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A House Divided #1
The Accursed Inheritance of Henrietta Achilles: Book 1
"Beautifully drawn, great facial expressions, great humor and mystery and fun, all the things you want an adventure fantasy comic to be!" —Kate Beaton
The life of Henrietta Achilles is about to change. After years of living as an orphan, she receives a summons to the strange town of Malrenard. To her surprise, she's the only living relative of Ornun Zol—a notorious wizard, now deceased, who leaves Henrietta with his house and everything in it.
With Ornun Zol gone, escaped creatures and misfired curses have been spilling out into Malrenard. If that's not enough, Henrietta will discover countless squabbling squatters inside her uncle's soldiers, bandits, tiny monsters, and more. Then there's the matter of the strange black cat following Henrietta around . . .
"[A]n absolute delight." —Entertainment Weekly
"This story is full of adventure and is perfect for those that enjoy role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons...a joy to read." —Comicbuzz.com
The life of Henrietta Achilles is about to change. After years of living as an orphan, she receives a summons to the strange town of Malrenard. To her surprise, she's the only living relative of Ornun Zol—a notorious wizard, now deceased, who leaves Henrietta with his house and everything in it.
With Ornun Zol gone, escaped creatures and misfired curses have been spilling out into Malrenard. If that's not enough, Henrietta will discover countless squabbling squatters inside her uncle's soldiers, bandits, tiny monsters, and more. Then there's the matter of the strange black cat following Henrietta around . . .
"[A]n absolute delight." —Entertainment Weekly
"This story is full of adventure and is perfect for those that enjoy role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons...a joy to read." —Comicbuzz.com
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
4 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Haiko Hörnig
12books9followersHaiko Hörnig spent his childhood in his parents' comic book store, where
he developed a love for sequential art at an early age. Since 2013,
Haiko has worked as a screenwriter for animated shows and feature films.
A House Divided is his first published book series. He is based in Frankfurt, Germany.
he developed a love for sequential art at an early age. Since 2013,
Haiko has worked as a screenwriter for animated shows and feature films.
A House Divided is his first published book series. He is based in Frankfurt, Germany.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 15, 2022
Crazy, zany, and a hell of a lot of fun!
The art was a mixture of rendered backgrounds and simple foregrounds which were of an overall low quality like an amateur webtoon, but the humour was so weirdly funny with puns and hilarious timing that it made up for it and then some. Even the strangeness of the art had the great quality of increasing the humour through expressive and exaggerated reactions.
The world building was not immense but the concept was quirky and so much fun that the possibilities of where the story can go from here are practically endless! I cannot wait to see where it goes next in !
The art was a mixture of rendered backgrounds and simple foregrounds which were of an overall low quality like an amateur webtoon, but the humour was so weirdly funny with puns and hilarious timing that it made up for it and then some. Even the strangeness of the art had the great quality of increasing the humour through expressive and exaggerated reactions.
The world building was not immense but the concept was quirky and so much fun that the possibilities of where the story can go from here are practically endless! I cannot wait to see where it goes next in !
February 4, 2020
I'd like it so much in the beginning. That weird mystery vibe it had was awesome, but then, at a crossroad, it could have taken a darker/mysterious path or the humorous one, it chooses the second to my own terrible despair. I would have chose otherwise and I think it could have been way better. Still a decent read, but it felt a bit like some potential was wasted here!
March 10, 2022
"A poor orphan girl just happens to inherit the fabulous wealth of her mysterious uncle . . ."
Pfff! Yeah, right! give me a break! Pretty sure I've read THAT story in one or two of my books. - Henrietta Achilles
Henrietta Achilles, a poor orphan girl, just happens to inherit a fabulous house from her mysterious uncle . . . and it's the next-to-worst thing that's ever happened to her. (I'm assuming losing her parents would have been the worst thing, but who knows.)
She's a wee bit surprised at the size of the place . . . and the fact that there appears to be a war going on . . . inside her new home.
This is a fun read, loaded with action and humor, and, for some reason - a quiche recipe.
I'm looking forward to the next one.
Pfff! Yeah, right! give me a break! Pretty sure I've read THAT story in one or two of my books. - Henrietta Achilles
Henrietta Achilles, a poor orphan girl, just happens to inherit a fabulous house from her mysterious uncle . . . and it's the next-to-worst thing that's ever happened to her. (I'm assuming losing her parents would have been the worst thing, but who knows.)
She's a wee bit surprised at the size of the place . . . and the fact that there appears to be a war going on . . . inside her new home.
This is a fun read, loaded with action and humor, and, for some reason - a quiche recipe.
I'm looking forward to the next one.
March 15, 2020
What a wonderful graphic novel!! The story and artwork are awesome!
This book is a fun mix of fantasy and humor. I needed a break from real life right now...and this story was perfect.
I often read middle grade books and graphic novels to give my mind a nice break. I have a stressful job in human services...and adulting just gets to be a little bit much sometimes. That's when I LOVE to escape into children's literature. And, this book gave me a wonderful hour of innocent fantasy. Love it!
Henrietta was orphaned during a war. Flash forward 9 years and she suddenly learns she had an uncle, who has died. He has left her a house....but little does she know that the house encloses its own war between soldiers and bandits, magical statues, hidden treasures and even....monsters. Yep....monsters.
Haiko Hornig has created a fun, fantastical world in this first volume. Marium Pawlitza's awesome illustrations bring it all to life.
Volume 1 is awesome! I can't wait to read the continuation of this story! Full stars from me...I loved this story from beginning to end.
**I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book from Lerner Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. No giant rats or kobolds were harmed during the writing of this review.**
This book is a fun mix of fantasy and humor. I needed a break from real life right now...and this story was perfect.
I often read middle grade books and graphic novels to give my mind a nice break. I have a stressful job in human services...and adulting just gets to be a little bit much sometimes. That's when I LOVE to escape into children's literature. And, this book gave me a wonderful hour of innocent fantasy. Love it!
Henrietta was orphaned during a war. Flash forward 9 years and she suddenly learns she had an uncle, who has died. He has left her a house....but little does she know that the house encloses its own war between soldiers and bandits, magical statues, hidden treasures and even....monsters. Yep....monsters.
Haiko Hornig has created a fun, fantastical world in this first volume. Marium Pawlitza's awesome illustrations bring it all to life.
Volume 1 is awesome! I can't wait to read the continuation of this story! Full stars from me...I loved this story from beginning to end.
**I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book from Lerner Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. No giant rats or kobolds were harmed during the writing of this review.**
February 14, 2020
The Accursed Inheritance of Henrietta Achilles is the first installment of this series. It follows Henrietta, an orhpan, who inherits a house from her uncle who passed away. When she gets there, she discovers that there’s something more in the house.
I thought this book was okay. I liked the humor and the story line. I wanna see more about Ornun Zol, Henrietta’s uncle, in the next installment as well as the magical aspects of the story.
I received a copy from Graphic Universe via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book was okay. I liked the humor and the story line. I wanna see more about Ornun Zol, Henrietta’s uncle, in the next installment as well as the magical aspects of the story.
I received a copy from Graphic Universe via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2022
When orphaned Henrietta Achilles inherits her uncle's house, she has no idea what she's in for. It's full of feuding bandits, thieves, monsters, and soldiers all searching for lost treasure. And all impossible to evict. A frenetic and fun start to the series.
February 7, 2020
Chaos Reigns
We start with gloom and dark portent, as Henrietta is orphaned and then summoned from her orphanage to a strange town to receive a creepy surprise inheritance. The town of Malrenard holds many secrets, they all seem to involve Henrietta and her deceased wizard relative, and the townspeople all mutter dark and eldritch hints. This builds to a splashy reveal of the wizard's mansion, which is beautifully conceived, drawn, and colored, and is as strange, magical, and threatening as you could hope for.
At this point we go a bit cartoony, and turn from darkness to a lighter and more chaotic tale. There are many warring factions of squatters, residents, and invaders lurking and charging about the wizard's tower, and Henrietta is caught in the middle. Immediately, Henrietta is, in turns, chased, dragged, whisked, pushed, pulled, and harried about, without knowing who is who or what is what. There are silly soldiers and a ragtag band of adventurers captained by a charming rogue. And other "things" as well. And the Tower may be sentient. Ultimately, the exasperated Henrietta declares she doesn't "care about magic, hidden vaults, bandits, or quiche wars".
But then we switch gears again. A painting of the Wizard opens another chapter that turns dark, and we enter a period of both silly suspense and dark humor. We end up back at a ripping magical adventure, and Henrietta decides to call upon the heroine-within, just in time for a cliff-hanger ending.
So, is this a dark fantasy graphic novel, or a Scooby-Doo comic book, or a magical adventure quest, or a haunted house story, or a coming-of-age young girl story, or maybe even a light romance? Yes, probably.
My bottom line was this - the art is crisp, well inked, and especially well colored. Characters are more cartoonish than realistic, but are surprisingly expressive for all that. The story is laid out on classic bones, but lots of twists and turns mean any particular scene or development is unpredictable. Henrietta is already a worthy heroine. So, I'm game to follow where this leads, even though it feels like it's going to take a while.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
We start with gloom and dark portent, as Henrietta is orphaned and then summoned from her orphanage to a strange town to receive a creepy surprise inheritance. The town of Malrenard holds many secrets, they all seem to involve Henrietta and her deceased wizard relative, and the townspeople all mutter dark and eldritch hints. This builds to a splashy reveal of the wizard's mansion, which is beautifully conceived, drawn, and colored, and is as strange, magical, and threatening as you could hope for.
At this point we go a bit cartoony, and turn from darkness to a lighter and more chaotic tale. There are many warring factions of squatters, residents, and invaders lurking and charging about the wizard's tower, and Henrietta is caught in the middle. Immediately, Henrietta is, in turns, chased, dragged, whisked, pushed, pulled, and harried about, without knowing who is who or what is what. There are silly soldiers and a ragtag band of adventurers captained by a charming rogue. And other "things" as well. And the Tower may be sentient. Ultimately, the exasperated Henrietta declares she doesn't "care about magic, hidden vaults, bandits, or quiche wars".
But then we switch gears again. A painting of the Wizard opens another chapter that turns dark, and we enter a period of both silly suspense and dark humor. We end up back at a ripping magical adventure, and Henrietta decides to call upon the heroine-within, just in time for a cliff-hanger ending.
So, is this a dark fantasy graphic novel, or a Scooby-Doo comic book, or a magical adventure quest, or a haunted house story, or a coming-of-age young girl story, or maybe even a light romance? Yes, probably.
My bottom line was this - the art is crisp, well inked, and especially well colored. Characters are more cartoonish than realistic, but are surprisingly expressive for all that. The story is laid out on classic bones, but lots of twists and turns mean any particular scene or development is unpredictable. Henrietta is already a worthy heroine. So, I'm game to follow where this leads, even though it feels like it's going to take a while.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
February 26, 2020
This is going to be so popular with kids! It's got great art, lots of chaos, cute characters and magic! PLUS a bookish heroine! What more could you want!
May 6, 2020
The worse the storm, the more beautiful the rainbow that follows.
The Accursed Inheritance of Henrietta Achilles is a wonderfully realized fantasy adventure imbued with magic, mystery, and a healthy dose of humor. This entertaining tale, penned by author Haiko Hörnig and illustrated by Marius Pawlitza, is one of courage and conquering your fears, all wrapped up in a cozy cloak of secrecy. Henrietta’s cryptic quest brings her to the town of Malrenard, where the townspeople are being plagued by strange and curious ongoings. After learning of her unexpected inheritance, which turns out to be the colossal tower of the wizard Ornun Zol (and everything it contains), she’s heaved into a world of mayhem dominated by warring factions and monsters. This graphic novel may be small, but it is one wild romp.
Hörnig crafts a motley cast of characters, each with their own distinct voice, adding a richness to this story I wasn’t expecting. The evolution of Henrietta is a beautiful journey to witness, as we’re introduced to a shattered, melancholic child who transforms to into a resolute and spirited young adult. She finds herself caught between Nate Flemming, the charismatic Knight of Knaves, thief and self-proclaimed freedom fighter, and the imposing Captain Booner, soldier extraordinaire with a hankering for some good quiche. The dynamics between these over-the-top characters are just pure perfection, and I ended up adoring each and every one of them.
The worldbuilding submerges readers with its history of devastating war, sprawling towns infested with foe and misfortune, and haphazard strongholds lorded by sentient structures. As soldiers acting on behalf of an enigmatic king battle a group of roguish miscreants, readers are invited to absorb the great little tidbits that pepper the pages. There’s a magic that flows through the winding corridors of the tower of Ornin Zol that invites all manner of monsters to claim their stake in the great vault hunt. This world is brimming with things to discover, and not only did I had a blast doing so alongside Henrietta, but I can’t wait to learn more.
Dymanic and vivid illustrations from Marius Pawlitza bring this tale to life, easily capturing the chaos that befalls Henrietta and the town of Malrenard. He presents clean and consistent imagery, along with animated facial expressions that thoroughly convey the intended emotions to readers. The addition of small, subtle elements–usually humorous in nature (looking at you, you drunken, sheep-kicking tavern patron)–add a depth to both the world and the tale being told. To state it simply, this is illustrative storytelling at its finest.
The Accursed Inheritance of Henrietta Achilles is a story that begins veiled in a shroud of darkness, as Henrietta loses her mother to the Great War, but the uplifting nature of the this tale reminds readers there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Exciting and action-packed, I was completely engaged in Henrietta’s adventure, and the cliffhanger ending has left me in desperate need for more. If you’re looking for a light and lively caper, then I highly recommend you give this one a try. I adore this book, and I’m very much looking forward to its continuation in the rest of A House Divided.
Note: I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through a giveaway.
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June 14, 2022
Poor Henrietta Achilles, a war orphan, is left all alone to fend for herself. Tropes practically trip over themselves at the start of this book. (Henrietta even breaks the fourth wall and says, "'A poor orphan girl just happens to inherit the fabulous wealth of her mysterious uncle..." Pfff! Yeah, right! Give me a break! Pretty sure I've read THAT story in one or two of my books.")
What is uncommon about Henrietta's inheritance is the fact that the war has transferred inside her new house. Everyone is on the hunt for a magical, mystical, treasure. Henrietta had no idea that her new inheritance came with so much peril and wants out! The house seems to have other ideas. Marauders, creatures, soldiers, and magic are all after each other, and now Henrietta!
As soon as I read about this German series I wanted to read it. Thankfully it has been translated to English as I regrettably have no German. The art style is a bit mixed and once I started reading I grew to enjoy it. I look forward to reading the second installment and finding out what happens next as Henrietta is a character who is strong. She faced her very real traumas (PTSD and loss of parent just as a heads-up) and took responsibility. Another reason that graphic novels should not be treated "just as silly comic books."
What is uncommon about Henrietta's inheritance is the fact that the war has transferred inside her new house. Everyone is on the hunt for a magical, mystical, treasure. Henrietta had no idea that her new inheritance came with so much peril and wants out! The house seems to have other ideas. Marauders, creatures, soldiers, and magic are all after each other, and now Henrietta!
As soon as I read about this German series I wanted to read it. Thankfully it has been translated to English as I regrettably have no German. The art style is a bit mixed and once I started reading I grew to enjoy it. I look forward to reading the second installment and finding out what happens next as Henrietta is a character who is strong. She faced her very real traumas (PTSD and loss of parent just as a heads-up) and took responsibility. Another reason that graphic novels should not be treated "just as silly comic books."
April 2, 2020
Nine years after the war left her an orphan, Henrietta finds herself plucked from her orphanage and named the sole heir of an Uncle she’s never heard of. She’s told she’s inherited his house, and the villagers seem very eager for her to claim it. 30 seconds after entering the house she has a pretty good idea why. The house is HUGE, and there’s an all out war going on within between different factions who are trying to find her uncle’s legendary treasure. How in the world is Henrietta going to claim this house and kick out all the intruders?
Oh man, it cut off just when I was really getting interested. This is kind of like a mixture of Night at the Museum (only featuring real people/animals/mythical creatures, not statuary/taxidermy come to life) and Too Many Curses (definitely for the state of the wizard's tower after his death). When the wizard dies his tower dissolves into a chaotic mess, but the tower has lots of secrets, and Henrietta is just getting a whiff of them when this ends. She’s tempted to give up, but then realizes that the village desperately needs her to help clean up this mess if she is able. And there were hints when she was in the house that it was kind of on her side. And then the cliffhanger, and there’s not even a clue as to when the 2nd book will come out in English. So sad. If you can stand the wait and love mysterious house loaded with secrets and zany fantasy graphic novels, pick this up.
Notes on content [based on the ARC]: 2 minor swear words. No sexual content. The woman who owns the village inn is a bit busty but only features in a few frames. There’s a past war with casualties implied and the present war that feels kind of cartoon-violence-ish in that all sorts of people are shooting at each other or threatening harm but they are all a bit incompetent or the house intervenes and no one is seriously injured.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Oh man, it cut off just when I was really getting interested. This is kind of like a mixture of Night at the Museum (only featuring real people/animals/mythical creatures, not statuary/taxidermy come to life) and Too Many Curses (definitely for the state of the wizard's tower after his death). When the wizard dies his tower dissolves into a chaotic mess, but the tower has lots of secrets, and Henrietta is just getting a whiff of them when this ends. She’s tempted to give up, but then realizes that the village desperately needs her to help clean up this mess if she is able. And there were hints when she was in the house that it was kind of on her side. And then the cliffhanger, and there’s not even a clue as to when the 2nd book will come out in English. So sad. If you can stand the wait and love mysterious house loaded with secrets and zany fantasy graphic novels, pick this up.
Notes on content [based on the ARC]: 2 minor swear words. No sexual content. The woman who owns the village inn is a bit busty but only features in a few frames. There’s a past war with casualties implied and the present war that feels kind of cartoon-violence-ish in that all sorts of people are shooting at each other or threatening harm but they are all a bit incompetent or the house intervenes and no one is seriously injured.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2020
Henrietta ìnherits a misfit house with a vault full of treasure. She is a brave orphan with a fear of being locked in a dark room. She is alone and no one will help her in fact some of the adults want her to fix their town. This is the first book of the series so it ends on a cliff hanger. I am enraptured by her strength and courage and am looking forward to the next installment,
August 13, 2020
Book 1 in the House Divided MG series hit all the right notes for me.
⚔️
Henrietta Achilles has been living life as an orphan only to find out she’s the last living relative of Ornun Zol, a wizard who has left his home to her. When Henrietta arrives at the house she’s taken aback by its size, as well as the odd occurrences in the home. Everything from squatters to soldiers to a strange black cat to bandits and more. Just when Henrietta is about to throw in the towel with this house, the magic it holds spills out onto the town, pulling her back in.
⚔️
I loved the artwork in this graphic novel and how easy to read it was. The humor reminded me of the Last Kids on Earth series, which will really resonate with my students. I can’t wait for book 2! 4.5 stars
⚔️
Henrietta Achilles has been living life as an orphan only to find out she’s the last living relative of Ornun Zol, a wizard who has left his home to her. When Henrietta arrives at the house she’s taken aback by its size, as well as the odd occurrences in the home. Everything from squatters to soldiers to a strange black cat to bandits and more. Just when Henrietta is about to throw in the towel with this house, the magic it holds spills out onto the town, pulling her back in.
⚔️
I loved the artwork in this graphic novel and how easy to read it was. The humor reminded me of the Last Kids on Earth series, which will really resonate with my students. I can’t wait for book 2! 4.5 stars
June 21, 2024
This series is a lot of fun. It takes place in a wizard’s mansion and all the rooms are creative and beautifully drawn. The conservatory and the library were my favorite. The characters are great. I mostly took stars off for the pacing and the plot. Everything moved too quickly for me. I wanted to spend more time in the castle before it flooded and see more of the gang of thieves� hijinks.
March 29, 2025
Quite fun though a bit too fast at times fory tired mind. Still I would like to continue and see what is up with the house, if Henrietta feels home and discover her legacy and all that. Also the art is fab.
March 31, 2020
After losing her parents in the great war, young Henrietta Achilles tries adjusting to life in an orphanage when she suddenly finds herself, instead, shipped off to the small, very very odd village of Malrenard, as the only living relative to a recently-deceased uncle she never knew named Ornun Zol. Malrenard is a bizarre place, to say the least, full of angry and bitter people with a lot of that negatively seemingly directed toward Ornun Zol and his tower-like castle, which now belongs to Henrietta. When a shady lawyer rushes Henrietta into taking ownership of the castle and accepting her inheritance, the girl's signature barely dry on the legal form, the girl is immediately and unceremoniously dropped off at her new home, where she quickly learns why all that resentment from the local towns people probably exists; not only was her Uncle Ornun a notorious wizard, but his home is full of thieves and soldiers and a bizarre variety of creatures that have turned the castle into a battleground, everyone fighting with each other to find a secret vault, hidden somewhere on the premises, that supposedly holds the source of all of the great wizard's power. I expected to enjoy this graphic novel - the first in a series - but what I didn't expect was to completely fall in love with the Looney Tunes-like artwork, action and story of this funny, snarky, addicting and yes even intriguing romp; an over-the-top page-turner that should leave you - like me - smiling and flipping back for a re-read immediately, already hungry (HINT!) for volume two. (Available April 7) 5/5 stars
NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2020
This comic is about a young girl called Henrietta Achilles and her journey after the death of her parents. She inherits a mansion from her uncle within a strange town that expects her to take responsibility for something within the house. This story is interesting, the art is great, and there pacing was fast-paced. Henrietta gets this massive ring of keys as she dropped at the doorstep to a hotel like mansion. But the estate is magical and is inhabited by a crazy cast of characters. Think Night Museum meets the hotel from Nevermoor and the town from the Christmas movie on Netflix called Klaus. I cannot wait for The next installment!
February 20, 2021
Fun characters, excellent plot pacing, and cinematic coloring that does not overpower the pages. Probably helps that I identify with dark-haired female protagonists.
January 9, 2025
Enjoyable book. It does have a lot going on and does end on a cliffhanger, but I still thought it was a fun read.
May 20, 2022
This was such a quick read and I really enjoyed the time I spent reading this. I’ll definitely check out the next volume in this series.
October 21, 2022
Really enjoyed this brief but exciting graphic novel. Ends on a cliffhanger. Kids will be clamoring for book two!
July 16, 2020
This was a super fun introduction to Henrietta and the magical house she's inherited! I loved the lush illustrations, all the little details and secrets I can't wait to learn more about in future volumes. Very creative and intriguing! I think readers would love this! I'd probably recommend it to 10-12 year olds I think. No questionable content really, just slightly more complex with the world building, you can tell this volume barely scratches the surface of what is going on.
June 12, 2020
The Accursed Inheritance of Henrietta Achilles (A House Divided #1), by Haiko Hornig and Marius Pawlitza, 96 pages, GRAPHIC NOVEL, Graphic Universe (Lerner), 2020, $10 (pb). 9781541586925
Content G
BUYING ADVISORY: MS � OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Henrietta Achilles, possibly in her mid teens, has been living as an orphan when she is brought to the village of Malrenard. There she finds out that as the only living relative of a deceased wizard, she had inherited his bizarre house, which is reputed to have a treasure hidden inside. As she enters her new home, she discovers it is truly bizarre and over run with soldiers and bandits fighting one another over finding the treasure and even pastries, and yes, monsters.
I liked the artwork and the premise, but I had to read the back of the book to get the storyline down. There was so much going on so fast, that it didn’t give me much time to process. At only 96 pages, all I got out of it was that Henrietta is going to stay and figure out the house. Good luck to her with so many other bodies in it. Maybe it’s all a ploy to help readers feel as confused as Henrietta.
Michelle in the Middle
Content G
BUYING ADVISORY: MS � OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Henrietta Achilles, possibly in her mid teens, has been living as an orphan when she is brought to the village of Malrenard. There she finds out that as the only living relative of a deceased wizard, she had inherited his bizarre house, which is reputed to have a treasure hidden inside. As she enters her new home, she discovers it is truly bizarre and over run with soldiers and bandits fighting one another over finding the treasure and even pastries, and yes, monsters.
I liked the artwork and the premise, but I had to read the back of the book to get the storyline down. There was so much going on so fast, that it didn’t give me much time to process. At only 96 pages, all I got out of it was that Henrietta is going to stay and figure out the house. Good luck to her with so many other bodies in it. Maybe it’s all a ploy to help readers feel as confused as Henrietta.
Michelle in the Middle
February 13, 2025
After years of being an orphan, she gets the surprise of her life. She had an uncle that was worth a lot and left it all to her. I enjoyed the adventure we went on in this issue. I hope the author continues to build the characters of the numerous squabbling squatters!!!!!
June 22, 2016
Nette, leicht abgedrehte und actiongeladene Fantasy Abenteuer, die sich anfühlt wie ein Point & Click Game. Schöne Sammlung der Webcomics, mit Character-Sketches und Quiche Rezept als Bonusinhalt.
February 20, 2023
Very short book - just an introduction to the world really. I’d have to try a couple more volumes to know what I think.
April 23, 2020
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, .
Many thanks to NetGalley and Graphic Universe (Tm) for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
- I’ll be the first to admit that I’m extremely picky about art style when it comes to graphic novels. So while I didn’t love the way people were drawn in this, the art still manages to be stunning and breathtaking. It’s sort of a really weird combination. The style of art for the people just bugs me. I think maybe because they’re so simplistic and almost cartoony, but the setting and background is so vivid and brilliant that I almost expect them to look more realistic, too. Make no mistake, though, this artwork is absolutely stunning. The sort I’d happily hang on my wall, used to impress my friends and elicit wistful fantasies of anywhere but here. From the very first few pages, I just absolutely fell in love with the overall art style of this. Despite not particularly liking how the people are drawn, it also didn’t make me love this any less, and I’m definitely looking forward to another volume.
- The story takes place in a giant, old castle they want us to think is creepy, but really, who wouldn’t want to live here? I actually can’t tell you a whole lot about the castle, because � well, discovering it is sort of the point. And I hope you like surprises because � SURPRISE! It’s probably not quite what you expect. I sure didn’t.
- While we’re not formally introduced to them, this volume introduces an eclectic and quirky set of characters that I couldn’t help but love from the start. I’m actually really looking forward to officially meeting them, and I’m sure there’s some shenanigans to be had with them. There was a bit of chaos � okay, well, there was a lot of chaos in the second half, yet it was still easy to follow and made me laugh. Seems like this will be a series that’s packed with mystery and magic (with a sprinkle of humor), and I am all for that.
- At its core, this book is about family secrets and a little girl growing into a role that seems too big for her. I love getting to see kids be heroes and conquer things they don’t think they can, because kids need to see that. The main character is also a reluctant hero. She has absolutely no idea what she’s getting herself into.
- The book does feel like it kind of just � ends? Which was a little bit frustrating, because it seemed like it was getting to the really good part (and that’s how they get you, isn’t it?). Still, this seems like it’ll be a really fun story and definitely my type of book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Graphic Universe (Tm) for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
- I’ll be the first to admit that I’m extremely picky about art style when it comes to graphic novels. So while I didn’t love the way people were drawn in this, the art still manages to be stunning and breathtaking. It’s sort of a really weird combination. The style of art for the people just bugs me. I think maybe because they’re so simplistic and almost cartoony, but the setting and background is so vivid and brilliant that I almost expect them to look more realistic, too. Make no mistake, though, this artwork is absolutely stunning. The sort I’d happily hang on my wall, used to impress my friends and elicit wistful fantasies of anywhere but here. From the very first few pages, I just absolutely fell in love with the overall art style of this. Despite not particularly liking how the people are drawn, it also didn’t make me love this any less, and I’m definitely looking forward to another volume.
- The story takes place in a giant, old castle they want us to think is creepy, but really, who wouldn’t want to live here? I actually can’t tell you a whole lot about the castle, because � well, discovering it is sort of the point. And I hope you like surprises because � SURPRISE! It’s probably not quite what you expect. I sure didn’t.
- While we’re not formally introduced to them, this volume introduces an eclectic and quirky set of characters that I couldn’t help but love from the start. I’m actually really looking forward to officially meeting them, and I’m sure there’s some shenanigans to be had with them. There was a bit of chaos � okay, well, there was a lot of chaos in the second half, yet it was still easy to follow and made me laugh. Seems like this will be a series that’s packed with mystery and magic (with a sprinkle of humor), and I am all for that.
- At its core, this book is about family secrets and a little girl growing into a role that seems too big for her. I love getting to see kids be heroes and conquer things they don’t think they can, because kids need to see that. The main character is also a reluctant hero. She has absolutely no idea what she’s getting herself into.
- The book does feel like it kind of just � ends? Which was a little bit frustrating, because it seemed like it was getting to the really good part (and that’s how they get you, isn’t it?). Still, this seems like it’ll be a really fun story and definitely my type of book.
April 22, 2020
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was unexpectedly entertaining. Orphans are a common theme in juvenile fiction, however, Henrietta seems to question the things I think we all do in these type of stories, we are looking for the rich relative to save them or a trusted family friend to come from nowhere. Henrietta gets a bit of a surprise, she was right, no one is coming to save her, she’s the one who will end up doing the saving. There are several stories happening here and it will be interesting to see how they unfold and interweave. I look forward to reading more and sharing with my graphic novel loving kiddos!!!! Also, the artwork is dark but still rather fun and extremely engaging.
February 16, 2020
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher on NetGalley.
The premise of this graphic novel sounded both hilarious and intriguing, so I had to check it out. Poor Henrietta is thrown into the thick of things right away and what a roller coaster ride it ends up being. This graphic novel is a great first volume and I was actually bummed when I reached the end because I wanted more.
The characters shown so far are quite a mix of personalities and I'm sure will factor in importantly as the series goes on. It's definitely a compelling story that makes you wonder what is coming next and seems like it will be quite an adventure for Henrietta.
The premise of this graphic novel sounded both hilarious and intriguing, so I had to check it out. Poor Henrietta is thrown into the thick of things right away and what a roller coaster ride it ends up being. This graphic novel is a great first volume and I was actually bummed when I reached the end because I wanted more.
The characters shown so far are quite a mix of personalities and I'm sure will factor in importantly as the series goes on. It's definitely a compelling story that makes you wonder what is coming next and seems like it will be quite an adventure for Henrietta.
September 25, 2020
After surviving a war, Henrietta lives at an orphanage until a strange man arrives to say her uncle has passed and left everything to her. This never-before-known uncle and a strange town with very angry villagers changes the course of Henrietta's life forever.
This graphic novel/comic was short--too short. While it introduced a collection of interesting characters, engaging story, and mysterious uncle with a hidden vault in his tower home, the book left too much wanting.
Looking forward to reading Book 2.
This graphic novel/comic was short--too short. While it introduced a collection of interesting characters, engaging story, and mysterious uncle with a hidden vault in his tower home, the book left too much wanting.
Looking forward to reading Book 2.
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