First, I would like to thank the publisher for granting my request on @Netgalley. For the first few pages of the book, I was a little bit confused about the story as I didn’t understand the transitions and who was who at first. Then, it got better and I got into the story. It was quite a nice read but not an extraordinary one either. I’m a bit sad with didn’t get into the Maya/Ginny relationship at all but I hope to see more of it in the next book. Apart from that the plot was full of actions and emotions, especially when this apocalyptic seems so dangerous and full of bad guys. I didn’t get emotionally attached to the characters but I did find them brave and courageous. Concerning the art, I liked the colours (black, white and pink) which I think is better than black and white. I enjoyed the drawings but didn’t love them as this is not really my style. It doesn’t look cute or anything. It is quite a long graphic novel (300 pages) and I believe it could have been shorter, especially since it is not a standalone as I initially thought.

Overall, the story is not extraordinary and a bit complex but the subject of children going through everything to find their mum is heart-warming.

I really enjoyed the story of this graphic novel and found it really intriguing and always made me want to continue reading. I was expecting to absolutely love the art style but unfortunately it wasn't for me and did make the experience a little less enjoyable. I love the pink tones but the style of characters just didn't feel like it fit with the story for me. I also found the speech a little stunted and unnatural which also made the reading experience feel like a bit of a chore.

Thank you Netgalley for approving me for this arc I had enjoyed reading this graphic novel. novel so it's a bit different than the fantasy reads I'm used to. The art really went well with the story I loved the details that went into creating this world and characters. Their were cute moments between the characters especially when they argued because it reminded me how my sisters and I are with each other. It did feel a bit slow at times and it really didn't feel like the characters changed much by the end but I'm really interested in what is next for Ginny and her siblings in the next book so I'll definitely be wanting the sequel.

After the earthquake that tore apart western United States, Ginny and her family are doing their best to survive. When a mysterious package arrives from her long-lost mother, Ginny sets out on a harrowing adventure to reunite her family. Unfortunately, in this dangerous new world, she's doesn't even know where she's going and she'll need a lot of help. A colorful cast of characters including Ginny's funny and clever younger brothers, a pre-zombie passerby, an unexpected relative, and a super lesbian offer help along the way, but through it all, Ginny can't help but wonder if she's doing the right thing. Although decisions always have consequences, the stakes are high in this world full of monsters, villains and motorcycle gangs.
As far as adventure stories go, I was pleasantly surprised by Odessa. Although the plot is pretty cyclical, it reflects a real understanding of choice and consequence as well as regret when things don't go as planned. Each character is distinct, both in appearance and mannerism, making this fairly easy to read. It borders on hopeless at times, but I have faith that throughout the story the characters will find something of value, even if it isn't what they were originally looking for. I am hopeful that the story will continue to be interesting and a little scary.
Most of my students are a bit too young for this particular novel. It does contain sequences of violence and brutality along with swearing and alcohol use. It has appeal for middle to upper grades, though and isn't too overdone to be enjoyed by adults as well.

Ginny lives on the north side of The Line with her dad and two brothers, Wes and Harry. On Ginny's birthday, a strange package arrives at her doorstep. Normally, it wouldn't be a huge surprise, but the package is from her estranged mom. Feeling like that chapter of her life has not come to a close, Ginny embarks on a journey to find her mother in the war-torn, disease-ridden, and harsh world since the "world ended."

I loved this book. I am typically not a fan of YA and graphic novels lumped together, but wow. This book did not disappoint. I will be trying to find the second book in this series as soon as I can. Hill has a talent for creating the scene, and transferring emotions from the page into the reader's heart and mind. 5/5, would highly recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley for sending me an ARC of this! Unfortunately, this graphic novel was just not for me. I appreciated the art for its sharpness and bold style, which fit the story quite well. Where this fell flat for me was in the sibling relationships. I reeeealy love a wholesome sibling bond, but they were always getting on each other’s nerves, which also got on my nerves. And this book was looong. A lot could have been condensed to cut the drag.

Odessa is an interesting post-apocalyptic tale; this is just the first installment and the story is far from complete. It is not the most original version of this kind of adventure; the predictability started to get to me because I so frequently thought, "yep, called it". However, the standard issue journey obstacles ultimately didn't prevent me from connecting with the characters or enjoying the book. I'll be keeping my out for the sequel(s) to be sure.

Beautiful art style and a very moving story about a Vietnamese-American girl trying to find her mother after an earthquake changed their lives forever.

Thank you to Netgalley and Oni Press for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Odessa really grabbed me and pulled me into the story of 3 siblings trying to find their mother in a post-apocalyptic world.

The art is gorgeous, and I really loved the characters and found myself constantly wanting to know what was gonna happen next.

Whilst the story is slightly stereotypical in places, I can't wait to see the next instalment of Odessa.

Odessa is in many ways a modernized version of the Odyssey. Set eight years after an earthquake destroyed the western half of the United States, the plot focuses on 17 year old Ginny, who has lived with her father and two younger brothers in Oregon since The Big one changed everything. When Ginny receives a letter and a necklace for her birthday, though, signed from her mother, she leaves the family she’s known best behind in search of the parent she lost years before.

Unfortunately, while the illustrations are striking, the writing feels congested. There’s simply too much going on, especially for the first book in a series. For example, although a post-apocalyptic odyssey necessarily provides challenge, a violent gang war between the Wing Kong in the North and the Gogu in the South is meant to drive much of the conflict in the novel.

In this 300+ page book, I can imagine leaving out 100+ pages and not missing much. While I’ll still be looking forward to Odessa’s sequel, I won’t be grinding my teeth at night worrying about Ginny and her brothers.

Loved, loved, loved this story! The panels draw you into this setting as you follow these characters through a dystopian world. I could not put this down and cannot wait until the next installment! This will leave you highly satisfied.

I was under the impression this was a stand alone but unfortunately it's not, which is a shame as it would have made a nice tight 12 issues. The post earthquake apocalypse concept worked well, the addition of magical plants and creatures wasn't necessary. I found the sudden appearance of the brothers and then the friend a bit too convenient, the tone changed when they became a gang, not to mention the implausible uncle plot. Art wise I liked it, clear and easy to follow if a little juvenile in the faces (like a 5-8 book, it was a little Cartoon Network). Another comic in black, white and pink which I like. Overall not as compelling as the concept and the plot was let down by the use of tropes.

Odessa is a unique and action packed graphic novel with an almost unexpected kick of adventure. It is a suspenseful ride filled with high stakes, in fact much higher stakes than I expected. This is a fun and fast paced story with a unique art style. I didn’t love the art but it wasn’t because it wasn’t good, instead it just wasn’t quite my style. The characters weren’t boring but they also all felt like something that I’ve read before. This book is still a good book and it definitely wasn’t boring, however it didn’t blow my mind and it wasn’t something that will stick with me forever. In short it’s a fun graphic novel that will definitely be someone else’s five star but not mine.

I've been kind of disillusioned with the post-apocalyptic genre recently since it seems there is so much of it and it can get so depressing. This book, though, might have changed my mind a little bit. The world it presents is immersive and well thought-out, but still very plausible. I liked a lot of the characters. I think the pink color scheme was an interesting choice because pink is seen as such a feminine, gentle color, but when you think about it, doesn't blood run pink, as well? I'm interested in seeing where the story goes from here.

The graphic novel will follow these three brothers and their journeu to find their mon after eight years. They have no idea where she is and what she is doing. They only have a letter and hope. It is a quick read with a mix of emotion in between. I really liked the characters and the dinamic between them. I didn't know it was a first book in a possibly series, so that got me by surprise Either way, I read it in one sitting, plus the end was good with that cliffhanger we love to see.

Gorgeous art. Lots of plot though I wish it was a stand-alone instead of the beginning of a series. Premise really reminds me of Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld.

It is really hard for me to have words for this book that feel sufficient. Odessa is a heart-wrenching tale of three Vietnamese-American kids after the apocalypse trying to find their mom. We have Virginia the hard-ass eldest who wants to pretend she is strong and mighty when she is mostly really angry and sad. We have Wes the middle child who is combative but so very smart and a problem solver, and the Youngest Harry who is just a little kid trying to survive and still find the joy in the things around him. Man do these kids go through it too. But Jonathan Hill does such a phenomenal job of making these characters feel so solid and so real in such a short period of time. And it isn't just the main three kids there are 3-4 side characters that felt just as significant as the kids and had the same emotional impact on me. Speaking of emotional impact, I cried while reading this, not just once but roughly 3-4 times. While I am a bit of a cry baby, Graphic novels typically don't impact me as strongly as this did. Seriously as I am writing this review I am thinking more about this book and crying a bit again. The world building is also very strong. It is clear that Jonathan Hill put a lot of thought into what a post-apocalyptic America would look like. There are a few common tropes in here, but I think that they are introduced in pretty inventive ways. The one thing I was not completely thrilled about is that there is a tiny hint of romance that does not feel very developed, but as this will at least have a sequel I am very confident that Hill will solve that in the next installment. This book is my favorite graphic novel of the year and a strong contender for one of my favorite books of the year so far. It deals a lot with the ideas of grief, loss and what it means to truly be living. I do not think I can emphasize enough that this is a must read for anyone who likes post-apocalyptic settings or wants to be hurt by a book. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Oni Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. And thanks to Johnathan Hill for making me cry more than I could have reasonably expected to on a Sunday night.

The art style was great, I enjoyed the minimal salmon color. The storyline was intriguing but I found myself wanting to know more of what happened to the world know more of the damage which I found I lacked.
Overall, it was a good storyline I might continue.

The premise of Odessa is that it’s a post-apocalyptic tale of three Vietnamese American children on a quest across America to find their mother. But it’s so much more than that. It explores human behaviour following a catastrophic event, the complexities of human relationships (especially family) and is also a journey of self-discovery.

For Virginia, Wes and Harry, life will never be the same. This is a dangerous quest but they’ve all decided that being reunited with their mother is worth the risk.

I have to start by saying that I loved Odessa. For me, it was one of those impossible to put down books. The artwork was beautiful and the story was beyond captivating. I didn’t want it to end… but more on that later.

Ginny is one of the most relatable characters I’ve ever read. Although our cultural background is different, we are very similar. We’re both stubborn, older sisters to younger brothers who hold a somewhat idealistic and pacifistic perspective of what the world should be like. Now I can’t begin to imagine the enormity of making this journey under the weight of that responsibility. But unfortunately for Ginny, her brothers have followed her. She doesn’t have a choice. (And to be fair, I’m sure my brothers would have done the exact same.)

Ginny has obviously been through a lot in her seventeen years of life. The earthquake has ended the world as she knew it then her mum left and her life gets flipped upside down again when she receives a birthday present from her absent mother. Knowing that her mother is alive, she longs to be reunited with her. So she sets off without any information about her mother’s whereabouts, completely disregarding the warnings from others about how dangerous a quest it will be. I won’t tell you too much more than that because spoilers but it turns out that it is a very dangerous quest.

There are some wonderful secondary characters that really add to the beauty of the story. I loved how three-dimensional they all are. Everyone has their good and bad qualities to highlight that it’s more of a spectrum than a clear cut good vs. evil and it’s done in a really beautiful way to add momentum to the story each time. I also loved the LGBTQIA+ representation – I believe there were at least three characters? Again, this goes back to the complexities of human relationships that’s at the heart of Odessa.

Now, back to the ending. This is the one thing that I’m not sure how I feel about. On the one hand, I was disappointed that it left it open-ended. On the other, I was thrilled that I’d be able to rejoin Ginny, Harry and Wes in the future. So I’ll leave it as I don’t love it but I don’t hate it either.

Odessa was a lovely graphic novel following the adventure of three siblings trying to find their mother.

I absolutely loved the illustrations, particularly the colours used - pink, white and black, instead of the usual black and white found in graphic novels.

The story dealt with so many issues which was impressive through a graphic novel; family, friendship, love, death, gangs, grief and so much more.

Can't wait to find out what happens next!