When I first read <em>Lifted: Of Gods &amp; Thieves</em> by Shawn Pryor with Keith Cunningham and Chris Murrin, I remember enjoying it. The sad thing, though, is that I don't really remember much else. And that's the thing that bugs me. Despite the fact that I can generally tell you what this book is about, know what happened in the plot, and remember liking it but I'm not able to recall the character names or anything about their personalities off the top of my head doesn't really bode well.

<b>When it's just okay</b>

I think the thing that really hurt this graphic novel the most is the fact that it felt like a continuation of something rather than the first volume. I didn't really feel like this was the first introduction of these characters. Rather, it seemed like a story where I should have already known everything about them and am now merely revisiting. That connection you expect the story to build between you and the characters? It wasn't there.

I didn't really leave this story wanting to know what happened next. I didn't end reading it feeling thoroughly invested in the lives of the characters. And herein lies the biggest problem I had with this book. Where were the emotions I was supposed to feel? The plot was actually pretty decent and it was definitely exciting and full of high stakes. But nothing compelled me to seek out volume two, either.

<b>Graphics</b>

In a way, I feel like the artwork was similar to the story. I can't recall ever feeling blown away by it. But I still liked it overall? Though nothing ever had me amazed or in love. In general, it felt similar to a movie that was enjoyable enough to watch that I didn't regret spending my time with it but really had no intention of ever watching again. Both the story and the artwork felt like that.

This is kind of disappointing since I'm fairly certain the book ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger.

All in all, I wouldn't say it was bad. I just wish I'd liked it more.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

This review will be live on the Reader Fox blog on September 4, 2020.

'Lifted: Of Gods & Thieves' by Shawn Pryor, Keith Cunningham and Chris Murrin with art by John Rodriguez is a graphic novel about a series of heists and the group of people who pull them off.

Sara Jackson has limited teleportation abilities. Along with her brother Max and their friend Claudette, they steal things for money. A high value client has them steal and item, then they learn that there are a series of three of the items, and now the team has to plan 2 more heists. There is also a team of down on their luck federal agents interested and a strange Hollywood religious cult.

The story is ok, but we get no context. Why does Sara have these powers? How did they decide to start stealing? In over 100 pages, I wanted some backstory, and it's just not there. The art is also not the greatest. The characters all seem to have a lean stretched out quality, and I did lose track of characters at least once.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Action Lab Entertainment, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

Not really a fan of this kind of artstyle so I didn't enjoy this. I didn't enjoy much of the plot nor the characters either and how things went felt convenient.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.

This derivative comic is alright, but it might have been a whole issue shorter and offer something fresher. Our heroine Sara is someone who can BAMF, but barely from one room to the next. Still, she's become some whizz-kid thief, with her brother organising things and a friend of both playing the Oracle part. Meanwhile, there's some other entity, reporting back to Guardians, especially as this opening arc is concerning some wacky Egyptian mythology. Add in the prologue the book forgets completely, about Sara being a foundling, some third-bit FBI agents, and you have a bit of a hodge-podge, but one where the 'seen-it-all-before' aspects don't actually leave a bitter taste in the mouth. They won't leave many memories in the mind either, however.

This wasn't absolutely awful, but I didn't really care about the characters or feel engaged in the plot either. There isn't really any explanation or world building about what is going on or even why the main character has the ability to teleport. The heist plot was fun enough, but the art is honestly pretty bad anatomy-wise so I kept getting distracted by that as well. Won't be continuing with this one.

I had a lot of fun reading this graphic novel. It began with what seemed like a simple heist that turned out to be anything but ordinary. A small team has taken on a big job that pays quite well, with no idea what it is they are actually stealing. As their job moves forward things only get tougher for all of them. This team appears to have completed their job, but it turns out it may not be finished yet. If you are looking for a fun story to read then you may want to check this one out.