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Review: The Moth Keeper

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By K. O'Neill
New York: RH Graphic, 2023. Comics. 257 pages. 

Beautifully atmospheric, The Moth Keeper, is the story of Anya, a member of a nocturnal desert community which is reliant on lunar moths that cause the fantastical Night-Lily to bloom once a year. Anya is eager to prove herself as an apprentice guardian and shepherd of the moths with Yeolen, who is on the verge of retirement. However once her apprenticeship is complete, Anya soon finds that is a lonely job and combined with her burgeoning interest in a nearby sun-dwelling village, the pressure mounts. 

Playing on themes of tradition and communal responsibility, readers will find themselves drawn towards Anya's familiar struggle between loyalty and love for her village, while also yearning towards her personal interests and desires. These feelings are expertly conveyed by the sweeping vistas and heavily blue and purple color scheme. When disaster strikes, how will this conflict be reconciled? You'll just have to read and find out!
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