Eigyr

by Jérôme Hamon, Damien Colboc (Illustrator)

Grande-Bretagne, Ve siècle. Chrétiens et Bretons s'affrontent pour la possession d'Eigyr, une jeune femme enceinte dont le ventre abriterait la réincarnation de Merlin. Tandis que son corps est devenu un enjeu politique, la future mère est prête à tout pour protéger la chair de sa chair. Une réécriture du mythe arthurien.

Genres: Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Sequential Art

168 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 2023

Reviews

[L. J. Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this moving graphic novel. The art is very beautiful and the story is very entertaining.
Merlin has fallen. But he's prophesied to return again... well to be born again. And Eigyr is said to carry said wizard. If she'll stay alive...
Beause the whole island seems to hunt her cause they want to stop the wizard from being born again.

[Alex Z (azeebooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fast paced story of Arthurian legend and how it all began. Eigyr finds herself pregnant at the time where the wizard Merlin is said to be reincarnated. She has to avoid people who want her child dead while trying to save herself as well. A lot of action and gory violence occurred in this book but ultimately it was a story of starting again and hope.

Thank you Netgalley and Europe Comics for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Lucille · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5/5
Pas mauvais mais juste personnellement j’ai pas vraiment aimé

[Maiwenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

J’aime tellement les histoires qui revisitent les contes celtiques 😭😭 j’ai eu l’impression avec celui-ci de retomber au collège quand on étudiait la légende Arthurienne, c’était topitop

[Maxence · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Icy-Cobwebs-In-Space · Rating 5 out of 5]

EIGYR is a riveting graphic novel of Historical Fiction set in the tumultuous 5th century in Britain, where Wizard Merlin has passed, regional tribes battle for control of the island, and a pervasive rumor of Merlin's future reincarnation as a newborn incites a wave of infanticide similar to that instituted by King Herod. Eigyr is the expectant mother determined, at the cost of her own life, to protect at all costs the new life she carries.

[Ivona · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was captivated the whole time and wanted to read more. the art is wonderful and the main characters were lovely. also the art in not ya. this is definitely my favorite graphic novel and i felt a handful of emtions while reading, from happiness to hope to sadness. definitely recomand.

[Lillie Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eigyr is a graphic novel about Britain during the 5th century after the Romans have with drawn when the island was in upheaval and the Britons, Saxons, and Christians fought for control. One child could determine the outcome, if only they can make it to safety.

With graphic novels I always want to see if the story and art are better for being attached. In the case of this graphic novel both can stand on their own, and do work together well, but neither needed the other. The story on it's own is impactful and I wish we could have delved deeper into each of the characters backgrounds and thoughts during the story. I left wanting more of the story, to find out what would happen next between them and in this world. The art did a good job of showing the characters emotions and the world they were in, but didn't shine as anything deeply unique. The best feature of the art work was how it showcased the different factions and their native art styles.

Over all I enjoyed this read and loved seeing a different take on this time period and the Arthurian Legends. Seeing these legends from the more historical accurate direction and from the perspective of peasants, monks, and those not wrapped up with the kings and courts, was a real pleasure. It felt like going back to the roots of these legends being told by villagers gathered around a campfire sharing the myths and legends of their homes.

I would recommenced this to those who enjoy:
- Historical Retellings of myths and legends
- British History
- Arthurian Legends
- Fantasy or History Graphic Novels

Overall this was a good read, that was a new perspective on an old legend.

I received an ARC of this book at no cost/for free, I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.

[Shatiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pensavo che gli avrei dato davvero un voto molto basso appena iniziato a leggere, visto che i disegni sono davvero pessimi. Li ho odiati per tutta la lettura. Mi sembrava di star leggendo lo storyboard a malapena schizzato della storia.
A tratti ogni tanto c'era qualche riquadro o scenario disegnato appena meglio, ma nel totale non riesco proprio ad amarlo questo stile. Mi spiace. E' un mio gusto personale, ma non riesco in alcun modo ad apprezzarlo.
E di certo non l'avevo capito di che sesso fosse il/la bretone. Per la miseria...dai...e disegna un po' meglio almeno i visi! E le espressioni...davvero incomprensibili.
C'è stata un po' più di attenzione ai disegni solo verso la parte finale del fumetto. Ma non è assolutamente accettabile per me, spendere dei soldi per un lavoro fatto a metà.

Per quanto invece riguarda la storia, è assolutamente promossa!
Quel colpo di scena finale! Signor Hamon sei riuscito a farmi commuovere dannazione!
Le scene scorrono bene e la storia è narrata senza creare confusione, nè creando alti e bassi nella tensione narrativa. E' giusta e perfetta così.

Sarebbe stato fantastico rivedere l'artista Jerome Lereculey di nuovo tornare a disegnare queste storie ambientate nelle terre celtiche. Un gran peccato!

Nel complesso è una buona lettura, ma assolutamente dimenticabile proprio a causa dei disegni che non lasciano alcun ricordo memorabile.

Grazie Netgalley per avermi permesso di leggerlo in anteprima.


-------------------------


I thought I was going to give it a really low rating when I first started reading, since the drawings are really bad. I hated them for the entire read. I felt like I was reading the barely sketched storyboard of the story.
At times every now and then there were some panels or scenarios drawn slightly better, but overall I just can't love this style. I am sorry. It's my personal taste, I can't appreciate it in any way.
And I certainly didn't understand what gender the Breton was. For God's sake... come on... and at least draw the faces a little better! And the expressions...truly incomprehensible.
There was a little more attention to the drawings only towards the end of the comic. But it is absolutely not acceptable for me to spend money on a half-done job.

As for the story, it's absolutely great!
That final twist! Mr. Hamon you managed to make me cry damn it!
The scenes flow well and the story is told without creating confusion, nor creating ups and downs in the narrative tension. It's right and perfect like that.

It would have been great to see artist Jerome Lereculey back again to draw these stories set in the Celtic lands. A big shame!

Overall it's a good read, but absolutely forgettable precisely because of the drawings that don't leave any memorable memories.

Thanks Netgalley for letting me read it.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

A visit to early British history, as all the different religions and tribes are after the same thing – a certain child. Yes, Merlin was due to be reincarnated, and a lot of people want to protect and worship the boy, while others want to do a Herod and kill all kids in case. A minor twist is that the child is unborn, however, and people actually have to keep the pregnant woman of the title alive, potentially for the sake of Britain…

This just about has the energy to carry it through – it's not a wordy read by any means, and many pages will be scanned quickly. But all the men look the same, bar one, and the different sides are too confusing. Don't come here thinking this is a feminist book, either, as Eigyr lacks a lot of agency – it's about the blokeish combat and how even at an early stage religious determination and faith were big players in what we did and to whom. It's worth three and a half stars, as some scenes are done very smartly, but this is a combat and trek narrative dressed up with only some intelligence.

[Morgan Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not for me, though I can see many really enjoying it. I found myself quickly distracted by the art style which took me away from the story. This is so frustrating because the plot is my kind of story! I mean who doesn't love a story about Merlin being reincarnated?! It's a pretty serious, action packed read, which is awesome but again I found myself not being able to stay focused with the art style. Landscape shots - gorgeous, close ups were really distracting, felt like a weird paint by number and kinda made me cringe at each character.

I would still recommend this to readers since the story itself was cool!

Thank you NetGallery, the publishers, and the authors for letting me review this!

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Britanija, 5 stoljeće. Tri sukobljene strane učiniti će sve kako bi pronašle dijete za koje slavno proročanstvo kaže kako je reinkarnacija netom preminuloga čarobnjaka Merlina.

Britanci žele da ih povede u Rat protiv Saxonaca, Saxonci ga žele pogubiti kako bi zadali težak udarac moralu Britanaca dok kršćani vjeruju kako je Merlin demon tako da planiraju izvršiti egzorcizam ne bi li protjerali "demona" i tako malenom spasili dušu...

Radnja je napeta i bez praznog hoda, a crtež ne spektakularan i u službi priče. Ono što stripu jako podiže vrijednost je kraj koji me iako je logičan uhvatio nespremnog i oduševio.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merlin has died! Now the search is on for the birth of a new Merlin. The Saxons, the British Christians, and the British pagans are all searching for the newborn baby. Groups of all three has converged on a village where Eigyr is working at an inn. She is pregnant and her baby is what everyone wants and the do not care what she wants. A chase through the winter wilderness ensues with casualties cropping up due to mundane and supernatural events. In the end, it comes down to a contest between a pagan archer, a Saxon warrior, and a young priest. Read this title to discover the interesting ending! A nicely drawn historical graphic novel set in early Britain.

[BooksToTheGrave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eigyr is pregnant at a time a newborn baby is being hunted by many people, for political and religious matters.
It's believed that upon the great wizard Merlin's death, he would be resuscitated as a new baby. But who might be that child?
Following the end of Eigyr's pregnancy, we learn about her journey trying to find safety for her and her baby.

I enjoyed everything about this book - the graphics, the narrative, the characters, everything.
It's interesting to watch how the circumstances can change a person's life.

[Kendra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Early Christians and "barbaric" pagans are both searching for a baby said to be the reincarnation of Merlin, a powerful wizard. These Christians apparently believe in reincarnation only so that the authors can impose a re-telling of the Christian Massacre of the Innocents and a conversion narrative on Arthuriana, and it doesn't hang together well. The art is fine, but the lettering is often hard to read, and the dialogue isn't particularly good at differentiating characters, offering context, or even just sounding like normal speech. You can give this one a miss.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

What an engaging graphic novel! The story, inspired by Arthurian legend (as well as Ancient British history), hooked me from start to finish. The art work was brilliant; the plot fast paced; and the characters likeable.

I do hope this becomes a series, or that there is a follow up to Eigyr as I would love to step once more into this world.

4.5/5

[Cal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was powerful and heartbreaking. Such resilience and an excellent portrayal of the legend of Merlin and Arthur, with a brilliant inclusion of British/Irish history and lore. Absolutely beautiful artwork! Would definitely recommend this to my friends, especially the fantasy and history buffs. Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!

[Bernadett · Rating 5 out of 5]

i got my copy from netgalley
Merlin rumored to be a sorcerer who foretold his reincarnation, and the country is in upheaval scrambling to try to find the newborn. his mother is in mortal danger and a monk and a ragtag soldier accompany her to a point where she is supposed to meet a fleet arriving. I loved every page of it.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a different origin of the King Arthur legend than I know. It has depth about characters that are only barely mentioned in the usual myths and the clash between Christianity and Pagans plays a major role in this story. It makes it a very interesting read. The illustrations are wonderful.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing graphic novel rooted in the myth of Merlin and Arthur. It's a short but entertaining tale about a woman being sought out by various factions due to the legend/rumor that Merlin would be reborn in that area. It's a tale of unlikely allies and unforeseen enemies and surviving that persecution.

[The Lost Dreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another Arthurian Legend comic book. One can say about it that it's not terrible and that it's rather original. But it's not memorable either. Female-led epic, but sometimes a bit too cheesy and over-stretched.

At least it kept me reading til the end.

[David Lefebvre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une lecture plutôt intéressante mais un peu trop vite accomplie. Le dessin de Colboc, proche de Vivès, me déstabilise un peu, mais est tout de même réussi. Ses balafrées ne sont franchement pas chanceuses… et pour l’histoire, c’est une belle nouvelle avenue dans l’épopée arthurienne.

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arc from NetGalley.

A pretty poor quasi Arthurian prequel that doesn’t bother itself with originality, a decent story, or art.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC from Netgalley.

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you look like Steren dm me

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Clélia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Une revisite du mythe de Merlin avec une fin assez inattendue. Un légère vibe Thorgal, avec des femmes fortes malgré leur condition.
Pas inoubliable mais agréable à lire

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retelling of the beginning of the Arthurian legends. This focuses on the prophecy that a woman is carrying the reincarnation of Merlin. It was a fast paced story with beautiful art.

4 stars

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow,...
This was not at all what I expected and there was a lot more blood!!!

I thought this to be some Nordic story or something but it's actually based of of Arthurian myths and legends.
A very fast paced story of how it all began.
Eigyr finds herself pregnant at the time where the wizard Merlin is said to be reborn She has to avoid people who want her child dead or whom want to use it for their own agenda all the while trying to save herself as well.
A lot of action, cruelty and bloody violence in this book but ultimately it was a story of hope and love.

Thank you Netgalley for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eigyr was beautiful artwork and such good storytelling!