Captures all of the charms of the animated show.
A graphic-novel incarnation of Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Power reboot.
While the story assumes familiarity with the source material—it fits into the show’s timeline some unspecified time after the first season—dialogue aided by visual coding (color palettes and characters’ body language) allows total newcomers to quickly infer that Hordak’s bad guys are battling the heroic Rebellion for the fate of Etheria. Both groups are headed to the ruined and abandoned city of Candila in search of a magical runestone, the Spirit Ember. The heroes, rallied by enthusiastic Glimmer, hope that recovering it first will enable Adora to use She-Ra’s magic to heal the corrupted magic—and at the least, they must stop the Horde from gaining its power. The art style matches the show’s animation and displays the characters as diverse both racially and in terms of body shape. Additionally, the visuals are mapped out through the various beats of the lengthy action, emulating the pacing of a typical episode. While there is no overt romance, there’s plenty of subtext (especially in Scorpia’s desire to give Catra a pleasant picnic outing) for those who want it. What will really satisfy She-Ra fans is the space given to Adora and Catra’s emotional conflict and broken friendship.
Captures all of the charms of the animated show. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-338-62716-9
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Fans will be left hoping for more adventures about Nothing.
As war between the Volken Court and the Human Empire once again spreads across Nothing, Nathan and his ragtag team of unlikely friends continue their quest to defeat the all-consuming Stryx.
An immediate follow-up to the charged finale of Fantastic Tales of Nothing (2020), this entry finds its heroes torn apart. Having learned of the fae’s demise under the orders of the Volken Court, Haven copes with the loss of their family. Is Haven the last of the fae? While Sina attempts to let go of the past, Baldov embraces the possibility of newfound kinship. Meanwhile, Prince Naoki and his loyal guard, Ren, finally join the adventure as the young Imperial Highness assumes an active role in protecting his kingdom and its citizens, whether human or Volken. With the power of Lerina within him, Nathan dreams of Lerina’s past, and together he and the group need to uncover the knowledge required to defeat Stryx, the malevolent force currently inhabiting the body of Chancellor Aquilla, leader of the Volken Court. To unbind Stryx’s hold on Haven—and his threat over Nothing—the adventurers seek out the truth behind Lerina’s myth. Green and Rodriguez continue to refine and expand on the world of Nothing through jovial humor, fantastical bits of myth-building, and lots of heart. Stronger pacing and richer character development also lend gravitas. The colorful artwork surprises thanks to well-spaced set pieces and excellent creature design.
Fans will be left hoping for more adventures about Nothing. (map) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-283951-0
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A fun, fantastical romp.
A legacy of magic binds two aspiring hopefuls from different worlds together.
Inspired in part by East Asian cultures, this graphic novel’s prologue reveals that a dragon draws rebuke from her family when she leaves the sea to be with her love, a fisherman. Now known as the Wu clan, their descendants earn respect from the dragons when they combine their collective magic and repel a powerful hurricane the dragons sent to destroy the kingdom. From then on, the dragons promise to always answer the call of the Wu family. In the present day, 12-year-old Sophie Wu, an aspiring witch, is determined to perfect her spells for her audition to the Royal Magic Academy. She travels to stay with her young aunt, Sage, a recent Academy graduate, and her cantankerous great-aunt in Dragon Bay Harbor Town to learn from them. However, her great-aunt’s incessant negativity about her talents—which she hopes to disprove—and her own insecurities cause Sophie to lose control of a spell. A dragon named Lir becomes stuck in human form with no memories of what came before. A diplomatic conflict ensues that threatens the peace between dragons and humans unless Sophie and Lir are able to untangle their intertwined magic. Reminiscent of Kiki’s Delivery Service, the colorful panels are filled with movement, and the manga-style art pops. Characters have skin tones ranging from light to mid-brown and hair in varying shades of brown.
A fun, fantastical romp. (author’s note) (Graphic fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Nov. 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-295579-1
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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