Spooky and cottage-core! An artsy recommendation for fans of Lightfall and Amulet.

Wonderful. Magical. Epic. 

Lord of the rings but instead of hobbits it’s a small bird and a small pig? Yes I’m in 

Haru: Spring is a gorgeous coming of age anamorphic graphic novel by Joe Lantham. The art jumps from the page complementing the sweet beginning of a magical journey for heroes, Haru and Yama, as they struggle through school bullying, finding who they are, and learning that they are just enough exactly the way they are. I can’t wait for book two, even though book one hasn’t been released yet. 

Haru is a small non-binary flightless bird and their best friend is Yama, a wild boar who comes across a potentially dangerous cursed item. Try as she might, she can't get rid of the cursed item which seems to be infecting her with its darkness. And so, Haru and Yama decide to go on a quest to get rid of the cursed heart. Together, they set off into the world, towards the mountains ("The Beacon") where darkness lurks and where ominous shadows seem to be following them.

The artwork and colours were cute but the story, worldbuilding, and dialogue didn't draw me in. The comic did spend a bit of time establishing Haru as a character but there's still a lot we don't know about Haru ((view spoiler)). I also wish more time was spent on developing the other characters and their relationships as well (like Yama, Goose, and Herb). There is a lot left unexplained in this world where magical items seem normal but not readily available, and where the inexplainable happens (but which also appears to be the norm).

This is a graphic novel for middle-grade readers looking for a cuter and less scary (though still dark and ominous) version of Lord of the Rings (with a much smaller cast of characters).