Rose [Paperback]

Jeff Smith (Author), Charles Vess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2002

The hit comic book mini-series Rose now comes to you in a single handsome package with a brand-new cover! Released over a yearlong period to rave reviews (and an Eisner nomination for best painter), the Bone prequel by Jeff Smith and Charles Vess can now be read as it was originally intended - as one massive epic. In the old days, when BONE'S Gran'ma Ben was a teenager, a terrifying dragon laid siege to the small towns of the Northern Valley. Unknown to Princess Rose (young Gran'ma Ben), the strange dragon is actually the minion of the Ancient Enemy called the Lord of the Locust. Unable to defeat the monster, Rose seeks the advice of her advisor, who tells the young princess how to destroy the dragon - - - but at a terrible cost.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Every good epic not only deserves but needs a prequel. So Jeff Smith's Bone, one of the great graphic novel epics, gets a teasing look at what happened in that magic realm before the series started in earnest. Opening with a Nordic saga-like origin myth about how the dragon queen Mim was driven mad by the lord of the Locusts and buried in stone to protect the world, Rose shifts into a traditional fantasy melodrama about two princesses. Rose is the more beloved, headstrong and inattentive to her lessons about how to control her powerful ability to magically dream. Her sister, Briar, is a darker soul, ambitious and resentful of the attention directed at Rose. When the two are called to their final tests in the danger-fogged mountains of the Northern Valley, they are soon launched into a fiery cauldron of betrayal and battles—all of it witnessed by the dolorous, mournful eyes of the Great Red Dragon. Vess's dramatic, detailed illustrations remain powerful, but feel cramped by the small trim size. Smith's tart writing easily weaves humor and tension into a tale packed with lessons on politics and morality. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8–A prequel to the Bone saga (Scholastic), Rose takes place in the Valley years before the Bones arrived, when Gran'ma Ben was the spirited, beautiful Princess Rose. She and her cold, bitter sister, Briar, are called to defend the Valley from a vicious dragon that is possessed by the Lord of the Locusts. Rose is up to the task, but can Briar be trusted? Vess's Art Nouveau-style illustrations, as well as an elegant, ornate font, give the story the look of an antique fairy tale. The vivid but soft colors, in subtle shades of red, yellow, green, and blue, are stunning. A strong introduction for readers new to the series, and a satisfying addition for fans hungry for more.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY END --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Cartoon Books (April 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888963115
• ISBN-13: 978-1888963113
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #948,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended to "Bone" Fans, September 3, 2005

By 

N. Hofmaier "curtschilling38" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rose (Paperback)

To anyone who has or is reading the "Bone" series- pick this up!

I was hesitent to pick up a copy myself- the color illustrations by Charles Vess were strange and foreign to the black and white cartoons of Jeff Smith, but I decided to give it a chance. While it lacks some of the witty humor of the series, this is a action-packed prequel to an already fantastic epic story.

Jeff Smith masterfully weaves this installment into the rest of the series. He may not illustrate this part of the story, but his writing is as rich and deep as it's ever been. The reader is given a greater appreciation for the series by jumping back in "Bone" history and following the backstories of Grandma Ben, Lucius Down, the Great Red Dragon, and others. You may even be shocked from what you discover!

A definite "must have" for any fan.

NOTE: This book is best read after Book Six: Old Man's Cave, which also is the end of Part Two. (Reading "Rose" after Book Seven: Ghost Circles is fine too.) If you read this book before the "Bone" series (even though it is the prequel), many suprises of the series will be ruined.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gift to this and subsequent generations., July 7, 2003

By 

Tom Knapp "Rambles.NET editor" (Lancaster, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rose (Paperback)

I had no knowledge of Jeff Smith's Bone series when Rose hit the stands. But I knew Charles Vess, whose artwork has never failed to captivate me, so I picked up the book even though it was a prequel to a series I didn't read.

Not only does Rose stand easily on its own as a classic of comic-book fantasy, it also piqued my interest in Smith's long-running fantasy series. I will know more of these people, these creatures and these lands! But before I journey into the realms of Bone, let's focus on the book at hand.

Rose boasts the kind of lush, layered and highly detailed art that has always excited my eyes and drawn my imagination into whatever stories he illustrates. His people -- and, in this case, his anthropomorphic dogs, dragons and rat-creatures -- are by no means photo-realistic, yet they are expressive and endearingly lifelike. The panels seem almost to be in motion as Rose, her sister Briar and the iron-jawed Captain Lucius Down play out their parts in the tale. Euclid and Cleo literally dance across the pages with canine excitement!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent prequel to 'Bone', July 31, 2004

By 

Sibelius (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rose (Paperback)

Jeff Smith's, 'Rose,' serves as an excellent prequel to his much beloved 'Bone,' graphic novel series. Fans will find great interest in the earlier backstory of Rose and introductions of 'Bone,' mainstays such as Lucius Down, The Red Dragon and even the 'hairy rat creatures.' Smith's writing and story construction is as solid as ever - the only thing noticeably missing is the infusion of frequent humor. The artistic collaboration with Charles Vess pays off magnificently as readers are treated to a lush, vibrant artscape that Vess is well know for. Even those who have not yet read through,'Bone,' this book stands up perfectly fine as a stand-alone as well. Great stuff all around that will appeal to anyone with an appreciation for the graphic novel.