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Tiffany’s Griffon
Marnie Plummer is a bookish, lonely girl with a chip on her shoulder. There’s nothing she cares about more than her favorite book series, The Griffon Riders of Crystalfall. When it miraculously turns out that the world of the books is actually real, and they need a Chosen One to come from the real world and save them from danger, Marnie is shocked and - of course - overjoyed.
There’s just one problem .
The Chosen One they seek is not actually her ― it’s Tiffany Rodriguez, the pretty, popular girl who (in Marnie’s eyes) already has everything she could ever want. Why should Tiffany get to have this, too? Marnie decides she’s the one who deserves to be the Chosen One. She’ll make it happen no matter what, even if she has to do something she’d never thought she could become Tiffany’s friend.
There’s just one problem .
The Chosen One they seek is not actually her ― it’s Tiffany Rodriguez, the pretty, popular girl who (in Marnie’s eyes) already has everything she could ever want. Why should Tiffany get to have this, too? Marnie decides she’s the one who deserves to be the Chosen One. She’ll make it happen no matter what, even if she has to do something she’d never thought she could become Tiffany’s friend.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published August 13, 2024
5 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
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November 18, 2024
A magical land from a fantasy book series is in peril and the only person who can save them is…completely uninterested in fantasy books. But Marnie is here and a huge fan so she can fill in, right? Tiffany’s Griffon is an adorable young-YA graphic novel from Magnolia Porter Siddell that makes for a warm and charming ode to friendship and fanfiction with a stern warning against identity theft. With fabulous, full color artwork that really pops and captures all the fantastical fun as well as rather emotive character designs, Tiffany’s Griffon is just as much a delight to look at as it is to dive into the drama of its magical world and tepid friendship growing between Tiffany and Marnie. This does an excellent job of capturing a lesson on not judging people based on assumptions as well as showing how people with very different (and sometimes conflicting) interests can still be great friends. Also they get to raise a baby griffon and it is SO CUTE. But so is this book which is also surprisingly metafictional and makes for a magically enjoyable read!
Tiffany’s Griffon is a great book for older middle grade readers and young YA, though its charms will likely warm the heart of older readers as well. It has a familiar set-up: Marnie would rather read her griffon rider fantasy books than be outside and feels like a nerdy outcast so she is very distrustful of the athletic and popular Tiffany Rodriguez when she tries to talk to her. But when Marnie discovers the magical world of her books is real and Tiffany is the chosen one destined to hatch a griffon egg and ride it to victory against evil, Marnie decides to take on her identity with the hopes that her vast knowledge of the series will make up for the identity mishap. This is a really cute story that does well to show how the two girls just don’t have many overlapping interests but can still learn to appreciate each other, which I thought was really well done instead of falling back on the overly-used “the popular girl secretly likes fan fiction and fantasy” trope. But how can you not bond over a baby griffon?
I also really loved the villain plot of this story and–without giving too much away–leans into a pretty great look at authorship and the struggles of carrying on a large series. It gets rather metafictional in a really cool way and will give anyone a laugh that is impatiently awaiting the next book in their favorite series.
This was just a fun and lighthearted read that still manages to dive into some heavier subject matter such as children wanting to take care of ailing parents while being frustrated they aren’t treated as adults but also struggling to be adults at the same time. But overall it is just a lovely story of magic, friendship and fun and I really loved Tiffany’s Griffon.
4/5
Tiffany’s Griffon is a great book for older middle grade readers and young YA, though its charms will likely warm the heart of older readers as well. It has a familiar set-up: Marnie would rather read her griffon rider fantasy books than be outside and feels like a nerdy outcast so she is very distrustful of the athletic and popular Tiffany Rodriguez when she tries to talk to her. But when Marnie discovers the magical world of her books is real and Tiffany is the chosen one destined to hatch a griffon egg and ride it to victory against evil, Marnie decides to take on her identity with the hopes that her vast knowledge of the series will make up for the identity mishap. This is a really cute story that does well to show how the two girls just don’t have many overlapping interests but can still learn to appreciate each other, which I thought was really well done instead of falling back on the overly-used “the popular girl secretly likes fan fiction and fantasy” trope. But how can you not bond over a baby griffon?
I also really loved the villain plot of this story and–without giving too much away–leans into a pretty great look at authorship and the struggles of carrying on a large series. It gets rather metafictional in a really cool way and will give anyone a laugh that is impatiently awaiting the next book in their favorite series.
This was just a fun and lighthearted read that still manages to dive into some heavier subject matter such as children wanting to take care of ailing parents while being frustrated they aren’t treated as adults but also struggling to be adults at the same time. But overall it is just a lovely story of magic, friendship and fun and I really loved Tiffany’s Griffon.
4/5
August 28, 2024
A pitch perfect homage to fandom and friendship. The depth of character Siddell manages to pack into under 300 pages of graphic novel is unprecedented — and Gonzalez’s uproarious chibi asides clinch this book as an easy 2024 top (or perhaps of all time??). READ IT IMO
Video review here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNwv6Nnk/
Video review here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNwv6Nnk/
March 2, 2024
Never judge a book by it’s cover, or in this case, another person. Marnie is jealous of her new friend Tiffany, knowing she is the chosen one, but wants it for herself. She eventually learns that people aren’t what you first perceive and that you need to get to know them because we truly don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.
May 7, 2025
I'd been putting off reading Tiffany's Griffon for a while. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the artwork and concept of this graphic novel, it was a slight disappoint. The chose one trope being flipped on it's head, the idea of having a story within a story were both fascinating, but they weren't enough to save the character development. Both characters said things and made decisions that read awkwardly and took me out the story. The pacing was relatively uneven and I kept having to reengage with the story. The artwork was fun and beautiful, but I wanted a little more from this reading experience.
December 17, 2024
*3.5
When I read the synopsis to this book, I wanted to read it as soon as possible. A subverted Chosen One narrative as the backdrop to a friendship between two very different girls? Count me in!
In this book, we have Marnie, our MC, and... Tiffany. She's pretty, popular, and the last person Marnie wants to interact with - she'd rather just read her Griffon Riders books. When a fairy from the books appears to Marnie with a griffon egg, Marnie knows she's meant to be the Chosen One and save the world - until she learns the Chosen One is Tiffany.
Marnie develops a reluctant friendship with Tiffany to break the egg and raise the baby griffon, but real feelings begin to develop between them. Tiffany's life isn't as perfect as it seems, and has Marnie been selfish in clinging to her delusions?
I really liked how meta and fandom-friendly this book was, especially with the many references to fanfiction! It plays a great role in the final battle, and I loved the commentary on the struggles of an author and how you can't just live in fantasy worlds - you need human connection.
But... there were some things that bugged me.
First off: I totally get Marnie. If a droid magically appeared to me and offered me a lightsaber to save the galaxy, I'd probably twist the truth too! And Marnie gets bullied at school AND doesn't trust Tiffany because popular kids have pretended to be nice to her before. I totally got where she was coming from, even if her ongoing lie wasn't very good. I mean, heck, if I was supposed to pass that lightsaber off to someone who never saw Star Wars I'd probably be a little possessive too! (But the griffon in here is a living thing that's meant to bond with Tiffany, so that's worse.)
I related to her so much when she admitted to Tiffany that she hasn't looked into the author of Griffon Riders, as that would make the books so much less real to her. I get that - I don't even like watching movies with Star Wars actors sometimes!
I didn't like how Tiffany's insecurities were never addressed. Her life isn't perfect because her dad has health problems, but there's also how she goes along with her "friends" making fun of Marnie in one scene and, when those same girls pity her for having dinner with her dad, Tiffany backs down and tells them "yeah it sucks" instead of standing up for herself. I thought we'd have a scene somewhere about her saying something to them, but nope.
Also, and this is more of a spoiler, but this point annoyed me:
But hey, this is what draws me to middle grade books - platonic relationships being the forefront! And what a great love letter to fandom.
3.5/5 stars!
When I read the synopsis to this book, I wanted to read it as soon as possible. A subverted Chosen One narrative as the backdrop to a friendship between two very different girls? Count me in!
In this book, we have Marnie, our MC, and... Tiffany. She's pretty, popular, and the last person Marnie wants to interact with - she'd rather just read her Griffon Riders books. When a fairy from the books appears to Marnie with a griffon egg, Marnie knows she's meant to be the Chosen One and save the world - until she learns the Chosen One is Tiffany.
Marnie develops a reluctant friendship with Tiffany to break the egg and raise the baby griffon, but real feelings begin to develop between them. Tiffany's life isn't as perfect as it seems, and has Marnie been selfish in clinging to her delusions?
I really liked how meta and fandom-friendly this book was, especially with the many references to fanfiction! It plays a great role in the final battle, and I loved the commentary on the struggles of an author and how you can't just live in fantasy worlds - you need human connection.
But... there were some things that bugged me.
First off: I totally get Marnie. If a droid magically appeared to me and offered me a lightsaber to save the galaxy, I'd probably twist the truth too! And Marnie gets bullied at school AND doesn't trust Tiffany because popular kids have pretended to be nice to her before. I totally got where she was coming from, even if her ongoing lie wasn't very good. I mean, heck, if I was supposed to pass that lightsaber off to someone who never saw Star Wars I'd probably be a little possessive too! (But the griffon in here is a living thing that's meant to bond with Tiffany, so that's worse.)
I related to her so much when she admitted to Tiffany that she hasn't looked into the author of Griffon Riders, as that would make the books so much less real to her. I get that - I don't even like watching movies with Star Wars actors sometimes!
I didn't like how Tiffany's insecurities were never addressed. Her life isn't perfect because her dad has health problems, but there's also how she goes along with her "friends" making fun of Marnie in one scene and, when those same girls pity her for having dinner with her dad, Tiffany backs down and tells them "yeah it sucks" instead of standing up for herself. I thought we'd have a scene somewhere about her saying something to them, but nope.
Also, and this is more of a spoiler, but this point annoyed me:
But hey, this is what draws me to middle grade books - platonic relationships being the forefront! And what a great love letter to fandom.
3.5/5 stars!
March 17, 2025
(4.4) This one left me slow-clapping with appreciation for the illustrated fantasy genre. The story revolves around two young ladies (Marnie and Tiffany) who couldn’t be more different. One gets lost in fantasy and the other loves baseball. By some odd twist of fate, a fairy from the fantasy dimension enters our world searching for “The Chosen One” . A case of mistaken identity forges an unintentional friendship that soon is tested. Lots of thoughtful twists and turn. The art panels were well-paced with expressive characterization and easy to navigate.
September 10, 2025
2.5/5
I should give more hot guys cat ears, is clearly the message of this book.
I should give more hot guys cat ears, is clearly the message of this book.
October 11, 2024
Absolutely wonderful and charming
August 26, 2024
Orion the messenger fairy has had many adventures with the Griffon Riders of Crystalfall, particularly young heroine Lyn Sparrowheart and her faithful steed Swiftclaw. But then came the Witch Elel, whose magic twisted the land and made her seemingly unstoppable. She has even captured Lyn and Swiftclaw! Only the Chosen One described in the Book of Prophecy has a chance of putting things right. So Orion is taking the last griffon egg through a magical portal to a place called Earth to look for the Chosen One.
When Orion arrives in the “park”, there is indeed a girl there who seems oddly familiar with the world of Crystalfall, even knowing Orion’s name. But she also babbles nonsense about “books” and “online.” Can she truly be the Chosen One, Tiffany Rodriguez? The girl seems taken aback for a moment before affirming that she is, indeed, Tiffany Rodriguez the Chosen One. Orion’s time is limited, so he entrusts the egg to her.
What Orion does not know is that there were two girls in the park that day. The one he spoke to is Marnie Plummer, a short, pudgy, unathletic, bespectacled girl whose primary joy in life is being a fan of the Griffon Riders series of fantasy novels. She can recite chapter and verse, and has long wished for a chance to see Crystalfall for real. With no in-person friends, being the Chosen One is everything she’s dreamed of.
Tiffany Rodriguez, on the other hand, is a pretty, popular girl who seems to have everything going for her already. She comes off as friendly, but Marnie’s been burned before by one of the “cool kids” pretending to be a friend only to use it to taunt her later. Plus, Tiffany’s never even read the Griffon Riders series! She’s not qualified to be the Chosen One, and Marnie is. So Marnie lied.
But it’s not going to be that easy for Marnie. Tiffany’s attention has been drawn to Marnie, and she genuinely is friendly, so when Marnie misses a day of school, Tiffany drops by the house. Marnie’s been trying to get the egg to hatch, but Tiffany’s Chosen One status is needed to actually trigger it. Nero the griffon is born with the power of selective invisibility (a big help in avoiding people finding out about him) and Marnie leverages Tiffany’s presence to try to get Nero to be her griffon without letting the other girl know the truth about the Chosen One.
Tiffany’s usual crowd is shallow and kind of mean, so their partially shared secret means that she becomes much closer friends with Marnie. It turns out that her mother died some time ago, and her father has a heart condition that often sends him to the hospital. And while she doesn’t read for fun, Tiffany is a fan of baseball, and is interested in Marnie’s fanfiction and fanart skills. Marnie, it turns out, has a lot more going for her than she’s aware of or others see.
But there’s still that initial lie festering at the heart of their relationship, and eventually the Witch Elel must be confronted. Can a false Chosen One succeed?
There’s a lot of themes packed into one children’s graphic novel. Friendship, fandom, jealousy, the importance of truth, the importance of imagination vs. the importance of getting out in the real world sometimes, even how people with different interests can still be valuable to each other.
Good: Nice art, some nifty effects. Both our protagonists get moments to shine and show off their skills in different ways. The mystery of just why Tiffany of all people is the Chosen One is well-foreshadowed for younger readers. Elel is scary. The adults are shown to be caring if sometimes clueless because their children are keeping secrets.
Less good: The characterization of the “popular kids” is a bit shallow. But hey, they’re maximum twelve years old, maybe they’ll grow out of it.
Odd: Marnie has two younger brothers who look up to her. But we never see or hear from them after the early scene where they’re established to exist, even in scenes at Marnie’s house or her interacting with her parents. Also, the backstory timeline does not make sense. It’s not technically impossible, I suppose, but defies everything I know about the publishing industry.
Content note: Children in peril, cruelty to animals. Conservative parents may quibble at a hint of sexuality.
Obviously, the target audience is late elementary school/early middle school girls, but boys should be able to enjoy this as well, and older readers will be able to dive deeper into the themes. Recommended for fantasy fans.
When Orion arrives in the “park”, there is indeed a girl there who seems oddly familiar with the world of Crystalfall, even knowing Orion’s name. But she also babbles nonsense about “books” and “online.” Can she truly be the Chosen One, Tiffany Rodriguez? The girl seems taken aback for a moment before affirming that she is, indeed, Tiffany Rodriguez the Chosen One. Orion’s time is limited, so he entrusts the egg to her.
What Orion does not know is that there were two girls in the park that day. The one he spoke to is Marnie Plummer, a short, pudgy, unathletic, bespectacled girl whose primary joy in life is being a fan of the Griffon Riders series of fantasy novels. She can recite chapter and verse, and has long wished for a chance to see Crystalfall for real. With no in-person friends, being the Chosen One is everything she’s dreamed of.
Tiffany Rodriguez, on the other hand, is a pretty, popular girl who seems to have everything going for her already. She comes off as friendly, but Marnie’s been burned before by one of the “cool kids” pretending to be a friend only to use it to taunt her later. Plus, Tiffany’s never even read the Griffon Riders series! She’s not qualified to be the Chosen One, and Marnie is. So Marnie lied.
But it’s not going to be that easy for Marnie. Tiffany’s attention has been drawn to Marnie, and she genuinely is friendly, so when Marnie misses a day of school, Tiffany drops by the house. Marnie’s been trying to get the egg to hatch, but Tiffany’s Chosen One status is needed to actually trigger it. Nero the griffon is born with the power of selective invisibility (a big help in avoiding people finding out about him) and Marnie leverages Tiffany’s presence to try to get Nero to be her griffon without letting the other girl know the truth about the Chosen One.
Tiffany’s usual crowd is shallow and kind of mean, so their partially shared secret means that she becomes much closer friends with Marnie. It turns out that her mother died some time ago, and her father has a heart condition that often sends him to the hospital. And while she doesn’t read for fun, Tiffany is a fan of baseball, and is interested in Marnie’s fanfiction and fanart skills. Marnie, it turns out, has a lot more going for her than she’s aware of or others see.
But there’s still that initial lie festering at the heart of their relationship, and eventually the Witch Elel must be confronted. Can a false Chosen One succeed?
There’s a lot of themes packed into one children’s graphic novel. Friendship, fandom, jealousy, the importance of truth, the importance of imagination vs. the importance of getting out in the real world sometimes, even how people with different interests can still be valuable to each other.
Good: Nice art, some nifty effects. Both our protagonists get moments to shine and show off their skills in different ways. The mystery of just why Tiffany of all people is the Chosen One is well-foreshadowed for younger readers. Elel is scary. The adults are shown to be caring if sometimes clueless because their children are keeping secrets.
Less good: The characterization of the “popular kids” is a bit shallow. But hey, they’re maximum twelve years old, maybe they’ll grow out of it.
Odd: Marnie has two younger brothers who look up to her. But we never see or hear from them after the early scene where they’re established to exist, even in scenes at Marnie’s house or her interacting with her parents. Also, the backstory timeline does not make sense. It’s not technically impossible, I suppose, but defies everything I know about the publishing industry.
Content note: Children in peril, cruelty to animals. Conservative parents may quibble at a hint of sexuality.
Obviously, the target audience is late elementary school/early middle school girls, but boys should be able to enjoy this as well, and older readers will be able to dive deeper into the themes. Recommended for fantasy fans.
August 27, 2024
A tremendous YA graphic novel from First Second all about learning to empathize with others and the importance of cat ears. Siddell does an excellent job crafting the narrative and Gonzalez expertly brings the world to life with her impeccable cartooning. Probably the best-looking US graphic novel I've read in a minute. And it's funny, too!
Looking forward to whatever else these two create in the future!
Looking forward to whatever else these two create in the future!
September 25, 2024
I loved this!!! I simply think Maddi Gonzalez is the greatest living cartoonist. The story was fun and interesting, I loved the characters and again, Maddi's incredible expressions, dynamic panels and speech bubbles, and beautiful colors truly made it a fav.
October 22, 2024
What a tight, delightful plot, incredible cartooning...LOVED it!!!!!! One of the best I've read this year!!!
January 7, 2025
Genre: fantasy, graphic novel
1 LGBTQ main character: lesbian
Importance of identities to plot: 1/5
Romance: 1/5
Coming out: yes, very minor plot point
1 LGBTQ main character: lesbian
Importance of identities to plot: 1/5
Romance: 1/5
Coming out: yes, very minor plot point
January 10, 2025
Tiffany's Griffon
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ .5 (2.5/5) or 5.57/10 overall
Characters - 5
Atmosphere - 6
Writing - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 5
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ .5 (2.5/5) or 5.57/10 overall
Characters - 5
Atmosphere - 6
Writing - 6
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 5
October 5, 2024
Marnie loves the Griffon Rider books and wishes they could be real. When a character from the books suddenly appears and says he’s looking for the Chosen One to rescue their world, Marnie knows that she must be the one because she knows the books so well. The problem is that the named Chosen One is Tiffany, a popular girl from her class. Marnie lies in order to be the one to hatch the griffon egg and save the griffon riders from the Witch Elel. To do so, she starts to become Tiffany’s friend, to get her help raising the griffon. When Tiffany discovers that Marnie has been lying, she’s heartbroken because she thought Marnie was her friend. But when Marnie is taken over to the other world, Tiffany knows she must help Marnie somehow. They will have to work together to rewrite the story.
This was a cute idea where an imagined world becomes real to teach a lesson in friendships. The story is pretty straight-forward, but told in an exaggerated way that will appeal to mid-grade readers. I want to give it more than 3 stars as it will appeal to mid-graders much more than it did to me, but it just annoyed me.
This was a cute idea where an imagined world becomes real to teach a lesson in friendships. The story is pretty straight-forward, but told in an exaggerated way that will appeal to mid-grade readers. I want to give it more than 3 stars as it will appeal to mid-graders much more than it did to me, but it just annoyed me.
September 2, 2024
What a wonderful, fantastical treat of an all-ages graphic novel.
'Tiffany's Griffon' - Nearly all the things I love, stuffed into a single graphic novel. The best comic of 2024 so far, hands down.
Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. It's just there is so much to love and gush about 'Tiffany's Griffon'. It is colourful, adorable, rosy, exciting, creative, funny, clever, heartwarming, heartwrenching, sad, and hopeful. It is about magical girls, action heroines, magical worlds, a fantasy book series, pop culture, geek culture, fan fiction, fan art, real hardships, writer's block, anxiety, isolation, and above all, friendship.
Friendship, and how it can be formed through understanding via fandoms. It also means exploring new horizons; leaning about different types of fandom and geeky pop culture stuff can help people to see different perspectives in life.
Basically, 'Tiffany's Griffon' is like 'Eliza and Her Monsters', 'The Owl House', 'The Neverending Story', 'Inkheart', 'She-Ra and the Princesses of Power', 'Magic Girls: Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess', and 'Roll Call (Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Club, #1)', with the magical feel of Gail Carson Levine's ''Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly'. But it manages to stand - victoriously and majestically - on its own griffon's claws.
As an apropos note, it is everything that the new 'Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders' comic should have been.
Okay, now I'm really ahead of myself. For hopefully a better grasp and understanding of just how special and awesome 'Tiffany's Griffon' is - including its astral atmosphere and many tones and colours - here is a summary of the glorious plot:
Preteen Marnie Plummer - friendless, invisible and temperamental - is a huge fan of the 'Griffon Riders' series of books. More than anything, she wishes it were real and she can have her own griffon. And one day, miraculously, her wish comes true!
Sort of.
The world of 'Griffon Riders' is real, and it is in danger from the evil Witch Elel. A weird, funny-looking fairy named Orion portals into the real world, due to a prophecy that says only the Chosen One - a human girl, plus her griffon egg which she will hatch and rear - can stop the witch and save the fantasy book world.
The problem?
The Chosen One is not Marnie, the biggest fangirl who has been waiting for something like this her whole life.
It is Tiffany Rodriguez.
Tiffany is a pretty and popular girl who is actually nice and caring, but Marnie has already decided she hates her because she seems to have everything. Now Marnie has another reason to be jealous of the "perfect" girl.
She thinks she deserves to be the Chosen One, and she ought to hatch and bond with the griffon egg. So she lies to Orion and says she is Tiffany Rodriguez.
From there, an unlikely, reluctant, strange, yet endearing and heartfelt friendship forms and develops between Marnie and Tiffany, two very different girls, as they end up parenting a cute griffon together. Though Tiffany clearly has the strongest bond with the creature, and Marnie's lie will soon be exposed.
She feels guilty, once she gets to know Tiffany, who is much more complex, more human, than she initially thought.
Also fandoms, fanfiction, fan entitlement, writers, writer's block, both the benefits and the dangers of escapism, an "everyone is special and important" message, and the ultimate power of friendship, of human connection. And cat ears (don't ask - read the comic).
I won't spoil any more, but I ask to be believed when I say that there are so many clever metaphors, and much clever symbolism, in 'Tiffany's Griffon'. It's cute, fun and funny, and serious when it needs to be, in how it deals with real life issues. It is smart, teary and enjoyable. It has remarkable depth.
It is a "kids' comic" that respects its audience.
The artwork is another starlight highlight. It is cartoony, and beyond cute, expressive and bold. I can't decide on a favourite character, but Tiffany... oh sweet, dear Tiffany. Her well rounded, three-dimensional, and wholeheartedly lovely, lonely and melancholy personality is complimented beautifully by how she is drawn (and how her overall aura is drawn and coloured). Her emotions, her many raw, very human facial expressions, and how they're shadowed - they're the best. I love her. She's queer-coded, too.
Plus, her griffon is too cute!
'Tiffany's Griffon' should have been an instant favourite of mine. But woe! It is not quite as close to being perfect for me as I would have liked. Not everyone and everything receives a resolution by the end. There's a little character trait mix-up/confusion that I'm surprised escaped an editor. Marnie has two younger brothers, who she plays card games with, along with a friend, at the beginning of the second chapter, but then they disappear and are never mentioned again. Every griffon we are introduced to - a few, but still - is male. What is up with that?
But the flaws are tiny, in the grand, epic, magical worldly scheme of things in this griffon graphic novel.
It's great. Even if it's not a 'Top Ten Comics of All Time' favourite, it comes close.
It earns Artemis Crescent's gem and seal of approval, charm, enchantment and recommendation.
Happy, feathery flights of fancy, fantasy reading!
Final Score: 4.5/5
'Tiffany's Griffon' - Nearly all the things I love, stuffed into a single graphic novel. The best comic of 2024 so far, hands down.
Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. It's just there is so much to love and gush about 'Tiffany's Griffon'. It is colourful, adorable, rosy, exciting, creative, funny, clever, heartwarming, heartwrenching, sad, and hopeful. It is about magical girls, action heroines, magical worlds, a fantasy book series, pop culture, geek culture, fan fiction, fan art, real hardships, writer's block, anxiety, isolation, and above all, friendship.
Friendship, and how it can be formed through understanding via fandoms. It also means exploring new horizons; leaning about different types of fandom and geeky pop culture stuff can help people to see different perspectives in life.
Basically, 'Tiffany's Griffon' is like 'Eliza and Her Monsters', 'The Owl House', 'The Neverending Story', 'Inkheart', 'She-Ra and the Princesses of Power', 'Magic Girls: Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess', and 'Roll Call (Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Club, #1)', with the magical feel of Gail Carson Levine's ''Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly'. But it manages to stand - victoriously and majestically - on its own griffon's claws.
As an apropos note, it is everything that the new 'Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders' comic should have been.
Okay, now I'm really ahead of myself. For hopefully a better grasp and understanding of just how special and awesome 'Tiffany's Griffon' is - including its astral atmosphere and many tones and colours - here is a summary of the glorious plot:
Preteen Marnie Plummer - friendless, invisible and temperamental - is a huge fan of the 'Griffon Riders' series of books. More than anything, she wishes it were real and she can have her own griffon. And one day, miraculously, her wish comes true!
Sort of.
The world of 'Griffon Riders' is real, and it is in danger from the evil Witch Elel. A weird, funny-looking fairy named Orion portals into the real world, due to a prophecy that says only the Chosen One - a human girl, plus her griffon egg which she will hatch and rear - can stop the witch and save the fantasy book world.
The problem?
The Chosen One is not Marnie, the biggest fangirl who has been waiting for something like this her whole life.
It is Tiffany Rodriguez.
Tiffany is a pretty and popular girl who is actually nice and caring, but Marnie has already decided she hates her because she seems to have everything. Now Marnie has another reason to be jealous of the "perfect" girl.
She thinks she deserves to be the Chosen One, and she ought to hatch and bond with the griffon egg. So she lies to Orion and says she is Tiffany Rodriguez.
From there, an unlikely, reluctant, strange, yet endearing and heartfelt friendship forms and develops between Marnie and Tiffany, two very different girls, as they end up parenting a cute griffon together. Though Tiffany clearly has the strongest bond with the creature, and Marnie's lie will soon be exposed.
She feels guilty, once she gets to know Tiffany, who is much more complex, more human, than she initially thought.
Also fandoms, fanfiction, fan entitlement, writers, writer's block, both the benefits and the dangers of escapism, an "everyone is special and important" message, and the ultimate power of friendship, of human connection. And cat ears (don't ask - read the comic).
I won't spoil any more, but I ask to be believed when I say that there are so many clever metaphors, and much clever symbolism, in 'Tiffany's Griffon'. It's cute, fun and funny, and serious when it needs to be, in how it deals with real life issues. It is smart, teary and enjoyable. It has remarkable depth.
It is a "kids' comic" that respects its audience.
The artwork is another starlight highlight. It is cartoony, and beyond cute, expressive and bold. I can't decide on a favourite character, but Tiffany... oh sweet, dear Tiffany. Her well rounded, three-dimensional, and wholeheartedly lovely, lonely and melancholy personality is complimented beautifully by how she is drawn (and how her overall aura is drawn and coloured). Her emotions, her many raw, very human facial expressions, and how they're shadowed - they're the best. I love her. She's queer-coded, too.
Plus, her griffon is too cute!
'Tiffany's Griffon' should have been an instant favourite of mine. But woe! It is not quite as close to being perfect for me as I would have liked. Not everyone and everything receives a resolution by the end. There's a little character trait mix-up/confusion that I'm surprised escaped an editor. Marnie has two younger brothers, who she plays card games with, along with a friend, at the beginning of the second chapter, but then they disappear and are never mentioned again. Every griffon we are introduced to - a few, but still - is male. What is up with that?
But the flaws are tiny, in the grand, epic, magical worldly scheme of things in this griffon graphic novel.
It's great. Even if it's not a 'Top Ten Comics of All Time' favourite, it comes close.
It earns Artemis Crescent's gem and seal of approval, charm, enchantment and recommendation.
Happy, feathery flights of fancy, fantasy reading!
Final Score: 4.5/5
June 27, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley & First Second Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
WOWZA!! Fantastic read! I really love how both of the protagonists' characters developed and grew through the book. I was so ready to be mad at Marnie for, well, you know, "stealing" Tiffany's griffon but in the end you understand why she did it and how we need to work on our own biases toward others. The artwork was fantastic and I loved the hilarious expressions during certain moments. A must-read!
WOWZA!! Fantastic read! I really love how both of the protagonists' characters developed and grew through the book. I was so ready to be mad at Marnie for, well, you know, "stealing" Tiffany's griffon but in the end you understand why she did it and how we need to work on our own biases toward others. The artwork was fantastic and I loved the hilarious expressions during certain moments. A must-read!
July 27, 2024
Perfect for fantasy fans especially those that wish they could hop right into their favorite stories.
August 2, 2025
I picked this book up 100% on a whim. I honestly wasn't expecting it to be so good. I thought it would just be some fluff to read between books. I couldn't have been more wrong. The book deals with a lot of fun and is filled with incredibly creative whimsy - found family, some twists on the chosen one trope, fangirls and fanfiction, and a wonderful magical world depicted with a heavily manga inspire art style. However, the core of this book is deeper than that. It focuses in the impact that anxiety and isolation can have on someone to make them feel totally alone and disconnected from others and the world, sometimes so deeply that even when they want to make a change they don't see a way how. Not just hermiting but proper panic, stress, overwhelm, agoraphobia and the desire to be swallowed up by a different world. But opposite of that, it shows the impact that even one person, one genuine connection, can have on those same people who are struggling. How connection can change people's views of themselves and the world and bring healing back to them - not all at once, but with consistency and care. It also emphasizes that you can't look at someone's life from the outside and assume that they aren't struggling, even and especially if they look like they have it all and are holding it all together. I think it struck a perfect balance between these heavier themes and its lighter overall world and story. I also think that the authors handled the themes and story, especially that of the author, with the perfect amount of tact.
I honestly think that this could really positively impact middle graders but also I was very moved and impacted by its messages as an adult. I really hope it gets into the hands of more people. Between its genuinely unique story and world and the messaging it presents, it is definitely a surprise favorite of mine that I look forward to recommending if given the chance.
I honestly think that this could really positively impact middle graders but also I was very moved and impacted by its messages as an adult. I really hope it gets into the hands of more people. Between its genuinely unique story and world and the messaging it presents, it is definitely a surprise favorite of mine that I look forward to recommending if given the chance.
July 28, 2024
Marnie is most at home with her nose in a fantasy book, so she’s not at all surprised when a fairy from her favorite series appears in real life with a griffon egg and tells her she’s the chose one. But he thinks her name is Tiffany. Marnie knows there must be some mistake because Tiffany is a sporty popular girl who doesn’t even like to read. There’s no way she could be the Chosen One, right?
A graphic novel that has fun imagining what if the lines between fantasy book world and real world could be crossed, the importance of friendship and real connection, and a reminder that people often have more going on in their lives than we realize. There’s some important messages in here, especially for the superficially connected digital age that often leaves loads of people very lonely.
Notes on content [based on eARC]:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are some magical battles, but the only thing hurt are inanimate objects.
Ethnic diversity: Tiffany is Latina, Marnie is white.
LGBTQ+ content: It is revealed at one point that one of the girls has a crush on a female character:
Other: Tiffany’s mom died when she was young. Her father has a serious health condition and is in and out of the hospital. Marnie and another person are quite lonely.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A graphic novel that has fun imagining what if the lines between fantasy book world and real world could be crossed, the importance of friendship and real connection, and a reminder that people often have more going on in their lives than we realize. There’s some important messages in here, especially for the superficially connected digital age that often leaves loads of people very lonely.
Notes on content [based on eARC]:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are some magical battles, but the only thing hurt are inanimate objects.
Ethnic diversity: Tiffany is Latina, Marnie is white.
LGBTQ+ content: It is revealed at one point that one of the girls has a crush on a female character:
Other: Tiffany’s mom died when she was young. Her father has a serious health condition and is in and out of the hospital. Marnie and another person are quite lonely.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2024
As an avid reader of fantasy books, especially the Griffon Rider series, Marnie Plummer doesn’t have time to make real friends. Still, when a fairy messenger collides with her world, Marnie is ecstatic. Her favorite series (Griffon Riders) has come alive, and it’s up to the chosen one to save the world and defeat the evil Witch. However, the chosen one isn’t Marnie; it’s the popular girl, Tiffany Rodriguez. Making friends in real life may not be easy for Marnie, but being a part of her fantasy favorites alongside Tiffany means everything to her. Can both girls defeat the evil running rampant before it's too late?
It’s all about saving the world and being the chosen one to do so. With Marnie loving her fantasy books and Tiffany loving baseball, these two wholly different personalities find courage in each other as they “write” their way into a fantasy world. Hilarious at times and heartbreaking, this graphic novel draws the reader in with its colorful display of fantasy elements, all while asking, “Are you the chosen one?”
It’s all about saving the world and being the chosen one to do so. With Marnie loving her fantasy books and Tiffany loving baseball, these two wholly different personalities find courage in each other as they “write” their way into a fantasy world. Hilarious at times and heartbreaking, this graphic novel draws the reader in with its colorful display of fantasy elements, all while asking, “Are you the chosen one?”
December 15, 2024
Marnie lives and breathes a series of fantasy books set in a world where people are griffon riders - bonded when the griffons hatch. She is definitely a loner but she is also jealous of the popular girl, Tiffany, and makes a lot of assumptions about her. They are doing community service one day when suddenly a portal opens and Orion, a messenger from Marnie's imaginary world, breaks through with a griffon's egg. An evil witch has overtaken the kingdom and the Chosen One must bond with the griffon when it hatches and save the kingdom. Marnie is thrilled! Her destiny has been fulfilled -- only the Chosen One is actually Tiffany. So Marnie pretends to be Tiffany and, of course, thinks become very muddled at that point. The one positive is that Marnie discovers that Tiffany is actually OK but it is too late (almost!)
Can Tiffany forgive Marnie's lies and work with her to save the magical griffon kingdom?
Can Tiffany forgive Marnie's lies and work with her to save the magical griffon kingdom?
April 15, 2025
A great new graphic novel to add to our collection! I love that this one will appeal to my students who love realistic fiction AND fantasy! It has a delightful mix of both :)
I found this to be such an entertaining read, and really got involved in the story. The mystery around the author, and the suspense and action with the witch, was compelling! I also really appreciated how different themes about friendship were shown. Especially how we can look at someone and think they’re “perfect” or “have it all together”- but if we take the time to get to know them better, we can learn a lot more about what makes them unique and the things they might struggle with or be going through.
This is a great novel for older students- grades 5-7- mostly because of the amount of text, and the fantasy scenes that are a bit scary (not overly violent, but the action involved with the witch gets a bit intense and involves some short battles).
I found this to be such an entertaining read, and really got involved in the story. The mystery around the author, and the suspense and action with the witch, was compelling! I also really appreciated how different themes about friendship were shown. Especially how we can look at someone and think they’re “perfect” or “have it all together”- but if we take the time to get to know them better, we can learn a lot more about what makes them unique and the things they might struggle with or be going through.
This is a great novel for older students- grades 5-7- mostly because of the amount of text, and the fantasy scenes that are a bit scary (not overly violent, but the action involved with the witch gets a bit intense and involves some short battles).
October 1, 2024
Graphic Novel
Marnie lives her life in the world of the fantasy series she loves. She has been teased and bothered by her classmates so longs for friends and to feel special. To her surprise, one of the book's characters appears in front of her and gives her a griffon's egg to hatch. Just one issue - she lies about being someone else so she can be the one to save the fantasy world. Tiffany is the one who should (and does) bond with the griffon when it hatches. The two find their way to friendship and then to working together to save the world. They figure out who the witch really is and how to defeat her magic to reclaim the characters and their world.
The author reminds readers to look beneath the surface as no one has a "perfect life." Everyone has issues and challenges but friends can make the way forward seem easier.
Marnie lives her life in the world of the fantasy series she loves. She has been teased and bothered by her classmates so longs for friends and to feel special. To her surprise, one of the book's characters appears in front of her and gives her a griffon's egg to hatch. Just one issue - she lies about being someone else so she can be the one to save the fantasy world. Tiffany is the one who should (and does) bond with the griffon when it hatches. The two find their way to friendship and then to working together to save the world. They figure out who the witch really is and how to defeat her magic to reclaim the characters and their world.
The author reminds readers to look beneath the surface as no one has a "perfect life." Everyone has issues and challenges but friends can make the way forward seem easier.
February 22, 2025
Marnie is totally obsessed with the book series Griffon Riders of Crystalfall. So when a messenger appears seeking the "Chosen One" upon whom to bestow a griffin egg, it feels like fate. However, Marnie is neither the "Chosen One" nor the rider destined to bond with the griffin. Instead it is one of her classmates, Tiffany Rodriguez. Marnie despises Tiffany. The girl already has everything! She is a popular cheerleader! Why should she get a griffin too? So Marnie takes the griffin egg for her own--but befriends Tiffany--in case she needs her. Can Marnie really save the day when it is not her destiny to do so? My favorite thing about this one was how the battle was fought. Very creative!
July 28, 2025
It was fun and the nostalgia hit hard when fanfiction made an appearance. Took me back to writing fanfics with my friend.
Overall it wasn't a bad story. It was a good one about friendships, learning to look beyond the surface of the people around you.
Marnie was alright, and I saw myself in her, with her interests and her love of fanfiction. I was like that in high school. I had friends though so the isolated bookworm wasn't me. And Tiffany was fun. I liked the fact she knew what she liked and stuck with it. Sports aren't my thing but I loved that she got to incorporate her celebrity crush into the story as well.
Recommended? Sure
Buy/Borrow? Borrow
Overall it wasn't a bad story. It was a good one about friendships, learning to look beyond the surface of the people around you.
Marnie was alright, and I saw myself in her, with her interests and her love of fanfiction. I was like that in high school. I had friends though so the isolated bookworm wasn't me. And Tiffany was fun. I liked the fact she knew what she liked and stuck with it. Sports aren't my thing but I loved that she got to incorporate her celebrity crush into the story as well.
Recommended? Sure
Buy/Borrow? Borrow
August 27, 2024
Engaging, sweet, and very, very funny. This book will feel familiar to anyone who grew up creating highly indulgent OCs and fanfiction, but refreshingly the atmosphere of nostalgia never feels overbearing or stale. The writing is fresh and clever, the art is some of the best around, and the tone expertly walks the balance between humor and sincerity, all while inspiring readers to be more empathetic, more open-minded, and most importantly, to consider the appeal of cat ears and angel wings.
July 7, 2025
Algo que me echa muchísimo para atrás en la ficción es que el personaje protagonista sea mala gente. No hace falta que sea una maldad obscena tipo Hannibal Lecter, con que sean personajes egoístas o incluso poco amables con la gente me echa para atrás. La protagonista de este cómic tiene varios momentos de darle de comer aparte, pero sin embargo la historia es tan chula que he conseguido aparcar mis ganas de abandonarlo. Qué homenaje tan bonito al fandom y al mundo de los fanfictions.
August 21, 2024
I read the whole book last night and had a blast. I figured certain things out quickly, and other things reminded me of several fictional works I've come across in my life. Near the end, I thought of someone I know who would absolutely love this book, and I decided I'd recommend it to him as soon as I had the chance. I wish Magnolia and Maddi good luck with their current and future projects.
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