I received an advanced copy of "Scales & Scoundrels Definitive Edition Book 2: The Festival of Life" from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This graphic novel is a thrilling and entertaining continuation of the Scales & Scoundrels series. The story follows the adventures of Luvander and her companions as they navigate a dangerous festival filled with magic, mystery, and a sinister plot that threatens to disrupt the balance of the world.

The artwork in this book is absolutely stunning, with vibrant colors and detailed illustrations that bring the world of Scales & Scoundrels to life. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the plot is engaging and suspenseful, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked.

My only criticism of this book is that the pacing can be a bit slow at times, and the story sometimes feels like it's dragging on. However, this is a minor issue in an otherwise excellent graphic novel.

Overall, "Scales & Scoundrels Definitive Edition Book 2: The Festival of Life" is a must-read for fans of the series and anyone who loves a good fantasy adventure. It's a solid 4/5 from me, and I'm excited to see where the story goes in future installments.

So, unfortunately for me, I did not read the fine print and did not realize that the digital ARC I had received for volume 1 was incomplete and so when this started I was super lost. Fortunately I was able to pick up the gist of what had happened.

A decent story line that can be made great in later issues the art is beautiful but needs more detail

This is a spoiler free review.

Scales & Scoundrels Book 2: The Festival of Life is even better than the first volume! I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel. The story is very engaging and is the type of book once you start reading, you can’t put it down!

Volume 2 is split into serval vignettes. Each vignette feels like an episode from a television show. The first part of the book you follow Dorma as she honors her brother's memory and reunites with her family. Dorma’s part of the story has some very touching moments including heartfelt scenes with her grandmother and her parents. Dorma also has an interesting time trying to re-acclimate herself to living at home again before she runs off on another adventure. Dorma acts like a college student coming home for the summer who can’t quite get herself settled back into her old routine. We also see Dorma grow even more and we get to see how strong a leader she can be.

The next section of Scales & Scoundrels Book 2: The Festival of Life we follow Luvander as she continues on her journey to break her curse. The story delves more into her past and we get to learn more about who she is and who her parents are. We also get more glimpses into the world of dragons. We even meet a dragon named Dolan who knows Lu and something about her past. Dolan and Luvander are also involved in a spectacular scene with someone from Volume 1…

In order to learn more about herself and the curse that plagues her, Luvander goes into a Dragon Dream. Within this dream she learns more about dragons, and who she really is. The dream sequence is by far my favorite part of this book. The dream poses so many questions while giving us nuggets into Luvander’s past. The Dragon Dream reminded me so much of the Odinsleep from Marvel’s Thor comics.

The bounty hunter is also still around and we get to learn more about him and why he hates Luvander so much. The bounty hunter has a deep animosity for dragons and we get to see him let out all of his anger.

Aki and Koro are also featured in this graphic novel. One of the highlights from their vignette is we get to see Aki's kingdom. Luvander travels there in search of answers and ends up helping Aki with a mystery. Koro and Luvander are still at odds with each other but they try to work together to help Aki.

The artwork is gorgeous, with bright and vibrant colors, movement, and beautiful fantasy artwork. The artwork really compliments the story so well. Like the first volume, the colors are really contrasting throughout the story. When the story is focused on Dorma and the Dwarves the artwork is darker and has more somber colors. When the story switches to Luvander the colors are brighter and more fun. When she enters the Dragon Dream, the colors switch again and are now more dream like and serene. The combination of a great story with beautiful artwork really draws you into this graphic novel. I was really drawn to the artwork.

I highly recommend reading Scales & Scoundrels Book 2: The Festival of Life. The story is great. The Dragon Dream segment is awesome and I think any fan of fantasy stories and comics will enjoy this scene. Getting to see Dorma and Luvander grow as characters is also another highlight from this book.

Stay awesome and keep reading!


Scales & Scoundrels Book 2: The Festival of Life

Creative Team:
Written by Sebastian Girner
Art by Galaad
Lettering and Design by Jeff Powel

I found this to be very interesting and enjoyed it a lot! Perfect for kids trying to get into the world of fantasy that will keep them hooked and provides beautiful artwork alongside the story.

An interesting new graphic series great for kids who are interested in high fantasy and dungeons and dragons, but want that graphic component, too.

I had a lot of fun reading this graphic novel. We see these new friends coming together for a thrilling adventure. They are heading to a long lost city hoping to find some one of a kind treasure. Along the way they run into some deadly monsters and learn some shocking truths. Yet as this graphic novel comes to a close it looks like this adventure isn’t over yet.

An exciting continuation of Luvander's story, revisiting old friends and shedding some light on the characters' histories. This volume adds some more insight into the workings of the world, and begins to delve into Luvander's past enough to start shaping the plot into a more focused thing, giving us a glimpse at her ultimate goal. The way it picks up the story with some time given after the end of the first volume makes it feel more episodic, like a television show, than many graphic novel series allow, usually picking up right where the previous installment left off.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as i did with the first, i love the short story that shows Dorna's homecoming, but the main arc in this book is a little weak. I appreciate the effort made trying to create a crime investigation story but that is not what i expect of this series and this setting. Its not a bad story, just not my cup of tea.

Not sure if a skipped a chapter at the end of book one or at the beginning of this one...but it didn't seem to pick up in the same place. Was a little confused by that, but still enjoyed this read immensely. The art is well done and appealing to the eye - full of fantastical colors that really help ground this fantasy setting in itself.

When we start this book, our heroes are on separate paths once again but are reunited eventually. Trouble still seems to follow Lu wherever she goes, but we get more of her background that helps us make sense of her character.

Still a fun cast of characters and and interesting story.

10/10 would recommend. Especially if you are a fan of D&D and other fantasy role playing games.

Scales and Scoundrels is an all age comic that follows a young adventurer who is on the hunt for gold and glory. In volume 2 you follow Luvander as she searches for a way to break the chains of her fate. This volume instantly drew me in. Some time has passed between volume 1 and volume 2 so our adventurers have split up. As the story continues things start to come together answering a lot of the questions you had in volume 1. It was so much fun to read I can see this becoming a classroom favorite.

Creative Team:
Written by Sebastian Girner
Art by Galaad
Lettering and Design by Jeff Powell

The second Scales and Scoundrels volume, like the first, contains a wealth of new material, and picks up the adventure from where we left off in Book One. Luvander continues on her journey to break her curse; it's a quest that will bring her to a monastery that guards a secret entrance to The Dragon Dream, where few have dared to enter. She and her group of friends face dark trials ahead, including demons and their own deepest fears. An introspective adventure that prompts conversations, this is an excellent companion to Book One. The artwork is gorgeous, with bright and vibrant colors, movement, and beautiful fantasy artwork. There's great world-building - seriously, you can create a Dungeons and Dragons adventure based on the information contained in these two books - that readers will return to time and again. 

To paraphrase School Library Journal, the Scales and Scoundrels books roll a natural 20 - and that's pretty awesome.

This review is solely based on the original "Sample Copy" provided via NetGalley, which includes issues 11 - 17.

I did not realize this was a sample copy until the story jumped from the middle of book 1, into book 2. Leaving me confused about what exactly had happened during that time.

That said, the story was enjoyable. I was approved for the sample copy of book 1 which left me.. unsure of how I felt about the story and the characters. Knowing I wanted to read more, but not entirely sure I liked what I had read.
Book 2, is a completely different story. I enjoyed it A LOT. From the individual stories and character growth, it's a whole different beast with a new experience, which I recommend.

This has it all, magic, fighting, peace, mystery, friendship, and maybe, just maybe, dragons!
I'm strapped into my seat, ready to see where the story goes.

**Thank you to TKO Studios and NetGallery for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. **

Edit: Upon posting this review and my feelings on NetGalley only providing a sample, TKO has provided me with a full reader copy. THAT'S SERVICE.

Scales & Scoundrels Definitive Edition, Book 1 and 2, by Sebastian Girner and Galaad are graphic novels currently schedule for release on July 6 2021. This a a new, revised and expanded definitive edition of the all ages comic.

This multicultural fantasy adventure follows young treasure hunter Luvander in her search for gold and glory. Along with her companions—a prince, his stern bodyguard, and a plucky young dwarf—Lu dives into an epic journey and discovers a secret that will bring light to a world encroached upon by an ancient darkness. Book 1: Where Dragons Wander contains material previously collected in the Image Comics edition of Scales & Scoundrels Vol. 1 & 2, with completely reworked artwork. Lu’s adventure continues in Book 2: The Festival of Life, with more than 250 pages of original content. I only had access to a sneak peek of these volumes, so my review is only on the artwork and story I had access to.

I have never before read Scales & Scoundrels so my review is based on looking at the previews of these two volumes with no nostalgia or prior knowledge of the story. I thought the idea and story was well done with quality artwork I thought the story was easy to follow, with some predictability, and the artwork matched the story well. The story starts fairly slowly, a standard fantasy adventure, but the characters and story to get more depth as the story continues. The art was not my favorite style, but we all have different tastes and I think it was a good match to the story. I think young fantasy fans and players of Dungeons and Dragons- and similar games- will enjoy this the most. I did not wow me, but I do wish that I would have discovered the comics when they were first release as I think I would have enjoyed them more when I was younger and not so many graphic novels of this genre had already pass through my hands.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sebastian Girner, and TKO studios for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

When this began, I was very confused, thinking it would start where volume one left off (which I also received an e-ARC of). When I went back to look at the descriptions, I found both were "samples" of the full editions, even though these "samples" offered nearly 200 pages each. Had I realized that, I would not have requested either book.
Edit: That being said, the publisher sent a full copy to review, which is great, because now I feel like I have the full grasp of the book.

At first I thought this one would be a collection of short stories featuring each character, but really it shows what happens after the first main arc. The dwarf girl (I already forgot her name because the characters aren't very memorable) goes back to her home kingdom to honor her brother. Lu is at some library, and there are dream spiders, and a bit of dragon history, then she ends up with Prince Aki in the desert and there is a more flavorful story arc featuring partly Lu's dragon ancestry and party Aki's ceremony to rule, or lack thereof because someone stole the special relics he needs for the ceremony. Political tensions run high, and even after the culprit is found, more story awaits in the world of Scales and Scoundrels.

I like the art and I kind of like Lu and Aki, especially as their friendship develops. The type font can be rather obnoxious to decipher at times as well. A great collection, and I am sure the next compilation will be well worth the wait.

Scales and Scoundrels is so good! The authors create such a complex yet understandable world of fantasy that I just can't escape. After book one ended I wanted more and was glad to be able to get ahold of book two. Book two followed each of the characters from book one separately until Lu met up with them again. We learn more about Lu and her back story, which I appreciated. Each of the characters develop in their stories and have relatable epiphanies in response to them. I love the characters and the stories and am looking forward to sharing this series with anyone who love Lord of the Rings, Terry Pratchett, and/or Game of Thrones.

This series just keeps getting better! I love Scales and Scoundrels for everyone of all ages. Always fun, always gorgeous, always heartwarming.

I read the first chapter of this book before I stopped because I had to know what was going to happen. The reason I stopped being that due to reading the preview of the first book I was missing the five chapters of knowledge.

I needed to know what had happened after chapter 6, which lead us to Dorma returning to her burrow.
The above was a beautiful story about grief and expectations overall.

I will say it again if you like Dungeons and Dragons or stuff in that vein you will LOVE this series.

2 stars - It was ok

So apparently this e-ARC (and the previous one) was actually only a sample of the book so going into this book I was very confused as to what happened to the characters. I really wish I had known this wasn’t the full volume before requesting it because it really impacted my enjoyment of the story.

This volume starts a few months after the previous book ended and the group has split up and returned to their homes or in Luvander’s case, on another adventure. I did like seeing the characters in their own lands and their growth since they were introduced. Because I didn’t get the full story I struggled to understand what the overall adventure was, especially for Luvander.

Basically, I would have probably really enjoyed this comic if it had been the full book, but since it wasn’t, I was just confused and disappointed.

Thank you Netgalley and the author/publisher for the chance to review!
The festival of life starts with Dorma's backstory and continues on with Lu trying to find answers. I really enjoyed this and it kept me hooked! I would recommend to a friend who loves fantasy or comics.