Having not read the first volume, there was a lot here that I'm not familiar with. I love the comic medium however, so I decided to give it a try anyway.

The art is beautiful and dark. It's also a very distinct style from other comics, which definitely sets it apart in a positive way. The story itself is very mysterious. I'm sure some aspects would make more sense were I able to read the preceding volume. One note is that this story began as a webcomic, which means that this volume comes across as feeling very episodic at times, instead of feeling like a singular, smooth narrative. It moves around a bit, hits a few different big events, but seems to be more about the journey than an actual destination.

This one won't be for everyone, but I would love to read the first volume and see where Salamandra's life goes next. The atmosphere is what I loved the most about it, so I'd definitely like to see more of what Hopeless, Maine is like as a whole.