The Hunger and the Dusk, Vol. 1

by G. Willow Wilson

Chris Wildgoose (Illustrator)

Hugo- and World Fantasy Award–winning writer G. Willow Wilson and all-star artist Chris Wildgoose invite readers to experience love on the brink of extinction in their high fantasy tour de force!

In a dying world, only humans and orcs remain—mortal enemies battling for territory and political advantage. But when a group of fearsome ancient humanoids known as the Vangol arrive from across the sea, the two struggling civilizations are forced into a fragile alliance to protect what they have built.

As a gesture of his commitment to the cause—and to the relief of his bride-to-be, Faran Stoneback—the most powerful orc overlord, Troth Icemane, sends his beloved cousin Tara, a high-ranking young healer, to fight alongside brash human commander Callum Battlechild and his company of warriors. With a crisis looming, the success of this unlikely pair’s partnership and the survival of their peoples will depend on their ability to unlearn a lifetime of antagonistic instincts toward one another…and rise above the sting of heartbreak.

Collects issues #1-6 of the critically acclaimed hit series.

• ISBN13: 9798887240824
• Publish Date: 11 June 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: IDW Publishing
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 168
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9798887240824

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Summary:

The world is dying. There are only two races left. Three, depending on how you look at it. The humans and the orcs have always been enemies, but they might just have to work together to eke out an existence.

Certain groups are willing to work together if that means winning against the Vangol – a deadly and ancient race. Will this be enough? Worse, what happens should these groups fail? Will the rest ever consider trying again?

Review:

Okay, so there was a lot that drew me to this series. First, the dystopian vibes intertwined with a fantasy setting. Second, the author! I love G. Willow Wilson (famous for Ms. Marvel), so I had pretty high hopes for her new fantasy series.

The Hunger and the Dusk Vol. 1 is and isn't a strong start to the series. I know that sounds strange, but hear me out. On the one hand, a lot of it feels too rushed. The stakes are set, the characters introduced, and then we're off to the races. This sounds good in theory, but we didn't have time to connect with the characters, so the stakes felt shallow.

On the other hand, there is something really compelling about this world. After I finished reading it, I found my mind wandering back to it again and again. This likely means I was invested by the end, so I take that as a good sign. And to be clear, this story has some solid elements so far. We have a classic-looking D&D party (archer, bard, leader/rogue, a cleric, etc.), a forbidden love subplot, a dangerous enemy, and so on. I'm curious how these elements adapt and grow as the series continues.

Highlights:
New Fantasy Series
Dystopian Fantasy
Dn&D Vibes

Thanks to IDW and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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