A very cute comic with some intriguingly darker undercurrents - dehumanization through degendering, on-going conflict with faeries, a ban on magic save for select state-recognized mages. So far the relationship between our two cover leads is still innocent with a bit of crushing going on, both of them still coming into their own powers and with plenty of room to move forward in their own arcs. The remaining cast of characters also feel sketched with room for future volumes to further expand on them. Plus, I appreciate the supporting gay rep (and Lucia's ambivalence on what her own sexuality is being so relatably queer as well)!

I'm very intrigued to see where this romance and the world's politics will head next!

A cute and heartfelt beginning to a dramatic story. This was one of the first Webtoons I read many years ago, and it’s still one of my favorites. Lucia is so kind and sweet, encouraging her friends through their fears, even though, as a secret fairy in a kingdom that fears and hates her kind, she has some of the greatest fears of them all. The entire cast charmingly blends humor and sincerity, including fussy Kirsty the queen-to-be, knight champion Baynard and squire Peres, and Modeus the enchanted suit of armor. Through their interactions, this first volume sets the stage for further political intrigue, developments in their relationships, all while exploring big questions such as if a creation is limited by the intent of their creator, and how much prejudice can hurt.

Volume 1 includes Chapters 1-17 and bonus materials from the ongoing webtoon, which currently has 135+ chapters.

¿Quién sabía que una armadura podía ser tan encantadora? Me gusta cómo se desarrolla la trama como un cuento de hadas clásico sin caer en lo cursi. Además, tiene el atractivo de una identidad secreta y representación LGBTQ+. Las ilustraciones son hermosamente elaboradas y los colores son fantásticos.

I adored this! If I had more time lately, I would've probably finished this in a day or two. I was immediately pulled into the story. The illustrations were magical. And I really liked the characters as well. It also has some humor that made me laugh. I absolutely enjoyed reading this and am looking forward for more! I'll be on the lookout for a physical copy :)

Thank you Netgalley and the published for making it possible to read this in advance! I'm excited to talk about this on social media 💕

Due to me having an android phone I'm not able to share my Goodreads review. I did post it on there and on Storygraph. And I'm planning on making at least one dedicated post on Instagram while also mentioning it in future posts on Instagram and TikTok.

This is so freakin' cute! A fantastic fairy & knights graphic novel with a lovable magic suit of armor dude. I loved the art style, so much was explained just through the art! This actually made me go download Webtoon so I could keep reading lol.

I would definitely recommend this one. It does very much feel like part 1, but that's ok because it means there is more to come. Thanks to Purpah, Clarkson Potter, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

This is an INCREDIBLE, funny and heartwarming fantasy/romance/comedy graphic novel set in a kingdom where magic is banned. If you take anything away from this, let it be how unique and special this story is.
We follow a lady in waiting as she interacts with a magic knight, but the story is so much more than this with elements of hidden identity, LGBTQ+ representation and lots of social commentary about how people should just be able to be who they truly are.

We learn that our knight isn’t supposed to be “sentient” and the whole story is so heartwarming and sweet. Modeus is so funny and I swooned the whole way through.

We are lucky enough to get an in-depth description with gorgeous diagrams of how the magic system works. This was incredible, I wish all fantasy had this! The little stroppy pixie was the absolute icing on the cake.

Now for THE ART!!! This has such a unique yet digestible character style. There are so many gorgeous textures and layers, some panels are so beautiful I would genuinely hang them on my wall.
I am obsessed with the tiny details like sparkles and splatters. There is perfect attention to detail and the architectural drawings are stunning.
We get some really innovative and unique perspectives in some of the panels

I would have preferred more information on the war than just “the faerie war”, but it does what it says on the tin and this is only the first instalment.

And what can I say about Purpah? They have the most unique, wonderful genre-bending story to tell and I’ve eaten every bit up - I need to buy a physical copy as soon as it releases

need to say that I’m running out IMMEDIATELY to get a physical copy of this as soon as it’s published, this was absolutely everything to me. It’s been so long since I’ve been this excited about something fresh and new!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Purpah and the publishers for the Advanced Reader Copy - I was blessed with this one!

Suitor Armor is immediately engaging, and at first seems lighthearted, a medieval fantasy about Lucia, a fairy raised by humans to be the lady-in-waiting to the land’s future queen. But soon we realize that her fae nature has to be kept secret, that a long war is raging between fae & humans, and a superhuman knight made entirely of metal and magic (magic only allowed to be performed by the Court Mage) is the kingdom’s latest advancement in weaponry. Lucia and Modeus, the metal knight, have an instant connection, and as Lucia seems to be the first to see Modeus as a person, instead of an object, this sets off complications and alarm in the humans around them. But there’s more at play here than royal weddings and court romance, and soon both Lucia and readers realize how isolated the court is from the events happening outside palace walls. As complications build, villains, intrigue, and mysteries emerge, the more questions and worries begin to pile up for both Lucia and readers.

The art style is attractive—the characters are adorable and diverse in design & features (queer inclusive, too), with historically-inspired garb, clean linework, and clear, bright colors. The translation from a webcomic to graphic novel works well—the panels and storyline both flow clearly. This volume left me eager to see what will become of our seemingly star-crossed lovers (more than one couple fits this description), theorizing and excited to read Volume 2!

I absolutely love this graphic novel so much. I had been meaning to read it on Webtoons for so long so when I saw it on Netgalley as Volume 1 as a graphic novel I just knew I needed it. The artwork is beautiful and the story is so cute. I love the character development that is happening not only with the main characters but with side characters as well. I cannot wait to read Volume 2 to find out what happens next. I will definitely be purchasing the physical copies of this for my shelves because I know having them in print is going to be so beautiful. Keep up the amazing work Purpah this is a wonderful story with characters you can't help but fall in love with.

Suitor Armor is such a fun graphic novel! The ship between the protagonist and the knight is kind of weird lol but so cute at the same time. The protagonist is likable, and I love how some scenes are just dorky but also totally adorable. I'm really excited to see what's gonna happen with her secret because it feels like something huge is coming! Plus, with a war going on in the background, things are getting intense...

Review:

This comic was so cute! I loved the characters and the world and the magic. Lucia is a kind and gentle fairy who has to hide who she truly is. She was brought into her friend Kirsi’s life by Kirsi’s father. She grows to be Kirsi’s lady-in-waiting as Kirsi is to marry the king. I loved their friendship and the banter in this book. This is only the first volume so I can’t wait for more of the story. I enjoyed meeting Modeus and the other characters and seeing their interactions. I thought the fairy stuff was interesting and I can’t wait to learn more about it and see Lucia learn more about herself. I also can’t wait to see more relationships and friendships grow. I can’t wait for more. This was a cute and entertaining story and I’m so invested.

What a wonderful opening volume for this web comic turned graphic novel! We got great character introductions - as well as backstory and the start of some growth - as well as worldbuilding and even a little action. Often times first volumes are just the buildup to these things, but Suitor Armor really jumped into it all. And Modeus already being a dream even as a recently animated suit of armor? This is going to be high on my anticipated series list for sure!

Lucia is a lady-in-waiting with a secret. She has been lady-in-waiting to Lady Kirsi since she was brought to the castle as a small child. It's nearly all she's ever known. An exciting fight between the king's champion, Sir Baynard, and a new magical opponent sets her on a new course. She is captivated by the magical opponent, which is an animated suit of armor. She dubs him Modeus. Together, they start a sweet friendship and navigate challenges together.

This was such a cute graphic novel! It was a great introduction to the characters and world of this story. I love the dynamic between Lucia and Modeus. It was all so sweet. I was as interested in the side characters as the main characters. I look forward to learning more about Sir Baynard and Peres. The bonus chapter at the end was great insight into their beginnings. King Reimund intrigues me. There's definitely something more going on with him. I look forward to where this story goes. I also loved the art style and aesthetic of the world. The contrast between Modeus and Lucia was fun to me. I recommend this graphic novel to romantasy fans who love a sweet story.

Heat Factor: Secondary characters are caught kissing in the barn (scandal!)
Character Chemistry: The whole “silent shadow” thing was totally working for me
Plot: Lucia, a fae masquerading as human, finds herself in the middle of castle politics and magical intrigue when she accompanies the future queen to the palace.
Overall: I hope this graphic novel continues, because it’s really fun

Volume 1 of Suitor Armor is really just enough to open the story and let you decide if you want to continue or not. There are quite a few threads unraveled, so readers will have plenty to keep them occupied as the narrative continues in a serialized format.

For readers who might be interested in picking this up, here are my key takeaways:
1. Lucia is a genuinely good soul.
She is the only one who simply accepts people as they are. She treats the magical construct, Modeus, like a person. She’s accepting and promises to keep secrets when she finds the knight and his squire rolling in the hay. She trusts the castle mage to use magic for good. It seems like she has a greater capacity for understanding because she’s a fae in hiding, but she could just as easily have become bitter and she’s a ray of sunshine instead.

2. Magic is more than it appears to be.
I mean. A magical knight construct starts to become sentient, so…

3. The egotistical knight and his squire might just be comic relief, but I think they’re going to turn out to be good eggs.
Look, the knight is very extra, but when faced with the possibility of treating Modeus like a thing or a person, he treats him like an equal. And his secret boyfriend and squire is a total sweetheart. I see good things for these guys.

4. The war with the fae is probably both simpler and more complex than it seems.
At this point, the fae are just “the bad guys,” but we don’t know why the future queen’s dad brought a child Lucia to his house and kept her hidden and safe for years. We don’t know why a fae broke into the castle, but it’s obviously not to be evil. But it’s pretty clear that we’re going to find out that at least to some extent this conflict will be resolved if the antagonists take a minute to understand each other instead of fighting first and asking questions later.

This was just a fun, light read with a hint of romance that, let’s be real, is probably going to be dragged out for several volumes before we really get anywhere. But that’s cool, because I like sweet things.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I wish someone could explain to me why I am so invested in the love life of an empty suit of armor, but here we are. I'm interested in all the side characters and subplots as well, so I'm really looking forward to future installments.

Lucia is a fairy hiding among humans, ever since a nobleman rescued her when she was a child. No one but him knows her secret though, because the country is at war with fairies and everyone hates them. She’s the lady-in-waiting of Lady Kirsi, the nobleman’s daughter. They live in the king’s castle, as Kirsi is about to marry the king. The two have nothing in common though, as the king is only interested in hunting and tournaments.

In one such tournament, the court magician introduces his invention, an autonomous armour powered by magic. It wins, and bestows the winner’s rose on Lucia. She’s instantly fascinated by it and even gives it a name.

But the mage is interested in Lucia too, and even proposes she becomes his apprentice, as she shows aptitude for magic. Which she should, as she is a fairy. Her secret seems safe for now, but I’m sure it’ll come out sooner or later. Hopefully she has her armour suitor, and the friends she makes defending her when that happens.

This was an interesting start to a story. The romance between a fairy and an armour seems odd, but I’m sure they’ll make it work. Art was beautiful and full colour, with large panels.

Suitor Armor was adorable. It was a quick read full of likable characters, a beautiful setting full of magic and adventure, and several mysteries that I can't wait for future volumes to untangle. I really liked Lucia, and I found the way her past was teased without being revealed too readily drew my attention completely. I also found the side characters of Baynard and Peres to be funny and intriguing, especially when I originally thought Baynard was an annoying character. Modeus hasn't fully started discovering himself yet in this volume, but hopefully in future volumes we will get more of an understanding about who he is as a character, personality-wise. I'm looking forward to learning more about him as he learns more about himself. Altogether a fun read with cute illustrations and attention-grabbing characters!

A well-done adaptation of the webtoon, which I was a fan of before finding out that it was being published as a traditional novel. It reads well for a junior high audience

This was cute and fun and everything I wanted it to be. I'm fully invested in this story and can't wait to find out what happens next! I love all the characters so far, and the art style is absolutely perfect.

"Suitor Armor: Volume 1" is a delightful and enchanting start to this romantic fantasy graphic novel that captivates from the very first page. Set against the backdrop of a kingdom in turmoil, where humans and fairies are at war, the story follows Lucia, a dedicated lady-in-waiting, as she navigates court intrigue and her own hidden identity.

The vibrant artwork brings the castle and its characters to life, immersing readers in a world where secrets lurk around every corner. The royal tournament scene is particularly exhilarating, showcasing the pageantry and competitive spirit of the kingdom. When the magically animated suit of armor, Modeus, enters the fray, the story takes a whimsical turn. His dark charm and mysterious aura create an irresistible pull, and Lucia’s growing attraction to him adds a layer of tension that keeps the reader eagerly turning pages.

What truly stands out is the dynamic between Lucia and Modeus. Their bond, forged through shared feelings of being outcasts, is both heartwarming and fraught with complications. Lucia's secret identity as a fairy creates an intriguing tension, as she grapples with her desires for self-discovery while fearing exposure. The exploration of identity and belonging is skillfully woven throughout the narrative, making Lucia's journey relatable and poignant.

The supporting characters, particularly Lady Kirsi and Norrix the court mage, add depth to the story, enhancing the sense of a richly developed world. The inclusion of behind-the-scenes content and a bonus storyline is a delightful treat, offering fans a glimpse into the creative process and expanding the lore of the series.

Overall, "Suitor Armor: Volume 1" is a thrilling blend of romance, magic, and self-discovery that will appeal to fans of both graphic novels and fantasy. With its captivating plot, charming characters, and stunning illustrations, this first volume sets the stage for an adventure brimming with potential. I can't wait to see where Lucia and Modeus’s journey takes them next! Highly recommended for readers seeking a fresh take on the romantasy genre.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The graphics were great and the introduction to what I'm hoping will become a much more in-depth story with the characters is a lot of fun. This left me ready for the next volume. I gave 4 stars because there were some things that I didn't fully understand, like whether the knight and his squire being in a relationship is an issue because they're of different status' or because they're both men. Otherwise though, I found this to be great fun.