thought i go back to longer comics and look back at my fantasy kick :D

today i review the work of https://twitter.com/BluDragonGal, whos cover art i am thinking of in the pic

link to her comic and patreon
comic: https://www.daughterofthelilies.com.....l-with-no-face
patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MegSyv

Every now and again i find myself emerged into fantasy, and sometimes an orc kick that i cant seem to grasp, either way of seeing it showing the vitality of a artist creation of writing and exploration of their own world. Something left to interpretation as well as considered something greater, left in mystery and woe not only into the connection of character but to the source of influence themselves.

Today i wanna look at the comic written by Meg Syv, Daughter of the Lilies, a fantasy adventure about a mage hiding her face and going on jobs with her mercenary team of a fantasy land filled with magic both dark and foreboding.

Please note that there will major spoilers involved with the story and characters, as we explore the style, characters, and story all in this review.

Just to be clear….SPOILER WARNING!!!
(you know me too well people, lets get started)

The story opens to a group of mercenaries, hunting cave elves in a dark cavern and already noting on the epitome of what makes me love this comic. We see from the start the attitude they share among themselves as well as the notion of the tone of story were in for. Were open to brent “a 75% human” that acts as the groups front man in works and fighting. While looking and fighting against a few cave elves, he is taken down and bitten before reinforcements arrive to take them down, and we are given quite a quick intro to our heroes.

Note that here i wont be working on the whole plot due to the ongoing series running roughly 4 years now, and the review will culminate even more than anticipated, is you wish to know what occurs, read along and support the creator.

We are given first Brent, whom comes from a lineage of family that is ordinarily human and appears more quarter orc than anything, while holding his grandfather's looks and rage at once. He, like Orrigg, will be the berserker force of the front line tanks and works alongside his team despite his gripes with them from time to time. He seems at first to have a hard time trusting mages, but grows on thistle the more he sees her work and grows to be more considerate as time goes on. Hes bolstering and upfront about his opinions but keeps himself civil to remain in good graces, with violent assistance from his boss.

Were next given Lyra, the archer of the group and whom i consider able to drink under the table any orc that comes her way. Her attitude is more brash than brent, but her skill in archery is second to none when it comes to making her shots count. In some regard she is also quick to judge but quickly changes her tone seeing someone not take shit from other people, namely in thistle, whom i see getting along with in the field working in tandem with one another as mage and archer, or could be that mages are a weakness for her. Given chapter 7’s introduction with her and Margot after the Drath incident of the first day working together.

The final member of the group is Orrigg, or as i call him, the wonderful deconstruction of the orc stereotype i have ever seen in comics yet. The man, while heavily influenced in speaking slow and short with limited vocabulary as well as towering over his team, he is the most understanding and notable member of the guild that works favorably to hard work and dedication. His love for work and family is balanced very well and cares deeply for his comrades despite their shortcomings. Welcoming thistle with no word of needing to know family heritage or where she came from, only seeing a good heart and talent that could be used well with jobs. He gives the others a hard time on their behavior, namely insulting mages and keeps himself neutral on the matter, professional and studious despite perhaps the wrongdoing being aimed at specific people. Despite this he knows full well that there is value in everyone, the idea of garnering respect with respect is one of the finer connotations of giving Orrigg a base of priority in the story as leader of the group, being wiser, bigger, stronger, and more levelheaded. Which begs the question to style and storytelling which i cannot deny is wondrous!!!

were given after him the introduction of the main character, Thistle, or known by that moniker and is previously known as Rose in her hayday of working with a family and was chased out for being different. her main focus is appearing to be based around acceptance of herself and others trying to break from the binding that holds her back from showing her true self in front of others. the manifestation of talented magic hidden behind a mask afraid of the world that shuns her. until we see what lies beneath her, to be led in your directions for the sake of ideologies facing the wrath of both the holy and unholy, her character as the main remains slowly opened to new ideas the more she interacts with everyone using plant magic as her main use of fighting.

The designs of the characters are manifested very well and crisp as if they're directly connected to an entire world we see blossom before our eyes. A mix of race is seen diverse and stupendous in each panel and page alike. Were greeted to orcs, elves, humans, all alike and living together, but also in subtle details in between differentiating them from one another.

Connotations of understanding this seems to stem from the concept of cave elves itself, how we see thistle in chapter 7 retaliate in removing and showing us the face mixing present and past storylines together over the span of 2 months. The connection each character carries between one another can be felt even in pages without dialogue and showing that even a 700 year old man can make mistakes as a wizard.

What I appreciate also is the creators appeal to showcase fanart of peoples theories and filler that can be perceived as literal canon, especially in corresponding to understanding peoples emotions in conceiving ideas regarding filler. Margot and Lyra for instance, shows the emotional and physical scarring that occurred when Margot got together, showing that there is constant healing before and after, and the representation of strong feelings held between not just of two women, or two different skin colors, or even two separate races, but literally just two souls entwined and caring for one another as time past from a horrid day that affected many.

There is broad emotion from each character, not just as a gruff warrior, but someone willing to learn from mistakes in the past and work towards being a better person. Namely thistle whom spends her time locked and keeping everything shut in until someone finally opens about a similar experience in the end of chapter 1, to revel in both emotion and detail of dialogue with drastic pauses between them, mixing in subtle comedy and a few fourth wall breaks really manifested the idea well.

In regards to story itself, the introductions really keep you invested into it as we venture further into noticing even more connotations of discourse among the people, city elves and orcs being in the middle of disagreement and land ownership through battle marking years of strife as well as adding to the social commentary of how many are viewed. Especially at the introduction of chapter 2, using the notoriety of “female armor” as a fakeout to the plot, both showing comedy to the reaction of the cast, and mimicking that while there is fault in seeing trash in showing a stereotype there is those that done simply care for it, finding it boring. That is clever in my opinion working in regards to change the formula and add their own opinion on the matter, since were on the subject of style, lets talk that and the setting.

The comic is very much reminiscent of victorian era style, in regards to the regal appearance and bright colors attributed to the buildings, every panel is very well crafted as if magically encased to a visual ascertaining to beauty itself. The dress of each character is so unique and seems to really of been given a nice look through in style and fashion through background research. The natural layouts also remain memorable regardless of where they come from, open fields and even caves are relished in great atmosphere equitable to the stories integrity. The use of emotion in the eyes extenuates well to show sorrow and happiness when needed, and the shadows use to mentally manipulate the landscape from the concept of past views in flashbacks to present situation really remark a well suited segway between events. the gore and blood is very well designed and works in favor to setting the tone into action when displaying the death of a character, not only in regards to disembowling and destroying a corpse, but also scarring after being struck by acid, its very blended and stylized in such a way that shows the true embodiment of the situation.

Overall i hope you all give this comic a read, theres so much love given to its creation and style i cant help but root for Meg Syv.

This is Crispy_Writes signing off :D