The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks | Graphic Novel Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Every nation that invades the City gives it a new name. But before long, new invaders arrive and the City changes hands once again. The natives don't let themselves get caught up in the unending wars. To them, their home is the Nameless City, and those who try to name it are forever outsiders.
Kaidu is one such outsider. He's a Dao born and bred--a member of the latest occupying nation. Rat is a native of the Nameless City. At first, she hates Kai for everything he stands for, but his love of his new home may be the one thing that can bring these two unlikely friends together. Let's hope so, because the fate of the Nameless City rests in their hands.

Why Did I Read The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks?

Faith Erin Hicks is an author and artist that I am pretty loyal to. I’ve read and reviewed both Friends With Boys and Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong and LOVED both. Thus, when I got the chance to read and review The Nameless City, I immediately jumped on it. First off, it is a graphic novel and as a blanket rule, I love graphic novels. I also love graphic novels that are by or illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks. Second, The Nameless City is a novel that has an alternate world and is a fantasy. I love both of those things. Also? I love love love that The Nameless City has been inspired a little bit by Tamora Pierce, among other authors. Seriously, all of those elements combined mean that I am entirely unable to resist this book.

What’s The Nameless City About?

The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks is about this boy named Kaidu who goes to Dendao to train to become a warrior, and also to meet his father, Andren whom he’s never met before. Kaidu does not exactly succeed in training, he is more bookish than he is a fighter. However, after a chance meeting with a local girl named Rat, he begins a new friendship and to hone his running skills. The city, however, has some issues. Given that it has changed hands and so many names over the years, it turns out that those who rule the city and name it usually end up losing the city to some other force. So, right now the Dao rule the city. Those who are native or have been born simply call it The Nameless City and they call themselves the Named. There’s a really interesting dynamic at work in this book and an opening for more books — in fact, the next in the series will be called The Nameless City: The Stone Heart and already, I cannot wait.

How Is The Artwork?

The artwork in the The Nameless City is definitely characteristic of Faith Erin Hicks. If you’ve seen her work before, you will certainly be able to recognize it here.It is especially apparent in how she does facial expressions and imbues emotions with a stroke across a person’s cheeks and nose. I loved it. I thought that it was a little different than her other books because it is not taking place in modern, contemporary times. But, I liked that even though The Nameless City and her art was a bit different, there were still elements I recognized from her other works. I can’t comment on the coloring as my copy had color for the first few pages, but the rest were black and white. However, the final copy will be entirely in color.

What Did I Ultimately Think Of The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks?

I liked The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks. I liked the animosity between the Dao and the various other nationalities within Dendao. I liked the Cats In the Cradle sort of relationship between Kaidu and Andren. I loved how Rat and Kaidu eventually grew to trust each other. I do want more of Rat’s backstory. She’s quite the interesting character. I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of graphic novels that have decent world building and budding friendships.

Sum It Up With A GIF:

There’s a lot of jumping from rooftop to rooftop and running in The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks, much like in One Jump Ahead Of The Breadline or whatever the song from Aladdin is called.

Other reviews of The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks:

Innocence Walker – “But seriously, you need this book guys.”

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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