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Dreams Factory #1
Dreams Factory
London, 1892. Like most children in the working-class town where she lives, Indira works the coal mines every day without protest. But when her little brother Eliott disappears, nothing matters anymore... She embarks on a desperate quest to find him and discovers that he is not the only child to have mysteriously disappeared. All clues seem to point to the same person: Cathleen Sachs, the wealthy owner of the coal mines. But why would she kidnap these children?
From the acclaimed writer of NILS: THE TREE OF LIFE and animation designer SUHEB ZAKO (Netflix’s “ARCANE”), this adventurous tale of magic and mystery leaps off the page like an animated feature in print.
From the acclaimed writer of NILS: THE TREE OF LIFE and animation designer SUHEB ZAKO (Netflix’s “ARCANE”), this adventurous tale of magic and mystery leaps off the page like an animated feature in print.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 2018
210 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
June 14, 2022
Thank you to Magnetic Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 Stars rounded up.
Dreams Factory is a beautifully illustrated tale of class, rebellion and family. A truly captivating art style displays the setting and the characters wonderfully. It is extremely clear that significant time and care has gone into crafting each and every panel.
Each character has a distinct and engaging visual style that expresses their persona effectively. This also makes it easy to distinguish between the characters, despite a large variety of characters being introduced throughout.
The narrative itself is based on a very intriguing concept that has a lot of potential to develop into a great wider story line. However, I personally found that I was thrust into a narrative with little world-building or explanation to provide the necessary context. This was a little jarring and confusing. While the key features of the wider plot made sense to me, I'm not sure I understand how that sits in the world as a whole, or what relationships the characters have with one another.
I think perhaps one reason for this was that the graphic novel is very short, so a lot of action occurs within the space of very few panels which can make it rather difficult to follow and keep up with. This is especially the case as the characters are frequently on the move, which can be disorienting.
While the large cast of characters are very unique and provide layers to the story, I feel that too many characters are introduced in a short period of time and each backstory is given very little attention. The effect of this is that I don't understand the motivations or feelings of any of the characters besides the protagonist. Even the protagonist's motivations were lacking depth; seeming solely to be the protection of her brother. However, this may be because this book is middle grade and potentially targeted at a younger audience. Regardless, I would have loved to have seen more interaction between the characters to establish their dynamics with one another.
Overall, I feel this graphic novel has the potential to be something wonderful if the narrative is given as much attention as the artwork. It is truly beautiful, with a magnificent concept and dynamic characters, it is just incredibly confusing - I cannot imagine how a child would keep up.
2.5 Stars rounded up.
Dreams Factory is a beautifully illustrated tale of class, rebellion and family. A truly captivating art style displays the setting and the characters wonderfully. It is extremely clear that significant time and care has gone into crafting each and every panel.
Each character has a distinct and engaging visual style that expresses their persona effectively. This also makes it easy to distinguish between the characters, despite a large variety of characters being introduced throughout.
The narrative itself is based on a very intriguing concept that has a lot of potential to develop into a great wider story line. However, I personally found that I was thrust into a narrative with little world-building or explanation to provide the necessary context. This was a little jarring and confusing. While the key features of the wider plot made sense to me, I'm not sure I understand how that sits in the world as a whole, or what relationships the characters have with one another.
I think perhaps one reason for this was that the graphic novel is very short, so a lot of action occurs within the space of very few panels which can make it rather difficult to follow and keep up with. This is especially the case as the characters are frequently on the move, which can be disorienting.
While the large cast of characters are very unique and provide layers to the story, I feel that too many characters are introduced in a short period of time and each backstory is given very little attention. The effect of this is that I don't understand the motivations or feelings of any of the characters besides the protagonist. Even the protagonist's motivations were lacking depth; seeming solely to be the protection of her brother. However, this may be because this book is middle grade and potentially targeted at a younger audience. Regardless, I would have loved to have seen more interaction between the characters to establish their dynamics with one another.
Overall, I feel this graphic novel has the potential to be something wonderful if the narrative is given as much attention as the artwork. It is truly beautiful, with a magnificent concept and dynamic characters, it is just incredibly confusing - I cannot imagine how a child would keep up.
November 14, 2022
Gorgeous art and story. It’s about a young girl working in a coal mine in poor working conditions when her little brother goes missing. She finds him in a factory where the children have forgotten who they are and work as automatons. The story escalates from there. The art is exceptional. I hope there’s more.
September 7, 2022
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one, I only knew the cover was beautiful and I just couldn’t pass this one up. I’m so very glad I did because it was sooo very good!!!! Indira is our main character and what an intelligent and feisty one she is! She must embark on a strange and dangerous path to save her brother from the factory.
First of all, the cover isn’t the only lovely part of this book. The art is gorgeous and it’s full color throughout. I love how the characters look as well as the ultra detailed backgrounds. It makes for such an enjoyable read even if you ignore the actual story. I’d give it five stars based on the graphics alone. Absolute perfection!!
Second, the story is really entertaining as well! You jump right in from the beginning and the intrigue just won’t let you go. As Indira searched for her brother Eliot, she meets some interesting individuals along the way. Everything pulls you forward in this book and the ending is great too. I’m eager for the next installation even though it’s not necessarily a huge cliff hangar.
I highly recommend this to those who love a good steam punk graphic novel that has adventure, heart, and lots of courage. Such a wonderful story!!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Jerome Hamon for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.
First of all, the cover isn’t the only lovely part of this book. The art is gorgeous and it’s full color throughout. I love how the characters look as well as the ultra detailed backgrounds. It makes for such an enjoyable read even if you ignore the actual story. I’d give it five stars based on the graphics alone. Absolute perfection!!
Second, the story is really entertaining as well! You jump right in from the beginning and the intrigue just won’t let you go. As Indira searched for her brother Eliot, she meets some interesting individuals along the way. Everything pulls you forward in this book and the ending is great too. I’m eager for the next installation even though it’s not necessarily a huge cliff hangar.
I highly recommend this to those who love a good steam punk graphic novel that has adventure, heart, and lots of courage. Such a wonderful story!!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Jerome Hamon for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 18, 2022
2.5 rounded up to 3.
London, 1892. Like most children in the working-class town where she lives, Indira works the coal mines every day without protest. But when her little brother Eliott disappears, nothing matters anymore... She embarks on a desperate quest to find him and discovers that he is not the only child to have mysteriously disappeared. All clues seem to point to the same person: Cathleen Sachs, the wealthy owner of the coal mines. But why would she kidnap these children?
This was not at all what I was expecting when I read the blurb for this graphic novel and I hate to say that I was left feeling underwhelmed. However, the illustrations were fantastic and some of the characters were intriguing. I think for me where it fell down was that the plot progressed too quickly and not in enough detail so I didn’t have time to form a relationship with any of the characters, so as a result I wasn’t very invested in what happened to them.
London, 1892. Like most children in the working-class town where she lives, Indira works the coal mines every day without protest. But when her little brother Eliott disappears, nothing matters anymore... She embarks on a desperate quest to find him and discovers that he is not the only child to have mysteriously disappeared. All clues seem to point to the same person: Cathleen Sachs, the wealthy owner of the coal mines. But why would she kidnap these children?
This was not at all what I was expecting when I read the blurb for this graphic novel and I hate to say that I was left feeling underwhelmed. However, the illustrations were fantastic and some of the characters were intriguing. I think for me where it fell down was that the plot progressed too quickly and not in enough detail so I didn’t have time to form a relationship with any of the characters, so as a result I wasn’t very invested in what happened to them.
June 28, 2022
A unique YA graphic novel that is a historical fiction fantasy book. The illustrations were amazing in this book. It was hard to follow some of the characters as there were too many “adults” in the factory. Overall a good book.
Thanks to Diamond Book Distributors for an advanced digital copy via NetGalley. Publication date is anticipated for September 13, 2022.
Thanks to Diamond Book Distributors for an advanced digital copy via NetGalley. Publication date is anticipated for September 13, 2022.
July 11, 2022
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*
“Your mines, your factory... it’s all just a bunch of hot air.”
This was awful and for no reason other than it made no sense. The plot centred around a factory but what was the point of the factory? What did the children in the factory do? How did the factory choose who ran it? The most basic and fundamental questions regarding its purpose couldn’t be answered over a very generous 130+ pages, and that was tragic considering there wasn’t anything else going on in this graphic novel.
The art was quite nice but the characters had no development at all. None of them were given backstories despite how large a role some of their backstories played in their motivations and the plot, some random characters were shoved into scenes with no introduction, and most of the characters were as clueless about what was going on as I felt throughout this whole debacle.
The plot was a bungled nightmare. The characters spent half of the time trying to get into the factory and then half of the time trying to get out of the factory. And to top it all off, the ending made no sense at all. Did the protagonist die? Did the factory want her or her brother? Was it all a dream? I have no clue, all I know was it was a spectacular disaster.
“Your mines, your factory... it’s all just a bunch of hot air.”
This was awful and for no reason other than it made no sense. The plot centred around a factory but what was the point of the factory? What did the children in the factory do? How did the factory choose who ran it? The most basic and fundamental questions regarding its purpose couldn’t be answered over a very generous 130+ pages, and that was tragic considering there wasn’t anything else going on in this graphic novel.
The art was quite nice but the characters had no development at all. None of them were given backstories despite how large a role some of their backstories played in their motivations and the plot, some random characters were shoved into scenes with no introduction, and most of the characters were as clueless about what was going on as I felt throughout this whole debacle.
The plot was a bungled nightmare. The characters spent half of the time trying to get into the factory and then half of the time trying to get out of the factory. And to top it all off, the ending made no sense at all. Did the protagonist die? Did the factory want her or her brother? Was it all a dream? I have no clue, all I know was it was a spectacular disaster.
August 6, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This is one of those graphic novels that is visually stunning but completely inscrutable. It's the type of read that you say, "oo pretty - but I have no idea what's going on" and you put it away without a second thought. It's a shame because there is an attempt at a story here but it is as if the writer has no idea how to tell it and the visual artist is more concerned with artistic integrity than in defining the story. It is often where graphic novels fail: they fail to tell the story either visually or through text. It's a textbook example of style over substance.Story: there is a young poor girl working at a coal mine and likely dying of something similar to consumption. She wants to protect her brother from that cruel life but the spirited young boy ends up working in the 'toy' factory - never to be seen again. He will spend his youth making robotic insects and never remembering his life or family. But the girl, Indira, will brave the factory and all its guards to save him from the evil Kathleen - head of the factory.
This is from one of the people responsible for the Netflix series Arcanix and you can clearly tell that from this very digital-heavy comic. There are great visuals, the color palette is appropriate, and the characters have great style. Yet the action is VERY hard to decipher and soon enough you'll realize that you have no idea what is going on in the story. It boils down to a lot of brothers and sisters and their relationships - the good and the bad.
I honestly got a headache trying to sit and figure out what the panels were trying to tell me. So although this is a self-contained arc and there is a complete story here, I won't be returning to this graphic novel for a reread. Life is too short for that kind of nonsense. I really wish these 'artiste' types would recognize that it is not pandering or demeaning to tell a story in a way that is understandable to readers/an audience. That is when graphic novels become a true art form. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
August 23, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and the Autor for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
It’s an interesting graphic novel with steampunk vibes. I liked the art style and the illustrations are great and particular.
The plot made me cry.
The story of these children who lose their memory and are forced to work in the factory touched me, as well as the story of the protagonist and her little brother.
I will definitely read the rest to find out how the story goes
It’s an interesting graphic novel with steampunk vibes. I liked the art style and the illustrations are great and particular.
The plot made me cry.
The story of these children who lose their memory and are forced to work in the factory touched me, as well as the story of the protagonist and her little brother.
I will definitely read the rest to find out how the story goes
June 9, 2022
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
+The art was absolutely gorgeous and I just love the style. Then again, that is also one of the reasons why I requested the book. Good characters designs, many gorgeous panels with action scenes.
+The idea of a factory with scary things happening to kids and people who come near was an interesting one.
-However the plot was just hard to follow and at times I had to re-read parts just to see what was happening. It just went from one thing to the next, sometimes just hopping along, and while I did get the gist of things, not all was very clear. At times we hopped between characters (like Indira to the twins (???) who work under Kathleen to the guy who knows Kathleen). OK, correction, I am just freaking confused. XD
Too bad, this sounded really good, but it was just messy and all over the place. :( But good art. So that is at least why its got that 1.5 stars.
+The art was absolutely gorgeous and I just love the style. Then again, that is also one of the reasons why I requested the book. Good characters designs, many gorgeous panels with action scenes.
+The idea of a factory with scary things happening to kids and people who come near was an interesting one.
-However the plot was just hard to follow and at times I had to re-read parts just to see what was happening. It just went from one thing to the next, sometimes just hopping along, and while I did get the gist of things, not all was very clear. At times we hopped between characters (like Indira to the twins (???) who work under Kathleen to the guy who knows Kathleen). OK, correction, I am just freaking confused. XD
Too bad, this sounded really good, but it was just messy and all over the place. :( But good art. So that is at least why its got that 1.5 stars.
June 10, 2022
3.5⭐
The success stories that everyone talks about are just lies meant to keep the people from revolting.
Dreams factory is steam-punk fantasy graphic novel that I really enjoyed.
I don't know what I expected when I started it but I definitely didn't expect to like it that much. I loved it. The illustrations are beautiful, I loved the art style and I think the story was very well executed. Indira and Elliot were characters that I wanted to protect at all costs.
The only thing I didn't like is that the ending was a bit confusing and disappointing. But overall It really was an amazing read.
Thanks to netgalley for an e-arc in exchange of an honest review.
#DreamsFactory #NetGalley
The success stories that everyone talks about are just lies meant to keep the people from revolting.
Dreams factory is steam-punk fantasy graphic novel that I really enjoyed.
I don't know what I expected when I started it but I definitely didn't expect to like it that much. I loved it. The illustrations are beautiful, I loved the art style and I think the story was very well executed. Indira and Elliot were characters that I wanted to protect at all costs.
The only thing I didn't like is that the ending was a bit confusing and disappointing. But overall It really was an amazing read.
Thanks to netgalley for an e-arc in exchange of an honest review.
#DreamsFactory #NetGalley
December 4, 2022
It is 1892, in London. Indira works in a coal mine where poor children work to survive. One day, her little brother goes missing. Indira discovers that there are other children that disappeared and that missing children assemble mechanical toys for rich children in the Dreams factory.
A beautiful fantasy steampunk graphic novel for younger and adult readers. I loved the illustrations.
Thanks to Magnetic Press for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
A beautiful fantasy steampunk graphic novel for younger and adult readers. I loved the illustrations.
Thanks to Magnetic Press for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
July 12, 2021
Ce premier tome est prometteur, les illustrations sont magnifique, le monde créé par l'auteur est captivant, Au tour du tome deux!
September 29, 2018
Une jeune fille travaille dur à la mine afin de pouvoir nourrir son petit frère. Mais un jour, il disparait, comme c'était déjà arrivé à d'autres enfants du quartier. Elle part à sa recherche.
Dreams Factory est une BD superbe, comme je m'y attendais de la part d'un de mes dessinateurs préférés, le talentueux Suheb Zako. L'univers présenté me rappelle un peu le roman La Boussole d'or, et c'est assez plaisant.
Cependant cette BD me laisse un peu (trop) sur ma faim. L'histoire est conçue en deux tomes, il est normal que les auteurs installent des éléments qu'ils résoudront dans la BD suivante, mais ce premier tome ne m'a pas beaucoup accroché.
La première chose qui m'ait frappé en ouvrant les pages, c'est le manque de variété dans les couleurs. L'ambiance froide et bleutée reste présente du début à la fin, que l'on soit en extérieur ou en intérieur, mais surtout quelle que soit l'émotion de la scène. J'ai été un peu déçu par ce choix graphique, qui m'a donné une impression assez "plate."
Ensuite, j'ai trouvé que les personnages secondaires manquaient de naturel, leur réactions m'ont a plusieurs reprises surpris et semblé artificielles.
En revanche j'ai été rapidement séduit par le personnage du petit frère, un peu naïf mais plein de vie, et par la "méchante" très charismatique.
Je dois également saluer qu'on est vite plongé dans l'ambiance. Les décors sont superbes, et à plusieurs moments j'ai ressenti de l'émerveillement en découvrant les pages.
Enfin, et surtout, l'intrigue installée est prometteuse, elle pourrait déboucher sur un tome 2 dévoilant un univers vaste et fascinant.
J'ai hâte que ce monde "s'anime" et révèle d'avantage ce qu'il a dans le ventre..
Dreams Factory est une BD superbe, comme je m'y attendais de la part d'un de mes dessinateurs préférés, le talentueux Suheb Zako. L'univers présenté me rappelle un peu le roman La Boussole d'or, et c'est assez plaisant.
Cependant cette BD me laisse un peu (trop) sur ma faim. L'histoire est conçue en deux tomes, il est normal que les auteurs installent des éléments qu'ils résoudront dans la BD suivante, mais ce premier tome ne m'a pas beaucoup accroché.
La première chose qui m'ait frappé en ouvrant les pages, c'est le manque de variété dans les couleurs. L'ambiance froide et bleutée reste présente du début à la fin, que l'on soit en extérieur ou en intérieur, mais surtout quelle que soit l'émotion de la scène. J'ai été un peu déçu par ce choix graphique, qui m'a donné une impression assez "plate."
Ensuite, j'ai trouvé que les personnages secondaires manquaient de naturel, leur réactions m'ont a plusieurs reprises surpris et semblé artificielles.
En revanche j'ai été rapidement séduit par le personnage du petit frère, un peu naïf mais plein de vie, et par la "méchante" très charismatique.
Je dois également saluer qu'on est vite plongé dans l'ambiance. Les décors sont superbes, et à plusieurs moments j'ai ressenti de l'émerveillement en découvrant les pages.
Enfin, et surtout, l'intrigue installée est prometteuse, elle pourrait déboucher sur un tome 2 dévoilant un univers vaste et fascinant.
J'ai hâte que ce monde "s'anime" et révèle d'avantage ce qu'il a dans le ventre..
June 9, 2022
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley.
The art style was stunning! It made this read a pleasure, and it kept me hooked, wanting to see more masterfully executed panels.
However, the action was not handled that well. There were a lot of confusing time jumps, and, in a few instances, the character got where they needed to be very conveniently, from one page to the next without any explanation.
While we're on the topic of confusing stuff, the worldbuilding needed more page time, attention, and a few more details. Things just were and if that doesn't bother you that's great, but I couldn't get completely invested because I kept questioning different things or wondering if I missed something.
The characters were developed well enough, and their motivations were clear for the most part. When their actions didn't make much sense, it was usually for a reason.
This leads us to the ending. There were a couple of plot twists but I didn't necessarily see the point of them because this only had 130 pages and most of the action took place towards the end.
Because of the lack of focus on the world-building and those plot twists, to me, the ending seemed all over the place. A few more pages could've made a huge difference. Also, the ending was open, but a bit abrupt for my liking, and it wouldn't have been an issue if the previous things I mentioned had been addressed.
As far as I understand, there is a sequel as well and I'll keep an eye out for that.
The art style was stunning! It made this read a pleasure, and it kept me hooked, wanting to see more masterfully executed panels.
However, the action was not handled that well. There were a lot of confusing time jumps, and, in a few instances, the character got where they needed to be very conveniently, from one page to the next without any explanation.
While we're on the topic of confusing stuff, the worldbuilding needed more page time, attention, and a few more details. Things just were and if that doesn't bother you that's great, but I couldn't get completely invested because I kept questioning different things or wondering if I missed something.
The characters were developed well enough, and their motivations were clear for the most part. When their actions didn't make much sense, it was usually for a reason.
This leads us to the ending. There were a couple of plot twists but I didn't necessarily see the point of them because this only had 130 pages and most of the action took place towards the end.
Because of the lack of focus on the world-building and those plot twists, to me, the ending seemed all over the place. A few more pages could've made a huge difference. Also, the ending was open, but a bit abrupt for my liking, and it wouldn't have been an issue if the previous things I mentioned had been addressed.
As far as I understand, there is a sequel as well and I'll keep an eye out for that.
September 9, 2022
Perfect 5 stars for the artwork and the art sequence. However, I wanted more character development and more thrill to the plot.
Thank you, Diamond Book Distributors, for the advance reading copy.
It is a story of two siblings during the early 1890s in London. The elder sibling works in the coal mines and looks after the hounger one. The younger one disappears and the older one tries her best to find her kid brother.
I would say the volumes are a little too short with so much happening in each volume. I need more details on the world and the magic system. For that I am waiting for the upcoming volumes. And I need more emotions in the adult characters.
Thank you, Diamond Book Distributors, for the advance reading copy.
It is a story of two siblings during the early 1890s in London. The elder sibling works in the coal mines and looks after the hounger one. The younger one disappears and the older one tries her best to find her kid brother.
I would say the volumes are a little too short with so much happening in each volume. I need more details on the world and the magic system. For that I am waiting for the upcoming volumes. And I need more emotions in the adult characters.
June 29, 2022
Wonderfully illustrated fantasy story, which fascinated me with its dreamlike quality and beautiful pictures in all shades of muted colors. However, on several occasions I thought the plot missed some important moments in-between, which was really confusing and I had to guess more than understand what happened next. The ending seemed to arrive very abrupt, leaving me with even more questions, which hopefully will be answered in the next installments of this promising new series.
(thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
(thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
August 2, 2022
Set in London 1892 Indira works in the mines. When her little brother goes missing she goes on a quest to find him. The art is beautiful. I love that you can really see what the characters are feeling on their faces. The story was entertaining. I really enjoyed the book.
4 stars
Creative Team:
Original story by Suheb Zako and Jerome Hamon
Written by Jerome Hamon
Art by Suheb Zako
Colors by Lena Sayaphoum
Translated by Jeremy Melloul
4 stars
Creative Team:
Original story by Suheb Zako and Jerome Hamon
Written by Jerome Hamon
Art by Suheb Zako
Colors by Lena Sayaphoum
Translated by Jeremy Melloul
July 27, 2022
The illustrations in this graphic novel are gorgeous. I felt like I was looking at cells from an epic animated movie. The story is about class and rebellion. The story did become difficult to follow in some places. It felt almost as if panels were missing that would have filled in the gaps. But still it was a good read, mostly because I adored the art!
September 22, 2023
A young girl works in a mine, but when she is sick her little brother tries to take her place. He is too young to work down in the mines, but he is offered a job in the Dreams Factory. He disappears and his sister tries desperately to find him. She sneaks into the Dreams Factory to look for him, and discovers that the factory hides a deadly secret.
The artwork in this graphic novel is really beautiful. The colors and delicate art style are absolutely gorgeous. The designs for the factory are really imaginative.
However, the entire story is chaotic. Nothing is explained. The plot meanders around. The action is difficult to follow from panel to panel. The characters have no backstory to explain their actions. They just go around doing unexplained things, and we never know why they betrayed that guy, or why they want to get into the factory, or why anything is happening. We never find out exactly why the factory needs children to work there. We don't know how the factory works or what its ultimate purpose is. Who first created the factory and how does it function?
The last scenes are a complete jumble of random stuff that makes no sense. Half the time I couldn't even tell who the characters were at the end. They change appearance, and one kid gets stabbed, but then he comes back as an older kid, but he is still stabbed, and gunk is growing out of his face for no apparent reason. Then he disappears. Was he a mirage? I have no idea.
It's a shame that this story is completely unreadable, because the ideas are interesting and the artwork is lovely. If only the plot would explain something every once in a while!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
The artwork in this graphic novel is really beautiful. The colors and delicate art style are absolutely gorgeous. The designs for the factory are really imaginative.
However, the entire story is chaotic. Nothing is explained. The plot meanders around. The action is difficult to follow from panel to panel. The characters have no backstory to explain their actions. They just go around doing unexplained things, and we never know why they betrayed that guy, or why they want to get into the factory, or why anything is happening. We never find out exactly why the factory needs children to work there. We don't know how the factory works or what its ultimate purpose is. Who first created the factory and how does it function?
The last scenes are a complete jumble of random stuff that makes no sense. Half the time I couldn't even tell who the characters were at the end. They change appearance, and one kid gets stabbed, but then he comes back as an older kid, but he is still stabbed, and gunk is growing out of his face for no apparent reason. Then he disappears. Was he a mirage? I have no idea.
It's a shame that this story is completely unreadable, because the ideas are interesting and the artwork is lovely. If only the plot would explain something every once in a while!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
December 30, 2018
Ce premier tome est parfait à tous les points de vue! Déjà visuellement, Dreams Factory est une bande-dessinée juste divine! Les paysages fourmillent de détails, l’inspiration steampunk de l’univers apporte une grande richesse esthétique et les personnages ont juste des bouilles absolument adorables. Il y a un petit côté anime japonais dans leurs traits. D’ailleurs, j’imagine tout à fait un film d’animation avec cette BD tant le visuel enchante, mais surtout, tant l’histoire est passionnante. L’univers de [...]
Pour lire la suite de cette critique, rendez-vous sur yuyine.be!
Pour lire la suite de cette critique, rendez-vous sur yuyine.be!
January 20, 2019
Une BD à la fois fascinante et poétique par ses dessins et son univers. Un monde steampunk mystérieux, une atmosphère sombre, 2 personnages en danger entourés de machines effrayantes mais qui pourraient sûrement les sauver: de quoi nous embarquer en quelques pages dans cette histoire étonnante! Ce tome reste tout de même assez introductif donc j’espère que le dernier tome sera à la hauteur de celui-ci!
May 6, 2021
3.5 La beauté de ces planches ! <3
June 19, 2022
Prometteur comme premier tome, mais la fin fut si vite arrivée!
June 11, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for this honest review.
This graphic novel was originally written in French and follows a young girl named Indira who gets caught up in a magical mystery in her quest to find her missing brother. She uncovers a much bigger world than she imagined and gets pulled into a decades-long conspiracy.
There was a lot to like about this graphic novel, and I was pulled in right away. I enjoyed the magical, steampunk setting. The artwork is rich and lush, while still being mysterious and intriguing, which helps set the stage. I enjoyed the concept of a “dreams factory” and while this volume didn’t provide a lot of details or answers about the factory itself, I found it fascinating. I am a big fan of stories (particularly those written for children or young adults) that address beautiful concepts such as courage, joy, family, truth, and the like. Dreams Factory had strong themes of family, loyalty, and sacrifice, which I appreciated. I particularly liked the way the author used three different sets of siblings to tell parallel stories and explore his themes more fully.
However, in my opinion, this graphic novel didn’t quite reach its full potential. I think there are two main reasons for this. The first is the pacing. Or rather, the order and way in which information is revealed. I think the story would have had more impact if some of the information had been laid out differently. For example, very early on in the story, Indira’s brother Eliot goes missing. She wants to find him, and another character approaches her and says Eliot is with all the other children who have disappeared. This is the first time we’ve learned about this issue, but Indira doesn’t seem surprised. I think implying that children have been going missing earlier in the story would have made more sense, and would add to the feelings of dread and curiosity about the truth, especially once Eliot is taken as well. The second issue could just be me, but I found the ending confusing. I’m still not quite sure what happened. It felt a little rushed, and I don’t want to spoil anything, but I think some characters were being magically changed. It made it hard to keep track of who everyone was and what they were doing. And since the magic system still hasn’t been explained, there weren’t any rules of engagement for the climax. That said, I may just be missing something. Also, I think the story is being set up for a sequel, so maybe we’ll get more answers in the next volume.
Overall, I think this was a fun and imaginative graphic novel. I would recommend it to middle-grade readers who are looking for a creative magical world, a layered mystery, or a beautifully illustrated graphic novel.
This graphic novel was originally written in French and follows a young girl named Indira who gets caught up in a magical mystery in her quest to find her missing brother. She uncovers a much bigger world than she imagined and gets pulled into a decades-long conspiracy.
There was a lot to like about this graphic novel, and I was pulled in right away. I enjoyed the magical, steampunk setting. The artwork is rich and lush, while still being mysterious and intriguing, which helps set the stage. I enjoyed the concept of a “dreams factory” and while this volume didn’t provide a lot of details or answers about the factory itself, I found it fascinating. I am a big fan of stories (particularly those written for children or young adults) that address beautiful concepts such as courage, joy, family, truth, and the like. Dreams Factory had strong themes of family, loyalty, and sacrifice, which I appreciated. I particularly liked the way the author used three different sets of siblings to tell parallel stories and explore his themes more fully.
However, in my opinion, this graphic novel didn’t quite reach its full potential. I think there are two main reasons for this. The first is the pacing. Or rather, the order and way in which information is revealed. I think the story would have had more impact if some of the information had been laid out differently. For example, very early on in the story, Indira’s brother Eliot goes missing. She wants to find him, and another character approaches her and says Eliot is with all the other children who have disappeared. This is the first time we’ve learned about this issue, but Indira doesn’t seem surprised. I think implying that children have been going missing earlier in the story would have made more sense, and would add to the feelings of dread and curiosity about the truth, especially once Eliot is taken as well. The second issue could just be me, but I found the ending confusing. I’m still not quite sure what happened. It felt a little rushed, and I don’t want to spoil anything, but I think some characters were being magically changed. It made it hard to keep track of who everyone was and what they were doing. And since the magic system still hasn’t been explained, there weren’t any rules of engagement for the climax. That said, I may just be missing something. Also, I think the story is being set up for a sequel, so maybe we’ll get more answers in the next volume.
Overall, I think this was a fun and imaginative graphic novel. I would recommend it to middle-grade readers who are looking for a creative magical world, a layered mystery, or a beautifully illustrated graphic novel.
June 28, 2022
London 1892
In a steampunk version of Victorian England, it is common for older children like Indira to toil away in the coal mines, despite the terrible health risks. One day, she wakes up to find her little brother Eliott has disappeared. Some not-so-discreet inquires lead Indira to suspect Cathleen Sachs, the wealthy owner of the coal mines. Dismissed by the police, Indira decides to take matters into her own hands.
The artwork in this graphic novel is both beautiful and imaginative. I especially like the panels showing the strange factory. The book has an ongoing theme of brother-sister relationships and how they can bring out both the best and the worst in someone. The story itself was a little confusing, especially the ending. I think there is at least one more book, though, so those questions will probably be answered eventually.
Thank you to NetGalley and Magnetic Press for an Advanced Reader Copy ebook.
In a steampunk version of Victorian England, it is common for older children like Indira to toil away in the coal mines, despite the terrible health risks. One day, she wakes up to find her little brother Eliott has disappeared. Some not-so-discreet inquires lead Indira to suspect Cathleen Sachs, the wealthy owner of the coal mines. Dismissed by the police, Indira decides to take matters into her own hands.
The artwork in this graphic novel is both beautiful and imaginative. I especially like the panels showing the strange factory. The book has an ongoing theme of brother-sister relationships and how they can bring out both the best and the worst in someone. The story itself was a little confusing, especially the ending. I think there is at least one more book, though, so those questions will probably be answered eventually.
Thank you to NetGalley and Magnetic Press for an Advanced Reader Copy ebook.
June 6, 2022
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
This graphic novel is beautifully illustrated. The setting and characters are lovely and the color scheme really evokes the atmosphere in the book. The art was about the only part of this book I enjoyed. The plot is hard to follow, there's almost no information about the world or why things are happening, and the plot moves along quickly without really explaining the reveals it's making. The plot is handled like this is a short story in an anthology, and had it been so, I think it would've been more successful. But, as a standalone work, there's not enough here to make me care about he characters or what is happening. The end was interesting, but confusing since i'm not sure why it ended that way, so I hope the sequel clears things up.
This graphic novel is beautifully illustrated. The setting and characters are lovely and the color scheme really evokes the atmosphere in the book. The art was about the only part of this book I enjoyed. The plot is hard to follow, there's almost no information about the world or why things are happening, and the plot moves along quickly without really explaining the reveals it's making. The plot is handled like this is a short story in an anthology, and had it been so, I think it would've been more successful. But, as a standalone work, there's not enough here to make me care about he characters or what is happening. The end was interesting, but confusing since i'm not sure why it ended that way, so I hope the sequel clears things up.
July 15, 2022
While the art was gorgeous and the idea really rich and fun, I felt like the story overall was rushed. The illustrations were really aesthetically appealing and the colors did a really good job of echoing the general mood of the story. The story itself is set in the industrial revolution and was super steampunk-esque which is super up my alley and had me intrigued right away. Its also a mystery, which is extra fun in steampunk, and I loved the mystery reveal. The issue came in that when we hit major plot points, they happened really abruptly and often introduced new things without explaining them, which left me confused. A couple of times I also didn't really know who was who in the drawings because so many people were introduced at once and they all looked similar, or they weren't introduced and just suddenly appeared. Overall. I did enjoy this, it just felt rushed.
June 10, 2022
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this graphic novel.
The art style of this book is stunning and to be honest, that’s what caught my eye and the only reason I wanted to read it. But when the writing is so awkward and you’re just dead confused throughout the whole story, looking at a great illustration is not enough…
Pity, though. It looked promising…
The art style of this book is stunning and to be honest, that’s what caught my eye and the only reason I wanted to read it. But when the writing is so awkward and you’re just dead confused throughout the whole story, looking at a great illustration is not enough…
Pity, though. It looked promising…
August 9, 2022
2.5 stars
RTC
RTC
June 22, 2022
I read the English text version of this Graphic Novel.
London, 1892. Like most children in the working-class town where she lives, Indira works in the coal mines every day without protest. One day she is too sick to go in and her baby brother decides to help and heads to the mines to fill in for his older sister. From there he disappears and Indira must get him back, no matter the cost.
While set in the 1800s, this graphic novel reads like a dystopian novel from the future. The conditions are bleak, and many are starving but there are worse horrors than these.
The artwork is just gorgeous and I found the storyline both fascinating and engaging.
The only issue I have is there are some problems with continuity. The jumps between the past and the present are sometimes confusing, and I kept thinking I missed a page or a panel. While I understand the need for space and how long a graphic novel can be, more time could have been spent on the back story and world-building. I want to know how the factory came into being, and how the new owners are chosen. and just who is choosing them.
Every time someone tried to help with a "follow me" they seemed to instantly be where they were going as if it was just around the bend. If so, why do they need help?
I would love to see a sequel to this though. I want to know what happens to Indira and her brother Elliot after the events of this tale.
Still, even with the minor faults, I recommend giving this a try.
Thanks to @netgalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Jerome Hamon for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
London, 1892. Like most children in the working-class town where she lives, Indira works in the coal mines every day without protest. One day she is too sick to go in and her baby brother decides to help and heads to the mines to fill in for his older sister. From there he disappears and Indira must get him back, no matter the cost.
While set in the 1800s, this graphic novel reads like a dystopian novel from the future. The conditions are bleak, and many are starving but there are worse horrors than these.
The artwork is just gorgeous and I found the storyline both fascinating and engaging.
The only issue I have is there are some problems with continuity. The jumps between the past and the present are sometimes confusing, and I kept thinking I missed a page or a panel. While I understand the need for space and how long a graphic novel can be, more time could have been spent on the back story and world-building. I want to know how the factory came into being, and how the new owners are chosen. and just who is choosing them.
Every time someone tried to help with a "follow me" they seemed to instantly be where they were going as if it was just around the bend. If so, why do they need help?
I would love to see a sequel to this though. I want to know what happens to Indira and her brother Elliot after the events of this tale.
Still, even with the minor faults, I recommend giving this a try.
Thanks to @netgalley, Diamond Book Distributors, and Jerome Hamon for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
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