Book Review: GremoryLand Volume One by A.Rasen

⭐⭐⭐.5 stars

GremoryLand Volume One, written by A. Rasen, is a captivating graphic novel that transports readers into a nightmarish horror theme park experience. Filled with chilling details, murderous animal mascots, and sinister animatronics, this book takes readers on a terrifying journey through the twisted minds of six old school friends. As they navigate GremoryLand, they must confront their deepest fears and rely on each other to survive.

From the very beginning, GremoryLand grips readers tightly and refuses to let go. The author's ability to create a sense of urgency and danger is commendable. As the friends enter the park, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary amusement park. They quickly realize that their lives are at stake, and the only way out is to confront their own worst nightmares.

The artwork in GremoryLand is visually stunning and adds an extra layer of depth to the story. The graphics are colorful and eye-catching, capturing the eerie atmosphere of the park perfectly. Each panel is meticulously crafted, enhancing the overall reading experience and immersing readers into the horrifying world of GremoryLand.

One of the strongest aspects of this graphic novel is its ability to create relatable characters. The friends' personal histories and struggles are interwoven into the dangerous attractions they encounter. Whether it's Jax facing his past as a bully or Zoe confronting her troubled home life, these details add a realistic touch to the story. Readers cannot help but feel empathy for the characters as they fight for their lives while simultaneously battling their own inner demons.

Furthermore, Rasen's writing keeps readers engaged throughout the entire narrative. The pacing is well-executed, with suspenseful moments balanced by moments of character development and introspection. The dialogue feels authentic, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level.

Although GremoryLand Volume One delivers an enthralling and thrilling experience, there were a few areas where it fell short. The plot, while intriguing, could have been more fleshed out. Some aspects felt rushed, leaving me wanting more depth and exploration. Additionally, a greater focus on world-building could have enhanced the overall immersion in GremoryLand.

In conclusion, GremoryLand Volume One is a great graphic novel that combines vivid artwork, engaging storytelling, and relatable characters. It successfully creates a sense of dread and excitement as readers accompany the six friends on their journey through the nightmare-infested theme park. Despite some minor shortcomings in terms of plot development and world-building, this book is an enjoyable read for both fans of horror and newcomers to the graphic novel genre. Brace yourself for a spine-chilling adventure that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment of GremoryLand.

Note: This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary

I really enjoyed the theme park setting of this one. I also thought some of the horror aspects were very well done and the art style was good. However, I didn't like any of these characters except maybe the first to die (but who really knows cause we didn't have a lot of time with her). They were all awful to each other and even their backstories didn't have me rooting for them.

Also, I was very annoyed that this seemed to be something that could be wrapped up in one book, but then threw in extra conflict right at the end just to give reason for more. I want some of the answers but don't know that I liked this enough to continue.

This isn't very original or even very well done. It's about a group of friends who go to a new amusement park as influencers or something and have to get through all the rides without dying. It has a lot of the same elements as Five Nights at Freddy's and the Nic Cage movie Willy's Wonderland. It's never explained how the amusement park knows all of the kids' secrets. The kids don't get much depth either. They are all completely unlikable or just blank slates so you don't care what happens to them. The whole thing could have used an additional edit or two before being released because there is some interesting stuff here hidden among the fluff.

GremoryLand is a horror graphic novel series, and this is the first installment. Six friends are trapped in a theme park literally made of their worst nightmares—their past traumas and wrongdoings have actively been turned into tortuous attractions from which they must escape. It gives me Willy Wonka vibes, plus maybe FNAF, though I’ve never read or played it so what do I know?

The plot is intriguing, and the flashbacks and reveals are interesting. The art is great, and in some ways gives me Junji Ito feels, though this is in full color. But several things felt off to me. Namely, the dialogue is very stilted, and characters seem to *just know* what they’re supposed to do in any given situation. Also, the characters are supposed to be reuniting after high school, but they still very much seem like high schoolers to me. (But maybe this is *right after* graduation??)

And while it is clear that this is only the first volume in a series, the ending feels too much like a cliffhanger with not much (even temporary) resolution. The whole thing IS available on WEBTOON, but if readers want to read the books only, I imagine there’s going to be a long, LONG wait before any sense of closure comes with this series.

That being said, I am fascinated by this story and will probably tune in for further installments.

Trigger warnings galore, but here’s a big one for homophobia.

Review posted to Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5402129102

Oh my god this graphic novel was amazing!! The atmosphere was scary, the drawings and the colors were so perfect to create this atmosphere. The plot is interesting and we want to know what's happening.
When reading it, we have the impression that we are in a movie and there is a lot of actions
The last pages gives us some clues but I can't wait to read the next volume !!

This graphic novel is giving off Five Nights of Freddy vibes. It is definitely for the horror and thriller fan. It will be a great read for October!

This book requires a huge suspension of disbelief, but if you don't take it too seriously, it's a freaky-deaky little page-turner.

When six friends receive a mysterious invitation to a creepy amusement park, their innermost secrets and dark deeds are revealed as they start dropping one by one. This would be great fun for fans of slasher films, and the Saw series. Warning - the book does end with a MAJOR cliffhanger.

I certainly can't wait to see how it all turns out.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

Full of twists and turns, Gremory Land kept me guess what was ganna happen next. Can’t wait for Vol 2.

Six high school "friends" are invited to try out the new GremoryLand Theme Park by a mysterious entity. They're picked up in a limo and after an unknown amount of time, are dropped off at the park entrance with no instructions other than they must get through the park in order to exit. Then the horrors begin. At first the team thinks it's all in good fun, until they break a rule or two, ending in several of their deaths. All of the rides end up being deeply personal and full of real trauma, forcing the friends to try and work out what is happening before it's too late. Then the story abruptly cuts to an adult who appears to be looking for the group of six and reveals they have been kidnapped, AND she's trying to solve her own daughter's murder and elludes to the group knowing more about it than they seem. Then the story flashes back to the group for a cliff hanger end with some very creepy revelations.
Overall I enjoyed to graphic. The art style does a great job of feeling bright and friendly then changing to fiendish very quickly. I'm not entirely sure I'm super into the storyline because it feels like the reader was dropped in the middle of an already established story. However, this was just the first volume, so I will hold my judgement until the next release. If you're a fan of Five Nights at Freddy's or Chilling Adventure's of Sabrina, you will likely enjoy this creepy romp. Reader Beware, sometimes our friends are the real monsters.

The story is pretty predictable but fun. The illustrations are fantastic and worth the read all on its own. I highly recommend to fans of manga and comics.

Get in loser we're going to a haunted murder park! Gremoryland! This story is such a scary who done it, that as nightmare fuel as it is you simply can't put it down.

From Webtoon to my book shelf I am buying this and placing it on a little pillow. As Gremoryland deserves its spot in the horror genre.

ARC from netgalley, but long time Webtoon reader. Trust me horror fans, you want this one.

Review to come in August on blog/goodreads.

I received this book from Netgalley/publisher in exchange of an honest review.

After a lot of frustrating moments I was able to read this one. Just had to re-install my whole ADE and all that. But now I could finally read it and BOY, what a RIDE. 

In this one 6 teens are invited to the park. Well, to be exact, one of them is and the others can come along. But will they like this horrifying park? Will they survive when things go very bloody and dark? It was certainly a messed up ride, a lot like a slasher. Because well, holy crap. If you thought things weren't scary with the rides doing their things, or having guards that aren't happy with noise... think again when you see several mascots behind you ready to chainsaw you to death. As you imagine there is just not a moment to just breathe. Not if you want to live. 

I absolutely loved how we switched POVs, we are mostly seeing things through Zoe's eyes, but we also get backstories and see how the others experience the park. I loved that we got backstories.. though well, at times they were pretty horrifying or saddened me. There are some shocking revelations in there, but we also learn about characters. Like Rami and him being gay and how he felt when Jax went to the dark side and broke up the friendship (and well the other feelings). Or how Zoe's homelife just was the worst. 

I do have to say that with each twist I was less and less a fan of the group. In the end I had two peeps, Zoe and Bruno that I was OK with and hoping they would get out. 

I do have so many questions. Who is Chandler. What happened to Eva and who is Eva. We only see a glimpse of her at the ending and then also get THAT said in the ending so I am like, WAIT, what? Also what is Gremoryland, is it a revenge park? Is it something else? I mean, yes, these kids apparently did something wrong (and some did do something wrong), but to have that happen to them? UMMM. So yeah, I hope that the next volume explains some things!

The art was well done, the style was very fitting for this slasher/scary graphic novel. 

But all in all, this was a freaking ride. Scary. Exciting. Shocking. Full of danger and revelations. I need more! I would recommend it.

This was a pretty interesting graphic novel with a cool premise. I think the pacing gets a little lost here and there with the flashbacks and quick passing panels but the concept was really enjoyable. I think each individual 'horror' part of the park could be further played on if this is given more volumes. We dont get enough info about any one specific section of the park but the overall idea that its punishing this group of friends due to secrets from their past or hidden agendas is really entertaining and I will definitely read volume 2! Honestly the only friends in here I care about are Rami and Bruno so i'm curious how their stories will continue in the next installment!

I don’t normally read horror but this was good. Lot’s of running, screaming and twists and turns, with a cliff hanger at the end which makes you realise that you have to read volume 2. The artwork was good, with bright colouring and not too much prose. I enjoyed reading this even though I am not a great horror fan.

Copy provided by Netgalley in exhange for an unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley. This graphic novel didn’t hold my attention, I was just confused the first half of the novel and the second half was interesting but I don’t think it was the graphic novel for me. I couldn’t tell some of the characters apart they all seemed to blur together.

I initially read Gremoryland on the Webtoon app as it was being released, so I was excited to read it again as an ARC from Netgalley. I thoroughly enjoyed the exploring mysteries of the gruesome park, as well as the various backstories of the characters that we interspersed throughout the graphic novel. The art is well done, and the personalities of the characters are communicated well to the reader through their actions and dialogue.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. When a group of teens spend a night in a terror filled theme park, what will they find, how many will remain? Old problems arise between the group as they try to survive the night and leave GremoryLand. An interesting, horror filled story with interesting art to match. Looking forward to see what volume 2 holds.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad Webtoon for the advanced copy.

GremoryLand is a trope-filled horror mystery set in a creepy theme park built just for (torturing) the main characters. Every character is a caricature, think The Breakfast Club turned up to 11, hitting every stereotype relevant to their trope to the point of campiness. I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 4 because I'm unsure if the camp is deliberate but leaning towards it not... the scare were good though. It was a fun romp through the theme park, though I was looking forward to it ending, until it did end - on a cliffhanger.

A cliffhanger that makes it clear the mystery is bigger than you think when you first start the story.

Will I read the next volume? I mean, yeah, I will for sure lol I want to know what is happening and why! If it's as straight-forward as I'm predicting I will be VERY disappointed.

The art was decent for the most part as well, with the whole thing being very reminiscent of Gabriel Rodriguez's art for Locke & Key (I would not be surprised to learn A. Rasen is a fan of the series).

The whole thing reminded me of a straight-to-video horror film, which I don't mind at all (particularly the movies Blood Fest and Hell Fest). If that's your idea of a good time, you'll enjoy GremoryLand!

I read this when it was being published weekly on the Webtoon app and I actually forgot a lot of things from my previous read so I’m glad the ARC I’m reviewing right now felt as horrifying as the first time around. This is one hell of a ride and I admit I binged it all over again. If you’re easily spooked, don’t read this horror themed park story at night. The plot is action-packed and very fast paced, dark and mature also, so be sure to have a look at the content warnings, just in case you might get triggered.