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Dryad #1
Dryad, Vol. 1
Best-selling writer Kurtis Wiebe (Rat Queens) and newcomer artist Justin Osterling launch a new fantasy saga!
The Glass family has spent thirteen years hiding peacefully in the sleepy forest settlement of Frostbrook where Morgan and Yale planted roots and raised their twins, Griffon and Rana. But secrets never stay hidden, and the entire Glass family find themselves the target of an unearthly attack on Frostbrook.
Now on the run from Muse Corp., they must flee to the massive city of Silver’s Bay to hide in plain sight. Rana and Griffon find themselves uprooted and answering for their parents' mistakes. But, they’ll soon find that the past has a way of finding you, no matter where you run.
The Glass family has spent thirteen years hiding peacefully in the sleepy forest settlement of Frostbrook where Morgan and Yale planted roots and raised their twins, Griffon and Rana. But secrets never stay hidden, and the entire Glass family find themselves the target of an unearthly attack on Frostbrook.
Now on the run from Muse Corp., they must flee to the massive city of Silver’s Bay to hide in plain sight. Rana and Griffon find themselves uprooted and answering for their parents' mistakes. But, they’ll soon find that the past has a way of finding you, no matter where you run.
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2020
6 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Kurtis J. Wiebe
182 books767 followersKurtis Wiebe is a Vancouver, Canada based author. The founder and CEO of Vast Vision Publishing, he comes from a two decades long career in comics and games. He is the co-creator of over ten original comic series and a content creator spanning podcasts, live streams and other digital media. His stories have garnered multiple industry awards including two coveted Shuster’s for best writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
September 28, 2021
Kurtis Wiebe of Rat Queens fame does his best Saga impression and it turned out really good. I loved how this started out as high fantasy before becoming...something more. I was completely fooled. Justin Osterling's art was very good too. Loved the character designs.
October 25, 2020
I loved most of Rat Queens but this was rough.
February 11, 2021
If there is a Saga-sized hole in your life right now, Dryad would very much like to fill it. I mean, it is vibing hard on Saga, with a sexy pair of parents protecting their kids from a world of magic and hi-tech violence. We have allies who are enemies, enemies who should be allies, betrayals, violence, violence, violence, and a cliffhanger ending. And Fiona Staples even provides an alternate cover in the cover gallery.
April 21, 2020
Kinda liked this. Elf and human running from something. Set up life in a country style town. Cut some years down the track and the kids are..kids. Great build
February 15, 2021
DNFed after issue 4
It's an interesting idea but it's so poorly executed that I barely had any idea of what was going on in the plot, and while I liked the main couple they weren't developed enough for me to really become invested in them. It's definitely no Rat Queens and at its best just seems like a very pale imitation of Saga. Unfortunately Wiebe doesn't want to actually take the time to set up the story like Saga did so he tries to speed through things that I feel he could have taken several volumes to develop and reveal. I really hope Saga comes back soon because I won't be continuing with this series.
It's an interesting idea but it's so poorly executed that I barely had any idea of what was going on in the plot, and while I liked the main couple they weren't developed enough for me to really become invested in them. It's definitely no Rat Queens and at its best just seems like a very pale imitation of Saga. Unfortunately Wiebe doesn't want to actually take the time to set up the story like Saga did so he tries to speed through things that I feel he could have taken several volumes to develop and reveal. I really hope Saga comes back soon because I won't be continuing with this series.
November 3, 2020
Thanks to #NetGalley, Kurtis Wiebe and Justin Osterling for this wonderful e-arc.
This was truly brilliant. Saga vibes! I cannot wait for the next one! So many questions! I need answers!
Dryad by Kurt's Wiebe is a beautifully illustrated and well told graphic novel.
Exciting and fast paced, it leaves you wanting more.
We follow the Glass family, who have left everything behind them to raise their children in peace and give them the best possible life.
Unfortunately, the past has a way of catching up to them and they suddenly find themselves thrown back into a world they thought they had left behindfor good. Can they find a way out and keep their family safe in the process?
Reminiscent of Saga, we start off with Morgan and Yale as they try to make a new start for themselves for the sake of their twins.
The characters are wonderful. Morgan is such a badass who is growing continuously restless with small town living, while Yale is thriving. Their relationship is great and their main motivation is to build a better future for their children. They prioritise family above everything else.
The twins, Griff and Rana are very normal kids. Sarcastic and rebellious, but ultimately love their parents and each other.
The story is fast paced and intriguing. And let's just take a moment to appreciate the wonderful illustration that went into this book. It's amazing. Beautiful!
Overall, I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes sci-fi and fantasy, lovers of Saga, or anyone who appreciates a good graphic novel with a strong story.
Excellent start to what I'm sure will be an epic series.
This was truly brilliant. Saga vibes! I cannot wait for the next one! So many questions! I need answers!
Dryad by Kurt's Wiebe is a beautifully illustrated and well told graphic novel.
Exciting and fast paced, it leaves you wanting more.
We follow the Glass family, who have left everything behind them to raise their children in peace and give them the best possible life.
Unfortunately, the past has a way of catching up to them and they suddenly find themselves thrown back into a world they thought they had left behindfor good. Can they find a way out and keep their family safe in the process?
Reminiscent of Saga, we start off with Morgan and Yale as they try to make a new start for themselves for the sake of their twins.
The characters are wonderful. Morgan is such a badass who is growing continuously restless with small town living, while Yale is thriving. Their relationship is great and their main motivation is to build a better future for their children. They prioritise family above everything else.
The twins, Griff and Rana are very normal kids. Sarcastic and rebellious, but ultimately love their parents and each other.
The story is fast paced and intriguing. And let's just take a moment to appreciate the wonderful illustration that went into this book. It's amazing. Beautiful!
Overall, I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes sci-fi and fantasy, lovers of Saga, or anyone who appreciates a good graphic novel with a strong story.
Excellent start to what I'm sure will be an epic series.
November 19, 2020
A big thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this copy!
I ended up really liking this graphic novel and that CLIFFHANGER I need te second installment asap! Although I did feel a bit lost at the beginning of the story because we didn’t get much worldbuilding and there was a big time gap at one point, near the end I felt I started to get a proper grasp of how this world works.
I thought the setting was really interesting, with a blend of medieval fantasy elements in a very hardcore scifi world. We have ‘wizards’ (called conductors) elves, orcs, humans and one badass cyborg momma who will *not* let you get away with messing with her kids (she is my favorite). I’m looking forward to learning some more about the world and it’s characters in the next installment!
I ended up really liking this graphic novel and that CLIFFHANGER I need te second installment asap! Although I did feel a bit lost at the beginning of the story because we didn’t get much worldbuilding and there was a big time gap at one point, near the end I felt I started to get a proper grasp of how this world works.
I thought the setting was really interesting, with a blend of medieval fantasy elements in a very hardcore scifi world. We have ‘wizards’ (called conductors) elves, orcs, humans and one badass cyborg momma who will *not* let you get away with messing with her kids (she is my favorite). I’m looking forward to learning some more about the world and it’s characters in the next installment!
January 24, 2021
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
To me, the success of a graphic novel lies in whether or not I'll make the effort to read the next volume, and it's a definite yes in this case.
This was a quick and dirty read that's clearly headed in a much more complex direction in the upcoming volumes. The world building is evidently only just being established in this first volume, and I'm intrigued by the potential created by the hints at a bigger picture and the cliffhanger ending. The artwork is really good and mostly in line with my tastes for this kind of thing, even if the futuristic vibes generally don't do it for me, although I did find that some of the dialogue felt a bit disjointed at times.
Overall, a really decent effort by a new-to-me author.
To me, the success of a graphic novel lies in whether or not I'll make the effort to read the next volume, and it's a definite yes in this case.
This was a quick and dirty read that's clearly headed in a much more complex direction in the upcoming volumes. The world building is evidently only just being established in this first volume, and I'm intrigued by the potential created by the hints at a bigger picture and the cliffhanger ending. The artwork is really good and mostly in line with my tastes for this kind of thing, even if the futuristic vibes generally don't do it for me, although I did find that some of the dialogue felt a bit disjointed at times.
Overall, a really decent effort by a new-to-me author.
January 10, 2021
Looking for something to fill the saga-sized gap in your life? Look no further!
A badass fighter mama who will stop at nothing to protect her kiddos. A history teacher father who it turns out is the last of a dying breed of conductors. Artwork so stunning you'll forget you're reading a story for a sec because its just so dang pretttyyyyy!
Seriously, if you're into family-orientated sci-fi/fanstasy, give this a read.
Sign me up for the rest of this series!
Massive thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the review copy!
A badass fighter mama who will stop at nothing to protect her kiddos. A history teacher father who it turns out is the last of a dying breed of conductors. Artwork so stunning you'll forget you're reading a story for a sec because its just so dang pretttyyyyy!
Seriously, if you're into family-orientated sci-fi/fanstasy, give this a read.
Sign me up for the rest of this series!
Massive thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the review copy!
December 13, 2020
2.5/5
An interesting mix of high fantasy and cyberpunk. At first glance, it's impressive (a lot is happening, shit goes boom), but it lacks depth. As the story progressed, I found the constant snark tiring and the humor unsubtle. There were some plot inconsistencies and the art, while energetic, didn't entrance me. It's ok, I guess. Nothing groundbreaking but enjoyable enough to read it.
ARC through NetGalley
An interesting mix of high fantasy and cyberpunk. At first glance, it's impressive (a lot is happening, shit goes boom), but it lacks depth. As the story progressed, I found the constant snark tiring and the humor unsubtle. There were some plot inconsistencies and the art, while energetic, didn't entrance me. It's ok, I guess. Nothing groundbreaking but enjoyable enough to read it.
ARC through NetGalley
October 22, 2020
actual rating: 4.5 stars
Thank you Oni Press, Kurtis Wieber, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
I loved this. I bloody loved it, because a) it was giving a lot of Saga vibes, mixed with Rat Queens energy (these two are my favourite comics of all time!), and b) we need more comics about loving parents who would do anything to protect their children.
The story starts with Morgen and Yale on the run, accompanied by their twins, Griffon and Rana, until they find a heaven on earth called Frostbrooks, a small sleepy village hidden from the world, and vowed to protect their children from the past. But the past came knocking on their doorsteps when the twins are about to be thrown into a world they can't understand.
The art of this comic is great, so smooth and so pleasing to the eye, and I love how the colours change gradually from the serenity and the peacefulness of Forstbrooks to the city of Silver Bay, which is giving me major Paper Girls flashback.
The cliffhanger, man! It's killing me.
I can't wait for volume 2 to drop and read it!
Thank you Oni Press, Kurtis Wieber, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
I loved this. I bloody loved it, because a) it was giving a lot of Saga vibes, mixed with Rat Queens energy (these two are my favourite comics of all time!), and b) we need more comics about loving parents who would do anything to protect their children.
The story starts with Morgen and Yale on the run, accompanied by their twins, Griffon and Rana, until they find a heaven on earth called Frostbrooks, a small sleepy village hidden from the world, and vowed to protect their children from the past. But the past came knocking on their doorsteps when the twins are about to be thrown into a world they can't understand.
The art of this comic is great, so smooth and so pleasing to the eye, and I love how the colours change gradually from the serenity and the peacefulness of Forstbrooks to the city of Silver Bay, which is giving me major Paper Girls flashback.
The cliffhanger, man! It's killing me.
I can't wait for volume 2 to drop and read it!
December 17, 2020
Actual rating 3.5
I really thought I was getting some sort of fantasy here. And while I'm not exactly wrong, there is so much more going under the surface.
This is a solid start to this series, but I really didn't feel like we got enough to go on. I felt like the surprises and twists were just there for novelty rather than a real reason. Maybe that's because we don't know everything yet. But when some of the characters we are following know what's going on, it feels like things are being hidden just to increase suspense and not for good writing/storytelling.
I am curious to see where the next volume is going to go because it had gorgeous art and ended on a cliffhanger.
(One other small side note: at the beginning of the story, the twins are stated to be 2 years old and yet they can't talk or really even babble. This is not good development-wise, and even for being in a different world than our own, stuck out too much to the Mom in me.)
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really thought I was getting some sort of fantasy here. And while I'm not exactly wrong, there is so much more going under the surface.
This is a solid start to this series, but I really didn't feel like we got enough to go on. I felt like the surprises and twists were just there for novelty rather than a real reason. Maybe that's because we don't know everything yet. But when some of the characters we are following know what's going on, it feels like things are being hidden just to increase suspense and not for good writing/storytelling.
I am curious to see where the next volume is going to go because it had gorgeous art and ended on a cliffhanger.
(One other small side note: at the beginning of the story, the twins are stated to be 2 years old and yet they can't talk or really even babble. This is not good development-wise, and even for being in a different world than our own, stuck out too much to the Mom in me.)
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2021
I thoroughly and unexpectedly enjoyed Dryad. I judged a book by its cover and was pleasantly surprised to find it was more than the Elvish fantasy I was expecting. The colours were vibrant and there plot kept moving at a swift pace, even if it started introducing more complex terms and ideas to the reader by the end. I honestly think the less you know about this the better.
A family of humans and elves are making their way through life in the small town of Frostbrooke when an event calls on them to confront their past. Illustrated with love and absolutely beautiful colours, this book is a feast for the eyes right from the opening pages all the way to the end, even if the colour palette has a shift along the way. The story is well paced and I enjoyed the characters and their motives as more was revealed.
If you're interested in colourful fantasy comics, I'd highly recommend you give this a go because it's really worth the small time investment to read. While it may not be traditional fantasy like some may expect, it was a pleasant surprise that I'm glad to have read with a twist that had me smiling the moment it popped up.
A family of humans and elves are making their way through life in the small town of Frostbrooke when an event calls on them to confront their past. Illustrated with love and absolutely beautiful colours, this book is a feast for the eyes right from the opening pages all the way to the end, even if the colour palette has a shift along the way. The story is well paced and I enjoyed the characters and their motives as more was revealed.
If you're interested in colourful fantasy comics, I'd highly recommend you give this a go because it's really worth the small time investment to read. While it may not be traditional fantasy like some may expect, it was a pleasant surprise that I'm glad to have read with a twist that had me smiling the moment it popped up.
January 20, 2021
'Dryad, Vol. 1' by Kurtis Wiebe with art by Justin Osterling is a new graphic novel from the creator of Rat Queens.
The Glass family live in a secluded and mysterious forest. Morgan, Yale and their twins Griffon and Rana seem to be at peace, but there are secrets lurking. Like why did Morgan and Yale leave a life behind and why are they suddenly in danger when the twins discover something in a nearby cave and bad guys start pouring in to the once peaceful forest.
The story dumps you in the middle and lets you figure things out as it goes. I didn't mind that, but it feels like the back half starts to meander a bit much. The art is solid and I did like the story.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
The Glass family live in a secluded and mysterious forest. Morgan, Yale and their twins Griffon and Rana seem to be at peace, but there are secrets lurking. Like why did Morgan and Yale leave a life behind and why are they suddenly in danger when the twins discover something in a nearby cave and bad guys start pouring in to the once peaceful forest.
The story dumps you in the middle and lets you figure things out as it goes. I didn't mind that, but it feels like the back half starts to meander a bit much. The art is solid and I did like the story.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
July 18, 2024
This started out as high fantasy but turned into…something else. This was filled with surprises: good world building, great illustrations, lots of introduction of characters but still filled with action, mysteries and lots of potential. I’m intrigued and eagerly await the next in the series to see where this goes.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2020
This had a good concept, but I couldn't make it through the first scene. I glanced through the rest of the graphic novel, and I felt like I didn't want to continue.
October 22, 2020
Part fantasy, part cyberpunk, Dryad Vol. 1 is the introduction to a fast-paced series about a family on the run.
Content warnings include: graphic violence and gore, child injury, non-explicit sex on-page.
On first glance, Dryad seems like fantasy through and through. There's elves and orcs, basic clothing, no electricity, a small village, overgrown ruins of an ancient people and monstrous creatures.
But that's not what Dryad is.
The cyberpunk element comes as a surprise, and when I first noticed hints that things weren't as they seemed I thought I looked wrong - and I have to admit, I wasn't pleased. I usually dislike it when genres mix like that, especially when it happenes unexpectedly. If I go into a fantasy book, I want fantasy, not SciFi. But here it all slotted together in the end, and I was very intrigued by the direction the plot developed.
At the center of the story is the Glass family: Yale, a history enthusiast who is a little goofy; Morgan, a scarred soldier who doesn't quite know what to do with herself in the quiet village but loves her family nevertheless; and teen twins Griffon and Rana, one exuberant and one more reserved, but sharing a deep connection.
It's clear from the start that Yale and Morgan were fleeing from something, and hiding a lot, but Dryad Vol.1 doesn't exactly give answers. It sets the scene and introduces a lot of players, and I couldn't always follow who was who and what was what, because despite continued assurances of sitting down to explain soon... that doesn't happen. Not that I fault the characteres for that - they don't really get a break to breathe, either.
The art was great, vivid and lively, the fantasy and cyberpunk elements weaved together seamlessly and very aesthetically without shying away from graphic subject matter - without being too gore-y, which suits me perfectly.
Overall great start for a series, and I'm curious to see where the plot is headed.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Content warnings include: graphic violence and gore, child injury, non-explicit sex on-page.
On first glance, Dryad seems like fantasy through and through. There's elves and orcs, basic clothing, no electricity, a small village, overgrown ruins of an ancient people and monstrous creatures.
But that's not what Dryad is.
The cyberpunk element comes as a surprise, and when I first noticed hints that things weren't as they seemed I thought I looked wrong - and I have to admit, I wasn't pleased. I usually dislike it when genres mix like that, especially when it happenes unexpectedly. If I go into a fantasy book, I want fantasy, not SciFi. But here it all slotted together in the end, and I was very intrigued by the direction the plot developed.
At the center of the story is the Glass family: Yale, a history enthusiast who is a little goofy; Morgan, a scarred soldier who doesn't quite know what to do with herself in the quiet village but loves her family nevertheless; and teen twins Griffon and Rana, one exuberant and one more reserved, but sharing a deep connection.
It's clear from the start that Yale and Morgan were fleeing from something, and hiding a lot, but Dryad Vol.1 doesn't exactly give answers. It sets the scene and introduces a lot of players, and I couldn't always follow who was who and what was what, because despite continued assurances of sitting down to explain soon... that doesn't happen. Not that I fault the characteres for that - they don't really get a break to breathe, either.
The art was great, vivid and lively, the fantasy and cyberpunk elements weaved together seamlessly and very aesthetically without shying away from graphic subject matter - without being too gore-y, which suits me perfectly.
Overall great start for a series, and I'm curious to see where the plot is headed.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
March 10, 2020
"Yes! It’s time! Dryad #1 has finally dropped, and I personally couldn’t be more excited about that fact! If you’re a fan of Rat Queens, then this is absolutely a series you’re going to want to check out.
Why do I say that? Because Kurtis J. Wiebe is the author for both series, and there are so many tones and themes in common. So the odds are very good that if you like one, you’ll enjoy the other. I know I did. Working alongside Wiebe is a new artist, Justin Osterling, but his style is already proving to be one worth keeping an eye on.
It’s a tale of love, lore, monster hunting, and so much more. And that’s only the beginning. An elf and a human fall in love – that’s a tale we’ve all heard before. Together they’ve found a safe haven for which to raise their family in. But how long can one family be content to be merely ‘safe’?
Between the creative team and the description for this series, I was understandably quite excited about this release date. Now the real question is; was it worth the wait?"
Check out the rest of my review over at Quirky Cat's Comics
Why do I say that? Because Kurtis J. Wiebe is the author for both series, and there are so many tones and themes in common. So the odds are very good that if you like one, you’ll enjoy the other. I know I did. Working alongside Wiebe is a new artist, Justin Osterling, but his style is already proving to be one worth keeping an eye on.
It’s a tale of love, lore, monster hunting, and so much more. And that’s only the beginning. An elf and a human fall in love – that’s a tale we’ve all heard before. Together they’ve found a safe haven for which to raise their family in. But how long can one family be content to be merely ‘safe’?
Between the creative team and the description for this series, I was understandably quite excited about this release date. Now the real question is; was it worth the wait?"
Check out the rest of my review over at Quirky Cat's Comics
November 30, 2020
I received an eARC copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I really enjoyed this! I think if you like Rat Queens (which the writer is from) or Saga, then you will really, really enjoy your experience reading this book. The art was amazing and right up my alley. The story had a mix of heartwarming elements (two parents leaving their life behind to save their children) mixed in with badass combat. It is extremely fast paced and engaging. I was a tad lost in the beginning, just because the motivations for the two adult characters was not explained, but as the story progressed, I found myself connecting to it more and more. I loved the direction it went into as well, and I cannot wait to see where else Wiebe takes us. Because of spoilers, I won't get into where the story goes, just that I loved both settings where the plot takes place (I hope you get what I mean). Super interested to follow this series.
I really enjoyed this! I think if you like Rat Queens (which the writer is from) or Saga, then you will really, really enjoy your experience reading this book. The art was amazing and right up my alley. The story had a mix of heartwarming elements (two parents leaving their life behind to save their children) mixed in with badass combat. It is extremely fast paced and engaging. I was a tad lost in the beginning, just because the motivations for the two adult characters was not explained, but as the story progressed, I found myself connecting to it more and more. I loved the direction it went into as well, and I cannot wait to see where else Wiebe takes us. Because of spoilers, I won't get into where the story goes, just that I loved both settings where the plot takes place (I hope you get what I mean). Super interested to follow this series.
January 13, 2021
A very interesting mix of fantasy and sci-fi. I honestly thought this was going to be a straight up fantasy and the sharp turn into science fiction turned out to be a brilliant element because it gave the whole thing an extra level of awesomeness.
It does suffer from an unfortunate tendency to hint at big revelations and secrets and never actually clearing up anything. Mysteries just multiply and get deeper. I get that it’s the first volume and they’re setting things up, but some clarification or background would have been nice.
The art is interesting. There are some really cool panels and some slightly wonky panels. Somehow, it all works.
This is definitely a series I’ll be following. At least to see if all the secrets and mysteries get resolved.
It does suffer from an unfortunate tendency to hint at big revelations and secrets and never actually clearing up anything. Mysteries just multiply and get deeper. I get that it’s the first volume and they’re setting things up, but some clarification or background would have been nice.
The art is interesting. There are some really cool panels and some slightly wonky panels. Somehow, it all works.
This is definitely a series I’ll be following. At least to see if all the secrets and mysteries get resolved.
November 4, 2020
3.5☆
Morgan and Yale have been living in Frostbrook for 13 years, with their children Rana and Griffon. But Morgan and Yale have been keeping a secret from their kids, and when Muse Corp comes to find them, their secrets are unearthed.
This gave me extreme ptsd from Saga (which I hated), but thankfully, this was much more enjoyable.
What I liked:
- art style
- Yale is so attractive omg
- Morgan and Yale: I really liked their characters, Rana and Griffon, not so much
- cool concept
- I enjoyed the ending, even though a lot of new information was dumped.
Why I gave it a 3.5☆:
- slightly confusing, both at the beginning and at the end
- the story went by a little to fast for me
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Morgan and Yale have been living in Frostbrook for 13 years, with their children Rana and Griffon. But Morgan and Yale have been keeping a secret from their kids, and when Muse Corp comes to find them, their secrets are unearthed.
This gave me extreme ptsd from Saga (which I hated), but thankfully, this was much more enjoyable.
What I liked:
- art style
- Yale is so attractive omg
- Morgan and Yale: I really liked their characters, Rana and Griffon, not so much
- cool concept
- I enjoyed the ending, even though a lot of new information was dumped.
Why I gave it a 3.5☆:
- slightly confusing, both at the beginning and at the end
- the story went by a little to fast for me
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2020
3.8
Umm things were super muddled throughout the story the whole time and it reminded me SO much of Saga (which i love absolute favourite 10/10) and i think because of that i kept going, and will probably keep going as long as they make the books. But the story was that typical 'si-fi mysterious i have deep dark past and now its caught up to me crap" that if it isn't done right it wont go over very well so we'll see...Im interested to see if they can do better...
The art work is stunning and id love to frame half the pages i saw, even the naughty bits.
Also the couple reminds me of Milo and Kida from Atlantis (again love them so much)
Umm things were super muddled throughout the story the whole time and it reminded me SO much of Saga (which i love absolute favourite 10/10) and i think because of that i kept going, and will probably keep going as long as they make the books. But the story was that typical 'si-fi mysterious i have deep dark past and now its caught up to me crap" that if it isn't done right it wont go over very well so we'll see...Im interested to see if they can do better...
The art work is stunning and id love to frame half the pages i saw, even the naughty bits.
Also the couple reminds me of Milo and Kida from Atlantis (again love them so much)
November 24, 2020
I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for giving me access.
This one kept me intrigued! And that ending? I cannot wait for Vol. 2 to come out.
The only thing I had an issue with was the beginning and the huge time jump. I would like to have learned more as to why they were going into hiding upfront verses being slightly confused throughout. If I ignore the beginning, the story flowed great!
This one kept me intrigued! And that ending? I cannot wait for Vol. 2 to come out.
The only thing I had an issue with was the beginning and the huge time jump. I would like to have learned more as to why they were going into hiding upfront verses being slightly confused throughout. If I ignore the beginning, the story flowed great!
September 30, 2021
Taký mišmaš, ktorý vznikol spojením mágie a techniky. Spracovaním aj vizuálom mi to dosť pripomínalo Rat Queens. Príbeh síce dosť skákal z miesta na miesto, ale dokázalo to vzbudiť môj záujem a udržať pozornosť až do konca. Som zvedavá na pokračovanie.
October 29, 2020
I received an e-Arc of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dryad is a wonderful sci-fi graphic novel and a great introduction and starting place to a series. It seemed quite slow paced in places but that can be expected for the first volume of a series. Fortunately, where it fell short in pacing it made up for in world building and character development. I look forward to volume 2, and seeing more from this world and these characters
Dryad is a wonderful sci-fi graphic novel and a great introduction and starting place to a series. It seemed quite slow paced in places but that can be expected for the first volume of a series. Fortunately, where it fell short in pacing it made up for in world building and character development. I look forward to volume 2, and seeing more from this world and these characters
January 9, 2021
I'd had some experience with Kurtis Weibe's work before, having read the comic series Rat Queens, so was looking forward to another fantasy series helmed by him, but got so much more than what I was expecting in this first volume of what I hope goes on to be a long running series.
The story follows Morgan and Yale Glass, a young couple who begin the book travelling through a forrested wilderness with their twin infant children. We don't get a huge amount of information here, other than they're trying to get away from 'the city', and that they've been through fights to protect their children, with Morgan having lost part of an ear in the process. Eventually, after discovering some ancient ruins, the two of them find the small village of Frostbrook, and believe that this could be the safe haven they've been looking for.
Jumping forward fifteen years and we find that the Glass family have become well respected members of this small society, with Yale taking on the position of a teacher for the children of the village, whilst his wife Morgan acts as something of a protector, fighting of monsters that cause the inhabitants harm. Despite having a good home Morgan seems somewhat restless, and this seems to be echoed a little in their children, who have now grown into teens.
Griffon and Rana are now much older, and don't always enjoy the confines of the village, so when their friends decide to sneak away one night to explore the ruins on the outskirts of the town they jump at the chance, wanting to do something exciting for once. However, when a mysterious door is opened inside these ruins a group a hostiles are able to enter Frostbrook, and it changes the lives of the Glass family forever.
I have to admit, I loved the first issue, and thought that it was a great, entertaining fantasy setting with some interesting mythology and characters that immediately grabbed my attention. In some ways the fist few pages, with the clearly battle hardened parents trying to find a new home for their young children reminded me of Saga, and this got me excited for the series. Whilst this search for a home didn't really last, the jump forwards in time wasn't disappointing, and I enjoyed seeing how the family fitted into this village.
Despite enjoying this fantasy setting, I was given something of a surprising change when the book suddenly started introducing sci-fi elements to the story. Yep, it turns out that whilst there elves, orcs, magic, and monsters, this isn't your typical fantasy setting, and that Frostbrook is nothing more than an isolationist village that shuns the technology of the outside world. Yep, the book pulled out the twist from M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, but did it so much better.
After a couple of issues the book takes a sharp turn and starts introducing science fiction elements, essentially making a surprise chance to the books genre as the Glass family are plucked from their quiet life and thrown into a huge city filled with flying vehicles, holograms, and augmented people. Turns out fantasy and cyberpunk mix really well together.
Not only does the reader learn that the world the twins grew up in was a lie (and that through only being shown certain things the audience has been lied too as well), but that there are much deeper conspiracies at work too. This volume doesn't answer every question, but it does reveal to the readers that Morgan and Yale were involved with some dangerous people, and that escaping with the twins made them some dangerous enemies.
The book is a great introduction to this new world, and the sudden shift in expectations was both unexpected and brilliantly done. Whilst I'm a little sad that this isn't a more conventional fantasy world I'm extremely interested in the one that Wiebe has created, and can't wait to find out more in the next volume. I was also hugely impressed by the artwork by Justin Osterling, who's a new, uo-and-coming artist. Not only was every panel just superbly drawn, but the designs for the characters and environments were unique and interesting. This is definitely an artist worth watching.
Dryad is one of the more impressive first volumes in a graphic novel series that I've read in a while, and I think its one that deserves both attention and note as an exciting series that's doing some great new things.
The story follows Morgan and Yale Glass, a young couple who begin the book travelling through a forrested wilderness with their twin infant children. We don't get a huge amount of information here, other than they're trying to get away from 'the city', and that they've been through fights to protect their children, with Morgan having lost part of an ear in the process. Eventually, after discovering some ancient ruins, the two of them find the small village of Frostbrook, and believe that this could be the safe haven they've been looking for.
Jumping forward fifteen years and we find that the Glass family have become well respected members of this small society, with Yale taking on the position of a teacher for the children of the village, whilst his wife Morgan acts as something of a protector, fighting of monsters that cause the inhabitants harm. Despite having a good home Morgan seems somewhat restless, and this seems to be echoed a little in their children, who have now grown into teens.
Griffon and Rana are now much older, and don't always enjoy the confines of the village, so when their friends decide to sneak away one night to explore the ruins on the outskirts of the town they jump at the chance, wanting to do something exciting for once. However, when a mysterious door is opened inside these ruins a group a hostiles are able to enter Frostbrook, and it changes the lives of the Glass family forever.
I have to admit, I loved the first issue, and thought that it was a great, entertaining fantasy setting with some interesting mythology and characters that immediately grabbed my attention. In some ways the fist few pages, with the clearly battle hardened parents trying to find a new home for their young children reminded me of Saga, and this got me excited for the series. Whilst this search for a home didn't really last, the jump forwards in time wasn't disappointing, and I enjoyed seeing how the family fitted into this village.
Despite enjoying this fantasy setting, I was given something of a surprising change when the book suddenly started introducing sci-fi elements to the story. Yep, it turns out that whilst there elves, orcs, magic, and monsters, this isn't your typical fantasy setting, and that Frostbrook is nothing more than an isolationist village that shuns the technology of the outside world. Yep, the book pulled out the twist from M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, but did it so much better.
After a couple of issues the book takes a sharp turn and starts introducing science fiction elements, essentially making a surprise chance to the books genre as the Glass family are plucked from their quiet life and thrown into a huge city filled with flying vehicles, holograms, and augmented people. Turns out fantasy and cyberpunk mix really well together.
Not only does the reader learn that the world the twins grew up in was a lie (and that through only being shown certain things the audience has been lied too as well), but that there are much deeper conspiracies at work too. This volume doesn't answer every question, but it does reveal to the readers that Morgan and Yale were involved with some dangerous people, and that escaping with the twins made them some dangerous enemies.
The book is a great introduction to this new world, and the sudden shift in expectations was both unexpected and brilliantly done. Whilst I'm a little sad that this isn't a more conventional fantasy world I'm extremely interested in the one that Wiebe has created, and can't wait to find out more in the next volume. I was also hugely impressed by the artwork by Justin Osterling, who's a new, uo-and-coming artist. Not only was every panel just superbly drawn, but the designs for the characters and environments were unique and interesting. This is definitely an artist worth watching.
Dryad is one of the more impressive first volumes in a graphic novel series that I've read in a while, and I think its one that deserves both attention and note as an exciting series that's doing some great new things.
December 13, 2020
The cover and the art are gorgeous throughout the book.
Where do I even start with this book.. These are not your usual medieval-fantasy elves living in a small town.. despite the fact that this is the exact setting we start with. We see Morgan and Yale trek through the wilderness with two tiny children - where they very candidly stop to change diapers. They arrive to their destination, a quaint village hidden by the woods and some ruins, where they raise their kids for the next ten or so years. We see them again when the twins, Griffon and Rana are teenagers loitering around town with their friends, pondering the possibility of magic existing in the world. A sudden attack on the town reveals the past Morgan and Yale has been hiding from their kids all their life: there is a much bigger world out there filled with technology they never even heard of. In hopes of escaping the family returns to the parent’s old turf and they try to salvage their life best they can while they try to hide from their past. The setting was interesting, the typical elven medieval fantasy world mixed with sci-fi tech. I liked that the book had characters of different races just as part of natural diversity that occured in this world, without any kind of comment for cookie points. In it’s tone the story felt more on the sci-fi side for me, so I would probably recommend this to fans of sci-fi rather than fans of medieval fantasy.
Content warnings
some adult, sexy scenes were in the book and some violent fights
Where do I even start with this book.. These are not your usual medieval-fantasy elves living in a small town.. despite the fact that this is the exact setting we start with. We see Morgan and Yale trek through the wilderness with two tiny children - where they very candidly stop to change diapers. They arrive to their destination, a quaint village hidden by the woods and some ruins, where they raise their kids for the next ten or so years. We see them again when the twins, Griffon and Rana are teenagers loitering around town with their friends, pondering the possibility of magic existing in the world. A sudden attack on the town reveals the past Morgan and Yale has been hiding from their kids all their life: there is a much bigger world out there filled with technology they never even heard of. In hopes of escaping the family returns to the parent’s old turf and they try to salvage their life best they can while they try to hide from their past. The setting was interesting, the typical elven medieval fantasy world mixed with sci-fi tech. I liked that the book had characters of different races just as part of natural diversity that occured in this world, without any kind of comment for cookie points. In it’s tone the story felt more on the sci-fi side for me, so I would probably recommend this to fans of sci-fi rather than fans of medieval fantasy.
Content warnings
some adult, sexy scenes were in the book and some violent fights
December 3, 2020
I requested this book on Netgalley and I'm so glad that I did!
This was a beautifully illustrated book that didn’t get as much support from the story as it should have. The vibrant colors and a sense of history and culture that we come across in the first half or so is reminiscent of the movie, Avatar. However, all that suddenly goes away and we’re told it wasn’t even real. Okay, I got that part too. Whatever came after that was a big blur for me! And then we’re hit with a cliffhanger at the end, which didn’t make me want to rush out and grab the sequel. It just made me go meh! Make of that what you will.
May 20, 2021
In this first installment of the Dryad-series we get to know Morgan and Yale Glass who moved to the little forest town of Frostbrook to build a new life far from the city to keep their children Rana and Griffon safe.
Telling more about the plot would not only give away spoilers, but it would sound rather confusing as well.
The variety of ideas makes it clear that the author has a whole worldbuilding in mind.
But by introducing too many different trails too quickly, some readers will feel a bit lost sometimes.
Furthermore there are some very strange trains of thoughts and unnecessary tangents which only add to the chaotic impression.
The artwork is good at depicting both action scenes and more quiet ones. But it doesn't bring the whole to a higher level and sometimes reflects the aforementiond chaos too.
Overall this comic book is entertaining enough to keep you reading and thus is worth 2,5*. But as it doesn't excel on any level this is rounded down.
The expected publication of the next installment is July 6th of this year. If the sequel succeeds in fleshing out the worldbuilding and in getting the story less chaotic, this could be an interesting series that's worth following.
Dryad is written by Kurtis Wiebe, a name that will ring a bell with some comic book readers, as in 2014 his comic series Rat Queens was nominated for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards in the category 'Best new series'.
This Swedish author - who lives and works in Stockholm - does not only write comic book stories, but also games and podcasts bear his interest.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Telling more about the plot would not only give away spoilers, but it would sound rather confusing as well.
The variety of ideas makes it clear that the author has a whole worldbuilding in mind.
But by introducing too many different trails too quickly, some readers will feel a bit lost sometimes.
Furthermore there are some very strange trains of thoughts and unnecessary tangents which only add to the chaotic impression.
The artwork is good at depicting both action scenes and more quiet ones. But it doesn't bring the whole to a higher level and sometimes reflects the aforementiond chaos too.
Overall this comic book is entertaining enough to keep you reading and thus is worth 2,5*. But as it doesn't excel on any level this is rounded down.
The expected publication of the next installment is July 6th of this year. If the sequel succeeds in fleshing out the worldbuilding and in getting the story less chaotic, this could be an interesting series that's worth following.
Dryad is written by Kurtis Wiebe, a name that will ring a bell with some comic book readers, as in 2014 his comic series Rat Queens was nominated for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards in the category 'Best new series'.
This Swedish author - who lives and works in Stockholm - does not only write comic book stories, but also games and podcasts bear his interest.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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