BUNNYBIRDS

A spirited princess seeks answers when members of her community go missing.

The winged rabbits known as Bunnybirds live in the idyllic paradise of Halhefla. Princess Aster, a white Bunnybird with blue eyes, spends her days singing, flying, and dreaming. But something sinister is afoot: Bunnybirds are disappearing. While Aster’s friends choose blissful ignorance (their mantra: “The bunny who worries grows heavy and slow…The bunny who smiles suits the flock best”), Aster resolves to visit the Great Beneath to see if she can find the missing Bunnybirds. She enlists the help of Carlin, a rogue brown-furred, hawk-winged Bunnybird who loves to cause trouble—Aster’s polar opposite. The pair meet up with a 10-legged Sand Dog named Feet, and the trio begin an epic quest across a fantastical and dangerous landscape until they reach the lair of the abominable Lysooth, who has captured Aster’s peers. Linn’s beautiful and sweeping graphic novel is rendered in a dreamy palette of earth tones; her visually appealing tale is filled with gentle action and burgeoning friendships. The worldbuilding feels thin, however. Linn relies on conveniences and simplistic resolutions; obstacles are quickly overcome, and arguments are hashed out swiftly. First volumes tend to be heavy on exposition; this volume could have benefited from more development. Nevertheless, readers who enjoy graphic fantasy series such as Warriors or Wings of Fire should feel at home among this book’s lush illustrations.

A stylish series opener sure to find fans.