I will start with that this review is based on a one time reading. See end for a comment on this.
Broxo by Zack Giallongo is a graphic novel that from page one always felt like it was missing something. Like this was book two and not a first book. Like it was starting in the middle of a story and had already fleshed out the characters in previous books. However, from what I can tell, this was a stand-alone book that should have had a series, but for some reason did not.
Broxo is the last member of a barbarian tribe. They seem to be out of any Star Trek episode where the people are “primitive” to our standards but have things to offer while being flawed like any human. Flashbacks fill in a few gaps, but they are just suddenly there, causing a jarring effect. You are taken out of the action and do not necessarily realized you have stepped out of “now” and are now in “then.”
Then there is Zora, a spoiled princess from another land, who for some reason wants to find Broxo’s tribe. Later you learn it is to unite multiple tribes, but never really explains why other than she is the “girl” of her family and wants to do “great things” (learned through partially told and partially reading between the lines).
Then we have the villainess. Yes, a she. With all the typical female issues (spoiler” is doing all the “bad stuff” because of past hurts (real and imagined), was an orphan, kicked out of her tribe, felt like an outsider, her lover choses another over her though there were “promises”). But how she gets there is part of the mystery. Her incomplete flashbacks tell her story, but still, I am more confused than when I started.
With all that said, the sparse text and lots of zombies and typical graphic novel illustrations will most likely capture the reluctant reader. The costumes are pure sci-fi/fantasy (and why do adult women have interesting choices in the lack of clothing department?). Zora needs to be rescued, but she does help Broxo in some ways, too. The “gore” might be a smidgen more than parents are comfortable with, but it really is at a minimum. It is typical aged 10 to 14.
I picked this book up because of a Good Reads review. I know I would not have otherwise. If they ever did do a sequel I am curious to find out if a plot twist would happen. Now, I do want to re-read to see what I missed. I think my review is based on some flawed information. To read again might help fill in some of the blanks I felt where there.