Eating is basic human function and as humans evolved and civilizations formed in different parts of the world, the ability and need to cook developed. How and what food was cooked, however, is as varied as humans themselves.
The Incredible Story of Cooking: From Prehistory to Today, 500,000 Years of Adventure is a nonfiction historical graphic novel that spans the development of cooking from the prehistoric era to the modern day. It is a hefty tome that strives to explore cooking throughout history and geography. The chapters break up the history through different points in human advancement, from the slow development of prehistoric humans and the first great civilizations to trade routes and castle life.
The broad exposition, laying out the history of cooking and human development, can be dry, bordering on boring, but the characters often break the fourth wall, talking to the reader. The characters supplement the narrative with more facts, and some have a comical delivery. This juxtaposition of character dialogue with descriptive paragraphs helps break up the monotony and the humor adds a much needed light touch.
Despite the sometimes overwhelming information onslaught, the subject is interesting and worth exploring. The development of cooking is intertwined so deeply with human culture and advancement, such as the invention of the chef profession in Mesopotamia to the development of nutrition science in China.
The history of cooking is a fascinating topic, and the graphic novel format is well suited to such a subject. The Incredible Story of Cooking: From Prehistory to Today, 500,000 Years of Adventure makes a worthy attempt at breaking up so much history with splashes of humor throughout. However, even as dense as it is, it seems to rush through various points in time and cultural moments. There is so much to cover though that a graphic novel series might have been more accessible than one volume.
NBM Publishing does not specify a specific age range though the nonfiction graphic novel definitely gears toward adults. Older teens may find it interesting, but the style and presentation may not be appealing to younger audiences. The 22 recipes featured at the end add a fun touch, and the Further Reading and Bibliography sections provide additional information for interested readers.
A disgraced knight. A princess trapped in a ruined castle. It’s a familiar story. Only, this time, what if the princess shouldn’t be saved? What if she’s there for a reason?
However, upon rescuing the princess, Arzhur learns that her exile was self-imposed. The young woman is filled with dark power from her mother’s inhuman bloodline. She fears the damage she might cause her kingdom as well as well as the risk of becoming a pawn in the power struggle between her parents. With her guardians slain, and Arzhur sworn to defend her, she must find a new place of safety. But the princess’s history is full of lies and the path to safety is not unclear. As she and Arzhur draw closer, their desperate search for redemption may not be enough to shelter them from the truths of their pasts. As war rekindles, ruin bears down on them from every direction, with the princess caught in the middle and many bloody corpses scattered across two kingdoms.
Hubert is undeniably a writer who understands the fantasy and mythological traditions this story emerges from. Familiar elements take a unique spin as the adventure moves across two kingdoms, through forest, field, and city, in a story that captures epic scope and a deep emotional core in a single volume. Where some graphic novels struggle to capture a novel’s-worth of narrative in a limited number of pages, Darkly She Goes delivers events that span years, incorporating politics and fantasy alongside more personal storylines—all with the elaborate detail and complexity readers of the genre have come to expect. There are a few key story beats that falter in their delivery, and the plot ultimately ends in a familiar place with few surprises. However, Hubert has nevertheless crafted a sweeping tale with lots of dark fantasy adventure, flawed characters, and complex themes.
NBM recommends this title for mature audiences and with graphic violence, sex and nudity, and mature themes, that rating feels accurate. It’s nothing mature teens couldn’t handle, but it’s a book aimed at readers of adult fantasy. Audiences need to be ready for the darker elements and themes, and also to not expect anything groundbreaking for those familiar with the genre—but with those caveats, this dark fantasy story delivers a complex narrative with rich visuals that’s worth taking the time to explore.
Eating is basic human function and as humans evolved and civilizations formed in different parts of the world, the ability and need to cook developed. How and what food was cooked, however, is as varied as humans themselves.
