Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld

By Shannon & Dean Hale

Illustrated by Asiah Fulmore

Burbank, CA: DC Comics, 2021. Comic book.

Amaya, the spoiled princess of House Amethyst in the planet known as Gemworld, finds herself literally grounded after a prank goes too far. The royal family of House Amethyst have magical powers that they use to help those in their kingdom, but Amaya, whose powers are extra-strong, is more interested in playing pranks and showing off her abilities. To teach her a lesson about using magic responsibly, Amaya's parents decide to send her to Earth for a week to live without magic. Unfortunately, the longer Amaya spends off-planet and away from Gemworld, the more she forgets about the life she left behind. Soon, years pass by and Amaya, now called Amy, has completely forgotten about her home until a Prince of the Realm from Gemworld finds her and brings her home.

This is a compelling and original fantasy-based superhero narrative that readers will really enjoy. Seeing Amaya's character growth from a spoiled child into a selfless hero trying to save her home planet is a familiar narrative that is well-executed. The interesting storyline is made all the better by beautiful illustrations, particularly of Gemworld.

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