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Amy Unbounded: Belondweg Blossoming

by Rachel Hartman (Goodreads Author)

4.38 of 5 stars 4.38 · rating details · 58 ratings · 16 reviews

Amy Unbounded: Belondweg Blossoming collects issues 7-12 of Rachel Hartman's award-winning comic book, and includes an introduction by Linda Medley, a dramatis personae for new readers, and a few extra pages of silliness at the back.

Belondweg Blossoming follows the lives of Amy and her neighbor Bran Ducanahan the summer they turn ten. Amy has begun reading the national ep

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Paperback, 208 pages

Published April 1st 2002 by Pug House Press

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Aug 16, 2012 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I enjoyed Seraphina a great deal and wanted more, so I was excited to see that Rachel Hartman had written a graphic novel set in the same world. Because the author is the illustrator, this meant I could see the world through her own eyes (which I was very curious to do). Amy Unbounded does have a different setting than Seraphina (the former is concerned with the day-to-day activities of people in a small medieval village, whereas the latter took place mostly at court), but it's still clearly the...more I enjoyed Seraphina a great deal and wanted more, so I was excited to see that Rachel Hartman had written a graphic novel set in the same world. Because the author is the illustrator, this meant I could see the world through her own eyes (which I was very curious to do). Amy Unbounded does have a different setting than Seraphina (the former is concerned with the day-to-day activities of people in a small medieval village, whereas the latter took place mostly at court), but it's still clearly the same world with its all-saints religion, dragons disguised as humans, etc. They even share a character: Dame Okra Carmine. (Although she's not a half-dragon in Amy Unbounded, because she mentions having children.)

First, Rachel Hartman is a terrific artist. I'm really impressed that her drawing skills are as strong as her writing. (I'm envious! That's a lot of talent in one person.) This is a minor point, but I liked how she drew each of her characters in a unique style. They had different shapes of nose, chin, eyes, etc. Most graphic novel artists give everyone the same nose at the very least. (I realize that's a weird detail to comment on, but it's not easy to draw noses, and it suggests that she put effort into giving everyone a different appearance like they would have in real life. The dragon-sarantraas Lola had a very distinctive and characteristic appearance that I enjoyed.)

I wasn't very engaged by the comic at first, probably because it starts off in the middle of the story (I read that it's issues 7-12 of the Amy Unbounded series). However, by the end I thought it was a sweet story and I wanted more. I loved that the story didn't focus on Amy. Amy's personal experiences are mentioned, but they don't get center stage. Instead, we see the story of the adults around her through Amy's interactions with and observations of them. And the adult characters and dilemmas were well done. It's a great story for feminists, balancing female independence for some characters and romantic love for others, although also showing that love can't triumph over all obstacles. (The ending was actually pretty sad.)

In sum, great characters, great art, great story. I wish there were more, but given that this was published more than 10 years ago I know that won't be happening.(less)

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Aug 01, 2012 Jaclyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'd been wanting to read Rachel Hartman's SERAPHINA so much that I actually preordered it, and once I started reading it, I realized that I was loving it so much that I just HAD to immediately order this graphic novel she had done earlier, set in the same world, as well. And then I ended up reading it first. Graphic novels are my favorite storytelling medium, I must confess.

This story really has everything I want in a graphic novel, too. The characters are lovable. The world is intimate and well...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 28, 2012 Phoebe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, fantasy, loved-it

Karen Cushman meets Lynda Barry in this incredibly adorable 2002 comic collection from Rachel Hartman. Like Seraphina, Amy Unbounded features strongly drawn characters in the quasi-Renaissance fantasy kingdom of Goredd. Here, Hartman's prose strengths--her vivid people and remarkably well-crafted world--are complimented nicely by Hartman's easy inkwork.

Amy Unbounded: Belondweg Blossoming tells the story of the eponymous Amy in the summer before her tenth year. There are certain similarities tha...more Karen Cushman meets Lynda Barry in this incredibly adorable 2002 comic collection from Rachel Hartman. Like Seraphina, Amy Unbounded features strongly drawn characters in the quasi-Renaissance fantasy kingdom of Goredd. Here, Hartman's prose strengths--her vivid people and remarkably well-crafted world--are complimented nicely by Hartman's easy inkwork.

Amy Unbounded: Belondweg Blossoming tells the story of the eponymous Amy in the summer before her tenth year. There are certain similarities that exist between Amy's story and Seraphina's. Both are bright, stubborn girls standing on the cusp of adulthood. Both have strong ties to their fathers, foreigner mothers, and fairly awesome friendships with scholarly dragon dudes. But honestly? I might like Amy more than Seraphina. She's so vividly constructed, and Hartman writes nine-going-on-ten terrifically. This is where I see the strong similarities to Barry's work. Hartman captures not only the unbridled optimism and hope of this age but also the fear, tumultuous emotions, and poignancy. There's one scene where Amy sits under the table, holding her dog and listening, owl-eyed, as the adults talk about important things. I've rarely seen this kind of tween moment described (or drawn) so accurately.

And the fantasy world is so immersive, too. I would have loved it so much as a Ren Faire-obsessed ten year old. Bran and Trig (Trig!) and Ollpheist are people who could not exist in our world, but fit in so beautifully well here. You never get the feeling that Hartman, like some speculative writers, creates her universe simply in the service of the story. It is, instead, a very real place, one which she clearly knows intimately. She simply lets her characters walk around there and allows the conflict to grow naturally out of the environment.

Man, do I love Rachel's writing. I'd read a thousand books set in Goredd. A prequel about Belondweg? A story about Amy of Eddybrook all grown up? The star-crossed saga of Ollie and Niesta? Pretty please, dear Rachel, more?(less)

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Aug 08, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, graphic-novels

I'm totally among the new readership that read Seraphina first and instantly went looking for more. Seraphina read as if it weren't the first work Rachel Hartman had done set in the world, and I was right. She's a "debut author" in the world of YA fantasy novels, but she comes originally from comics, it seems.

This one is a slice-of-life style graphic novel told from the perspective of a 10 year old girl that's exceedingly well written and, once again, just what I needed right when I needed it.

Th...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Estara rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who enjoyed reading Seraphina

Recommended to Estara by: Linda Medley writing the preface - I love her Castle Waiting series

Shelves: manga, re-read, read-in-2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Of course it's not manga but with the little graphic novels I own I don't see the point of a new tag. This is a GREAT graphic novel for girls who are about to become teenagers, readers who love historical fantasy and humour and really strong heroines.

I wish she had written more in this world.

_____________________________
And she has, which is why I reread this after reading Seraphina, although the time-line has Amy happening earlier - the dragon character here is mentioned as a scholarly writeris...more Of course it's not manga but with the little graphic novels I own I don't see the point of a new tag. This is a GREAT graphic novel for girls who are about to become teenagers, readers who love historical fantasy and humour and really strong heroines.

I wish she had written more in this world.

_____________________________
And she has, which is why I reread this after reading Seraphina, although the time-line has Amy happening earlier - the dragon character here is mentioned as a scholarly writerish book author in Seraphina and he obviously isn't that in this book yet.

The main character is Amy, growing up not too far from the capital of the country but in the countryside - her father is a progressive artisan, who has taken his weaving outside the city and outside the guild (which he gets grief for in this book - one of the many social explorations the book has in the background) and her mother is from a "barbarian" country where the women rules the household. Amy is their only child, nine years old - and this is the year she'll journey from child to teenager, I feel: There are so many changes afoot that her eyes will be opened to a much wider and weirder world than she knew.

She has a best frenemy called Bran who is her age and whose birth meant the death of his mother - something the oldest brother still doesn't seem to have forgiven him for. Or maybe that's just the oldest brother of the Ducanahan family? Because the oldest sister, Niesta, raised her two younger sisters and two younger brothers - sacrificing even her own chances at marrying so her younger sisters could do so (not that they appreciate the sacrifices) => the role of the woman in a medieval society at a rural and burgher level is a big part of what gets explored in this book, but always based on loveable characters and a lot of funny and also a lot of dangerous machinations by people with the best intentions ^^.

And then there's a love story - everyone who has read Seraphina will know it can't end HEA when they are introduced to the lovers. But Amy doesn't know that, she learns a lot about what adults see as love, what adults see as marriage or duty - and she'll even fall in crush for the very first time and get her heart broken...

And that's before she knows that Bran will be fostered away.

Very easy: Everyone who enjoyed Seraphina will enjoy this. I even had the feeling that because this collection of mini-comics had a longer incubation period than the book, the single strands gelled together in a more satisfying way (the downside is that you don't get the beautiful language as much, because it is a comic after all - then again you get to see the clothes and interactions exhaustive descriptions necessary).

Mentioning of some names in Seraphina lets me hope that eventually, I will be able to see more of the cast of characters from Amy Unbounded - however there already has been one cameo of a major character - Dame Okra is in here ^^ (view spoiler), working her wiles.(less)

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Jan 06, 2008 Trebro rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: tradepaperbacks

I got this because it had an introduction by Linda Medley, author of the excellent Castle Waiting series. It has similar themes--a medieval setting, strong female characters, railing against the arbitrary patriarchy, and so on, but all through it, I found something missing.

It took me until I was three quarters of the way through to realize what it is--pacing. While Medley's stories move quickly, keeping the reader engaged, this was far slower, and once things slow down, your mind starts to focu...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Debbie by: Christina

Shelves: graphic-novel, fantasy, 2012

Like many others, I stumbled across this graphic novel after reading Seraphina and desperately wanting more. This is a very sweet story told from the POV of Amy, a child who lives as a peasant in Goredd. I loved the little glimmers of Seraphina's world that I saw long before the book was ever written.

As a stand alone story, Amy Unbounded works. It's a coming of age story where Amy discovers that the world isn't always fair, but in the end still moves forward. I really enjoyed this and hope that...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Virginia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Virginia by: Christina

Shelves: 2012books

This was a cute story - as with Seraphina, I really appreciated how fleshed out the world is. So much detail! The characters are not as developed in this story, but it was still sweet. I am impressed that the author both wrote and illustrated this. 3.5 stars, if possible!

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Jul 18, 2009 Allen Garvin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, favorite-fantasies, ya-fantasy

Completely utterly charming graphic novel through the eyes of Amy, a young daughter of a weaver father (and barbarian (sort-of) mother!). It has its triumphs, and also some very sad moments, especially with her friend the dragon Lalo (who is in the form of a young human scholar)... just... just perfect! Recommended to everyone, if you can find a copy.

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May 23, 2011 Jenn Bennington rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved Amy Unbounded when it was coming out as a zine and I just ran across my old copies in a box of old comics. Can't wait to read them all again and share them with my son, who is now 8 and a fledgling comic geek in his own right.

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Dec 23, 2012 Kirsten rated it 3 of 5 stars

I stumbled upon this in an online discussion of Seraphina, and figured I should check it out. I liked it, but the pacing is a bit uneven. Still, it's cute, and a nice (early) glimpse into the same world as Seraphina.

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Apr 26, 2013 CJ - Secret Charm rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

Pretty sure I read thus a long time ago. Bout the same time I read the first Castle Waiting.

I liked it but I might need to reread

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Jul 04, 2010 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was charming and fun (and I especially enjoyed it as a contrast to my mildly-depressing previous read).

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Feb 24, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics-and-graphic-novels, read-and-donated-sold

I also have and very much enjoyed "amy unbounded, the ashcan series". #1,2,3,4 and 5.

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Apr 19, 2007 Allan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite comics ever. It's about a young girl growing up, but it's neither kidsy nor overly "adult". It's got silly games and serious dilemmas and country recipes and folktales and mystery and scholarship and feminism and butterchurn accidents. I love this book and go back to it over and over.

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Jun 13, 2007 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphicnovel

PG/young adult loveliness. i really enjoyed the characters and the world this book exists in.

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May 25, 2013 Cheriee marked it as to-read

May 22, 2013 Kelley marked it as wishlist

May 21, 2013 Grzegorz Aksamit marked it as to-read

May 19, 2013 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 19, 2013 Nadine marked it as to-read

May 18, 2013 Jake marked it as to-read

May 14, 2013 Pancha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, fantasy, ya-fiction

May 13, 2013 Heather marked it as to-read

Shelves: rachel-hartman

Apr 27, 2013 Connie marked it as to-read

Apr 23, 2013 James & Trisha added it

Shelves: i-own-this-book

Apr 13, 2013 Kevin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 11, 2013 Kiirsi Hellewell marked it as to-read

Apr 05, 2013 Sara Lorenzen marked it as to-read

Mar 31, 2013 Kristin Rubalcava marked it as to-read

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About Rachel Hartman

Rachel Hartman lives and writes in Vancouver, BC.

Her first YA fantasy novel, Seraphina, was published by Random House on July 10th, 2012. Here are some things that are already being said about Seraphina by some fabulous authors:

“A book worth hoarding, as glittering and silver-bright as dragon scales, with a heroine who insists on carving herself a place in your mind.” — Naomi Novik, New York Times...more

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