Review: ‘Daughter of a Thousand Faces’ Delivers Great Characters In A Mystical World

As the only child of the world’s greatest cultivator without the potential to become an immortal, Shen Yuhua was looked down on from a very young age. Things only grew worse for the girl when her mother was accused of treason against her father and cast down a well into The Abyss. Shunned by the bulk of her family on a good day, Yuhua was left forgotten with her one faithful retainer Swallowtail to keep her company and proivde with moral support. But a mishap occurs when her one of her sisters’ abuses grow to be too much, Yuhua finds her life taking a drastic turn. Whether this turn is for better or worse, remains to be seen in the fantasy tale Daughter of a Thousand Faces written by Velnxi, art by Velnxi, colors by Dojo, and letters by Cheryl Alvarez.

In its debut on Tapas, Daughter of a Thousand Faces manages to cover a lot. With 21 episodes premiering, the book welcomes the reader in and lets them get well acquainted with Yuhua, her world, and the perils she faces, while still leaving plenty of questions unanswered. While the larger dangers and mysteries surrounding the story are still taking form, Velnxi hooks the reader’s attention early on thanks to the way she skillfully crafts her multifaceted cast.

The first thing to know about virtually every cast member in Daughter of a Thousand Faces is that they are not what they appear to be. While many of the first impressions are not outright deceptions about the characters, they don’t tell the whole truth either. This unveiling of personality allows the story to become far more engaging, as the reader is forced to wonder and question how good or bad many of the characters truly are. This is best highlighted through Yuhua’s older sister, Shen Yuying.

Initially presented as a cold, distant relative with little patience for the protagonist, Yuying, at the start, is a character that is quick and easy to despise. But after Yuhua has her unfortunate accident, Yuying is soon shown in a different light, one that adds layers to the only one of Yuhua’s many siblings that have the same mother as her. While Yuying’s reveal is the most impactful, there are several other characters who look to be holding big secrets that promise perception-altering revelations as the story continues to unfold.

But while the supporting cast of Daughter of a Thousand Faces is wonderful, in the end, it is Yuhua who always holds center stage. Depicted first as the lonely cast-off, Yuhua’s life is a hard one, despite living in a lavish palace. Perceiving herself as weak and possibly cursed, Yuhua’s early torments are best highlighted through her half-sister Shen Yuling. Verbally abused by the far more skilled sibling, Yuling’s cold-hearted treatment of Yuhua eventually sees the young girl cast herself down the same well that her mother was sentenced to be thrown into. Rather than death though, Yuhua discovered something that would change her position in life forever.

The change that takes place in Yuhua after the unforeseen events within the well are handled fluidly from there on out. Yuhua’s growth feels organic and well-earned, as she struggles with the tasks the narrative sets before her. It is wonderful to see her grow beyond what she initially is, and to witness the shock on her face when she realizes she has stepped beyond what she could formally do.

The art in Daughter of a Thousand Faces fits the setting of the tale wonderfully. Bringing the Chinese fantasy aesthetic to life, Velenxi’s art brings all the magic and emotion to stunning realization on every screen, while the wonderful colors utilized by Dojo enhance the lines, bringing even more personality to the story’s world. Despite how much the art brings to the story, the book is also not afraid to step back from the art and frequently allows the words to do the heavy lifting.

Whenever an internal monologue occurs from Yuhua, Daughter of a Thousand Faces forgoes art for a full page of text. Never a lot of reading, this approach nonetheless helps the story both focus in on Yuhua’s thoughts without distraction, as well as allowing the book to dispense information quickly, that would otherwise require numerous panels of work to present. This helps chapters move with fluidity instead of dragging out fight sequences for the sake of the internal monologues’ completion.

Daughter of a Thousand Faces is off to a strong start. A wonderful protagonist, a multifaceted cast, and a mysterious world full of magic come together along with a gorgeous visual presentation to begin a journey that will hopefully continue to build off of the momentum these chapters impart on it.

Daughter of a Thousand Faces’ first 21 chapters is available now on Tapas, with more slated to come at regular intervals.