Fantastic tales of Nothing

Nathan Cadwell is the definition of a reluctant hero, hilariously rejecting most calls to adventure and laughing aloud when called the "chosen one." Hailing from a small coastal town, Nathan travels the world of Nothing as an aspiring bard until an unexpected twist places him center stage in a brewing conflict between humans and Volken--shape-shifting bird and wolf creatures. The two groups were at war before a truce brokered by a star, Lerina, but ever since her death, an impending Darkness has laid in wait to siege the world anew. After Nathan crosses paths with Haven, a nonbinary elflike creature who, like Nathan, possesses magic, the two are kidnapped by a Volken and half-Volken pair hired by a human prince. The prince hopes that Nathan, due to his magic, may be able to recover an artifact belonging to Lerina's companion and stop the impending Darkness. In vibrant lineless art that's reminiscent of classic animated films, Green and Rodriguez bring the castles, towns, and forests in the world of Nothing to life with expressive characters, a smattering of Spanish and Esperanto, and a strong cliffhanger that leaves room for a second installment. Ages 8--12. Agent: Mark Gottlieb, Trident Media Group. (Nov.)

Gr 5--8--A new middle grade adventure series looks to make something from Nothing. According to legend, regular humans and shape-shifting volkens lived in harmony until Lerina, the goddesses' peacemaking gift to all, suddenly passed away. Ever since, Nothing has known only destruction and clashes. Now a tangle of misfits must come together to unmask ancient secrets and bring harmony to all. Nathan Cadwell, a brown-haired, light-skinned human with a gambling habit and an unlucky streak, meets up with Haven, a fierce, light-skinned, red-haired forestdweller, neither human nor volken, who's searching for her family. Soon the two are pursued by two volken mercenaries, light-skinned, blond-haired lycanthrope warrior Bardou Griswold and dark-haired, brown-skinned avian shape-shifter Sina Crowe. As they will all learn, however, nothing in Nothing is quite as it seems. Green and Rodriguez's unique visual style seems more akin to animated media than to comics or manga. They depict familiar fantasy settings (enchanted forest, seaside town) with a cinematic sensibility (think a tactile, immersive Studio Ghibli film), bringing their world to life with magnificent lighting and quality rather than sheer quantity of detail. Some readers might find the exposition a bit sluggish, but constant verbal jests, visual puns, and all manner of humorous allusions will keep them entertained. While Haven often speaks in "the ancient tongue"--surprise! it's Esperanto!--the artificial language's romance roots allow for playful interpretation (and easy online translation, if necessary). VERDICT A new contender for Kazu Kibuishi and Ethan M. Aldridge die-hards (with a higher page count to boot).--Steven Thompson, Bound Brook Memorial P.L., NJ

On Nothing, a decadelong truce binds a tenuous peace between the Human Empire and the Volken Court--but now humans and volken alike are disappearing as the encroaching Darkness spreads across the lands. Nathan Cadwell, a charismatic gambler, miraculously magics himself out of the clutches of ferocious debt collectors. Waking up in the dangerous Booreal Forest, Nathan narrowly evades an attack by a volken--a magical being with the ability to transform into an animal--thanks to an enigmatic nonbinary Fae that comes to his rescue. Naming his savior Haven, Nathan and his newfound friend escape to a nearby town, where mercenaries kidnap the pair. The mercenaries--a volken and a traitorous half volken/half human--escort Nathan and Haven to the Empire's capital, where Prince Naoki and his entrusted guard, Ren, enlist the group to uncover the truths behind the Darkness; the goddesses' child, Lerina; and the mysterious source of Nathan's magic. Loaded with humor and thrilling magical combat, this spin on the chosen one trope wrings out a lot of fun despite some oddball pacing. A few meta-jokes draw needless attention to the formulaic narrative, but strong characters and intriguing worldbuilding make for a gratifying hero's journey. Featuring text in in-universe Ancient (actually Esperanto) and Common (English) languages, as well as a racially diverse cast, this webcomic-turned--graphic novel ends on a promise of a sequel. It may be Nothing, but this adventure's really something. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.