Attractively executed; will please newcomers, but ardent fans may be less satisfied with some of the artistic choices.
A newly illustrated addition marking the 20th anniversary of the wildly popular fantasy series opener.
When unassuming farm boy Eragon finds a strange blue stone while out hunting, the last thing he expects is for a dragon to hatch from it. Eragon is now one of the fabled dragon Riders, whose ancient order was destroyed from within by King Galbatorix. Eragon is content to live his days quietly with Saphira, his dragon, but Galbatorix will not suffer the existence of a Rider who’s beyond his control. When tragedy strikes at the hands of Galbatorix’s agents, Eragon embarks on a journey of revenge and self-discovery across Alagaësia. This new edition features stunning artwork that excels at capturing the personalities and bringing to life the textual descriptions of the human characters. Eragon looks every inch the youthful and naïve hero, Brom has a truly magnificent beard, and Arya is beautiful and defiant. But the art fails to convey the true size and majesty of Saphira as well as original cover artist John Jude Palencar’s work did; at times it makes her appear diminutive, in contrast to descriptions in the text. Long-time fans will also likely be disappointed by the limited number of illustrations featuring beloved character Murtagh. The full-color map of Alagaësia, however, is superlative.
Attractively executed; will please newcomers, but ardent fans may be less satisfied with some of the artistic choices. (map, pronunciation guide, glossary) (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9780593704462
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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