeons & Dragons: A Darkened Wish
An all-new tale of epic scope and flair that combines the elements of story telling and action that make every adventure so fun!
When war threatens the Moonshae Isles, legendary heroes return to defeat the forces of an unthinkable foe. The Forgotten Realms are changed forever as young wizard Helene and her friends grow from raw recruits on the streets of Mintarn into powerful warriors.
When war threatens the Moonshae Isles, legendary heroes return to defeat the forces of an unthinkable foe. The Forgotten Realms are changed forever as young wizard Helene and her friends grow from raw recruits on the streets of Mintarn into powerful warriors.
120 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2020
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99 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 18, 2020
Pros: Fast-paced D&D action, fun art, interesting premise
Cons: Occasionally confusing, sometimes disjointed, increasing humidity levels are doing nothing for my hair, which desperately needs to be cut (note: the creators are not necessarily responsible for that last con)
The upshot: Not as much fun as Jim Zub and Max Dunbar’s IDW D&D work, but a solid read.
Cons: Occasionally confusing, sometimes disjointed, increasing humidity levels are doing nothing for my hair, which desperately needs to be cut (note: the creators are not necessarily responsible for that last con)
The upshot: Not as much fun as Jim Zub and Max Dunbar’s IDW D&D work, but a solid read.
May 18, 2020
I'm a sucker for any kind of decently told fantasy story. Throw in the party mechanics from D& D and I'm sold. This is set in Forgotten Realms so if you've read any of those books, you'll probably get some little easter eggs as to the locations mentioned in the book. I like the framing sequence seeing the party now and then flashing back to how they become companions. I hope we see a sequel because I wasn't sold on how this ended on its own.
Tess Fowler illustrates fantasy settings so well. Her art is detailed and vibrant. You may know her work from the quirky Rat Queens among others.
Tess Fowler illustrates fantasy settings so well. Her art is detailed and vibrant. You may know her work from the quirky Rat Queens among others.
February 20, 2020
Considering how piecemeal the single issues were released, it's a miracle that they all made coherent sense to begin with. Publication hell is so real with this one, I felt so bad for B Dave and Tess. Anyways, it's a strong premise and starts really strong, but it sort of became difficult to follow w the months long gaps between issues and the vague allusions to Something that isn't clarified until the last two pages of issue four and then the last two pages of issue five, then it ends rather abruptly and I'm sitting and longing for that middle meat that was kind of jumped over entirely. Hoping the dnd real play makes up for some of that. I also need to reread the entire series again to see if it makes things any clearer w all as well.
February 25, 2020
I enjoyed this story but I felt like there were details I kept missing or forgot that would have made it more cohesive and enjoyable. However, I have a suspicion that had to do with the release schedule and not the writing or art. I’m planning on re-reading the single issues back to back so I’ll revisit this review then and see if my impressions had changed.
June 14, 2023
An interesting art style but the story never managed to grab me, for well-versed D&D fans only really.
June 12, 2020
I was initially interested in this book because of the strong focus of the setting of the Moonshae Islands. Not only was it the Realms' first published setting (in the novels), but it's also one with a lot of backstory, and I thought that might be well-used here.
And it is, kinda, but this story is really all over the place. It uses a fractured chronological frame, which can often be used to good effect, but here it mainly disguises a fairly straight forward story. And, here and there, the plotline seems to fall apart — or at least I can't follow it. I dunno if that was the chronological skips or just sloppy storytelling.
On the bright side, we have a pretty evocative set of characters. (And having character sheets for them at the end is terrific!)
But then you get to the end and ... well, it's a non-ending that just suddenly stops.
My rating for this jumped between "2" and "3" throughout the read, but that ending brought it down.
And it is, kinda, but this story is really all over the place. It uses a fractured chronological frame, which can often be used to good effect, but here it mainly disguises a fairly straight forward story. And, here and there, the plotline seems to fall apart — or at least I can't follow it. I dunno if that was the chronological skips or just sloppy storytelling.
On the bright side, we have a pretty evocative set of characters. (And having character sheets for them at the end is terrific!)
But then you get to the end and ... well, it's a non-ending that just suddenly stops.
My rating for this jumped between "2" and "3" throughout the read, but that ending brought it down.
November 17, 2020
2.5
Plot was too jumpy for me to keep up. And some bits were way too confusing. Suddenly Aeiden is a pirate king? Big bad dragon appears and disappears. I was left with too many questions to truly enjoy the story.
Plot was too jumpy for me to keep up. And some bits were way too confusing. Suddenly Aeiden is a pirate king? Big bad dragon appears and disappears. I was left with too many questions to truly enjoy the story.
February 5, 2022
The power of a wish. Following the careers of a party of adventurers. Impossible enemies and lofty goals.
May 25, 2022
I feel like there was general D&D lore I was missing to know exactly what was going on, but B. Dave Walters is the man. His DMing of G4's Invitation to Party was fantastic. Here's episode 1 for anyone interested: https://youtu.be/gBWNECCsPxA
October 16, 2024
The story of a D&D adventuring party, from its beginnings with teen heroes, to its end with grizzled veterans. Reads slightly odd - more like an outline of a story, with highlights, than a story proper. It also feels a lot like someone took their actual home D&D campaign and just turned it into a comic book. That actually adds to the charm of the series, funny enough... but overall this tale leans decidedly more "good" than "great". (B)
May 20, 2020
Pros: Excellent fantasy art; Solid, easily identified D&D characters; Character sheets in the back.
Cons: Confusingly jumps around in time a whole lot; Shallow characters; Mythology difficult to follow (and I've played in that world.)
Overall good but not great, with beautiful art.
Cons: Confusingly jumps around in time a whole lot; Shallow characters; Mythology difficult to follow (and I've played in that world.)
Overall good but not great, with beautiful art.
March 31, 2021
Couldn't finish this one. The story is nonsensical. Who they target this at? 8 year old girls? Art, though in no way great, was at least stylish and interesting.
May 5, 2023
PopKulturowy Kociołek:
https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/recen...
Pierwotny punkt wyjścia Dungeons and Dragons sugeruje nam sama nazwa. Oto zbiera się ekipa złożona z różnych ras, nacji, zawodów itp. i wyrusza w przygodę, której zwieńczeniem będzie walka ze smokiem. W pewnym stopniu tak też jest w Dungeons and Dragons Zaćmione życzenie. Już sam początek komiksu przedstawia nam zresztą takie starcie, by dopiero później, za pomocą różnych retrospekcji złożyć tę historię w całość.
Główną bohaterką komiksu jest Helene. To młoda i ambitna dziewczyna, która pragnie wyrwać się z rodzinnego królestwa. Pragnie przygód i wyzwań i w końcu decyduje się wypłynąć w morze. Tak na marginesie, odczuwa presję matki i ma magiczne zdolności. W szczególności ta ostatnia kwestia będzie istotna w miarę rozwoju fabuły. Co więcej, ma paczkę zgranych przyjaciół, których nie chce opuszczać. Ci mają jednak dla niej niespodziankę i wyprawiają się w nieznane razem z nią.
Tak, wiem. To wszystko brzmi strasznie sielankowo i zbyt pięknie by było ciekawie. Dojrzewająca dziewczyna spędza najlepsze chwile w jej życiu z przyjaciółmi. Mają niezwykłe przygody, a przyświeca im motto carpe diem. Nieco pomieszana chronologia wydarzeń, na jaką zdecydował się scenarzysta, pan B. Dave Walters dał nam do zrozumienia, że ten błogi okres nie będzie trwał wiecznie. Już na pierwszych planszach Dungeons and Dragons Zaćmione życzenie jesteśmy bowiem świadkami wielkiej bitwy. Trwa wojna, a na szali znajduje się przetrwanie ludzkości i niestety oznacza to ofiary wśród w najbliższych.
W naszej grupie głównych bohaterów oprócz wspomnianej czarodziejki mamy naprawdę ciekawe osobowości. Jest przystojny łotrzyk Aiden, spec od sztyletów. Pierwsze skrzypce odgrywa Rayonde, zakonnik z którym Helene z czasem połączy specjalna więź. Co ciekawe, ma on w sobie smoczą krew, a to od samego początku wywołuje zarówno w czytelniku, jak i w postaciach pewne podejrzenia. Jest jeszcze rodzeństwo Kerrin i Karrin o magicznych mocach i elfickim pochodzeniu. Na sam koniec został jeszcze zwykły, no może nie taki zwykły człowiek, wojownik, po prostu twardziel, jest nim Xander.
Będę szczery, historia nie jest idealna, ani najbardziej wciągająca. Czytając kolejne rozdziały komiksu, najwięksi miłośnicy gatunku mogą uznać, że takich scenariuszy znają bez liku. Co jednak wyróżnia Dungeons and Dragons Zaćmione życzenie na tle podobnych tytułów, to świetne połączenie tej niespecjalnie skomplikowanej fabuły z cudownymi, hipnotyzującymi ilustracjami Tess Fowler. Zakochałem się w nich już od pierwszej strony. Ta moc barw w połączeniu z dopracowanymi co do najmniejszych szczegółów wizerunkami postaci, scenami walk, magicznymi mocami zrobiła na mnie piorunujące wrażenie....
https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/recen...
Pierwotny punkt wyjścia Dungeons and Dragons sugeruje nam sama nazwa. Oto zbiera się ekipa złożona z różnych ras, nacji, zawodów itp. i wyrusza w przygodę, której zwieńczeniem będzie walka ze smokiem. W pewnym stopniu tak też jest w Dungeons and Dragons Zaćmione życzenie. Już sam początek komiksu przedstawia nam zresztą takie starcie, by dopiero później, za pomocą różnych retrospekcji złożyć tę historię w całość.
Główną bohaterką komiksu jest Helene. To młoda i ambitna dziewczyna, która pragnie wyrwać się z rodzinnego królestwa. Pragnie przygód i wyzwań i w końcu decyduje się wypłynąć w morze. Tak na marginesie, odczuwa presję matki i ma magiczne zdolności. W szczególności ta ostatnia kwestia będzie istotna w miarę rozwoju fabuły. Co więcej, ma paczkę zgranych przyjaciół, których nie chce opuszczać. Ci mają jednak dla niej niespodziankę i wyprawiają się w nieznane razem z nią.
Tak, wiem. To wszystko brzmi strasznie sielankowo i zbyt pięknie by było ciekawie. Dojrzewająca dziewczyna spędza najlepsze chwile w jej życiu z przyjaciółmi. Mają niezwykłe przygody, a przyświeca im motto carpe diem. Nieco pomieszana chronologia wydarzeń, na jaką zdecydował się scenarzysta, pan B. Dave Walters dał nam do zrozumienia, że ten błogi okres nie będzie trwał wiecznie. Już na pierwszych planszach Dungeons and Dragons Zaćmione życzenie jesteśmy bowiem świadkami wielkiej bitwy. Trwa wojna, a na szali znajduje się przetrwanie ludzkości i niestety oznacza to ofiary wśród w najbliższych.
W naszej grupie głównych bohaterów oprócz wspomnianej czarodziejki mamy naprawdę ciekawe osobowości. Jest przystojny łotrzyk Aiden, spec od sztyletów. Pierwsze skrzypce odgrywa Rayonde, zakonnik z którym Helene z czasem połączy specjalna więź. Co ciekawe, ma on w sobie smoczą krew, a to od samego początku wywołuje zarówno w czytelniku, jak i w postaciach pewne podejrzenia. Jest jeszcze rodzeństwo Kerrin i Karrin o magicznych mocach i elfickim pochodzeniu. Na sam koniec został jeszcze zwykły, no może nie taki zwykły człowiek, wojownik, po prostu twardziel, jest nim Xander.
Będę szczery, historia nie jest idealna, ani najbardziej wciągająca. Czytając kolejne rozdziały komiksu, najwięksi miłośnicy gatunku mogą uznać, że takich scenariuszy znają bez liku. Co jednak wyróżnia Dungeons and Dragons Zaćmione życzenie na tle podobnych tytułów, to świetne połączenie tej niespecjalnie skomplikowanej fabuły z cudownymi, hipnotyzującymi ilustracjami Tess Fowler. Zakochałem się w nich już od pierwszej strony. Ta moc barw w połączeniu z dopracowanymi co do najmniejszych szczegółów wizerunkami postaci, scenami walk, magicznymi mocami zrobiła na mnie piorunujące wrażenie....
June 22, 2020
Dungeons and Dragons is a franchise that's existed for decades, and is beloved across the world. With how long the franchise has been around you'd thin that there would be more books, shows, and films, set within its universe. But the problem is, the very nature of the game means that there aren't really characters or stories that you follow; you make your own. And whilst that makes for a lot of fun when playing, it makes it harder for people to create fiction for fans to consume.
Dungeons and Dragons: A Darkened Wish tries to create a story that spans decades and builds towards an epic conclusion, but because I'd never come across these characters or there world before I found it hard to be really drawn into the story.
This isn't the fault of the creators, writer B. Dave Walters manages to create some interesting scenarios and characters that were intriguing, but it felt like the story was trying to draw upon emotions that just weren't there. I didn't really care that one of the heroes got turned to darkness, because I didn't know him, or care about the relationships he had with the other heroes. I didn't care when one of the good guys died horribly, because other than them having 'levelled up' between issues I didn't really have a sense of who they were or why I should be bothered by their demise.
The story jumps around in time a lot too, and each issue takes place in a different time across decades. Whilst this means that we get to see some highlights from the lives of this group of heroes, we don't get to spend any down time with them getting to know who they are, what they think of each other, and why we should care about them. When each issue focuses on action over characterisation it leaves the whole thing feeling a little lacking.
I don't want this to sound too negative, as there was a lot of good in the book too; Solivigant the Kenku was pretty awesome throughout. The artwork by Tess Fowler is also great, and she manages to craft a very lived in world, with lots of details and small parts that make the world feel real and old. She also does some great work with the character designs, and the team of heroes aren't just distinct from each other, but their younger versions and older versions all go through some great visual changes.
Dungeons and Dragons: A Darkened Wish isn't the best fantasy book I've ever read, but it's far from the worst. It has some interesting ideas and tries to tell a bold and epic story, which is braver than most limited series runs.
Dungeons and Dragons: A Darkened Wish tries to create a story that spans decades and builds towards an epic conclusion, but because I'd never come across these characters or there world before I found it hard to be really drawn into the story.
This isn't the fault of the creators, writer B. Dave Walters manages to create some interesting scenarios and characters that were intriguing, but it felt like the story was trying to draw upon emotions that just weren't there. I didn't really care that one of the heroes got turned to darkness, because I didn't know him, or care about the relationships he had with the other heroes. I didn't care when one of the good guys died horribly, because other than them having 'levelled up' between issues I didn't really have a sense of who they were or why I should be bothered by their demise.
The story jumps around in time a lot too, and each issue takes place in a different time across decades. Whilst this means that we get to see some highlights from the lives of this group of heroes, we don't get to spend any down time with them getting to know who they are, what they think of each other, and why we should care about them. When each issue focuses on action over characterisation it leaves the whole thing feeling a little lacking.
I don't want this to sound too negative, as there was a lot of good in the book too; Solivigant the Kenku was pretty awesome throughout. The artwork by Tess Fowler is also great, and she manages to craft a very lived in world, with lots of details and small parts that make the world feel real and old. She also does some great work with the character designs, and the team of heroes aren't just distinct from each other, but their younger versions and older versions all go through some great visual changes.
Dungeons and Dragons: A Darkened Wish isn't the best fantasy book I've ever read, but it's far from the worst. It has some interesting ideas and tries to tell a bold and epic story, which is braver than most limited series runs.
May 5, 2021
I really wanted to like this GN. The various D&D worlds have a lot going for it, and the artstyle was strong.
I enjoyed the core concept of finding belonging in an adventuring family, but the story itself was all over the place. It could have worked, but jumping from past to present, to future, without explaining much of anything, created characters that I barely knew, and didn't care about.
I saw the group come together, then split apart, but I didn't know why, and more importantly since I didn't really know the characters I didn't care.
At its core, I think there is something decent in this graphic novel, but its too choppy to create any real attachment.
I enjoyed the core concept of finding belonging in an adventuring family, but the story itself was all over the place. It could have worked, but jumping from past to present, to future, without explaining much of anything, created characters that I barely knew, and didn't care about.
I saw the group come together, then split apart, but I didn't know why, and more importantly since I didn't really know the characters I didn't care.
At its core, I think there is something decent in this graphic novel, but its too choppy to create any real attachment.
April 15, 2023
🇵🇱:2.6⭐
Ciekawy koncept, interesujące postacie i trzymająca w napięciu historia, schowana z dziwną i trudną do czytania narracją, ciągłe przeplatanie retrospekcji i teraźniejszych wyrażeń bez żadnego zaznaczenia przejścia, niewielka ilość stron jak na ilość materiału który jest na nie upchany, sprawia że często nie wiadomo co się dzieje, jest jeszcze problem szaty graficznej, o ile mi prosty styl nie przeszkadza to tła i postacie w tle czasami są aż za proste.
Ciekawy koncept, interesujące postacie i trzymająca w napięciu historia, schowana z dziwną i trudną do czytania narracją, ciągłe przeplatanie retrospekcji i teraźniejszych wyrażeń bez żadnego zaznaczenia przejścia, niewielka ilość stron jak na ilość materiału który jest na nie upchany, sprawia że często nie wiadomo co się dzieje, jest jeszcze problem szaty graficznej, o ile mi prosty styl nie przeszkadza to tła i postacie w tle czasami są aż za proste.
June 30, 2023
There’s an excellent premise behind this story, but it’s presented in such a choppy way that it becomes a chore. The movement between past and present was fine, and I continued to wait to no avail for the missing context to be revealed in the backstory. The movement between panels and events nearly gave me whiplash.
The characters are quite interesting, and a little quirky, which is great flavour.
I generally loved the art style.
The characters are quite interesting, and a little quirky, which is great flavour.
I generally loved the art style.
August 6, 2020
DPL hoopla.
I wanted to like this one more but the story was disjointed at times. Overall, one could follow the story but many of the smaller arcs were simply, huh, what the heck is happening here? Am seeing more and more graphic novels like this. I don't know if it is some newer form of storytelling, or simply poor storytelling, but I do not consider it a good development.
I wanted to like this one more but the story was disjointed at times. Overall, one could follow the story but many of the smaller arcs were simply, huh, what the heck is happening here? Am seeing more and more graphic novels like this. I don't know if it is some newer form of storytelling, or simply poor storytelling, but I do not consider it a good development.
August 15, 2020
The series moves to a new adventuring party that is much more diverse and modern than the previous installments. Interestingly, they start their adventures at the Moonshae islands which are as old as the forgotten realms literature. The story is a new, interesting, millennial take on classic adventuring themes.
September 19, 2020
I jumped into this book off of a recommendation and on the strength of Tess Fowler’s work, and I felt lost. I think I finished this from inertia, but there was no enthusiasm because I felt like I was reading something that was in the middle of an arc with characters and relationships that I felt like I should have known and cared about but didn’t. Fowler’s art is good.
September 24, 2022
this is such a weird one, there's so much backstory missing from the volume. Was there moonshae books this ties into? Does this tie into one of the D&D source books? It doesn't really end, but there's a 2020 live play web series that continues the story.
I really wish when companies did stuff like this they would include a synopsis with the assumption you are new to the lore.
I really wish when companies did stuff like this they would include a synopsis with the assumption you are new to the lore.
October 29, 2020
This could have been great. I liked the character concepts but I think this would have worked out better if it was told chronologically instead of bouncing between past and present. There just needed to be more to make everything that happened in the end more impactful.
October 10, 2021
The plot is thin
This might have worked as a two volume series. The plot is too compressed, so the story is on fast forward and the characters are all shallow.
The art isn’t great and the dialogue is choppy.
This might have worked as a two volume series. The plot is too compressed, so the story is on fast forward and the characters are all shallow.
The art isn’t great and the dialogue is choppy.
May 29, 2022
This Dungeons & Dragons story is set in the Moonshae Isles, off the west coast of Faerûn. A group of childhood friends (Helene, Xander, and Aiden) embark on a great adventure. There's a good story here, but also too much plot crammed into too few pages.
August 20, 2020
Too big a story in too few pages.
October 30, 2020
Nice artwork. Maybe this would have been better if I had been more familiar with D & D.
February 28, 2021
Tess Fowler’s art is amazing, but it is obvious she was rushed to finish. Story is messy, but fun and focused on friendship.
May 23, 2021
Good story told over time. I liked the flashback/present that kept the story moving while explaining what was happening.
August 6, 2022
As other reviewers have stated, nice illustrations, some great characters, but the story tries to do too much in too short of a space, so there are huge gaps. Unsatisfying read.
June 4, 2023
4,5⭐
Niesamowity komiks. Super postacie, świetny klimat i niezwykle dobrze się przy tym bawiłam. BARDZO szybko się czyta jak na komiks.
Niesamowity komiks. Super postacie, świetny klimat i niezwykle dobrze się przy tym bawiłam. BARDZO szybko się czyta jak na komiks.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews