BRIELLE AND BEAR

Brielle knows all the rules of the fairy tale, but will Bear follow them?

Brielle Da Rosa, a Portuguese British self-proclaimed fairy-tale expert, attends the aptly named Once Upon a Time University. While she’s working at a bookshop, she literally runs into Atohi “Bear” Yonas, an American who’s “Hispanic/mixed” and a star rugby player. They’re instantly smitten, and after a series of encounters, they’re finally brought together—but various challenges arise, calling into question whether the relationship will last. Doku uses text boxes throughout the graphic novel to list fairy-tale rules (“A good fairy tale isn’t complete without…a good villain”) and introduce side characters (“Pavão Castelo: Socialite and most popular boy on campus”). She also includes some thoughtful discussion around triggers. The art is beautifully executed, with the seasons and color palette changing in tandem. Although Brielle has vitiligo, the illustration style makes it difficult to notice; readers may only realize she has this condition because it’s explicitly mentioned. It can become hard to track the subplots because insufficient time is given to building any attachment to the story’s numerous side characters. Some hopeless romantics will be satisfied by this sweet and simple tale, although it lacks the emotional punch for readers seeking something with substance.

A fluffy fairy tale that’s enjoyable but not particularly memorable.