Two sisters embark on a long journey to the wild North, searching for giants. Legend says that if you can kill one of the giants and capture its strength in a magic stone, then you will be able to bring the dead back to life. The sisters will brave any danger and endure hardship in the frozen wastelands if it means they can bring their mother back from the dead. But they are not the only ones searching for the giants.

This book is heartbreaking and hopeful. The sisters are grieving for the loss of their mother, and along their journey they meet other people who are grieving as well. But each culture has their own way of dealing with loss, and they meet a group of people who embrace death just as they embrace life, with grace and hope. Ultimately, the sisters have to find a way to process their grief and decide how to live.

There are a couple of suicides in this book, both of which are tragic and sad. One is a culturally-accepted ritual of assisted suicide, and the other suicide is a violent death. I like that the book brings up these questions about death, but leaves it to the reader to decide what is right and wrong. The assisted suicide is not portrayed as good or bad. It is just the custom of this particular culture. The reader can interpret it in their own way.

I love the art style! Every page is full of shadows and lights that bring an emotional influence into the art.

The worldbuilding of the magic and different cultures in this book is really excellent. With just a few sentences, we get a picture of the bigger world beyond the main story.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.