Odessa is set in a post-apocalypse United States, specifically on the west coast. Eight years ago there was a massive earthquake that destroyed everything west of the Mississippi and caused Odessa to leave her family.

Seventeen-year-old Virginia lives with her father and two younger brothers. Just before her birthday, she receives a mysterious package from her long-lost mother, Odessa. This gift prompts Virginia to leave the few comforts of home to set on an epic journey to find her mom. Virginia soon finds out that she is not alone on her journey. This YA graphic novel is filled with twists, turns, and surprises along the way. There's even a bit of magic, monsters, and zombies.

As I neared the end of the book, I was concerned that there might be a quick ending, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Odessa is a first volume and Virginia's story will continue.

Odessa is a graphic novel by Jonathan Hill, set in the near-distant future where earthquakes have destroyed America, leaving a country in ruins. It tells the story of Virginia Crane, and her two younger brothers, who are searching for their missing mother whilst dodging bandits and other creatures.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel, as Hill’s art style was easy to read, and his backgrounds of the ruins made the setting very beautiful. Sometimes though, the character of Wesley looks like a stereotype of an Vietnamese child, which was distracting. That might just be a stylistic choice, but it did bring me out of the text a little bit.
There is some queer subtext in the novel, which was lovely! I won’t spoil the characters, but the casual representation meant a lot to me. It seems like this will be followed up in the next instalment of the book, which I will definitely be reading. (Also, their Uncle lives in San Francisco and has a past consuming friendship with the Big Bad? My dude’s, he’s gay.)
There is a science-fiction element to the novel, which I actually enjoyed as someone who doesn’t like science-fiction. The Jinx root was very clever, and I’m glad it repeated throughout the novel, as a help and a hinderance. I also liked the different ways of payment, and Hill’s drawings of the money. They looked futuristic, but beat up over a couple of years.
Overall, I thought some of the plot points were a little obvious, especially with certain characters. However, this is an epic of a novel, so I never felt like I was reading cliché after cliché. I was surprised with how much content is packed into this book, and as mentioned before, I’m so excited to read the next part! It ended at a perfect cliffhanger.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to @netgalley and @onipress for the ARC of Odessa by Jonathan Hill. This dystopian graphic novel is a story about family, but also about some of the strange ways life changes after a world ending event. Out this November!

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Synopsis from the publisher: Eight years ago an earthquake—the Big One—hit along the Cascadia fault line, toppling cities and changing landscapes all up and down the west coast of the United States. Life as we know it changed forever. But for Vietnamese-American Virginia Crane, life changed shortly after the earthquake, when her mother left and never came back. Ginny has gotten used to a life without her mother, helping her father take care of her two younger brothers, Wes and Harry. But when a mysterious package arrives for her eighteenth birthday, her life is shaken up yet again. For the first time, Ginny wants something more than to survive. And it might be a selfish desire, but she’s determined to find out what happened to her mother—even if it means leaving her family behind.

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I really loved the story of Odessa, and am very excited that this is book one of a series and not just a one and done. The use of monochromatic coloring in the graphics helped to portray the barren landscape and remains of civilization after an earthquake has changed life for the survivors. This is definitely a story heavy graphic novel. It is not a quick read, but also isn’t one you would want to rush through. This is a great book for fans of stories like The Walking Dead, Scott Westerfeld, and Neil Schusterman.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We follow Harry, Wes and Ginny, three siblings embarking on an adventure across a destroyed United States to find their mother. This was advertised as for fans of Neal Shusterman. It did not live up to that. I enjoyed Wes and 4 Dollars, they were entertaining and good enough characters, and the beginning of a f/f romance was a nice surprise, even though it was just thrown in at the end and then ignored. I hope it if further developed in future volumes. However, I thought it was way too long: it could have been condensed to maybe 200 pages and it would have been better, less drawn out and less boring. The only part that I actually was invested in was the fight scene at the near end. Apart from Wes and 4 Dollars, I didn't care for the other 2/3 of the main trio: Harry and Virginia were annoying, and the side characters were stereotypical. Finally, the ending was surprising, and not in a good way: I didn't know this was part of a series and was annoyed that it ended like that.

The concept of this book really intrigued me and was why I decided to give it on try on Netgalley.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book, it definitely pulls on your emotions, with the decisions that Ginny has to make throughout the story to protect herself, her brothers and others.

I liked that overall, there is a only the smallest hint of romance, but overall the story is about the love of family and protecting your family at all costs.

The art in this book is lovely, I like how simple the colors are but how the shading helps to portray emotions or important objects in the scene.

Overall, a really good post-apocalypse story. Would recommend.

This graphic novel was overly long at more than 300 pages. It did keep me engrossed, though, in the post-apocalyptic world that had destroyed cities and bubbled up criminals and other unwanted characters from underground, literally. But I felt there could have been less space given to the journey that Ginny and the kids took and a little more to life that was before. Ginny's life when her mother was around. Or a little more detail about the big earthquake itself instead of passing references. After all, that was what changed everything.

Nevertheless, an interesting read. There is the hint of a sequel in the end, and I am intrigued to see if that will make the first one whole.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

3.5 stars

<i>Odessa</i> takes place eight years after a serious earthquake that left the west coast of the U.S. utterly destroyed. Virginia “Ginny” has gotten used to living without her mother in this post-apocalyptic world, but when a mysterious package is mailed to Ginny, indicating that her mother might be alive, she sets out on a journey to find her. Just as she’s sneaking out, her two siblings decide to join her, leaving their dad at home as they start their trek through dangerous territory.

I would definitely say that <i>Odessa</i> is entertaining. The kids experience quite a few obstacles on their journey and meet some interesting characters. I also loved the art style and color palette—something about the contrast of the soft pink coloring and the idea of a dystopian land was appealing to me. The font was pretty and easy to read.

However, I did feel like something was missing from <i>Odessa</i>. There was this great dystopian world laid out and it just...wasn’t explored as much as I wanted. There wasn’t much background offered and the depths to which this earthquake affected the area wasn’t delved into as much as it could have been. The pacing was also a bit strange. At some points I felt like things were moving way too fast (especially at the beginning), and at other times I felt like the story was dragging. Furthermore, the ending felt a bit too abrupt. There’s nothing wrong with a cliffhanger, but something about the ending felt too unfinished—like the author decided to quit right there and said “alright, I guess I’ll just make a sequel when I figure out what’s going to happen next.”

Overall, <i>Odessa</i> certainly wasn’t boring, but I felt like it was a bit lackluster considering the fact that the premise had so much potential. I think I would still recommend this to someone who is looking for an easy-to-read graphic novel, but I wouldn’t say it was anything groundbreaking.

This was so good! Wesley is the real hero of this story, though. I stan him forever and a day. I really enjoyed the artwork and storyline, even if the plot was just a tad bit predictable at times. I'm interested to see where it goes from here and just a tad bit peeved that it ended on a cliffhanger!

that was a lot more intense than i expected. the art style is really good, i specially liked the pink theme all over. it feels very cartoon-ish but in a good way.
a lot happens in this. a lot. not only the world is super messed up, but the characters also have a lot of issues and secrets, which keeps things interesting.

Odessa is a slow burn graphic novel about the aftermath of a huge earthquake that literally splits the US in half. It follow the story of Virginia, Ginny, and her quest to find her long lost mother. I loved the artwork and I can't wait to see what happens next!

Overall I liked it. It had ups and downs - started a bit slow to get into and then I disliked the ending. Since this is just the beginning of a series I felt rather let down at the end. I really liked the coloring style throughout and the world building was interesting. A lot of open endings, would be interested to see where it goes in the next one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge fan of dystopian Graphic Novels, so I was excited to pick this one up. Odessa tells a tale of a family's journey through a post-apocalyptic world and the dangers they face.

The artwork in this is simply perfect. I love the single tone colouring used throughout, it evokes just the right mood and fits the linework beautifully. and I adored the set-up and the characters from the very beginning. The plot builds well, and it is nicely paced. It even has a small nod to an LGBTQ+ relationship, so credit for that too.

I do feel there were a couple of issues here too. The story was enjoyable while reading it, but it isn't all that memorable so it doesn't stay with you, and my biggest pet peeve was the ending - there wasn't one. Nowhere on the front does it say this is volume one, so the cliffhanger ending is thoroughly unsatisfying. I'm all for a multi-volume GN series, I love them, it lets us build a complex world and allows for character development - neither of which do I see all that much of here, and for the first volume of a multi-part series, that's a bit of a letdown.

Overall I did enjoy the reading experience, and I do think there is real promise here, but I definitely wanted volume 2 to be available, so I could see that promise fulfilled!

3 stars from me.

(Review published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 16/07/20, to be posted on other third party sites on the date of publication)

Lackluster. I felt like things were happening to our main characters but not really enough that it propelled the plot. The premise really had be intrigued but it just didn't live up. Not for me.

I feel extremely torn on this book. The relationship between the three kids is so well done, however the pacing seemed all over the pace. Also, I don't know how I feel about this being a start to the series. The art is really nice, though!

I just didn't get on with this graphic novel and I'm not sure why. It's a post apocalyptic story set in west America after the biggest earthquake ever tears that side of America apart. Everything is ruined, society has changed. Ginny, the protagonist lives with her Dad and two brothers. The two brothers were really annoying and were drawn as tiny adults not children. It's Ginny's birthday and she receives a parcel from her mother containing a photograph and a necklace. Suddenly after eight years she decides to travel to the most horrible part of the world to find her mother who might not be there now, leaving behind her father who had loved and protected them. Not only that but her love interest who leaves days behind them, randomly appears on their boat two thirds of the way through the book. How did she know which direction they went? How did she get on their boat? Why did she not say anything?

Thanks you Netgalley and Oni Press for giving me the chance to read this graphic novel, I''m sorry it wasn't for me.

In post-apocalyptic US, a Vietnamese-American teenage girl sets off on a journey to find her mother who disappeared eight years earlier. Ginny just wants to escape from the responsibility of looking after her younger brothers but when they follow her she has to protect them and decide who to trust as they make their way to the ruins of San Francisco. En route they manage to get in between two warring gangs, meet a mysterious man called Four Dollars with a complicated history, and wake something dangerous in the deep.

Jonathan Hill's pink-tinted images are suitably harsh and gritty and his apocalyptic cityscapes are particularly striking. A compelling, poignant story about family and hope in a dangerous world.

Eight years ago, after a massive earthquake, Virginia Crane's mother left and never came back. Ginny had gotten used to a life without her mother, helping her father take care of her two younger brothers, Wes and Harry. But on her eighteenth birthday, when she receives a mysterious package from her mother, her life is shaken up yet again.

She's determined to find out what happened to her mother—even if it means leaving her family behind. What she doesn't expect, is to discover her younger brothers following her despite all her attempts to leave in secret.

The novel then follows the journey of the three siblings, as they search for their missing mother across a ruined America.

This was a quick read. All the main characters were good including Four Dollars. The art and illustrations were good but I felt at times the plot was slightly slow in between.

But I loved the way the novel ended. There are so many unanswered questions- What is the secret of Jinx Root? Is Harry okay? Do they find their mother?. It has already built up my anticipation for the next book in the series!

Thank You to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC!

"Things never end, they just change"

This book follows Virginia "Ginny" who just received a letter from her mother for her birthday 8 years after she left her and her family. So as she is thrilled to find out that her mother is still alive and cares about her, Ginny decides to set off on a journey to find her mom.

The first thing that I noticed about this book is that the art style of this graphic novel was very stunning. I loved all of the pink tones in this book and found them very beautiful. I enjoyed all of the characters and how sassy, clever, and fired up that they got. I found that the plot was very fast-paced. However, I feel that it was only fast-paced because of the fact that it is a graphic novel. Throughout this 300 page book, I feel that the characters went undeveloped. Even though I found it very fast-paced and there were a lot of adventures which definitely did contribute to the plot and my enjoyment. I feel that however a lot of the adventures were very similar and felt repetitive.

Overall I gave this book 3/5 stars I found it interesting and fun but the characters definitely could have been more developed. This is the first book in a series so maybe this will happen in future books.

* Thank you net galley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing graphic novel. After an earthquake has destroyed the West Coast, three siblings go off in search of their mother. The world has changed dramatically from the one we know, and there were several things that really surprised me. I loved the fantastical elements that were woven into the world, while still keeping the story grounded in a reality that is believable.

There are enough twists and amazing set pieces in the story to keep you turning pages, but the art ... oh man, the art. Often, I found myself just stopping at the pages that establish locations and drinking in the details. It's top-notch stuff and really makes it stand out amongst other graphic novels.

Yes, it ends on a cliffhanger, but not in a "stopped-right-in-the-middle-of-a-big-plot-point" kind of way ... more in a continuation of the story and the start of something big. I want to see more of the USA post-earthquake, and I want to see what happens with the characters. The sibling interactions, and how they relate to each other and their ultimate goal made me want to get my hands on the next volume RIGHT NOW. Recommended

Thank you Oni Press for the digital galley of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.



Odessa by Jonathan Hill is a post-apocalyptic story about a teenager’s quest for her missing mother. The story follows Virginia Crane, who together with her brothers and father, survived an earthquake, the Big One, eight years ago. On her eighteenth birthday, she received a package from her mother who left and vanished. Because of this, she was now determined to know what happened to her mother, even when it meant living the safety of her home and her family.

I really liked the premise with its the end of the world kind of setting. The pacing, in the beginning, was somewhat slow but picked up after a while. The dangers were that might really come during a post-apocalyptic setting were portrayed realistically. A lot of things happened to the characters because of bad decisions, and they encountered lots of characters during their journey. The violence and death scenes were quite shocking, but I think these things were expected given the nature of this graphic novel.

The art style and the choice for the color palette are unique. The pink, white, and black highlighted the chaos and destruction of what was happening in the story.

Although the characters were all interesting, I was not able to connect to any of them. Virginia was impulsive and selfish most of the time. That’s why it made me so hard to root for her. I think the only character that was complex and a fleshed-out was Four Dollars. I like the younger brothers. I enjoyed their banters and they acted exactly for their age. Moreover, Vietnamese representation was a nice touch, but I think it would have been better if it were more of this rep was instilled in the plot. Also, there was a surprise LGBTQ+ rep!

Overall, Odessa was an interesting read. I didn’t know that this was the first part of a series, and because of the ending, I am curious about what would happen next.

3/5 stars!