Review by Booklist Review
Bea's in a perilous position--dangling from a tree--when she meets Cad, an axolotl-like Galdurian, a race of beings long thought lost to history. When Bea's forgetful grandfather, a bearded pig in a sweater, goes missing, she and Cad embark on a search, uncovering clues in the mystery of not only her grandfather's disappearance but the strange lights that keep civilization safe from encroaching darkness. Impulsive, irrepressibly cheerful Cad is a lively foil for Bea, whose anxiety, rendered in a radiating swirl of black lines, sometimes swallows her right up. Probert's cinematic, full-color artwork is packed with inventive creatures and vivid landscapes perfectly in keeping with the fantasy adventure atmosphere. Most intriguing, however, is the complex backstory behind the world that's hinted at here--Where did the sun go? Who are the bird-like creatures in search of Bea's magical lantern? And why won't people leave the area illuminated by the golden light sphere built by Galdurians so long ago? While those questions go unanswered in this series starter, they're sure to pique interest for forthcoming installments.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When Beatrice sets out to collect elixir ingredients for her grandfather, Alfirid the Pig Wizard, she crosses paths with good-natured Cadwallader, the last of the presumed-extinct Galdurians. Over 500 years ago, the Galdurians suspended large lanterns in the sky to light Irpa following the sun's disappearance, allegedly at the claws of the Bird and feathered Tikarri, who ravaged the world before they, too, disappeared. Cad believes that Bea's grandfather can help find the Galdurians, but when they return to Bea's home, Alfirid has left to perform a neglected duty. A wondrous quest to find him follows, anchored in friendship: Bea protects the mythical and sought-after Endless Flame, and Cad encourages Bea to overcome her anxiety, which manifests visually around her in dark swirls ("It's okay if you're scared," Cad says). Probert's debut combines engaging fantasy elements: mysterious enemies, fateful responsibility, and death-defying action against a variety of foes. Detailed, jewel-colored art illuminates Irpa's radiance as Bea's journey unveils sweeping landscapes, Ghibli-esque character design, and luminous architecture. Worried Bea and enthusiastic Cal quickly become a team that readers can root for, and compelling unsolved mysteries demand a follow-up. Ages 8--12. (Sept.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A chance meeting between Bea, a fiercely loyal human girl, and Cadwallader, a lost Galdurian, ignites a friendship that could change them--and their world--forever. This lively graphic novel introduces readers to Irpa, a world in which humans live and work alongside anthropomorphic animals, the sun no longer exists, and an ancient, forgotten terror is stirring. When the sun was extinguished 500 years earlier, the Galdurians invented and built floating Lights to ward off the overwhelming darkness, and now, though the Galdurians are believed to be extinct, the Lights shine on. Beatrice lives in the forest with her porcine adoptive grandfather, Alfirid, better known as the Pig Wizard. Their predictable life of studying, foraging, and potion-making is upended when forgetful Alfirid takes off to fulfill a risky commitment, leaving a worried Bea to bring him home. She is not the only one seeking the Pig Wizard: Cad, who resembles a bipedal, gray-skinned axolotl, believes Alfirid can translate information written in Galdurian that may help him find other Galdurian survivors. The immersive, full-color illustrations employ a range of perspectives and angles to reflect Bea's awe and delight as she travels beyond her home as well as her recurring anxiety, which is thoughtfully and effectively depicted as dark ribbons twining around her body. Bea is White; other human characters have varying skin tones. Thoroughly satisfying, with a cliffhanger ending that's sure to hook readers. (map) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
