4 stars
A fun mashup that takes influence from Luke Pearson’s graphic novels, the Netflix adaptation, and a few changes of its own.
The second book in the series covers episodes 3, 5, and 7 of the show. It was interesting to see how Davies combined the plots of these three episodes to create their own story. There were quite a few differences because of this, with added details as needed. This made the book very much feel like its own entity rather than just a rehashing of what’s already been done with the series. It is not a play-by-play of the show and instead combines elements to form a condensed plotline. Much more interesting than if each book had just focused on one episode and repeated what happened on screen.
As with the first book, the narration is straightforward. It was interesting to see the new spin on Hilda’s adventures and the different take on her relationships with her mother and friends. The illustrations are equally wonderful with their simple yellow, brown, gray colorations and they pair well with what’s going on in the story.
More adventure, magic, and suspense await readers in book two of the series. Looking forward to reading book three.