Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Reviewed by: Maelstrom: A Prince of Evil by Lorian Merriman April Spisak Merriman, Lorian Maelstrom: A Prince of Evil; written and illus. by Lorian Merriman. Holt, 2024 240p Trade ed. ISBN 9781250822833 24. 99 Paper ed. ISBN 9781250822840 17. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 4-6 In this sharp, immersive graphic novel, Maelstrom, a half-demon prince, must decide whether to follow his formidable mother into oppressive leadership or carve out an alternative destiny for himself. His mother's obsessive quest for power has pretty much decimated any of their enemies, so an utterly bored Maelstrom is delighted when he stumbles upon a resistance movement, if only for the sheer entertainment of it. He does not expect, however, to be charmed by the rebellion's earnest, End Page 331 dedicated people who are heroic but imperfect, willing to risk everything for justice rather than power. Familiar and effective fantasy tropes abound with epic rivalries, a sword of virtue, shapeshifting, and a secret resistance to tyranny—fantasy readers will feel immediately at home in this well-developed world. Merriman makes full use of the visual format, with varied panel size, vivid (sometimes joyfully garish) coloring, and arresting, startling battle scenes that are often wordless other than sound effects. There's a lightness to Maelstrom's discovery that one's story isn't already fully written and a relief in his finding love and connection in a chosen family, and these are relatable threads that transcend the fantasy setting. When even snarky, half-demon shapeshifters with heavy-duty mommy issues can become heroes of their own stories, there's hope for most of us. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
April Spisak (Thu,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: