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To Dance the Moon and Stars
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26In a kingdom where dance is forbidden, a future high priestess must bend the rules to stop an ancient evil from destroying everything and everyone she loves, including the crown prince, in this sweeping romantasy graphic novel.
Eighteen-year-old Myra has spent her entire life training to replace her grandmother as High Priestess. But with the day of her ascension rapidly approaching, she’s not sure if she’s meant for this path. How can she become the herald of the god Alrun when he forbids the thing she loves most: dancing?
Her kingdom can’t afford her hesitation though. Not only is the emperor looking for Alrun’s wisdom ahead of a peace treaty, but forces of darkness are seeping through the barrier between worlds. The only source of light Myra has is her childhood best friend, the crown prince. Without his support and…love, she may not be able to stop what’s coming.
To save her people, Myra must delve into her kingdom’s forgotten history, even if it means defying the laws of the land. But the key to salvation may just require her to make the biggest sacrifice of all.
Eighteen-year-old Myra has spent her entire life training to replace her grandmother as High Priestess. But with the day of her ascension rapidly approaching, she’s not sure if she’s meant for this path. How can she become the herald of the god Alrun when he forbids the thing she loves most: dancing?
Her kingdom can’t afford her hesitation though. Not only is the emperor looking for Alrun’s wisdom ahead of a peace treaty, but forces of darkness are seeping through the barrier between worlds. The only source of light Myra has is her childhood best friend, the crown prince. Without his support and…love, she may not be able to stop what’s coming.
To save her people, Myra must delve into her kingdom’s forgotten history, even if it means defying the laws of the land. But the key to salvation may just require her to make the biggest sacrifice of all.
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 14, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The first thing to catch my attention was the gorgeous book cover, and unsurprisingly, the art inside the graphic novel was equally spectacularly beautiful. The world of the story was lush, interesting, vibrant, and brought to life by the art style. The dreamy artwork really conveyed the passion that Myra has for dancing, and I loved everything about the story, from the romance, to the world building, to the plot. The story was very interesting, and I loved how although Myra's religion and the expectations placed on her conflicted with her love of dancing, she persevered and found a way to prevail. Her dedication and determination to keep the two sides of her: the dancing and the priestess, added depth and connection to the story, and make her journey through the graphic novel inspiring and personal, in a way. Overall, a solid, enjoyable read, 3 stars, and would totally reccomend!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this graphic novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this graphic novel.
January 8, 2026
This is absolutely stunningly illustrated with an enjoyable stand alone fantasy story that’s easy to follow and heartwarming. It almost has a kpop demon hunter vibe with dancing replacing the singing . Loved it. Thanks to Netgalley the authors and the publisher for my copy
January 17, 2026
2.5 / 5 stars
To Dance the Moon and Stars is a nice graphic novel set in a kingdom where dance is outlawed, about a young woman who loves nothing more than dancing. As a premise it’s kind of gauche, but it still sparked my interest enough for me to give it a try, as I’ve read and enjoyed many a graphic novel where the premise was very cliche or clunky. But alas, this was not one of them.
Let’s start with the illustrations. As you can guess from the cover, there is some gorgeous artwork in this book. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of panels that didn’t look very nice. The style is somewhat inconsistent, there’s parts that are incredibly detailed and truly breathtakingly beautiful, but usually, on the same page, sometimes even in the same panel, there will be parts that look unfinished, like a first draft of a drawing that has yet to be completed. This is obviously a stylistic choice and it’s gonna be highly subjective whether you like it or not; I personally don’t. It just doesn’t work for me, the juxtaposition of really detailed work right next to blocky, imprecise sketches constantly took me out of the story and meant I never quite felt immersed in the world.
However, I could’ve easily looked past the somewhat incongruous art style if the story had been good, but unfortunately that was also a bit of a dud. The plot is incredibly simple and formulaic, to the point where I was easily able to correctly predict pretty much every plot point long before it happened. This graphic novel is marketed as YA, but the story is so simplistic that it read more like Middle Grade. It is a sweet story, it has a cute ending and there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with it, it’s just not very interesting because it feels like I’ve already read the same story many times before.
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Thanks to Joy Revolution for the ARC
To Dance the Moon and Stars is a nice graphic novel set in a kingdom where dance is outlawed, about a young woman who loves nothing more than dancing. As a premise it’s kind of gauche, but it still sparked my interest enough for me to give it a try, as I’ve read and enjoyed many a graphic novel where the premise was very cliche or clunky. But alas, this was not one of them.
Let’s start with the illustrations. As you can guess from the cover, there is some gorgeous artwork in this book. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of panels that didn’t look very nice. The style is somewhat inconsistent, there’s parts that are incredibly detailed and truly breathtakingly beautiful, but usually, on the same page, sometimes even in the same panel, there will be parts that look unfinished, like a first draft of a drawing that has yet to be completed. This is obviously a stylistic choice and it’s gonna be highly subjective whether you like it or not; I personally don’t. It just doesn’t work for me, the juxtaposition of really detailed work right next to blocky, imprecise sketches constantly took me out of the story and meant I never quite felt immersed in the world.
However, I could’ve easily looked past the somewhat incongruous art style if the story had been good, but unfortunately that was also a bit of a dud. The plot is incredibly simple and formulaic, to the point where I was easily able to correctly predict pretty much every plot point long before it happened. This graphic novel is marketed as YA, but the story is so simplistic that it read more like Middle Grade. It is a sweet story, it has a cute ending and there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with it, it’s just not very interesting because it feels like I’ve already read the same story many times before.
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Thanks to Joy Revolution for the ARC
December 31, 2025
This was a quick and beautiful graphic novel that I could easily see turned into an animated film or series!
We follow our FMC, Myra, who is set to become the High Priestess in a society where her one true passion is disallowed: dancing. Along with her, we see the return of her childhood best friend (and growing love interest), Eyden, who is set to ascend to the throne around the same time. Both of their stories, while different, were very similar in that they had great expectations thrown upon them that were different from their personal dreams and goals. I loved how each honored their roles while still holding their passions true, and ultimately created their own paths within their society that made them happy.
I loved the mythology and all the Gods within this story’s universe, as well as the backstory on why dancing had become disallowed. I am a sucker for history, especially mythological, in romantasy stories, and this one was the perfect amount of detail without being overwhelming.
I loved the art style so much! It was very soft and passionate, which I felt was perfect for a fantasy/mythology read where the main character was chasing her dreams of dancing. The style was like a dream in oil pastels and I dug it!
Overall, a great story with characters I would love to visit again.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books | Joy Revolution, Tasia M S, and Barbara Perez Marquez for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
We follow our FMC, Myra, who is set to become the High Priestess in a society where her one true passion is disallowed: dancing. Along with her, we see the return of her childhood best friend (and growing love interest), Eyden, who is set to ascend to the throne around the same time. Both of their stories, while different, were very similar in that they had great expectations thrown upon them that were different from their personal dreams and goals. I loved how each honored their roles while still holding their passions true, and ultimately created their own paths within their society that made them happy.
I loved the mythology and all the Gods within this story’s universe, as well as the backstory on why dancing had become disallowed. I am a sucker for history, especially mythological, in romantasy stories, and this one was the perfect amount of detail without being overwhelming.
I loved the art style so much! It was very soft and passionate, which I felt was perfect for a fantasy/mythology read where the main character was chasing her dreams of dancing. The style was like a dream in oil pastels and I dug it!
Overall, a great story with characters I would love to visit again.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books | Joy Revolution, Tasia M S, and Barbara Perez Marquez for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This graphic novel just did not work for me overall. The story felt very rushed, like there were too many ideas packed into too few pages, and there was very little worldbuilding or meaningful dialogue to ground everything that was happening. The writing felt juvenile at times, and some important plot points were skimmed over before they could really land. I was also distracted by the backgrounds, which often looked like obvious 3D assets and did not match the artist’s style, pulling me out of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars.
The art in this graphic novel is absolutely glorious. The story is romantic and whimsical and magical, with enough danger to provide tension.
My only quibble is that the plot felt a bit rushed. It was fun to have a standalone graphic novel, but it could have been a bit longer. There were a couple of plot points that felt a little glossed over.
Definitely recommended.
The art in this graphic novel is absolutely glorious. The story is romantic and whimsical and magical, with enough danger to provide tension.
My only quibble is that the plot felt a bit rushed. It was fun to have a standalone graphic novel, but it could have been a bit longer. There were a couple of plot points that felt a little glossed over.
Definitely recommended.
January 26, 2026
4 ⭐️
This graphic novel is absolutely drop dead gorgeous! The art inside is just stunning, and it helps to drive the story with the beautiful flowing lines evoking dance wonderfully!
The story itself was reminiscent of a fairytale or legend, and it was enjoyable. The emotions of the characters and story felt extremely simplistic and quickly resolved, which at times felt a little off to me, I think the story would’ve benefited from a little more meat to the characters. Overall though the story was fun and the art was so beautiful I didn’t mind looking past some shortcomings in the plot and characters.
This graphic novel is absolutely drop dead gorgeous! The art inside is just stunning, and it helps to drive the story with the beautiful flowing lines evoking dance wonderfully!
The story itself was reminiscent of a fairytale or legend, and it was enjoyable. The emotions of the characters and story felt extremely simplistic and quickly resolved, which at times felt a little off to me, I think the story would’ve benefited from a little more meat to the characters. Overall though the story was fun and the art was so beautiful I didn’t mind looking past some shortcomings in the plot and characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
To Dance the Moon and Stars by Tasia M S Barbara Perez Marquez is a YA romantic fantasy graphic novel set in an Indian-inspired world. Myra is the future priestess of a country that has outlawed dance for centuries in order to keep the evil shadows from returning. But ever since she was a child, she's been drawn to dancing and is convinced that there is a way to not only bring it back to the land, but for it to serve a place in her role as the one who communicates with their gods. When her childhood friend and the heir apparent to the throne, Eyden, returns, the two finally confess their romantic feelings for each other. But the dark shadows are ready to return and they'll stop at nothing to bring the mortal world down.
This is some of the most beautiful art I have seen in a graphic novel in a long time. Every single frame feels very painterly and the colors really pop off the page. The characters’ feelings are displayed very well through their body language and facial expressions. And the clothes! I could go on and on about how beautiful all the clothes are and how the small details really enhance them. Loved every last image.
The romance between Myra and Eyden is built on their previous friendship and it moves into the romantic side quite quickly as the two have had feelings for each other for a while. I thought it was handled well, especially since the story opens with us seeing them as young children who clearly are close and can share things with each other, giving that foundation. They remain fairly chaste and there’s nothing explicit shown on page beyond kissing.
The world is built largely through the visuals and through religion along with some references to other cultures within the world. It is very strongly Indian-coded though I’m not sure which culture within India as there are many and I am not familiar enough with the nuances. There’s a lot of greenery and diversity in skin tones and body types which help make it feel fuller and realer while the art style lends to the fairy tale aspects.
I would recommend this to fans of YA romantic fantasy looking for a graphic novel and readers of graphic novels looking to dip their toes into romantasy
To Dance the Moon and Stars by Tasia M S Barbara Perez Marquez is a YA romantic fantasy graphic novel set in an Indian-inspired world. Myra is the future priestess of a country that has outlawed dance for centuries in order to keep the evil shadows from returning. But ever since she was a child, she's been drawn to dancing and is convinced that there is a way to not only bring it back to the land, but for it to serve a place in her role as the one who communicates with their gods. When her childhood friend and the heir apparent to the throne, Eyden, returns, the two finally confess their romantic feelings for each other. But the dark shadows are ready to return and they'll stop at nothing to bring the mortal world down.
This is some of the most beautiful art I have seen in a graphic novel in a long time. Every single frame feels very painterly and the colors really pop off the page. The characters’ feelings are displayed very well through their body language and facial expressions. And the clothes! I could go on and on about how beautiful all the clothes are and how the small details really enhance them. Loved every last image.
The romance between Myra and Eyden is built on their previous friendship and it moves into the romantic side quite quickly as the two have had feelings for each other for a while. I thought it was handled well, especially since the story opens with us seeing them as young children who clearly are close and can share things with each other, giving that foundation. They remain fairly chaste and there’s nothing explicit shown on page beyond kissing.
The world is built largely through the visuals and through religion along with some references to other cultures within the world. It is very strongly Indian-coded though I’m not sure which culture within India as there are many and I am not familiar enough with the nuances. There’s a lot of greenery and diversity in skin tones and body types which help make it feel fuller and realer while the art style lends to the fairy tale aspects.
I would recommend this to fans of YA romantic fantasy looking for a graphic novel and readers of graphic novels looking to dip their toes into romantasy
February 19, 2026
Thank you NetGalley this arc!
Firstly, I want to say the artwork was absolutely GORGEOUS. It genuinely felt like I was reading a dreamworks film. However, some of the facial expressions didn’t quite fit in well with the rest of the art.
Myra is next in line to be High Priestess, but she faces a lot of inner struggles because she loves to dance, which has been outlawed in the kingdom. She’s constantly fighting between the duty she was raised for and the love for Eyden, her childhood friend. This story was full of whimsy and had a lot of diversity, which I loved. However, a few of the plot points felt a bit too rushed.
I feel like some of the characters lacked depth to them. Myra loved dance, Eyden wanted to be free of his duties as a prince, and that’s basically what we know about them. I also would’ve liked more information about the side characters, especially Eyden’s sister.
The romance was cute, but felt a little rushed. I understand they knew each other when they were younger, but I would’ve liked to see them actually falling for each other. I did enjoy them but I wished there had been more. It kinda felt like they went from reconnecting and the next scenes was them kissing.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read but I wished there had been more to the characters and their facial expressions had fit in better with the rest of the art style.
Firstly, I want to say the artwork was absolutely GORGEOUS. It genuinely felt like I was reading a dreamworks film. However, some of the facial expressions didn’t quite fit in well with the rest of the art.
Myra is next in line to be High Priestess, but she faces a lot of inner struggles because she loves to dance, which has been outlawed in the kingdom. She’s constantly fighting between the duty she was raised for and the love for Eyden, her childhood friend. This story was full of whimsy and had a lot of diversity, which I loved. However, a few of the plot points felt a bit too rushed.
I feel like some of the characters lacked depth to them. Myra loved dance, Eyden wanted to be free of his duties as a prince, and that’s basically what we know about them. I also would’ve liked more information about the side characters, especially Eyden’s sister.
The romance was cute, but felt a little rushed. I understand they knew each other when they were younger, but I would’ve liked to see them actually falling for each other. I did enjoy them but I wished there had been more. It kinda felt like they went from reconnecting and the next scenes was them kissing.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read but I wished there had been more to the characters and their facial expressions had fit in better with the rest of the art style.
February 23, 2026
4.5 stars. I’m probably not the best judge of things, because being someone who is not particularly artistically inclined, I’m going to be impressed by even a modicum of talent, but even so, Tasia’s artwork here is STUNNING. I could have spent hours just admiring how beautiful every single frame was in this graphic novel. It blew me away the whole time and I have so much respect for the amount of time and talent went into this.
As far as the story goes, yes, it was pretty simple and predictable, but I still enjoyed it. I especially appreciated it after reading Tasia’s note at the end on the importance of dance in Indian culture. Things perhaps felt a bit rushed in the story, but I’ve seen that quite a bit in graphic novels, so I wasn’t wholly surprised by it. Plus, I thought Myra and Eyden’s romance was cute enough to carry the rest of it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book and offer my honest review.
As far as the story goes, yes, it was pretty simple and predictable, but I still enjoyed it. I especially appreciated it after reading Tasia’s note at the end on the importance of dance in Indian culture. Things perhaps felt a bit rushed in the story, but I’ve seen that quite a bit in graphic novels, so I wasn’t wholly surprised by it. Plus, I thought Myra and Eyden’s romance was cute enough to carry the rest of it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book and offer my honest review.
May 5, 2026
I’d first like to point out that the art that was used to tell this story was absolutely stunning. Like the style and the colors made it such a joy turning the page. All of that infused with the culture was really beautiful. (I could honestly yap about just the art forever, but I shall spare you).
Being as this is a YA romance story, it is honestly as one would expect. At least in my opinion having grown up with so many fairytales and star crossed lovers. It was easy to see the end in sight. But that doesn’t mean it made it bad. It was unique in its own way, but it also followed a simple formula.
If I’m being completely honest, the art was the highlight for me and the story really came in second. Like I want to live within the art, that’s how beautiful and captivating it is to me. And I can’t wait to get this physically when it releases July 14th, 2026!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
#ToDancetheMoonandStarsAGraphicNovel
#NetGalley
Being as this is a YA romance story, it is honestly as one would expect. At least in my opinion having grown up with so many fairytales and star crossed lovers. It was easy to see the end in sight. But that doesn’t mean it made it bad. It was unique in its own way, but it also followed a simple formula.
If I’m being completely honest, the art was the highlight for me and the story really came in second. Like I want to live within the art, that’s how beautiful and captivating it is to me. And I can’t wait to get this physically when it releases July 14th, 2026!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
#ToDancetheMoonandStarsAGraphicNovel
#NetGalley
March 9, 2026
4.5 stars!!
Thank you to Random House Children’s book, Tasha M S, Barbara Perez Marquez, and Netgalley for the ARC!!
This graphic novel was gorgeous - the story was interesting and well written, the art and designs for all of the characters were stunning as well
I devoured this in only an hour or two, it was such a fun adventure full of whimsy, joy, sadness and love and it made me so happy the whole time :)
Thank you to Random House Children’s book, Tasha M S, Barbara Perez Marquez, and Netgalley for the ARC!!
This graphic novel was gorgeous - the story was interesting and well written, the art and designs for all of the characters were stunning as well
I devoured this in only an hour or two, it was such a fun adventure full of whimsy, joy, sadness and love and it made me so happy the whole time :)
April 17, 2026
This graphic novel has a very unique art style. Very lush and watercolor-y. I really enjoyed the look of the characters and the settings but sometimes the characters’ facial expressions seemed…off somehow. They looked somehow too emotive for the situation or something. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
The story was interesting, but the ending was quite rushed and hard to believe.
Still, if you’re a fan of gorgeous graphic novels, you would probably enjoy this one.
The story was interesting, but the ending was quite rushed and hard to believe.
Still, if you’re a fan of gorgeous graphic novels, you would probably enjoy this one.
December 28, 2025
This was such a beautiful story. The illustrations really brought the characters to life and were so well done. I loved the struggle the main characters faced with figuring out what was best for them and their responsibilities.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for a copy of this arc.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for a copy of this arc.
February 21, 2026
Stunning artwork. Seriously I took a whole hour just staring at all the incredible details. The story was so cute and wholesome. It gave Footloose vibes but in a fantasy setting. I loved seeing the characters buck the norm of the world and find themselves in the story too.
March 23, 2026
To Dance The Moon and Stars is a YA fantasy graphic novel that follows Myra, who trains to be the future high priestess while battling her urge to dance in a kingdom where dancing is forbidden. Myra has been training her whole life to take over high priestess duties from her grandma, where she will receive prophecies from their god Alrun to help aid their kingdom. She wants to fulfill her duties, but also cannot help but feel a passion for dance despite knowing it is prohibited. Myra eventually encounters her childhood friend Eyden again, who is in line to take over his father’s position and become the ruler of the kingdom. However, Eyden does not want those responsibilities. The two characters have such a weight on their shoulders, but are able to find comfort in each other. Eyden has witnessed Myra’s amazing dancing and actively encourage it despite the rules. Myra slowly discovers that dancing might be the solution to a problem that is occurring in the kingdom, but is torn whether to pursue it or honor her grandma’s wishes for her to never dance again.
This graphic novel was a cute fantasy, and it was easy to get through. The art is amazing and beautiful! The world-building and the relationship development between Myra and Eyden are some of my favorite parts of the graphic novel. I also found the relationship dynamic between Myra and her grandma interesting. Her grandma is portrayed as someone so traditional and always adhering to the rules, while Myra is a more of a free-spirit. Even though her grandma has well-intentions, it was heartbreaking to see her tell Myra to stop dancing for good and never truly understanding Myra and her love for dance. The fight scene at the end felt anticlimactic, which was a shame. It reminded of the scene in game of thrones with Arya and the Night King. Overall, it was a fun read, and I loved the art! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the arc ✨
Read more reviews on my blog! https://christinaschapterblog.com
This graphic novel was a cute fantasy, and it was easy to get through. The art is amazing and beautiful! The world-building and the relationship development between Myra and Eyden are some of my favorite parts of the graphic novel. I also found the relationship dynamic between Myra and her grandma interesting. Her grandma is portrayed as someone so traditional and always adhering to the rules, while Myra is a more of a free-spirit. Even though her grandma has well-intentions, it was heartbreaking to see her tell Myra to stop dancing for good and never truly understanding Myra and her love for dance. The fight scene at the end felt anticlimactic, which was a shame. It reminded of the scene in game of thrones with Arya and the Night King. Overall, it was a fun read, and I loved the art! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the arc ✨
Read more reviews on my blog! https://christinaschapterblog.com
January 22, 2026
Everyone’s hair looks sooo good but Eyden was literally made to be loved by a fandom
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
That cover is so stunning, I was suspicious that the insides wouldn't be as lovely. Good news: this graphic novel is BEAUTIFUL. It's lush and opulent and full of texture and motion, and there's more going on in the world than gets covered in the text. I want to crawl into these paintings and go exploring.
Unfortunately, I had some issues with other elements of the story and design. I don't think I've ever been do distracted by the design of text bubbles, which sounds like I'm being picky, but it was genuinely weird. They look slapped on and haphazard in a way that's totally at odds with the beautiful sequential art. At times I wished that I could view the art without the text, not only because it was visually jarring, but because the storytelling left a lot to be desired. These people live in a beautiful, fantastic world, but use contemporary American slang in a way that kept pushing me out of the story.
Most of all, while the art implies a larger world, the story itself just skips over vast chunks of worldbuilding. The main character wants to dance, but dance is outlawed. Why? Nobody ever explains this, and when we do get a later note on WHO banned dancing, it makes even less sense. This is such an important part of the story, and it's just left blank. There also seem to be zero consequences FOR dancing, even though people seem concerned that there could be? No stakes are ever established in this regard, and indeed throughout much of the story, people keep going, "We can't do _____!" (dance, be together, make out in public, sleep in the same bed...) and then proceed to do exactly that with no repercussions whatsoever. This is especially true for the end.
As a result, this was middle-of-the-road for me, in that I adored some elements and found others lacking. The art really carries this project, and even to some degree answered one of the big questions that the plot does not address. Reading the author/illustrator notes helped me understand what this story wanted to do, but I think it needed to be more developed. The art was a cut above, and I felt that it needed stronger storytelling and clearer logic for the story to match the visuals. Still really beautiful! The architectural elements are consistently stunning, and the cultural rep, modified because this *is* a fantasy setting, was gorgeous.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Unfortunately, I had some issues with other elements of the story and design. I don't think I've ever been do distracted by the design of text bubbles, which sounds like I'm being picky, but it was genuinely weird. They look slapped on and haphazard in a way that's totally at odds with the beautiful sequential art. At times I wished that I could view the art without the text, not only because it was visually jarring, but because the storytelling left a lot to be desired. These people live in a beautiful, fantastic world, but use contemporary American slang in a way that kept pushing me out of the story.
Most of all, while the art implies a larger world, the story itself just skips over vast chunks of worldbuilding. The main character wants to dance, but dance is outlawed. Why? Nobody ever explains this, and when we do get a later note on WHO banned dancing, it makes even less sense. This is such an important part of the story, and it's just left blank. There also seem to be zero consequences FOR dancing, even though people seem concerned that there could be? No stakes are ever established in this regard, and indeed throughout much of the story, people keep going, "We can't do _____!" (dance, be together, make out in public, sleep in the same bed...) and then proceed to do exactly that with no repercussions whatsoever. This is especially true for the end.
As a result, this was middle-of-the-road for me, in that I adored some elements and found others lacking. The art really carries this project, and even to some degree answered one of the big questions that the plot does not address. Reading the author/illustrator notes helped me understand what this story wanted to do, but I think it needed to be more developed. The art was a cut above, and I felt that it needed stronger storytelling and clearer logic for the story to match the visuals. Still really beautiful! The architectural elements are consistently stunning, and the cultural rep, modified because this *is* a fantasy setting, was gorgeous.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
{Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!}
To Dance the Moon and Stars is a fantasy graphic novel where a young priestess must balance her love for dance and the expectations of her role to be able to save her kingdom from the encroaching shadows.
Starting with the illustrations. I’ve followed Tasia’s Instagram for years and her art is so stunning, and she is the sole reason why I requested this ARC. There are so many panels that I can picture being posted on her socials with applause quickly following suit in the form of likes, but others are very clumsy looking. I find when she’s trying to emulate the way manga artists express emotion to be the best example. The angry marks or dark gloom on their foreheads does not fit well with her style. Further, whenever the characters smile with teeth, they look more uncanny than expressive. It breaks the immersion for me. There are several panels that feel incongruent with the rest.
I saw a post not too long ago of a convention artist giving advice to artists looking to sell their work at conventions wherein they asked the artists to consider what physical form would suit their art the best, be those prints, keychains, stickers, etc. I think this may be a case of Tasia’s art being perfect for prints, or even museums, but not for a graphic novel. She is capable of quite a bit, but this looks far less professional than you could see on her socials. It’s a bit disappointing.
The story itself is fine. There’s nothing super interesting or subversive about the plot. If you read the premise and you make a few bets on how this will end, most of your predictions would be correct. Dancing is forbidden, but it comes across as only our main character’s grandmother caring as opposed to anyone else. There aren’t any true consequences to dancing either. We don't see people dancing and some sort of magical terrible thing happening, so I don’t really believe that an entire Kingdom just believes this. Myra and the prince are very two dimensional as well. Myra likes dance and struggles with expectations. Prince likes plants and struggles with expectations. Romance ensues as expected. I don't remember the prince's name. I don't know if I need to.
Again, it's fine. It’s not offensive or even frustrating, but I find that feeling nothing about reading this is a worse fate than being angry at it.
2.5/5. I think there are better YA graphic novels to read.
To Dance the Moon and Stars is a fantasy graphic novel where a young priestess must balance her love for dance and the expectations of her role to be able to save her kingdom from the encroaching shadows.
Starting with the illustrations. I’ve followed Tasia’s Instagram for years and her art is so stunning, and she is the sole reason why I requested this ARC. There are so many panels that I can picture being posted on her socials with applause quickly following suit in the form of likes, but others are very clumsy looking. I find when she’s trying to emulate the way manga artists express emotion to be the best example. The angry marks or dark gloom on their foreheads does not fit well with her style. Further, whenever the characters smile with teeth, they look more uncanny than expressive. It breaks the immersion for me. There are several panels that feel incongruent with the rest.
I saw a post not too long ago of a convention artist giving advice to artists looking to sell their work at conventions wherein they asked the artists to consider what physical form would suit their art the best, be those prints, keychains, stickers, etc. I think this may be a case of Tasia’s art being perfect for prints, or even museums, but not for a graphic novel. She is capable of quite a bit, but this looks far less professional than you could see on her socials. It’s a bit disappointing.
The story itself is fine. There’s nothing super interesting or subversive about the plot. If you read the premise and you make a few bets on how this will end, most of your predictions would be correct. Dancing is forbidden, but it comes across as only our main character’s grandmother caring as opposed to anyone else. There aren’t any true consequences to dancing either. We don't see people dancing and some sort of magical terrible thing happening, so I don’t really believe that an entire Kingdom just believes this. Myra and the prince are very two dimensional as well. Myra likes dance and struggles with expectations. Prince likes plants and struggles with expectations. Romance ensues as expected. I don't remember the prince's name. I don't know if I need to.
Again, it's fine. It’s not offensive or even frustrating, but I find that feeling nothing about reading this is a worse fate than being angry at it.
2.5/5. I think there are better YA graphic novels to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was so fun! It feels like a fairy tale. You won't get a story with too much depth, but the feelings and vibes and moral are delightful. I loved our main character Myra. She was the standout of the story. She is conscientious but human, feels duty-bound to help others but also longs for a different, easier existence. I liked that Myra knew herself well enough that she never truly doubted that dance was her calling, despite her grandmother constantly telling her otherwise. In a different story, we would have seen Myra trying to listen to her grandmother and restrain herself until the moment when dance was needed most. Instead, we got a heroine that danced throughout, in secret, and used her movement to connect with her religion. I loved the portrayal of the dance scenes - the movement on the page was beautiful.
And while I loved Myra, the standout for me was the art in this book. Many of the depictions of scenery and background were jaw-dropping. The depiction of people went against the more on trend design of smooth faces and bright colors. Here the characters have texture, with some blurriness. It made them feel more real and three-dimensional. It matched the story well and I now plan to find the author's other artwork because I was truly in awe. I mostly read for the story and it is rare that I pause on a panel to admire the art - something I did often throughout this book.
The romance did not work as well for me as the art and our main character. Our male love interest, Eyden, was such a whiny little baby. I wanted him to grow up and match Myra's energy. Instead, he constantly avoided responsibility and minimized Myra's attachment to her priestess role. He was at least supportive of her dancing. Myra and Eyden's connection is not well-developed. We are supposed to believe that they haven't seen each other in 10 years but become re-connected and romantic immediately. I would have believed their relationship more if they had stayed in contact during those years and had been planning to reunite. In the end, I accepted that Myra wanted Eyden, even though she is clearly superior to him, and I was happy if she was happy.
Do not read this for the romance. Read it for the gorgeously drawn fantastical world of a woman who loves to dance and uses it to save her people.
Thank you to Joy Revolution and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
And while I loved Myra, the standout for me was the art in this book. Many of the depictions of scenery and background were jaw-dropping. The depiction of people went against the more on trend design of smooth faces and bright colors. Here the characters have texture, with some blurriness. It made them feel more real and three-dimensional. It matched the story well and I now plan to find the author's other artwork because I was truly in awe. I mostly read for the story and it is rare that I pause on a panel to admire the art - something I did often throughout this book.
The romance did not work as well for me as the art and our main character. Our male love interest, Eyden, was such a whiny little baby. I wanted him to grow up and match Myra's energy. Instead, he constantly avoided responsibility and minimized Myra's attachment to her priestess role. He was at least supportive of her dancing. Myra and Eyden's connection is not well-developed. We are supposed to believe that they haven't seen each other in 10 years but become re-connected and romantic immediately. I would have believed their relationship more if they had stayed in contact during those years and had been planning to reunite. In the end, I accepted that Myra wanted Eyden, even though she is clearly superior to him, and I was happy if she was happy.
Do not read this for the romance. Read it for the gorgeously drawn fantastical world of a woman who loves to dance and uses it to save her people.
Thank you to Joy Revolution and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a beautiful work that holds special meaning for me as I used to be a ballerina, but middle age and lifestyle and health changes have ended that for me. But I miss dancing –it was such an important part of my life–so I completely understand Myra’s love for it, and how it pulls her in to doing it whenever she has a spare moment of solitude. Dance is a unique and incredible way to express yourself, but it can also bring people together, and that’s what I love about the message in this story–dance unites us.
Dance brought Myra and Prince Eyden together, ever since they were little children and reunite later in their lives. It brought the people together before the God Alrun forbade it due to his wife’s demise holding back the monstrous villain Burdat and his shadows from the world. Myra dances for herself, but her visions tell her that dance is very much for the people of her country, and that it will reunite the gods and bring back good things to the people.
I don’t want to go too much more into the plot, but other things I loved about this graphic novel are the sweet romance between Myra and Eyden; the multitude of unique characters; the incredible set and costume designs; the gorgeous art; and of course, the worldbuilding and mythic fairytale aspects to the story.
The publishers are marketing this graphic novel as a romantasy, which is a romance-driven fantasy. I think this might be the only thing I have contention with: the fantasy is what drives this plot, and while there is romance, it seems secondary to everything else going on with the story. Not that I’m complaining. I wanted Myra and Eyden to get together, and they do…although it’s off to an awkward but special start. The two don’t even realize they were each other’s childhood friends until later, because both of them have grown older and changed over the years!
They are well-suited to each other, though. I mean–Eyden is a musician and singer, and Myra is a dancer. What a perfect complement to each other!
Anyway, I adored this book and I plan to seek out its creators for more of their work, and I especially plan to add this to my permanent collection. I get such a nostalgic feeling from reading this–my own memories of dancing, plus the fantasy and romance–and it brought me great pleasure. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the digital ARC.
Dance brought Myra and Prince Eyden together, ever since they were little children and reunite later in their lives. It brought the people together before the God Alrun forbade it due to his wife’s demise holding back the monstrous villain Burdat and his shadows from the world. Myra dances for herself, but her visions tell her that dance is very much for the people of her country, and that it will reunite the gods and bring back good things to the people.
I don’t want to go too much more into the plot, but other things I loved about this graphic novel are the sweet romance between Myra and Eyden; the multitude of unique characters; the incredible set and costume designs; the gorgeous art; and of course, the worldbuilding and mythic fairytale aspects to the story.
The publishers are marketing this graphic novel as a romantasy, which is a romance-driven fantasy. I think this might be the only thing I have contention with: the fantasy is what drives this plot, and while there is romance, it seems secondary to everything else going on with the story. Not that I’m complaining. I wanted Myra and Eyden to get together, and they do…although it’s off to an awkward but special start. The two don’t even realize they were each other’s childhood friends until later, because both of them have grown older and changed over the years!
They are well-suited to each other, though. I mean–Eyden is a musician and singer, and Myra is a dancer. What a perfect complement to each other!
Anyway, I adored this book and I plan to seek out its creators for more of their work, and I especially plan to add this to my permanent collection. I get such a nostalgic feeling from reading this–my own memories of dancing, plus the fantasy and romance–and it brought me great pleasure. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the digital ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
To Dance the Moon and Stars is a literally gorgeous read! The art by Tasia M.S. is breathtaking. I fell in immediate love and danced along this magical adventure. I read this on my laptop with every color bursting through, but I ended it needing to get my hands on a physical copy! It's so beautiful. I had a wonderful time reading!
The premise of this work sees Myra, acting high priestess, resisting the rules against her greatest passion of dance as she desperately navigates how to stop a threatening evil from overtaking her kingdom. A kingdom led by the reluctant price Eyden, who readily supports in Myra in her task and joins her not only in journey, but perhaps also in love. Kiss, kiss, fall in looove!
Overall, the narrative is very light and low stakes. It's easy to see the direction things will move, and frankly, that's fine by me! Because what creates impact is ensuring a strong delivery to the expected destination, and this work does its very best to achieve just that. I felt the magic and love woven with every written word and every stroke of the paintbrush. And I loved its heroine leading us into this world. Myra has been forbidden to dance, but Myra is not without fiery resolve, and she not only embraces her art of dancing, she uses it to empower herself. And it becomes to the key to everything. Arguably a very simple plot, but I emphasize again, the magic is in the execution and overall, this work brings it well.
I grew up with comic books and manga, and as an adult ventured into webtoons and manhwa. I don't need a lot of words to bring emotion out of me. The art itself moves me, and directs me on the path to take. And this is expertly drawn throughout the work. The characters came to life in a unique way, and not just the characters, but the world itself. I don't imagine my own take on a written world, I'm welcomed into the very intentional world drawn and written by its authors. There's an ease in reading that creates a sort of comfort along with the fun in reading.
If you've never read a comic book or webtoon, this is the perfect introduction! You'll fall in love, you'll be taken with its action, and you'll find heart in its story. This is a truly love read.
Thank you Joy Revolution and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
The premise of this work sees Myra, acting high priestess, resisting the rules against her greatest passion of dance as she desperately navigates how to stop a threatening evil from overtaking her kingdom. A kingdom led by the reluctant price Eyden, who readily supports in Myra in her task and joins her not only in journey, but perhaps also in love. Kiss, kiss, fall in looove!
Overall, the narrative is very light and low stakes. It's easy to see the direction things will move, and frankly, that's fine by me! Because what creates impact is ensuring a strong delivery to the expected destination, and this work does its very best to achieve just that. I felt the magic and love woven with every written word and every stroke of the paintbrush. And I loved its heroine leading us into this world. Myra has been forbidden to dance, but Myra is not without fiery resolve, and she not only embraces her art of dancing, she uses it to empower herself. And it becomes to the key to everything. Arguably a very simple plot, but I emphasize again, the magic is in the execution and overall, this work brings it well.
I grew up with comic books and manga, and as an adult ventured into webtoons and manhwa. I don't need a lot of words to bring emotion out of me. The art itself moves me, and directs me on the path to take. And this is expertly drawn throughout the work. The characters came to life in a unique way, and not just the characters, but the world itself. I don't imagine my own take on a written world, I'm welcomed into the very intentional world drawn and written by its authors. There's an ease in reading that creates a sort of comfort along with the fun in reading.
If you've never read a comic book or webtoon, this is the perfect introduction! You'll fall in love, you'll be taken with its action, and you'll find heart in its story. This is a truly love read.
Thank you Joy Revolution and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"To Dance the Moon and Stars" is a graphic novel about Myra who is set to become the high priestess of her country, a role that she has been preparing for all her life except for the complication that she feels connected to their god through dance and dance is forbidden. Throw in a romantic plot with childhood friend and new prince, Eyden, and you have what is basically "Footloose" set in a fantasy world with evil shadow demons for a threat.
Artistically, the graphic novel can be very gorgeous, with painted surfaces depicting an Indian/East Asian diaspora of warm colors and beautiful dance poses. However, the artist's reliance on photographs and anatomy references result in inconsistent illustrations. Some backgrounds are just photographs blended in the paint program. And this means certain poses look absolutely perfect but other times it seems as if the artist doesn't have a complete grasp of anatomy and foreshortening or expressions can look uncomfortably wrong. Sequences where characters are supposed to be falling down or grappling with each other come across as very stilted, and a lot of the expressions are over exaggerated on faces that don't connect to the jawline or body movements. The result is often distracting, making the story feel more like pantomime than grounded emotions.
Story-wise, it's a very basic tale. I do think the art puts more effort into the worldbuilding than the writing does. There is a good god, and an evil god, and a theater production saying that dancing is banned but you don't learn why until much later and it still feels kind of arbitrary. Myra's desire to dance is often challenged but mostly in a "don't do this, it's bad" and her waiting a bit before going, "but I really need to." Again, nobody really asking why dancing is forbidden. Eyden is besotted and has been since they were children, so he doesn't really develop any nuance in the plot either except to be a romantic lure .
Overall, I can see how some people would want to read this book. When the art is following dancing poses and working on color spreads, it can be very beautiful. The storyline is simple but resolved with a happy ending of the two protagonists. A graphic novel I wouldn't offer as a first recommendation but will still have fans.
Artistically, the graphic novel can be very gorgeous, with painted surfaces depicting an Indian/East Asian diaspora of warm colors and beautiful dance poses. However, the artist's reliance on photographs and anatomy references result in inconsistent illustrations. Some backgrounds are just photographs blended in the paint program. And this means certain poses look absolutely perfect but other times it seems as if the artist doesn't have a complete grasp of anatomy and foreshortening or expressions can look uncomfortably wrong. Sequences where characters are supposed to be falling down or grappling with each other come across as very stilted, and a lot of the expressions are over exaggerated on faces that don't connect to the jawline or body movements. The result is often distracting, making the story feel more like pantomime than grounded emotions.
Story-wise, it's a very basic tale. I do think the art puts more effort into the worldbuilding than the writing does. There is a good god, and an evil god, and a theater production saying that dancing is banned but you don't learn why until much later and it still feels kind of arbitrary. Myra's desire to dance is often challenged but mostly in a "don't do this, it's bad" and her waiting a bit before going, "but I really need to." Again, nobody really asking why dancing is forbidden. Eyden is besotted and has been since they were children, so he doesn't really develop any nuance in the plot either except to be a romantic lure .
Overall, I can see how some people would want to read this book. When the art is following dancing poses and working on color spreads, it can be very beautiful. The storyline is simple but resolved with a happy ending of the two protagonists. A graphic novel I wouldn't offer as a first recommendation but will still have fans.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The art style will, I think, make or break this graphic novel for a lot of people. The soft colors, the shading, the character designs … when it’s good it’s glorious. However, there are some moments where the art looks less polished, even slightly unfinished, and the backgrounds at times felt like they weren’t hand drawn. There’s nothing wrong with it, but the inconsistency stands out.
There are five main story beats: the romance, Maya’s struggle for her own identity and expression of faith, Eyden deciding between his duties as a prince and his desire for a different life, a war between good and evil, and two rulers coming together in an effort to find some solution to the failing crops affecting both kingdoms. And none of them are given enough attention to be fully developed. Instead they’re sort of … slapped on like coats of paint to hide a bad patch job.
The romance is a given. There’s no effort made to make the pair of them anything but in love from page one, and still in love on page 240. There’s no growth, no development, no chemistry. Eyden’s return from afar and his difficulties in deciding to be the proper heir or not are never touched on because he’s just the ken doll dressed like the love interest. The war between good and evil? So very simple, without context, culture, or reason. Everyone knows evil is bad, right? So, there you go. The rival king coming to talk about dying crops? He gets a half plot — in that it’s set up and then dropped. The dying crops never come up again, either why they happened or if they got fixed. They’re as ignored as everything else.
Maya wants to dance, and people tell her no, their god says is evil. She dances anyway. Her grandmother gets sick, tells her to stop dancing and be a priestess, and Maya goes out to a street celebration and then goes to dance some more. And because she’s the main character, her dancing saves the day. The end.
It’s shallow, it’s bland, and nothing matters. There are no consequences, and no sense that anyone cares about anything. That said, for a younger audience, this might still be a fun read. For everyone else, though? It’s harmless, but boring. But there are some really lovely pictures in there.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
There are five main story beats: the romance, Maya’s struggle for her own identity and expression of faith, Eyden deciding between his duties as a prince and his desire for a different life, a war between good and evil, and two rulers coming together in an effort to find some solution to the failing crops affecting both kingdoms. And none of them are given enough attention to be fully developed. Instead they’re sort of … slapped on like coats of paint to hide a bad patch job.
The romance is a given. There’s no effort made to make the pair of them anything but in love from page one, and still in love on page 240. There’s no growth, no development, no chemistry. Eyden’s return from afar and his difficulties in deciding to be the proper heir or not are never touched on because he’s just the ken doll dressed like the love interest. The war between good and evil? So very simple, without context, culture, or reason. Everyone knows evil is bad, right? So, there you go. The rival king coming to talk about dying crops? He gets a half plot — in that it’s set up and then dropped. The dying crops never come up again, either why they happened or if they got fixed. They’re as ignored as everything else.
Maya wants to dance, and people tell her no, their god says is evil. She dances anyway. Her grandmother gets sick, tells her to stop dancing and be a priestess, and Maya goes out to a street celebration and then goes to dance some more. And because she’s the main character, her dancing saves the day. The end.
It’s shallow, it’s bland, and nothing matters. There are no consequences, and no sense that anyone cares about anything. That said, for a younger audience, this might still be a fun read. For everyone else, though? It’s harmless, but boring. But there are some really lovely pictures in there.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Joy Revolution for this ARC!
2.5 ⭐
I love Tasia's work and have been following her and her career for a few years now, so when I saw she was having her graphic novel debut I was very excited to pick it up! To Dance the Moon and Stars is a story embedded in legend and whimsy. When Myra is faced with the impeding task of carrying her bloodline's role as High Priestess, she is reluctant to let go of her passion for dance. Myra can't understand how something so beautiful could be forbidden and struggles to let go of it. During celebrations, she sees herself stuck between her duties and her love – not only for dance, but for her long lost crush and childhood friend, prince Eyden.
Standalone graphic novels always feels fast-paced, kind of rushed and a bit all over the place for me; but it's something expected and doesn't really bother me. The story is a little rushed, yes, and Eyden and Myra's friendship is skimmed over. We don't really see their friendship and then suddenly it's been ten years and they're in love. Not to say it isn't sweet! Because it is very sweet, they understand each other and are lovely together. However, the focus is more on Myra and her love for dance than her romance with Eyden.
The world-building is simple, there's not much focus on it but its mechanics are easy to understand.
The coloring is very pretty and the apparent brush strokes are very dreamy. But this is a style that's hard to maintain in a graphic novel – the characters's expressions could benefit from being more cartoonish and silly instead of realistic and serious, which causes some expressions to feel a bit weird and not well depicted. The digital file wasn't very high quality, but maybe in print it looks different and overall better (sometimes this happens with digital graphic novels). After page 100 especially, the art would fluctuate from beautiful brush strokes to this 3D look that reminded me of The Sims.
Overall, it was a nice, pretty story with an interesting world that feels familiar somehow, with beautiful stills and scenery. It's easy to follow and reads as a cozy YA fantasy.
2.5 ⭐
I love Tasia's work and have been following her and her career for a few years now, so when I saw she was having her graphic novel debut I was very excited to pick it up! To Dance the Moon and Stars is a story embedded in legend and whimsy. When Myra is faced with the impeding task of carrying her bloodline's role as High Priestess, she is reluctant to let go of her passion for dance. Myra can't understand how something so beautiful could be forbidden and struggles to let go of it. During celebrations, she sees herself stuck between her duties and her love – not only for dance, but for her long lost crush and childhood friend, prince Eyden.
Standalone graphic novels always feels fast-paced, kind of rushed and a bit all over the place for me; but it's something expected and doesn't really bother me. The story is a little rushed, yes, and Eyden and Myra's friendship is skimmed over. We don't really see their friendship and then suddenly it's been ten years and they're in love. Not to say it isn't sweet! Because it is very sweet, they understand each other and are lovely together. However, the focus is more on Myra and her love for dance than her romance with Eyden.
The world-building is simple, there's not much focus on it but its mechanics are easy to understand.
The coloring is very pretty and the apparent brush strokes are very dreamy. But this is a style that's hard to maintain in a graphic novel – the characters's expressions could benefit from being more cartoonish and silly instead of realistic and serious, which causes some expressions to feel a bit weird and not well depicted. The digital file wasn't very high quality, but maybe in print it looks different and overall better (sometimes this happens with digital graphic novels). After page 100 especially, the art would fluctuate from beautiful brush strokes to this 3D look that reminded me of The Sims.
Overall, it was a nice, pretty story with an interesting world that feels familiar somehow, with beautiful stills and scenery. It's easy to follow and reads as a cozy YA fantasy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
To Dance the Moon and Stars is a beautiful graphic novel. The art is emotive, expressive, and at times almost startling in its digital clarity — a true feast for the eyes. I can only imagine how stunning this will be in print; it’s the kind of world you want to step into and linger inside.
The story itself feels like a modern fairy tale, carrying the emotional beats and moral clarity of classic folk tales and the best Disney narratives. Because of that, I think this book is a perfect fit for readers ages 12–16 — preteens, tweens, and early teens of any gender who are drawn to stories about courage, tradition, and finding their voice.
This isn’t just Mara’s story, though she is a compelling young priestess stepping into responsibility far sooner than expected. It’s also the story of Crown Prince Eyden, called home from his studies in what we might recognize as agricultural and environmental engineering to assume the throne. Yes, there is a sweet, blushing romance between them, with a few kisses, but the heart of the book is not romance — it’s selfhood.
This is a story about standing up for what you know is right when family, politics, and religious tradition tell you to stay silent. It’s about the tension between honoring the past and answering your conscience. It’s about how love and respect for tradition can coexist with the need to question, to grow, and to choose your own path. And it’s about how yielding your autonomy — even out of love — is the surest way to let darkness take root.
Rating Breakdown
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the art, the spirit, and the courage of the creators
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the 15‑year‑old version of me, who would have swooned over the age‑appropriate romance and deeply felt Mara’s struggle with her grandmother and the emperor
⭐⭐⭐⭐ for adult me, because the resolution felt a bit too easy and the story a touch flat for a mature reader — though I fully acknowledge I am not the target demographic
Final rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story itself feels like a modern fairy tale, carrying the emotional beats and moral clarity of classic folk tales and the best Disney narratives. Because of that, I think this book is a perfect fit for readers ages 12–16 — preteens, tweens, and early teens of any gender who are drawn to stories about courage, tradition, and finding their voice.
This isn’t just Mara’s story, though she is a compelling young priestess stepping into responsibility far sooner than expected. It’s also the story of Crown Prince Eyden, called home from his studies in what we might recognize as agricultural and environmental engineering to assume the throne. Yes, there is a sweet, blushing romance between them, with a few kisses, but the heart of the book is not romance — it’s selfhood.
This is a story about standing up for what you know is right when family, politics, and religious tradition tell you to stay silent. It’s about the tension between honoring the past and answering your conscience. It’s about how love and respect for tradition can coexist with the need to question, to grow, and to choose your own path. And it’s about how yielding your autonomy — even out of love — is the surest way to let darkness take root.
Rating Breakdown
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the art, the spirit, and the courage of the creators
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the 15‑year‑old version of me, who would have swooned over the age‑appropriate romance and deeply felt Mara’s struggle with her grandmother and the emperor
⭐⭐⭐⭐ for adult me, because the resolution felt a bit too easy and the story a touch flat for a mature reader — though I fully acknowledge I am not the target demographic
Final rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The artwork is gorgeous and the color choices are absolutely perfect. The blues, purples, and golds are magical!
This story follows Myra, who is soon to continue in her grandmother’s footsteps in becoming High Priestess. Her love of dance is causing strife on her journey to that end-goal. Dance is forbidden and leads to darkness (according to lore). Myra seems to feel the temptation to dance daily. There is also a handsome prince, Eyden, who Myra was close with in childhood and has returned to add some spice to the tale. He is definitely dreamy in appearance. The prince is tall, dark, and equally ready to break rules.
As for my experience reading; I found myself mostly gazing at the background art and Myra’s beautiful clothing. The story itself is a little one dimensional. It’s a cute story, but there isn’t enough world building to truly feel connected to the place or the people. Occasionally Myra would say something like “whatever”, which seemed so modern that it gave me pause.
Overall I appreciated the artwork the most. The diversity of characters was also noted. The plot was the weakest point, so it will not be a very memorable read for me, but it didn’t have any plot points that annoyed me. A solid three stars.
Questions I might have would be:
Why did these two characters love each other? We can make assumptions, but it would have been nice to have them say something interesting and meaningful to one another other than “I love you”.
What’s Eyden’s sister’s story?
She was one of the more intriguing characters.
Why is Eyden not more upset at his father’s death?
I get that the story needed to be wrapped up, but he seemed ready to have their festival and party. He’s got the love buzz going, but I feel like being possessed and being forced to kill your own father would be pretty sad.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story follows Myra, who is soon to continue in her grandmother’s footsteps in becoming High Priestess. Her love of dance is causing strife on her journey to that end-goal. Dance is forbidden and leads to darkness (according to lore). Myra seems to feel the temptation to dance daily. There is also a handsome prince, Eyden, who Myra was close with in childhood and has returned to add some spice to the tale. He is definitely dreamy in appearance. The prince is tall, dark, and equally ready to break rules.
As for my experience reading; I found myself mostly gazing at the background art and Myra’s beautiful clothing. The story itself is a little one dimensional. It’s a cute story, but there isn’t enough world building to truly feel connected to the place or the people. Occasionally Myra would say something like “whatever”, which seemed so modern that it gave me pause.
Overall I appreciated the artwork the most. The diversity of characters was also noted. The plot was the weakest point, so it will not be a very memorable read for me, but it didn’t have any plot points that annoyed me. A solid three stars.
Questions I might have would be:
Why did these two characters love each other? We can make assumptions, but it would have been nice to have them say something interesting and meaningful to one another other than “I love you”.
What’s Eyden’s sister’s story?
She was one of the more intriguing characters.
Why is Eyden not more upset at his father’s death?
I get that the story needed to be wrapped up, but he seemed ready to have their festival and party. He’s got the love buzz going, but I feel like being possessed and being forced to kill your own father would be pretty sad.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This quick, charming read is a visual triumph, boasting absolutely gorgeous artwork that truly shines during its celestial, golden-hued sequences. The aesthetic appeal is undeniable, providing a lush backdrop for a story that feels like a refreshing reimagining of Footloose set in Southeast Asia. This unique cultural lens adds a vibrant energy to the narrative, making the world-building feel both spirited and distinct. Myra’s fits were consistently on point.
However, the story’s romantic arc leaves something to be desired. The relationship between Myra and the prince feels rushed and somewhat unrealistic; after a ten-year disappearance, the prince returns and immediately initiates a romance that feels unearned given their decade of separation. While they are framed as childhood friends, the jump from a long absence to intense devotion lacks development. The romance could have benefited from a complete rewrite to build tension toward the end, or perhaps could have been omitted entirely to allow the plot more room to breathe.
Furthermore, the "star-crossed" nature of their relationship—specifically the prince’s claim that he could not be with her if he ascended the throne—feels a bit thin without more substantial context. The book would have been significantly strengthened by more backstory regarding their childhood bond and the specific circumstances surrounding his departure. Without this depth, the emotional stakes of their separation and the societal expectations placed upon them don't quite land with the intended impact.
From a technical standpoint, the font is occasionally difficult to read. The tone sits squarely in the Young Adult category, though it leans toward Middle Grade.
A bit more narrative depth would have elevated it from a simple "cute read" to something truly resonant.
This quick, charming read is a visual triumph, boasting absolutely gorgeous artwork that truly shines during its celestial, golden-hued sequences. The aesthetic appeal is undeniable, providing a lush backdrop for a story that feels like a refreshing reimagining of Footloose set in Southeast Asia. This unique cultural lens adds a vibrant energy to the narrative, making the world-building feel both spirited and distinct. Myra’s fits were consistently on point.
However, the story’s romantic arc leaves something to be desired. The relationship between Myra and the prince feels rushed and somewhat unrealistic; after a ten-year disappearance, the prince returns and immediately initiates a romance that feels unearned given their decade of separation. While they are framed as childhood friends, the jump from a long absence to intense devotion lacks development. The romance could have benefited from a complete rewrite to build tension toward the end, or perhaps could have been omitted entirely to allow the plot more room to breathe.
Furthermore, the "star-crossed" nature of their relationship—specifically the prince’s claim that he could not be with her if he ascended the throne—feels a bit thin without more substantial context. The book would have been significantly strengthened by more backstory regarding their childhood bond and the specific circumstances surrounding his departure. Without this depth, the emotional stakes of their separation and the societal expectations placed upon them don't quite land with the intended impact.
From a technical standpoint, the font is occasionally difficult to read. The tone sits squarely in the Young Adult category, though it leans toward Middle Grade.
A bit more narrative depth would have elevated it from a simple "cute read" to something truly resonant.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This gave me the strongest Disney princess vibes and I absolutely loved that. The story follows Myra, a future high priestess in a kingdom where dancing is forbidden, which is already such a fun and slightly tragic premise when dance is the thing she loves most.
One of the biggest highlights for me was the art. It’s genuinely stunning. Tasia is already one of my favorite illustrators, so imagine my surprise when I started reading and realized she worked on this. The art style is honestly to die for and it adds so much magic to the story. Every page felt beautiful to look at.
I also really liked the overall concept of the story: a priestess questioning her path, forbidden dance, ancient darkness creeping into the world, and a prince who has been her closest ally since childhood. The story handles the conflict between passion and duty really well, not just through Myra but through Eyden too. While Myra struggles with becoming a priestess while loving something her god forbids, Eyden is also torn between his responsibilities as the heir and his own passions for music, botany, and a quieter life away from the palace. That shared tension makes their journeys feel more layered.
Another thing I really appreciated was the Indian-inspired setting. We barely get fantasy graphic novels with this kind of representation, so seeing elements of Indian culture woven into the world and story was such a delight.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me was that the romance leaned a bit into insta-love territory, and there were moments where I wished certain emotional beats had a bit more buildup. Some heavier moments resolve quite quickly, and I would have liked to sit with those feelings a little longer.
Overall though, it was a really lovely read with gorgeous artwork, great representation, and a story that felt magical from start to finish.
One of the biggest highlights for me was the art. It’s genuinely stunning. Tasia is already one of my favorite illustrators, so imagine my surprise when I started reading and realized she worked on this. The art style is honestly to die for and it adds so much magic to the story. Every page felt beautiful to look at.
I also really liked the overall concept of the story: a priestess questioning her path, forbidden dance, ancient darkness creeping into the world, and a prince who has been her closest ally since childhood. The story handles the conflict between passion and duty really well, not just through Myra but through Eyden too. While Myra struggles with becoming a priestess while loving something her god forbids, Eyden is also torn between his responsibilities as the heir and his own passions for music, botany, and a quieter life away from the palace. That shared tension makes their journeys feel more layered.
Another thing I really appreciated was the Indian-inspired setting. We barely get fantasy graphic novels with this kind of representation, so seeing elements of Indian culture woven into the world and story was such a delight.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me was that the romance leaned a bit into insta-love territory, and there were moments where I wished certain emotional beats had a bit more buildup. Some heavier moments resolve quite quickly, and I would have liked to sit with those feelings a little longer.
Overall though, it was a really lovely read with gorgeous artwork, great representation, and a story that felt magical from start to finish.
May 15, 2026
4.5⭐️
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! This art style was so enchanting and it felt very much like I was seeing a Disney movie play out on each page. The romantasy genre in graphic novel format was not a combo I ever expected to exist or be executed in the right way—but I'm very glad that it does.
This book has made me very curious about the mythology inspiration for this graphic novel. I like the sort of Hercules (the movie) approach to this magic/mythological system and how the gods/goddesses aren't just statues or spoken about in stories. They're actually real, or as real as one can get through priestess visions, and it was cool to see their contrasting color palettes. The visual depiction of Eyden’s possession through black lines creeping along his face mirrors Myra’s light magic in an interesting way. It actually reminded me a bit of Rapunzel, especially the scene in the end with the floating lanterns.
The romance was beautifully drawn out. It's the classic romantasy dynamic except Eyden is a childhood friend of Myra’s and not this attractive mysterious stranger that is usually the case for romantasy mMCs. I think it definitely works better in this case to have an established relationship so that when feelings do become more than friendly, it doesn't feel rushed when the romance part of a romantasy gets explored. They're also just really cute together and I like their banter.
I also really enjoyed the side characters like the grandmother and Eyden’s sister. I like the idea that Eyden’s sister is pushing back against traditional roles as a commander. The whole concept of pushing back against duty for the sake of love is, again, another beautiful message. Myra’s self-discovery and her struggle to balance duty and love, and going against the expectations of others was developed quite nicely too.
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! This art style was so enchanting and it felt very much like I was seeing a Disney movie play out on each page. The romantasy genre in graphic novel format was not a combo I ever expected to exist or be executed in the right way—but I'm very glad that it does.
This book has made me very curious about the mythology inspiration for this graphic novel. I like the sort of Hercules (the movie) approach to this magic/mythological system and how the gods/goddesses aren't just statues or spoken about in stories. They're actually real, or as real as one can get through priestess visions, and it was cool to see their contrasting color palettes. The visual depiction of Eyden’s possession through black lines creeping along his face mirrors Myra’s light magic in an interesting way. It actually reminded me a bit of Rapunzel, especially the scene in the end with the floating lanterns.
The romance was beautifully drawn out. It's the classic romantasy dynamic except Eyden is a childhood friend of Myra’s and not this attractive mysterious stranger that is usually the case for romantasy mMCs. I think it definitely works better in this case to have an established relationship so that when feelings do become more than friendly, it doesn't feel rushed when the romance part of a romantasy gets explored. They're also just really cute together and I like their banter.
I also really enjoyed the side characters like the grandmother and Eyden’s sister. I like the idea that Eyden’s sister is pushing back against traditional roles as a commander. The whole concept of pushing back against duty for the sake of love is, again, another beautiful message. Myra’s self-discovery and her struggle to balance duty and love, and going against the expectations of others was developed quite nicely too.
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