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Canto #3
Canto III: Lionhearted
The tiny clockwork knight in search of a heart has found his people’s freedom and has saved them from the curse of the Shrouded Man, but is he ready to face his enemy on the battlefield? The fan-favorite comic fantasy continues with book three! After making the ultimate sacrifice, Canto bears a weapon that could defeat the Shrouded Man and free all the inhabitants of the Unnamed World. Now, he races to find a hidden settlement of his former slavers to enlist them as allies in the coming war. That is, if the Shrouded Man doesn’t find them first…
152 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2022
5 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 30, 2024
I love this story of the little clockwork knight with the does not quit attitude so much. In this third volume, Canto has determined he needs the help of their former slavers in order to defeat the Shrouded Man and seeks them out. Meanwhile, the Furies are looking for them as well to make sure that doesn't happen.
Canto is full of so much heart. Literally. The heart of the Shrouded Man pumps in his chest, keeping him alive. Booher incorporates the best of stories like Frank L. Baum's Oz or The Neverending Story.
Canto is full of so much heart. Literally. The heart of the Shrouded Man pumps in his chest, keeping him alive. Booher incorporates the best of stories like Frank L. Baum's Oz or The Neverending Story.
August 31, 2022
I keep trying, but the end result hasn't changed.
'Canto' is still a display of wonderful art, but quite a stereotypical depiction of the hero's journey, with a cute extra touch, but not enough to have me caring for the characters or the next chapter of the story... even if it looks like we are reaching an epic conclusion.
Not sure I'll pick the next volume, though, so enough said.
'Canto' is still a display of wonderful art, but quite a stereotypical depiction of the hero's journey, with a cute extra touch, but not enough to have me caring for the characters or the next chapter of the story... even if it looks like we are reaching an epic conclusion.
Not sure I'll pick the next volume, though, so enough said.
August 7, 2022
The third volume of Canto follows our main character as he prepares to take on the Shrouded Man with the only weapon powerful enough to take him on.
Of the volumes, this is my least favorite for one simple reason: I wanted a better ending. The ending was left open. While it is safe to assume the ending was the happy version, I wish we could have seen exactly how the climax played out rather than it just cutting off in the midst of the final battle.
I do love the comradery and hope this series provided in all, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys fairytale-esque storylines.
Of the volumes, this is my least favorite for one simple reason: I wanted a better ending. The ending was left open. While it is safe to assume the ending was the happy version, I wish we could have seen exactly how the climax played out rather than it just cutting off in the midst of the final battle.
I do love the comradery and hope this series provided in all, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys fairytale-esque storylines.
August 9, 2022
I am never tired of Canto's adventures!
This time, he manages to make the Vikus (his former slavers) fight against the Shrouded Man and that is BIG! I absolutely love the gorgeous illustrations of these comics and the ones at the end by different artists are also delightful!
I believe Canto IV will be the conclusion of this magical saga and I can't wait to have it <3
This time, he manages to make the Vikus (his former slavers) fight against the Shrouded Man and that is BIG! I absolutely love the gorgeous illustrations of these comics and the ones at the end by different artists are also delightful!
I believe Canto IV will be the conclusion of this magical saga and I can't wait to have it <3
September 23, 2024
this story is still great! I can't tell when it's going to end though, i mean how long does it really take to get wherever they're going?
either way, Canto is adorable and unless the writer really drops the ball i'll keep reading them.
On to book four.
either way, Canto is adorable and unless the writer really drops the ball i'll keep reading them.
On to book four.
December 5, 2022
Still a fun all-ages fantasy adventure, but it does feel like it's starting to spin it's wheels a bit.
January 1, 2023
Such a cliffhanger! I want to know what is next IMMEDIATELY!
January 19, 2024
Really blah, unfortunately. Made me not care to read any more, because there was so little in which to invest.
MPA ratings: PG for violence
MPA ratings: PG for violence
April 18, 2025
Just continuing to be wonderful and awesome.
For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:
https://youtube.com/shorts/gx4rpdVVCf...
Enjoy!
For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:
https://youtube.com/shorts/gx4rpdVVCf...
Enjoy!
December 16, 2025
Canto Review
In 2019, I joined this amino and started posting book reviews. I really wanted to get my thoughts about the books I read out there into the world, and there was no other way to do it besides take the plunge.
Around that same time, I also joined a thing called NetGalley, which allows people to request advanced reader copies of books coming out soon. I wasn’t really sure about my reading tastes yet, since I’d only read some of the big popular YA fantasy and school required stuff, so I requested a lot of things in a lot of different genres. (If you’re interested in learning more about NetGalley, I made a blog about it: LINK)
My very first request was for the first volume of a graphic novel called Canto, If I Only Had a Heart. I found myself engrossed in a really interesting fantasy world inspired by the Wizard of Oz, full of compelling characters and beautiful art. ORIGINAL REVIEW LINK
For four years, I’ve been telling myself that one day I’d return to Canto, and get updated on the series. This week was that week. Why? Because one of the prompts on this year’s r/Fantasy bingo is to read the oldest thing off of your TBR. I have some older books on my physical TBR, but this is the oldest that I have record of on B&WA.
I had to reread the first volume to remember what happened, but they’re only six chapters long, so it wasn’t too hard to breeze through all three volumes that are currently out. (Plus three little short stories)
The plot follows a little clockwork knight named Canto, who is enslaved to this villain, the Shrouded Man, along with all his people. They all had their hearts taken out and replaced by clocks in order to keep them from feeling anything. They’re not allowed to love, not allowed to have names, not allowed to do anything but chop wood for the furnaces.
Canto falls in love with a girl knight, and she gives him the name Canto, even though it’s forbidden. When the slavers find out she gave him a name, they hurt her, and her clock starts winding down. Canto then goes on a journey to find her missing heart in order to save her.
As the volumes go on, Canto starts gathering allies to rebel against the Shrouded Man, who has pretty much the entire world enslaved to him in some way. Some of the creatures in this world are a little strange or horrifying, but I loved them anyways. Canto proves that you don’t need a heart to hope or love, and convinces so many other people and creatures that they can fight back even when they’re scared.
This story is still ongoing, but I don’t think it will be long before it’s over. One or maybe two more volumes should wrap it up nicely. In addition to the main three volumes, there are three short stories as well. Each one takes place just after each volume, so here’s the best way to read them:
Volume 1 - If I Only Had a Heart
Canto and the Clockwork Fairies
Volume 2 - The Hollow Men
Canto and the City of Giants
Volume 3 - Lionhearted
Canto: Tales of the Unnamed World
It may seem unnecessary to read the short stories, but they are actually really important to the plot. The characters you meet in the short stories end up joining the main plot and helping Canto on his journey.
This world feels so big, even though it’s only shown to us in little pieces. We meet all sorts of cool fantasy races, some which have names, and others whose names and histories have been erased by the Shrouded Man. It was so cool to see Canto discover little tidbits of information about different creatures, and then be able to tell them about the history that they lost. I cried so much.
Canto’s personal journey of discovering courage was so inspiring to read. There were so many moments where he could have given up and admitted defeat, but he never did. He inspired others to have courage and hope, and in turn they helped him when he was struggling. Even people who had previously been his enemies turned around and helped him, because no one who met him walked away without having been changed in some way.
The Wizard of Oz references were subtle, but so well done. They writers paid so much love to the original tale, while also taking their story in a completely different direction. There is no Dorothy, no evil witch, but it still felt very Oz. I don’t know whether or not the authors were only referencing what was in the movie/musical, or whether they added in anything from the rest of the books, so if you’ve read more of the books as a kid, I’d love to know if they included anything from them. I’ve only ever seen the movie/musical.
I highly recommend this short graphic novel series. I’d almost forgotten how much I loved it until I decided to revisit it for that bingo prompt. Now that I’m up to date, I love it even more. Kudos to the writers for making the story so brilliantly beautiful and compelling. And kudos to the artists for the gorgeous art. Seriously, it’s so pretty.
Have a nice day/night everyone!
In 2019, I joined this amino and started posting book reviews. I really wanted to get my thoughts about the books I read out there into the world, and there was no other way to do it besides take the plunge.
Around that same time, I also joined a thing called NetGalley, which allows people to request advanced reader copies of books coming out soon. I wasn’t really sure about my reading tastes yet, since I’d only read some of the big popular YA fantasy and school required stuff, so I requested a lot of things in a lot of different genres. (If you’re interested in learning more about NetGalley, I made a blog about it: LINK)
My very first request was for the first volume of a graphic novel called Canto, If I Only Had a Heart. I found myself engrossed in a really interesting fantasy world inspired by the Wizard of Oz, full of compelling characters and beautiful art. ORIGINAL REVIEW LINK
For four years, I’ve been telling myself that one day I’d return to Canto, and get updated on the series. This week was that week. Why? Because one of the prompts on this year’s r/Fantasy bingo is to read the oldest thing off of your TBR. I have some older books on my physical TBR, but this is the oldest that I have record of on B&WA.
I had to reread the first volume to remember what happened, but they’re only six chapters long, so it wasn’t too hard to breeze through all three volumes that are currently out. (Plus three little short stories)
The plot follows a little clockwork knight named Canto, who is enslaved to this villain, the Shrouded Man, along with all his people. They all had their hearts taken out and replaced by clocks in order to keep them from feeling anything. They’re not allowed to love, not allowed to have names, not allowed to do anything but chop wood for the furnaces.
Canto falls in love with a girl knight, and she gives him the name Canto, even though it’s forbidden. When the slavers find out she gave him a name, they hurt her, and her clock starts winding down. Canto then goes on a journey to find her missing heart in order to save her.
As the volumes go on, Canto starts gathering allies to rebel against the Shrouded Man, who has pretty much the entire world enslaved to him in some way. Some of the creatures in this world are a little strange or horrifying, but I loved them anyways. Canto proves that you don’t need a heart to hope or love, and convinces so many other people and creatures that they can fight back even when they’re scared.
This story is still ongoing, but I don’t think it will be long before it’s over. One or maybe two more volumes should wrap it up nicely. In addition to the main three volumes, there are three short stories as well. Each one takes place just after each volume, so here’s the best way to read them:
Volume 1 - If I Only Had a Heart
Canto and the Clockwork Fairies
Volume 2 - The Hollow Men
Canto and the City of Giants
Volume 3 - Lionhearted
Canto: Tales of the Unnamed World
It may seem unnecessary to read the short stories, but they are actually really important to the plot. The characters you meet in the short stories end up joining the main plot and helping Canto on his journey.
This world feels so big, even though it’s only shown to us in little pieces. We meet all sorts of cool fantasy races, some which have names, and others whose names and histories have been erased by the Shrouded Man. It was so cool to see Canto discover little tidbits of information about different creatures, and then be able to tell them about the history that they lost. I cried so much.
Canto’s personal journey of discovering courage was so inspiring to read. There were so many moments where he could have given up and admitted defeat, but he never did. He inspired others to have courage and hope, and in turn they helped him when he was struggling. Even people who had previously been his enemies turned around and helped him, because no one who met him walked away without having been changed in some way.
The Wizard of Oz references were subtle, but so well done. They writers paid so much love to the original tale, while also taking their story in a completely different direction. There is no Dorothy, no evil witch, but it still felt very Oz. I don’t know whether or not the authors were only referencing what was in the movie/musical, or whether they added in anything from the rest of the books, so if you’ve read more of the books as a kid, I’d love to know if they included anything from them. I’ve only ever seen the movie/musical.
I highly recommend this short graphic novel series. I’d almost forgotten how much I loved it until I decided to revisit it for that bingo prompt. Now that I’m up to date, I love it even more. Kudos to the writers for making the story so brilliantly beautiful and compelling. And kudos to the artists for the gorgeous art. Seriously, it’s so pretty.
Have a nice day/night everyone!
December 1, 2024
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
The big battle is coming, and all inhabitants of the Unnamed World will be swept up by it. Canto and Aulaura set out to find the Vikus, the former slavers of Canto’s race, to hopefully win then to their side before The Shrouded Man can, but it’s an unpopular decision amongst Canto’s friends. Several of them set out to the Emerald Tower to try and take on The Shrouded Man in a surprise attack, but this ends poorly for them. Canto is forced to choose between saving his friends or protecting his people, but hopefully some of his new allies can be counted on.
This next portion of the ongoing adventures of Canto has some pay-offs from earlier in the series. Canto revisits a lot of the characters we've seen throughout in an effort to rally everyone against the Shrouded Man. There's a little bit of reader frustration as his friends go off and do their own plan that we know isn't going to succeed. I like the steady build up to the end we know is coming, but still might be another six-issue trade away. The looming end might be sad for some readers (like me) who have enjoyed this fantastical journey.
Volume three continues to showcase the dynamite team of Zucker and Astone. The intricate illustrations and gorgeous coloring pulls me in to nearly every panel, and I continue to wish I could dive into the pages and be in this world. Hopefully, the upcoming animated movie captures the beautiful play between these two illustrators.
Sara's Rating: 10/10
Suitability Level: Grades 5-12
The big battle is coming, and all inhabitants of the Unnamed World will be swept up by it. Canto and Aulaura set out to find the Vikus, the former slavers of Canto’s race, to hopefully win then to their side before The Shrouded Man can, but it’s an unpopular decision amongst Canto’s friends. Several of them set out to the Emerald Tower to try and take on The Shrouded Man in a surprise attack, but this ends poorly for them. Canto is forced to choose between saving his friends or protecting his people, but hopefully some of his new allies can be counted on.
This next portion of the ongoing adventures of Canto has some pay-offs from earlier in the series. Canto revisits a lot of the characters we've seen throughout in an effort to rally everyone against the Shrouded Man. There's a little bit of reader frustration as his friends go off and do their own plan that we know isn't going to succeed. I like the steady build up to the end we know is coming, but still might be another six-issue trade away. The looming end might be sad for some readers (like me) who have enjoyed this fantastical journey.
Volume three continues to showcase the dynamite team of Zucker and Astone. The intricate illustrations and gorgeous coloring pulls me in to nearly every panel, and I continue to wish I could dive into the pages and be in this world. Hopefully, the upcoming animated movie captures the beautiful play between these two illustrators.
Sara's Rating: 10/10
Suitability Level: Grades 5-12
November 1, 2025
This is every bit as good as the first one. Fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews