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Wingbearer

 

By Marjorie Liu and Teny Issakhanian
New York: Quill Tree Books, 2022. Graphic fantasy.

Zuli doesn't know who she is or where she's from. She was raised by bird spirits in a sacred tree that holds the souls of birds waiting to be reborn and she knows nothing of the world outside her tree. Suddenly, the souls stop arriving and the leaves on the tree begin to die. Zuli, with her guardian owl Frowly, ventures from the tree into the living world hoping to find answers to the mystery of the missing souls. What she encounters are the ruins of a mystical world, now filled with goblins, wraiths, and magical creatures all fighting for survival. Zuli is still not sure who she is, but she knows it is her responsibility to save this world.

This is the beginning of a fantastic fantasy-adventure series that graphic novel fans will devour. Liu creates a world filled with mystery and magical that is perfectly illustrated to match the ethereal, luminous world. Everything about this book is filled with magical energy that captivates readers from the first panel. This novel ends on a huge cliffhanger -- which will surely leave readers eager for the next installment.

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