Blog Tour and Review: The Illuminati Ball – Cynthia von Buhler [Extract]

Welcome back!

It has been my absolute pleasure not only to be part of but also kicking off the blog tour for The Illuminati Ball.

Synopsis

Acclaimed author and visual artist Cynthia von Buhler (Minky Woodcock: The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini) brings her hit immersive theater production The Illuminati Ball to the page in an all-new graphic novel which merges the myth and mystery surrounding the secret organization of the rich and powerful who supposedly control the world with a story about human-animal hybrids who have escaped an experimental lab.
Inspired by the legendary 1972 surrealist masquerade party that influenced Stanley Kubrick’s film Eyes Wide Shut — hosted by the Baron and Baroness de Rothschild at their mansion in Paris — The Illuminati Ball combines elements of the fantastical with reality to tell an unforgettable story about power, cruelty, deceit, betrayal, and the insatiable hunger for freedom
Taken from The Illuminati Ball

Review

When I received an email from the wonderful people at Titan Comics looking for reviewers of the graphic novel The Illuminati Ball, something about the blurb just spoke to me. I will confess that although I have heard mutterings on the internet about the ‘Illuminati’ and people who are supposed to be part of the organisation, I knew nothing about it whatsoever…

Until now. This book is an education. For those of you who are not familiar with The Illuminati Ball, it is a literal, physical event which takes place in New York City. This book is the graphic novel form of the event with a narrative and story running through it, which makes it all the more extraordinary.

I have learnt what the intention of the Illuminati was and is, and how it has come to be over taken by absolute nonsense associated with negativity and powerful people who are actually reptiles, which is obviously complete nonsense. The guidelines of the Illuminati are all rules we should live by (if not too literally) such as leaving room for nature.

Now, this book is not for the fainthearted. If you do not enjoy surrealism then you may find this book overwhelming or just bizarre. But if you’re prepared to have your mind challenged and stretched then come on through.

The story in many respects is a sad one. It shows the worst sides of humanity and how we treat our fellow human-beings and the animals we share the Earth with. Or, more accurately, do not share it with. It also shows how we can all have freedom should we be prepared to open our eyes to the cruelty and suffering that goes on around us, and not make judgements in what we believe to be ‘normal’.

The Illuminati Ball feels so hugely relevant at the moment – it deals with subjects such as fame, power, and money and how so many people crave these things above all else and to the detriment of others.

von Buhler’s writing and illustrations are wonderful and entirely engrossing, inspiring and illuminating. I also love the way she incorporated herself into the book as a character, which is not something I have encountered in a graphic novel before.

If you only take away one thing from this book, I recommend it is the last line:

Don’t let the chaos of disinformation blind you from seeing the light of scientific truth.

We need to be doing this more now than ever before.

Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Extract

Click ‘Download’ below to see an extract of The Illuminati Ball.

The Illuminati Ball – Extract Download

Pre-order the book

You can support your local bookshop by ordering directly though them or by ordering via Hive.co.uk.

About the author

Cynthia von Buhler, aka Countess von Buhler, is an American artist, performer, playwright and author. Hailed by the press as “multitalented and eccentric” (Boston Globe), a “rising star” (NY Arts), and “one of the top contemporary surrealists” (Art & Antiques), Cynthia von Buhler has made a name for herself as an award-winning and critically acclaimed fine artist, author, and illustrator.

Taken from cynthiavonbuhler.com