Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology was released on May 27, 2025. 

Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology was such a fun read! I love the worldbuilding here - the entire concept of geozoology (animals that are also geographic features like mountains, stones, etc.) was fascinating, and I loved seeing all the different creatures Lu and Ren encounter throughout this book. The full-color illustrations truly bring them alive, and added a very MG feel to the arc of the story. 

That said, there’s also a much deeper element to Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology - the side about Lu’s relationship with Ah-ma and what she never learned about her, and Ren’s familial relationships. At times Lu got a little bit on my nerves, but overall I really enjoyed following her story and the complicated relationships she had with both Ah-ma and Ren. There was also an ecological element here I really liked around understanding what’s really needed to preserve the natural beauty of an area - and that it isn’t what you necessarily expect. 

The art is very beautiful, capturing a sense of adventure and brilliantly depicting both the landscapes and creatures Lu and Ren encounter. I couldn’t resist stopping to admire the illustrations, which reminded me of the artwork in The Tea Dragon Society. I definitely recommend Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology if you enjoy vibrant graphic novels and quest-type narratives! 
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4.5/5 stars, rounded up. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own. 

​Book description credited to the publisher. ​

​ages 11+ / ARC / animal stories / fantasy / family / fiction / friends / graphic novel / middle grade / standalone

I really wanted to like Family Week, but it fell a little short for me. If you like sweet, straightforward, and family-driven, this could absolutely be a book you’ll enjoy. However, I felt like there wasn’t enough time spent on any individual plotline, and it often felt as though events were happening somewhat randomly rather than being unified by a continuous plot, particularly in the middle of the book. 

Individually, I liked all of the characters, and their individual struggles were very vivid and relevant, with particularly poignant moments for each one. Personally, I connected a lot with Milo and Avery, and I loved the overall themes of acceptance and queer joy within a very contemporary society. It also did a really good job of creating a narrative that revolves around queer families and a sense of belonging. (And I love the cover!) As a whole, though, I didn’t feel like it quite hung together, maybe because the short length combined with the many points of view made it so that I never felt fully anchored in any one story until close to the end. 

On a content-warning side, two of the major characters contemplate/attempt self-harm in the second half of the book, and though it’s left somewhat ambiguous, it’s more than worthy of a CW. 

​2.5 stars, rounded up because I truly do feel that some readers could enjoy this book, particularly younger middle schoolers - it just wasn’t for me! 

Family Week was released on April 15, 2025. 
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed here are my own. 

​ages 11+ / ARC / family / fiction / friends / middle grade / realistic fiction / LGBTQ+ / standalone

​Book description credited to the publisher. ​

A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel will be released on March 11, 2025. 

Earthsea: a land of many islands and vast oceans, ancient names and fierce dragons, skillful seafarers and powerful sorcerers. Sparrowhawk is only a boy when he is sent to the school on Roke Island, where the greatest mages learn the limits of their powers, and the rules that constrain them. 

Only he is too arrogant, and too skilled. In a show of hubris, he summons a spirit out of legend and releases a nameless shadow into the world, one set upon the death of the one who made it. And to rid himself of this haunting and find its name, Sparrowhawk must travel Earthsea’s waters, bargain with dragons, and see the truth in a shadow born from his most terrible mistake. 

I’m a longtime fan of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea books, and so when I saw this graphic novel adaptation, I jumped at the chance to review an early copy. It absolutely blew me away. I couldn’t have imagined a graphic novel that could so flawlessly encapsulate the magic of A Wizard of Earthsea, but this one does so in gorgeous full-color, immersing me so utterly in this world it felt more like an illustrated version of the original than any sort of adaptation. Each page is such a beautiful, complete work of art that I would honestly love any of them as a poster or screensaver. I don’t recall ever reading a graphic novel where every illustration contains such a precise attention to detail, creating an atmospheric and absorbing experience that I fell in love with all over again every time I turned a page. 

The adaptation of the text itself is also superb. Fred Fordham was clearly fiercely committed to Ursula K. Le Guin’s work; nearly every line is pulled verbatim from the original text, and the changes that are made—whether abridgements or alterations—are so seamless that the reader scarcely notices their presence. Upon finishing this book, I didn’t feel as though anything was missing; rather, it was although, through the illustrations, I had been able to absorb all the details and moments of the story not explicitly spelled out. This is truly the most beautiful graphic novel adaptation I’ve ever read. Whether you’re new to Earthsea or an enduring fan, I can’t recommend A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel highly enough! 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own. 

​ages 11+ / adventure / ARC / fantasy / fiction / graphic novel / series / young adult

By Nico

Princess Ash is not in for a happy homecoming. After six years away from the capital, she returns to find the country embroiled in political conflicts her brother a stranger, and the court decidedly hostile—and all too ready to question her aptitude because of the cane she uses to get around.

So when Ash meets Splinter, she couldn’t be more excited. Splinter—aspiring knight, determined friend, not quite a girl. Splinter is determined to become a knight like her brother, and Ash has the power to earn her that dream. And if neither is seen as entirely orthodox by the rest of court? Well, at least they have each other.

As their friendship develops, though, Splinter and Ash find themselves uncovering something far more sinister than disapproving squires. And when they discover the lengths the nobility is willing to go to gain power, the two new friends might be their kingdom’s only hope.

If you liked Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston or Alanna the Lioness, Splinter & Ash should be next on your to-read list. This fast-paced, fierce tale was one of my most anticipated reads this year is a reason, and it was a lot of fun to read. Splinter and Ash are both great protagonists, and the almost mystery-like element of the developing understanding of the political conflicts made it a quick read. Though defiant, it lacked much of the emotional intensity of books like Sir Callie, taking a more traditional MG fantasy feel to display Splinter and Ash’s struggles throughout the story. I would’ve loved to see several threads and characters of this story explored more deeply, and I’m hoping that’ll arrive in subsequent books in the series. I recommend Splinter & Ash to readers ages eleven and up looking for a story of friendship, hope, and perseverance set against a fantasy world.
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fantasy / middle grade / friendship / LGBTQ+ / series / ages 11+

By Nico

Amari and the Despicable Wonders is the third book in the ongoing Supernatural Investigations series. It is preceded by Amari and the Night Brothers (#1) and Amari and the Great Game (#2).

Amari Peterson is running out of time. The supernatural world teeters on the verge of war, and both sides have declared her the number one enemy. One of her closest friends is beyond Amari’s reach. She can’t trust anyone—not even Quinton, who insists that keeping her out of trouble is the only way to keep her safe.

But when Amari learns that Dylan Van Hesling, new leader of the League of Magicians, is after a series of destructive artifacts called the Despicable Wonders, she knows it’s up to her and her friends to stop him first—even if it means risking the ultimate sacrifice.

I’ve adored every book in the Amari series, and this third installment was no exception. Alston has an incredible ability to craft the kinds of books that make me fall in love with middle grade all over again, with the deft writing, fast pace, and incredible characters that make his stories consistently some of the best I read in a year. It’s not often I come across a series that maintains such a high level of excellence across multiple books – but Alston makes it look easy with the Supernatural Investigations series.

​Three aspects of this series consistently stand out to me: the plot, the characters, and the worldbuilding. Each book is filled with quick twists and plot changes whose only consistency is my inability to predict where the story is headed next. Amari inhabits what’s truly one of the most distinct and real worlds I’ve had the pleasure to recently come across, with the perfect balance of quirkiness and realism. And the characters are truly incredible—at turns irritating and relatable, hilarious and heartbreaking, I truly would follow them wherever they choose to go next. I can’t describe how happy I am to know there will be two more Amari books to enjoy! I highly recommend Amari and the Despicable Wonders (and the entire series) to readers ages eleven and up searching for an absorbing, magical world that you won’t want to leave. 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Night Mother will be released on October 8, 2024.

Night cloaks Madeline Tock’s small town. She spends her days with her father on their graveyard island across the river, where she listens to the whispers of the dead as they journey beyond. They whisper a warning, too: to fear the creator of the constant night.

The Night Mother: half a myth, who crosses the sky with her lantern to harvest the souls of the dead. Only she’s gained a taste for power and the freedom that eternal night allows her—and the living souls it enables her to harvest.

When the Night Mother comes for Madeline’s village and her father, she’s determined to prevent her from stealing them all away. But the Night Mother wants something from Madeline too, and Madeline soon realizes that she can bring back the sun—if only she can defeat the Night Mother first.

The Night Mother delivers a dark fairytale of a story accompanied by gorgeous, detailed illustrations. The art is absolutely beautiful – Sharpe’s layered images are full of color and precision and fully absorbed me. Perhaps best of all, the art perfectly matches the feel of the story, crafting an immersive experience that I absolutely loved. At times, I felt it could be a little text-heavy, reading more like an illustrated book than a graphic novel, but especially past the opening scenes there was a better balance between text and art – and I think that might’ve been partially because I just loved the art so much that I wanted to see more of it!

​I really enjoyed the story as well. The Night Mother truly feels like a fairytale – but rather than the sanitized versions commonly found today, it harkens back to the dark roots of the Grimm Brothers, where a happily-ever-after was far from guaranteed. Although a relatively simple story, it unfolds with smooth precision, introducing in a relatively short page count a variety of compelling, fascinating characters, most of all so Madeline and the Night Mother. I hope to read future volumes of this story! I recommend The Night Mother to lovers of older middle-grade, original fairytales, and dark fantasy ages eleven and up. 

Greta will be released on September 10, 2024.

The world around Greta is changing far too quickly for her to keep up. Between an upcoming move, entering middle school, and her longtime best friend, Lotti, getting distracted by boys, Greta feels left behind by the fierce, never-ending changes around her that she doesn’t feel part of. When a boy finally takes notice of her, she thinks maybe this is her chance to become part of this incomprehensible new world. But instead, she’s left shattered, scared, and even more lost than before.

As she struggles to put words to what’s happened to her, even to Lotti, Greta starts to change, in ways utterly different than everyone around her. But while her newfound differences are looked at askance by those around her, for Greta, they’re a way to become herself at last: to find beauty, and freedom, with a kind of change that finally feels right.

If you like straightforward, predictable stories with familiar characters and beats to provide escapism and a quick laugh, Greta is absolutely not something you’ll want to read. But if you’re more like me—someone who enjoys deep, thoughtful, and fundamentally unexpected stories—I highly recommend this book.

I finished this book a week ago now, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve thought about Greta every day during that time period. I’ve read hundreds, maybe thousands, of middle-grade books, and I can think of few others that possess the same combination of incredible oddity and incredible humanity.

It took me several chapters to get into the story, as the uncanny, almost surreal aspects of it only begin appearing once Greta’s normal life is established. However, I was so interested in the premise that I didn’t even consider stopping reading, and it definitely lived up to that. The whole story has a dreamlike quality overlayed on a fundamentally realistic portrayal of middle school which gave it a truly unique atmosphere, and I particularly loved how the characters, including Greta, responded to the changes in her life.

Greta is the rare book that truly leaves you with more questions and answers, and yet imparts such a fundamental sense of peace and well-being that you can’t help but feel satisfied after finishing it. I highly recommend Greta to readers ages eleven and up, particularly those who enjoy unique and thought-provoking stories.

​An e-ARC of this book was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

By Nico

The Last Ice Phoenix is the second book in the ongoing Heroes of Havensong series by Megan Reyes, which began with Dragonboy.

After a face-off with Chancellor Cudek that nearly destroyed the Meraki’s island, the four friends heralded as the Heroes of Havensong should be ready to face whatever comes next. Instead, with Blue stuck in a deep slumber, Wren on the verge of exile, River dreaming of her lost home, and Shenli struggling to come to terms with his new life, the four are more fractured than ever.

But Chancelor Cudek isn’t interested in giving them time to regroup, and events have already been set in motion. Back on the mainland under Cudek’s thumb, Shenli must grapple with his own history—and his priorities—to choose a path that will alter the course of the future. After exile by the Meraki elders, Wren finds herself among strangers whose secrets might be the key to unlocking Cudek’s weakness. And when an unexpected sickness sweeps across Meraki Island, Blue and River must seek out the last ice phoenix to provide a crucial piece of the remedy—even if neither is quite sure that they’re heroes after all.

There’s nothing I love more than a fabulous sequel that lives up entirely to the expectations set by the first book. The Last Ice Phoenix does this exactly. Although it took me a bit to dig into this story, probably because it’s been close to a year since I read the first book, before long I truly couldn’t put it down. A fast-paced plot, fascinating worldbuilding, and great characters have made this series one I’ll keep highly recommending, especially to fans of series like Wilderlore or Septimus Heap.

It’s often hard to get to know all the characters when a book is told from multiple points of view, but especially in this book I felt like I was able to connect with Blue, Wren, River and Shenli all so deeply. I particularly love how the characters—particularly Shenli—have some of the most developed and thoughtful character arcs I’ve read in this genre lately. Although this book often stepped into more intense territory, placing it solidly in upper middle-grade, I felt that it was essential to turning what easily could’ve been a predictable story into one with so many unique twists and characters that I can’t believe I’ll have to wait another year for book 3! I highly recommend the Heroes of Havensong series to readers ages eleven and up. 

The Ghostkeeper will be released on July 23, 2024.

Ever since Dorian Leith very nearly died—and gained the unexpected ability to see ghosts as a result—he’s dedicated himself to helping ghosts find peace and enter the afterlife. Sure, his job doesn’t make him very popular, particularly since most people would rather pay ghastly exorcists to destroy household ghosts than a ghost therapist to help their hauntings work through their problems, but every time Dorian teaches a ghost new coping skills or helps another client move on into the afterlife, it brings him such satisfaction that he can’t imagine doing anything else.

That is, until the key to Death’s Door vanishes—and the town is suddenly plagued by an influx of angry ghosts who can’t find their way into the afterlife, no matter how many times Dorian helps them reframe their struggles. Dorian knows he’s the only one who’s able to help the ghosts, not to mention the only one who cares. But finding the key means risking the first true relationship with a living human he’s had in years—and any sense of self he has beyond the ghosts he cares for.

​I did not expect to love a graphic novel about a queer ghost therapist to be this awesome and endearing, but The Ghostkeeper seemed determined to exceed my expectations from the first page. To begin with, I loved the art style, and in particular how the ghosts were portrayed; the blue-tinged characters and in particular the clearly different speech bubbles helped keep the story clear and moving at a fast pace, and made the dialogue easier to follow than most other graphic novels I've read. The use of color schemes and panel shapes created a fabulous sense of atmosphere, and worked together with the quirky characters and fast-paced plot to create a story I couldn't put down.

But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one of my favorite aspects of the story - Dorian himself. I connected with him so deeply - his internal struggles, his determination to help ghosts, his self-sacrificing propensity, his insecurity, and the depth of his friendships. The ghost therapist concept is brilliant to begin with, but The Ghostkeeper brings it alive, and the incredibly realistic (but also hilarious) strategies that Dorian uses to counsel the ghosts grounded the premise and made it utterly believable. I was particularly drawn to the way Dorian struggles to separate what he needs from what the ghosts need, a thread of realism that helped wholeheartedly sell me on the entire story.

I highly recommend The Ghostkeeper to readers ages eleven and up, particularly those who enjoy gorgeously illustrated graphic novels, brilliant characters, and a touch of ghostly horror.

An e-ARC of this book was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Baker and the Bard comes out on March 5, 2024.

Juniper loves baking. Hadley dreams of becoming a famous bard. And when an unusual order comes into the bakery where Juniper works—an order that requires the collection of rare mushrooms from deep in the woods—the two best friends immediately volunteer. After all, as Hadley points out, how will they ever be a famous bard if they never experience a little adventure?

On their way, though, Juniper and Hadley discover that a nearby village has had its crops destroyed by a mysterious creature…and before they know it, they’re caught up in solving this mystery. And, maybe, they’ll even make some new friends along the way.

Sweet, thoughtful, and beautiful, The Baker and the Bard was comforting in a way I didn’t even know I needed. Although relatively short, I felt like I deeply connected with Juniper, Hadley, and this entire world—a fantasy world with a feeling of such normalcy that I immediately was sucked into it. The characters were truly lovely; in particular, Juniper and Hadley’s interactions felt so realistic, and their friendship consistently made me smile. I also loved the queer/nonbinary characters, whose acceptance in this world fit so well and made me think of A Psalm for the Wild-Built.

​The illustrations were bright and fun, and helped make this book a quick read while moving at a relaxing, leisurely pace. I particularly loved the frequent full-page illustrations, which contributed such a sense of place and atmosphere to the story. Although often relatively simple, they were perfectly expressive, and the primarily pastel color palette helped maintain the quiet, open mood of the story. If you love graphic novels or just feel-good reads, I highly recommend The Baker and the Bard to readers ages eleven and up!

An e-ARC of this book was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

By Nico

Note: Sir Callie and the Dragon’s Roost is the second book in the ongoing Sir Callie series. It is preceded by Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston. Look out - there are spoilers for the first book below! 

Callie should be happy. They and their friends ousted Helston’s evil chancellor, showing everyone that there are other ways of being than Helston’s antiquated traditions. Boys are allowed to use magic now. girls can become knights. Isn’t Callie living their dream?

The problem is, not everyone is ready for the sweeping changes Callie would like to see. And when the burgeoning dissent makes Helston too dangerous, Callie and their friends are forced to flee. Even if it means exposing themselves to the Witch of Dumoor, the source of so much of Helston’s prejudice.

But now that Callie is questioning whether Helston can ever become the safe haven they once dreamed of, it’s hard not to question everything. And that means the beliefs Callie has had their entire life about the very nature of good and evil.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, so when the sequel came out, I knew I had to read it immediately! It didn’t disappoint. I can’t think of another middle-grade book, and certainly not another middle-grade fantasy book, that balances hope, trauma, and healing in a way so authentic, and so incredibly affirming. With a sharp, insightful look at well-meaning adults, making change, and the challenges of recovering from your past, Esme Symes-Smith manages to make this book not only be as good as the first one, but even better. Already familiar with Callie, Willow, Edwyn, and Elowen at the start of this book, it was incredibly beautiful watching them grow and change, and there were so many times over the course of this book that I audibly cheered on the heroes or booed the villains that I can’t think of a better way to describe my practically incalculable emotional attachment to these characters, and this series. Perhaps the best part of this series is that there isn’t just one character trying to heal, which means that rather than narrating only a single path to learning to live with who you are, Sir Callie gives us many, a gorgeous and incredibly meaningful combination of whose tenacity and hope gave me no choice but to read this entire story as quickly as possible. I quite literally cannot wait for the third book in the series! I highly recommend Sir Callie and the Dragon’s Roost to readers ages eleven and up looking for everything from a fun fantasy adventure to a book to help them heal. 

By Nico

There are countless stories about the del Cisne family, about sisters who grow up into swans. Blanca and Roja del Cisne know every one. And though the verity of each individual tale is nothing if not debatable, that hardly matters, because the sisters have been raised on the truth behind ever story: the knowledge that, every generation, two del Cisne girls are born. And before the youngest reaches adulthood, one of them will be transformed into a wild swan.

Soon, Blanca or Roja will leave her human sister behind and take, unwilling, to the skies. And there is no way of knowing which one of them it will be.

Blanca: pale-haired, kindhearted, who always smiles and helps others, a perfect fairy-tale princess.

Or Roja, her sister. Red hair to Blanca’s blonde, mistakes and manipulativeness to Blanca’s perfect smiles. The perfect, fairy-tale witch. The perfect swan—the one no one but their father will miss.

Despite their differences, their bond is unshakable, and Blanca and Roja are determined that neither of them will fly away on a swan’s white wings. But when the swans come despite all their efforts and two local boys are tangled in the magic of the wood, Blanca and Roja must find their own ways to outwit the magic that would tear them apart forever.

​A stunning, atmospheric ode to sisterhood, Blanca & Roja is one of the most exquisite fairytale reimaginings I’ve read in a long time. McLemore (whose also wrote the equally amazing novels Lakelore and When the Moon Was Ours) weaves together ‘Snow White and Rose Red’ and ‘The Wild Swans’ into something utterly unlike either of them, a truly original fairytale with such depth and complexity that I couldn’t help but fall in love with it. Their writing is utterly beautiful, lyrical and poetic, and it pulled me completely into a world full of strange magic and unexpected twists. The conflicts and relationships between the four primary point-of-view characters were phenomenal, particularly Blanca and Roja—the distinct and incredibly realistic mix of love and secrets between them truly made both of their characters come alive. I highly recommend Blanca & Roja to readers ages eleven and up, particularly those who love books with elements of fairytales. 

By Nico

Morgan knows she can’t be herself on the tiny island where she’s grown up. Here, she’s straightforward, unremark-able, good at blending in, a persona much easier to stomach than the truth that no one—not her struggling mom, not her cluster of friends—knows: Morgan likes girls.

She’s determined to get through high school and escape as soon as possible to somewhere she can be herself. But all that changes when Keltie slips out of the sea and saves Morgan’s life. Keltie—who, with her odd, bright-colored clothes, disregard for social convention, and unconventional secret—is the worst thing possible for Morgan’s attempt at normalcy. Particularly when she begins to fall in love…

​The Girl from the Sea was the summery, small-town, queer graphic novel I didn’t know I needed! With beautiful, atmospheric artwork and a contemporary twist on the classic selkie story, I couldn’t help but be pulled into this book. I really loved the characters—Morgan is one of the absolutely most relatable characters I’ve read recently, and Keltie her perfect foil, with so much spark and personality that I couldn’t help but fall in love with her alongside Morgan. The entire story was sweet and vivid, and extraordinarily realistic, despite (or because of) the magical elements; Morgan’s family in particular felt completely authentic, with the right mix of conflict and love and individual character to bring it truly to life. Whimsical and full of magic, I highly recommend The Girl from the Sea to readers ages eleven and up. 

By Nico

Callie has always known that they’re going to be a knight, just like their papa, who was once one of the most accomplished defenders of the land. The problem is, the whole world seems to think that Callie should learn magic like the girl they’ve never been, and that only boys should learn to fight with swords.

That’s ridiculous, of course—and luckily, Callie’s dads know that as well as they do. Still, although Callie has found a home where they’re accepted for who they are, they’ve always dreamed of going to Helston, the country’s capital, where young hopefuls train to become knights, and where their papa once fought at the king’s side. So when their papa is summoned to Helston to help train the prince, Callie leaps at the chance to visit and find their place.

It turns out, though, that not everyone else is so pleased with the prospect of Callie becoming a knight—particularly the chancellor who runs the city, who insists that Callie learn to use their much-hated magic and stay away with the women instead of becoming the knight they’ve always known they’re supposed to be. All their life, Callie's thought that Helston would be a fairytale, but it turns out it's full of bigots and discrimination. And when Callie stands up for themself, it doesn't go well. 

No one else seems to be struggling to cram themselves into Helston's strict roles, but Callie soon discovers that’s not the case—they meet Willow, a crown prince who’s never wanted to be a warrior; Elowen, the chancellor’s fierce and capable daughter; and Edwyn, her brother, who more than anything wants to fit the mold his father has set for him. Helston’s rigid society is just hurting everyone, and Callie already got enough of that kind of manipulation when they were younger. Together, it’s up to Callie and their new friends to stand up against a society that hates them—or else be forced to become the people they’ve never wanted to be.

I absolutely loved Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston. At once a fun fantasy adventure, an unflinching story about hatred and prejudice, and a brilliant, affirming reflection of everyone’s uniqueness in the face of an inflexible society, this is definitely one of my favorites of 2023 so far. Esme Symes-Smith draws from many familiar tropes but makes them fully their own, creating an utterly amazing setting that feels more complete and well-rounded than any I can recently remember. Helston perfectly reflects the beauty and deep-rooted imperfections that coexist in our world, too, which helped to make it heartbreaking and vivid in equal measure.

However, that said, the characters were definitely my favorite part of Sir Callie. Callie, of course, was a favorite—their bravery, determination, and sheer stubbornness made me fall in love with them immediately, and I’m so glad there will be more books in the series for me to get to know them better! But every single character in this book were spectacular and nuanced, particularly Willow and Edwyn, whose struggles, though very different, are each so full of realism and power that I couldn’t help but root for them through all the stories twists and turns. A special shout-out has to go to the chancellor, not because I liked him, but because I hated him with such a burning passion—it’s a rare villain who I truly despise, but he went above and beyond in this particular department.

Although Sir Callie was sometimes hard to read—where many books, especially middle-grade fantasy, will skirt around painful topics, this one does the reverse—this was one of my favorite parts about it. Esme Symes-Smith’s willingness to face even incredibly difficult topics head-on was part of why I connected so deeply with Callie and their story; they perfectly encapsulate incredible messiness of reckoning and healing.

​I highly recommend Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston to readers ages eleven and up—if you’ve ever wanted to read a queer mash-up of a Tamora Pierce book, this one’s for you! 

By Nico

Frances, a young seamstress in Paris, is sure she’s about to lose her job. She’s long dreamed of crafting unconven-tional, spectacular gowns, but without the credits or accomplishments she needs to be taken seriously, her inadvis-able foray into more creative designs has just made her traditionalist employer furious. But instead of ruining her career, Frances’s work attracts the attention of a wealthy customer who offers her a new position—one where her creativity isn’t hemmed in by someone else’s notions of what shouldn’t be done. To her surprise, the customer is the crown prince, Sebastian.

Sebastian has always loved dresses, and now more than ever—with his parents pushing him to find the perfect princess to marry—he needs to escape the palace to find people who see him for who he really is. When he glimpses Frances’s flamboyant handiwork, he knows immediately he wants to hire her himself—and when she agrees, it seems like a dream come true for both of them.

For the first time, Frances is able to make whatever dresses she likes. And while Sebastian still has to play the perfect prince during the day, courting princesses and pleasing his parents, at night he and Frances slip into the city and he becomes Lady Crystallia, wealthy and unconventional, whose dress sense is admired and whose true identity is a carefully kept secret.

But how long can this secret be kept? And if Frances remains a secret’s dressmaker, can she ever become the famous seamstress of her dreams? 
​
I absolutely loved The Prince and the Dressmaker. The stunning, atmospheric illustrations drew me immediately into Frances’s story; the tale flew by far quicker than I wanted it to! There was so much beauty to this story, both in the pictures and the plot itself; Frances’s quirky determination and Sebastian’s lonely hope sprang to life with vividness and sensitivity, blending together into a lovely, whimsical tale full of friendship and realism that feels as genuine as it does lovable. I particularly loved Sebastian’s understanding of his identity, which is fluid and natural instead of feeling predetermined or contrived. I highly recommend The Prince and the Dressmaker to anyone who loves queer graphic novels, particularly those with happy endings.
 
Note: I first picked up The Prince and the Dressmaker because of FalconX’s awesome review of it several years ago—you can read it here!