Breaks Volume 3

Breaks #3

by Emma Vieceli, Malin Rydén

The final volume in the enemies-to-lovers queer webcomic sensation is here...School is over, adult life beckons, and new beginnings lie before Ian and Cortland as their relationship deepens. But when Ian's father is released from prison, questions of trust and deceit threaten to tear them apart. The boys will walk a dark path together as the shadows of the past try to claim the present. The answers to all their questions will be revealed in this final volume, and some may prove dangerous beyond their wildest imaginings...With millions of views and thousands of subscribers on webcomic platforms, Breaks is perfect for fans of popular LGBTQ+ graphic novels, such as Alice Osman's Heartstopper, who might be looking for something darker and more mature.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Graphic Novels, Comics, LGBT, Gay, Queer

170 pages, ebook

First published December 5, 2024

About the author

Emma Vieceli (born June 13, 1979, in Essex) is a professional British comics artist of Italian-English heritage. She is currently a resident of a small village in Cambridgeshire, England.

From self-publishing to some of the biggest book publishers in the world, Emma loves telling stories with pictures and believes that comics should be 'For everyone, About anything, By anyone' (<--FAB!).

The writer for Life is Strange (Titan comics), she is happy to cross the streams and works as both writer and artist depending on the project. Her recent work as an artist includes: The Modern Frankenstein (Magma Comix), Olivia Twist (Dark Horse), Alex Rider (Walker books), The Adventures of Supergirl (DC comics), Doctor Who (Titan comics), Jem & the holograms (IDW) the New York Times-bestselling Vampire Academy graphic novel series (PenguinRandomHouse), Back to the Future (IDW) and Avalon Chronicles (Oni Press)
She co-creates the critically acclaimed independent web series, BREAKS with Malin Ryden (collected editions published through SoaringPenguin), with Vieceli co-writing and 'comicking' (art/tone/letters).
Alongside comics, she worked on the A&E television series, Bates Motel, providing the sketchbook found by Norman Bates, as an artist with tinyrebel on their Doctor Who Infinity games, and recently joined the writing team for Vile Monarch's life sim video game, Growing Up.

Reviews

[Ilse · Rating 4 out of 5]

You tell me that that was it? That this is the last installment? I wish that wasn't true. I need more of these two. What happened after all this? You can't leave us hanging like that.
But other than that, I loved it.

[Mariivdk · Rating 5 out of 5]

every volume i liked a little bit more than the previous one, aaaaaaaah 🥹 you know you're hooked when as soon as it comes in you NEED to read it. that was me with this series. i love this little broken love story. should i have been working on my school assignments? yes, very much. do i regret reading this instead? not at all

[suvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe this is it, that it ends here? I need more, I couldn't get enough of Ian and Cortland!

I did enjoy this final volume a lot but I found the ending quite a sudden and would have preferred a bit more closure - and happiness! - for these characters. Breaks my heart to say goodbye to them3

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars

The “pitch” line from volume 1 :” They said that before Heartstopper there was Breaks” and my comment that “Breaks is edgier, somber than Heartstopper yet none the less heartbreaking, authentic and wonderful!” is still true in this final installment!

What I love in that series among many other things, is the character growth and the abundance of feelings!
At the beginning, Cort was angry and fighting all the time. Unhappy and always expecting the worst. Now, he is finally settling, learning that he deserves to be happy, to have good things happen to him.
Ian was the jokester, never really addressing issues but deflecting them with a joke. In this sequel, he will have some deep introspection and will make peace with his past.

This is also a “coming out” story as Cort accepts that he is gay, something he suspected since childhood and Ian realizes that he is bisexual. Though advertising their relationship will take some time.
These two together are so sweet and perfect! We don’t even have a third act breakup and I am so grateful to the authors for that! No unnecessary drama in their romance now. Just respect, understanding and lots of love in discovering their sexuality.

This conclusion focuses on two aspects: Cort and Ian’s relationship as discussed above and family secrets!
We finally get all the answers but not before facing danger! I must say that I had never guessed said tragic past so kudos to the authors for leading me on!

Also Emma Vieceli did an excellent job drawing these characters, effortlessly conveying their personalities and emotions with her art.

All in all, I think this is the conclusion Cort and Ian deserved and I will always recommend that series if you love comics with LGBTQ romance with a gritty side, talking about topics like bullying, abuse, murders but also love and friendship!

[Oliver Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taken from my Amazon Review: I'll be honest here and say that I haven't actually finished Volume 3 of Breaks yet because I don't want it to end. However, having read 2.5/3 books of the series I think I can still rightly say that the Breaks books are my favourite graphic novels of all and not just in the romance category.

The characters' complex intertwining lives, the dangerous secrets kept between them and most importantly the developing relationship between Cort and Ian has had me on the edge of my seat hoping for a happy ending since I bought the first volume many years ago. Given that it's been around eight years since I read Vol. 1, I've re-read the first couple of books quite a few times too but I guess all good things must come to an end.

In short, the art is beautiful and extremely detailed in the more significant panels, the narrative was well paced and nothing, whether relationships or the drama elements, was rushed. The feeling of realism from the characters, setting and plot allowed me to really lose myself in Cort and Ian's relationship and yes...perhaps, somewhat sadly, live vicariously through them. Now I just need the strength to finish of the rest of the book so I can be at peace.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This does answer some questions that have been building through the series, but leaves a lot more left behind, and there's a big dramatic finale right at the end of the book, after which everything is just sort of - fine? It's too rushed really, I don't need all the ends tied off neatly but it ends somewhat jarringly. The characters are still good, and we see a bit more of Ian and Cortland's relationship development although there's a lot more on the surrounding family dramas. Taken as a whole it's a good series with an enjoyable story and characters. I don't know about reading it online but the paperbacks are slightly let down by the print/paper quality combination making some of the drawings not very easy to make out the details, it's a lovely pencil-sketch drawing style but the soft shading loses some detail on paper. Nice series but not the best ending, because it seems a lot of build up just to rush the finish.

[Sophie Edina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaks has been my favourite graphic novel series of the year and I just read the last pages of the third and final installment. The vulnerability and edge to the characters was captivating and the more they grew, the closer they grew to me. I felt like being part of a chaotic, imperfect, funny friend group, witnessing not only a lovestory unfolding, but coming to terms with legacy, identity, passion and duty.
It is amazing to see how from the very beginning this complex family dynamics were embedded into the plot and how they finally all come together in a way that still feels shocking, even though it makes a lot of sense. It really feels like a finally, emotional, thrilling and yet satisfying.

[Cír Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness
I can't explain how much I loved this
I devoured it!
It's on webtoon and tapas for free but it's also available in print
Actually Easons is where I saw it first
Anyway.....

So set in England, following 17 going on 18 year olds. Dark family secrets. Lots of mysteries to be solved. But also moments of joy and wholesomeness

Some triggers topics that I can tell if you want

But honestly this comic had me on the end of my seat. Then crying then laughing.

As for queer representation we got the gays, the bis and the asexuals!!

[Jonathan Huyghebaert · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Sooz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last volume in this series. The ending was kind of meh unfortunately.

[Logs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of this book went fucking insane. I love Cortland so much I want him to be happy forever.

[Caprice :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
I loved this little graphic novel series, pretty chaotic end but that suits them, I loved these characters so much! Could keep reading about them forever, def recommend

[Jake Aston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant ending <3

[Trian · Rating 3 out of 5]

B. Okay, the mystery part was a weirdass thing. But enjoyed this one as well!

[Lottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Rosa Revoluzza · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh (but its gay)