I hope everyone’s week has gone well. I’ve not gotten a chance to read as much as I’d like but I plan to catch up this weekend. I’m finally getting back into the swing of things now that I’m out of school. I’m going on a trip out to Utah in September, so I’m preparing for that. I’m also studying for my next class later in the year as well.
I just finished up a beautiful new comic series, the Atana series. Vivian Zhou has made a masterwork. This two-part comic series follows an exiled mermaid, a young creature called a firebird, and a human witch.
Summary
The last book left off with the three friends just having dealt with a woman called the Witch Queen, who tried to drain Ren, the firebird, of her magical power. This book follows the trio as they try and help Ren recover. The secondary goal of their adventures is to fix the Earth’s magic cycle.
The magic cycle is out of balance. Each of the three species has a location on the Earth where they charge the magic that they use. We have learned that the Firebirds made a hole in the magic cycle after leaving for space. But in this book, we also learn that the mermaids are causing problems by hoarding their magic and not letting it cycle through the Earth.
We learn more about Atana, the mermaid’s people, in this book. Atana was stuck on an island when she first met Ren. This was because she was part of a prophecy that said she would destroy the Mermaid Empire.
We learn more about that prophecy and that mermaid empire itself throughout this book. In this book, we also get to meet the other firebirds, and we get to see more of the adventure between the human witch and her sister.
My favorite part of the whole thing is the epilogue set a few years after the events of the novel. I won’t ruin it, but it adds in a lot of easter eggs for fans who have been reading this since the beginning.
Review
I have found a new favorite offer in Vivian Zhou. I love her take on mermaids; the book deals with themes of identity and found family. It also highlights the importance of friendship and keeping your promises.
As for larger themes, the book has a big environmental/conservationist turn. The whole issue of the magic cycle mirrors the use of Earth’s resources. The importance of doing your part to help your larger community is brought up time and time again. It is an extension of the friendship themes. Another theme that is brought up often is the danger of hoarding power and how it doesn’t help people.
I especially love the art in this comic. The bright colors and nature themes remind me of K. O’Neil’s work. I think very highly of this comic and would happily give it four stars. It’s another great attempt at cozy fantasy.
Vivian Zhou is a graduate of Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Animation program. After working on a multitude of animated shows and award-winning short films as storyboard artist and occasionally director, she is now following her dream of creating her own comics. Her short comics can be found printed in anthologies and zines. She currently resides in Nova Scotia, Canada, where she can be found trying to draw with squid ink.
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