*Received via NetGalley for review*

I love the story of Orpheus, I love frame narratives, and I love unexpected genre blends (like historical and science fiction). Some things get a little confusing and muddied (there's a lot of layers to this story), but overall, it delivers. While slow, the emotional payoff is worth it. ( )

In VOYAGES IN THE UNDERWORLD OF ORPHEUS BLACK, a conscientious objector named Harry loses his brother, Ellis, during a bombing raid in London in December 1944. Despite being injured, Harry returns to the site where Ellis was apparently killed, determined to rescue Ellis — or at least retrieve his body. Along the way, Harry meets several helpers who guide and help him on his perilous quest.

This is a complex, layered book that will reward contemplation and re-reading. The main text — Harry's narrative — discusses Harry's immediate task (rescuing Ellis) and carries running references to Harry's longer-term task of writing a book, "Warriors of the Machine," which forms a critique of both the mechanization of World War Two and the industrial future of war. A secondary text — Orpheus's tale — comments on Harry and the other characters, playing with and re-examining the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. These two texts entwine at times, although Harry does not understand why there are gaps in his consciousness or why his actions seem to be directed by an external agent.

The artistic project of this book could be easily missed by readers expecting a graphic novel. While the illustrations are integral to the telling of the story, representing Harry's sketches and plans for his book, they also form their own allegorical third text. The book is best enjoyed slowly, in sips rather than gulps, and teen readers may need someone to discuss its complexity with others.

VOYAGES IN THE UNDERWORLD OF ORPHEUS BLACK is a lush, powerful commentary that uses the example of World War Two to create a discussion about violence, mechanized warfare, and what humans owe to one another. Definitely worth your time and attention.

There were many things I liked very much about this book. The theme of eyes, inviting us to consider our perceptions and the perceptions of the narrator. The illustrations, which really added depth to the story -- most of the time. (Adding random hanged people to lampposts in that one drawing may have been a bit over the top, for instance.) Harry's introspection about war, conscientious objection to war, and his conflicts with himself, his family, and a very war-oriented English society, all were thought-provoking and sometimes beautiful. The authors' father's experience may have helped shape the authentic character of Harry: he was a conscientious objector during that war. I found the "Orpheus" interludes less attractive. I can't critique whether the poetry is good or bad, but it had no consistent rhythm and it rhymed... sometimes, for a few uneven lines (rather like a clerihew) and then stopped again. I found it awkward. Then the infelicitous line (Orpheus praising Harry's artwork) "Harry, you're a wizard!" had me setting the book down for an hour in disbelief. Seriously, Orpheus? You've got the wrong story here! "Harry, you're a wizard!" could have worked as humour in a book set in the 21st century, but in this context it was so jarring that I couldn't stop snickering about it, which spoiled the mood entirely. I was reading an ARC, so perhaps an editor caught it before publication. Page 130 in my copy.

With a different voice for Orpheus this could have been a great book and a classic. It's still a good read. ( )

I really wanted to like this book. It mixes prose, poetry, and illustration to tell the story of a boy in WWII who is trying to save his brother. It mimics the story of Orpheus in Greek mythology. While the book as well written, II had a difficult time telling who the intended audience is. Bits of the story are over worked and convoluted, which didn't lend for an enjoyable read.