I received a copy of this book from NetGallery and Lerner Publishing Group in exchange for my honest opinion. Interesting and unique art and story which is hard to find.

Loved this book! It truly immerses readers in a gripping tale of adventure and intrigue, expertly crafted by an emerging voice in speculative fiction. The novel, penned by an author with a keen storytelling prowess, weaves a captivating narrative that seamlessly blends elements of fantasy, mystery, and suspense.

The story follows a diverse group of seekers on a quest for the elusive Aweto, a mythical creature with potent mystical properties. The strength of the novel lies in its ability to create complex and unexpected alliances among the characters, adding layers of depth to the plot. As the seekers navigate a world filled with enigmatic landscapes and magical challenges, readers are treated to a sensory feast of vivid descriptions and imaginative world-building.

The pacing of Seekers is well-balanced, maintaining tension and excitement throughout the narrative. The characters are thoughtfully developed, each contributing to the story's intricate tapestry. The author's writing style is both evocative and accessible, making the fantastical elements of the plot easily relatable.
In this graphic novel, readers will find a compelling fusion of mystery and fantasy, making it a must-read for enthusiasts of the genre. With its rich narrative and intriguing character dynamics, this novel promises an enthralling journey into the unknown.

I really loved the illustrations in this one, but I did not know it was a sequel and I have a thing about having to read book 1 before book 2 or more, so I didn’t finish it. This has nothing to do with the quality or the amazingly well written story!

First, I have to gush about the art- it is amazing, so beautiful! Nie Jun’s watercolor painting is incredible. Such a strong first impression that I had to flip through this book a few times before I started reading it- just to soak in the colors, textures, character designs and stunning landscapes.
There’s a lot of characters in this story, which can be a bit overwhelming, but they are all very interesting and put into great pairings, which, I guess is where the title “Strange Alliences” comes from. My favorite characters are the frogs! They are so funny. I highly recommend reading this book.

Great artwork and very interesting, engaging story. I started with the second volume, but the story still held up despite my knowledge gap.

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Definitely read the first one. (This is book 2 of the Seekers of the Aweto)

The art is beautiful. The story minimal. A chance to see how art, magic and mythical lore come together.

This is a sequel.. The style is unique with minimalistic background, the pacing is fast and with action. Great world-building when it comes to Chinese magic and myth lore.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

3/5 stars
The artwork and colors are visually stunning! It seems to have been well thought out and lovingly illustrated. The story is whimsical, but hard to follow. A recap is needed in the beginning since this is the second book in the series.

My Rating: 4. A lush and vivid graphic novel depicted two brothers' journeys through a fantastical medieval China.
Thank you Graphic Universe/Lerning Publishing Groups for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.

Synopsis:
The sequel of Seekers of the Aweto: The Hunt is On is here with its vibrant imagery and legendary journey of two brothers across mythical & medieval China. Xinyue, a former treasurer hunter, comes back from the brink of death and awakens next to a lost monk. As the new caretaker of a baby deity, Xinyue must travel back to his homeland to protect the little creature, and along the way he must begrudgingly make alliances with other travelers and fight off enemies to ensure a safe passage. On the other side of the land, his brother Qiliu has been captured by greedy merchants who want the baby deities themselves. With no soul and no memory of trying to kill his brother, Qiliu must also make shaky alliances with bandits and frog princes in order to simply survive.

What I Liked:
Strange Alliances is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel depicting both medieval and mythical China, bringing to life fantastical creatures, nefarious enemies, and the lush landscape of the country. Just reading through the comic for the illustrations is worth it alone, as Nie Jun’s masterful artwork of color, calligraphy-like linework, and expression really shines through the page. It’s also fun to see different legendary creatures straight out of Chinese folklore & mythology interact with the characters, whether they are forming tense alliances or slowly strengthening bonds.

What I Didn’t Like:
The pacing is incredibly fast, and characters & panels jump from action to action very quickly, sometimes so much so that characters’ thought processes are confusing or can’t be easily followed.

Who Would I Recommend This To: Older kids and teens who like graphic novels based on mythology and Chinese fantasy.

Review Date: May 10, 2023
Posted to Goodreads May 10, 2023

So glad I got to read the second graphic novel in this series! I'm so in awe by the art -- the style and all the colors are simply gorgeous.

Characters are lovable and have the best relationships! Dialogue is great along with art style and usage of color. Easy to follow. Just made a point to preorder and can not wait for others to experience such a unique story.

The drawings in this book are just pure art. So, so exquisite. So beautiful. So detailed. So nuanced. So thoughtful. Absolutely perfect. The artwork alone makes this book stand out from the rest. The artwork alone makes this book the most perfect gift for anyone who loves graphic novels and who appreciates the hard work and talent that goes into making books like this.
The storyline itself also was solid and good. The story was more than just a story, more than any adventure, it had a touch of culture and history of it also.
But the art! The art makes it absolutely one of the most gorgeous books I have seen this year. So, so beautiful, I loved it so, so much!

First and foremost, the art for this is beautiful. I was absolutely captivated by it.

Then the story... It was worthy of the art. It was layered, with depth and action. Good characters. And fast pacing. I read it straight through!

Very nice graphic novel.

The cover and the summery drew me into this one, and both did an admirable job of showcasing the kind of story this is! First thing of note: the art is gorgeous! Sometimes I'd just get absorbed in the colors and the layouts before actually reading the story. The story isn't slouching either! I don't know if there was a previous volume, but if there was, this one caught me up just fine! One brother is traveling with a tiny god, and the other is trying to retain his memories and soul after betraying said brother. The characters each come across on their respective journeys are a lot of fun! I hope I get to read more of it in the future!

The art style of this series blows me away. It was beyond beautiful and far and away my favorite part of this series.
Before I read this one, I read my review of the first book and I had a lot of the same thoughts. While the story was extremely whimsical, it was a little confusing at times. There were a lot of characters and a few different stories so it felt a little chaotic. Overall, I think I got the big picture of the story, but I wish there had been maybe a little more dialogue or some explanation panels or something.
I really do want to see where this story leads, so I will continue the series!

I was so happy to see this book as on option on NetGalley! I happened across the first volume a few years ago and instantly fell in love because of the art and myth portrayed. This second volume contains gorgeous illustrations, vast and well executed world building and lore, and loveable characters! I did have a little difficulty getting back into the story after having read the last one years ago, but anything I did not remember by the end of the second book was fleshed out in the index/glossary in the back. I cannot wait to see this book in person as the digital version does not do any justice to the vivid colors and beautiful paintings in this story. 4.5 stars

This was so much fun! I loved the characters and the new land. I also appreciated how quickly the story wrapped up. These adventures were a joy to read.