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Seekers of the Aweto #1
The Hunt Is On
Xinyue, his brother Qiliu, and their mother are seekers, hunting aweto--a rare, plantlike treasure--along the legendary Silk Road. After one outing, Xinyue discovers the offspring of a deity that creates aweto--and becomes the little creature's reluctant caretaker. He soon struggles to keep it safe and keep it a secret. And that's before he learns that warriors from the deity's village are on his family's tail...
Story and art by Nie Jun.
English-language translation by Edward Gauvin, with reference to the French translation [La chasse est ouverte, translated from the Chinese text by Zhao Qingyuan and Nicolas Grivel] and the original Chinese text.
First American edition published in 2021 by Graphic Universe.
Story and art by Nie Jun.
English-language translation by Edward Gauvin, with reference to the French translation [La chasse est ouverte, translated from the Chinese text by Zhao Qingyuan and Nicolas Grivel] and the original Chinese text.
First American edition published in 2021 by Graphic Universe.
136 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2019
6 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Nie Jun
25 books15 followersBorn in 1975 in Xining, in the province of Qinghai, China. He began drawing an early age by copying lianhuanhua (tradictional Chinese palm-sized picture books of sequential art). He soon became fan of Osamu Tezuka, Zhan Leping, and black-and-white pirated editions of TinTin. As a teenager , he won a constest sponsored by comics magazine and had his drawings published for the first time. Later, he was deeply influenced by the range of works within the Chinese comics scene, as well as by Japanese artists Akira Toriyama and Katsuhiro Otomo, not to mention Moebius (the french cartoonist Jean Giraud). In 1995 he began to publish his arts in magazines. He lives in Beijing and teaches drawing to university students.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
April 22, 2021
The colored pencil art in this is just gorgeous. Bright, vibrant but subtle colors with a great use of white as negative space. This reads like traditional Chinese folklore. I liked that the main characters are essentially the bad guys without really realizing it. I wasn't crazy about the ending, especially since I wasn't sure what was happening in the last scene. It's some kind of cliffhanger but I'm not entirely sure what the last bit was about.
January 10, 2021
+Digital ARC gently provided by Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest opinion+
4.3 colorful stars
Age: 12+
omigosh the colors!
but ends in cliffhanger (i'll read the next one)
In a fantastical Silk Road, a little family of three (mom and two brothers) are hunters excuse me seekers of 'Aweto' ( a plant-thingie that grow over earth deidities called 'chadolo'). I must confess that 90% of the book I was deeply mad with the MCs because they cause endless pain with their work, robing villages of aweto (very valuable because healing properties) and destroying their way of life at times.
Xinyue is the younger brother who with his drums directs insects that are like hounds looking for aweto. Qiliu is the older brother, has wings like a dragonfly, flies , and is a fierce fighter (and no doubt has his own motivations in search of the royal aweto, a cure-all that is said to give immortality). Bu Ren Niang is the mother who cares and feeds them. We will soon see how the whole family is put to the test.
The story is embedded, according to the author, in western Chinese traditions. And, as several comment, it feels like watching a movie, rather than reading a story. The setting full of fantastic beings in like one of Miyazaki's works. The colors are amazing in their diversity with what appear to be watercolor. Pretty.
---------------
{Esta vez en castellano:}
En una antigua y fantástica Ruta de la Seda, una pequeña familia de tres (mamá y dos hermanos) son cazadores, perdón, buscadores de 'Aweto' (una planta-cosita que crece sobre deidades de la tierra llamada 'chadolo'). Debo confesar que el 90% del libro estaba profundamente enojada con los protagonistas buscadores porque causan un dolor sin fin con su trabajo, robando a los pueblos de aweto (muy valioso por sus propiedades curativas) y destruyendo su forma de vida en ocasiones.
Xinyue es el hermano menor que con sus tambores dirige insectos que son como sabuesos en busca de aweto. Qiliu es el hermano mayor, tiene alas como una libélula, vuela, y es un luchador feroz (y sin duda tiene sus propias motivaciones en busca del aweto real, una panacea que se dice que da inmortalidad). Bu Ren Niang es la madre que los cuida y los alimenta. Pronto veremos cómo se pone a prueba a toda la familia.
La historia está inmersa, según el autor, en las tradiciones de China occidental. Y, como comentan varios, se siente como ver una película, en lugar de leer una historia. El escenario esta lleno de seres fantásticos como en una de las obras de Miyazaki. Los colores son asombrosos en su diversidad con lo que parece ser acuarela. Hermoso.
Termina en cliff-hanger, y espero ver el siguiente volumen pronto.
4.3 colorful stars
Age: 12+
omigosh the colors!
but ends in cliffhanger (i'll read the next one)
In a fantastical Silk Road, a little family of three (mom and two brothers) are hunters excuse me seekers of 'Aweto' ( a plant-thingie that grow over earth deidities called 'chadolo'). I must confess that 90% of the book I was deeply mad with the MCs because they cause endless pain with their work, robing villages of aweto (very valuable because healing properties) and destroying their way of life at times.
Xinyue is the younger brother who with his drums directs insects that are like hounds looking for aweto. Qiliu is the older brother, has wings like a dragonfly, flies , and is a fierce fighter (and no doubt has his own motivations in search of the royal aweto, a cure-all that is said to give immortality). Bu Ren Niang is the mother who cares and feeds them. We will soon see how the whole family is put to the test.
The story is embedded, according to the author, in western Chinese traditions. And, as several comment, it feels like watching a movie, rather than reading a story. The setting full of fantastic beings in like one of Miyazaki's works. The colors are amazing in their diversity with what appear to be watercolor. Pretty.
---------------
{Esta vez en castellano:}
En una antigua y fantástica Ruta de la Seda, una pequeña familia de tres (mamá y dos hermanos) son cazadores, perdón, buscadores de 'Aweto' (una planta-cosita que crece sobre deidades de la tierra llamada 'chadolo'). Debo confesar que el 90% del libro estaba profundamente enojada con los protagonistas buscadores porque causan un dolor sin fin con su trabajo, robando a los pueblos de aweto (muy valioso por sus propiedades curativas) y destruyendo su forma de vida en ocasiones.
Xinyue es el hermano menor que con sus tambores dirige insectos que son como sabuesos en busca de aweto. Qiliu es el hermano mayor, tiene alas como una libélula, vuela, y es un luchador feroz (y sin duda tiene sus propias motivaciones en busca del aweto real, una panacea que se dice que da inmortalidad). Bu Ren Niang es la madre que los cuida y los alimenta. Pronto veremos cómo se pone a prueba a toda la familia.
La historia está inmersa, según el autor, en las tradiciones de China occidental. Y, como comentan varios, se siente como ver una película, en lugar de leer una historia. El escenario esta lleno de seres fantásticos como en una de las obras de Miyazaki. Los colores son asombrosos en su diversidad con lo que parece ser acuarela. Hermoso.
Termina en cliff-hanger, y espero ver el siguiente volumen pronto.
February 17, 2021
This was really interesting. The magic and the universe were well drawn and fun to learn about and the story was a nice setup to a larger epic. I loved the art and I liked that our protagonists weren't heroes (and in fact were exploitive villains, driving whole villages into poverty). Similar to other books from Chinese authors I have read, the structure and plot and characters seem mostly familiar but every once in a while there is a decision or plot point that is just jarring in its unexpectedness. The last minute character revelations seemed a bit ham handed, but there is enough propulsion in the plot and world to have me looking forward to the next volume.
**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2021
*I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The artstyle is amazing, right up my alley, I love the watercolour panels, they look so dream-like and magial! It really makes this read whimsical and worth reading :)
The story is based upon Chinese folklore, which is really interesting. I find it fascinating to read about myths of different cultures. I thought this was well done, especially in regard of the illustrations.
Storywise it was a bit confusing at times, and the ending felt rushed, but overall an interesting read.
The artstyle is amazing, right up my alley, I love the watercolour panels, they look so dream-like and magial! It really makes this read whimsical and worth reading :)
The story is based upon Chinese folklore, which is really interesting. I find it fascinating to read about myths of different cultures. I thought this was well done, especially in regard of the illustrations.
Storywise it was a bit confusing at times, and the ending felt rushed, but overall an interesting read.
February 25, 2021
I'm reviewing this graphic novel for School Library Connection, but I will say this:
If you're in middle school or high school and love Amulet or Avatar: The Last Airbender or ANY fantasy/adventure, READ THIS.
If you are a librarian or teacher or parent of ms/hs kids, BUY THIS.
If you're in middle school or high school and love Amulet or Avatar: The Last Airbender or ANY fantasy/adventure, READ THIS.
If you are a librarian or teacher or parent of ms/hs kids, BUY THIS.
July 4, 2024
The artwork in Nie Jun's graphic novel "The Hunt Is On" is simply awe-inspiring, perfectly matching the tone of the story and giving the feel of a story forgotten by time. I found myself a bit lost in a couple moments, not sure how the story took that turn, but I really enjoyed the twists and I'm looking forward to the sequel and following Xinyue to this adventure. Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for providing an ARC.
February 7, 2021
A beautifully illustrated culturally rich story about deities and family and duty.
The art is amazing and it's got the vibes of a Ghibli movie/anime in general.
Beautiful :)
The art is amazing and it's got the vibes of a Ghibli movie/anime in general.
Beautiful :)
December 30, 2020
| I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review |
“I was born in Qinghai,” says the author, Nie Jun, in a brief introduction, “…and the culture of that region has always been dear to me. I have carried it wherever I go, though over time, it has almost completely disappeared. I hope that this story, with its air of mystery, will inspire readers all over the world to find out more about my native land”. I believe Jun will be successful. I want to know more, already, and I’m halfway across the world, opposite China, in a Spanish-speaking, America-owned tiny island in the middle of the Caribbean. In one word, like Jun wanted: I’m inspired. I want to know more, because there’s nothing quite like learning the myths of foreign, far away cultures, seeing the similarities and differences in how our ancestors tried to explain this world. Jun’s work provides plenty of space for such an exploration, and every second of it was intriguing.
The Hunt is On is the first book on The Seekers of Aweto series. The volume does a lovely job of presenting its characters, world and mythical lore, through gorgeous, watercolors that seem to amplify the magical quality of each page. This is easily the book’s strongest asset; the art style is beautiful. It’s vibrant and thoroughly colorful, with a dream-like quality that reminds me of Studio Ghibli. The story itself, however, remains engaging, if slightly rushed.
The book follows a group of "aweto seekers”: Xinyue, his brother Qiliu and their mother. They travel across a fantastical version of the Silk Road, hunting awetos to sell on the marketplace. The awetos grow upon the head of chadolos –earth deities that seem to bless the soil on which they slumber and perish once their aweto is harvested, destroying the livelihoods of the tribes surrounding them. Xinyue and his family are hunters, and their work is neither nice nor pretty. This means that our protagonists are morally ambiguous, which adds to the story’s mystery.
My one complaint is the pacing. Everything covered in The Hunt is On could’ve been better handled if split into two volumes, giving us more time to get to know the characters, and fall in love with them, before the plot throws them head-first into chaos. But this is a small gripe; one that doesn’t really diminish my appreciation of the book.
I’m truly eager to see where this goes!
Trigger warning: The art style is so peaceful, so calming, it can be misleading. There are few panels of brutal violence, with blood and flying heads, and they always felt unexpected. Thus, I advise caution to parents and guardians considering this for small children; it’s clearly meant for teenagers, at the youngest.
“I was born in Qinghai,” says the author, Nie Jun, in a brief introduction, “…and the culture of that region has always been dear to me. I have carried it wherever I go, though over time, it has almost completely disappeared. I hope that this story, with its air of mystery, will inspire readers all over the world to find out more about my native land”. I believe Jun will be successful. I want to know more, already, and I’m halfway across the world, opposite China, in a Spanish-speaking, America-owned tiny island in the middle of the Caribbean. In one word, like Jun wanted: I’m inspired. I want to know more, because there’s nothing quite like learning the myths of foreign, far away cultures, seeing the similarities and differences in how our ancestors tried to explain this world. Jun’s work provides plenty of space for such an exploration, and every second of it was intriguing.
The Hunt is On is the first book on The Seekers of Aweto series. The volume does a lovely job of presenting its characters, world and mythical lore, through gorgeous, watercolors that seem to amplify the magical quality of each page. This is easily the book’s strongest asset; the art style is beautiful. It’s vibrant and thoroughly colorful, with a dream-like quality that reminds me of Studio Ghibli. The story itself, however, remains engaging, if slightly rushed.
The book follows a group of "aweto seekers”: Xinyue, his brother Qiliu and their mother. They travel across a fantastical version of the Silk Road, hunting awetos to sell on the marketplace. The awetos grow upon the head of chadolos –earth deities that seem to bless the soil on which they slumber and perish once their aweto is harvested, destroying the livelihoods of the tribes surrounding them. Xinyue and his family are hunters, and their work is neither nice nor pretty. This means that our protagonists are morally ambiguous, which adds to the story’s mystery.
My one complaint is the pacing. Everything covered in The Hunt is On could’ve been better handled if split into two volumes, giving us more time to get to know the characters, and fall in love with them, before the plot throws them head-first into chaos. But this is a small gripe; one that doesn’t really diminish my appreciation of the book.
I’m truly eager to see where this goes!
Trigger warning: The art style is so peaceful, so calming, it can be misleading. There are few panels of brutal violence, with blood and flying heads, and they always felt unexpected. Thus, I advise caution to parents and guardians considering this for small children; it’s clearly meant for teenagers, at the youngest.
February 25, 2021
Digital ARC provided by Netgalley
It was a very nice read and I was delighted by the style I discovered with this author. Like other reviewers mentioned previously it resembles a lot to Hayao Miyazaki's universe.
The main protagonists are Xinyue, his brother Qiliu, and their mother. All three of them are seekers, hunting aweto―a rare, plantlike treasure. The aweto is usually found on earth deities which the seekers mut rob. Xinyue discovers the offspring of a deity - a celestial aweto - and from here the entire adventure begins.
I liked a lot the fact that the action started on the Silk Road and that all was surrounded by magic and mythology. I felt that the first volume was too short and that the author cumulated a lot of info in the last pages, it was like a rush to the finish line and I was a little dissapointed by that. This is the only reason I have not given a 5 out of 5.
For sure I would like to continue the series with the next volume.
It was a very nice read and I was delighted by the style I discovered with this author. Like other reviewers mentioned previously it resembles a lot to Hayao Miyazaki's universe.
The main protagonists are Xinyue, his brother Qiliu, and their mother. All three of them are seekers, hunting aweto―a rare, plantlike treasure. The aweto is usually found on earth deities which the seekers mut rob. Xinyue discovers the offspring of a deity - a celestial aweto - and from here the entire adventure begins.
I liked a lot the fact that the action started on the Silk Road and that all was surrounded by magic and mythology. I felt that the first volume was too short and that the author cumulated a lot of info in the last pages, it was like a rush to the finish line and I was a little dissapointed by that. This is the only reason I have not given a 5 out of 5.
For sure I would like to continue the series with the next volume.
February 4, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
First off, I just want to say the art in this graphic novel is phenomenal. I absolutely loved it beyond words. It fit the style of the story so well and the colors were fantastic. The landscapes were so beautiful.
The story itself was a little bit confusing at first, but some things were explained along the way. The idea of it was very unique and interesting. I loved the baby aweto.
I do wish it was a little bit longer, but I want to see what happens next!
First off, I just want to say the art in this graphic novel is phenomenal. I absolutely loved it beyond words. It fit the style of the story so well and the colors were fantastic. The landscapes were so beautiful.
The story itself was a little bit confusing at first, but some things were explained along the way. The idea of it was very unique and interesting. I loved the baby aweto.
I do wish it was a little bit longer, but I want to see what happens next!
February 25, 2021
The Hunt Is on, book one of four, in Nie Jun's new series is an action packed thrill ride which is bound to have teens wanting book two as soon as they turn the last page. It will be fun to see where this series goes!
February 27, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this title.
This had an cool premise with beautiful watercolor style illustration. The world it was set in seemed super interesting and the various characters were somewhat interesting. But it all just felt too fast. I didn't feel like there was enough for character development or world building to truly understand what was happening and why it was important to the characters.
This had an cool premise with beautiful watercolor style illustration. The world it was set in seemed super interesting and the various characters were somewhat interesting. But it all just felt too fast. I didn't feel like there was enough for character development or world building to truly understand what was happening and why it was important to the characters.
December 25, 2020
4 baby Aweto stars!
A copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest.
I must admit that the graphics and the colours in this book were stunning.
The Hunt Is On is a Chinese graphic novel that follows the story of two seeker brothers named Xinyue and Qiliu who, alongside their mother, go around hunting god-like creatures called Aweto. In one of their missions, Xinyue comes across the baby Aweto and secretly becomes its caretaker. I loved the story and the turning of the events and can't wait for book 2 to come.
A copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest.
I must admit that the graphics and the colours in this book were stunning.
The Hunt Is On is a Chinese graphic novel that follows the story of two seeker brothers named Xinyue and Qiliu who, alongside their mother, go around hunting god-like creatures called Aweto. In one of their missions, Xinyue comes across the baby Aweto and secretly becomes its caretaker. I loved the story and the turning of the events and can't wait for book 2 to come.
January 13, 2022
Initial thoughts: “wtf did I just read?”
December 30, 2025
Beaux dessins mais pas envie de lire la suite je me suis un peu ennuyée…
January 9, 2021
Brushstrokes of Folkloric Ancient China
The Hunt Is On by Nie Jun is a Chinese comic book modernising some traditional folktales into one big story. The illustrations are charmingly ancient looking, the colours are in those warm reds we associate with Chinese opera and the story is not as simple as might first be thought. While this is only a first volume that ends with a cliffhanger we are given enough to hope for the classic epics featuring many twists, betrayals and complicated love triangles in this chase for fortune, land fertility and eternal life.
I really liked the illustrations and are the very reason I started reading the volume in the first place. I like their pastel tones, and folkloric look. They really look like a traditional monkey king mural or tapestry and the whole book felt like holding a traditional piece of art.
The main character is deceptively one dimensional at the beginning, but we are given the hope that this is going to change, in fact, some of his simplicity might just be a mask to keep around him what he holds dearest: family.
There is a not so subtle message about protecting nature, and valuing it, which might be more present in the following volume. This makes me want to recommend this comic to people who liked the manga Nausicaa… after all why not start a collection of ecological magical books, it would be fun to read!
Without having read the whole work it is a little difficult for me to really know what I think about this comic. The ending is often essential for me to know if the read was really worth it. But this first volume was pleasant and a nice introduction to Chinese folklore.
The Hunt Is On, volume 1 is coming out in March 2021
The Hunt Is On by Nie Jun is a Chinese comic book modernising some traditional folktales into one big story. The illustrations are charmingly ancient looking, the colours are in those warm reds we associate with Chinese opera and the story is not as simple as might first be thought. While this is only a first volume that ends with a cliffhanger we are given enough to hope for the classic epics featuring many twists, betrayals and complicated love triangles in this chase for fortune, land fertility and eternal life.
I really liked the illustrations and are the very reason I started reading the volume in the first place. I like their pastel tones, and folkloric look. They really look like a traditional monkey king mural or tapestry and the whole book felt like holding a traditional piece of art.
The main character is deceptively one dimensional at the beginning, but we are given the hope that this is going to change, in fact, some of his simplicity might just be a mask to keep around him what he holds dearest: family.
There is a not so subtle message about protecting nature, and valuing it, which might be more present in the following volume. This makes me want to recommend this comic to people who liked the manga Nausicaa… after all why not start a collection of ecological magical books, it would be fun to read!
Without having read the whole work it is a little difficult for me to really know what I think about this comic. The ending is often essential for me to know if the read was really worth it. But this first volume was pleasant and a nice introduction to Chinese folklore.
The Hunt Is On, volume 1 is coming out in March 2021
January 31, 2021
The art in this is so, so good. I mean, SO GOOD.
The small family of Xinyue, Qiliu, and their mother Ren Niang travel along the great Silk Road as aweto seekers. The aweto is a plant that has near-magical healing properties, and grows on slumbering earth deities called chadolos that bless the earth around them, allowing villages to farm and thrive. I was a little shocked to see that this meant this small family are viewed as people who terrorize these small villages, as essentially they ruin their land; it was all to easy to fall into step with enjoying seeing them mid-seeking, learning who they are and what they're doing.
On one such aweto trip, Xinyue finds a baby chadolo that latches onto him and he ends up taking care of. Unfortunately, the best hunters of the village they just ruined are after them for their thievery and after the baby chadolo in hopes to let the baby earth deity restore their land.
While the story could be a little confusing at first, once I untangled it and got a grasp on the world and what was going on, it was magical. The story itself is a little lacking, but I think that some of the oomph is lost in translation. However, it's more than made up for by the art, which is in turns lush and dreamlike, and brings Miyazaki's work to mind. Watercolor art can often feel static for me, but I think Nie Jun gets around that by creating some very dynamic action sequences.
This is very much a first volume setting up the greater story at large, and I'm invested. I hope there is more coming, and I hope it's translated soon. I'd love to continue this story when I can.
I received an ARC of this for review from NetGalley.
The small family of Xinyue, Qiliu, and their mother Ren Niang travel along the great Silk Road as aweto seekers. The aweto is a plant that has near-magical healing properties, and grows on slumbering earth deities called chadolos that bless the earth around them, allowing villages to farm and thrive. I was a little shocked to see that this meant this small family are viewed as people who terrorize these small villages, as essentially they ruin their land; it was all to easy to fall into step with enjoying seeing them mid-seeking, learning who they are and what they're doing.
On one such aweto trip, Xinyue finds a baby chadolo that latches onto him and he ends up taking care of. Unfortunately, the best hunters of the village they just ruined are after them for their thievery and after the baby chadolo in hopes to let the baby earth deity restore their land.
While the story could be a little confusing at first, once I untangled it and got a grasp on the world and what was going on, it was magical. The story itself is a little lacking, but I think that some of the oomph is lost in translation. However, it's more than made up for by the art, which is in turns lush and dreamlike, and brings Miyazaki's work to mind. Watercolor art can often feel static for me, but I think Nie Jun gets around that by creating some very dynamic action sequences.
This is very much a first volume setting up the greater story at large, and I'm invested. I hope there is more coming, and I hope it's translated soon. I'd love to continue this story when I can.
I received an ARC of this for review from NetGalley.
June 8, 2024
The art. One of those rare instances where a graphic novel cover in fact underpromises what’s inside. The colors and style are beautifully rendered.
The story. I found myself just going with it. These brothers seem like the protagonists, or are they villains? It gets somewhat explained by the end, but it is very much to be continued.
The story. I found myself just going with it. These brothers seem like the protagonists, or are they villains? It gets somewhat explained by the end, but it is very much to be continued.
December 23, 2020
OK, so there are some giant earth titan things, and they sprout a very rare vegetable substance, that if it doesn't grant eternal life can go a heck of a way to healing anything thrown at it. Two young brothers, human but with the ability to fly, and their mother, are hunting the stuff, and manage to snatch such a good piece it might well be from the mother lode. But one of the brothers also comes away with something else even more maternal – a newborn titan thing…
This is supposed to evoke the culture of western China, and manages at times to visually smack of the Silk Route, which is a plus in my book. I did fear it might look a little too manga, with its oriental origins, but it survived to be a hit in the French market and now both editions have been used to create the English language version. And it's really quite good fun. It reads very quickly, and while some of the action scenes demand too much of the creator for his art to be completely understandable and coherent, I found myself on board for this. What suitably looks like Asian watercolours give everything a unique appearance, while also borrowing from some kind of cave art style to add more of the legendary to the pages. This is a world where names are meaningful in the original Chinese (we get the translations, else I'd not have known), and where at each turn you're both reading a story with many standard fantasy elements and something utterly fresh to our eyes. Annoyingly, I couldn't find evidence of any second volume being in French as of yet, so I can't possibly guess as to when we get the whole of this story. Seeing as we're in cliffhanger mode at the end here (something you can guess at the halfway stage), that's a disappointment. But little else about this is.
This is supposed to evoke the culture of western China, and manages at times to visually smack of the Silk Route, which is a plus in my book. I did fear it might look a little too manga, with its oriental origins, but it survived to be a hit in the French market and now both editions have been used to create the English language version. And it's really quite good fun. It reads very quickly, and while some of the action scenes demand too much of the creator for his art to be completely understandable and coherent, I found myself on board for this. What suitably looks like Asian watercolours give everything a unique appearance, while also borrowing from some kind of cave art style to add more of the legendary to the pages. This is a world where names are meaningful in the original Chinese (we get the translations, else I'd not have known), and where at each turn you're both reading a story with many standard fantasy elements and something utterly fresh to our eyes. Annoyingly, I couldn't find evidence of any second volume being in French as of yet, so I can't possibly guess as to when we get the whole of this story. Seeing as we're in cliffhanger mode at the end here (something you can guess at the halfway stage), that's a disappointment. But little else about this is.
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January 4, 2021Nie Jun’s evocative invocation at the start of the book powerfully parallels the deeper themes that run through the story. Though he has travelled far from his homeland in the western region of China, Jun says that his home has always stayed with him. Connection and longing for home is a strong, yet unnamed theme in the book. Tribes express an almost primeval urge to not lose their connection with their earthen home, dreading the possibility of being forced into a nomadic life. They fight to preserve a harmonious and spiritual way of life, rooted in the connection to their physical homeland.
The key theme of the plot is the conflict between that gentle way of life and the strong forces that seek to sever the connection between the people and their land. The life-force of the earth and nature is personified in the form of powerful, ancient and vulnerable ‘chadolo’s. When the chadolo is destroyed, the link between humans and the forces of nature is lost, and a deep sorrow follows. The story, aided by the dreamy, ethereal imagery, flits easily between the physical world and the spiritual world.
Qiliu, the central character, feels the pull of both forces - that of harmonious paganism, and that of loyalty toward the capitalistic each-man-to-himself world of his family. The conflict between these forces is reflected in the history of China that Nie Jun alludes to in the invocation, and promises to be the theme that drives the series in the volumes to come. Jun expertly meets his aim of evoking a desire in the reader to learn more about the disappearing native culture of his homeland.
January 23, 2021
Nie Jun brings to life a whimsical and unique story that people of all ages would enjoy. The story follows two brothers and their mother on a quest to hunt down a rare plant called aweto. It has amazing healing properties and catches quite a profit on the markets. Obtaining aweto is no easy task and to do so, they often find themselves at odds with villages who prize the plant and the deities that produce it.
The art style is absolutely stunning. Awe-inspiring watercolor panels and beautiful illustrations definitely made this graphic novel worth reading. It’s not often we see Chinese-inspired folktales brought to the western market and I loved seeing the story brought to life.
The premise itself was super interesting, but the pacing felt off. The story tended to transition rather suddenly from one point of time to another, and it could sometimes get confusing. The lore wasn’t explained as well as I would have hoped so I found myself lost for a good portion of the book. I wanted to get more emotionally invested with the world and characters, but because we had so little time and so few explanations, I found it hard to form an attachment. For me, the ending felt rushed because there was little build-up for the major plot twists.
However, I loved the air of mystery and adventure the book gave. There was a hint of Avatar the Last Airbender vibes and I’m curious to see more of this world in future installments.
Rating: 3.5
The art style is absolutely stunning. Awe-inspiring watercolor panels and beautiful illustrations definitely made this graphic novel worth reading. It’s not often we see Chinese-inspired folktales brought to the western market and I loved seeing the story brought to life.
The premise itself was super interesting, but the pacing felt off. The story tended to transition rather suddenly from one point of time to another, and it could sometimes get confusing. The lore wasn’t explained as well as I would have hoped so I found myself lost for a good portion of the book. I wanted to get more emotionally invested with the world and characters, but because we had so little time and so few explanations, I found it hard to form an attachment. For me, the ending felt rushed because there was little build-up for the major plot twists.
However, I loved the air of mystery and adventure the book gave. There was a hint of Avatar the Last Airbender vibes and I’m curious to see more of this world in future installments.
Rating: 3.5
December 30, 2020
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5
Seekers of the Aweto: The Hunt is On, by Nie Jun is an exciting beginning of what seems to be a fantasy/historical story with absolutely beautiful artwork with deep, fascinating folk and myth based lore, and interesting characters each with their own journey they must embark on.
We start off looking upon the journey of 2 brothers, Xinyue and Qiliu, travelling from place to place in search of the rare and valuable aweto.
To be honest I’m still a little confused as to what aweto and chadolo are, so I can’t explain much more. Because this world and lore is so vast, I know it’ll take a lot more than this first instalment to fully realize the extent.
That being said, I am so excited to read more of this interesting story and world. I don’t get much exposure to anything Chinese, so to see all the love the author has put into this is amazing and I’m grateful for his passion.
That artwork though!! Utterly beautiful! The use of colours and tones and lighting is so beautifully done. I don’t see many graphic novels/manga/manwha with artwork as stylized and colourful as this anymore, so I was completely stunned. The artwork was the most amazing thing about this book. I would gladly read the entire series just for the artwork. Lucky for me, the story is compelling too. Win-win all around.
I am so interested in finishing this series, and I can’t wait for book 2.
4/5
Seekers of the Aweto: The Hunt is On, by Nie Jun is an exciting beginning of what seems to be a fantasy/historical story with absolutely beautiful artwork with deep, fascinating folk and myth based lore, and interesting characters each with their own journey they must embark on.
We start off looking upon the journey of 2 brothers, Xinyue and Qiliu, travelling from place to place in search of the rare and valuable aweto.
To be honest I’m still a little confused as to what aweto and chadolo are, so I can’t explain much more. Because this world and lore is so vast, I know it’ll take a lot more than this first instalment to fully realize the extent.
That being said, I am so excited to read more of this interesting story and world. I don’t get much exposure to anything Chinese, so to see all the love the author has put into this is amazing and I’m grateful for his passion.
That artwork though!! Utterly beautiful! The use of colours and tones and lighting is so beautifully done. I don’t see many graphic novels/manga/manwha with artwork as stylized and colourful as this anymore, so I was completely stunned. The artwork was the most amazing thing about this book. I would gladly read the entire series just for the artwork. Lucky for me, the story is compelling too. Win-win all around.
I am so interested in finishing this series, and I can’t wait for book 2.
January 26, 2021
This charming and whimsical little tale tells the story of three seekers of a magical “aweto” plant, and the lengths that they go to achieve it. The story is rooted (pun intended) in Chinese mythology and folklore, and the tone of the graphic novel captures that air of both the mystical and the fantastical, while at the same time feeling real for the characters that populate its world.
The visuals are beautiful and breathtaking - an alluring style that mixes watercolor with Ghibli-inspired characters and backdrops. The art style adds to the worldbuilding, which feels fresh and “folk-tailey”, familiar settings that add just a hint of magical realism, and then just a hint more. This is a world that is begging to be explored, and it is bursting with interesting stories and adorable characters.
The pacing of the story felt off. The first act overstayed its welcome a bit, and it would have been nice to spend more time with some of the minor characters who weren’t given enough breathing room. Also, it started off with a frame story narrative, but never returned to it. Granted, the story is likely to continue in the second volume.
Overall, this is a fantastical little tale, and I will be looking forward to reading the sequel
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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The visuals are beautiful and breathtaking - an alluring style that mixes watercolor with Ghibli-inspired characters and backdrops. The art style adds to the worldbuilding, which feels fresh and “folk-tailey”, familiar settings that add just a hint of magical realism, and then just a hint more. This is a world that is begging to be explored, and it is bursting with interesting stories and adorable characters.
The pacing of the story felt off. The first act overstayed its welcome a bit, and it would have been nice to spend more time with some of the minor characters who weren’t given enough breathing room. Also, it started off with a frame story narrative, but never returned to it. Granted, the story is likely to continue in the second volume.
Overall, this is a fantastical little tale, and I will be looking forward to reading the sequel
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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January 15, 2021
Secrets of the Aweto Book 1: The Hunt Is On is really interesting since it's a Chinese comic and set in China. Xinyue and Qiliu are brothers that seek mysterious aweto that are plants of sorts and that are the base of lustrous environment because of the deities. These two and their mom travel the Silk Road and the older brother wants to find the mythical celestial aweto. Xinyue finds a deity that can create aweto and wants to keep it safe only to find out that nothing is what it seems. The story is a journey and we get to learn secrets and so many things change. The maps where a great add-on and the deities look great and the whole thing is very fairy-like in a sense. The rhythm isn't the best though and the panels don't follow one another seamlessly. Sometimes it was hard to keep track what is happening and the beginning is slow until suddenly everything happens too fast even.
The art looks wonky and very traditionally Chinese, which is nice. The paint brush like work with rich and hollow colors is beautiful and fits very well with the story. Secrets of Aweto is like a picture book actually and an art piece by itself. The plot is interesting so I surely want to know what happens!
The art looks wonky and very traditionally Chinese, which is nice. The paint brush like work with rich and hollow colors is beautiful and fits very well with the story. Secrets of Aweto is like a picture book actually and an art piece by itself. The plot is interesting so I surely want to know what happens!
May 3, 2023
Chinese cartoonist, Jun, tells a mythical tale packed with magic, battles, and powerful gods in this vibrantly-coloured graphic novel.
The story revolves around two brothers, Qiliu and Xinyue, who, along with their mother, hunt for aweto - a plant-like worm that grows in the heads of earth deities and is used for its healing properties. The rare celestial aweto is what Qiliu seeks, as it grants eternal life.
The Sanmo tribe, who live in the lands where aweto grows, have a matriarchal society and are tasked with protecting their earth deity from the brothers. A fierce battle ensues, with exploding arrows, sword fighting, and beheadings, which is depicted in a slightly cartoony yet violent manner.
The brothers eventually succeed in gathering aweto, but in the process, they kill a large earth deity, jeopardizing the prosperity of the Sanmo tribe's lands. However, Xinyue finds a baby earth deity and hides it, but when Qiliu discovers this, it leads to a bloody conflict between the two brothers.
An engaging and visually stunning read that is filled with action and mythical elements.
The story revolves around two brothers, Qiliu and Xinyue, who, along with their mother, hunt for aweto - a plant-like worm that grows in the heads of earth deities and is used for its healing properties. The rare celestial aweto is what Qiliu seeks, as it grants eternal life.
The Sanmo tribe, who live in the lands where aweto grows, have a matriarchal society and are tasked with protecting their earth deity from the brothers. A fierce battle ensues, with exploding arrows, sword fighting, and beheadings, which is depicted in a slightly cartoony yet violent manner.
The brothers eventually succeed in gathering aweto, but in the process, they kill a large earth deity, jeopardizing the prosperity of the Sanmo tribe's lands. However, Xinyue finds a baby earth deity and hides it, but when Qiliu discovers this, it leads to a bloody conflict between the two brothers.
An engaging and visually stunning read that is filled with action and mythical elements.
December 21, 2020
I received a free copy of this book on Netgalley. This did not affect my review.
The Hunt is On is a graphic novel based in Silk Road. In Silk Road, a rare being called the chadolo. The chadolo produces a rare thing that looks like a plant in summer, and a worm in winter: the Aweto. The Aweto is rumored to cure the ill, and the rarer Celestial Aweto is rumored to grant people eternal life. Xinyue, his brother Qiliu and their mother are Aweto seekers, people who hunt the Aweto and sell them to the highest bidder. But when Xinyue finds a baby chadolo, he has to change his priorities. What will happen next?
Can I just talk about how stunning the art is? I have never seen a graphic novel with art that beautiful. But, to be fair, I haven't read many graphic novels yet. To story was good to follow and not all over the place. There's not only character growth and a clear plot, but also good backstories that explain character's motivations. I couldn't put the graphic novel down!
I can't wait for the next graphic novel in the Seekers of the Aweto series!
The Hunt is On is a graphic novel based in Silk Road. In Silk Road, a rare being called the chadolo. The chadolo produces a rare thing that looks like a plant in summer, and a worm in winter: the Aweto. The Aweto is rumored to cure the ill, and the rarer Celestial Aweto is rumored to grant people eternal life. Xinyue, his brother Qiliu and their mother are Aweto seekers, people who hunt the Aweto and sell them to the highest bidder. But when Xinyue finds a baby chadolo, he has to change his priorities. What will happen next?
Can I just talk about how stunning the art is? I have never seen a graphic novel with art that beautiful. But, to be fair, I haven't read many graphic novels yet. To story was good to follow and not all over the place. There's not only character growth and a clear plot, but also good backstories that explain character's motivations. I couldn't put the graphic novel down!
I can't wait for the next graphic novel in the Seekers of the Aweto series!
January 6, 2021
3.5 stars *may change
Haha. What?
I’d like to start off by saying that the art in this is gorgeous. Nie Jun is a cartoonist inspired by Japanese, Chinese, and European cartoons and it really shows in his style. It’s a very colorful graphic novel that goes along with its fantastical Beijing-esq world. I really did think the culture aspects of it were quite lovely. From the costuming, all of the market people, and the myths, it was a wonderful thing to see being illustrated.
That being said, I have no idea what happened in that story. We have characters at the beginning but then they don’t show up again or they show up and have a purpose but then they don’t follow through on that purpose. And then some weird plot twists I still don’t quite get. I mean, this is a first book in a series, so who am I to say that it makes no sense if there’s gonna be a follow up? Still, the plot was a bit weird.
I mean, it was a pretty book. A bit forgettable.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc.
Haha. What?
I’d like to start off by saying that the art in this is gorgeous. Nie Jun is a cartoonist inspired by Japanese, Chinese, and European cartoons and it really shows in his style. It’s a very colorful graphic novel that goes along with its fantastical Beijing-esq world. I really did think the culture aspects of it were quite lovely. From the costuming, all of the market people, and the myths, it was a wonderful thing to see being illustrated.
That being said, I have no idea what happened in that story. We have characters at the beginning but then they don’t show up again or they show up and have a purpose but then they don’t follow through on that purpose. And then some weird plot twists I still don’t quite get. I mean, this is a first book in a series, so who am I to say that it makes no sense if there’s gonna be a follow up? Still, the plot was a bit weird.
I mean, it was a pretty book. A bit forgettable.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc.
March 2, 2021
An awesome book. The story is a fun Chinese fantasy adventure story. It’s about family, growing up, looking for treasure, and more.
The artwork is amazing. Beautiful watercolor artwork. Some of the pages have so much movement in them that it reminds me of a Vincent Van Gogh or Georges Seurat painting. The characters look beautiful too. The artwork really compliments the fantasy adventure story we are taken on.
The story is great too. It’s about two boys going on a treasure hunt. The youngest boy finds more than he bargained for.... Plus we learn more about the boys Mother.
The ending of the book is a bit abrupt. I didn’t want the book to end. I wanted more and to see what happens next.
I really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fantasy adventure story. It’s a beautiful story with amazing art. Similar to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, you just want more.
I look forward to a second book and after you read this story, you will too.
Stay awesome and keep reading.
The artwork is amazing. Beautiful watercolor artwork. Some of the pages have so much movement in them that it reminds me of a Vincent Van Gogh or Georges Seurat painting. The characters look beautiful too. The artwork really compliments the fantasy adventure story we are taken on.
The story is great too. It’s about two boys going on a treasure hunt. The youngest boy finds more than he bargained for.... Plus we learn more about the boys Mother.
The ending of the book is a bit abrupt. I didn’t want the book to end. I wanted more and to see what happens next.
I really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fantasy adventure story. It’s a beautiful story with amazing art. Similar to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, you just want more.
I look forward to a second book and after you read this story, you will too.
Stay awesome and keep reading.
June 15, 2022
Two brothers hunt for aweto, legendary creatures that cure ill or even grant eternal life. But after taking two aweto from a town that prospered only because of their presence, they find themselves on the run.
I don't know if I picked this up too late at night or what, but I feel like I didn't fully understand what was going on until reading the synopsis on the back after finishing the book. It was a bit hard to follow. Maybe that's a translation issue? It was written in French originally. I also was a bit disturbed that we have this cute, fun adventure going on and then all of a sudden there's a throat slitting on page (or maybe not?...the ending was confusing). I'd be curious to see if it gets better, or at least more clear in volume 2, but I'm not going to go hunt it down.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. The two hunt the mother aweto and then rescue the baby aweto that everyone says is useless. As mentioned, there is a throat slitting on page it seems which was rather disturbing.
I don't know if I picked this up too late at night or what, but I feel like I didn't fully understand what was going on until reading the synopsis on the back after finishing the book. It was a bit hard to follow. Maybe that's a translation issue? It was written in French originally. I also was a bit disturbed that we have this cute, fun adventure going on and then all of a sudden there's a throat slitting on page (or maybe not?...the ending was confusing). I'd be curious to see if it gets better, or at least more clear in volume 2, but I'm not going to go hunt it down.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. The two hunt the mother aweto and then rescue the baby aweto that everyone says is useless. As mentioned, there is a throat slitting on page it seems which was rather disturbing.
January 4, 2021
Rating: 3.5
Re-Read Factor: No
The art is beautiful, don't get me wrong, but I couldn't quite catch what was happening towards the end. If anything, the buildup might have been lost in translation and the emotions couldn't quite transfer over to English.
Despite this, the start of the book was absolutely beautiful. The art is gorgeous and fitting for the Eastern style. I would read the next book in the series to see if there is any development different from this one. Overall, the book is a nice read, but I am unsure for what demographic due to the sudden violence towards the end.
Re-Read Factor: No
The art is beautiful, don't get me wrong, but I couldn't quite catch what was happening towards the end. If anything, the buildup might have been lost in translation and the emotions couldn't quite transfer over to English.
Despite this, the start of the book was absolutely beautiful. The art is gorgeous and fitting for the Eastern style. I would read the next book in the series to see if there is any development different from this one. Overall, the book is a nice read, but I am unsure for what demographic due to the sudden violence towards the end.
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