Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions are my own and this did not affect my review in any way.

I requested this from NetGalley because I was really intrigued by the plot and I thought this could be a new favorite. After reading it I am not blown away nor disappointed, for me this is a good middle of the road graphic novel.

In Odessa we follow three siblings as they search for their missing mother across a ruined America.
This graphic novel was really heart-wrenching and I think that everyone should give it a go. I overall really enjoyed it and it hooked me so much that I didn’t want to put it down. The writing is very natural and I think it was enough to give us all the details but it didn’t in any way feel like too much. This graphic novel game me anxiety in the best way possible, I cared for the characters, I wanted them to be okay and it was really scary to see what the world could possibly looked like after a catastrophe.

My favorite aspect of this graphic novel was the exploration of human behavior after a catastrophe, and I think it was very well portrayed.

I have conflicting opinions about the art style, I loved the art style, specifically talking about the drawings, I think they were able to perfectly capture the essence of what the book was trying to portray. However, the fact that everything was in pink was not for me, I started to hate the color and even though it sets the mood, I would have still loved to see a variety of background colors.

I really wasn’t a fan of the main character, she seemed very unlikable to me and her actions seemed very selfish. However, her brothers, I absolutely adored them, they seemed realistic and even though they were going through hell they still managed to make me laugh.

Overall, like I said there is nothing wrong with this book but there is not something amazing either. This is a solid middle of the road graphic novel. This story is full of adventure, survival, family and drama and even though I had some opinions about it I still very much enjoyed it and would still highly recommended.

p.s: I really appreciated seeing the beginning of a F/F relationship and I will definitely read the second volume to see what happens.

While the story is intriguing, the dystopian plot seemed like a recycled mix of other recent YA dystopian works like The Young World. Too many plot points and characters seemed to be contrived to check boxes of “edgy” works (LGBTQ issues? Check. Girl saving the day? Check. Untrustworthy adults? Check. Environmental calamities? Check. And so on). Side note – why did the girl have to cut her hair and become masculine looking in order to exercise authority? And at the end she capitulated that she shouldn’t be in charge and her younger brother took action. That’s not really the message I want girls seeing in literature.

I was engaged in the story, but I found the artwork to be distracting. Most parts of the artwork are done in black, white and pink, which was not the issue. The art seemed super-oversimplified and with the one brother looking like a character out of an old episode of Speed Racer and the sister with a nose oddly drawn like the characters from an old episode of The Twilight Zone (the one who has the surgery to be beautiful). The story and art should be complementary, and in this book, they felt too much in competition with one another or incongruous.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

This book is a wild ride. The world building is done well, and the story draws the reader in immediately. I read it in one sitting without a break, and I lost track of time in the process. I am thoroughly looking forward to reading the next installment the moment it is available!

Odessa by Jonathan Hill is a graphic novel set in a dystopian future after a huge earthquake has changed everything for everyone.

The protagonist in the novel is Virginia Crane aka Ginny, who is an American-Vietnamese character who receives a package from her mother - who had long left the family - just before her 18th birthday. This confirms any doubt which Virginia might about her existence.

Ginny decides to go search for her mother now that she knows that she is alive by rebelling against her father. But things aren't that straight forward, her two little brothers also follow sneakily and when she discovers the both of them it is too late to turn back home.

When I picked up the book, I had high hopes from it as it was an #OwnVoices book with a pinch of LGBT representation, alas there wasn't really much to the story apart from that which was disappointing. Apart from the graphics which didn't appeal to me much after a point of time as the facial expressions of the characters felt lacking, the story felt to be dragging on without any character development taking place.

I rate this novel 2.5 out of 5 bookmarks. I hope to meet the character behind the novel's name in the next book, which also leaves me wondering why Odessa was chosen to be the title of the book in the first place.
I'd like to thank Netgalley and Oni Press for providing me with a copy in lieu of an honest review. I'd also like to congratulate the author Jonathan Hill for his book!

3 stars

This was a okay read for me, the only reason why i requested for this book was because i adore the synopsis but i guess it turned out different.

Basically there were three siblings who went to search for their missing mother across a ruined America. The plot where it happened was very interesting but there was not much to talk about in terms of the chracters besides have a lovely good relationship. I found book a bit dry at the beginning as though there was no kick to it. It slowly picked up a in the middle of the book.

I adored the pink illustrated versions of the book and the drawing style was unique but i hope to see more storyline in the future as i heard it might be a sequel to it.

Thank you so much for the arc @netgallery and the publishers for an exchange of an honest review.

I wish had liked it more than I did but I did not hated it. The idea of a journey through a post-apocalyptic world sounded amazing and the graphics were really really good but the storyline was not what I was expecting, I guess that can also be my fault to set expectations.

All in all, I would recommend this book.

Stars: 3/5

Thank you for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start with the good things and things I like about this novel. The relationships and the way they were presented in this story was really good. I liked the relationships between Ginny and her brothers and the realistic banter, fights and brutal honesty.

There were plot twists I half didn't see coming, which of course made the story much more interesting. There was also a scene toward the end that was heartbreaking oh my goodness.

I think the story has a lot of potential, especially going forward into the sequels but I struggled at times due to a few things.

I didn't like the illustrations. Wasn't my style. At all. I liked the pink and grey aesthetic of it. Very pretty and made for an interesting mood, but the art style reminded me of a crappy 90s kid show... that I didn't like. That's not to say the art wasn't good, I liked all the background art of the destruction and post-apocalyptic world, but the characters... no thank you.

I struggled with the characters a bit. I liked Ginny and her brothers occasionally. I really struggled to match with them. I could relate but I struggled to get invested in them. This might be because I feel like the plot was half pulling random things from nowhere. Sure, things were explained but it still felt so random.

WARNINGS: bombs, gun violence, gangs

RECOMMEND: for people who like to read graphic novels, 90s style cartoons, post-apocalyptic worlds and sibling relationships

The world has fallen apart after an earth quake dubbed the Big One destroyed everything with nearly a day's worth of rattling. The realistic relationships between the siblings that are the focus of the story was just right. I do not typically enjoy it when writers create characters that act much older than their actual age and we never see glimpses of their childhood lack of experience. The characters in "Odessa" each acted their own age, despite having to grow up quickly in a post-apocalyptic lands scape and we followed them as they come to realize just how much sacrifice their parent made in order to protect their innocence. This was well played by the writer and aided in the miscommunication trope that continued throughout the narrative. ( I am not a fan of this trope but it served a purpose here).

Odessa is one part thriller, one part light horror, one part slice of life and a whole lot of fun. I have to say that I was not expecting it to lean more on the new adult side as it was labeled as a YA but the action and grit of the story kept me on my toes, The drawing style and use of monochrome color was well done. It has a continuous sense of eeriness through out the chapters. The investment in the character's was worth the time spent on context within the first chapter. There was a mystical element to the story in later chapters (The mist anyone?). I think that fans of horror comics such as the walking dead will find this to be a light fun read.

☆☆.5 | Fast-paced. Predictable. Seen before.

If it weren’t for the insufferable characters, I feel I could have enjoyed this book. The art was truly beautiful; the color pallet was lovely and a few of the panels were truly a pleasure to look at. The pacing was slow in some bits, but it carried its own and wasn’t anything I needed to slug through or catch my breath from.

But as I said, these characters killed it for me. I was constantly annoyed at Virginia and how incredibly bratty she was. She annoyed me to no end, I hated every choice she made, found her overly stubborn and overbearing and rolled my eyes at every other thing that came out of her mouth. Her brothers were supposed to be annoying, I get that, but they were JUST that. Annoying. Irritating. Always causing trouble and making stupid choices. Four Dollars was the only character I didn’t have a horrible opinion of, but that’s not even to say I liked him. He was just… there. As for the other side characters, I felt the same way in the fact that I couldn’t care less.

My other main criticism for this graphic novel was that personally, I didn’t think it brought anything new to the genre. There was no unique twist to this apocalypse, no raised stakes. There were zombies, there were creepy men, there were weird plants. There was nothing too intriguing about the world we saw because although it was drawn wonderfully, it was one we’ve seen a million times before. There were so many openings for societal commentary on familial relationships or gang violence, but nothing was done with those opportunities. War is bad, earthquakes are bad, what’s new?

If you don’t mind unlikable characters or a predictable plot (who knows, maybe you read simply for comfort and just want to read something familiar. This would be a PERFECT dystopian book for you) than you might end up seeing this as the next best thing. Frankly, though, I did not see it as that and I found it sorely lackluster.

I love that this was an OwnVoices work and I do believe that this author is a phenomenal illustrator and has promise as a story teller, I really just wish that in the end I could have found SOMETHING to like about these characters. But, alas, I could not.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Oni Press for gifting me an early review copy of this graphic novel.

3.5 stars. This is definitely an introduction to a wider story. While it's a great setup, you do feel unsatisfied because it feels unfinished as a reader. But I did enjoy it for the most part despite this. I think the dystopian-like world we are introduced to is really interesting. Basically, there was a catastrophic earthquake that split the western US away from the rest of the country, and nothing was ever the same as it was before. Gangs rule California, the worth of currency is based upon whether you're in the north or the south, and San Francisco is nearly completely underwater. I'm really interested in Ginny's journey, and why her mother left their family in the first place. We don't get the answer to that in this book, nor do we even meet her mother. We do however still meet another member of her family, who first appears in disguise, and who begrudgingly helps Ginny and her brothers along in their journey, which I really love. Give me all the grumpy yet compassionate characters. I am definitely interested to see where they go next and who/what they encounter, especially because I do feel unsatisfied. I'm also interested in the relationship between Ginny and Maya, because dear lord, it was mentioned once in passing and then never again?? The art is nice, albeit not really my style and I wish it wasn't completely monotone, but you can't have everything. I will almost definitely be reading the next book to see where Ginny ventures next.

This is the first volume in what will presumably be a series. Its decent enough, though not so much as to entice me back for further installments. The story revolves around a group of siblings look for their mother in a California shattered by earthquakes. The world building isn't so original and the illustration and style not so inventive.

The characters make a fair few decisions which don't seem consistent with their set-up. For one, the father is supposed to come across as mature and loving in respecting his daughter's desire to go in search of her mother, yet it comes across as reckless and irresponsible when we discover the lawless and chaotic world that she must journey through.

There's a particularly egregious instance of deus ex machina in the finale, which left me on a disappointed note.

It’s a shame Odessa wasn’t all that I’d hoped. Hearing that this was a post apocalyptic ownvoices novel featuring vietnamese main characters really peaked my interest.

In a world ravaged by the aftermath of massive earthquakes and societal divide, the Crane family thought they’d been through the worst. Then their mother left without explanation.
It’s eight years later, and Virginia Crane has grown accustomed to caring for her father and younger brothers. When she receives a birthday gift from her mother, Virginia and her brothers set out on a journey to find their mom.

While the art style didn’t play into my personal tastes, I will admit that it fits the post apocalyptic theme well. The characters were drawn using bizarre and played up features, which wasn’t for me, though the black and white drawings accented by pink were nice.

I found it really difficult to connect with anyone in this graphic novel. Virginia and her brothers are the protagonists, yet they undergo very little character development by the end. The supporting cast didn’t serve much purpose except for plot convenience, and the antagonists’ motives weren’t very believable.

By the halfway mark, I’d lost virtually all interest in this story. There were too many coincidences for my liking, and a lot of events happened simply out of convenience. While there are others who may enjoy this story, it really wasn’t for me.

First, I would like to thank the publisher for granting my request on @Netgalley. For the first few pages of the book, I was a little bit confused about the story as I didn’t understand the transitions and who was who at first. Then, it got better and I got into the story. It was quite a nice read but not an extraordinary one either. I’m a bit sad with didn’t get into the Maya/Ginny relationship at all but I hope to see more of it in the next book. Apart from that the plot was full of actions and emotions, especially when this apocalyptic seems so dangerous and full of bad guys. I didn’t get emotionally attached to the characters but I did find them brave and courageous. Concerning the art, I liked the colours (black, white and pink) which I think is better than black and white. I enjoyed the drawings but didn’t love them as this is not really my style. It doesn’t look cute or anything. It is quite a long graphic novel (300 pages) and I believe it could have been shorter, especially since it is not a standalone as I initially thought.

Overall, the story is not extraordinary and a bit complex but the subject of children going through everything to find their mum is heart-warming.

I really enjoyed the story of this graphic novel and found it really intriguing and always made me want to continue reading. I was expecting to absolutely love the art style but unfortunately it wasn't for me and did make the experience a little less enjoyable. I love the pink tones but the style of characters just didn't feel like it fit with the story for me. I also found the speech a little stunted and unnatural which also made the reading experience feel like a bit of a chore.

Thank you Netgalley for approving me for this arc I had enjoyed reading this graphic novel. novel so it's a bit different than the fantasy reads I'm used to. The art really went well with the story I loved the details that went into creating this world and characters. Their were cute moments between the characters especially when they argued because it reminded me how my sisters and I are with each other. It did feel a bit slow at times and it really didn't feel like the characters changed much by the end but I'm really interested in what is next for Ginny and her siblings in the next book so I'll definitely be wanting the sequel.

After the earthquake that tore apart western United States, Ginny and her family are doing their best to survive. When a mysterious package arrives from her long-lost mother, Ginny sets out on a harrowing adventure to reunite her family. Unfortunately, in this dangerous new world, she's doesn't even know where she's going and she'll need a lot of help. A colorful cast of characters including Ginny's funny and clever younger brothers, a pre-zombie passerby, an unexpected relative, and a super lesbian offer help along the way, but through it all, Ginny can't help but wonder if she's doing the right thing. Although decisions always have consequences, the stakes are high in this world full of monsters, villains and motorcycle gangs.
As far as adventure stories go, I was pleasantly surprised by Odessa. Although the plot is pretty cyclical, it reflects a real understanding of choice and consequence as well as regret when things don't go as planned. Each character is distinct, both in appearance and mannerism, making this fairly easy to read. It borders on hopeless at times, but I have faith that throughout the story the characters will find something of value, even if it isn't what they were originally looking for. I am hopeful that the story will continue to be interesting and a little scary.
Most of my students are a bit too young for this particular novel. It does contain sequences of violence and brutality along with swearing and alcohol use. It has appeal for middle to upper grades, though and isn't too overdone to be enjoyed by adults as well.

Ginny lives on the north side of The Line with her dad and two brothers, Wes and Harry. On Ginny's birthday, a strange package arrives at her doorstep. Normally, it wouldn't be a huge surprise, but the package is from her estranged mom. Feeling like that chapter of her life has not come to a close, Ginny embarks on a journey to find her mother in the war-torn, disease-ridden, and harsh world since the "world ended."

I loved this book. I am typically not a fan of YA and graphic novels lumped together, but wow. This book did not disappoint. I will be trying to find the second book in this series as soon as I can. Hill has a talent for creating the scene, and transferring emotions from the page into the reader's heart and mind. 5/5, would highly recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley for sending me an ARC of this! Unfortunately, this graphic novel was just not for me. I appreciated the art for its sharpness and bold style, which fit the story quite well. Where this fell flat for me was in the sibling relationships. I reeeealy love a wholesome sibling bond, but they were always getting on each other’s nerves, which also got on my nerves. And this book was looong. A lot could have been condensed to cut the drag.

Odessa is an interesting post-apocalyptic tale; this is just the first installment and the story is far from complete. It is not the most original version of this kind of adventure; the predictability started to get to me because I so frequently thought, "yep, called it". However, the standard issue journey obstacles ultimately didn't prevent me from connecting with the characters or enjoying the book. I'll be keeping my out for the sequel(s) to be sure.

Beautiful art style and a very moving story about a Vietnamese-American girl trying to find her mother after an earthquake changed their lives forever.