Wynd, Book Three: The Throne in the Sky

Wynd #3

by James Tynion IV (Writer), Michael Dialynas (Illustrator), AndWorld Design (Letterer)

Return to Esseriel in the darkest chapter to date of Wynd, perfect for newcomers and longtime fans of Eisner Award-Winning writer James Tynion IV!

The land of Esseriel is a darker and more dangerous place than ever, as tensions between the Human and Faerie realms build to the brink of war. Could Wynd be the only hope for peace? Danger, betrayal, and even some romance confront our heroes at every turn, while elsewhere, the Duke makes murderous plans of his own. Things seem dire, but help from an unexpected figure might just be the lifeline Wynd and Merien need… even though the final battle draws near.


The Eisner and GLAAD-nominated Wynd saga continues in this epic new volume from Eisner Award-winning writer James Tynion IV (Batman, Something is Killing the Children) and artist Michael Dialynas (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), the GLAAD Award-winning creative team behind The Woods.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Young Adult, LGBT, Queer, Graphic Novels Comics

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2023

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Hot spring heat-ups, melee meetups, fathers search for kids, some big escapes, cuts and scrapes, rescues hit the skids.

*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #1-2 ◦ Issues #3-4 ◦ Issue #5

[Drusilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, so many storylines and so much that is happening here. That was probably the most exciting part so far. And that cliffhanger!!!!!! Not happy, no, not happy at all right now.
But Wynd is such a sweetheart, such a unique character. I really like how he fluctuates between being a monster and a sweet, insecure boy.

„You keep making me out to be … I don’t know … More than I am.
I’m just this kid. This regular, weirdblooded kid.“ 🥺🥺🥺

Oh, and that delicate hint of romance... I didn't know that holding hands a little, and only in your sleep at that, could be so awesome.

[Jim Ef · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.9/10

Wynd is a great series. The reason behind the 3 stars is that this book didn't really progress the story that much. Also i felt little bit like i was reading the second book again.
Other than that, the characters are still awesome and relatable and the art is as good as ever.

I will say that this book definitely will leave you wanting for more. Can't wait to see what is going to happen next.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is becoming my brand at this point. I just love it so much. Another slay volume. Bring on number four.

I post about queer books on: Instagram Twitter TikTok

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m ashamed to say this book dropped off my radar at some point after issue ten. Not because it was bad, far from it! I can only blame my post-stroke brain for letting it get lost in the shuffle of all the comicbooks I read (and, let’s face it, I read over a hundred monthly series, so perhaps cut me some slack)!

I can actually thank an Amazon recommendation for alerting me to volume three of Wynd being available; it’s about time one of those was useful! Had to happen eventually…

Having now devoured this book, I’m happy to say it’s still one of the best fantasy comics I’ve ever read. The art is great, the themes are as timely as ever, the action is really ramping up and the characters still live and breathe.

I’m now really looking forward to volume four and I promise not to forget about you again, guys!

4.5 stars

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half takes a breath to build relationships between the characters as they do the fugitives in an idyll thing. But the second half kickstarts the action as their pursuers catch up and set things rolling for the big finale next time.

I'm happy I have it on hand and didn't have to wait the 2+ years between books like those poor souls who read this one when it first came out in 2023.

p.s., I'VE BEEN BAMBOOZLED!!! Despite seeing multiple references to Book 4 being the final volume, when I picked it up to enjoy the conclusion today, I saw the word "continues" on the back cover, not "concludes," and immediately flipped to the last page and, yep, there's a big "To be continued!" AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!


FOR REFERENCE:

Contains material originally published in single magazine form as Wynd: The Throne in the Sky #1-5.

Contents: [Prologue] -- Chapter One. A United Esseriel -- Chapter Two. The Dream of Peace -- Chapter Three. The Worst Possible Thing -- Chapter Four. The Mountain Pass -- Chapter Five. The Escape -- Chapter Six. The Throne in the Sky

[Ben Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as single issues as I was too impatient to wait for the volume to be released.

The Throne in the Sky really cements Wynd as my favourite graphic novel series. The world of Esseriel is getting so much bigger, and the politics between the species is gripping and intense.

War seems to be inevitable, Wynd and co. are trying to navigate a world that is getting more dangerous with every step they take.

The artwork is breathtaking. Each panel and page is beautifully done. I could spend ages just absorbing each scene.

I hope the wait for the next installment isn't too long, because that ending had me on the edge of my seat and I need to know what happens next!

[Hosein · Rating 5 out of 5]

خیلی راضی بودم از این سه جلد، به نظرم تمام اون چیزهایی که فانتزی‌های مدرن دارن و خوب بود رو اورده، از اون سمت اشتباهاتی مثل حجم زیاد، متن‌های طولانی و تکرار که بلای جون بیشتر کتاب‌های این نسله رو نداشت.
خیلی راضی بودم از خوندنش، حدس می‌زنم حالا برای سراغ بقیه‌ی کارهای این نویسنده.

[Johnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the events of Book 2 and the adventure continues whilst the stakes get higher. As much as I loved Book 1 & 2, I felt like a lot of the story was just being set up for the next volume. Although I feel like more could have happened, I found the story focused more on the relationships between everyone and for that, I still quite loved. Left me on the edge my seat and I need Book 4 now!

[Rory Michaelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has quickly become my reading slump cure and goes from strength to strength with the storytelling, lore, and beautiful art. I’m both rabid for more instalments and want them to never end.

[Johnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely fucking quit. No longer will I read this series, it is breaking my heart.

This Book was so good! This story is truly evolving into something great, the next 5 issues will be phenomenal. The story only gets better from here!

[edy · Rating 5 out of 5]

what do you mean "end of book three"?? with that ending??? i think not, i need more right now !! dude that was so sad wtf

[Sophie_The_Jedi_Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75

Every time I read once of these books, I've entirely forgotten the plot and the characters, so I just go into it half-blind and try to remember who's who. It's kind of fun.

I liked the friendships between different characters and the dynamics being formed, and the overarching plot picked up nicely. All of the different forces working together and against one another were good, and I was pleasantly caught off-guard by that ending - I'd thought this was the final book, but that's certainly not the case!

I still find Wynd's whole plot strange - he's supposedly one of the "Winged Ones," a human with wings, but fairies exist here. It's not like being able to fly makes him super unique in the world.

Also, despite the developing friendships in here, for some reason the romances don't get the same attention. Characters just look at each other, develop attraction, and they're basically an established couple without any follow-up.

Ugh, I really want the next book already!

3.75/5 stars.

[Andrew Eder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay ngl these are all starting to feel the same in each book. Like they’re blurring together because they’re following the same structure and the same idea in each book. They’re good and I’m enjoying it, but each new book doesn’t really yield anything “new” in terms of unique storyline? Each book leaves on a MAJOR cliffhanger which is great, but I’m annoyed to have to wait for book 4!!

[Lee Fr · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is lowkey giving dune (but make it dungeons and dragons style ig) vibes (if dune was queer and cool) and i'm here for it but what about that ending cliffhanger? and there isn't another volume on sight YET?!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the frost giant archaeologist. A very long chase.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wynd and his friends continue their journey. It turns out Pipetown was only the beginning of their worries, and they find themselves in the middle of an ongoing war. It appears they'll either be martyrs, scapegoats, or worst of all, sacrifices.

Well, you know how I feel about cliffhanger endings. This book once again brings imagination and charm while confronting brutality and the craziness of a war that no one quite remembers starting anymore. There aren't as many cute moments, and nothing at all is resolved, but maybe next time...

[Mattthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this one thinking the whole time that this was the final volume. So when I got to the end I was shocked. This was another fantastic volume of everyone's favorite winged boy Wynd. So good. As always, beautiful art and colors. I'm going through some tough things right now, and this has been a joy to turn to to get my mind off things.
Recommend.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues to shine with the humans, faeries, and vampyres appear to be headed to war. Meanwhile our group of young friends just want to be free to live their own lives. This is a more plot driven volume with less world building. It does end on a cliffhanger so I can't wait for the next miniseries.

[Yuenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goddamit now I have to wait for the next 😭

[Steve Stivaktis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wynd's story remains remarkable. This one grabbed my heart and ripped it to pieces. The writing flows and hits deep as always, and Michael Dialynas' artwork is beyond incredible. Absolutely love how visually interesting this world and its creatures are.

[kaitlphere · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stakes keep getting higher in this series.

I really enjoyed the telling of myths and the new species in this volume.

[Aisling · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Tay Gibs · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Stunning. I finish this days ago and I'm still thinking about it.

[Jack Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

A third volume of epic fantasy this engaging implies just as creative works prior…and even better things to come.

[Clelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would die for Stawberry the giant 🙏😤

[McKenna Deem · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Wynd and the friends™️ saga continues in this adventurous, multi-faceted tale. With parallels to racism, xenophobia, and queerphobia, Wynd’s story continues to captivate.

[Micko · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series takes a necessary step towards focusing less on character-development and relationships and more on the overarching plot and the race towards the finale.

I was happy to see this not ending in the rushed finale that it would have had, if this was the end. I hope that it means we are getting another five issues.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Windshorn Peak. The knife-edge precipice of a frigid mountain pass. The seat of mythological vainglory. The byway of the brave and the treacherous tomb of the imprudent. The border between the Faerie Woods (and its relentless generals) and the Western Desert (and its bloodthirsty vampyres). Next destination. Windshorn Peak.

WYND v3 hits a nice groove; the volume is an ideal mix of the first installment's creative ingenuity and narrative design, along with the second installment's hunger for urgency. The groove is nice and the balance is genuine. As the crew of youngsters trek through the Weird Woods in the wake of the fall of Escalion, uncertainty rises and a sense of control feels farther and farther out of reach. Journeying to Northport, the freest city of them all, feels like a dream. For Prince Yorik (the royal jerk), Bastian (the duke's son), Teek (the knowledgeable scrivener), Oakley (the best friend), Merien (the wound-be soldier), and Wynd (the hesitant hero), the quest for safety is an increasingly pressing need. Faerie soldiers are hot on their trail. Wicked vampyre marauders are, too. And a group of random, well-intentioned but ill-informed humans refuse to be left behind.

Character development earns an enormous boost in this volume. Notably, Merien of Eastwood stands out as the character who always offers a plan (if imperfect), always steps up to take action first (if dangerous), and always lends a voice of reason (if coldly rational). WYND v3 is an adventure fantasy tale with teenagers at its focus, but Merien's forced maturity (and her acknowledgement of the group's dire circumstances), speaks well of the nature of tragedy and trauma, and how the default response, for some, is to punch back as hard as they can.

Merien is a great character. But understanding her archetype is essential to understanding the story's greater trajectory. Merien seeks to make a name for herself against her family history and her race/species backdrop of soldiering through hardship for the sake of one's community. The same can be said for General Eks, a faerie warrior whose knack for battlefield strategy is unmatched. Eks is petty and a partisan, but he's not so narrow-minded as to disregard the power of a contradicted intuition. The same can be said of General Zedra, of the vampyrium. Zedra lives and breathes the long view of every circumstance; good or bad, healthy or ill, the consequences be damned, Zedra will risk everything to gain everything, and she's okay with that.

All of which brings readers toward Windshorn Peak. Legends speak of this place as the home of ancient beings, giants, perhaps even deities. Legends also speak of the tragedy that befell those whose humility atrophied in the shadows of outsized arrogance. The group of fleeing children aim for the frozen mountain pass in lieu of getting snared by faerie guards in the woods, but what they encounter when they reach this forgotten, frozen home of tired mythos include a hot spring, a really old castle, and a mix of friendly and unfriendly faces.

WYND v3 pushes and pulls readers with expert pacing and a credible bounty of action and drama that refuses to allow readers' expectations to get too far ahead of what the creative team aims to deliver. Dialynis's art remains superb. Shifts and changes in character design hint at the characters' evolving mindset (e.g., Meriel sports a sidecut; Wynd's eyes and teeth are sharper), and the growing and quickening of scene changes, due in large part of the story's bitter urgency, are equitably balanced.

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:

We've all heard the story before. Those without will always fear magic in a city where magic is possible. In this case, the city has opted to ban magic and hunt all who dare be born with those magical properties. This was the world Wynd was born into. Thankfully, there is also kindness in the world, as evidenced by the woman who found and raised him.

Things are coming to a head. As the vampires, the royal guard, and more dangers begin to close in on Wynd and his friends. Thankfully, a few allies are willing to stand between them and the danger – but will they get there in time?

Review:

Somehow, Wynd keeps finding new ways to up the ante. The stakes have never been higher – and yet I feel like there's still so much more to come. Every volume has added to the complexity of this tale, tugging at heartstrings and hinting at more as we go along.

Wynd Book Three is multifaceted, making it a rich and exciting read. There was a lot of character development in this volume. Some of it was expected, while other characters surprised me (which was nice!). I also feel like we're setting up for multiple confrontations, and I'm not entirely sure how they will play out.

I should probably mention that Wynd Book Three ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, to put it lightly. The wait for volume four is going to be SO painful, but I do not doubt that it will be worth it.

My biggest regret about reading Wynd Book Three right now? There's no volume four for me to dive into. I'm officially caught up, and that means I actually have to wait (gasp!) for the next volume in this amazing series.

Highlights:
YA Graphic Novel
Fantasy Epic
Magical Bans
LGBT+

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