Publisher: First Second
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Every thirty years or more, the City is invaded. This has happened over and over and so, instead of renaming the city with each new conquerer, it is known as simply The Nameless City. The natives of the city don't allow themselves to be caught up in the never ending wars if they can help it, yet they are swept up nonetheless. Their city is always full of outsiders and the citizens and the invaders are certainly not friends.
Kaidu is an outsider. He is Dao, a member of the latest occupying nation. He has been sent to the Nameless City to be a soldier, even though he isn't much good at it. Rat is a child of the city. At first, she dislikes Kai for everything that he is and stands for, but together they form a friendship that may just be the key to lasting peace.
The children's graphic novel scene has come alive over the past five years. So many wonderful book with terrific and imaginative storylines. The Nameless City reminded me of Avatar: The Last Airbender, with its Asiatic feel and bright detailed illustrations. Make no mistake, the attention to detail in this book was wonderful. I found myself slowing down in the story purposefully in order to take in all the scenes.
I also liked this world that Hicks has created. A fictional crossroads of sort that controls all trade for the area and is a source of constant turmoil. There are hints that the people who built this place may have left behind their knowledge in books....if only people could read them. I like the characters, but Kai did feel a little flat to me and I am hoping that we will go deeper with subsequent books. Like many first books this one was just setting up the various characters, the world, and delving a bit into the politics and tensions that exist in this world. A beautiful book that I hope gets many many readers.
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