Nimona
Extraordinary
Delightful
Original

Nimona

ND Stevenson2015
Fans of Noelle Stevenson's beloved and bestselling Nimona won't want to miss her brand-new moving memoir-in-pictures, The Fire Never Goes Out, featuring short essays, mini-comics, and photographs that span eight eventful years in Noelle's young adult life. Nimona is the New York Times bestselling graphic novel sensation from Noelle Stevenson, based on her beloved and critically acclaimed web comic. Kirkus says, “If you’re going to read one graphic novel this year, make it this one.” Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel has been hailed by critics and fans alike as the arrival of a “superstar” talent (NPR.org). Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit. Indies Choice Book of the Year * National Book Award Finalist * New York Times Bestseller * New York Times Notable Book * Kirkus Best Book * School Library Journal Best Book * Publishers Weekly Best Book * NPR Best Book * New York Public Library Best Book * Chicago Public Library Best Book
Sign up to use

Reviews

Photo of Chloé
Chloé@misslola44
5 stars
Apr 30, 2024

i adored.

Photo of Monicap
Monicap@insult_the_glory
3 stars
Apr 29, 2024

This book was great! Good for fans of Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl and Richard Roberts Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a Supervillain.

Photo of kait
kait@kaitslibrary
4 stars
Apr 14, 2024

i watched the movie earlier this year and this is one of the instances in which the movie is better than the book. now DO NOT get me wrong, this was still so good and i am so glad i read the source material but i would always choose the movie over the book

Photo of Sarah Sammis
Sarah Sammis@pussreboots
5 stars
Apr 4, 2024

http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2016...

Photo of Stephanie Denton
Stephanie Denton@sdenton72
4 stars
Feb 18, 2024

Interesting graphic novel. Really creative idea. The twists and turns all came together at the end, but still left the reader wondering. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy fantasy stories, and graphic novels.

Photo of chloe rae
chloe rae@heychloerae
4 stars
Feb 14, 2024

This graphic novel was absolutely adorable. So fun and spunky and the art is STUNNING. I feel like there could've been a bit more character development but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. If you're looking for something fast and funny, pick this up.

Photo of Kritika Narula
Kritika Narula@kitkatreads
5 stars
Jan 13, 2024

Such a fun wee story, with substantial characters and great plot twists. Full review soon!!!

Photo of Ally
Ally@allygatr
4 stars
Jan 10, 2024

Loved the love-hate banter

Photo of Cloudface
Cloudface@cloudface
4 stars
Jan 8, 2024

If you want to read this after seeing the movie, it’s definitely worth it because the movie deviated from the book in a lot of ways. They’re both good. I will say I wasn’t in love with the art style. The colors and compositions were all great, but the characters’ simplified faces gave them a very limited range of emotion, and for a character driven story I would want a little more life from them. 

Photo of J Nieto
J Nieto@out_of_a_reading_slump100
4 stars
Jan 1, 2024

** spoiler alert ** I wanted to read this before I watched the movie and I loved it! Nimona and Balister’s relationship is so wholesome, and I would be glad to read an entire series of the two of them 🫶 The story was good. It’s basically uncovering a corrupt government and its treatment of their lower class citizens, while also having the very apparent queer allegory in the character of Nimona. However, the ending was a little bit loose and I don’t believe it entirely wrapped things up. After watching the movie, I really have to admit it did a much better job than the comic 😅 For one, it fixed the character of Goldenloin, being much more likable than his comic’s counterpart, and portraying a deeper affection (and regret) towards Balister. Then we have the change in Balister’s origin story that makes him more of an antihero in the movie, while it makes him a lovable villain in the comic. I think the biggest and best changes were made to Nimona’s character: both in her origin story and in the ending she got in the movie. It fixes the issue I had with her in the comics, which is that she actually DID kill some innocent people 😬 Because, in the comic, people actually had a reason to dislike and fear her (not me though, I’ll love her til the end 🫶), while in the movie, she actually was just misunderstood and hated for being different. While both the comic and the movie had that same open-ended ending, I think the movie felt much more satisfying and just, happy. I would still highly recommend the comic, because I had a great time reading it. But do so with the understanding of where Nate Stevenson was at that point in his life, and how much he has grown since then 🙌

Photo of bug
bug@bugspray
3 stars
Dec 16, 2023

rare time when the movie is better than the book ! i think the movie just had more whimsy & fun & emotion in it. still a cute book tho n it was interesting to get more backstory <3

Photo of Ira Cummings
Ira Cummings@irafcummings
3.5 stars
Jul 19, 2023

Lots of good ideas but felt like none of them really paid off

+4
Photo of Wilde
Wilde@wildeaboutoscar
5 stars
Jul 3, 2023

An excellent example of what graphic novels can be. Heartwarming but edgy, it's nice to see a novel about an antihero with a twist. The gay subtext was done nicely too, didn't feel like I was reading a YA book. If you want an introduction to graphic novels, read this.

Photo of Megan BV
Megan BV@megplantparm
5 stars
Jun 10, 2023

Brilliant. Loved it. Quick and fun stand-alone graphic novel.

Photo of Maria
Maria @mariastram
5 stars
May 28, 2023

great book I really enjoyed this graphic novel nimona as a character was really fun and scary at the same time. Loved the relationship between Nimona and lord ballister super cute

Photo of Krystyna
Krystyna @adoseofcozy
3 stars
May 15, 2023

This was a cute, fantastical story with an interesting premise. At first, I was unsure if I was going to like this story; but, as I kept reading, the more I enjoyed it. The artwork was cute. I liked Nimona's character, but her past was sad. I also really liked Lord Ballister Blackheart and the banter between him and Nimona. Lord Blackheart and Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin were best friends at a point in their lives, but some aspects made me think that they were more or wanted to be. But, it never states anything on the page. I loved the ending. It had a sense of openness and ambiguity to it. This wasn't my favorite art style or my favorite story; but, it was still a very enjoyable read. I think that a lot of people would enjoy this graphic novel. If you haven't already read this one, give it a try. It reads fairly quickly.

Photo of Ella Zegarra
Ella Zegarra@ellieroth
5 stars
Mar 10, 2023

Original de: El Blog del Gato - El Extraño Gato del Cuento Este año me he propuesto leer más novelas gráficas y hasta ahora voy bastante bien con mi meta. En el caso de Nimona, esta es la primera novela gráfica propiamente dicha que he leído, ya que es un libro de más de 100 páginas en la que todas son dibujadas. Al ser una novela, tenía un poco de temor que por ser básicamente dibujos y diálogos en nubes, no le encontraría mucho interés a la historia o que sentiría alguna especie de vacío de argumento ya que no hay explicación detallada mediante párrafos, felizmente no fue así y me devoré el libro en una tarde. Nimona ha explotado mi mente, ha abierto mi interés a otro mundo de lectura, su historia está tan bien desarrollada, el estilo de Noelle Stevenson es perfecto para lo que mi cerebro estaba buscando en estos últimos meses. Nimona es la historia del villano Blackheart y su nueva secuaz Nimona, secuaz que es más sangrienta que el propio villano, ya que para todo la solución de Nimona es muerte. La adore desde que apareció. En Nimona es difícil diferencia el bien del mal, héroes que a primera vista son los indiscutibles villanos y villanos que piensan mucho antes de actuar por miedo de lastimar a las personas. El libro tiene un preciso sentido del humor y el romance... porque lo hay, es uno que quizá no esperabas y es precioso. Mi corazón dolía cada vez que algo malo podría pasar. Es tan bonito. Nimona es un libro que voy a releer millones de veces, no sólo porque es rápido de leer, sino porque su historia me ha dejado totalmente fascinada, además tiene un final que es de infarto. Por ahí vi que la harían película, me da miedo eso porque la única manera en la que funcione bien, sería si la hacen en animación 2D, y si lo hacen así, automáticamente lo harán para niños, y por hacerlo "correcto para niños" es probable que le quiten cosas que hicieron a Nimona la experiencia maravillosa que para mi fue. Ojalá que no. Si buscas algo diferente y espectacular, Nimona es la respuesta Twitter || Blog || Pinterest || Tumblr || Instagram || Facebook

Photo of menna
menna@midnightcoffee
5 stars
Jan 31, 2023

i can't believe this still makes me cry everytime i reread it reread: I still think this is the best thing ever also the audiobook for this IS FUCKING AMAZING This is the best thing ever

Photo of Julie França
Julie França@juliefranca
5 stars
Jan 23, 2023

Muito divertido! Os personagens são complexos e a trama apesar de simples, eu achei muito bem desenvolvida.

+4
Photo of brianna
brianna@adansey
2 stars
Jan 22, 2023

4.5 stars! i loved it so much i didnt want to finish it! i loved the subtle lgbt rep and i wish there was more to come

Photo of Lu
Lu@readingfairy
5 stars
Jan 22, 2023

First Read [May 2019]: ☆☆☆☆☆ Second Read [June 2021]: ☆☆☆☆☆ I love this so much.

Photo of Rebecca
Rebecca@rebeccalk
4.5 stars
Jan 18, 2023

A fun romp of a book! It’s medieval meets scifi. Grumpy mentor with ball of sunshine mentee. Lovers to enemies to lovers again. Villain with a heart of gold. So many fun tropes abound in this, but it also hits some pretty heavy themes like past trauma and government control and secrets.

Photo of Ari Rose
Ari Rose@ariisrose
4 stars
Jan 1, 2023

I'm so glad I finally read this!! I might've sped a little, got just a little time left to try catch my reading goal this year lol. But I love Nimona and Blackheart together, they're dynamic was just the best. The story was intriguing and the art style great!

Photo of Izza
Izza@m0thermayi
4 stars
Dec 9, 2022

4.5 stars | Aw, Nimona! This was great! I must admit it took me a while to ~get into it, but once I did, boy was it a wild, angsty-cute, emotional ride! I liked the flip on the usual enemies to lovers trope and it's honestly the first time I read a graphic novel and halfway through all I can think of is "I need to find all the fic". I recommend it! Read it!