Lamentation is a dark graphic novel set in a theater where nothing is as it seems.

This was an absolutely thrilling read. The story was so interesting, I was immediately sucked in.

I loved the flow from performance to back in the theater.

The art work was amazing and really helped to set the tone of the story.

I would love to read more from this author!

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing me with this arc.

Really good! Throughly enjoyed it as a big fan of theater and honestly, Phantom of the Opera lol. Fun and easy read for anyone looking for a neat and fresh horror graphic novel.

Gorgeous, dramatic artwork gave a lot of support to a story that I wished had more beneath it. Would give 3.5 but have rounded up to 4.

Jenifer is headed to an audition, and sure the building it’s being held in looks a little, abandoned. Sure, everyone seems a little too eager. No need to audition! Let’s do measurements as we rehearse, just jump right in! Yeah, something is definitely off about this production. Picking up on the weird vibes Jenifer is out of there. Except she’s not. No one is. The cast is stuck in a kind of supernatural pocket until the play can be perfected. But can it be perfected?

I had a really fun time reading this. It was giving Creepshow vibes meets gothic horror aesthetic. The illustrations by Arjuna Susini and coloring by Hilary Jenkins were gorgeous and haunting. Everything worked really well together. And that cover! Chefs kiss! Speaking of covers. I loved the cover gallery at the end of the graphic novel, really beautiful.

There is a saying that autumn is for art, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a performance. Lamentation fills that craving for fall stage play vibes and brings that mysterious and dark mood that suits the season.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

"From the mind's eye of master storyteller Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun, Basilisk) and rising star Arjuna Susini (Made Men) comes a darkly glamorous tale of bone-splintering terror at the intersection of shadow and light...dream and nightmare...life, and the grim specter of Death himself.

After weeks of grueling rehearsals, a new production is set to begin at the famed Requiem theatre: Razide's Lament, three acts of Gothic horror set inside a haunted castle with a story that some say is more than mere fantasy. Under the stern rule of a dedicated but temperamental director, the script seems to be ever-changing, and, more mysterious still, our lead actress has found herself cast in the role of a lifetime without so much as an audition. Her opening night is coming fast-and, with it, a barrage of razors in the night that will terrorize audiences and actors alike. There is no exit, no escape, and when the curtain finally rises, Razide himself will take center stage to cross the threshold into the unholy darkness that lies just beyond..."

I will read ANYTHING by Cullen Bunn. But when he brings the Gothic, oh he brings it!

This is a story of a cursed theater that traps its actors on the premises and in the play they’re working on. The creepy vibes mainly come from the art, which fits well for what’s happening in the story. It is surreal and strange, and definitely gave me a few “oh no!” moments.

Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest review

I love the art. One setting reminds me of the 1999 movie the Haunting which is based on the Haunting of Hill House. The story is fun too. Sometimes the cover is the best part of a novel, but fortunately the inside is just as good, if not better.

Anyone who knows me knows I love my comics. This one was 148 pages. I really liked this but quite a few times I had to back and read to get the plot. It was slightly difficult to follow (hence the 4 stars) but overall I really enjoyed this book! I LOVE the artwork as well!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to arc read this book!

To be honest, this graphic novel felt like a horror, gothic iteration of the current season of Only Murders In the Building mixed with every thespian's fever dream and I LOVED IT.

The color palettes were fully representative of the story / stories they were telling and the art style itself, although simplistic in some places, served the plot just as well. The dialogue was lively. It all felt gothic, scary/creepy, absurd/surreal and I had an utterly enjoyable reading experience thanks to all of the elements coming together like this. I only wanted more from the characters.

HOWEVER.

It was a completely thrilling ride that I'd go on again and I wish I could watch a movie adaptation of this, even though the graphic novel itself already does a banging job of having a movie-like quality. I had a really great time here.

This is an interesting horror story about a curse in a theater. You lean from the script the past and it parallels the present in different ways. It's almost like a time loop. To break this cuse you have to finish the play... Dose anyone finish the play and escape or become part of the curse? Read to find out.

The art is graphic novel/ comic book like art but it's dark and very creepy. The colors chosen bring the atmosphere alive and the drawn ghost or spirits are drawn almost hungry ghouls.

This is like hotel California meets Phantom of the opera but add more horror and loop curses.

I had a great time with this. I'd definitely read more from them.

BOOK REVIEW
3.5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

⚠️ MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS ⚠️
Lamentation by Cullen Bunn is a Graphic Novel where our main character, Jennifer, responds to an advert to take part in a theatre production, however, all is not as it seems when she realises there is no way to leave!

I enjoyed the art style of this graphic novel but found the story to be rather confusing and non-linear in the way it was told. You can tell based on costume changes whether it is 'Real Life' or 'The Play' in most cases, but the switching isn't explained and it is like the character doesn't question it until the end, when it has been happening throughout.

I have given this a 3.5/5 because of the reason I had to go back and read this a few times to understand the plot and ideas, sometimes this is much harder to grasp through images than text alone and it may be unfair of me to rate this as such, but it just couldn't redeem more stars because of the difficulty I had.

I do enjoy gore, and whilsy quite tame, there were scenes that definitely sated what I was looking for in a horror.

I truly believe that making this into a longer series of graphic novels, which explored the mysticism a little more and didn't feel as rushed, would actually be fantastic and worth picking up. Coming to the conclusion in such a short time with no answers seemed like a waste to me personally!

Thankyou NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange or a review. All opinions are my own and should not reflect badly on this work as it is personal preference!

#Lamentation #CullenBunn #GraphicNovel #BookReview #Review #Bookstagram #Netgalley #Books

Super excited to read new Cullen Bunn, as his series The Sixth Gun is one of my favorite stories ever. So I was especially excited to see that Lamentation was horror, since I know Bunn does creepy and scary well.

Story: 5/5
The very first page lays out the cast and the roles they play, which is also the first hint to the reader as to what this story is about. The Haunted Palace? In the Mouth of Madness? And Then There Were None? No Exit? As Bunn weaves his story, a new twist appears just as you're starting to think you know what's happening and what's about to happen. The ending especially was excellently creepy and in line with the scariest of Twilight Zone episodes... which is what this ultimately reminded me of.

Art: 2/5
A dull color palette and ugly shadows hides more of the story than it should. I think it's meant to invoke the surreal and dreamlike but I just kept finding myself confused with what I'm looking at.

Total: 3.5, rounded to 4. I wish the art was in a style something like that of J. H. Williams III or Ben Templesmith. Or at least a style that can better capture the liminal horror of the Requiem Theatre.

The story of an actress in need of a part and a play in need of a star meet in a decrepit theater. Nothing and no one is at it seems. Will anyone make it out or will history repeat itself?

This was an excellent horror graphic novel featuring beautiful art. It was a quick read, but kept me on the edge of my seat. The perfect read to kickoff the spooky season.

A serviceable story of theatrical terror. Bunn works to sell the concept of the unescapeable playhouse, but I think there could have been a few more chills.

Cullen Bunn crafts creepy so well. A comic book exploration for readers who enjoy atmosphere and a bit of edge.

Lamentation is the dark theatre production of your nightmares!

Not only does this graphic novel pull you in immediately, but just like the plot of this story, you won't be able to escape until you discover all of the secrets of "Razide's Lament." Cullen Bunn has quickly become a writer whose work I love! This story follows our young ingenue as she responds to an ad for an open position within a theatre group. After meeting the troupe and getting enmeshed in the production, she finds that not everything is as it seems. I felt all of the emotions of our main character as she went through all her ordeals. The fear, the confusion, the anguish - ALL OF IT. This graphic novel is seriously so good and readers are going to be hooked.

As for the ending of this story? - SUCH A GREAT ENDING. I love how this ended and how it impacted how I read the story. It made me want to immediately pick the story again from the beginning.

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

Let’s start by stating that I like Cullen Bunn’s writing… but his stories not always come through. In this case, a comic book about a cursed play, where no one can leave until it is performed… sounds fun, looks fun and, even if it is not something new or groundbreaking, it mostly succeeds. The mirroring between play and reality is very nicely done and the art really helps the narration when this is not entirely clear.
Sadly, the ending feels rushed and leaves the reader with the sensation of having read something that could have been a better story if it only had a couple more pages.

Definitely a fun graphic novel, not going to break new ground in any way at all but it's a good way to spend an evening. Good art and a silly fun story that at points makes little to no sense but it is definitely enjoyable.