I expected to read about adventures, dangers and family dramas, and those are exactly what I read. It’s a great story about family (both those you’re related by blood and those you consider as your family) and how you can sacrifice your own safety for them.

The main character kind of annoyed me with her reasoning and decisions. I was expecting to see a huge character development but since the story isn’t finished yet (well, I think it isn’t??) I guess I need to wait for the next one.

Reading it was really exciting and I kept on turning to the next page and I didn’t even notice that I’m close to finishing it!! It felt so incomplete. I need answers!!

Odessa by Jonathan Hill is a graphic novel set in post apocalyptic America. Eight years ago, an earthquake shook the world, and California separated from the United States. Around that same time, Virginia, Wes, and Harry's mom left. On Virginia's 17th birthday, she got a package from their mom with a present inside. The kids are shocked to find out that their mom is still alive! Now, she decides to leave her home and find her mom, but her brothers won't be left behind. Follow these kids as they travel through dangerous areas in search of their mom.

While this isn't my favorite genre of writing, this graphic novel included a ton of adventure, and I could see many students enjoying it! There is a lot unknown about this new dangerous world, and it's interesting to see how the author creates a new America. Definitely an upper middle school or even high school read! #netgalley #odessa

Thank you Netgalley and Oni Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not really sure what exactly I think of this. It was just... Okay. I don't regret reading it, I think the idea of this world was really cool and well thought out.

The one big downside for me was the characters, not that they were bad, just that the 2 little kids were such brats in my opinion ahaha. I really found it iffy that they all just left their dad back at home, like all the time I kept thinking "their poor dad".I also thought the situations were resolved abit to easily and coincidentally.

On a positive note, I thought the art style was really cool and unique. I really loved the vibe of the dusky pink, and I'd love to see more of Jonathan Hill's work!

This was ok. I really liked the art style with the one colour and I loved how the characters looked. I was less sold on the personalities and plot, just felt far too rushed for me. I didn't really feel like I got into the story or really got to know any of the characters. I'm not usually a reader of graphic novels so perhaps the format is just not for me.

Reviewing graphic novels is always a huge struggle. They often don’t provide enough content to delve into, and my review of art can often be summarized by one word “beautiful”. That’s why this review is going to be very succinct but hopefully still helpful!

Who would have thought that I’d find a new graphic novel to get excited about? You probably all know already that I’m not a huge fan of graphic novels. I rarely feel satisfied with them. Yes, the art is usually beautiful to look at but the stories tend to be very simplistic and short, and often leave me wanting more. This time Odessa actually did it for me! It was interesting, it was captivating and intriguing. I actually didn’t know that this is only Part 1, and was disappointed that it ended so soon. On a positive note, I’ll have something to look for when the 2nd part comes out.


I love when graphic novels only have one or two main colors and the rest tends to be in grays or black and white. Which was the case with Odessa. I’d love to read other books illustrated by Jonathan Hill. This style of art usually has just enough visual support to aid the story but doesn’t take anything away from it, doesn’t become a distraction.

One of my favorite graphic novels Hostage by Guy Delisle has very simple artwork but tels such an incredible and powerful story.


There is something about dystopian worlds / stories that really intrigues me. I’m always looking for something new to read in the dystopian genre and while Odessa is more of a journey through the dystopian world, as it focuses on family dynamics and a little bit of danger and adventure. I hope that in the future volumes we get to see a little bit more of the world, and how it came to be the way it is. I know there was an earthquake, but that’s pretty much the whole “background” to how different the world looks now.

Odessa by Jonathan Hill was a very pleasant surprise. I saw that the reviews on Goodreads are rather mixed. However, this was my type kind of graphic novel and I will definitely be looking for the continuation!

2.5

I thought the book was just fine. I thought there were a lot of coincidences that drove the plot forward and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters or their motivations. I did however liked the simplicity in the art style.

The art style and color scheme is beautiful. There are some panels that are absolutely stunning!
Overall, this graphic novel was different than what I normally read; however, I did enjoy it! Virginia, aka Ginny, was the furthest developed character, although I wish I new more about her, as well as her brothers. Four Dollars was another great character, and I hope that his histories are delved into more in other volumes! Odessa is a good set up for the story to come;however, without the full background/character development in place, some aspects of the story didn't seem to make sense within the plot. It sets up the different gangs and lurking dangers within this post-apocalyptic world, but often these aspects were glazed over.
I will be continuing this series!

Ginny is a 17yo teenager who is bent on finding her mother. With her younger brothers in tow, she sets out on a perilous journey to find her mother. Ginny is obstinate and justice driven, compassionate and her character sets a stark contrast with the unfeeling, evil monsters they meet along the way. If you are new to this kind of genre, then with every new character, you might find yourself asking the question - "can he be trusted?" In all honesty, I found this genre too dark for my liking. This apocalyptic graphic novel is illustrated in monochrome. Appropriately eery for the genre, this apocalyptic graphic novel is illustrated in monochrome. Whilst violence is not glorified in this book, you are left in no doubts as to how bloodthirsty the world has become since the earthquake that marked the "end of the world." People are desperate for survival and will favour themselves above the needs of anyone else in this quest. Kindness exists but it is a rare commodity. The book ends with Ginny's quest unresolved and so we wait for Book 2 to discover if she is able to find her mother or not.

I was half impressed and half disappointed with this one. When I read the description, I thought it would be great - post apocalyptic survival narratives are right up my street, and I was really excited to read something like that from the perspective of a non-white protagonist. I loved the aesthetic of it, and the very limited colour palette. I also liked the character of Four Dollars - he felt much realer than the other characters, who were all a bit simplistic and flat.

The disappointing aspects were the other characters - if I hadn't read that the characters were Vietnamese Amercian, I wouldn't have been able to tell from the drawings or text. The majority of them seemed flat and simplistic, and I didn't really feel like Ginny's motivations were explored at all. I also wish I had realised going in that it wouldn't draw the narrative to a close - 320 pages to be confronted with a "To Be Continued" is just irritating, especially as this felt bloated in places and I think would have been much stronger as a shorter piece.

I have a huge weakness for apocalyptic narratives, and the cover of this graphic novel called out to me from the moment I saw it. I am really thankful that OnI Press granted my request for an early copy to review.

Odessa takes place in an America that was devastated by a massive earthquake that changed the landscape forever. The story is about family and finding who you are when those you love have abandoned you and other need more than you can give.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGAlley.

This is the story of the three siblings - Ginny, Wes and Harry- and their journey to find their mother, Odessa. Set several years after some major earthquakes ended the world as we know it, this was an imaginative story and kept me reading, wondering about what happens next. Even though some twists were predictable, it was still really enjoyable as a whole and I'm 100% interested in seeing how the story will continue.

The premise of this graphic novel is intriguing and fun, but the execution simply is not there. The plot drags along for most of this novel, and the book could have easily been 100 pages shorter; this would have provided a concise and impactful story. There were a lot of convenient moments that did not seem realistic, and I would have appreciated the characters struggling a bit more.

This book definitely got me with the cliffhanger at the end! Thanks again to NetGalley and Oni Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for feedback.

This graphic novel by Jonathan Hill was very interesting, as it follows three siblings (Ginny, Wes, and Harry) as they embark on a journey to find their mother. Their mother left unexpectedly when Ginny was young and the three siblings hadn’t heard anything from her until Ginny had a birthday. Ginny received a letter and a gift, making it seem as if her mother was out in the world somewhere and it was her duty to go look for her. As the siblings make their way, they meet many unexpected and interesting characters along the way, learning more about the earthquake that happened during their mother’s departure to the sea monster that is speculated to be real. Now, I have to wait and see what happens when the next book comes out!

This graphic novel charts the progress of a young girl as she seeks her mother in a post-apocalyptic America.

The story is absorbing and the characters well considered for the most part. There are unexpected quirks of character and this enhances the story. They are sometimes drawn in and out of the story somewhat too conveniently, but the plot stays consistent and quirky.

The world as drawn is sketched in few shades, but the sheer scale of the destruction is well presented and believable.

The author clearly knows his stuff and this wil appeal to graphic novel fans of the post-apocalyptic and action viewpoint. The story is to be continued, and I look forward to the next in the series.

A story about 3 siblings, Virginia, Wes and Harry as they traverse a post apocalyptic United States. Eight years ago, a major earthquake destroyed much of the Western U.S. But, for Vietnamese-American, Virginia Crane, her life changed shortly after the earthquake, when her mother left the family and never returned.

This story follows the siblings years later while they go in search of their mother and meet many other characters along the way.

I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I expected it to be…more. The bad guys didn’t have any real reason to be bad other than the fact that they just were? Their motivations felt a little non-existent to me. There was more action at the end of the novel, so the rest felt slow moving.

The relationships in here felt like true sibling relationships. They bickered and fought just like siblings do, and they also had some heartwarming moments, which I appreciated.

The art style was okay? It wasn’t for me, but it definitely fits with the narrative of the story and the rough nature of the world that the story takes place in.

It looks like this might be the first book in a series, so there was definitely a lot of set up that is going to lead up to future plot lines. I would be interested to see where this goes.

while odessa is highly readable and quick to get through, an added 50-100 pages might have made it more successful.

the characters lack a certain amount of development that would usually make an apocalyptic narrative more engaging, as this setting is almost the perfect setup for showing growth and change in a character as they experience hardship. there are missed opportunities in making ginny more of a sympathetic character as she goes through next to no development, selfish and abrupt throughout and unwilling to compromise, something that always goes unchecked with her character. harry and wes are lovable, the endearing yet annoying younger brothers of ginny who follow her out into an apocalyptic wasteland, almost out of pure spite for being left behind. jonathan hill isn't afraid to put them through hardships, too, which is always a good thing in a world as merciless as the one in 'odessa'.

the narrative is also clunky, characters introduced more for convenience than for having actual personalities, which means any character is kept at a distance as there's a very likely chance they won't matter beyond conveniently supplying ginny and her brothers with a way out of a difficult situation. there's also a lot of melodrama in the plot that doesn't work, and with ginny's lack of development, any instance where she's supposed to be shown as feeling genuine anger came across as more childish than anything, even though she's supposed to be an 18 year old navigating a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

what really stands out in odessa is how lovely the colour palette and line technique are. the character designs are all unique and expressive, the pink tones with thick black lines making panels visually beautiful. i love the way it is, visibly, and i genuinely believe if jonathan hill were to add 50 pages, with more development of ginny's character and more attention paid to what, realistically, an 18 year old girl would behave like in the environment she's in, this could have been a very successful graphic novel. if there is a sequel, i will be reading it, as jonathan hill should hopefully take the opportunity to spend more time on character.

Odessa follows Virginia Crane as she travels through the post-apocalyptic wasteland in search of her mother. Focusing on the familiar bond between siblings and the longing for a mother who abandoned them this compelling story really hits you with the feelings stick.

The atmosphere building was great, I was so tense and worried about the characters.
The use of colour and art style work really well to support the end of the world feel of the story.

I cannot wait to see where the next volume takes us.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. While there were interesting post-apocalyptic elements, the storyline was a bit oddly paced, and I had trouble connecting with the characters because of it. I would have preferred more of a backstory of the family or the earthquakes, etc., for the first story. Everything seemed to rushed and forced after that. While I appreciate the sci-fi elements, they seemed oddly out of place given the rest of the storyline. Thank you to the publishers and #NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I loved the use of pink throughout this graphic novel, it created a sense that the events of the story were happening in a time different to our own and yet familiar, a bit like looking at a sepia photograph. The plot is surprising too and cannot be categorised as just one thing. The story starts with us focussing on a family as they struggle to cope in the wake of a catastrophic earthquake that has brought about an end to the world as they knew it. The mother of the family has left and Ginny, as the eldest, has taken on the responsibility of helping her Dad to look after her two brothers Wes and Harry. Early on in the story, Ginny receives a letter from her absent mother and she decides to go in search of her. So begins the adventure portion of the story, which is by the far the larger chunk of the book. I am not huge on adventure stories but it was well done, the pacing was steady and characters were introduced slowly enough that you got to know them a bit before being introduced to someone new. The world building is also good, there is some info dumping as you would expect at the start of any series but it wasn't too much and you got to learn details of their world through dialogue and by following the characters.
The story of Ginny, her family and friends does not end with this book so if you enjoy this, you'll be pleased to know that the door is left open for more instalments.

I really liked this story. The side characters were a bit questionable, but I liked the main family, and I liked the best friend. I thought there was a good build up to the story, there was a lot of intrigue with the chase throughout the story, and the suspense of whether they'd find the mom. I'm a little sad about the loss of the one character (won't spoil), but I am very excited to read the next one, whenever that may come out.