Sunstone, Vol. 7

Sunstone #7

by Stjepan Šejić

"MERCY," Part Two The tale of kink and metal continues as Ally and Alan ride their rollercoaster of sexual exploration. Meanwhile Anne and Laura enjoy their little slice of heaven relationship. Good times all around. Sure would be a shame if addictive behavior and trust issues ruined all that fun. I mean, that would be terrible.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Romance, LGBT, BDSM, Erotica, Adult

152 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2021

About the author

Stjepan Šejić is a Croatian comic book writer and artist, known for his work on the series Witchblade, Aphrodite IX, Sunstone, and The Darkness among others.

Reviews

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunstone continues to move along as we get more background between Alan and Ally and Anne and Laura getting their lesbian on.

As always these stories are filled with wholesome stories of love and passion mixed in with hot sexy BDSM and regular sex thrown in to every once in awhile. The fact Stjepan is telling a backstory to two characters we already know yet still make it interesting is pretty talented. It also helps his art is still gorgeous here.

The scenes with Anne's father meeting Laura are just too funny. The fact we see Alan and Ally finally become closer friends instead of just fuck buddies is perfect. The overall build up towards both these relationships and what would be terrible events down the line for both of them to learn before eventually Alan and Anne meet years later and fall in love is great to view even if it feels like it does have some padding.

But as always Sunstone is a joy to read. A 4 out of 5.

[Katrine Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely latest!

Gorgeous artwork. Want more, as usual....and have to wait. As usual. Well done, Sejic. Love all the characters and their growth.

[Nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was so pleasant. I read it in chunks depending on the updates Stjepan put on deviant art, so it took quite a while. But I never felt bored. Everytime he’d release a few pages I’d read them immediately and it had me hooked all the way.
I LOVE this world and I LOVE it’s characters. I wish to stay with them forever.
It ended on quite a good note as Alan & Ally discover the infamous attic & doubt and jelousy stem between Laura & Anne.
Even though I already knew beforehand that Laura & Anne were breaking up (obviously) I’m really interested in how it’ll be handled & how it will happen. Present Anne tends to speak fondly of Laura when reciting the story so I wonder if her views will change after she tells the story or how they broke up. And i’m also wondering about how she feels about the huge tattoo on her back deticated to Laura.
I’m also REALLY excited about the Alan & Ally storyline. We know they’ll stop being friends for a while after the attic deal becomes stressful on Ally’s life. This was all told to hs beforehand but i really wanna see it unfold.
This was more of a rant than a review honestly.
I suspect vol 8 & 9 are going to be very emotional with everything happening. I need to prepare myself.
Anyways. ITS EPIC. GO READ IT.

[Anniken Haga · Rating 5 out of 5]

AH! Yay! I finally got this! I know I can read it online, but there's just something about having the printed copy in my hands.

So, to the story.
To quote Mr. Sejic, this is the calm before the storm, so there wasn't all that much going on, but it was still very entertaining and fun, and such a good way to make characters. And Mr. Sejic does that amazingly. His art is so expressionat and personal and close, somehow, and many of the pictures tell a story of its own.

I have to admit that I was a little afraid what I'd think of this book, because I remember reading vol 6 and thinking that Anne's part was fun, but Allan's was a little boring, for we already knew all of it from the original ARC. I was afraid it would be the same here, but no, it wasn't. I think it was how it was told, the hints of what was to come mixed in with the things that were. It was well done. I almost regret giving vol 6 a top rating, because I want this one to have a higher rating. Well see when I do a reread if it happens or not.

Now just to wait another year for the next volume... Luckily, he has other stuff coming out this year! And a lot of online stuff that I do read.

[Helene Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knocking on Ally’s door, Lisa excitedly waits for her girlfriend to come into the hall. She’s dressed up and put her makeup on. But when Ally opens the door, she seems stressed and distracted. “The new raid came out today!” Ally says and Lisa’s heart drops. She just wasted an hour trying to impress her girlfriend who is playing computer games. That’s what you get for dating a gamer!
- Mercy volume 2, bonus panel



I just found this panel so funny. It truly hit home. Sejic knows how to portray the geeks and nerds, and I just had to show you why you should buy this volume.

About the story: Mercy 2 tells us more about Laura and Anne and their difficult relationship, while Alan and Ally try to find a suitable accommodation for their escapades. Young love in the making1 This volume contained some of the most beautiful artwork I’ve seen in a long time and was definitely worth full price. I just wish it was longer!

[Pistis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad porque no hay más de momento :(

[Laur · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love allan!!! greatest character!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely niet het beste deel in de reeks, maar het blijft boeien. Pun intended. *winkwinknudgenudge*

[Zian B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a 4.5 star rating;
I really enjoy that with this volume of Sunstone, we got to see how each relationship was progressing while also seeing a clear build-up of what would ultimately be the breaking points for them. Alan and Ally’s breakup might hurt me a bit more than Laura and Anne, just because seeing their dynamic come to an end for a while will be really sad to see.
Also, I love that despite Alan and Ally’s relationship starting off in a highly sexual sense, they had a genuine love and friendship underneath that. Some of the more funnier moments between them happened when they made mistakes during their sexual exploits and, they were so lighthearted about it which was extremely enjoyable to see/read.

[The Sapphic Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've loved this series since the beginning online and I still love it. There's a lot of text on the page, but it's all interesting character stuff. Just something to be aware of!

[Dresden Crace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want moreeeeeeee ;o;

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kink life abounds in volume seven of Stjepan Sejic’s Sunstone saga. More history is revealed between the former couples, as young love and lust lead to experimentation. Strict dorm policies force Alan and Ally to try and think outside the box to continue their BDSM exploration, leading to hysterical mishaps in the shower, in Ally’s room, and even at a local motel. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Marianne and Laura are navigating the waters of a relationship. While Laura is confidently striding into her future, Anne is stumbling from Art classes into the realm of tattooing. Though their love has never been stronger, there are cracks begging to show at the edges of their fantasy that will lead to bigger repercussions down the line. As always, it is Stjepan Sejic’s well-rounded characters mixed with his absolutely gorgeous art style that continue to propel this series forward. The entertaining dialogue and slice-of-life situations ground the erotic tale with emotion and gravitas. The painterly approach to the digital design is full of detail, expression, and nuance that invites multiple reads. Sunstone: Mercy Volume 7 draws its readers in from page one and refuses to let go.

[Valuxiea · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Another Year, Another Sunstone"

It's interesting to see how much this series has grown, and how much I've grown while reading it. Even still, it remains a constant source of joy for me to engage with it every year.

[Des · Rating 5 out of 5]

I burn, I pine, I perish! Please Stjepan, publish the next Sunstone soon.

I’m obsessed, and I’ve read the entire series three times already. I can’t possible read it a fourth time (but course I can, and I will). I’m aching for the next volume, the series is just that good.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ally and Alan have stumbled and lumbered their way into an amicable middleground whereupon they can screw each other, exorcise their kink demons, and still wake up the following morning, guilt-free. It sure took a while. Porno magazines. Internet movies. Glow-in-the-dark condoms. Thigh-high pleather boots. But through it all, the two weirdoes are growing, together, and have finally hit their stride.

Anne and Laura are nearing their relationship's plateau. Granted, one of the two women is still gaudily entranced by an adulthood that never beckoned her (Anne) and one is mightily in search of a youth that likely got away from her too quickly (Laura). But as a couple, the women do their best to raise each other's expectations for what it means to be a functional, loving human being.

SUNSTONE #7 aims for the bull's-eye of a very small target. Characters mature slowly and often accidentally. Meanwhile, the narrative style seems to favor exposing the fault lines that manifest with each flash of growth. Anne, for example, enjoys the push Laura gives her to identify and live her personal interests without regret, and Laura grows comfortable with the confidence her younger lover pulls from her hesitant heart. But Anne's quest for purpose moves quickly and it's only a matter of time until Laura is left behind. That's not good for a character, like Laura, whose primary trait is her restless insecurity.

The level of drama in this volume is quite low from beginning to end. Readers who dislike "talking head" comics will surely find fault with the way this book privileges exposition, as if needing to justify every intro, outro, or transition panel (or sequence of panels) in every scene. Sejic's storytelling sometimes vacillates between two lone gears: the fast, quirky, and raunchy and that of dull, idle chatter. The sands shifting beneath the feet of each character aren't always visible, but alas, it's better than nothing. The dynamic between Ally and Alan, for example, transitions from sex pals into something more wholesome when Alan's bachelor pad is no longer amenable to sneaking in lady friends.

Sejic's exploration of layout and composition is far more varied and contemporary in this volume. Perhaps the author devoted more time to advance storyboarding. Whatever the reason or impetus, the book's visual pacing is more relaxed, making the story, while slower, develop more organically. The comic retains all of the author's usual visual quirks (bad lettering, poor/inconsistent eye alignment), but in terms of visual structure, this volume is a big improvement.

For example, Anne, an illustrator and painter, occasionally clears her mind via a sketchpad and headphones. Sejic helps readers glimpse the girl's headspace by way of a collage of Anne-sketches and introspective narration. The comic is essentially showing readers what the characters themselves are seeing or thinking. It's a more patient, healthier, and more creative alternative to the usual profile shot of mumbling adults in denial.

SUNSTONE #7 isn't a particularly exciting book, but upon closer inspection, one doubts it was ever meant to be one. Ally and Alan's goofy trial-and-error deep-dive is delightful, but only reveals itself in fits and starts. And while Anne and Laura's relationship has inched away from the precipice of immediate disaster, one cannot help but feel the good times won't last for long. SUNSTONE #7 is an easy volume to skip for readers who haven't followed the series from the beginning, but feels somewhat essential for those die-hard fans.

[Gary Varga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this. I never really understood this point about me but I do love a good romance/relationship story. No, not as the only real point to the story. Yes, even as the major driving point. And this story is about the relationships of a diverse collection of people who deviate from the projected "norm". As often is the case, relationships could be recast over different genders, sexuality, ethnicity, etc. but it is the shared feelings, similar and different interests, jealousy, and emotional baggage that provide the richness here.

As usual, there is much that I have learnt from this. Most of which I will never employ in my life. Still, it is always nice being more knowledgeable than before. I would add that the subject matter should only put you off reading this if you are not open to reading about other peoples lifestyles which you mat disapprove of. Me? It's easy as if it is (truly) consenting then I cannot see any harm (usually).

On the downside, there are a number of typos in the lettering which did break the immersion of reading. That was disappointing because the quality of the writing, the art, and the lettering (otherwise) is very high. But don't let it put you off reading this.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another year another chapter of Sunstone, an adult story filled with sex, nudity, and a ton of heart and realism. There are 20 chapters in the series so we have barely scratched the surface, but we are getting more back story on some of the ancillary characters from the 1st 5 parts, and I think adjusting to that has helped me like this chapter better than the last one.

The last one was a start of a new arc and it took me by surprise, it was also Covid furlough time for me so I wasn’t in the best place, but now that I have two chapters of the new arc under my belt, it’s getting back to where it was before. More stuff from Anne and Alan about what set their characters to where we see them in the first 5 chapters. It’s fun to revisit the past and to also scratch your head about how these characters in this arc got to their present selves.

The good news, we have more Mercy to go, what sucks is not for another year.

It’s a grown up comic, again showing comics aren’t just for kids, yes it’s sexually charged and intense, but that’s not all it is, we see the characters as what they are, characters, each distinctive in their own way, and I’m here for it.

[Andrés Zelada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne y Lisa siguen adelante con su relación de amor casi perfecta, a pesar de que Lisa esté llena de miedos, sea un tantito bifóbica y se empeñe en organizarle la vida a Anne. Y Alan y Ally siguen también adelante con su relación de follamistad, BDSMistad o como se llame.

En este tomo vemos cómo se prepara el desastre que será el número siguiente. No tengo mucho que decir, la verdad: un cómic divertido, sexy y muy humano, que sigue adelante con su proyecto de desdramatizar todo lo que tiene que ver con el sexo y el BDSM. Y, por supuesto, con un dibujo magnífico. La única pega era de expectativas: creía que con esto se terminaba el arco argumental de Mercy y me he quedado un poco a medias.

[Aurakinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume lacked something, compared to previous ones. I didn't enjoy it as much. Maybe I'm getting tired of the story, but I don't think that's it. The dialogue felt stiff and like it was trying too hard. The art was mostly great as usual, but inconsistent, and sometimes there were downright ugly panels. This is nitpicking, of course, Sunstone is still an excellent series. I was just disappointed, since every volume so far has been a thorough joy to read. This one, I kind of just wanted to get through. Still buying the next one, once it comes out. I love the characters, and I do want to see how they got where they are.

[Alex Sarll]

Sejic talks in the afterword about the "joy to writing a relationship just chugging along" and it's true, that is something which can get overlooked in art, except maybe sitcoms. Which is territory this sometimes edges into, especially as one couple find themselves without anywhere to couple, but even then it remains gentle and cheery more than genuinely exasperated: "Hey, when life gives you lemons, you fuck the lemons." The series has always been far more wholesome than might be expected from a BDSM romance, and this volume is no exception, with a particular emphasis on knowing how to laugh about it when ideas that seemed sexy in theory turn out less so in practice.

[Tai Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and relatable as ever, I'm really enjoying getting immersed in this world with these amazing characters. As a kinky person myself, it's always great to see the stigmas and scaremongering aroudn the lifestyle torn down to reveal that we're all just humans trying to find real connections and experience the most we can out of life.

I will say, I felt this volume had lost a little of the magic that originally made me fall in love with this series. But I'm still definitely on board, and glad to wait patiently for the next instalment.

[Paul Allard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sexy and sensual comic series, not for the prudish.

Not having read the previous volume was not a problem as its plot is made reasonably clear. This is about two couples and their sexual activity, bdsm and all. The characters are well-defined and drive the plot about love, friendship and buckets of fornication. The artwork, as usual, is beautifully executed, without which the series would not work. Plenty of nudity so not for the prudish. Enjoyable with more to come. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the other “Sunstone” volumes by Šejić, do not read of unabashed sex (kinky and otherwise) makes you uncomfortable.

For me, the nudity and sex are vehicles that move the story forward. Those encounters are about the characters relationships. But, if sex makes you feel icky…skip these stories, you won’t enjoy the characters, or relationships, and progression of narrative, or artistic expression otherwise.

[Jane Vellichor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear God to whom I pray, I love this series! It took me a while to get ahold of this second volume of the Sunstone: Mercy series. Yes! The wait was worth it, as per usual when dealing with a Stjepan Šejić creation. My only problem now is to try (try) to find something remotely capable of filling the hole in my heart while I begin the wait for the next installment.

[Andre Simonsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuação da melhor HQ de romance em produção que mantém o mesmo alto nível mesmo tendo trocado os personagens principais por alguns dos secundários na última edição.

É incrível como consegue ser tão "real" em relação a como relações de amizade, namoro e casamento funcionam nos tempos atuais - incluindo traumas, vulnerabilidades e a importância de estar na mesma fase/sintonia.

Mal posso esperar pelo próximo volume! 10/10

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel doesn't have diverse body types, but Sejic's art is gorgeous and he does excellent facial expressions, especially 'oh shit' ones. Sejic also isn't the best writer - in this case, the story charts the developing relationships between characters but feels like a slow-paced placeholder. That said, Sejic is clearly having fun creating this series and the characters have fun, whether listening to music, meeting the paents, or exploring sex, so as a reader I have fun.

[Jessica Patzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

So… I think my issue with Anne’s side of this story is the impermanence of it, actually. Like, I think I’m having trouble getting invested in Anne and Laura because I know they don’t work out and, ya know, why that is. So… yeah. I’m still invested in the overall story, but I have zero investment in Anne and Laura as a couple.

Still also enjoying the Ally and Alan shenanigan, of course.

[Steven Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good continuation of the Sunstone series, just the thing needed to break the dull monotony of a covid-aware existence. If you're not aware of Sunstone, then reward yourself and dig into it. A love story in ink and art, metal and tattoos and more.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome like all the ones before, we get to know more about Anne and her past, including how she became a tattoo artist. I'm already looking forward to the next volume but also afraid of all the heartbreak it will give me...

[NiceBirdAsshole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I'm never finding out how alan and anne met in the first place...
See ya'll back sometime next year... maybe