Customer Reviews

Unholy Kinship

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Naomi Nowak is a new talent from Sweden who illustrated and scripted this whole graphic novel. As a debut work this is really quite impressive. The characters have realistic personalities and act as you'd expect people really would in situations like those that occur in the story. The gritty realism and isolation of the main character enhances the sense of wonder when fantastic elements occur. The dreams and possible hallucinations (or is there something more going on?) have an internal logic and fairy tale style charm that draws you in.

As far as negatives go, the lettering could be more readable (the unfortunate space to the right of every instance of the letter F is the most noticeable problem). Occasionally some of the illustrations lack polish (the nurse character to me never seemed quite right, but then perhaps that was done purposefully to show her menacing qualities).

But overall the detailing and coloring is quite well handled, with little things tucked in various frames here and there that, if spotted, tie various parts of the story and visuals together.

This title is certainly well worth the money, and I look forward to seeing what else this artist comes out with in the future.

Naomi Nowak is a new talent from Sweden who illustrated and scripted this whole graphic novel. good book i love it

Two stars for the evocative artwork and the atmospherics. "Unholy Kinship" is about two young sisters; one is sacrificing her social life to care for the other, who is sinking into madness. On the way, we get the items named in the title of this review (that was youthful angst, talking monkeys, mean clergy, and pretty fashions) along with a night of casual sex, some bizarre dreams that aren't that interesting to anyone except the person who had them, and some muddled cliches about scientific and religious orthodoxy vs. animal rights.

I would like to see Naomi Nowak collaborate with a writer of quality and leave her fictions for her diaries or blog. Her art is enjoyable, but this story line is thin and silly.

Luca thinks she knows her sister and her history - but she soon finds her family is mentally unstable just at a time when she needs them most. Here's a debut by an artist inspired by manga - whose color graphic panels go beyond traditional manga in an outstanding focus on family relationships and change.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch