4.5 stars
This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.
Dina Norlund's The Snowcat Prince is a treasure.
It is a wonderfully-illustrated cosy adventure story about a young snowcat named Syv whose corrupt older siblings send him off to recover a stolen treasure to get him out of the way when their father dies, hoping that he won't come back. The treasure is a crown, believed to have been stolen by the snowcats' age-old enemies, the sandfoxes. Returned to snowcat custody, it will grant their king the ability to bond with the heart of their mountain home and restore prosperity to their failing, freezing people. (Note: snowcats live in the same settlements as humans, but the current generation holds themselves aloof unless bribed into helping with gold.)
Syv sets off on his adventure and soon meets a strange youngster who introduces herself as Kit (yes, I could see where this was going because I'm an adult, but I didn't mind) and latches onto him, helping him cross the borders between realms and standing by his side as he faces his fears. Kit is a good, supportive friend, even attempting to reassure Syv that he is still a good person when he uses a power he didn't know he had and in so doing develops a stripe that his people consider a mark of shame and lost honor.
The story unfolds at just the right speed and manages to be sweet without crossing into sickly or saccharine. Syv has a lot to learn about the complexities of life and even his long-held beliefs, but he is brave and kind-hearted and emerges triumphant, the reader rooting for him the whole time. Some of why it was so easy as a reader to cheer for the naif is a personal aversion to seeing cats or feline-shaped creatures suffer, but a lot of it has to do with the story's art, which is delightful. Subtle details show expressions, build up the world, and make the tale immersive and engaging, but even non-subtle things, like Syv's gigantic eyes and Kit's pinkish glow (both of which emphasize the youth and vulnerability of the characters), are done so well it's easy to appreciate them.
At the end of the volume, after the story ends, there are pages about character design which also touch on a bit of lore: how snowcat names work, why there seem to be no female snowcats in the story, why sandfoxes are able to use their magic more easily, and what it really means for an aura to be corrupted. I ate it up and delighted in the bonus artworks.
I believe this book has nearly universal appeal. The colors and story will appeal to young readers, a lot of what I mentioned above will please older readers, and parents will appreciate that there's very little in the way of violence or terror. I have enjoyed this graphic novel more than just about anything I've read in ages, and since I missed its original Kickstarter campaign I am eagerly looking forward to being able to purchase it in print when it becomes available.
rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - It was interesting. I liked it.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - It was extraordinary. I really hope the author wrote more things.