5 stars
I’ll start out by saying I won an uncorrected proof of this book. The first few pages were in full color, the next few in grayscale, and the rest in black and white. However, I found myself completely engrossed in the story and characters that by the end I kind of forgot that the finished thing would be in color. I was so swept away by the version I read and can’t wait to get my hands on a full-color copy to reread.
I loved this story. It had me from the start. I am always blown away by Ostertag’s stories (the The Witch Boy series is phenomenal) and her artwork (Shattered Warrior is gorgeous). So I’ll be honest, my expectations for this book were pretty high. And it certainly delivered. Even in black and white, I was blown away by the artwork. I can only imagine what the whole book will be like in its finished form.
The book deals with various issues, with a special emphasis on relationships between friends, parents, siblings, love interests, and one’s self, as well as the relationship between humans and animals. Wonderful themes throughout the book as Morgan’s plans are turned upside down and Keltie’s motives are revealed.
Honestly, this whole book is adorable. Even with the ups and downs of navigating different relationships, this was a fun read to get lost in. Highly recommend.