Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Book Review: The Hunger and the Dusk vol. 1


In a dying world, only humans and orcs remain—mortal enemies battling for territory and political advantage. But when a group of fearsome ancient humanoids known as the Vangol arrive from across the sea, the two struggling civilizations are forced into a fragile alliance to protect what they have built.

As a gesture of his commitment to the cause—and to the relief of his bride-to-be, Faran Stoneback—the most powerful orc overlord, Troth Icemane, sends his beloved cousin Tara, a high-ranking young healer, to fight alongside brash human commander Callum Battlechild and his company of warriors. With a crisis looming, the success of this unlikely pair’s partnership and the survival of their peoples will depend on their ability to unlearn a lifetime of antagonistic instincts toward one another…and rise above the sting of heartbreak.

The Hunger and the Dusk vol. 1 (which collects issues 1 to 6 of the series) by G. Willow Wilson and Chris Wildgoose will be published June 11, 2024. IDW Publishing provided an early galley for review.

The story right out of the gate has a different feel than most other fantasy adventures I've read. It definitely has to do with the way that Wilson presents the orc characters. These are not your parents' orcs; they are smart and funny and "human". That change from the typical is a welcome one.

Equally too, Wildgoose's art has a classic, clean approach to it. It reminds me of the comics I grew up on during the Bronze age. It also has an animation aspect as well that appeals to me.

All together, this is a very engaging volume of a story that I eagerly look forward to continuing.

No comments: