The sunken tower

Gr 4--6--Digby's day goes from bad to worse when an eyeless, slug-like creature approaches him at the market. Kidnapped, Dig is taken underground and locked into a cell, where his fellow prisoners, Iana and Crina, explain why they're all there. Years ago, an ambitious young wizard toyed with magic beyond his control, sinking his city deep below the earth and killing thousands. Warped by magic, the wizard devolved into a ravenous monster. Other wizards managed to imprison him, but Dig's kidnappers, the Brotherhood of Blood, believe that by feeding the creature a human sacrifice, they can tap into powerful magic. However, Dig is a wizard, too, and he and the others plot to escape. Witty dialogue, an abundance of action, and a thrilling climax keep the story moving and readers engaged. Howard's buoyant cartoons are reminiscent of TV shows like Steven Universe. The more natural tones of the above ground world are a contrast to the bright jewel tones of the underground setting. VERDICT This wacky, wild, winsome ride will appeal to readers who like their fantasy leavened with a heavy dose of humor.--Jenni Frencham, Indiana University, Bloomington

Three unlikely heroes must escape a creepy subterranean city.Homeless and orphaned, Dig is often hungry. Searching for unattended food in a busy market one day, he is captured by a strange-looking, red-cloaked lizard creature. He finds himself in a dungeon and there meets statuesque Iana and her girlfriend, Crina. The scarlet-clad reptilian dungeon keepers are members of a mysterious blood cult, intent on sacrificing the trio in hopes of resurrecting an evil monster. Dig, Iana, and Crina must navigate their dangerous underground surroundings and try to make a break for the titular tower, through which they believe they can reach the surface. Howard's graphic novel is a fun stand-alone that would certainly lend itself to further adventures. His art is big and bright, with an aesthetic quality reminiscent of the cartoon Steven Universe. Many of his action sequences are fast-paced and full of giggleworthy gross-outs sure to keep pages flying. The worldbuilding is accessible and inventive, but it is the attention to character detail that sets this apart; Howard's characters, both main and secondary, are all differently conceptualized: Some are animals, some are human, some are monsters, but most are diverse in skin color, height, and build. Main characters Iana and Crina's relationship is at the forefront. Dig has ivory skin, Iana has peach skin, and Crina has pink skin. An auspiciously quirky and inclusive fantasy. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.