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The Secret of the Ravens: A Graphic Novel – A Middle Grade Adventure About Twins and Magical Quests for Kids
In this charming middle grade graphic novel, orphan twins Elliot and Liza find themselves taking on a series of mysterious raven quests in order to make money and survive—only for Liza to be mortally injured during one of their adventures. Now, Elliot must team up with a mysterious dark mage in order to save her.
Twin siblings Elliot and Liza only have each other. Their parents are gone. Their home was taken, and to survive on their own, they’re forced to scrounge up plastic and metal to trade for coin within an abandoned garbage heap. Desperate to escape the vagabond cycle that they’re trapped in, the answer to their plight seemingly appears when they stumble upon a Raven Quest—magical tasks offered by mysterious message-carrying ravens that when successfully completed, promise the victors coin and untold riches.
In a gamble to change their fates, Elliot and Liza follow the trail of Raven Quests to the kingdom’s capital, where the greedy rulers of the Kawumiti Kingdom reign and young people are enlisted to train as royal mages for the kingdom's army. But the Ravens Quests aren’t as they seem, and the King is on a mission to hunt down vagrant participants like the twins.
When a quest goes terribly wrong, Liza is poisoned, and Elliot finds himself racing against the clock to find the cure. Now the only way to save his sister is to join forces with a royal apprentice and a dark mage with mysterious motives of her own—even if it means sacrificing everything.
Twin siblings Elliot and Liza only have each other. Their parents are gone. Their home was taken, and to survive on their own, they’re forced to scrounge up plastic and metal to trade for coin within an abandoned garbage heap. Desperate to escape the vagabond cycle that they’re trapped in, the answer to their plight seemingly appears when they stumble upon a Raven Quest—magical tasks offered by mysterious message-carrying ravens that when successfully completed, promise the victors coin and untold riches.
In a gamble to change their fates, Elliot and Liza follow the trail of Raven Quests to the kingdom’s capital, where the greedy rulers of the Kawumiti Kingdom reign and young people are enlisted to train as royal mages for the kingdom's army. But the Ravens Quests aren’t as they seem, and the King is on a mission to hunt down vagrant participants like the twins.
When a quest goes terribly wrong, Liza is poisoned, and Elliot finds himself racing against the clock to find the cure. Now the only way to save his sister is to join forces with a royal apprentice and a dark mage with mysterious motives of her own—even if it means sacrificing everything.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2023
15 people are currently reading
2799 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
July 18, 2023
ARC was given by NetGalley & HarperCollin Children's Books.
Expected publication: November 7, 2023
Content/Trigger Warnings: Explosions, fire, talk of financial hardship, homelessness, loss of parents (in the past), scene of snake, poisoning, scenes of bullying, mentions war (in the past), depictions of a toxic relationship
I had such a fun time reading this graphic novel! I ended up reading this in one whole sitting and have zero regrets. I was very invested in the story and I just need answers! There's also so much to unpack with this entire graphic novel and I'm so excited to see this be continued into a series. Clearly, the way this book ends, the story isn't over, it's only just getting started.
We follow two twins, Elliot and Liza, who rely on scrounging for plastic and metal as a means to make money. Until one day they learn about the raven quests and soon they're traveling to new places to follow the ravens, and keep making money. However, things turn deadly serious when a quest goes wrong and now Liza is poisoned. Elliot begins racing against the clock to save his twin sister and in the process will uncover many secrets.
I don't know where to even begin with unpacking this graphic novel. I think we'll start with our characters. Not only are our main characters BIPOC, but all the characters we see throughout the story are characters of color. We also have a plus-sized/fat side character, Commander Leya. I loved her so much. She's such a baddie and I hope we get more insight to her relationship with Seb. Speaking of Seb, Seb and Elliot are attracted to one another. No sexuality is confirmed, but it's made very clearly they're both romantically interested in each other and also plays a key role in their relationship as the story plays out. All of this aside, the sibling bond between Liza and Elliot was everything. You can tell from page one how much they rely on one another and how much they love one another. The way they would do anything for one another made my heart so soft and mushy because I'm the same when it comes to my siblings.
The other major thing you need to know about this story is the accurate portrayal of rich and poor dynamics in this comic. Homelessness and financial hardship is something that plays a huge role in the twins' lives and when they move to the capital city in the Kawumiti Kingdom, we see a lot of parallels between our world and the twins' fictional world. The poor and homeless are treated very unkindly, there's a whole scene of an homeless elderly man being threatened to being imprisoned for being homeless, the twins are bullied by Seb's friend's, and we even see scenes with the king willing to fully wipe out anyone in the city who seems/is poor or homeless. This is such an important theme especially if you live in Canada where law enforcement has done scenes exactly like we see in this graphic novel with the homeless. There's multiple videos all over Youtube that you can watch and there are plenty of articles that have addressed this, as well. And just in general, no matter where you go, I'm sure if you haven't seen the homeless being treated poorly, you've heard stories from friends, family, coworkers, etc... This is such an important topic and it's a good reminder that we need to be better towards each other, that we need to help out where we can, and how we need to support the organizations that really try to provide aid to those who find themselves in financial hardship or dealing with homelessness.
All serious topics aside, the storyline was really captivating. I love books that have a fast paced storyline because I know I can just sit down to devour them. That's exactly what happened with this. I started it and I couldn't put it down until I had finished it, and realized there's no book two yet. This is fine. Just going to be internally screaming until there's a boo two announcement. The way the story concludes ends on a tiny cliffhanger and I just need more. I need more of these characters, I need to know what's going to happen to Seb, and I'm so sad it's over. It was a really good story, I loved the characters and I'm hooked enough that I'll be continuing on.
Overall, if you're looking for a new fantasy graphic novel that you can fly through, put this one on your radar. Now, this doesn't come out till November 2023, but I think it's worth the wait. This was so good and a great pallet cleanser/break for me in all the reading I've been doing lately. Plus, I always love the magic that surrounds ravens and crows. They're such versatile creatures in fantasy and I always love seeing what authors do with them being featured. I highly recommend this! It was a really fun, captivating time!
The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
Expected publication: November 7, 2023
Content/Trigger Warnings: Explosions, fire, talk of financial hardship, homelessness, loss of parents (in the past), scene of snake, poisoning, scenes of bullying, mentions war (in the past), depictions of a toxic relationship
"We can do anything as long as we do it together."
I had such a fun time reading this graphic novel! I ended up reading this in one whole sitting and have zero regrets. I was very invested in the story and I just need answers! There's also so much to unpack with this entire graphic novel and I'm so excited to see this be continued into a series. Clearly, the way this book ends, the story isn't over, it's only just getting started.
We follow two twins, Elliot and Liza, who rely on scrounging for plastic and metal as a means to make money. Until one day they learn about the raven quests and soon they're traveling to new places to follow the ravens, and keep making money. However, things turn deadly serious when a quest goes wrong and now Liza is poisoned. Elliot begins racing against the clock to save his twin sister and in the process will uncover many secrets.
I don't know where to even begin with unpacking this graphic novel. I think we'll start with our characters. Not only are our main characters BIPOC, but all the characters we see throughout the story are characters of color. We also have a plus-sized/fat side character, Commander Leya. I loved her so much. She's such a baddie and I hope we get more insight to her relationship with Seb. Speaking of Seb, Seb and Elliot are attracted to one another. No sexuality is confirmed, but it's made very clearly they're both romantically interested in each other and also plays a key role in their relationship as the story plays out. All of this aside, the sibling bond between Liza and Elliot was everything. You can tell from page one how much they rely on one another and how much they love one another. The way they would do anything for one another made my heart so soft and mushy because I'm the same when it comes to my siblings.
The other major thing you need to know about this story is the accurate portrayal of rich and poor dynamics in this comic. Homelessness and financial hardship is something that plays a huge role in the twins' lives and when they move to the capital city in the Kawumiti Kingdom, we see a lot of parallels between our world and the twins' fictional world. The poor and homeless are treated very unkindly, there's a whole scene of an homeless elderly man being threatened to being imprisoned for being homeless, the twins are bullied by Seb's friend's, and we even see scenes with the king willing to fully wipe out anyone in the city who seems/is poor or homeless. This is such an important theme especially if you live in Canada where law enforcement has done scenes exactly like we see in this graphic novel with the homeless. There's multiple videos all over Youtube that you can watch and there are plenty of articles that have addressed this, as well. And just in general, no matter where you go, I'm sure if you haven't seen the homeless being treated poorly, you've heard stories from friends, family, coworkers, etc... This is such an important topic and it's a good reminder that we need to be better towards each other, that we need to help out where we can, and how we need to support the organizations that really try to provide aid to those who find themselves in financial hardship or dealing with homelessness.
All serious topics aside, the storyline was really captivating. I love books that have a fast paced storyline because I know I can just sit down to devour them. That's exactly what happened with this. I started it and I couldn't put it down until I had finished it, and realized there's no book two yet. This is fine. Just going to be internally screaming until there's a boo two announcement. The way the story concludes ends on a tiny cliffhanger and I just need more. I need more of these characters, I need to know what's going to happen to Seb, and I'm so sad it's over. It was a really good story, I loved the characters and I'm hooked enough that I'll be continuing on.
Overall, if you're looking for a new fantasy graphic novel that you can fly through, put this one on your radar. Now, this doesn't come out till November 2023, but I think it's worth the wait. This was so good and a great pallet cleanser/break for me in all the reading I've been doing lately. Plus, I always love the magic that surrounds ravens and crows. They're such versatile creatures in fantasy and I always love seeing what authors do with them being featured. I highly recommend this! It was a really fun, captivating time!
The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
August 25, 2023
The Secret of the Ravens follows homeless twins, Elliot and Liza, as they complete raven quests to earn money to eat and survive. One day, they follow the ravens to the capital city and trouble ensues. Now Liza's life is threatened, and Elliot will do whatever it takes to save his sister.
The magic system in this story was very unique. I loved the raven quests! Elliot and Liza are fun characters to follow. And I also found the art style to be beautiful and vibrant, making the story come alive even more.
This will be the first book in a new series, so it does leave off on a cliffhanger.
For those looking to diversify their reading, I thought it worth noting this story does feature LGBT representation. It is not mentioned in the synopsis or tagged as a subgenre on Goodreads, so I thought it might be helpful for readers who wish to know this in advance.
Thank you to Netgalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for the e-arc!
The magic system in this story was very unique. I loved the raven quests! Elliot and Liza are fun characters to follow. And I also found the art style to be beautiful and vibrant, making the story come alive even more.
This will be the first book in a new series, so it does leave off on a cliffhanger.
For those looking to diversify their reading, I thought it worth noting this story does feature LGBT representation. It is not mentioned in the synopsis or tagged as a subgenre on Goodreads, so I thought it might be helpful for readers who wish to know this in advance.
Thank you to Netgalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for the e-arc!
July 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
3.5 Stars
The Secret of the Raven's is about a pair of twins, Elliot and Liza. Whilst trash-picking in order to get money, they stumble across another trash-picking kid chasing a raven. After watching and then talking to said kid, they find out about "Raven's Unkindness". A mysterious game set up by an unknown game master, which requires the player to complete a task and receive a sum of money in return. The twins decide that this will be much more lucrative in earning money than their regular trash picking, so they follow the ravens to try and earn as much money as they can. Their journey takes them to the capital, where they quickly end up in over their heads, and Liza is critically injured after a failed raven quest. The magic system in this graphic novel is one of the more unique systems that I have seen! The combination of plants and magic words was an interesting one, and I enjoyed it. I also liked that the world is inspired by Filipino culture and folklore. Another refreshing change from the usually Celtic-based magical worlds and systems. However, the plot felt like it moved a bit too fast. The twins learn new skills weirdly fast, and things seem to happen just a little too conveniently. The fast speed of the plot feels like it never gives you time to breathe. Also, I found myself not really caring about the characters. Something about their personalities felt very stereotypical, so I slowly found myself getting bored. The art style was great, I really enjoyed the fashion and the world-building. The way magic was drawn was also super fun to read as well! This is the first volume of a new series, but I am on the fence about seeking out the second volume.
3.5 Stars
The Secret of the Raven's is about a pair of twins, Elliot and Liza. Whilst trash-picking in order to get money, they stumble across another trash-picking kid chasing a raven. After watching and then talking to said kid, they find out about "Raven's Unkindness". A mysterious game set up by an unknown game master, which requires the player to complete a task and receive a sum of money in return. The twins decide that this will be much more lucrative in earning money than their regular trash picking, so they follow the ravens to try and earn as much money as they can. Their journey takes them to the capital, where they quickly end up in over their heads, and Liza is critically injured after a failed raven quest. The magic system in this graphic novel is one of the more unique systems that I have seen! The combination of plants and magic words was an interesting one, and I enjoyed it. I also liked that the world is inspired by Filipino culture and folklore. Another refreshing change from the usually Celtic-based magical worlds and systems. However, the plot felt like it moved a bit too fast. The twins learn new skills weirdly fast, and things seem to happen just a little too conveniently. The fast speed of the plot feels like it never gives you time to breathe. Also, I found myself not really caring about the characters. Something about their personalities felt very stereotypical, so I slowly found myself getting bored. The art style was great, I really enjoyed the fashion and the world-building. The way magic was drawn was also super fun to read as well! This is the first volume of a new series, but I am on the fence about seeking out the second volume.
May 12, 2024
Excellent graphic novel with wonderful world building! If you like Avatar or the dragon prince this is the book for you! (With a unique Filipino twist). Can't wait to read volume 2!
February 29, 2024
Kauniisti piirretty fantasiasarjakuva päähenkilöinään kaksi orpoa sisarusta, Elliot ja Liza jotka yrittävät selvitä elämässä. Kun he alkavat toteuttaa korppien antamia tehtäviä, he päätyvät kuninkaalliseen pääkaupunkiin, tapaavat pojan nimeltään Seb (jota kohtaan Elliot kehittää nopeasti tunteita, eikä hän jää niiden kanssa yksin) ja huomaavat, että pääkaupungissa on lukuisia ongelmia. Liza loukkaantuu yhden tehtävän aikana ja alkaa kilpajuoksu aikaa vastaan löytää hänelle apua.
Tämä oli sarjan ensimmäinen osa ja en malta odottaa, että tätä julkaistaan lisää. Muistuttaa jossain määrin mm. Pohjantuli ja Soittorasia -sarjoja. Tämä olisi loistavaa saada myös suomeksi.
Tämä oli sarjan ensimmäinen osa ja en malta odottaa, että tätä julkaistaan lisää. Muistuttaa jossain määrin mm. Pohjantuli ja Soittorasia -sarjoja. Tämä olisi loistavaa saada myös suomeksi.
June 12, 2024
The Secret of the Ravens
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.28/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.28/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
Read
January 28, 2025read for work! 👩🏻💻
charming characters (twin representation!), interesting world & really fun visuals (that could translate easily into animation).
charming characters (twin representation!), interesting world & really fun visuals (that could translate easily into animation).
June 26, 2023
Oh, how could I resist a graphic novel about ravens.
So,, the basic story is that there are ravens that will give you quests, if you capture them, and the rewards are coins. So, tired picking garbage, Elliot and LIza decide to go on quests for Ravens. They don't’ know why the ravens are doing this, or what the point is, but it is easier then picking garbage, so heck yeah.
And of course, they get greedy and try to go on a quest they are not ready for, involving a humongous venomous snake, whose poison they have to capture. Suffice it to say it does not go well, and Liza gets sick, and now Elliot has to find a way to save her.
So, while he was questing for Ravens, he soon finds he is questing for a spell to save his sister. But like asking for chicken’s teeth, the things he has to find apparently no longer exist. Or is that true?
This is a good, story, face paced, and fun to see how they solve the puzzles, but it is only part 1, and ends on a cliff-hanger. But the story is good, and once the sequel comes out, who cares if it ends where you least expect it.
Interesting world building, and the spells are explained at the end of the book, they appear to be Filipino words, which makes sense, since the author is Canadian-Filipino.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 7th of November 2023.
So,, the basic story is that there are ravens that will give you quests, if you capture them, and the rewards are coins. So, tired picking garbage, Elliot and LIza decide to go on quests for Ravens. They don't’ know why the ravens are doing this, or what the point is, but it is easier then picking garbage, so heck yeah.
And of course, they get greedy and try to go on a quest they are not ready for, involving a humongous venomous snake, whose poison they have to capture. Suffice it to say it does not go well, and Liza gets sick, and now Elliot has to find a way to save her.
So, while he was questing for Ravens, he soon finds he is questing for a spell to save his sister. But like asking for chicken’s teeth, the things he has to find apparently no longer exist. Or is that true?
This is a good, story, face paced, and fun to see how they solve the puzzles, but it is only part 1, and ends on a cliff-hanger. But the story is good, and once the sequel comes out, who cares if it ends where you least expect it.
Interesting world building, and the spells are explained at the end of the book, they appear to be Filipino words, which makes sense, since the author is Canadian-Filipino.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 7th of November 2023.
October 20, 2023
Netgalley provided me a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've been picking up pretty much every fantasy/sci-fi graphic novel that I can get my hands on because besides LGBTQ+, they are the most asked for right now in my library. This one will be a solid addition to my collection, so I'm hoping that open-ending means there's more books to follow in this series.
Super original (catching ravens-->secret quest-->money) with some mystery and creepiness thrown in for good measure. I'm going to need WAY more character development in the next volume if I'm going to continue the series, though. (And yes, I understand that is more difficult in graphic novels.) I also needed more explanation regarding the mysterious long-ago war that is mentioned.
Illustrations are fantastic and remind me a bit of Molly Knox Ostertag's The Witch Boy series. Also super appreciative of the diverse characters.
I've been picking up pretty much every fantasy/sci-fi graphic novel that I can get my hands on because besides LGBTQ+, they are the most asked for right now in my library. This one will be a solid addition to my collection, so I'm hoping that open-ending means there's more books to follow in this series.
Super original (catching ravens-->secret quest-->money) with some mystery and creepiness thrown in for good measure. I'm going to need WAY more character development in the next volume if I'm going to continue the series, though. (And yes, I understand that is more difficult in graphic novels.) I also needed more explanation regarding the mysterious long-ago war that is mentioned.
Illustrations are fantastic and remind me a bit of Molly Knox Ostertag's The Witch Boy series. Also super appreciative of the diverse characters.
November 6, 2023
Really cool concept, and started strong, but fell a bit flat for me.
A few issues I had with it:
- The idea that because one of the twins wanted something, it meant that "deep down", the other twin wanted it too, as if these aren't two different people??
- The twins were treated poorly in the city because they're "obviously poor" and dirty but they didn't look like that at all? Their outfits were simple but they didn't look bad otherwise. I'm guessing it was just a shorthand to help save on illustration time but it felt weird.
- The villain felt flat? I sympathized with her in the opening but it was rather cookie-cutter later on.
- Super nit-picky, but the ravens are definitely just crows.
Things I liked:
- The twins felt fully realized (other than the "wanting the same thing deep down" bit).
- A cool magic system.
- Seb was my favourite character! Really loved him - he was endearing and compelling as a main cast member.
- None of the art felt rushed or lazy to me, and the faces were super expressive.
In short, worth reading but not something I'll end up seeking out to reread.
A few issues I had with it:
- The idea that because one of the twins wanted something, it meant that "deep down", the other twin wanted it too, as if these aren't two different people??
- The twins were treated poorly in the city because they're "obviously poor" and dirty but they didn't look like that at all? Their outfits were simple but they didn't look bad otherwise. I'm guessing it was just a shorthand to help save on illustration time but it felt weird.
- The villain felt flat? I sympathized with her in the opening but it was rather cookie-cutter later on.
- Super nit-picky, but the ravens are definitely just crows.
Things I liked:
- The twins felt fully realized (other than the "wanting the same thing deep down" bit).
- A cool magic system.
- Seb was my favourite character! Really loved him - he was endearing and compelling as a main cast member.
- None of the art felt rushed or lazy to me, and the faces were super expressive.
In short, worth reading but not something I'll end up seeking out to reread.
December 4, 2023
‘The Secret of the Ravens’ with story and art by Joanna Cacao is a graphic novel for middle school readers about two siblings trying to survive in a fantasy kingdom.
For Elliot and Liza, life isn’t easy. Their parents and their home are gone. To find money for food or shelter, they take on mysterious quests from ravens. The harder quests pay more money, but bring more danger. Now Eilza is ill and Elliott has to perform impossible tasks for a dark mage that may get Elliott killed. With the help of a royal apprentice, he may find more than he wants to.
I liked this read about siblings and dark magic. The art is pretty good and I think young readers will like this story.
For Elliot and Liza, life isn’t easy. Their parents and their home are gone. To find money for food or shelter, they take on mysterious quests from ravens. The harder quests pay more money, but bring more danger. Now Eilza is ill and Elliott has to perform impossible tasks for a dark mage that may get Elliott killed. With the help of a royal apprentice, he may find more than he wants to.
I liked this read about siblings and dark magic. The art is pretty good and I think young readers will like this story.
June 23, 2023
Twins Elliott and Liza are homeless orphans just trying to make enough money to feed themselves each day. When an acquaintance shows them a way to make bank by capturing and completing quests from magical ravens, the twins feel like they finally have a chance to improve their lives. But in order to get enough raven quests to survive, they must move to the city. In the city, they meet Seb, who once was homeless like them, and who offers them a job working for the palace. Liza wants to accept and make an honest living, but Elliott doesn't trust the offer, and instead forces them to go on a dangerous raven mission. Unfortunately, Liza gets gravely injured, and the only person who can help cure her is a mysterious magician, who asks Seb and Elliott to find some rare, extremely hard to get items. Who is this mysterious magician and what is her aim? Will Elliott and Seb be able to save Liza in time?
I loved the story told in this graphic novel. I was immediately immersed in a fantasy land with a unique magic system consisting on magical words that pair with herbs. At the back of the book, there is an index of what each spell/herb combination means (of course, I didn't know this till the end, so I had no clue what spells they were performing). It was precious how much the twins cared about each other, and would do anything for the other. I loved the artwork and the style the illustrator used to help tell this story. It was beautiful and in color; you can tell that the illustrator spent a lot of time working to perfect each panel.
Some things I did not like were that the story ended on a cliffhanger. I guess I am to assume this will be a series? If so, I am excited to read the next installment! I can't wait to continue the story! One more thing is that I felt that the author kind of hinted at a romance, but it didn't go anywhere. So I'm guessing it will in the next book? But I felt this could have worked as a story of friendship as well.
I would absolutely recommend this story to middle grade readers. I think it is a great introduction to fantasy and to graphic novels, and I think it would appeal to middle grade readers, which is presumably the target demographic.
Thank you to netgalley for providing an ARC copy of "The Secret of the Ravens" in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the story told in this graphic novel. I was immediately immersed in a fantasy land with a unique magic system consisting on magical words that pair with herbs. At the back of the book, there is an index of what each spell/herb combination means (of course, I didn't know this till the end, so I had no clue what spells they were performing). It was precious how much the twins cared about each other, and would do anything for the other. I loved the artwork and the style the illustrator used to help tell this story. It was beautiful and in color; you can tell that the illustrator spent a lot of time working to perfect each panel.
Some things I did not like were that the story ended on a cliffhanger. I guess I am to assume this will be a series? If so, I am excited to read the next installment! I can't wait to continue the story! One more thing is that I felt that the author kind of hinted at a romance, but it didn't go anywhere. So I'm guessing it will in the next book? But I felt this could have worked as a story of friendship as well.
I would absolutely recommend this story to middle grade readers. I think it is a great introduction to fantasy and to graphic novels, and I think it would appeal to middle grade readers, which is presumably the target demographic.
Thank you to netgalley for providing an ARC copy of "The Secret of the Ravens" in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2024
I'd had high hopes for this one, but it ended up being a mess. Where do I begin...
And to top it all off, it ends on a cliffhanger—at least I HOPE it's meant to be a cliffhanger, and not just that it ends this way? Because this would be a beyond crappy way to end things.
That said, if a sequel ever appears I will not be reading it.
And to top it all off, it ends on a cliffhanger—at least I HOPE it's meant to be a cliffhanger, and not just that it ends this way? Because this would be a beyond crappy way to end things.
That said, if a sequel ever appears I will not be reading it.
November 9, 2023
Twin brother and sister want to make a living out of their lives, but eventually, it comes with a cost.
Since their parents died, Elliot and Liza, twin brother and sister, have been collecting trash to make a living. One day, a person they knew caught a special raven that gave them a Raven Quest to get something in exchange for money. So, they decided to do the same and traveled to the capital to catch more Raven Quests. But one Raven Quest got Liza poisoned by an evil Titan Snake. So, Elliot and a guard named Seb went to the dark mage to find a cure for Liza. Her twin brother Elliot will do anything to save Lisa, even if it means helping a dark mage.
🪶 Paige's thoughts:
The concept of a twin brother and sister caught my eye because I love to read stories with that concept (I made 2 sets of twin brother and sister OCs). I love the vibrant world with incredible magic, and the raven quests sounded fun. I love the art style, and the palette is pretty nice.
The author's Filipino culture shines through in the magic. After the story ends, there's a spell glossary to tell you what the words to the spells mean; there are also pictures of the author's evolution of when the twins first encounter the Titan Snake and how the twins' character designs evolved. It was super fun to look at those things.
Liza is a stubborn but amusing character. Liza is my favorite twin. Elliot is the protector and the babysitter. Seb is a pretty nice guy. The dark mage is mysterious and a bit withdrawn.
Give this book to fantasy fans who love a good story with twin magic.
🪶 Laly's thoughts:
The book was so fascinating. I thought the beginning was sad because I felt bad for the twins. They lost their parents and barely made enough money to eat a meal. That is one of the worst ways to live. When they went to the capital, they were given dirty looks and no sympathy.
It is a fast-paced story, and I devoured this book in one sitting.
Of the two twins, I preferred Lisa because she was more confident, and Elliot was a little more hesitant and not as secure.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, so there should be book 2.
I found this book excellent and one of the best books ever.
Happy Reading, Paige & Laly ❤️ 📚 💥
Thank you to the publisher for sending us this epic read.
Since their parents died, Elliot and Liza, twin brother and sister, have been collecting trash to make a living. One day, a person they knew caught a special raven that gave them a Raven Quest to get something in exchange for money. So, they decided to do the same and traveled to the capital to catch more Raven Quests. But one Raven Quest got Liza poisoned by an evil Titan Snake. So, Elliot and a guard named Seb went to the dark mage to find a cure for Liza. Her twin brother Elliot will do anything to save Lisa, even if it means helping a dark mage.
🪶 Paige's thoughts:
The concept of a twin brother and sister caught my eye because I love to read stories with that concept (I made 2 sets of twin brother and sister OCs). I love the vibrant world with incredible magic, and the raven quests sounded fun. I love the art style, and the palette is pretty nice.
The author's Filipino culture shines through in the magic. After the story ends, there's a spell glossary to tell you what the words to the spells mean; there are also pictures of the author's evolution of when the twins first encounter the Titan Snake and how the twins' character designs evolved. It was super fun to look at those things.
Liza is a stubborn but amusing character. Liza is my favorite twin. Elliot is the protector and the babysitter. Seb is a pretty nice guy. The dark mage is mysterious and a bit withdrawn.
Give this book to fantasy fans who love a good story with twin magic.
🪶 Laly's thoughts:
The book was so fascinating. I thought the beginning was sad because I felt bad for the twins. They lost their parents and barely made enough money to eat a meal. That is one of the worst ways to live. When they went to the capital, they were given dirty looks and no sympathy.
It is a fast-paced story, and I devoured this book in one sitting.
Of the two twins, I preferred Lisa because she was more confident, and Elliot was a little more hesitant and not as secure.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, so there should be book 2.
I found this book excellent and one of the best books ever.
Happy Reading, Paige & Laly ❤️ 📚 💥
Thank you to the publisher for sending us this epic read.
June 27, 2023
Awesome debut for this author/illustrator.
I love fantasy world stories that are not portal fantasy but with their own worldbuilding and lore such as this.
Two orphan siblings need to earn money to survive and stop searching for garbage to sell. Instead, they begin to use magic to activate ravens. These ravens activate quests that will lead to rewards. They try to have a go at the main city although they don't agree with the regent's way of governing the people, but they still don't have enough money to survive. Because they don't want to join the apprenticeship program that serves the queen and king, they try again to use magic, and one of the siblings gets mortally injured.
This first volume focuses on the healing of the sibling, with a lot of fast-paced quests but there are larger and darker forces acting in the background that will define the main core of this series. This volume sets up the world and main conflict, although it resolves one problem initiated in this volume, the main story continues in the next volume.
The magic system is pretty cool, it uses hand gestures, ingredients, and voice, but in a cool way. There is a glossary at the end with all the spells, and detailed information on the right pronunciation, ingredients required, and purpose of each spell.
The story is full of quests, adventure, great pacing, and not too heavy on text in some pages and panels making it easy and fast to read. It's about surviving, learning to trust, friendship, revenge, family, betrayal, and sacrifice.
I like that the author illustrated "diversity" and also different body shapes. The usage of warm and cold colors at the right moment helps to set the mood.
We sure appreciate the last pages including a few making of and the evolution of this comic related to cover, character, and page design.
A lesson that I've learned from this story: We can do anything as long as we don't do it alone.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the Arc. My opinions are voluntary and honest.
I love fantasy world stories that are not portal fantasy but with their own worldbuilding and lore such as this.
Two orphan siblings need to earn money to survive and stop searching for garbage to sell. Instead, they begin to use magic to activate ravens. These ravens activate quests that will lead to rewards. They try to have a go at the main city although they don't agree with the regent's way of governing the people, but they still don't have enough money to survive. Because they don't want to join the apprenticeship program that serves the queen and king, they try again to use magic, and one of the siblings gets mortally injured.
This first volume focuses on the healing of the sibling, with a lot of fast-paced quests but there are larger and darker forces acting in the background that will define the main core of this series. This volume sets up the world and main conflict, although it resolves one problem initiated in this volume, the main story continues in the next volume.
The magic system is pretty cool, it uses hand gestures, ingredients, and voice, but in a cool way. There is a glossary at the end with all the spells, and detailed information on the right pronunciation, ingredients required, and purpose of each spell.
The story is full of quests, adventure, great pacing, and not too heavy on text in some pages and panels making it easy and fast to read. It's about surviving, learning to trust, friendship, revenge, family, betrayal, and sacrifice.
I like that the author illustrated "diversity" and also different body shapes. The usage of warm and cold colors at the right moment helps to set the mood.
We sure appreciate the last pages including a few making of and the evolution of this comic related to cover, character, and page design.
A lesson that I've learned from this story: We can do anything as long as we don't do it alone.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the Arc. My opinions are voluntary and honest.
October 20, 2023
What worked:
A problem with some graphic novels occurs when the narrative and abstract illustrations don’t fully communicate the plot. That is not a problem in this book. The text is not overly descriptive, as with all graphic novels, but it clearly tells the story of a young orphan trying to save the life of his twin sister. The drawings focus on the characters and events without unnecessary details so readers are able to fully grasp what’s going on. The illustrations effectively convey the evilness of the antagonists to enhance the descriptions in the narrative.
The main conflict finds Elliot doing everything he can to save his twin sister from dying of snake poisoning. The suspense intensifies as time counts down. There’s an underlying problem of persecution that concerns the whole kingdom. The opening scene finds a race of people being pursued by the royal hunters for execution. In the city, people living on the streets are being rounded up and the citizens are unwilling to help. This cruelty by the rulers creates difficulties across the lands and motivates one character to seek revenge.
What didn’t work as well:
The book’s ending is too abrupt as there are unresolved issues. I don’t want to share any spoilers but suffice it to say readers may not be satisfied. A sequel is surely on the way.
The final verdict:
The premise of the plot is engaging and magic is a central part of the story. However, the book ends just as things get really interesting so readers will need to reconcile this issue in their minds. This book will appeal to those who enjoy close family ties and enchantments.
A problem with some graphic novels occurs when the narrative and abstract illustrations don’t fully communicate the plot. That is not a problem in this book. The text is not overly descriptive, as with all graphic novels, but it clearly tells the story of a young orphan trying to save the life of his twin sister. The drawings focus on the characters and events without unnecessary details so readers are able to fully grasp what’s going on. The illustrations effectively convey the evilness of the antagonists to enhance the descriptions in the narrative.
The main conflict finds Elliot doing everything he can to save his twin sister from dying of snake poisoning. The suspense intensifies as time counts down. There’s an underlying problem of persecution that concerns the whole kingdom. The opening scene finds a race of people being pursued by the royal hunters for execution. In the city, people living on the streets are being rounded up and the citizens are unwilling to help. This cruelty by the rulers creates difficulties across the lands and motivates one character to seek revenge.
What didn’t work as well:
The book’s ending is too abrupt as there are unresolved issues. I don’t want to share any spoilers but suffice it to say readers may not be satisfied. A sequel is surely on the way.
The final verdict:
The premise of the plot is engaging and magic is a central part of the story. However, the book ends just as things get really interesting so readers will need to reconcile this issue in their minds. This book will appeal to those who enjoy close family ties and enchantments.
July 31, 2024
This review was written for School Library Journal.
Gr 4-8- Twins Elliot and Liza want what everyone else does, the security of home and health. But that is a farfetched dream for those without parents, living in a kingdom that doesn’t care. With raven quests promising them wealth, and magic at their disposal, they are prompted to take greater and greater risks, until Liza gets hurt. With newfound help from well-intentioned guard apprentice Seb, Elliot races to gather the ingredients required by the raven’s mage master. Like many Fantasy graphic novels, this Filipino-inspired volume provides a safe window through which to critically analyze humanity. Specifically, Cacao paints an empathetic view of poverty through the twins. Readers can easily see how their status is not due to laziness, but from misfortune and the failures of state and society to adequately assist. The thematic drivers, prejudice and inequality, regularly push the adventure along by making the characters susceptible to manipulation, and by pressuring them to try extreme solutions. While the topic is heavy, the popular middle grade style illustrations and supportive characters infuse the tone with resilience and hope. VERDICT For those who enjoyed adventures like The Nameless City, or Newsprints, this is another illuminating graphic novel that wraps its social issues around the lives of heart-capturing characters.
Gr 4-8- Twins Elliot and Liza want what everyone else does, the security of home and health. But that is a farfetched dream for those without parents, living in a kingdom that doesn’t care. With raven quests promising them wealth, and magic at their disposal, they are prompted to take greater and greater risks, until Liza gets hurt. With newfound help from well-intentioned guard apprentice Seb, Elliot races to gather the ingredients required by the raven’s mage master. Like many Fantasy graphic novels, this Filipino-inspired volume provides a safe window through which to critically analyze humanity. Specifically, Cacao paints an empathetic view of poverty through the twins. Readers can easily see how their status is not due to laziness, but from misfortune and the failures of state and society to adequately assist. The thematic drivers, prejudice and inequality, regularly push the adventure along by making the characters susceptible to manipulation, and by pressuring them to try extreme solutions. While the topic is heavy, the popular middle grade style illustrations and supportive characters infuse the tone with resilience and hope. VERDICT For those who enjoyed adventures like The Nameless City, or Newsprints, this is another illuminating graphic novel that wraps its social issues around the lives of heart-capturing characters.
June 25, 2023
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For orphan twins Elliot and Liza, scavenging through metal and plastic helps them receive coins for doing so. They begin a raven quest to earn more coins for shelter and food, but one incident causes Liza to be poisoned. With the help of Seb, who's in the king's army, both boys begin their search for ingredients from a mysterious person who promises to help Liza. Can Elliot save his twin sister from hidden secrets and dangerous magic before it's too late?
From twin thinking to magical ravens, Liza and Elliot survive on their own after their parents' deaths. As they decide to visit the capital, the locals are blunt with unkindness and rude behavior. Except for one named Seb, who wants to help and be friends. The royal king and queen want to change the kingdom for their own benefit, despite the homeless locals and starving families. Eliot becomes strong in mind and spirit for his sister, and with the help of the charismatic Seb, he might be able to. But with the shadowy benefactor, can Elliot truly save his sister in time? An enjoyable read, and I can't wait for book two!
For orphan twins Elliot and Liza, scavenging through metal and plastic helps them receive coins for doing so. They begin a raven quest to earn more coins for shelter and food, but one incident causes Liza to be poisoned. With the help of Seb, who's in the king's army, both boys begin their search for ingredients from a mysterious person who promises to help Liza. Can Elliot save his twin sister from hidden secrets and dangerous magic before it's too late?
From twin thinking to magical ravens, Liza and Elliot survive on their own after their parents' deaths. As they decide to visit the capital, the locals are blunt with unkindness and rude behavior. Except for one named Seb, who wants to help and be friends. The royal king and queen want to change the kingdom for their own benefit, despite the homeless locals and starving families. Eliot becomes strong in mind and spirit for his sister, and with the help of the charismatic Seb, he might be able to. But with the shadowy benefactor, can Elliot truly save his sister in time? An enjoyable read, and I can't wait for book two!
August 4, 2023
I randomly ran across The Secret of The Ravens on Netgalley while browsing. And being the Six of Crows fan I am, (yes I know ravens and crows are different birds) I requested it mostly for the cover. The Secret of The Ravens is a Filipino-inspired mg fantasy that follows two homeless twins named Elliot and Liza who are struggling to eat and live. One day they catch another kid hunting magical Ravens who provide Quests for money and decide to try it themselves. But it leads to a giant Titan Snake poisons Liza and Elliot decides to do anything it takes to save her including searching with a new ally for an ancient Mage to heal her. Unfortunately, the Mage has secrets of their own.
I enjoyed this graphic novel. I liked the magic system of using herbs and plants for spells. It's a bit different from most fantasies I read. I really wanted more background from what happened before the main story. Not much was explained. The world building needs some expanding. But I definitely can recommend picking this one up.
***Thank you to Netgalley and Clarion Books for providing me with a review copy.***
I enjoyed this graphic novel. I liked the magic system of using herbs and plants for spells. It's a bit different from most fantasies I read. I really wanted more background from what happened before the main story. Not much was explained. The world building needs some expanding. But I definitely can recommend picking this one up.
***Thank you to Netgalley and Clarion Books for providing me with a review copy.***
March 20, 2024
A great series-starter! Cacao's art shines here. My one complaint is that—and this is rare, for me—I actually wish this book had been broken up into two or three smaller volumes. Usually I wish a graphic novel could be longer, but this one very clearly has a larger story to tell, and the arc of the first book resulted in an odd cadence for the conclusion, where it stopped right when it felt like it should have just built up momentum. (This is a complaint I sometimes run into with graphic novel publications of titles that were originally published as webcomics—where the story moves forward a few pages at a time, and the paperbound version has to choose a somewhat arbitrary stopping point per-volume.) I'd have been interested to see how it felt if split into a few more tightly woven series of shorter volumes, giving more breathing room to the subplots and following a pacing almost more like shonen (ish) manga.
Still, it's an interesting and exciting story, and I think middle grade readers will appreciate feeling like they're reading a YA-style story that's still written with them in mind.
Still, it's an interesting and exciting story, and I think middle grade readers will appreciate feeling like they're reading a YA-style story that's still written with them in mind.
Read
August 18, 2023The Secret of the Ravens follows twin orphans, Elliot and Liza, as they try to make their way in the world. Upon discovering that ravens around town carry magical tasks that can earn them the money they desperately need to live, the twins follow the birds to the capital city and end up in over their heads. Soon Elliot must team up with a frustrating capital soldier apprentice to fulfill the mission of a mysterious mage and save his sister. But everything in the capital is not as it seems. Secrets will be revealed on all sides and Elliot and Liza will need to decide who they can trust.
I really enjoyed the magic system in this book - simple spells made from different plants and fungus found in nature are relativity common and accessible, but there are complicated spells with dark intentions and rare ingredients too. I also loved the twins dynamic. They love and annoy each other in equal measure in the way only siblings can. Plus, the art is vibrant and fun. I can’t wait to read what happens next - it ends on a cliff hanger so be prepared!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I really enjoyed the magic system in this book - simple spells made from different plants and fungus found in nature are relativity common and accessible, but there are complicated spells with dark intentions and rare ingredients too. I also loved the twins dynamic. They love and annoy each other in equal measure in the way only siblings can. Plus, the art is vibrant and fun. I can’t wait to read what happens next - it ends on a cliff hanger so be prepared!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
November 8, 2023
Honestly, this book was much more interesting than I expected. Twins Elliot and Liza, who are orphaned and homeless, scavenge garbage to sell recyclables to afford food, until they see another boy capture a raven with a spell and the perform a quest in exchange for cash. The two jump at the chance, even following the ravens to the capital city of Kawumiti Kingdom where everything is expensive and the king is actively trying to eliminate any poor people. Elliot and Liza meet Seb, an apprentice in the king's guard, who offers them room and board if they sign up for the apprentice program as well, but the twins are reluctant to support such a cruel king. Liza and Elliot attempt one high-prize quest, but Liza is hurt prompting Elliot to partner with Seb to save his sister.
This book ends on a dreadful cliffhanger and sets up a fantasy adventure series and a battle between two warring worlds. This book offers a frank look at war, genocide, and corrupt leadership all under the veneer of a fantasy comic.
This book ends on a dreadful cliffhanger and sets up a fantasy adventure series and a battle between two warring worlds. This book offers a frank look at war, genocide, and corrupt leadership all under the veneer of a fantasy comic.
June 24, 2023
An awesome book that effortlessly captures the imagination of middle-grade readers. With Twins Elliott and Liza at the helm, this enchanting tale takes us on a thrilling adventure of survival and hope. When these Homeless orphans struggling to survive, they stumble upon a unique opportunity to complete quests from magical ravens. Then they meet Seb, a kind person who offers them a job at the palace, Liza sees a chance for an honest living, but Elliott's skepticism pushes them into a dangerous mission instead. Tragedy strikes when Liza suffers a grave injury, and their only hope lies with a mysterious magician who tasks Elliott and Seb with a seemingly impossible quest. The story is very well crafted with captivating illustrations and a gripping conclusion that leaves readers anxiously anticipating the next book.
Thank you to the author, HarperCollins publications, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange of a honest review.
Thank you to the author, HarperCollins publications, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange of a honest review.
August 24, 2023
Elliot and Liza are homeless orphan twins that turn to magical raven quests in order to simply feed themselves. When the ravens around their small village start to disappear they follow them to the capital city where people are rude and entitled and don't allow any homeless people to dirty up the place. The twins befriend Seb, a young trainee for the royal guard, who wants them to join the ranks. Elliot talks Liza into one more raven quest, but when Liza gets hurt Elliot has to take drastic measures to save her.
The Secret of the Ravens had a great story line. The twins were resourceful and learned what they needed in order to make life better. They worked well together while both having their individual personalities and Seb fit in very well with the dynamics. The artwork was very well done with a nice balance between realism and mangas.
The ending was rather surprising and I am really looking forward to reading the next installment.
The Secret of the Ravens had a great story line. The twins were resourceful and learned what they needed in order to make life better. They worked well together while both having their individual personalities and Seb fit in very well with the dynamics. The artwork was very well done with a nice balance between realism and mangas.
The ending was rather surprising and I am really looking forward to reading the next installment.
November 8, 2023
Look, am I proud of the fact that this is the third book I've finished within a 24-hour period? Not particularly, but that's not the point.
In my defense, The Secret of the Ravens might be my new favorite graphic novel.
The artwork is freaking awesome and I love it so much. The story itself had me on the edge of my seat and I didn't want to put it down. This is only the first part of a series and I want book two desperately (even though this book just came out today).
Seb and Elliot are absolutely adorable and I would die for them. I love Liza too, and I really hope that she gets to shine in the next part. The characters are all surprisingly complex for the length of the story and I am so excited to see how they continue to grow.
Needless to say, this is probably going to be my newest obsession and I am not ashamed to admit that one of my new favorite series is a middle-grade graphic novel.
4.75/5
In my defense, The Secret of the Ravens might be my new favorite graphic novel.
The artwork is freaking awesome and I love it so much. The story itself had me on the edge of my seat and I didn't want to put it down. This is only the first part of a series and I want book two desperately (even though this book just came out today).
Seb and Elliot are absolutely adorable and I would die for them. I love Liza too, and I really hope that she gets to shine in the next part. The characters are all surprisingly complex for the length of the story and I am so excited to see how they continue to grow.
Needless to say, this is probably going to be my newest obsession and I am not ashamed to admit that one of my new favorite series is a middle-grade graphic novel.
4.75/5
April 12, 2024
Elliot and Liza are orphaned twins struggling to survive on the streets on their own. Then they find out about the mysterious raven quests, where they get money for gathering supplies. They start to learn a little magic to help them complete the tasks. When they go to the big city, they find that the people there are unwelcoming of the poor. Liza thinks they should get a job, but Elliot feels that the raven quests are more worthwhile. When Liza gets poisoned on one of the quests, Elliot turns to a mysterious mage living deep in the forest to help save his sister. But helping the mage find supplies for the spell to save his sister, he finds that the mage is hiding secrets and that the kingdom is too. How far is Elliot willing to go to save his sister?
A cute mid-grade action/adventure fantasy graphic novel. It has excellent world-building with an interesting magic system. 4 stars for a mid-grade book.
A cute mid-grade action/adventure fantasy graphic novel. It has excellent world-building with an interesting magic system. 4 stars for a mid-grade book.
June 27, 2023
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
The Secret of the Ravens is a middle-grade graphic novel about twins Elliot and Liza in the magical Kawumiti Kingdom. They are orphans trying to get by any means possible. One day ravens start appearing, paying coins if they complete fetch quests. Liza is injured on a quest, and Elliot must work with Seb, a Royal Army guard to help save her.
Pros:
-Adorable artwork
-Diversity in sexuality (hints that Elliot and Seb are gay), background characters (many women guards), and body sizes (Commandor Leya forever!)
-Interesting magic system
Cons:
-That ending. This really needed a Part 1 attached to the title to prepare me for that cliffhanger
A great graphic novel recommended for 4th-6th graders. Kids will enjoy the artwork, characters, and easy-to-follow story.
The Secret of the Ravens is a middle-grade graphic novel about twins Elliot and Liza in the magical Kawumiti Kingdom. They are orphans trying to get by any means possible. One day ravens start appearing, paying coins if they complete fetch quests. Liza is injured on a quest, and Elliot must work with Seb, a Royal Army guard to help save her.
Pros:
-Adorable artwork
-Diversity in sexuality (hints that Elliot and Seb are gay), background characters (many women guards), and body sizes (Commandor Leya forever!)
-Interesting magic system
Cons:
-That ending. This really needed a Part 1 attached to the title to prepare me for that cliffhanger
A great graphic novel recommended for 4th-6th graders. Kids will enjoy the artwork, characters, and easy-to-follow story.
July 23, 2023
This was a wonderful graphic novel and I can't wait to add it to my middle school graphic novel collection! Twins Liza and Elliot are orphaned and on the streets. They collect trash to make enough money to eat, but one day at the trash heap, they learn that if you catch an enchanted raven, you can complete its quest and get more money than you could ever make collecting trash. Liza and Elliot complete bigger and bigger quests and soon ravens aren't as plentiful, so the twins venture into the capital. The capital is filled with elitist royals, snobbish guards and unhelpful townspeople. The only person who seems to want to help them is a formerly homeless guard named Seb. When Liza and Elliot take on a quest with enough money as the prize to keep them off the streets for awhile, the draw is too much, but will they be in over their heads?
Read on to find out!
What I loved: the art, the dark color palette, the social commentary, the honest depiction of homelessness, the magic, the corrupt politics/government, the Filipino inspiration
Read on to find out!
What I loved: the art, the dark color palette, the social commentary, the honest depiction of homelessness, the magic, the corrupt politics/government, the Filipino inspiration
February 4, 2024
Fast paced original fantasy with cool world building and relatable characters. Tagalog words as magic incantations, classism and the persecution of people who are homeless, and a touch of commentary on joining someone or something bad in an attempt to survive or do good. I hope we get to explore the latter in the next one. A satisfying arc while being clearly intended to kick off a series.
Highly recommend to grades 4-7. It is very pleasantly not weighted down with text, and even though the stakes are high there's not much to inspire nightmares or overwhelm more sensitive readers. There is one flashback that states that a character's mother died but it doesn't show it. My biggest qualm is that the book should have been called The Unkindness of Ravens or Ravens' Unkindness. Maybe that will be the series name.
Highly recommend to grades 4-7. It is very pleasantly not weighted down with text, and even though the stakes are high there's not much to inspire nightmares or overwhelm more sensitive readers. There is one flashback that states that a character's mother died but it doesn't show it. My biggest qualm is that the book should have been called The Unkindness of Ravens or Ravens' Unkindness. Maybe that will be the series name.
March 1, 2024
Great opener to a new middle grade graphic novel series. Cacao has created a fascinating fantasy world with a magic system that is easy to understand without feeling too derivative. The raven quests that kick off the story are the most interesting part: after using magic to ensnare a raven, the bird will give you what is basically a fetch quest for gold. It's easy to see why homeless, orphaned twins Liza and Elliot become so reliant on them. The bond between the twins is the heart of this book, even though one of the twins spends a good chunk of it out of the action. There's also a sweet, well-meaning boy who Elliot forms a friendship with, and their burgeoning crushes on each other is very cute. Aside from the sibling bond, the story also relies on carefully observed class differences. This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm very excited to read the next volume.
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