I have wanted to read Grimoire Noir from probably since I started reading graphic novels seriously. I wanted to open to page one and sink my eye-teeth right into Vera Greentea’s creation. The cover was a tasty looking treat and wanted to see what Yana Bogatch could come up with. And while I cannot say I was disappointed; I think I built it up a smidgen too much. I liked this fantasy mystery that is both modern and classic in its style. The feeling of something out of the fairy tale stories of Grim is only slightly melodramatic. Yet, it has a modern feeling that allows the 10- to 14-year-old to understand what is going on.
The text is darkly written, but there is some light. And that shows in the illustrations. The images are both dark and light. There is no real color and is filled with detail. It is odd, disconcerting and sets the stage. The art can be too busy at times while other times they are sparse. The contrast can keep you on your toes.
This is a charged read that has as many questions as it has answers. The main theme is our hero, Buck, is trying to locate his sister. What he finds is that her talents in their magical town could be the end of everything they know. Each woman has her own magic. We learn why this is as Buck searches the town for clues. We find friends, enemies and even ghosts. Bucky can be likable and dislikable at the same time. Nobody is all “good” and nobody is all “bad” (okay there is that one character…). You might like one person at first, later not so much, or reverse. Everyone will find their own path while reading.
Sometimes I was a bit confused as what was going on, but overall, you can pick things up. I think the use of color could have helped distinguish some of the characters or give hints to what is going on. And again, I enjoyed what I read, but I did not come away with an OMG BEST BOOK EVER feeling.