Post-apocalyptic stories are far from my favorite, and it takes a lot for something in that genre to wow me. While Odessa was a good story, it wasn't a great one. The pink and black art was interesting, the characters were endearing, and there were some well-explored themes around family and change and what it does to you to try and survive (although those do seem pretty post-apoc standard). But the relentless cruelty and bone-crushing hopelessness of the setting didn't help, as did the mostly standard plot beats. The worst part, though. was ending a 300+ page comic on a major cliff hanger. Unsatisfying.

I tried, but I just couldn't get into this one, and I wouldn't recommend it to it the intended audience. Even as a character-driven work, this does not work for me. It is too long for children and not mature enough for adults. And I didn't like the artwork. I don't think a book should be bashed because it doesn't live up to expectations. However, even if the book wasn't what I expected, it should still hold my attention, and if I couldn't get into it, I don't see how middle graders will. A good editor could have helped the author cut out pointless scenes, and then the plot may have gone somewhere.

Honestly, I was very scared going into this book. I loved the cover, the art is fantastic, and I was so excited that I got approved for this title on NetGalley. But then, I scanned the top Goodreads reviews and they were almost all negative, or at least unenthusiastic. I was worried that this graphic novel would be boring and long.

Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed reading Odessa! I think the main issue with most of the Goodreads reviewers is that they went in expecting something completely different than how Odessa actually is. Based on the premise of 8 years post big one, I think people assumed this would be a post-apocalypse type story. While it is, the ruin of society is not the main focus of the story, and for that I'm glad.

Each of the characters are well developed and realistic. Ginny and her two younger brothers, Wes and Harry, have a true relationship. As the oldest of three myself, I was laughing and nodding my head when the youngest boy used his imagination to entertain himself during their journey, stopping to pee often, and being "annoying" to his siblings. When Kevin came into the story, I couldn't think of anything that would have been more natural than a kid's imaginary bottle friend.

The plot of the story made sense, and it was done really well. Ginny and her brothers leave their home to find their mother who left them eight years prior, despite the danger in venturing away from home into ruins and gang territory. I was reminded a lot of The Walking Dead with the various gangs/groups that formed, and the facts that despite a disaster, it was still other PEOPLE that posed the greatest threat. There were many twists and turns in the plot that I DID NOT EXPECT, and was surprised when each one happened. I was shocked by the ending, but at the same time appreciated it because it felt like a natural, despite frustrating for the reader, point to end this story (at least for now). With Four Dollars dead, Harry with a missing arm, Maya a part of the gang, and a CLIFFHANGER ENDING (!!!), I am caught and left needing the next chapter of this story. I never predicted any of those twists, especially Four Dollars being their Uncle Frank and the direct conflict with the Gogu gang.

The art style is beautiful. Each panel is detailed and there is a lot to look at and discover, revealing much about the characters and this world. I LOVED the pink, black, and white color scheme––it fits perfectly with the ~vibe~ of the story and was lovely to read.

And some quick bonus points, shouts to the author for presenting a diverse cast of characters from both a ethnicity, ability, and sexuality standpoint. I really appreciated it and I HOPE to see Ginny and Maya develop their relationship in further chapters!

I really enjoyed reading Odessa and I would highly recommend anyone to read it. There is something for all readers in this story, and the artwork and storytelling is lovely. I will definitely read more from this author as well as continued volumes in this series (which I hope come soon).

Rating: 4 stars

**I will be adding a review of Odessa to my blog, readbyroe.com, on November 1oth when it is officially published.

I have a huge weakness for post-apocalyptic stories and graphic novels so this one sounded right up my alley. "Odessa" tells the story of 18-year-old Ginny, who's living in a world post-enormous earthquake that ruined the World As She Knew It (or, at least, part of it, as we later find out). She's living with her two younger brothers and her dad, scavenging sites in order to get enough stuff to trade for food. Her mother has left them - or that's the thought until Ginny receives a letter from her mum and decides to set out and try to find her.

I'm at odds about whether I liked the style of this one. I don't think the art itself was entirely my thing - though I did really appreciate the land- and cityscapes. The way people think the world will change and overgrow when humans (have to) stop being involved fascinates me. I did like the use of colour - simple yet really effective.

The sibling dynamics between Ginny, Wes & Harry were great. Very accurate and funny and endearing to see. To see Ginny shift back into more of a sister-role as they go on the road, after having felt like she needed to be their mum at home.

I will say I think the story and the storytelling left me a bit unsatisfied. I didn't feel like I had a great grasp of the characters, and at times they came off a bit flat because I felt like there wasn't a lot of space to really get to know them besides their sort of core-characteristics, which we get to know pretty early on. I'd have liked to see more about their past, or get to know and understand the world they live in currently a bit better. A lot of that was left a bit too vague and distant for my liking, making it difficult to really connect.

I'm curious what the next part will bring, though, and I'm sure I'll get answers to some of my questions when that comes around!

Odessa is a graphic novel that follows three siblings travelling a post-apocalyptic world in search for their mother who left them, and their father, eight years prior following a massive earthquake.

The artwork is lovely and really gives the reader a sense of the scale, however; the story was just kind of bland. I liked it, and I will likely recommend this book to others, but it was just "OK." Too much of the story was a lucky coincidence after another, no "children in danger" kind of vibes I hoped for. As said my previous reviewers, I thought Odessa might be a play on the word Odyssey and there would be more of an adventure feel to the story. While I did enjoy Odessa, my expectations were a bit let down.

This was my first time reading anything like this. Though it’s definitely not my cup of tea, if it’s yours then you will probably love it. It’s very well done. It’s an own voices book, and it shows diversity and a post-apocalyptic world. It was an interesting read and I am glad that I gave it a shot!

I felt like this graphic novel would be great for an older audience, new adult or adult, not a young adult audience.

It was a gritty depiction of a girl who is looking for her mother and really for herself in a place that has been devastated by something--at the beginning it is unclear.

I really loved this book! Initially I was a little put off by the names of the characters. Very Harry Potter and I feel like not a lot of thought went into them. But the illustrations and the story had me so gripped that by the end of the book I was devastated it was over and now I’m desperate for more!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Jonathan Hill and the publisher for a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my review

I really loved the art style of this graphic novel, and the peachy pink colour tone felt perfect for the post apocalyptic world we were taken into. I thought the story was a little slow in places, but as the first installment I thought it was a strong start and would be happy to read more volumes.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the chance to read this in return for an honest review.

Dystopian stories and graphic novels are two of my favourite things but I didn’t like this book and I think that was down to the drawing style. It just wasn’t for me. A interesting story that develops well but I can’t say I would read other volumes in the series.

This comic:
- is basically a post-apo YA novel (it's even novel-length),
- has great supportive friendships/found family vibes,
- also has a cute fluffy Sapphic slow-burn romance.
It's a graphic novel about a teenager and her two younger brothers traveling across a post-apocalyptic wasteland to find their missing mother (that's the 'Odessa in the title). On their way, they meet some cute friends and dangerous enemies.
Ginny, the main character, is an independent and strong teen focused on getting to the truth and protecting her brothers. Wes and Harry are children, but they are completely different. Wes is the angsty one and Harry is the nice one, who would befriend everyone, including an empty bottle (its name is Kevin).
The characters are diverse in terms of their personalities and characteristics, but I wish there was some more realistic diversity in terms of ethnicities and skin tones.
Despite its setting, the comic book isn't dark at all. There is hardly any gore and everything is in a shade of peach pink. It shows that even in dark times, children will be children, and this is the type of lightness I needed right now. But! Don't be fooled. Despite the pink exterior, this story gets really sad really quickly.
It ends on such a damn cliffhanger I really want to read the next volume asap.

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.
When I read that this story was comparable to the styles of Neal Shusterman and Scott Westerfeld, I knew I needed to read it. Although I’ve never read either of those authors in GN form, I can confidently state that Odessa has the same gritty, boundary pushing elements. However, it is also a bit more fantastical.
I enjoyed the story, but the art, although fine, didn’t resonate with me in a meaningful way. However, the rosy hue did make the story seem less bleak and a little more hopeful to me. I definitely appreciated that and will probably read the next volume to see what happens next.

I gave up on graphic novels a couple of years ago – mainly due to their shortness and underwhelming narrative. I gave Odessa a chance after reading the description and deciding that it was time to try another one. Graphic novels tend to be aimed at the young adult audience, which is not my demographic, but Jonathan Hill has created something special here – I really feel this will appeal to any age group who appreciates a great story.

Odessa is a post-apocalyptic tale that centres on three siblings on a journey across California in search of their mother. The characters are realistic, dynamic and most importantly, likeable! Their journey is so well scripted, that you almost feel a part of the story too – I’ve never experienced this in a graphic novel before, but I think this is why I rate this one so highly. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but imagine this story played out on screen – stunning visuals with just the right blend of action, suspense, family drama and mystery…

Artistically, the drawings are fantastic and fit perfectly with the narrative – I love the rose tint of the book – it softens the brutalness of some scenes and gives the impression of an overcast skyline you’d expect in a post-apocalyptic world.

Easily the best graphic novel I’ve read in a long time – most definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!

I liked the art style. It's a dystopian graphic novel set after an earthquake. Three kids set to find their mother. I did not like the repetition in the book. Overall it was good.

I am not big into graphic novels but i have read a few and this one was a beauty for sure. I really really loved the story and the dialogues. The artwork is so so beautiful, i like how the author has attempted to imagine a world after whatever the future holds because climate change is real and we are headed in the wrong direction. The Artwork as i said before really tells the story more than the writing. Characters are pretty well sketched out and developed. I can't wait to read the next part.

While not exactly exploring new territory and reliant upon coincidences to propel the plot, it was an enjoyable read until the end when the main question driving the plot remains unanswered.

This graphic novel has a beautiful and unique art style. I adored the pink color palette and was immersed into the story quickly. I also loved how the story focused on family dynamics. However, since family was a focal point of the story, I felt that other elements such as the world building were a bit lackluster. The world building was decent, but I did not fully understand the dystopian setting. I enjoyed looking at the full page panels where you could see the setting, but found myself less intrigued by the dialogue explaining the world itself.

Additionally, due to the family focus of the story, I wish that the story had a more concrete conclusion. The group of siblings we follow sets out to find their mother, and by the end of the story they have not made much progress. I would have liked to see them at least have more information about their mother's whereabouts.

I did note a possible grammar error on page 119 in the first panel - "and" should be "an" in the context of the dialogue.

I enjoyed my time reading Odessa, but it felt like an average read to me. I do not see myself continuing the series. 2.5/5 stars, rounded up to 3 on NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Reviewing Odessa is... conflicting.

See, here's the thing. On one hand, I get why people would love this novel. It has so much potential. The post-apocalyptic factor is enough to draw people (namely: me) in, and it's easy enough to like after that. The characters are well-written, the family aspect heartwarming, and the plot's adventurous.

On the other hand, I really just didn't like this. There was little to no character development. The characters themselves didn't draw me in, although their family banter was very entertaining. I found Ginny especially to just be kind of stupid, to be honest. I think there was a lot that could have been done with them that wasn't. Beyond Ginny, Harry, and Wes, all the characters just seemed to be there for their convenience. They didn't have any real substance to them. There was so much potential with TK and Four Dollars especially, but all of it was overshadowed. Part of it is to do with the fact that, well, this is a graphic novel, and they're notoriously harder to write good character development in, but it also seemed like Hill wasn't really trying.

On that note, the plot also felt extremely convenient. The antagonists' motives were stupid and unrealistic, the conflicts and their solutions way too coincidental and strange. Everything just felt pretty half-assed, to be honest.

The art style was also not to my liking. It fit the storyline, I will admit, but it wasn't to my tastes. It was too strange and disconnected for me, although I did love the colour palette. The black and white with pink was very fitting and provided an easy-to-read graphic novel, so I really did enjoy that.

Altogether, I can't say I hated Odessa. I just really didn't like it. What could have made me feel didn't due to the underdeveloped characters, what could have made me gasp didn't due to the pure incredulity of the situation. I think this novel would have worked better as middle grade than YA. Two stars for it being an OwnVoices post-apocalyptic graphic novel (I mean, come on!), the potential, and Maya. (Yes, I am in fact that predictable.) This really could have been good. It's a shame that it didn't live up to expectations.

Recommended to any younger readers who are fans of graphic novels.

This could have been about so much. Instead, it managed to not really be about anything.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this one. I wasn't at all compelled to continue reading for either the plot or characters. The artwork was beautiful but that's really all it had going for it.

Odessa begins with the reader being introduced to a family of a father, daughter, and two sons living in a post-apocalyptic world with zombie like beings as well as gang rivalry. Their mother left the family and the children never found out why. Virginia is tired of her father never wanting to talk about their mother and when she receives a birthday gift in the mail from her mom, she is determined to set out in the dangerous world to find her. Her brothers end up following her against her wishes and thus begins our graphic novel adventure.

What I liked:
The “zombies” and how they became that way, the post-apocalyptic story, and the adventure.

What I didn’t like:
It felt like a good introduction to this world and family, but heavily drawn out. At times, I got very annoyed with the characters as well with the immaturity of the adults not the kids.

Overall, a fun graphic novel and I might look for the next one. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to have early access to Odessa!