Review by Booklist Review
In the Milky Way Marsh, everyone knows that only certain kinds of creatures can become Star Knights, animals transformed into brave, brilliant, and beautiful humanoid warriors, crowned in fallen stars. Tad longs to become one himself, despite being a frog, one of the disgusting mud-dwellers connected in legends to the evil Marsh Witch. At least, that's what the stories say. But after Tad happens upon a fallen star and transforms, he is pulled into an adventure that takes him to the moon and back on a quest to protect the Star King, defeat the evil Fallen Fauna, and uncover the truth about Star Knights. This debut graphic novel from Davault, known for her webcomic Oddity Woods, lives up to her bio, which shares her passion for creating "cute characters in vibrant stories." Smooth linework, rounded edges, and a soft palette of teals and deep reds lend a squishable feel to every frame, while the story, over the course of a rich, entertaining adventure, explores a world beleaguered by misinformation and bigotry, with a poignant central theme of being true to yourself.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Davault empathetically delves into the consequences of internalized bias and discrimination through an anthropomorphic animal society lens in this insightful graphic novel debut. Tad, a kindhearted frog, has always dreamed of becoming a legendary Star Knight, an animal who has been blessed with powers from making a wish on a fallen star. But prejudice against salamanders and frogs, deemed "mud dwellers," coupled with threats of an evil marsh witch toad turning Star Knights into corrupt Fallen Fauna, dampen Tad's ambitions. When stars begin falling from the sky en masse, as they did when the original Star Knights were created, Tad is determined to obtain a wish for himself, and he succeeds. Finally a Star Knight, Tad meets the Star King Stello, who accidentally fell from his throne among the stars, and vows to return him back to space, except the Fallen Fauna have other plans--to steal the Star King's Crown. Intricately detailed art in a vivid jewel-toned palette, cartoonlike character designs that recall Steven Universe, dynamic and angular paneling, and a plot overflowing with magic and lore make for a thought-provoking adventure. Ages 8--12. Agent: Britt Siess, Britt Siess Creative. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3 Up--A story of friendship and self-discovery cloaked in a complex web of sylvan and stellar myth-making. The story begins with Tad the Frog eavesdropping on a group playing a game of Star Knights, a lively legend of the forest floor. He tries to join in their game but is rebuffed for being a Mud Dweller. Animals from the muck can't ascend to celestial heights, the others insist; Tad retreats, defeated, to the company of an equally geeky salamander. But suddenly, a star falls from the heavens, leading to a dizzying series of wishes granted, transformations, mistaken identities, and, ultimately, the weaving of a new Star Knight myth. Davault's narrative somersaults through the swamp and forest floor to the moon and Milky Way. Her imagery is at once epic and adorable, with a muted neon palette feeling like the stuff of fluffy fairy-tale. The pace at which characters, story elements, and set pieces are introduced, however, is somewhat overwhelming--as soon as readers have got a grip on one theme or element of the Star Knight universe, they're being visually flown away to the next. This roller coaster storytelling style may be delightful or distracting, depending on the reader's personal proclivities. VERDICT Hopping and soaring, Star Knights is a fantasy with lots of heart, bursting at the seams with plot, and should prove a delight with fantasy lovers and cute cartoon fanatics.--Emilia Packard
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young frog finds a friend and embarks on an adventure that upends a myth. Tad longs to transform into a Star Knight like those told about in local legends. In the stories, falling stars conferred humanlike forms on the animals living in the forest. They became knights who built a grand, prosperous city on the mountain, but a witch turned them into voracious wraiths known as Fallen Fauna. Tad relates this lore to another small creature and then approaches Sophos the old turtle to help with understanding details about the star wishes. However, the turtle viciously reviles the young frog for being one of the mud dwellers--frogs and salamanders--who are the villains of the story and allies of the Marsh Witch. Soon after, when a star seems to fall into the Milky Way Marsh, a sword-wielding, bright-haired person comes to Tad's rescue. Tad believes this to be Stello, the Star King, and pledges to help Stello find a way to get back to space. Davault's characters have a plump, big-eyed, punchy energy, and her angular panels in pleasing colors keep the complex narrative zipping along. Humanoid characters have skin colors ranging from dark brown to eggshell. Unlikely and unexpected heroes and cosmic royalty in disguise underscore the lively quest, while intriguing reversals serve to emphasize Tad's emotional growth. A lively hero's journey, not least for a frog. (additional art) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
