Graphic Novel Review - Clockworks (Locke and Key, Book 5) by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (5/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Horror/Graphic Novel
Size: 152 pages
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 24, 2012
ISBN: 978-1613772270
Stand Alone or Series: 5th book in the Locke and Key series
Source: Bought
Rating: 5/5 stars

Clockworks is the 5th book in the Locke and Key series. It was an absolutely wonderful installment in this series. We finally start to learn the history of the Locke house and the mysterious keys that it hides.

The book starts by going back in time to when a door of evil was discovered and the first of the Locke Keys was made. We then jump back to the current story where things are dire indeed. The characters have found the key that lets them travel back to the past and there they uncover even more secrets behind the history of the Locke house.

This was an awesome book, we learn the whole history behind the Locke household and the mysterious Keys. Many interesting rules about the keys are revealed. This book answers a lot of questions for readers and also brings the story to a peak as things become more dire than ever. I really don’t want to say much more than that for fear of spoilers.

As with previous books this book is for adults only; there is a lot of blood and violence in these books as well as other disturbing things. This whole series has been more horror with strong paranormal/fantasy elements.

The characters and plot are both incredibly well done, very gripping, and make the book hard to put down. The illustration is absolutely detailed and beautiful. It is easy to read the characters’ emotions and easy to follow what is going on.

I personally really enjoyed the way the book went back into history, but those who only enjoy modern horror may not be happy that so much of this book takes place in the past.

Overall I absolutely loved this installment of the Locke and Key series. We learn so much about the history of the Locke house and many of the secrets behind the Keys are revealed. I can’t wait to see what the final book in this series will hold...will the Locke children be able to stop the evil that lurks in their house? Highly recommended for fans of horror-fantasy.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- Graphic Novel Challenge
- Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge
- 150+ Books Reading Challenge

Early Review - Clockworks (Locke and Key, Book 5, First Chapter) by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Horror/Graphic Novel
Size: 152 pages
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: June 26, 2012
ISBN: 978-1613772270
Stand Alone or Series: 5th book in the Locke and Key series
Source: eARC from NetGalley.com
Rating: 5/5 stars

I got the first chapter of Clockworks through NetGalley(dot)com for review. Fans of this series will love the opening chapter of Clockworks; we finally start to learn some of the history of how these Keys were created!

The first chapter starts some time ago where rebel troops are being hidden away in the secret cave the kids found in the previous installments. From here we begin to learn how the evil that haunts the Locke house came into the world and how the keys were made.

Again I only got to read the first chapter, so that is all I can review. The illustration is in keeping with the previous installments in the series; that is to say very detailed and well done. The story is (also like previous installments) unique, interesting and somewhat disturbing. This is definitely a graphic novel series that is horror and aimed at adults.

It was awesome to finally learn the history behind how all of these crazy keys were made. I just can't wait to read the next chapters in Clockworks now. Fans of Locke and Key won't be disappointed.

Overall if you can judge the whole book by the first chapter this is going to be one awesome read. Finally getting to glimpse the origin of all of the mysteries behind the Locke house and the keys is extremely satisfying. Illustration and tone of the story remain in keeping with previous volumes. I am preordering the final edition so I can read it as soon as it releases. Fans of creepy horror/fantasy will love this series; so if you have a strong stomach definitely check out this series...it is incredibly well done.

Graphic Novel Review - Keys to the Kingdom (Locke and Key, Book 4) by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (5/5 stars)

Reading level: Adult

Genre: Horror/Graphic Novel
Size: 160 pages

Publisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 19, 2011
ISBN: 978-1600108860
Stand Alone or Series: 4th book in the Locke and Key series
Source: Bought
Rating: 5/5 stars

This is the fourth book in the Locke and Key series.  It was an excellent book; many more keys are found and things come to a head.  Things proceeded a bit too rapidly for my liking, but it was still a very good addition to the series.

In this issue many more keys are found in quick succession.  The first chapter focuses on Bode and his finding the Beast Key and becoming a sparrow.  The next chapter quickly propels you through a calendar month of craziness at the Locke household.  Just when things seem to be going right for the Locke kids they run into a lot of trouble.  Dodge gets desperate and things really come to an awful/desperate/surprising conclusion in the final chapter.

I totally agree with other reviews I have read that say the new keys are introduced too quickly.  There were so many points where the authors/illustrators had wonderful opportunites to depict shadow battles and beastly transformations, etc.  These are breezed through with each one only being given a single scene in the February chapter.  The new keys are introduced rapidly and I found myself having to use the index that describes each key at the back of the book to keep track of what was happening.  I really do wish they had drawn this out more over a couple of books.

Other than above I really enjoyed this book.  The book itself was a beautiful hardcover edition, it is missing the pretty bookmark ribbon that other earlier volumes had...but it still very beautiful and high quality.  There are a couple different styles of artwork in this edition; the first chapter featuring Bode has a more cartoony artwork style to it.  This new style is well-blended in with the old style.  The old style of art is most prevalent and continues to be beautifully done and matches the story very well.

The new keys introduced are all very interesting and I am very attached to all of these emotionally scarred characters.  I couldn't believe how things unfolded in the final chapter; I was absolutely rapt and could not put the book down.  Now I am dying to know what happens next!

All of our favorite characters from previous volumes appear in this book and the mystery surrounding the Locke family deepens and comes to a climax of sorts.  The wait for the next book may just kill me; I have been contemplating buying the comics issue by issue to find out what happens next...

Overall an excellent addition to the Locke and Key series.  The introduction of the new keys went too rapidly for me and I wish the story had been drawn out a bit more.  Still the new keys are interesting, the mystery is deepening, and the conclusion will leave you riveted and dying to read more.  Definitely a book for older teens or adults only; very gorey, bad language, and a number of disturbing scenarios.  I can't wait to read the 5th book in this series, Clockworks, due out late spring/early summer of 2012.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:

- Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge

- 100+ Reading Challenge

- Graphic Novels Challenge List

 

Graphic Novel Review - The Crown of Shadows (Locke and Key, Book 3) by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (5/5 stars)

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Horror/Graphic Novel
Size: 152 pages
Publisher:  Idea & Design Works Llc
Release Date: July 29, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1600106958
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd installment in the Locke and Key series
Source: Bought
Rating: 5/5 stars

This is the 3rd graphic novel in the Locke and Key series.  The 4th, Keys to the Kingdom, comes out July of 2011.  This was an excellent installment in this series; this story just keeps getting more and more interesting.  I think this was my favorite one yet, which is really saying something since I have loved them all.  I should also mention that the hardback version of this is just beautiful; even has a lovely ribbon to keep track of your place in the book.

As the Locke children's mother is incapacitated by grief and forced to deal with yet another loss, the Locke children are left to fend for themselves in a house where things are becoming increasingly strange.  Dodge continues his search for the Black Door Key and summons an army of shadows to torment the Locke children.  The Locke children are forced to fight for their lives against the shadows within.

This is just such an interesting, if profoundly creepy, series.  Every installment introduces new mystery to the storyline and every installment introduces strange new keys that do fantastical things.  I am so excited to see what each new key does, and so interested in how this battle between the living and the dead, between Dodge and the Locke children will play out.

This is definitely a novel for adults, some of the things in here are disturbing.  The mother of the Locke children continues a rapidly increasing descent into misery and spends a lot of time drinking and being generally useless and tragic.  The Locke kids struggle along as well as they can.  It is interesting to see some of the affects from Head Games and how they played out in this book.  

I was thrilled by the fact that this installment cranks up the level of fantasy quite a bit.  When Dodge uses the Key of Shadows and summons and epic army of shadows things get really awesome.

The artwork is incredibly beautiful and the shadow army lets the illustrators show off even more of their considerable talent.  The story ended well enough, but I am still desparate to see what will happen next.

Overall just an outstanding addition to this series.  These books just keep getting better and better; more and more engaging and interesting.  I can't help but feel that this is all building up to something incredibly tragic and I am desparate to know what will happen next.  This is one of the few graphic novels I will go out and buy new in hardback; they are definitely keepers.  The hardbacks are very beautiful with a lot of attention to detail to the quality of the book; making this book something that is a pleasure to hold in your hands and read.  I can absolutely not wait to read Keys to the Kingdom!

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:

- Graphic Novels Challenge List

- Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge
- 100+ Reading Challenge

Graphic Novel Review - Head Games (Locke and Key, Book 2) by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (5/5 stars)

Reading level: Adult

Genre: Horror/Graphic Novel
Size: 156 pages
Publisher:  IDW Publishing
Release Date: October 19, 2010

ISBN-13:  978-1600107610
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in Locke and Key series
Source: Bought
Rating: 5/5 stars

This is the second full length graphic novel in the Locke and Key series.  The fourth installation, Keys to the Kingdom, is due out this June.  This was an excellent continuation of the series.  The drawings are fantastic and the plot is complex, creepy and engaging.

In this book the Locke kids are just trying to make it through school.  They've become involved with the "new kid" Luke, who looks mysteriously familiar to some of the older members of the community.  Meanwhile Bode finds a new Key, this one literally opens his head up.  Now the kids all want to play games with shoving info into their heads and taking out all the bad stuff (like fear and sadness).

This book is super creepy.  It wasn't as creepy as the first one (no serial killer this time) but there is still a high creepy factor here.  Just the fact that Bode walks around with his head open is pretty darn strange.  Again this book is not for the faint of heart; I think it covers almost every offensive/distasteful topic out there and is very violent...so definitely for adults.

The complex plot is getting more and more intriguing and intricate.  I am just super curious to see what else they find in that old house and to see what happens with Luke and the Locke kids.  The story is incredibly engaging and I read the whole thing in one sitting because it was very hard to put down.

The illustration throughout is phenomenal; beautiful full color illustrations, very detailed, and very beautiful...in a creepy way.  It just fits the story perfectly.  The book itself is just beautifully put together in hard cover format; a beautiful green silk ribbon to mark your spot and high quality paper throughout.

Overall I was even more impressed with this book than the first one.  I am hooked on this now; I need to learn more about the creepy house and how everything fits together...but at the same time I am a little scared to find out the secrets that the next book will contain.  Super creepy and definitely for an adult audience; but if you like the darker and creepier side of the paranormal then this book is for you.  I cannot wait to read Book 3, The Crown of Shadows.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:

- Graphic Novels Challenge List

- Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge
- 100+ Reading Challenge