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Geis (Curse of the Chosen) #1-2

Curse of the Chosen vol. 1: A Matter of Life and Death & A Game Without Rules

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Reprinting Alexis Deacon's Geis Vol. 1: A Matter of Life and Death and Geis Vol. 2: A Game Without Rules in a brand-new format with a stunning new cover.

"Fans of high fantasy, especially those who have read the adventures of a certain boy wizard and now want something with more teeth to it, will enjoy this book."
—STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

“Tangled forests, deserts, bat-filled caverns, rivers, and medieval towns are rendered in loose brushwork with clumps of gorgeous detail, a meeting of Maurice Sendak and Pieter Bruegel.”
— Publisher’s Weekly


“Readers will give themselves over to the dreamlike, immersive narrative.”
— Kirkus Reviews


“Utterly fascinating.”
— Youth Services Book Reviews

“Gorgeously drawn and full of characters to root for—and against.
— Slate , Slate 's 10 Favorite Comics of 2016

“An engrossing fantasy tale that manages the neat trick of seeming both familiar and fresh.”
— The AV Club

“This first volume in an anticipated trilogy is a lightning paced, tragic, and gripping start; readers will eagerly await the next outing.”
—STARRED REVIEW, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books



"a genuinely exciting fantasy book, with interesting characters and plot...I was turning every page as fast as I could just to see whatever happened next!"
—Comics Vs. The World

"Easily the best thing I’ve read all year without doubt....you will lose all sense of time and place while reading."
—11 O'Clock Comics

“The best thing published this year […] Like Squid Game in a fantasy setting.” —11 O’Clock Comics podcast



After an evil sorceress casts a spell, a community is sent into a tailspin, fighting for survival. Book one of the mind-bending graphic novel series, featuring gripping action, supernatural mystery, and magical fantasy worlds where fifty souls battle in a contest to become the ruler of an island. A stunning fantasy epic unlike any other!

216 pages, Paperback

Published July 5, 2022

4 people are currently reading
91 people want to read

About the author

Alexis Deacon

25 books78 followers
Alexis Deacon is an acclaimed author and illustrator. Beegu and Jitterbug Jam, both of which he illustrated, were named as New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year. He lives in London.

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5 stars
73 (43%)
4 stars
70 (41%)
3 stars
19 (11%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Rod Brown.
7,403 reviews284 followers
May 27, 2023
Oh, joy! A series I thought gone and forgotten finally returns for its conclusion. But first, the publisher is going to rebrand the series under a new title and collect the original first two volumes as one volume. So now the final volume that was supposed to be Geis III: The Will That Shapes the World becomes Curse of the Chosen, Vol. 2: The Will That Shapes the World. Regardless of all this shuffling about, I'm just glad my library is going to get it! And I have an excuse to revisit and refresh my memory of this intriguing world with the new volume one my library already has. Yay!

My original review of Geis: A Matter of Life and Death, January 5, 2017:

Whoa! Where did this come from? GEIS is a delightful but ghoulish little fantasy with a strong female protagonist and a quirky cast of side characters. The heroine, Io, is reluctantly thrust into a deadly tontine that will determine the next leader of her land and empower an evil witch. I cannot stop wondering how she will ever get out of this predicament. I'm 100% immediately addicted to this series and am seriously jonesing for the next volume.


My original review of Geis II: A Game Without Rules, February 10, 2018:

I continue to find myself fascinated by the little fantasy world Deacon has created in this series. The game to claim leadership continues with the remaining contenders divided into two teams and pitted against each other. While some contestants continue to treat it like a lark, others begin to spill blood, lots of blood. Our heroine is sidelined with health issues for large chunks, but the side characters and villains keep the story revving until Io can get back in the game.
34 reviews
October 11, 2025
really enjoyed good character design and beauty art as well as an interesting premise excited to read volume 2
Profile Image for Ted.
21 reviews2 followers
November 25, 2023
Too good. Had to try and slow down to enjoy the excellent art on each page.
Profile Image for Richard Howlett.
123 reviews5 followers
April 24, 2022
This book took me by surprise!

The story sees a powerful witch put a host of would be leaders through various tests in order to find out who is worthy. The witch has ulterior motives though, and it's up to our hero, Io, to stop her!

My first impressions weren't particularly great... The artwork didn't seem to be to my taste, and the language used seemed a little stilted, almost like an old newspaper comic strip; together this made the book come across as something a little more simplistic and maybe aimed at younger readers.

How wrong I was!

Somehow, halfway through the first story (the book contains two stories or chapters), it had converted me completely, and I was turning every page as fast as I could just to see whatever happened next!

It's a genuinely exciting book, with interesting characters and plot. And it's definitely not for younger children as there's plenty of violence and murder!

Is the art my favourite style? No it isn't, but that doesn't mean its not good. After a while I really began to appreciate the way that detail was added when it was needed, but left out when it wasn't. Action scenes seemed to flow really well too.

I definitely need to know how this story finishes, so I'll be looking out for the next volume!

Thank you to Flying Eye Books for sending me this advance copy.
Profile Image for Rick Ray.
3,545 reviews38 followers
February 4, 2024
The ruling matriarch of the state passes but with no successor in place, fifty identified candidates are forced into a tournament as per a signed agreement. Enforcing the contract is a demonic sorceress who knows full well that only one person out of the fifty enlisted will survive the challenges posed in the tournament. The secret is quickly learned by our protagonist, a precocious young girl named Io, who hopes to find a way to stop the sorceress. Though the participant size is large, the narrative mostly centers around a few outside of Io, like the reluctant nemesis Nemas and the scheming Toras to name a few.

Written largely like a children's fable, Deacon's writing is sophisticated enough to make this engaging enough for all ages. Though the world-building is dense, Deacon employs subtler ways to flesh the world out through the eyes of the few characters we follow. The artwork is rather minimalistic for such a eclectic story, but it works pretty well. There is an almost aged quality to the designs that gives the artwork the aesthetic that feels familiar to the scrawled drawings found on medieval scrolls which suits the story really well. The washed out colors heighten this sensation as well, and adds a quaint charm to the series. This is a charming comic throughout with compelling characters and an interesting story.
14 reviews1 follower
August 23, 2022
(Alexis Deacon, Flying Eye Books 2022)
Curse of the Chosen is a young adult dark fantasy comic told across three acts. Volume 1 contains "A Matter of Life and Death" and "A Game Without Rules", while Volume 2 contains "The Will that Shapes the World".

When the ruler of the kingdom is on her deathbed without an heir, she turns to a powerful sorceress and asks her to run a contest to select the next heir. 50 people of varying degrees of power and influence are brought into a game that earn them either the throne or their death. The only problem is that some don't want to play, the rules are unclear, and the sorceress is not being completely honest about everything.

It is definitely worth noting that book touches on darker themes, death is a common occurance throughout the story, as well as manipulation and compulsion which some readers may find uncomfortable. Opposite these darker themes we see ideas such as companionship, justice, and redemption explored, making this fantastical story firmly grounded in the human experience.

The story and artwork combine to create a cohesive and we'll paced story that is full of hope and excitement. Curse of the Chosen is a beautifully flowing story that leaves you guessing at what might happen next, desperate to read the next page.
Profile Image for drown_like_its_1999.
529 reviews3 followers
July 14, 2025
**This review is for the complete two part series**

Upon the death of their lord, the members of a medieval court undergo a game of succession to decide the next ruler of their kingdom. Unbeknownst to the participants, the chief had been corrupted by a sorcerer whom is orchestrating the trial under an ancient magical pact. If the sorcerer navigates the contest correctly, she will amass incredible power and rule the kingdom from the shadows without obstruction.

One of the most richly characterized and pleasantly rendered fantasy stories I've read in comics. It's a fast paced epic fable that follows a broad array of distinct characters navigating the contest for their own unique motivations; feuding princes grasping for power, debating scholars looking to preserve order, service employees living out a fantasy of becoming someone important, and many other well developed scenarios. While there were many engaging characters, I found myself particularly grabbed by Artur the bookkeeper, a diminutive romantic hoping that an ascension to the throne would impress the love of his life. The well rounded characters navigate an equally well realized world that sees them traverse grim catacombs, lantern lit mushroom forests, a morphing mideval castle, and many more entrancing settings. While I did find some issue with a bit of messy plotting and found the magical rules a bit vague at times, these issues only slightly detract from what is otherwise a darkly whimsical delight.
Profile Image for April Gray.
1,389 reviews9 followers
June 8, 2022
This was, wow. So good. I really, really enjoyed it. I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book. The story is twisty and turny and chock full of intrigue, and it plops the reader down into a nightmarish competition to become the new ruler of a kingdom whose matriarch has just died. Fifty people have been invited to the castle, where they're tricked into signing a contract that binds them to a geis, and they must follow the rules and play the game, or they'll be killed. The tests will continue until one person is left, who shall then become the new ruler. There's action, fighting, murder, puzzles, tricks, betrayal, magic, all the good stuff, and it makes for an exciting, page-turning read! The mysteries surrounding the game are teased out at a fairly even pace, and the tension is nicely taut. I quite enjoyed the cast of characters, they're a delicious blend of personalities, and I got a good feel for the featured players even though there's quite a few of them to keep track of. I found the art style compelling, and it fit the nightmare quality of the story quite well. I thought I'd like this when I requested it, but I was pleasantly surprised by absolutely loving it!
Profile Image for Daisy.
917 reviews2 followers
May 7, 2024
Quality Rating: Five Stars
Enjoyment Rating:

I’d been aware of Geis for a long time, but had seen it disappearing off shelves in the last few years and sort of forgot about it. I then picked this up, not mad about the cover but liking the illustrations inside. Little did I know that I was holding a reprint (and rebrand?) of that super popular and ravely reviewed story. That was until I started reading and fell head over heels in love. This graphic novel feels like Earthsea and Inkheart and and retro Miyazaki films, that disorientatingly vivid and grim worldbuilding with casts of characters and endless reams of imagination. There is no one protagonist but a whole host of individuals acting a heroes and villains and tricksters. With each page the plot thickens and the world creates even bigger spectacle. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to find this story but I’m having the best time discovering it.
96 reviews2 followers
March 10, 2023
Fun little graphic novel!

The ideas it deals with are familiar for the fantasy genre—life and death, good and evil, and how those interact (can someone good take life? under what circumstances?).

The art is whimsical. It feels handmade, like comic strips in the newspaper used to be.

May not be appropriate for all ages, though I don't think the way the violence is depicted would have bothered me as a kid.

Some characters are impaled (seen from a distance). One character's face gets scorched and half of it is just black for the rest of the story. One character has to shrink himself to get away, and he undresses so tiny-him won't get trapped in his cloths—no genitalia shown, just a dorky little guy trying not to die.
Profile Image for Lucas.
528 reviews6 followers
July 17, 2025
I've heard nothing but praise for this series but for some reason I didn't expect to like it much. Well I was dead wrong.

Curse of the Chosen, aka Geis, is a smart and constantly enthralling locked room fantasy battle royale. We follow Io, who finds herself entered against her wishes into a life or death contest to become the new ruler. But despites her reluctance to participate in the game's at hand, she takes on the responsibility to save everyone she can, and take down the evil sorceress orchestrating the whole charade.

the premise is fairly simple but Deacon gets really creative with it, progressively establishing the rules of the world and his characters. His art is a little muddled, but terribly enchanting. I'm really looking forward to the second half !
Profile Image for Kate.
Author 15 books900 followers
February 6, 2023
After the death of the matriarch, fifty are called together, and what they sign forces them into a competition to decide the new leader. But they do not know that only one of them will survive.

This was a cool concept, and I liked how in the first section there seemed to be some main characters and an unspoken agreement to work together. The second section moved into another game that got confusing with the number of different plots. While the art style felt a little old-fashioned, it was dynamic and kept the story moving, breaking up the different storylines with color. I think if there had been fewer major characters I might have felt more invested in any one of them.
Profile Image for Meggie Ramm.
Author 6 books30 followers
August 7, 2025
As the great chief matriarch lays dying, she gives one final decree: Upon her death a contest would be held to determine her heir. Fifty souls are summoned, but only one will be left alive to take the throne.

This book is the dream: a high fantasy comic book that doesn't get bogged down in the weeds with a story that is both silly and terrifying. There is so much to like about this book: the brilliant character design, the sketchy but detailed set pieces, and a story that feels new but also like a fairytale that you half remember. I think the world has been sleeping on this one, and I can't wait to read the second book. Good for readers of A Beautiful Darkness and This Was Our Pact.
Profile Image for Amanda E.
422 reviews15 followers
November 24, 2022
A wonderfully illustrated graphic novel with an interesting storyline.

When the great chief Matarka dies, 50 souls are summoned to participate in the game that will leave one the sole victor, and be the next leader.

The author and illustrator, Alexis Deacon, based the idea of the game on the choosing of the Pope. Pairing this with a supernatural game, life, death, love, family, friends, right, and wrong all come into play as the chosen 50 battle for their lives and the coveted spot as the next leader.
Profile Image for Hyo.
40 reviews1 follower
February 17, 2023
A very enjoyable read. The art was beautiful! The pacing was good too, which surprised me since the book itself is not very long and the story itself isnt exactly simple... Alexis Deacon has definitely captured me with this comic and I look forward to reading the next volume (which I've already ordered) as well as his other works!! I can definitely see this being one of my fave comics of the year!
Profile Image for Underland_Queen.
42 reviews
January 1, 2026
I liked the storyline and its unique twist on the "chosen one" trope. Graphiation style was a mixture of animated details and simplistic sketching with sepia toned colour washes to highlight important sections or use of monotone with a contrasting colour. I genuinely enjoyed the graphic novel and would be interested in borrowing the second from the library as the first volume finished on a cliffhanger. Not necessarily into it enough to buy a copy for my library but more to support the artist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Els - Bookspaperink.
52 reviews5 followers
January 1, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, Nobrow and Flying Eye Books for sending me a digital arc of Curse of the Chosen to read and review.

When the matriarch chief of the kingdom dies leaving the kingdom without an heir, 50 citizens are entered into a mysterious magical contest to become the next ruler. But, not everything is as it seems and an evil sorceress has deadly plans for the competition..

This graphic novel was absolutely stunning. I adored the illustrations. The story was gripping and full of action and mystery. I read it in one sitting and could not put it down! I really enjoyed the plot and Alexis Deacon’s style of storytelling and world building.

I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel, however, I found some of the artwork panels hard to see what was happening as the images were a bit blurry (this might just be an issue with the digital copy of the graphic novel)

Overall I really enjoyed this graphic novel and I cannot wait to read the sequel.
Profile Image for Sezer Turgay.
248 reviews5 followers
June 3, 2024
Uzun süredir okumak istediğim şahane çizimleriyle defalarca kaydettiğim seriyi okuma fırsatı buldum sonunda.

Açıkcası beklentimin altında kalsa da bazı yönleriyle şaşırttı özellikle konusu ve diyalogları itibariyle klasik bir aksiyon çizgi romanı olmadığını gösterdi devamını edinip en kısa sürede okuyabilmek dileğiyle.
Profile Image for Steph.
1,449 reviews87 followers
June 19, 2022
A curse. A battle between good and evil. A very strange game. A soul destined to rule. There’s lots of little stories running into one story here and it kept me wanting to read on. I love the premise of the game and am intrigued to see where it’s going!
Profile Image for Avvai .
372 reviews15 followers
December 28, 2023
I was skeptical of this graphic novel but I LOVED it. It was the perfect fantasy, gothic quest with great pacing, great characters, and a solid plot. The art is a bit strange but it grows on you and I think it's perfect for the gothic-ness of the story. Artur is the real GOAT in this book.
Profile Image for Fabbio.
70 reviews
January 4, 2024
Alexis Deacon somehow manages to enjoy quality and quantity here with an ensemble cast that are uniquely memorable, and play off of each other in interesting ways. The world is intriguing, in no small part due to the stunning artwork
Profile Image for Ashley.
95 reviews
March 19, 2025
First of all, the art is fantastic. Such a unique, beautiful, painterly style. The story itself is darkly humorous, well-written, and gripping right from the beginning. I love all the characters and their designs. I already have the sequel to read.
Profile Image for Raven Black.
2,860 reviews5 followers
May 19, 2022
A bizarre ride where Hell is the least of your worries.
Profile Image for Brandon Levasseur .
22 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2022
Well constructed and interesting ideas of how push to the characters along the story. Didn’t feel dated felt fresh, worthy read
Profile Image for Savanna.
43 reviews1 follower
March 2, 2023
Truly magnificent! Cant wait to read the next book!!
248 reviews2 followers
July 11, 2023
Brilliant in every way. Beautifully drawn, wonderfully paced and plotted. Masterful.
Profile Image for James.
4,329 reviews
October 25, 2023
A great contest to see who will be the next ruler but is it all a ruse. Unique and interesting characters. Good artwork.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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