Atana and the Firebird - Vivian Zhou - ★★★★

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AUTHOR: Vivian Zhou
SERIES: Atana Duology, #1.
GENRE: MG Graphic Novel.
RATING: 4 stars.

In a Nutshell: A magical and adventurous graphic novel aimed at middle-graders. First of a duology, so this leaves many threads dangling. Nevertheless, a commendable debut work.

Story Synopsis:
Atana is a mermaid who has stayed alone on her isolated island for as long as she can remember. As she knows that there are dangerous magic hunters who are always searching for magical beings such as her, she never dares venture out in the open sea. But when a firebird named Ren crashes into her life, quite literally, Atana feels brave enough to explore the uncharted with Ren by her side.
However, Ren is the first firebird in centuries to crash on earth, so her arrival doesn’t go unnoticed. When the two embark upon their adventure, they realise that they are both in need of protection, and it is soon offered to them by the powerful Witch Queen, who assigns young trainee Cosmos the duty of protecting her guests.
But can such a generous offer come without its demands? Atana, Ren, and Cosmos each have to take a call on this tough question.


Bookish Yays:
🌹 Interesting characters: One mermaid, one firebird, one witch. Each of them have their own powers and their own secrets, so to see their bond with each other and their battle over their personal issues was a treat to read.

🌹 Even beyond the central trio, there are some interesting characters in the narrative. I particularly enjoyed Suah’s arc, and hope there’s more of her in the next book.

🌹 I loved the various kinds of magic systems in use. Because the characters weren’t typical, neither was the magic they wielded.

🌹 There is a minor LGBTQ+ track in the story. Though this should have been lengthier (and maybe it shall be so in the sequel), I appreciate the inclusion.

🌹 Though on the lengthier side of MG graphic novels at 260 pages, the book just whizzes by. It never slacks off the storytelling paces, and at the same time, it never shoves in too much too soon. I liked the pacing and the steady flow of the narrative that balances between adventurous action and lull moments with aplomb.

🌹 The illustrations, though on the simpler side when it comes to character faces, are perfect for the story. The magical elements are especially beautiful. Quite a few pages allow the art to speak for itself without needing support from text.


Bookish Nays:
🌵 I hadn’t been aware that this was the planned first of a duology. Given a choice, I always prefer reading standalone works. Though the ending is at a fairly safe point for the characters and not exactly a cliffhanger, it leaves plenty of unanswered questions and a few characters with unclarified backstories. I will not be able to evaluate the current story better unless I know how the sequel tackles the pending arcs. (I guess I’ll update this review once I read the sequel.)


All in all, this is a commendable debut with an interesting storyline and just enough magic as to captivate its young readers. Definitely looking forward to the sequel.

My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “Atana and the Firebird”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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