Revisited this as a part of the award work group I'm in, and it's just as good the second time. I feel like I appreciated the art more this time. There is some truly beautiful work in here. Plus, I appreciated the book more knowing the author's story going into it. If you haven't read Squire yet and you're a fantasy graphic novel fan, definitely add it to your list!

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Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! Always on the lookout for new, diverse graphic novels to read, and this one fits the bill. Bonus points for it being fantasy and filling a hole seen in the graphic novel fantasy genre!

For the most part, I thought the writing throughout this was well done. There a few times where I thought it maybe got a little too wordy for a graphic novel, but sometimes it was necessary to ensure the readers are on the same page. Especially since this is a fantasy world that needs some explanation at times.

The writing also partners well with the characters to truly bring them to life. The art makes the characters incredibly expressive, supported by what’s going on in the text. We are also able to see a diverse representation of characters throughout this world, which better reflects the real world. You can see the characters changing as they learn more, which is so important in a book like this.

I also really liked the art in this. There are some really great panels in here, especially depicting the overall world. The overall color palette also helps in bringing this fantasy world to life.

My only qualm with this book is that the ending felt a bit rushed. I think it could have been expanded, and this honestly could become a series. I would totally read more! 
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From the art to the writing, this is a fabulous graphic novel. Not only did it have great expressive, diverse characters, but also a believable world and great art. Stay tuned for a full review to come later this week!