Member Reviews
This book was interesting, both in art style and overall content.
It is like spooky stories, to tell in the dark, but add an art style that even more firmly pulls you in.
I love that the stories are based around what would have been historical scary stories, urban legends, etc. It made me want to seek out more of these stories. Because as I was reading Suárez's work I had chills going up my spine.
this reminded me of a less creepy version of ‘through the woods’ by emily carrol. i liked the art a lot, but unfortunately the stories were to short for me to really enjoy them. bummed :(
This was a lovely little comic. The illustrations were beautiful, and the stories are super creepy. I can definitely imagine a grandmother telling these stories to her terrified grandchildren.
The art of this book was excellent and really matched the eerie tone of these stories. I really enjoyed that after each story, there was a short explanation of the original tale. Overall, I wish each story had a little more substance to them. They were so quick, it was difficult to be invested in them.
This little story is SUPER spooky. The author somehow gains your interest and terrifies you almost immediately, but the story is still compelling and very readable. I will definitely talk about this book at my store when it comes out!
Tales of the Mist is set in 1930s Spain and has several tales of mysterious folklore reminiscent of those tales handed down by your grandmother, the ones that really creeped you out as a child. They are framed through the eyes of a child who is trying to make sense of the darkness.
I read this one in the wee hours while suffering from insomnia last week. The art is unusual, not the beautiful, bright and bold prints of some of the modern comics. It’s very much a reflection of the time and tone of the stories. Lots of grays, browns, and blacks. The people aren’t beautiful, but they are distinct.
It really feels like sitting around the campfire, hearing stories from the elders in the village, and I really enjoyed the vibe. It’s out in the US now, so if you’re looking for something a little dark to balance out all the holly jolly of the holidays, check it out.
I read and received this book for free through the publisher and NetGalley. Thank you so much! The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I was immediately drawn to the cover of Tales of the Mist while browsing through galleys to read. I was craving to read paranormal tales from other countries and cultures and this was the perfect graphic novel for me to read at the dark of the night. This graphic novel has a collection of four tales: The Santa Compana, The Air, The Devil, and The Vidoiro. These tales are based from Galicia, a small village in northern Spain and the time period set in the 1930’s. Legends of pre-war realism and the paranormal world lurk within the mist and passed down from generation to generation.
Suárez has immersed me into a different country and time period, creating a beautiful and eerie symmetry between the elements of illustrations and storytelling. These elements, along with the use of monochrome tones and shadows, set up a countryside atmosphere of the reader both isolated and at times someone right beside them. Along with a short and concise script, the words were chosen carefully and intentionally to drive the tales forward. The speech bubbles and the narration were uniquely illustrated, from weaving through the trees, from the whispers of the wind, to dancing silently from one panel to the next.
The panels I applaud most of all. Split panels can show a much bigger panel to show the big picture, yet the split panels can stand alone as each individual illustration. This gives such a great opportunity for Suárez to zoom in on the little details the reader may overlook, from the characters conveying a certain emotion or making subtle movements to show their fear and unease. Inanimate objects and natural elements even set the mood and tone of the tales. The imagery is so compelling that I can imagine myself listening to the leaves rustling or the fire crackling. The short explanations for each tale and added photographs and references from Spain at the end were helpful too.
Overall, Suárez caught my attention as an illustrator and storyteller with this graphic novel. I’m definitely keeping my eye out for the next work. If there was anything I would change, it would be the category. I do consider the fantasy genre, yet I would suggest more of a thriller or suspense category due to the darker themes conveyed. I recommend this graphic novel for those who aspire to become a cartoonist and to check out different art styles and storytelling.
Very atmospheric, broody and dark.
Tales of Mist contains four short stories set in 1930s in rural Spain. Village folk entertain themselves with rumours of ghosts, mists, and superstitions. The book also has pages where a superstition or belief is explained, showing its cultural and traditional roots.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the stunning art with minimal palette. Howeve I wished this was a long continuous novel rather than one with breaks because when you are deeply engrossed in one story, it quickly moves to another one. I would be watching out for more illustrations and books from the author.
This is a super spooky graphic novel with a collection of stories that are all based in a small town in Spain. I really loved the different stories, and I thought that the art style fit the stories perfectly! I really enjoyed this collection!
I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Utterly stunning!
The illustration style is just perfect ct, it really captures the eerie tone of this graphic novel. The structuring also does so much to compliment the stories, it really adds to the feeling that you're being told these tales over a campfire. I raced through this, and enjoyed it so much!
Thank you so much to Netgalley for a digital review copy of this stunning graphic novel!
The art in this collection is absolutely wonderful! This is probably my favorite art style and it compliments the eerie tone of the stories so perfectly. Coincidentally, “spooky” folk tales are also a favorite for me so this was my dream collection.
This feels very much like a cultural and familial tribute, and while it did creep me out sufficiently, I did sense the level of care that was used in creating it.
It contains 4 stories;
“The Santa Compaña” ★★★★☆
“The Air” ★★★★★
“The Devil” ★★★★☆
The Vidoiro” ★★★★★
“The Air” was so ominous but ultimately had a deeper message of loud and grief that really surprised me. “The Vidorio” was absolutely my favorite! I loved this story and artwork the most and felt it was a great note to end on. It was also maybe the most unsettling and chilling of all.
HIGHLY recommend!
"Tales of the Mist" is a fantastic graphic novel. I love the story and the art style. I'll definitely be recommending this one.
I liked the style of the illustrations, they have that dark and horror atmosphere. Also, I loved that with each story the origin of the original myth or legend was explained, it helped me better understand the book. And the photographic references were also an extra that I liked.
I would have liked perhaps stories with more substance and with more horror.
My favorite thing about this collection was the art style: it was gorgeous and unique. I still cannot get over how good it looked! The illustrations, coupled with the fascinating stories, were able to create a spooky atmosphere that kept me on edge for the whole time. Yet, I felt like the stories were too short, and they could have made use of more development.
Arc kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley, Laura Suarez and Europe Books for giving me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love the art style of this graphic novel. It is so simple and minimalistic yet it still definitely quiet creepy. The way the art style suited very well with the genre of the book is a plus point. This has also different and interesting folktales that I haven't heard before. I just wish that it has more folktales to tell because the concept of folktales turned into a graphic novel is really interesting to read. I also love it that at the end of each tale it has a description and explanation in the said tale.
However what makes me rated this as only 3 out of 5 stars is because there are times that the other stories are hard to follow. If it wasn't for the explanation in every end of each story I wouldn't get it. That's my only problem with this. It's an okay read for me because it actually give me creeps with the illustrations.
Very charming, spooky, atmospheric, and haunting. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous and the art style definitely played a huge role in adding to the feel of the stories. The choice to keep the art in black and white was great, as I think adding color would have detracted from the atmosphere. I do wish the stories were slightly longer, or at least provided maybe a page or two more of background, because as a reader unfamiliar with these stories I sometimes found myself a little lost, even after reading the short explanations at the end of each tale. A nice quick read for a chilly winter evening.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
"When I was a little girl, when I saw the light of dusk fall, in my small and fragile soul a sudden fear would appear..."
Tales from the Mist is a collection of several spooky short stories based on Galician folklore. It was atmospheric and creepy, and the stunning black and white illustration added to its charm. I also love how suspenseful it felt. Another thing that I liked was the short, insightful explanation after each story.
However, I didn't really like the way every story seemed to end abruptly. I would've loved it better if the endings were wrapped up more neatly. But overall, this book completely captivated me and I definitely recommend this to those who are looking for a short, chilling read!
I really enjoyed this atmospheric graphic novel, with some really beautiful and intriguing creative moves from this author/artist,
The illustrations in this graphic novel were STUNNING. The art style was unique while remaining clear and layered, and I really loved the details included in each character's personal expression. The stories were generally spooky but not long enough to form much of an attachment to them. I enjoyed them as a manner of viewing more of the illustrations. Overall, a fun read!
Very reminiscent of "Through the Woods" by Emily Carroll but failed to capture the same essence and scariness. The artwork was just my style but I needed more substance.