DeadEndia: The Divine Order (Volume 3)

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Author(s)

Hamish Steele

Publisher

Union Square & Co

Genre(s)

Age Range

14+

Release Date

April 23, 2024

ISBN

978-1454949015

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Eisner Award–winning creator Hamish Steele’s DeadEndia series is Steven Universe meets Adventure Time for fans of Scott Pilgrim, Rick and Morty, Adventure Time, and Pumpkinheads.

In this diverse young adult graphic novel, third in the DeadEndia trilogy, Barney, Norma, and friends team up with unlikely heroes to fight a battle for the fate of the universe, all while dealing with their greatest challenge of all: their love lives.

The battle between angels and demons rages on, and Courtney finds themselves restored to former glory in the realm of the angels with a new mission: bring about a new Divine Order and create a fourteenth plane of existence to keep the demons at bay. On the seventh plane, known to us as Earth, Norma Khan and Barney Guttman have allied with the demons in a search for both freedom and peace. There’s just one thing standing in their way: the Guttman family reunion. Badyah has joined the resistance as well, honing her martial arts skills and getting ready to protect Norma in battle.

But Pael, the Divine’s lead angel, has tricks up their sleeve that throw everything into chaos as Norma, Barney, and Badyah learn the truth behind everything. The three friends struggle to stop Pael before their lives are changed forever, and a familiar friend returns with a power that just might save them all in this stunning conclusion to the DeadEndia graphic novel series.

Part workplace comedy, part supernatural horror adventure, with a splash of LGBTQ+ romance, The Divine Order is perfect for fans of author Hamish Steele’s Netflix original TV series Dead End: Paranormal Park who are in search of more adventures, for graphic novel lovers who want more diversity in their reads, or for anyone who has finished The Watcher’s Test and The Broken Halo and is ready for the final entry in the zany, creative, and laugh-out-loud funny world of DeadEndia.

Editor review

1 review

consuming and entertaining graphic novel

April 10, 2024

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

DEADENDIA: THE DIVINE ORDER is a thrilling conclusion to a graphic novel series with plenty of humor and heart. In this final story, the characters are about to wage their war on the angels to stop the divisions of people and demons. While they know theoretically they are on the right side, things are complicated. They become even more as the war wages on with Pael having new tricks up his sleeve.

What I loved: This was such a consuming and interesting story. While it is the third book and conclusion to the series, important information is recapped smoothly throughout, so it is easy to follow even if it has been a while. The images really tell most of the story, which works really well in the graphic novel format. Text is kept to what is necessary and manages to tell the story with plenty of humor and character along the way. It was easy to follow and easy to tell who was speaking when, making it read very smoothly.

This conclusion was quite satisfying and brought new elements to the story with thought-provoking themes around found family, morality and divisiveness, happiness, the importance of the truth, the value of belief, and the way power can magnify problems. The main characters have really formed a critical found family that can be messy at times, but holds all the importance in the world. It was great to see the relationships grow and evolve during the story with some great LGBT romances along the way. As they uncover the truths behind the facade, there are some really great themes about divisiveness, small-mindedness, and belief that merit discussion - it would be a great one to talk about with a book group.

The characters themselves are highly compelling and each felt like their own. The way the book is written, it easily feels like they are friends whose lives the reader cares about. They really came to life in the story, which is not always easy with so many main characters and the graphic novel format.

This was quite a ride with plenty of action and adventure along the way as well as a touch of romance and plenty of humor. There were several times I found myself laughing along with the story. With a smooth and consuming plotline, this was a fast and unputdownable read.

Final verdict: DEADENDIA: THE DIVINE ORDER is a thrilling and satisfying graphic novel conclusion with compelling characters, thought-provoking themes, surprising twists, and plenty of humor. Highly recommend for older YA readers!