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Elfes #1-2
The Crystal of the Blue Elves
"The crystal of the Blue elves" by Istin and Duarte
The Blue Elves of Ennlya, a small port town of Nordrenn, have been murdered!
Lanawyn, a Blue Elf, and Turin, her human ally, set out to discover who is responsible. The trail they uncover leads back to a clan of Yrlans—Northern men who hate Elves.
At the same time, Vaalann, a young Blue Elf, undergoes a dangerous test called the Water of the Senses. Her future, as divined by the Mother Prophetess, is closely linked to the Sacred Crystal . . . a powerful artifact that enables the wielder to control the ocean itself!
Could Vaalann be the messiah that the Blue Elves have been waiting generations for?
"The honor of Sylvan elves"by Jarry and Maconi
The Sylvan Elves have hidden themselves away from the world, jealously preserving their independence and sacred grounds. Anyone who dares enter their territory soon becomes their prey.
Eysine, City-State of the East, has always observed respect for the ancient pact between Elf and Man. But when a powerful army of Ork mercenaries lays siege to the kingdom, Llali, the daughter of the King of the city, must remind the Elves of the treaty that previously linked their two peoples.
This tale is that of two races who have forgotten their shared past. It is also that of an Elf and a Human who carry with them the power to reawaken this bond.
Thus begins Elves, a sprawling saga of mythic proportions!
In the vein the Lord of the Rings and other high fantasy classics, this richly illustrated graphic novel series contains five volumes, each focusing one of five main classes of Elves.
The Blue Elves of Ennlya, a small port town of Nordrenn, have been murdered!
Lanawyn, a Blue Elf, and Turin, her human ally, set out to discover who is responsible. The trail they uncover leads back to a clan of Yrlans—Northern men who hate Elves.
At the same time, Vaalann, a young Blue Elf, undergoes a dangerous test called the Water of the Senses. Her future, as divined by the Mother Prophetess, is closely linked to the Sacred Crystal . . . a powerful artifact that enables the wielder to control the ocean itself!
Could Vaalann be the messiah that the Blue Elves have been waiting generations for?
"The honor of Sylvan elves"by Jarry and Maconi
The Sylvan Elves have hidden themselves away from the world, jealously preserving their independence and sacred grounds. Anyone who dares enter their territory soon becomes their prey.
Eysine, City-State of the East, has always observed respect for the ancient pact between Elf and Man. But when a powerful army of Ork mercenaries lays siege to the kingdom, Llali, the daughter of the King of the city, must remind the Elves of the treaty that previously linked their two peoples.
This tale is that of two races who have forgotten their shared past. It is also that of an Elf and a Human who carry with them the power to reawaken this bond.
Thus begins Elves, a sprawling saga of mythic proportions!
In the vein the Lord of the Rings and other high fantasy classics, this richly illustrated graphic novel series contains five volumes, each focusing one of five main classes of Elves.
177 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 29, 2018
Elves is the first volume of a French graphic novel soon to be released in the U.S. It contains the first two issues of the series, The crystal of the Blue elves and The honor of Sylvan elves.
The crystal of the Blue elves - ★★☆☆☆
The first issue is about the Blue (water) elves. The story follows Lanawyn and Vaalann. While Lanawyn is investing the murder of a whole town of Blue elves, Vaalann finds out that she is the chosen one, the person who can master the crystal's power. As war against the humans is upon them, the two women start their journeys.
The honor of Sylvan elves - ★★★★☆
The second issue is about the Sylvan (forest) elves. They have hidden themselves inside the forest and refused contact with humans. As Eysine, City-State of the East is besieged by Orcs, the king's daughter, Llali, starts for the forest in order to ask for the elves' help (as humans and elves fought side by side before).
The art for both stories is beautiful. Unfortunately, the stories seemed to be lacking, especially the first one. At times it moved too fast and at other times it seemed as it was not moving at all.
The second story was closer to my heart. I loved the human girl and the elf, and felt for them.
At the end of the day this was a nice, quick read. And it's always interesting to see graphic novels from other countries, too, not only from the U.S.
*Copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The crystal of the Blue elves - ★★☆☆☆
The first issue is about the Blue (water) elves. The story follows Lanawyn and Vaalann. While Lanawyn is investing the murder of a whole town of Blue elves, Vaalann finds out that she is the chosen one, the person who can master the crystal's power. As war against the humans is upon them, the two women start their journeys.
The honor of Sylvan elves - ★★★★☆
The second issue is about the Sylvan (forest) elves. They have hidden themselves inside the forest and refused contact with humans. As Eysine, City-State of the East is besieged by Orcs, the king's daughter, Llali, starts for the forest in order to ask for the elves' help (as humans and elves fought side by side before).
The art for both stories is beautiful. Unfortunately, the stories seemed to be lacking, especially the first one. At times it moved too fast and at other times it seemed as it was not moving at all.
The second story was closer to my heart. I loved the human girl and the elf, and felt for them.
At the end of the day this was a nice, quick read. And it's always interesting to see graphic novels from other countries, too, not only from the U.S.
*Copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2021
Trama e personaggi che pescano a piene mani da Il Signore degli Anelli ed Elric di Melnibonè (gli Elfi Blu sono praticamente un incrocio tra gli Eldar della Terra di Mezzo ed i Melnibonéani dell'Isola del Drago descritti nei racconti di Michael Moorcock aventi come protagonista il Principe Albino), intrighi di corte e violenza in stile Game of Thrones, ed un pizzico di Warcraft .
Magari non troppo originale, ma storia e disegni sono davvero ai massimi livelli per quanto mi riguarda.
Una delle migliori saghe fantasy che abbia mai letto, qui al suo fenomenale debutto.
Una piccola nota dolente: la vecchia edizione pubblicata in Italia da Panini era decisamente migliore, tre storie in formato più grande praticamente allo stesso prezzo.
Se trovate quei volumi ormai quasi tutti esauriti, sei in totale, in qualche fumetteria o fiera, non fateveli sfuggire.
February 6, 2017
+Digital-arc gently provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review+
3.5 nature stars.
Más estilo Salvatore que Tolkien. Buen arte.
Set in a fantasy world, with humans, elves (blue - dark - sylvan), orcs, dwarves, and... creatures, lacks the apropiate background to undestand a couple of things, it feel like we are presented with the second tome rather than the first.
This volume contain 2 separate , stand alone stories: The crystal of the Blue Elves by Istin and Duarte; and The honor of Sylvan Elves by Jarry and Maconi. The second one to my eyes is more traditional tale, and more of my taste.
Oh, one thing: Unwarranted female nudity.
-RTC_
3.5 nature stars.
Más estilo Salvatore que Tolkien. Buen arte.
Set in a fantasy world, with humans, elves (blue - dark - sylvan), orcs, dwarves, and... creatures, lacks the apropiate background to undestand a couple of things, it feel like we are presented with the second tome rather than the first.
This volume contain 2 separate , stand alone stories: The crystal of the Blue Elves by Istin and Duarte; and The honor of Sylvan Elves by Jarry and Maconi. The second one to my eyes is more traditional tale, and more of my taste.
Oh, one thing: Unwarranted female nudity.
-RTC_
July 1, 2017
This graphic novel contains two different stories; "The crystal of the Blue elves" and "The honor of Sylvan elves". Both are good, however, both stories lack a proper background the characters and the world that the stories take place in.
I was a bit lost when I started to read The crystal of the Blue elves, I know nothing about Lanawyn and Turin, what's their history etc? Who are The Blue Elves of Ennlya? Now, this is an ARC so perhaps there are more information in the graphic novel that was published. However, a prologue with information about the world and the people that inhabit the world would have made the story a bit better. On the plus side is the art very good and that made reading this graphic novel quite enjoyable.
The honor of Sylvan elves had the same problem as the first story, too little background information. However, I quite enjoyed reading this story about a young girl who tries to save her people and the art was really good.
So, in the end, I just want to say that I liked this graphic novel, the stories were OK, they could have been better with some improvement to the stories, but at least the art is really good!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
I was a bit lost when I started to read The crystal of the Blue elves, I know nothing about Lanawyn and Turin, what's their history etc? Who are The Blue Elves of Ennlya? Now, this is an ARC so perhaps there are more information in the graphic novel that was published. However, a prologue with information about the world and the people that inhabit the world would have made the story a bit better. On the plus side is the art very good and that made reading this graphic novel quite enjoyable.
The honor of Sylvan elves had the same problem as the first story, too little background information. However, I quite enjoyed reading this story about a young girl who tries to save her people and the art was really good.
So, in the end, I just want to say that I liked this graphic novel, the stories were OK, they could have been better with some improvement to the stories, but at least the art is really good!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
September 21, 2017
***Note: I received a copy curtesy of Netgalley and Insight Comics in exchange for an honest review.
The graphics for both stories is really beautiful (I may be biased because I like elves :grin:), but unfortunately the stories are not on par with the quality of the illustrations. In both stories, you are thrown in the middle of the narrative with almost no background information, the premises are interesting, but they lack in execution. With more pevious info added to the story and more realistic dialogues, this could be a really good work.
Overall, a nice and quick read, 3+
The graphics for both stories is really beautiful (I may be biased because I like elves :grin:), but unfortunately the stories are not on par with the quality of the illustrations. In both stories, you are thrown in the middle of the narrative with almost no background information, the premises are interesting, but they lack in execution. With more pevious info added to the story and more realistic dialogues, this could be a really good work.
Overall, a nice and quick read, 3+
August 7, 2017
I felt like I was dropped into the middle of the story with no context of what was going on in both of the stories presented within. Each story tells the story of a race of elves in the midst of turmoil. None of the characters or stories were very compelling and found I didn't really care what happened to them. This was originally a French comic so it may have been lost in translation
Received an advance copy from Insight and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from Insight and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2017
This was awesome! The last part redeemed this and really made it a 5 star read! Needs vol 2. now!
October 7, 2016
4,5 / 5
Elfos es una serie concepto creada por Jean – Luc Istin en la que cada número está a cargo de un equipo de guionista y dibujante diferente, llevando ya 13 álbumes en su edición francesa. En este primer volumen recopilado por Yermo Ediciones, tenemos los dos primeros álbumes como son El cristal de los elfos azules y El honor de los elfos silvanos. La serie de Elfos nos ofrecerá historias completas en cada albúm repletas de fantasía clásica en el mundo mágico de Arran, donde existen cuatro tipos diferentes de Elfos y multitud de razas que ya conocemos de sobra (orcos, humanos,...).
Dos historias independientes, pero magnificas en su conjunto, con unos guiones muy buenos y un dibujo tan preciosista como espectacular, volviendo a revivir las razas más clásicas de la fantasía. Un volumen cargado de fantasía heroica y épica que narran historias llenas de compañerismo, de traiciones, leyendas y mitos con un trasfondo conocido, pero al que nos gusta volver de vez en cuando como lectores del género. Como punto débil pondría que ambas historias se hacen demasiado breves, a veces parece que la trama se apresura y trata de presentar todo a una velocidad abismal.
Tengo muchas ganas de leer el volumen dos y continuar leyendo más historias sobre estos mágicos y poderosos Elfos.
Elfos es una serie concepto creada por Jean – Luc Istin en la que cada número está a cargo de un equipo de guionista y dibujante diferente, llevando ya 13 álbumes en su edición francesa. En este primer volumen recopilado por Yermo Ediciones, tenemos los dos primeros álbumes como son El cristal de los elfos azules y El honor de los elfos silvanos. La serie de Elfos nos ofrecerá historias completas en cada albúm repletas de fantasía clásica en el mundo mágico de Arran, donde existen cuatro tipos diferentes de Elfos y multitud de razas que ya conocemos de sobra (orcos, humanos,...).
Dos historias independientes, pero magnificas en su conjunto, con unos guiones muy buenos y un dibujo tan preciosista como espectacular, volviendo a revivir las razas más clásicas de la fantasía. Un volumen cargado de fantasía heroica y épica que narran historias llenas de compañerismo, de traiciones, leyendas y mitos con un trasfondo conocido, pero al que nos gusta volver de vez en cuando como lectores del género. Como punto débil pondría que ambas historias se hacen demasiado breves, a veces parece que la trama se apresura y trata de presentar todo a una velocidad abismal.
Tengo muchas ganas de leer el volumen dos y continuar leyendo más historias sobre estos mágicos y poderosos Elfos.
March 23, 2017
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not bad, not good, just sort of middle of the road. This is a French comic being released in the US, and it's interesting to see the difference between the two cultures in regards to comics, both in artwork and plotting.
Not bad, not good, just sort of middle of the road. This is a French comic being released in the US, and it's interesting to see the difference between the two cultures in regards to comics, both in artwork and plotting.
January 8, 2023
Una lettura estasiante.
Non esagero, penso difficilmente di aver letto un fumetto fantasy così denso, epico ed emozionante come “L’onore degli Elfi Silvani”.
Ciò che all’inizio appare come un contesto socio-politico complesso (la storia, anzi, le due storie contenute nel volume cominciano in medias res) si chiarisce man mano che la storia si dipana.
Un racconto intenso, illustrato splendidamente, pieno di sfaccettature e di colpi di scena.
Boh, davvero non leggevo una figata high fantasy di questo livello da molto tempo (Dragonero o meglio ancora Sanderson -se parliamo anche di romanzi- sono due nomi e titoli che mi sovvengono ma i paragoni lasciano il tempo che trovano).
Passata forse un po’ in sordina qui da noi (o perlomeno nella mia “bolla social”, Elfi, ma in generale le Terre di Arran, è una saga che sono molto felice di aver scoperto in questo inizio 2023 e di poter recuperare nel corso dei prossimi mesi.
Non esagero, penso difficilmente di aver letto un fumetto fantasy così denso, epico ed emozionante come “L’onore degli Elfi Silvani”.
Ciò che all’inizio appare come un contesto socio-politico complesso (la storia, anzi, le due storie contenute nel volume cominciano in medias res) si chiarisce man mano che la storia si dipana.
Un racconto intenso, illustrato splendidamente, pieno di sfaccettature e di colpi di scena.
Boh, davvero non leggevo una figata high fantasy di questo livello da molto tempo (Dragonero o meglio ancora Sanderson -se parliamo anche di romanzi- sono due nomi e titoli che mi sovvengono ma i paragoni lasciano il tempo che trovano).
Passata forse un po’ in sordina qui da noi (o perlomeno nella mia “bolla social”, Elfi, ma in generale le Terre di Arran, è una saga che sono molto felice di aver scoperto in questo inizio 2023 e di poter recuperare nel corso dei prossimi mesi.
June 11, 2017
Full review to come!
February 6, 2017
The illustration was great but the story felt missing bits and pieces, it was like falling in the middle of a story.
There were 2 part in this book.
First "The crystal of the Blue elves". It had a very creative story line and plot but it lacked in execution.
Second "The honor of Sylvan elves" , in this one the execution was better but the story line wasn't as good. It got boring at times.
Both could have been better.
From Netgalley inexchange for honest review
There were 2 part in this book.
First "The crystal of the Blue elves". It had a very creative story line and plot but it lacked in execution.
Second "The honor of Sylvan elves" , in this one the execution was better but the story line wasn't as good. It got boring at times.
Both could have been better.
From Netgalley inexchange for honest review
August 20, 2017
'Elves Vol. 1' by Jean-Luc Istin and Nicolas Jarry with art by Kyko Duarte and Gianluca Maconi features two stories featuring elves. I can't tell if they are in the same world, but they have a similar feel.
The first story "The Crystal of the Blue Elves" features a blue elf and her human friend as they seek to discover who slaughtered a city full of blue elves. This leads them into contact with a group of men who hate Elves and are looking for an excuse to start a war.
The second story, "The Honor of the Sylvan Elves" is about a young human woman who seeks help from the wood elves against an army of orcs and goblins. She is mistrusted by most of the wood elves, but finds an ally amongst them. It may be too late though.
Both stories are detailed an interesting. Both have decent art. In both stories, there are side stories are flashbacks and in the first, this was a bit confusing, but I still really enjoyed these fantasy stories about elves and the humans that they live uneasy lives with.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Insight Editions and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel
The first story "The Crystal of the Blue Elves" features a blue elf and her human friend as they seek to discover who slaughtered a city full of blue elves. This leads them into contact with a group of men who hate Elves and are looking for an excuse to start a war.
The second story, "The Honor of the Sylvan Elves" is about a young human woman who seeks help from the wood elves against an army of orcs and goblins. She is mistrusted by most of the wood elves, but finds an ally amongst them. It may be too late though.
Both stories are detailed an interesting. Both have decent art. In both stories, there are side stories are flashbacks and in the first, this was a bit confusing, but I still really enjoyed these fantasy stories about elves and the humans that they live uneasy lives with.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Insight Editions and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel
January 15, 2023
Finalmente, dopo anni, mi sono deciso a tuffarmi nelle Terre di Arran... e ora mi domando perché io abbia atteso così tanto a farlo.
Il primo volume di questa fortunatissima saga francese racchiude due racconti, entrambi autoconclusivi e che seguono personaggi diversi in luoghi diversi di questo vasto, complesso mondo fantasy. I disegni e i colori si rivelano subito eccellenti e le storie, pur non discostandosi troppo dai canoni tipici del genere, risultano ben costruite e intricate. Entrambi i racconti possono lasciare un po' spaesati all'inizio, venendo catapultati in essi senza che ci vengano date particolari spiegazioni e costringendoci ad arrancare tra pagine che straripano di personaggi, eventi e informazioni in cerca di un contesto, che si svela lentamente in un climax carico di aspettative dal forte impatto emotivo.
Se il buon giorno si vede dal mattino, non posso che immaginare che Elfi e Le Terre di Arran in generale costituirà una lettura davvero memorabile.
Il cristallo degli elfi blu: ★★★★☆
L'onore degli elfi silvani: ★★★★★
Il primo volume di questa fortunatissima saga francese racchiude due racconti, entrambi autoconclusivi e che seguono personaggi diversi in luoghi diversi di questo vasto, complesso mondo fantasy. I disegni e i colori si rivelano subito eccellenti e le storie, pur non discostandosi troppo dai canoni tipici del genere, risultano ben costruite e intricate. Entrambi i racconti possono lasciare un po' spaesati all'inizio, venendo catapultati in essi senza che ci vengano date particolari spiegazioni e costringendoci ad arrancare tra pagine che straripano di personaggi, eventi e informazioni in cerca di un contesto, che si svela lentamente in un climax carico di aspettative dal forte impatto emotivo.
Se il buon giorno si vede dal mattino, non posso che immaginare che Elfi e Le Terre di Arran in generale costituirà una lettura davvero memorabile.
Il cristallo degli elfi blu: ★★★★☆
L'onore degli elfi silvani: ★★★★★
December 2, 2021
"Elves" is a French comic anthology project: each "issue" is by a different writer-artist creative team. This being a volume that collects two storylines, it's hard to give it a fair rating. The first story is, on the whole, fine: the art itself is gorgeous, but the story its telling could take up hundreds of pages if told properly, so it feels condensed in a not very flattering way that makes it all generic. Even the two protagonists have nothing beyond being protagonists in terms of characterization. The second story, featuring an entirely new set of characters and plot by a new creative team, is genuinely very good. It knows to start far into the action and intercut with flashbacks leading up to the moment, keeps the storyline fairly simple and nails the emotion it is going for where the first story felt hollow in its attempts to be dramatic.
First story: 2.5/5
Second story: 4/5
Overall I would recommend giving this a shot, especially the second issue (which can be found individually on Comixology), "The Honor of the Sylvan Elves."
First story: 2.5/5
Second story: 4/5
Overall I would recommend giving this a shot, especially the second issue (which can be found individually on Comixology), "The Honor of the Sylvan Elves."
Read
December 5, 2017Visually, this is just stunning, the end.
In terms of the story, though, it's a bit meh. It's a good story, but it wasn't terribly gripping. I think a large part of it is you start with the very little background, in the middle of the story with characters that I just didn't feel for. Maybe I just need to read it again. Either way, the art is lovely, and a second read is definitely not a chore!
In terms of the story, though, it's a bit meh. It's a good story, but it wasn't terribly gripping. I think a large part of it is you start with the very little background, in the middle of the story with characters that I just didn't feel for. Maybe I just need to read it again. Either way, the art is lovely, and a second read is definitely not a chore!
March 16, 2020
Elves is a groundbreaking graphic novel created by Jean-Luc Istin and Kyko Duarte. The first volume consists of the first two issues of the Elves: The Crystal of the Blue Elves and The Honor of the Silvan Elves. The two stories are not connected even though they are happening in the same universe.
The Crystal of the Blue Elves
Blue Elves are elves closely connected to the element water. They build cities and live on islands. They build great fleets and are the primary rulers of the sea. On the other hand, there are also humans who resent the Blue Elves for their power and are quite bloodthirsty.
After an Elven city of Ennlya has been massacred, a Blue Elf named Lanawyn and her human companion Turin must investigate who has caused this great tragedy leading them into many dangers and possibly even costing them their lives.
The Honor of the Silvan Elves
When the human city of Eysine has been attacked by orcs mercenaries, the king's daughter Llali endeavours into the forest ruled by the so-called Forest Spirits, who are actually Silvan Elves, to seek their help in driving the orcs away. There she meets a Silvan Elf who realises the power she carries and together they try to bring back the good that the world has almost completely lost.
I have immensely enjoyed this graphic novel! The art was astounding, what I liked the most about it is the fact that it was slightly different in both The Crystal of the Blue Elves and The Honor of the Silvan Elves, but at the same time it kept its beauty. The difference in the aesthetic of the art and the colour pallet only contributed to the story that was told.
The only critique I have is that I wanted a bit more. Not because I feel the story was not well branched out, but because I wanted to dive into the presented world much, much deeper!
I must say I enjoyed the second issue, The Honor of the Silvan Elves a bit more. The characters were as if they were made out of flesh and blood. I could empathise with them and the end made my eyes water.
I simply loved traveling through this fantasy world filled with such magnificent beings. It felt like going home to Tolkiens Middle Earth, but also in the same time it felt like I was discovering a whole new world.
I wholeheartedly recommend this graphic novel.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
https://bookprejudice.wordpress.com/2...
The Crystal of the Blue Elves
Blue Elves are elves closely connected to the element water. They build cities and live on islands. They build great fleets and are the primary rulers of the sea. On the other hand, there are also humans who resent the Blue Elves for their power and are quite bloodthirsty.
After an Elven city of Ennlya has been massacred, a Blue Elf named Lanawyn and her human companion Turin must investigate who has caused this great tragedy leading them into many dangers and possibly even costing them their lives.
The Honor of the Silvan Elves
When the human city of Eysine has been attacked by orcs mercenaries, the king's daughter Llali endeavours into the forest ruled by the so-called Forest Spirits, who are actually Silvan Elves, to seek their help in driving the orcs away. There she meets a Silvan Elf who realises the power she carries and together they try to bring back the good that the world has almost completely lost.
I have immensely enjoyed this graphic novel! The art was astounding, what I liked the most about it is the fact that it was slightly different in both The Crystal of the Blue Elves and The Honor of the Silvan Elves, but at the same time it kept its beauty. The difference in the aesthetic of the art and the colour pallet only contributed to the story that was told.
The only critique I have is that I wanted a bit more. Not because I feel the story was not well branched out, but because I wanted to dive into the presented world much, much deeper!
I must say I enjoyed the second issue, The Honor of the Silvan Elves a bit more. The characters were as if they were made out of flesh and blood. I could empathise with them and the end made my eyes water.
I simply loved traveling through this fantasy world filled with such magnificent beings. It felt like going home to Tolkiens Middle Earth, but also in the same time it felt like I was discovering a whole new world.
I wholeheartedly recommend this graphic novel.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
https://bookprejudice.wordpress.com/2...
April 5, 2018
“Go not the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.”
-J.R.R. Tolkien
Let’s be clear, there is one author, and only one author, who does elves right. And that author is Tolkien. I could be a little biased, because Tolkien introduced me to elves (aside from Santa’s little helpers), but in all my years delving into fantasy books and series and authors, I’ve never come across the grace, intelligence, depth, and history that Tolkien crafted for elves. I’ve always been mystified by Tolkien’s elves, and their still some of my favourite characters - Galadriel (who I strongly identify with), Thranduil (from the movies, I was always interested in him before the Hobbit movies came out, and say what you will about the films, but Lee Pace brought an exceptional performance and depth to the character), Thingol, Maedhros and Fingon (who were TOTALLY lovers, you can’t convince me otherwise). Okay, now I’m all caught up in Tolkien. The point of all that, is to say that I love Eeves. Even my World of Warcraft main is a Blood Elf (go Horde). So naturally, when I came across this graphic novel volume in Chapters, I had to own it.
Elves is an ongoing fantasy comic series by Jean-Luc Istin, a French comic artist and writer who primarily writes heroic fantasy. It was only recently translated from French to English, and there is a hell of a lot of content for us Anglophones to catch up on. This first volume is made up of the first two stories in this mythos. The first story, The Crystal of the Blue Elves, tell’s an epic tale of betrayal and corrupting power as one young elf is called to undergo a dangerous test in order to secure an ancient artifact. The second story, The Honour of Sylvan Elves, sees a race of xenophobic elves rejoin their ancient human allies in defending the city of Eysine against Ork mercenaries. I don’t know too much about Istin’s work, and I’m not sure if these two stories take place on the same world or even in the same universe, but I imagine that continuity will be touched on in later volumes.
Despite my love for elves, I’ve had very mixed feelings about this series. Where it excels is in it’s artwork. I still cannot get over the artwork in these volumes. I’ve never seen a comic with such detailed beauty before. Each panel feels like it received an insane about of love and attention, and it really helps to build this fantasy world visually. I caught myself starring at the images, completely lost in the details and the world, having forgotten to continue reading. The artwork is the definite strength in this graphic novel… but it alone is not strong enough to compensate for the stories.
I understand that in comics and graphic novels some of the meat of the story has to be sacrificed. You only have so many pages to tell the story, and want to fill it rich illustrations. After-all, a picture is worth a thousand words, am I right? Well… The older I get, the less I believe that. Sure, an image can convey a lot of meaning, but mostly, an image is static. It’s telling you the story of that particular moment with only slight hints as to the past and future therein. Something written, like a novel or a story, is constantly moving forward, constantly giving you more information and carrying you somewhere. But when your driving force is images that take up a lot more space than words, you can’t add as much weight to your story. And that’s the unfortunate part of Elves. The stories are very rushed, and the characters are incredibly underdeveloped. The world that Istin has created is so beautifully illustrated, but lacks the literary weight to make you care.
That being said, I am definitely planning to continue on with this series. There are currently two more volumes out in English, and I can’t wait to dive into them, if for no other reason than for the visual feast Istin has laid out for his readers. I’m learning, that with comics and graphic novels, that I can’t approach them with the same state of mind that I do a novel. I need to suspend some of my expectations for a weighty, well-developed narrative, and instead enjoy the medium as something separate from written literature. Thats a mind set I need going forward with medium… I just wish everyone else had the artistic talents of Istin and his team.
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FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnh...
-J.R.R. Tolkien
Let’s be clear, there is one author, and only one author, who does elves right. And that author is Tolkien. I could be a little biased, because Tolkien introduced me to elves (aside from Santa’s little helpers), but in all my years delving into fantasy books and series and authors, I’ve never come across the grace, intelligence, depth, and history that Tolkien crafted for elves. I’ve always been mystified by Tolkien’s elves, and their still some of my favourite characters - Galadriel (who I strongly identify with), Thranduil (from the movies, I was always interested in him before the Hobbit movies came out, and say what you will about the films, but Lee Pace brought an exceptional performance and depth to the character), Thingol, Maedhros and Fingon (who were TOTALLY lovers, you can’t convince me otherwise). Okay, now I’m all caught up in Tolkien. The point of all that, is to say that I love Eeves. Even my World of Warcraft main is a Blood Elf (go Horde). So naturally, when I came across this graphic novel volume in Chapters, I had to own it.
Elves is an ongoing fantasy comic series by Jean-Luc Istin, a French comic artist and writer who primarily writes heroic fantasy. It was only recently translated from French to English, and there is a hell of a lot of content for us Anglophones to catch up on. This first volume is made up of the first two stories in this mythos. The first story, The Crystal of the Blue Elves, tell’s an epic tale of betrayal and corrupting power as one young elf is called to undergo a dangerous test in order to secure an ancient artifact. The second story, The Honour of Sylvan Elves, sees a race of xenophobic elves rejoin their ancient human allies in defending the city of Eysine against Ork mercenaries. I don’t know too much about Istin’s work, and I’m not sure if these two stories take place on the same world or even in the same universe, but I imagine that continuity will be touched on in later volumes.
Despite my love for elves, I’ve had very mixed feelings about this series. Where it excels is in it’s artwork. I still cannot get over the artwork in these volumes. I’ve never seen a comic with such detailed beauty before. Each panel feels like it received an insane about of love and attention, and it really helps to build this fantasy world visually. I caught myself starring at the images, completely lost in the details and the world, having forgotten to continue reading. The artwork is the definite strength in this graphic novel… but it alone is not strong enough to compensate for the stories.
I understand that in comics and graphic novels some of the meat of the story has to be sacrificed. You only have so many pages to tell the story, and want to fill it rich illustrations. After-all, a picture is worth a thousand words, am I right? Well… The older I get, the less I believe that. Sure, an image can convey a lot of meaning, but mostly, an image is static. It’s telling you the story of that particular moment with only slight hints as to the past and future therein. Something written, like a novel or a story, is constantly moving forward, constantly giving you more information and carrying you somewhere. But when your driving force is images that take up a lot more space than words, you can’t add as much weight to your story. And that’s the unfortunate part of Elves. The stories are very rushed, and the characters are incredibly underdeveloped. The world that Istin has created is so beautifully illustrated, but lacks the literary weight to make you care.
That being said, I am definitely planning to continue on with this series. There are currently two more volumes out in English, and I can’t wait to dive into them, if for no other reason than for the visual feast Istin has laid out for his readers. I’m learning, that with comics and graphic novels, that I can’t approach them with the same state of mind that I do a novel. I need to suspend some of my expectations for a weighty, well-developed narrative, and instead enjoy the medium as something separate from written literature. Thats a mind set I need going forward with medium… I just wish everyone else had the artistic talents of Istin and his team.
-----
FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnh...
January 22, 2017
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Elves has some incredibly beautiful illustration and color work that somewhat offset a drearily earnest collection of two stories (each focusing on a type of elf: Blue (water) and Sylvan (forest). The Lord of the Rings reference is pronounced: from the names, stories, characters, world building, races, etc., I couldn't help but feel the author was attempting to add to the LoTR mythos. While not necessarily a bad thing, it was hard to separate the Peter Jackson movies from this graphic novel. There just wasn't an originality here.Story 1: An elf huntress and nomadic hunter discover an elven city has been slaughtered. Evidence points to a rival human kingdom but both elf and human have their own suspicions. Together, they set out to discover the truth behind the murders. At the same time, an elf maiden has been scryed as the 'chosen one' - the one to find/wield the powerful magic crystal that will unite the races. But if she is the chosen one, why are the crystal's guardians fighting so hard against her? Story 2: a human princess sets out to forge an alliance with the Sylvan elves to help fight the Orcs. But the elves don't want anything to do with the humans and so it will come down to one lone elf to throw away centuries of xenophobia and reach out to the princess.
I'll be honest here - the stories are shallow and lacking nuance. Character dialogues are flat and unimaginative (perhaps too literal a translation from French?) and hardly feel interesting. All the characters pretty much sound the same despite the difference in races, cultures, and social levels. The evil guys are eeevil and the good guys are just plain stupid. Plot twists aren't very interesting and fairly well telegraphed in advance so as not to be all that interesting. The story is meant to be serious but the tepid pacing defeats any attempt at depth. By the end of both stories, one had to wonder why people were so clueless. It's all simple linear plots.
The illustration work is quite lovely but again, you'll feel like you are looking at sketches for the next Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movie. From circlets to flowy fabrics, we've seen these elves before. Add in a lot of braids and it really starts to go Peter Jackson fast. But the coloring is also quite beautiful, although I could wish for fewer blocked shadowing so we could get more definition.
Elves Volume 1 was not a bad read but it also was one where I never became invested in the story or the characters. More caricature than person, it all felt so painfully idealized and romanticized. As such, those looking for a Lord of The Rings type fantasy will likely enjoy Elves, even with the simplistic storytelling. But I honestly expect more sophistication in storytelling to match the lovely artwork. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
July 8, 2017
A few years ago Elves was published in France (Elfes) and now it's making its appearance here in the United States. Volume 1 contains two separate stories, Part 1: The Crystal of the Blue Elves by Jean-Luc Istin and Kyko Duarte about the Blue Elves who live by the sea and Part 2: The Honor of the Sylvan Elves by Nicolas Jarry and Maconi dealing with the Sylvan or Forest Elves. There are three other subsets of Elves to be published in a future edition.
The trouble with this series is that it takes awhile to grasp the cast of characters. While the graphics are spectacular and help the reader interpret the story, there is still a lot of confusion. Part of the problem in the first story is that these are three plot lines which eventually intersect, however, the story flits from one to another in a jarring fashion, taking a moment or two to figure out which part of the plot is front and center. While in the second story there is also a bunch of back and forths which make it difficult at times to figure out who's who or what's what. Too many gaps in the story only adds to the confusion, requiring an explanation which is nowhere to be found. It's as if there was a prequel we all missed. Some backstory please before you throw us into the mix. Eventually we get the drift, but only after a frustrating start.
In both stories there's a lot of backstabbing and double crossing along with a few deceptions which change the outcome of the saga, although there are some honorable characters who leave us with hope for an eventual resolution. The various evil creatures such as the ork mercenaries are horrifying, but as least they are easily identifiable as the enemy. It's when the "good guys" turn out to have a hidden agenda and double cross their so called friends that the stories reflect a dark theme.
Full of blood, violence, and death, not everything turns out with a happily ever after ending. It's just not that kind of book. With a better narrative and smoother transitions, this would be a superior series. The colorful, intricate art work illustrating the two stories could easily be developed into an adult animation (there's nudity along with the violence) for the small or large screen. Three stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Insight Comics for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read.
The trouble with this series is that it takes awhile to grasp the cast of characters. While the graphics are spectacular and help the reader interpret the story, there is still a lot of confusion. Part of the problem in the first story is that these are three plot lines which eventually intersect, however, the story flits from one to another in a jarring fashion, taking a moment or two to figure out which part of the plot is front and center. While in the second story there is also a bunch of back and forths which make it difficult at times to figure out who's who or what's what. Too many gaps in the story only adds to the confusion, requiring an explanation which is nowhere to be found. It's as if there was a prequel we all missed. Some backstory please before you throw us into the mix. Eventually we get the drift, but only after a frustrating start.
In both stories there's a lot of backstabbing and double crossing along with a few deceptions which change the outcome of the saga, although there are some honorable characters who leave us with hope for an eventual resolution. The various evil creatures such as the ork mercenaries are horrifying, but as least they are easily identifiable as the enemy. It's when the "good guys" turn out to have a hidden agenda and double cross their so called friends that the stories reflect a dark theme.
Full of blood, violence, and death, not everything turns out with a happily ever after ending. It's just not that kind of book. With a better narrative and smoother transitions, this would be a superior series. The colorful, intricate art work illustrating the two stories could easily be developed into an adult animation (there's nudity along with the violence) for the small or large screen. Three stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Insight Comics for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read.
July 14, 2017
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5
Elves, Vol. 1 is a beautiful graphic novel.
This graphic novel contains two parts, written by Jean-Luc Istin and illustrated by Kyko Duarte.
A pair of individuals has discovered that an Elven city has been slaughtered. It looks as though humans may be at the cause of it, further fracturing already tense relations between the species. But not everyone is convinced as to what happened and set out to further investigate. And of course there are some who don't want anyone poking around.
What works so nicely here is that we are getting a story of epic proportions - an entire race war is on the edge - while we are more directly experiencing the moment to moment journey of just a few individuals. It's the frame of epic works as you might find in opera (think Wagner's The Ring Cycle). I tend to really like this sort of story-telling.
On the other hand, it is so incredibly difficult to tell a story with elves and orcs and humans and not immediately place it in the world of J.R.R. Tolkein. Even the gorgeous art is incredibly reminiscent of Peter Jackson's iconic films. There are some small differences ... some of the elves here are blue, for instance, but since a mythos has been set that elves are lithe, with pointy ears, that's what we get. And since orcs are brutish and swamp-water green, that's what we get.
The dialog here is more than a little bit simple and stilted. Is it because of the translation? Or is the translation merely capturing the simple language of Jean-Luc Istin? That's something I can't tell. But know that it's the over-all story that will draw you in (along with the art), and not the character patter.
The art is above-average comic-book art. If what you like most in your graphic novel is the art, then this is definitely one you want to consider.
Looking for a good book? If you want a page-to-page-turning excitement, then you might be really disappointed here. But if you like a beautiful art and a high-reaching story that spans the pages rather than living on each one, then the graphic novel, Elves, Vol. 1, by Istin and Duarte, is the perfect selection.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Elves, Vol. 1 is a beautiful graphic novel.
This graphic novel contains two parts, written by Jean-Luc Istin and illustrated by Kyko Duarte.
A pair of individuals has discovered that an Elven city has been slaughtered. It looks as though humans may be at the cause of it, further fracturing already tense relations between the species. But not everyone is convinced as to what happened and set out to further investigate. And of course there are some who don't want anyone poking around.
What works so nicely here is that we are getting a story of epic proportions - an entire race war is on the edge - while we are more directly experiencing the moment to moment journey of just a few individuals. It's the frame of epic works as you might find in opera (think Wagner's The Ring Cycle). I tend to really like this sort of story-telling.
On the other hand, it is so incredibly difficult to tell a story with elves and orcs and humans and not immediately place it in the world of J.R.R. Tolkein. Even the gorgeous art is incredibly reminiscent of Peter Jackson's iconic films. There are some small differences ... some of the elves here are blue, for instance, but since a mythos has been set that elves are lithe, with pointy ears, that's what we get. And since orcs are brutish and swamp-water green, that's what we get.
The dialog here is more than a little bit simple and stilted. Is it because of the translation? Or is the translation merely capturing the simple language of Jean-Luc Istin? That's something I can't tell. But know that it's the over-all story that will draw you in (along with the art), and not the character patter.
The art is above-average comic-book art. If what you like most in your graphic novel is the art, then this is definitely one you want to consider.
Looking for a good book? If you want a page-to-page-turning excitement, then you might be really disappointed here. But if you like a beautiful art and a high-reaching story that spans the pages rather than living on each one, then the graphic novel, Elves, Vol. 1, by Istin and Duarte, is the perfect selection.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2021
De momento este primer volumen me ha dejado más que satisfecho. Me apetecía leer algo de fantasía en formato cómic y he elegido esta Saga por las buenas críticas que aportaba a su favor.
El dibujo es espectacular y acompaña de manera inigualable a la trama. El argumento de las dos historias también es muy bueno pero, por poner un pero, me parece que en algunos momentos la resolución de conflictos es algo atropellada. Nos encontramos giros argumentales y acontecimientos demasiado apresurados cuando considero que con un poco más de desarrollo habría quedado un argumento de diez.
El dibujo es espectacular y acompaña de manera inigualable a la trama. El argumento de las dos historias también es muy bueno pero, por poner un pero, me parece que en algunos momentos la resolución de conflictos es algo atropellada. Nos encontramos giros argumentales y acontecimientos demasiado apresurados cuando considero que con un poco más de desarrollo habría quedado un argumento de diez.
July 26, 2017
Two separate tales of elves. The first part deals with a tale of intrigue and murderous revenge that pits the Blue Elves versus Yrian under King Rinn. This plot is thwarted with help from an orcish necromancer. The second tale involves a different group of elves with a human girl seeking Elvish help for her father's kingdom against Orc and Goblin mercenaries. The support finally comes, but at great cost. Interesting stories.
May 31, 2018
This was a hard one to rate. The artwork is, without question, captivating. Elves riding polar bears!?...sign me up! But I can see why people are saying the stories are somewhat lacking. I wasn't confused by anything. I was able to follow the story, I just wanted more. The 2nd story felt a little more complete to me but I think they both could have benefitted from having multiple volumes. If you are on the fence, I think they are definitely worth checking out.
December 2, 2021
I picked this up secondhand at my local comic shop mostly because I liked the artwork. But really, this is a classic high fantasy where the story is beautifully written. The story is great, the art is great, the only real qualm I have is that the dialogue is something left to be desired and the pace at the beginning during the Great Info Dump is a little slow. A solid read and I'll be on the lookout for more.
December 24, 2021
Really great s&s and fantasy graphic novels. Pictures / art is amazing. But the story is the best and deepest part which makes these totally epic ones. First story about Blue Elves is 4½ and the second about Sylvan Elves 5+++.
Everyone who loves fantasy, elves, druids, magic, sword&sorcery ... should read this book.
Everyone who loves fantasy, elves, druids, magic, sword&sorcery ... should read this book.
May 28, 2017
Both stories were very interesting to read. The different types of elves that were create were fascinating. The stories were fast paced and easy to follow along. the drawings that were created for each scene were beautifully done.
May 12, 2023
Las ilustraciones son súper chulas, hay dos historias. Cada una nos cuenta un poco sobre los distintos tipos de elfos que hay en el mundo y sobre sus costumbres y guerras con las distintas razas. Lo recomiendo, las historias están bien formadas y auque sean cortas enganchan hasta el final.
September 27, 2017
3+ or 4 *
Points for the art and colours.
The story good and seemed steeped in a sort of Tolkienesque world without being a copy.
Points for the art and colours.
The story good and seemed steeped in a sort of Tolkienesque world without being a copy.
September 3, 2018
Beautiful illustrations and colour
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews