Latest Posts by bunthedone - Page 4
Bro the 9th Amulet book is coming out next year and I have no idea if I should be excited, exhausted, or be filled with early disappointment because I feel like I'm not gonna like the ending
How the hell did I learn about the 9th Amulet book through two brothers arguing in the backseat behind on a two hour plane trip from Arizona? I thought they were joking at first till I searched it up and it’s real and it’s coming out very soon. So after I learned that I decided to re-read the Amulet series up till 8 and decided to tell whoever is willing to read this my thoughts!
Clarification beforehand though, I do enjoy Amulet. It was one of my favorite pieces of media for a few years and even inspired me to create my own story similar to it. While I may come off a bit hatful and aggressive, I do like this series but that doesn’t mean I don’t have my fair share of problems with it
Books 1
So I’m going off the same rating scale that I use for movies so go check out my Trolls Band Together review to see how my ratings go and just replace movie/film with book. Anyways I give this book, 6/10. I enjoyed this book. This was the first graphic novels series I read and I was excited to know what happened next. I also loved how the robots and the robot house looked. I don’t have any problems with the first book. Primarily because it’s way too early to have any problems.
The reason why I rate it low though, is because while I enjoy it, it’s not my favorite. It didn’t do much to really impress me nor draw my attention. It did just enough to make me wanna see what happens next.
Book 2
With the second book I give it a 6.8/10 right between 6.5 and 7. Why? Well for starters I enjoyed the Elf plot line. To me, when I first read the series was much more interesting then the main one for some reason. This is the book where we meet Leon. Leon, for the most part was an interesting character. Not to mention we get some world building through him about the elf king and being a stone keeper.
Navin’s plotline, while useful to some degree, wasn’t my favorite. Of course it’s important but I was less invested than I should’ve. That might just have been a personal problem I have with Navin later in the series but we’ll get to that later.
My only problem with this is Luger. Now, Luger is a good villain and I found him intimidating when I first read the second book. I think my problem really stems from the fact that this is the only book where Luger gets to be a villain. This should be a book 3 problem but book 2 is where he is defeated.
Book 3
Book 3 was my favorite when I was younger and it still holds the place as one of my favorite amulet books in the series to this day. I give it a good 7.5/10. This book does a lot of things right in my opinion. I like the action sequences and the new information about Trellis backstory proving again that he is the most interesting character. I also found Rico and Enzo funny believe it or not. They are a fun addition to the party.
However, my problem was the robots. Miskit and Cogsly were just there most of the time. They didn’t really guide Emily like they were set up to be. I didn’t feel anything when they got captured. Which is not something you want your readers to feel when something bad happens. I also found Luger’s personality change strange. I expected him to be a bit more hostile and condescending after being defeated. Granted, you could argue it was the stone but still, it was odd.
Book 4
I have mixed feelings about this book. This is where certain problems that I have with Kazu start to show. First of all, I give this one a 7.5/10 as well. I was never sure if I should trust Max until the very end. I never understood Max. He was suspicious and I thought he had bad intentions some times and other times I thought for a moment maybe he did have good intentions for Emily.
I also like Alyson mostly because she felt much more real. She was fun and I liked her character. Leon, Rico, and Enzo have their moment, the prison break which I enjoyed reading. I also like the Elf racism while Trellis and Luger are at the prison. Granted, it’s brief but it’s to be expected and it does give some insight on what other people think about Elves. I also liked Vigo. I was glad to see another stone keeper on the good and he also came with more world building which I’m always glad to see.
However, Miskit and Cloglsy were both weak parts and I was confused about how everyone was dead and stone and Max’s agenda for a while. I had to re-read certain parts to fully grasp what was happening.
Book 5
Book 5 was a 7/10. I don’t have many thoughts. For one I am mad they split up the original party. Karen, Miskit, Cloglsy, and Leon felt like they were meant for more before they got shoved in the brook closet. Sure, Cloglsy is here with Navin but it isn’t much. I do enjoy seeing Navin and Alyson hanging out, that’s fun. Max’s backstory is sad..he tried helping his friend and her family from prison. Only for it to backfire horribly in his face and be thrown into prison for trying to be a good person. His hatred and need to revenge for his dead friend is such an interesting concept for a villain and he poses such a genuine threat and I love it.
Then there is the about the voice. I am not gonna lie, not a big fan of it. The reveal that the voice is the elf king felt odd and sort of out of place. I don’t know. I have mixed feelings about it.
Book 6
Max. Max, max, max. All I got to say is f-ck you, Kazu Kibuishi for screwing over such an interesting character. This book gets a 5.1/10. The utter and total whiplash I got when Max wanted to work with Trellis, Emily, and Vigo gave me migraines. There was no build up and it was so random. And his death, are the FUCKING kidding me. This just felt like a lazy way to write out a character. Max knew that Layra wouldn’t approve of his actions and that’s why he asked for forgiveness. Then he tried to justify with her and it’s such horse crap! No to mention, it was so fricking anticlimactic and just lazy!
I also wasn’t a big fan of Navin’s side plot. Also something reoccurring is that Emily is just there. She doesn’t push the narrative because she has no goals. She just does heroic stuff because she feels she has to. Not because she wants to. It makes her feel flat. Which is disappointing since she had potential to be great.
The reason why I don’t put this as a three is because the scene where they save the elves and Trellis announces himself to be the real king, is cool. Not to mention I liked Riva. She’s a character that had great potential. However this is not enough to save this book.
Book 7
Oh, firelight. You are the embarrassing sibling in the Amulet series. I give you 3/10. First off, one good thing I’ll say is I am glad we are continuing the theme of lost. Even if it feels weird, pacing wise. That’s it. That’s the only thing I really enjoy about this book.
First off I didn’t like Pil, Alyson, and Navin’s storyline. It was just there and it took up too much page time. Second, Gabilan. Oh, Gabilan. He was also just there. We get his backstory, he does some stuff and then he dies. He’s a plot device and while if you really think about it, everyone is a plot device, Kazu didn’t try to hide the fact that he is a plot device. Also the ending. TRELLIS. YOU ARE TELLING YOU DID EVERYTHING TO TRY AND STOP HER FROM BECOMING A BIRD! WHAT THE F—
Book 8
Where do I begin. First off, this book was a 0/10.
And now my problems. First off the si fi outer space plot like win Navin was so boring. Oh my god. I felt nothing. But that. That part was least of my concerns. My concerns was everything else. First of all, Trellis and Vigo got nerfed so easily that it annoys me. They stop the army and that’s fine, though they did it without trying. And that’s it for them. In the entire book. I have several issues with them shoving Riva, Trellis, and Vigo in the closet.
But my biggest issue is Emily and the void. First of all how the hell did she get out so easily. Was this even an issue if she just left without any problems any help. WHY DID SHE NEED NO HELP! If it was that easy to leave the void, why did it take people years to get out. What the fuck. Also what the fuck is with the future Emily bullshit?! TIME PARADOX ARE A THING KAZU. THERE IS A REASON NOT MANY PEOPLE DESL WITH TIME TRAVEL. Also who the hell is Moze’s dad?! Why does he have to her son?! Kazu, why?! You missed the mark by a landslide.
Also the elf king. WHAT. THE. FUCK. IT WAS SO FRICKING EASY TO DEFEAT HIM. JUST HAD TO TAKE OFF HIS DAMN MASK. TELL ME THIS. IF THE ELF KING WAS THAT EASY TO DEFEAT, WAS HE EVER A REAL THREAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?! NO! WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING UP TO THE ELF KING AS THR BIG BOSS SINCE BOOK 2 AND WE DEFEAT HIM IN THE MOST ANTICLIMACTIC WAS POSSIBLE ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! NOW THE MAIN THREAT IS A BUNCH OF SHADOWS?! WHY?! WHY! AND IF YOU TELL ME THAT THAT ISNT WHAT BOOK 9 IS ABOUT IT STATES IN THE AMZON DESCRIPTION: “Emily finally understands the stone's power and what she must do to defend Alledia from the shadows.”
ALSO THE FACT THAT EMILY IS ALIVE SEEMS LIKE A NO BIG DEAL TO VIGO AND TRELLIS ALSO THEY JUDT LER HER LEAVE TO GO KILL A BUNCH OF SHADOWS ALONE?! ALSO OLD EMILY WAS THERE TO GIVE EMILY HER STAFF AT THE END. AGAIN, TIME PARADOXS ARE A THING KAZU.
Overall thoughts:
It’s obvious that Kazu Kibuishi wrote this story without a proper outline. What does that mean? It means Kazu didn’t know how he was going to end the story or the middle. He knew the beginning and instead of trying to figure out and plan the entire story, he wrote what he thought of right on the spot. When waverider comes out I will buy it and read it. I will also most likely rate it and write down my thoughts. Till next time though, if you actually took the time read this post and indulge in my thought process and ideas.
At least they aren't stealing any sources... because they don't have any
if you’re wondering how it’s going, internet historian fans have resorted to making up qanon conspiracy theories about hbomb
I can't wait to move out so that I can get blue hair and pronouns
Hell yeah I've been waiting for this moment to talk about character writing and all that jazz. I may not be a professional writer but...
But...
Anyways so, the way I'd write Emily is to make her at least do more heroic actions and actually be willing to help save Alledia instead of it being some sort of prophecy that makes her into a designated hero. I also want to write in more moments that humanizes her or at least make her somewhat relatable
First off, looking at character she's a bit of a stoic loner with a lot of grief from the death of her father and having the responsibility to save Alledia from the Elf King (even though she's literally a minor). And well... it's alright. I'm not much of a good critic but, I feel like the story doesn't make her feel like the protagonist.
Sure she's the main character, but the story keeps forcing her to be a hero she probably doesn't want to be. She's forced to save a world she wasn't familiar with and was forced to become a member of a guardian council. And even when her character relates to the themes of grief and not being alone both themes are sort of thrown out the window in supernova (especially the not being alone part because not everyone can solve their problems with their future selves).
But if I want to get to rewriting Emily's character I'd also have to rewrite a few things in the story. To start, let Emily become more interactive with her family. She could have more times where she'd talk to Navin, maybe they could either have more time bonding together since the theme of siblinghood sorta just faded a bit as the series went on. Maybe have more moments where they work together fighting enemies (that titan scene in book 2 is a good example but I wished I had more). Have moments where they bicker and argue and maybe have some tension with each other but let them get along and understand each other more in the end. Let them both have more moments with their mother too and show why their bonds are so strong apart from just by blood.
And especially this, let Emily also have a found family with other characters. Let Miskit be like a mentor and possible big brother-like figure to her (and lemme rewrite Miskit into being actually useful and use the damn info he got from Silas). Let Leon also be like a mentor to her (and maybe have Miskit and Leon have a rivalry on who's the better stonekeeper teacher). Let Emily learn more about the word of Alledia from Enzo and Rico (they could be like her uncles even). If family is important, then found family could also be a great addition to its theme.
Next, let Emily become more active in the story. Show the audience that she's worthy of being a hero by writing her to do heroic things not because she has to but because she wants to. Let her take some time to save other civilians in danger, such as in book 2 where she could have saved other civilians from the Elf soldiers while the clinic was under attack. I don't want to sound too pushy but I wish she was written with more agency as a character. Maybe there could even be a moment where she is allowed to have a choice between going back to Earth or staying at Alledia instead of some strange stonekeeper curse. But instead of choosing to go back to Earth, she wants to stay because she genuinely wants to help Alledia stop the Elf King (and later that stupid swirly voice guy). And relating to the theme of family before, let her stay in Alledia because she's made more bonds and friends/family there than on Earth and she doesn't want to lose them just like she lost her father.
Speaking of loss, let the truth of the stone come out quicker, the truth that she can't bring her father back from the death. Let her accept overtime that even if her father was gone, she can't bring him back. Even if time travel existed (which I really wish it wasn't but oh well thanks supernova) let Emily realise that she can't change the past without dire consequences. But let her know that she isn't alone. That she could still talk to others about her grief and about her past life before all these Alledia shenanigans. That even if her father's gone, he would've been proud of her and he has lived his best life with her and her family.
Finally, her loneliness and also her friendships. I feel like her friendship with Trellis should have a little more utilization, such as giving them time to bond together as not just allies (as in people that work together because they have too) but as friends. Let them share their feelings together, let Trellis even bond with her family and let Emily bond with Luger a bit (even though I don't like him a lot tbh). And when the time comes, let their friendship save them from certain doom. From Emily saving Trellis in book 5, to Trellis saving Emily in book 8 (instead of her future self because it came out of nowhere and undermines the themes of the books booo).
In conclusion... I think I may have gone too far. I may have had a few wonky and weirdly written paragraphs here and there but it's almost midnight and I forgot that I have to sleep for school. I'm sorry that I wrote a little too much I went overboard with the rewrites and stuff. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this, I try to put a lot of thought into this essay... reblog... whatever it's called
Question to fans: We don't know much about Emily, how would you develop her as a character?
Literally me
If I had the ability I'd make an animated adaption of the Amulet series, albeit with some new stuff added for context and better world+character building and some old stuff removed because god damn it I'm sorry but I hate the part where Emily's FUTURE SELF WHICH JUST CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND HELPS HER INSTEAD OF TRELLIS. It makes me want to drop myself into the void. Like, there's so many potential and cool ideas in this comic that either gets written poorly or abandoned in the end. But then again there's a chance I'd butcher the entire plot so badly it'll look a mutilated chew toy so I should probably not take any chances for now
Why are there these women following me all of a sudden what
Hell yeah I would
rb if you’d wipe all pedophiles off this earth
Ok everyone, let's do a little group project. Repost this post with a fangirl/fanboy/fannonbinary magnet
Omg the nostalgia
Best Pixar short?
the big fucking bird that sat on the powerlines and fucking killed all those nasty tiny little shit bitch birds who were mean to him
Enjoy it while it lasts
“Cartoons? Isn’t that for kids?” I look up and smile “ Yes it is” Suddenly my appearance shifts and shrinks as I become a child. All my money turns to monopoly money and all my bills are gone. My adult responsibilities vanish, finally the spell is broken, and I am free.