Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Think I have a bit of a headache from reading the graphic novel “Conspiracy of Ravens” by Leah Moore, John Reppion
and Sally Jane Thompson. In just over 130 pages, the story packs in about five protagonists, a couple of villains and a whole lot of sci-fi action fantasy. For those like me who feel overwhelmed with too many characters, “Conspiracy of Ravens” is going to be a challenging read. It’s hard to recall “who is who” by the end, and also, some characters are simply forgotten completely.
Anne Ravenhall is the principal protagonist of this book, a teenager living in a boarding school who unexpectedly inherits mysterious family heirlooms and a crumbling mansion from an aunt she never knew existed. From being an ordinary nobody, Anne finds herself thrust into a fantasy world of magical beings and discovers that she comes from a long lineage of powerful women who have passed down their ‘gifts’ through generations.
While the basic premise is intriguing, the execution feels chaotic and the pace is dizzying. However, as a graphic novel, the predominantly blue-toned artwork is captivatingly expressive and kept me eagerly turning the pages until the end. Despite this, a few hours later, I find that I don’t remember much from the novel, making it a rather forgettable read. Younger readers who love fantasy might like this book a lot better.
I would rate it a 2.5 on 5.
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