Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Snowcat Prince

Rate this book
Syv, the youngest of the Snow Cat princes, is a little different from his brothers. The people of the Nordan like him… and his older brothers have noticed. When their father dies, his older brothers argue over the throne while Syv finds himself agreeing to a dangerous journey across the Horizons in search of magical crown that could break the curse on their land. Syv’s bravery is tested by mad beasts, dark powers, ancient enemies, and – most frightening of all – if he fails, he will be marked with three black stripes and never allowed to return home. Book only available through www.HushBird.com

165 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2021

72 people are currently reading
1027 people want to read

About the author

Dina Norlund

6 books84 followers
My name is Dina Norlund and I am an illustrator and character designer currently based in Norway. Most of my career has been focused on design, so when I do create illustrations I apply all the problem solving and designing that I have learned as a concept artist. I'm inspired by nature, magic and kids' imagination. I often draw on stories from my own childhood memories when creating my projects and books!

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
578 (45%)
4 stars
463 (36%)
3 stars
199 (15%)
2 stars
21 (1%)
1 star
9 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
Profile Image for Bookishrealm.
3,241 reviews6,429 followers
August 7, 2023
This was a fun read! 3.5 Stars

As you all know, I'm a huge fan of middle grade graphic novels so I've been pushing myself to read even more this year. The Snowcat Prince has been on my TBR for a while, but it's taken me a couple of months to pick it up. The story itself follows a snowcat by the name of Syv who is forced by his brothers to head out on a journey to find a special crown that once belonged to their royal ancestor. The brothers are so preoccupied with becoming kings that they send Syv on this adventure to keep him out of the running. While on this journey, Syv meets new friends and learns the true story behind his royal ancestor, the Eldking.

What Worked: The artwork in this was BEAUTIFUL! I loved the deep saturation of the color palette, the illustrations of the characters, the environment, and more. It is clear that Norlund put a lot of hard work and dedication into this art. I also enjoyed the friendships that Syv makes along the way of his journey. He appears to spend quite a bit of time alone so it was nice to see him be able to branch out and make friends. It was also interesting to see the paralleling of how history is changed for the benefit of others. Of course, this is something that we are currently seeing in the US political arena. I'm not sure if this was Norlund's intent, but it worked well!

What Didn't Work: I struggled with parts of the storytelling of this one. There were some unanswered questions towards the end. With the passing of Norlund, I'm not sure we'll get the chance to revisit these characters but I wanted just a little more from the plot line especially the history behind the foxes and the snowcats and what that meant for the kingdom in the future. If this was spread over the course of a few volumes, I think we could have dived just a little deeper into the storytelling.

Overall, this was a solid read! The artwork is some of the best that I've seen. Unfortunately, we won't be receiving any more titles from Norlund due to her passing, but I'm glad that this was put out into the world so that people have the chance to read it. I appreciate her for allowing me to indulge in her craft.
Profile Image for Violet ♡.
287 reviews142 followers
Read
March 4, 2023
The power of kindness can conquer all!

Gorgeous art, cute characters (especially Syv), and plot twists! ❄️



The story follows the youngest snowcat prince, Syv on his journey towards the king's crown. He met different happenings and the real history.

It's a cute and quick read. There are many wonders, especially at the end of the book. 🤍

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Oni Press, for this wonderful ebook. 

#TheSnowcatPrince #NetGalley
Profile Image for Alexander Peterhans.
Author 2 books297 followers
April 23, 2023
This is just delightful. The art is fantastic, and if like me, you like cats, you'll enjoy this book. Who am I kidding, I don't like cats, I love 'em. The story is a standard fantasy story, with a prince and scheming brothers, a hopeless quest, a betrayal, and a hopeful ending. It's quite wellwritten, maybe the ending is a bit hurried.

(Thanks to Oni Press for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)
Profile Image for klaudia katarzyna.
278 reviews23 followers
September 18, 2024
oh my god! this graphic novel is one of the most adorable things I've read and seen in a while.

our beautiful young snowcat prince - svy - is such a cute and heartwarming character! i'm in love with the style of this graphic novel, it is super magical and i could stare at it for hours.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing me with an e-arc. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

★ #1 installment in the klaudia cures inner child series.
Profile Image for Ina Korsgaard Hansen.
101 reviews2 followers
April 24, 2021
Utrolig flott strek og nydelige farger, men det er ikke alle ruter som er like lette å tolke, og noen av de mange smårutene uten tekst føles overflødige. Historien er enkel og søt, og passer godt til barn mellom 6 og 11 år. Gleder meg til å se hva Dina Norlund kommer til å produsere etter hvert med litt mer trening, for potensialet virker veldig lovende.
91 reviews
March 2, 2023
Update 2023:
I reread this book in remembrance of Dina since she passed away recently.
(If you want to know more see https://kommunikasjon.ntb.no/presseme...)

——————
I backed this book on Kickstarter because of its great artist Dina Norlund and followed the whole process of making on Patreon. The book is really well made, it’s a heavy hardcover book with clothbound spine, holographic gold foil on the cover and very nice thick pages. A feast for every book and graphic novel lover.
I really love the art of the backgrounds and the many facial expressions of the snow cat prince. The story is nice too with a lot of funny moments but a little bit too simple for adults, more targeted to teens.
But: you need to read this book for the gorgeous art!
Profile Image for Pluto_reads.
180 reviews9 followers
February 9, 2023
I would like to thank Oni Press and NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for writing an honest review!

Another bedtime favorite comic read.

This little comic is about a snowcat prince and all he was guilty of is being a genuine person. I loved the art as it was marvelous and intriguing. Reading this was such a comfort as it's one of those comfort-to-read comics. This book is about friendship, proving yourself, power, and so much more. I would recommend this as it can be eye-opening and entertaining to kids. I read this to my little brother with voice acting and we both fell in love.


"WE HAVE FORGOTTEN MANY OF OUR TRADITIONS AND STORIES, BUT THAT OF THE ELDKING AND HIS MAGICAL CROWN WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED."
Profile Image for Reading_ Tamishly.
5,302 reviews3,461 followers
November 16, 2022
Thank you, Oni Press, for the advance reading copy.

I love the artsyle so much. I find the story quite interesting as well. However, I expect the characters to deliver more.

The story is about a young Prince to go on a quest to find a long lost magical crown to break the curse on the kingdom.

His journey is full of adventure with lots of new baddest characters he would meet in this quest.

A perfect adventure filled comic graphic novel for the middle grades.
Profile Image for Sierra Eva Strauch.
265 reviews33 followers
March 20, 2020
Art was fantastic!
I do wish the story was a little more developed, this is something that I could have seen being a series and I think trying to fit it all into one book minimized it.
But watching the process of this book being made through Dina’s YouTube and patreon was amazing!
Profile Image for Katya .
93 reviews
April 25, 2023
Jeg fikk skikkelig Ghibli x Løvenes Konge vibber mens jeg leste denne. Utrolig vakkert eventyr, med nydelige skapninger og spennende historie fra start til slutt. 🥰
Profile Image for Mehsi.
15.1k reviews453 followers
February 28, 2023
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.


Just look at that cover! That blurb! How could I resist? And I couldn’t! This was a stunning graphic novel!

Meet our tiny little snowcat, he is the youngest of his brothers and the cutest. Seriously. Just look at that! Throughout the years he has heard the many tales about an Eldking, about how the country was before everything went wrong, about evil foxes. About magic. Talents. And a curse. Then when the day comes that his father dies, my heart broke for this little snowcat. Unlike his brothers he seemed to have more emotions, the death definitely hit him the hardest. I just wanted to give Syv a big hug, especially when his brothers send him out on a fake journey, just to get rid of him, after all no one has survived the journey. Everyone succumbed to the curse… or worse. I loved following Syv on his journey, how he started afraid of everything (yes, even trees) to unsure what to do. But he kept going. He had a mission and he was determined to make his brothers proud (yes, he is not the smartest lightbulb at times, or he is just that dedicated to family, whatever comes first XD). I loved seeing him get braver and braver and just go on. Even when the journey gets hard. Even when the curse starts taking place. I definitely loved that. Sorry, but based on how he at times acted and how he seemed to be I had expected him to run back home. Sorry Syv for doubting you!

I loved all the things we discover on the road to the Eldking crown. Not just seeing the land get corrupted, but also meet other people, learn what people think of snowcats (to which I kind of agreed based on how the brothers were), see some gorgeous landscapes, and learn the real truth. Yep. I don’t want to give away too much, but there is much more to the curse, to the crown, to the old Eldking that meets the eye and I was just shocked and stunned!

And along the way Syv meets a young girl named Kit, short for Kitarangash O’eilah! I loved this girl from the start. She was fierce, strong, and oh yes, didn’t care. She was going that way anyway, so hey. XD I loved finding out more about this girl, including some surprises which were fun and great and made me love her even more.

The only thing that I would have liked to see done better was the fight with the big king. The big showdown. It just felt very lacking and very rushed. Everything was over and done before I could even cheer. Which is just a freaking shame. There is so much build-up, so much WOW, and then boom over.

But the ending was still fantastic and yes, it made me cry. I loved that transformation when he got closer to his home, that was just beautifully done and WOW. Plus, I loved seeing how everything turned out to and how everything got gorgeous. I am so proud of my little snowcat. He went through a lot and did some amazing things.

The art, OMG OMG OMG, I want some prints of this one because DANG. It was also the main reason I picked this one up. I just couldn’t resist it. The colours, so stunning. The way the characters were drawn (love our little snowcat).

All in all, if you want a gorgeous fantasy graphic novel featuring snowcats, lore, foxes, and epic journey, bravery, and love love gorgeous art, then be sure to check this one out!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Profile Image for SaraFair.
106 reviews43 followers
February 27, 2023
Syv is regal, colorful, intelligent, friendly and he doesn’t even know how special he is. Illustrated and made alive in The Snow Cat Prince by Dina Norlund, Syv goes through finding friendship, being betrayed and learning a lot about himself. The imaginative drawings alone will pull you in to learn more about this character’s family and background. It is a sweet and original coming of age story with much symbolism and a few surprises. The colors utilized are vibrant and give meaning to the individual’s’ personality. In addition, the drawing style reminds me of old school Disney animation. In my opinion, the story could have been much longer, with more background to the snow cats’ family dynamics and legend. However this is a quick fantasy read for middle school age and older. Thank you to NetGalley for an ecopy of the story in exchange for my opinion on the publication.
Profile Image for Juliette Locktree.
240 reviews44 followers
December 23, 2022
3.5 stars

The artwork is amazing, absolutely stunning. Just for the artwork I would say read it! It looks so cute and colourful. I loved every bit of it.

The story and characters were fun to follow. The beginning of the story was so good it pulled me straight into the book. The first half or so of the book was pretty good and for a minute I actually thought I was reading a new favourite. Everything looked so good and the story and characters seemed really promising. Unfortunately the second half of the book felt rushed and just felt as if the writer didn’t really know what to do with the story that she had started. It could have been so good if it was just longer. Just maybe 50 or 100 pages more and the story and characters would have so much more depth. It could have been so good. That’s what I personally am a little ad about.
Because I started this book thinking I would love it and ended up just liking it.
It is still fun to read and I would definitely recommend it for adults and children. I just wished it was taken care of a little better. Because the concept for both story and characters are just great.
Profile Image for Jennifer Hahn.
86 reviews3 followers
September 9, 2022
Fina illustrationer och bra story. Det enda negativa är att den gör för mycket i en bok. Hade tjänat på att vara en serie på flera böcker så att man som läsare hinner lära känna karaktärerna lite bättre. Men definitivt något att rekommendera till de som gillar serierna Amulett och Norrsken.
Profile Image for Isapropanol.
338 reviews5 followers
April 1, 2023
En søt og lettlest fortelling som jeg kan se for meg å se gjennom flere ganger.
Tegningene er fantastiske og jeg digger fargebruken. Hvil i fred, Dina.
Profile Image for Bethany.
382 reviews27 followers
March 11, 2023
4.5 stars

This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.

Dina Norlund's The Snowcat Prince is a treasure.

It is a wonderfully-illustrated cosy adventure story about a young snowcat named Syv whose corrupt older siblings send him off to recover a stolen treasure to get him out of the way when their father dies, hoping that he won't come back. The treasure is a crown, believed to have been stolen by the snowcats' age-old enemies, the sandfoxes. Returned to snowcat custody, it will grant their king the ability to bond with the heart of their mountain home and restore prosperity to their failing, freezing people. (Note: snowcats live in the same settlements as humans, but the current generation holds themselves aloof unless bribed into helping with gold.)

Syv sets off on his adventure and soon meets a strange youngster who introduces herself as Kit (yes, I could see where this was going because I'm an adult, but I didn't mind) and latches onto him, helping him cross the borders between realms and standing by his side as he faces his fears. Kit is a good, supportive friend, even attempting to reassure Syv that he is still a good person when he uses a power he didn't know he had and in so doing develops a stripe that his people consider a mark of shame and lost honor.

The story unfolds at just the right speed and manages to be sweet without crossing into sickly or saccharine. Syv has a lot to learn about the complexities of life and even his long-held beliefs, but he is brave and kind-hearted and emerges triumphant, the reader rooting for him the whole time. Some of why it was so easy as a reader to cheer for the naif is a personal aversion to seeing cats or feline-shaped creatures suffer, but a lot of it has to do with the story's art, which is delightful. Subtle details show expressions, build up the world, and make the tale immersive and engaging, but even non-subtle things, like Syv's gigantic eyes and Kit's pinkish glow (both of which emphasize the youth and vulnerability of the characters), are done so well it's easy to appreciate them.

At the end of the volume, after the story ends, there are pages about character design which also touch on a bit of lore: how snowcat names work, why there seem to be no female snowcats in the story, why sandfoxes are able to use their magic more easily, and what it really means for an aura to be corrupted. I ate it up and delighted in the bonus artworks.

I believe this book has nearly universal appeal. The colors and story will appeal to young readers, a lot of what I mentioned above will please older readers, and parents will appreciate that there's very little in the way of violence or terror. I have enjoyed this graphic novel more than just about anything I've read in ages, and since I missed its original Kickstarter campaign I am eagerly looking forward to being able to purchase it in print when it becomes available.

rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - It was interesting. I liked it.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - It was extraordinary. I really hope the author wrote more things.
Profile Image for Lucy.
122 reviews1 follower
September 23, 2025
I really liked it! I wish there was a second one!
37 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2023
To break the curse on the kingdom, Syv, the youngest snowcat prince sets out on a dangerous quest to find the long-lost magical crown of his ancestor and learn the true meaning of bravery and honor.

The Snowcat Prince by Dina Norlund is simply the cutest graphic novel I have ever read. Syv is super cute and I love his facial expression. The colours of this story are calming, and vibrant and I adore the author's drawing style. To be honest, I would like the story longer, I do have not enough of this world and magic. Many times I felt touched. It reminded me of my childhood love of the Lion King and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to review this book - thank you NetGalley and Oni Press!
Profile Image for Sophie Crane.
5,206 reviews178 followers
Want to read
February 12, 2023
This is Such a Wonderful Graphic Novel, It has Vibes of Avatar, The Legend of Korra, The Lion King & Watership Down about it, an Instant 5-Star Classic!
(Thanks to Net Galley for this Book).
Profile Image for Hans.
103 reviews
March 1, 2020
Part of the hype of this book was being friends with the amazing Dina and through her Patreon and Twitch being able to follow the creation of this amazing book. I think that definitely made my connection with this book grow a lot and therefore my appreciation with said story ...

The Snowcat prince is nostalgic and reminds me of the stories in my childhood I so dearly loved. A perilous journey, a set of quirky and lovable floof characters and a magical world was all it took for me to get hooked to a story and be transferred to a different place. That's exactly what this comic book managed to achieve and therefore it succeeded in all my expectations.

Dina's amazing style and personality shines through in her art style, creating quirky expressions on every page (I truly think that Syv is the MOST expressive) and the tiny details she gave the world is all it took to make it extra charming.

I won't delve into spoiler territory, you should read the book yourself for that, but for an amazing story with expressive characters and a beautiful world inspired by her Nordic roots and Japanese Dreams, this lovely book is THE perfect book for you!

Thanks Dina, you are a precious and amazing human being and I thank you kindly for bringing this amazing story into the world 😊💕
Profile Image for Jaclyn Hillis.
1,014 reviews65 followers
read-comix
March 13, 2023
“The foxes are strong, but the honor of the snowcats will always prevail.”

To break the curse on the kingdom, Syv, the youngest snowcat prince sets out on a dangerous quest to find the long-lost magical crown of his ancestor and learn the true meaning of bravery and honor.

What initially drew me to this book was the vibrant artwork and the adorable kitten on the cover. What awaits in the pages is an epic tale.

Syv was a very relatable character. He was the youngest in the family, and seemed to be the only kind one. He really wanted to bring honor to his family, and show his older brothers that he was worthy. I loved the folklore weaved into the story, and how the journey had many twists and turns.

It’s important to remember that not everything is always as it seems, there are two sides to every story, and staying open-minded and doing the right thing will get you to where you need to be.

💙 RIP Dina Norlund — Oni Press will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the sales of The Snowcat Prince to the Norwegian children’s organization Sykehusklovnene in Dina's honor. 💙
Profile Image for Grace.
625 reviews64 followers
March 4, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

This would make a really good kids movie.
Loved the art! Some of the pages where so pretty I want them as a picture to hang on my wall.
I would have liked some more background on the snowcats and the world separate from the foxes but from what we did get I really liked. The world building is all very interesting.
Was not expecting the twist near the end though I probably should have. I really liked it.
The ending was a bit rushed for my taste though I understand why it was.
The bonus material at the end was really cool. Learnt a lot about the foxes and snowcats. I just wish that was at the beginning rather than the end or mixed into the story.
Profile Image for Darian Reed.
84 reviews
March 15, 2023
I have been following Dina Norlund as an artist for years on YouTube and have been in love with her style. I think the story and the characters are super cute and something children would love reading. The adventure within it is so wonderful and Syv was such a kind and loveable character. I felt honored to get an ARC of this book on NetGalley, and I feel like everybody should give this story a read.
Profile Image for Marie Alming.
Author 2 books5 followers
February 19, 2021
Flotte tegninger, men litt forvirrende historie-forløp. Jeg tror denne kunne blitt kjempegod i en serie med flere bøker, der fortellingen og karakterer fikk mer plass til å utvikle seg.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.