Wingbearer

I don't know how I missed the fact that this was a graphic novel before I started reading the e-book version, but I somehow did. From the very beginning, I got lost in the beautiful illustrations and the stakes of the story. The illustrations are incredibly emotive. I loved the panels where it was just focused on a character's face or eyes. The storytelling is rich and imaginative, and I loved the courage and relationships between Zuli and her friends. Also, omg, the owl with all his little side comments-- I laughed so much. All in all, I loved this book and can't wait to see more of the Wingbearer series. Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

This was an exciting start to a fantastical middle grade fantasy series. The colorful, kinetic art will be really appealing for the intended age group, and I kept thinking it wasn't at all surprising that just about everyone she met was pretty easily won over by Zuli's charm—she is ADORABLE.

Thank you to the Quill Tree Books and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. This great middle-grade novel has a little bit of everything: a diverse set of characters, gorgeously detailed artwork, magic, great world-building, adventure, and, based on the ending — a possibility of volume 2. The story emphasizes loyalty, friendship, family, and conservation, among other important ideas. I would recommend this book for ages 10-14.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy to read and review. Zuli was raised by bird spirits in a mystical great tree that is a haven for their souls. Her origin is a mystery and she seems to be the only one of her kind. When bird souls are taken and not allowed to come to the great haven in order to be reborn, Zuli leaves her home to solve the mystery and retrieve the souls. Accompanied by her owl guardian Frowley, Zuli goes on a journey, gathering unexpected friends and fighting enemies along the way. She discovers her own unexpected gifts, and begins to uncover her identity. This engaging adventure swept me away to Zuli’s world and I didn’t want the story to end. The artwork is wonderful and fits the tone of the story perfectly. The world building is very well done, complex and immersive, without being confusing. This is fast paced and action-packed but the characters really shine through. Recommended for fans of Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi.

I saw this cover on NetGalley and knew that it was something I absolutely had to review. Just look at it! It looks like a fun middle grade graphic novel full of fantasy and adventure. And it lived up to expectations! From the beginning, Lius establishes this magical world. In the beginning, we meet Zuli, surrounded by magical birds in a wondeful tree. The art in this book defintiely lends itself well to the fantastical world Liu has crafted. Actually, this might be some of my more favorite art I’ve seen in a middle grade graphic novel. The colors are striking, and Issakhanian brings these characters and creatures to life. She helps transport the reader to this fantastical world. Additionally, I loved that the birds had such personality in this book. Frowly especially, His quips and comments throughout added some humor in tense situations, and it made reading the story even more entertaining. Frowly is supposed to be guarding Zuli, but sometimes it’s the other way around. However, my only complaint is that the book gets a bit wordy at times. While it is necessary to explain magic and rules, sometimes the text is overwhelming. Finding a way to break it up might have helped reduce some of the text heavy pages. All in all, if you’re looking for a magical adventure in a graphic novel, this is definitely the book for you!