4.5 stars - A prologue to a rather bleak world

Many thanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC.

Alternate London has been home to a magical society called the Circle for several centuries. They influence politics, leave the handprint on history and generally have a finger in every pie. Oh, and they like to frame people for murder. Dorothy is seeking revenge for her husband who was dragged to hell after one such false accusation. But does he really deserve her efforts?

As stated above, the world of this comic is rather bleak. We don't find out much in this volume about

how the Circle came into power or why and how there is a resistance

, but it certainly suggests that the world at large is not a safe and happy place.
While the story mainly focuses on Dorothy's personal quest and beef with the Circle, she no longer has the bandwidth to care about

the greater conspiracy afoot

. This task is left for the characters supporting her, as well as the reader who now anxiously awaits the next morsel regarding the fate of England

in the grasp of two-faced sorcerers

.

This comic contains graphic depictions of violence, but that isn't what makes it an adult read. The absolute hopelessness, grief and despair that the main character radiates despite her determination are what make this story truly dark. Things do gradually start looking up for Dorothy thanks to the tremendous effort she puts into her mission, but

the end of this volume suggests that there is still a long road ahead.

I hope to read more of this series in the future, as there are plenty of mysteries to unravel and the art style is right up my alley.