dragononabook
Written on Aug 27, 2020
The art and the way the colours are used is just incredible. It's soft at the edges but still very vibrant and present, practically popping off the page, and the little details add so much to the story. Because of the way the story is character based, the use of blues and pinks to represent Sunati and Austen and how they interact with each other works so well. The use of space and frames was also done very well, adding texture to the art and the story.
The thing that I loved most about this graphic novel was how Sunati and Austen communicate! Their relationship felt really natural and the development was very well done, and when they encountered issues, they talked through it and that was so nice to see. They were both interesting characters, especially Austen living in a world where mods are the standard and not being able to use them. The show-not-tell that comes with a graphic novel did a very good job of introducing the characters to the reader as they were being introduced to each other, and that combined with the art made it a very immersive read.
I really enjoy slice-of-life stories, because I find them very easy to get wrapped up in, like a warm blanket. Always Human flows really nicely from one scene to the other, and read very smoothly because of how the story was told. The science fiction setting paired really nicely with this, it meshed well with the concept and with the storyline without overwhelming them both.
Always Human is an excellent example of a soft, sapphic graphic novel that's perfect for when you want a lovely story to get lost in, although it should only be read if you're ready to have your heart grow three sizes from the cuteness!
Thank you to the publisher and to HOV Book Tours for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.