The Amulet graphic novel series is a popular fantasy-adventure comic series written and illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi. It follows the story of a young girl named Emily Hayes and her adventures after her mother's mysterious disappearance. The series is set in a world where magical creatures and technology coexist. Throughout the series, Emily discovers a magical amulet that grants her incredible powers. Alongside her brother Navin and a small group of allies, they embark on a dangerous journey to rescue their mother and save the world from dark forces. The Amulet series features beautiful and detailed artwork that brings the story to life.

Curse of the Royal Harem

In the Qing Dynasty, the imperial court fraught with gossip and jealousy. After waiting two years for Prince Min Yee's safe return, the Empress Dowager and soon to be coronated Empress,Yun Yuen, have given up hope finding him and decide to sacrifice his wife Yee Lan. Is this decision to appease the Heavens or is it a sinister scheme?

The noble Sire saves Yee Lan from the human sacrifice and makes her his consort. Despite the arrival of Min Yee's remains, this creates a serious rift between Yi Lan and the Harem, Empress Dowager, and especially Yun Yuen. Now forced to share the title of Empress, Yun Yuen has made it her mission to destory Yee Lan

Yee Lan's promotion divides the entire Royal Court, from the Harem to the political ministry. The veracity of Min Yee's remains is challenged and a tea ceremony provides an opportunity for Yun Yuen to sabotage Yee Lan and dominate the Harem

Yee Lan has found a way out of every trap set for her, but can she deal with being framed for murder?

As rumors circulate about Min Yee still being alive, Yee Lan requests time away from the Forbidden City, but plans to escape and conduct her own investigation. Jealous of Yee Lan, once again Yun Yuen attempts to stand in her way

With Yee Lan stuck in a plague-ravaged town and Sire out looking for her, political and state matters are temporarily supervised by Prince Shui. His controversial methods of rule cause dissent among the Ministers. As he searches for a cure and cares for those affected by the plague, the Emperor learns firsthand of the conditions facing his subjects

Review: Curse of the Royal Harem (By Hayes)

Synopsis: Curse of the Royal Harem is set in the Qing Dynasty under the rule of the Do Kwong Emperor (Sunny Chan). Yee Lan (Jessica Hsuan), the Consort of Emperor Do Kwong’s elder brother, who was missing in battle, is grieving over the loss of her husband. The Empress Dowager (Gigi Wong) instructs that Yee Lan be buried alive in the Emperor’s tomb. However, the current Do Kwong Emperor saves her because he had feelings for her from a long time ago. The Emperor makes her one of his Consorts and the Empress (Myolie Wu), becomes jealous and plots Yee Lan’s demise. Along the way, Yee Lan uncovers a treacherous plot that could potentially endanger the Emperor! Will she be able to stop it in time?

First Impression: YES! I love these types of dramas! The theme song is really good too!

I was extremely excited for this drama because ancient ones like these interest me a lot. To be honest, I didn’t even see one trailer for this drama and just decided I was going to watch it, regardless of the cast and plot. It was a disappointment in the first 10 episodes, but it picked up afterwards. The overall drama was slightly draggy though. Let’s go over the main points:

Plot: Running Out of Ideas?

I watched another Qing Dynasty drama, The Life and Times of A Sentinel, in the summer and I couldn’t help but think that Curse of the Royal Harem was copying off some ideas from the first drama. First of all, in Curse of the Royal Harem, Joel Chan, the Prince Sui, is revealed to have a past secret relationship with Myolie, the Empress. Similarly, in The Life and Times of a Sentinel, Kenneth Ma (who was also the Emperor’s brother) had a secret relationship with Elaine Yiu (the Imperial Noble Consort.) And the thing is, both females of the story want to forget the past and continue being the present Emperor’s wives whereas the men can never forget about his true love.

Another thing is, why is the Grand Empress Dowager/ Empress Dowager always the main villain? I’m tired of seeing an elderly woman plotting everyone’s demise. I know it’s true that they are treacherous and “evil” but maybe someone else? Maybe an eunuch or a palace maid?

Enough of that though. So let’s skip over the first half of the drama now since nothing much happens anyway. As we get near episode 20, things pick up and there are dramatic changes to the characters. The action is significantly increases in pace and the drama is preparing itself for the climax (after pregnancies, giving birth, death, sacrifice, unveiled plots, secret relationships, etc.).

After the climax, you would think that the drama would end there. But no, it keeps going. Then you realize that the climax you thought WAS the climax was in fact NOT the climax. And then you wonder, “Is there really a true climax in this drama?” There were a lot of unnecessary scenes.

Characters and Acting: The acting was mediocre. I was watching this drama with my mom and I agreed with her about some things:

a) Myolie’s acting was not very outstanding (at least in the beginning). She doesn’t fit the role of an Empress. But it looks like she tried really hard to deliver this performance.

b) Jessica didn’t really deliver a mind-blowing act. But rather it was the same, plain and nothing really new. The last few episodes allowed us to see an evil, wicked side to her and that was what stood out for her.

c) Sunny Chan was a terrible Emperor. His acting convinced us.

d) Joel Chan did a wonderful job. He should have deserved more recognition. Actually, he should deserve more recognition on all the dramas he acts in.

e) Gigi Wong did have the looks of a convincing Empress Dowager.

f) Nancy Wu is always a villain. A well-portrayed villain though. Why can’t she get some protagonist roles and how in the world does her character in this drama survive so long?

Basically those six points sum up the main cast and their acting.

Everything Else: Compared to some other dramas where the plot is rushed, this drama, although draggy, gave a more “artistic” feel. It felt like a slow roller coaster, with ups and downs and some really dull moments.

Another point is that I thought that Jessica had way too much make-up on. Also, the music was repeated WAY too often and some parts of the drama gave me a “deja-vu” feeling, like I’ve watched it in another drama before. OH, I have another example of that. I remember in the Beyond the Realm of Conscience,” when Tavia got slapped in the face by another Consort and her response was that she would one day “return that slap.” And just so happens, in Curse of the Royal Harem, when Myolie slaps Jessica in the face, she said, “One day, I will return that slap.”

Coincidence? (OKAY. MAYBE I’M OVER ANALYZING.)

Overall: I hope I’m not biased but I enjoyed the drama 🙂 Although acting and plot wasn’t the best, I liked how the characters developed: how someone so bad could suddenly become so good and vice-versa. I thought the costumes weren’t bad either.

This review was written by Hayes, a Contributing Writer at JayneStars.com.

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The Amulet series features beautiful and detailed artwork that brings the story to life. Kibuishi incorporates a wide range of mythical creatures and imaginative landscapes, creating a visually stunning universe. The storytelling is filled with suspense, action, and heartwarming moments that hook readers of all ages.

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One of the strengths of the Amulet series is its well-developed and relatable characters. Emily evolves from a timid and unsure young girl into a brave and determined hero throughout the series. Navin, her younger brother, provides comedic relief and acts as a supportive sidekick. The secondary characters are also given depth and unique personalities, making them memorable and engaging. As the series progresses, the plot becomes more complex, tackling themes of family, friendship, sacrifice, and the consequences of power. Kibuishi explores these themes in a way that is accessible to readers of all ages, making the Amulet series enjoyable for both children and adults. Overall, the Amulet graphic novel series is a captivating and enchanting adventure that combines stunning artwork, well-drawn characters, and a compelling narrative. It has gained a dedicated fan base and has earned critical acclaim for its storytelling and visual appeal. Whether you are a fan of graphic novels or just looking for a thrilling and immersive read, the Amulet series is definitely worth checking out..

Reviews for "The Emotional Impact of the Amulet Graphic Novel Series"

1. Jane Doe - 2 stars - I really wanted to like the "Amulet" graphic novel series, but I found it to be quite underwhelming. The story felt rushed and poorly developed, with uninteresting characters that lacked depth. The artwork was decent, but it couldn't make up for the lackluster plot. Overall, I was disappointed and didn't enjoy this series as much as I had hoped.

2. John Smith - 1 star - I struggled to get through the "Amulet" graphic novel series. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, leaving me feeling disconnected from the characters and their motivations. The artwork was the only redeeming factor, but it couldn't make the unengaging plot any more interesting. I wouldn't recommend this series to anyone looking for a captivating and well-crafted graphic novel.

3. Sarah Johnson - 2 stars - I had high expectations for the "Amulet" graphic novel series, but unfortunately, it fell short. The characters lacked personality and their actions often felt inconsistent. The plot seemed to jump around without much cohesion, making it difficult to fully engage with the story. While the artwork was visually appealing, it couldn't make up for the lack of substance in the overall series. I was ultimately disappointed and wouldn't continue reading or recommending this series.

4. Michael Thompson - 1 star - I found the "Amulet" graphic novel series to be quite forgettable. The story felt cliché and predictable, lacking any real surprises or originality. The characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue felt forced. The artwork was decent, but it couldn't save this series from its lackluster storytelling. Overall, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on the "Amulet" series when there are much better graphic novels out there.

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