Wrapping up my Bone series re-read with the prequel graphic novel, Rose. This is written by Jeff Smith but illustrated by Charles Vess, so you’re not getting Jeff Smith’s cartoony style here, despite the misleading cover. Instead, you get Vess’s beautiful full-painted art, which is unfortunately a little squashed and hard to make out the fine details in the edition I got. I think it would have been better served by a full trade binding, but I ended up with a library edition with a “Kidproof Cover,” which is the chance you take when you order a used copy. I guess at least I know I can’t mess it up too badly if it’s kid proof!
Rose follows the titular Rose and her sister Briar, who both could potentially be the Crown Princess. Rose is more popular but doesn’t always think things through, while Briar is more cunning but has a cold edge and dark secrets. They get sent to go through a coming of age ritual, but there’s a lot going on in terms of big forces stirring within the kingdom. And also dragons! If you’ve read Bone, you basically know this story, but it’s nice to see how it happened in more depth.
When I read this 15 years ago, I remember how much I loved it. I still really enjoyed it, but not quite as much this time. I am a big Charles Vess fan, but I felt like some of the art here looked off, which was distracting. Some of the drawings of the dogs made them look really weird, and I wasn’t sure if it was him trying to be cartoony and failing, or if it was just not a great drawing. But overall I think the emotional impact of the story is still great, his art is beautiful, and the whole package is a treat.
Warnings for: creepy locust imagery that may be too scary for some kids, upsetting animal death, blood, violence (battles), mental manipulation