Review by Booklist Review
A murky, atmospheric prologue reveals a primordial conflict between good and evil that leaves an artifact behind for the present day, the present day where readers find Haru, a flightless and bullied blue bird that a dark force believes to be the chosen one. Haru and their piglet friend Yama stumble upon the Heart of Briar, a hideously powerful and dangerous object that must be destroyed. While their Tolkienian quest merely begins in this volume, they encounter friends and enemies and must traverse a moody, rundown shopping mall, an unusual locale for epic fantasy which, along with the school-based social issues and the colloquial language, makes for a distinctive, grounded mixture that could prove enticing to genre neophytes. As well, this early segment of the journey hinges less on action and more on characters overcoming dark inner voices, voices of uncertainty, anger, and inadequacy. The art comes in muted, earthy tones, and the characters occupy soft, rounded bodies, as though they and their world are shaped of clay, still searching for their final form.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Insecure Haru, a flightless bird longing to soar, and boar Yama, Haru's level-headed best friend, dream of escaping the bullying at school and traveling beyond the confines of their home in Latham's debut graphic novel, first in a trilogy. Unbeknownst to Haru and Yama, however, evil forces threaten their community, thrusting the two unlikely heroes into an adventure to fulfill a prophecy meant to keep the blight and darkness created by a shadowy villain from destroying the world. Yama's discovery of the Briar Heart, a thorn-covered treasure, sets the duo on a perilous quest to carry the relic through the Malady Mire. After barely escaping the swamp's ghoulish bog bodies, and being tormented by a gang in a dilapidated mall, the avian and porcine companions continue their trek to the mysterious beacon atop a mountain. And then the Briar Heart begins possessing Yama, urging him to kill Haru. Latham sets this dazzling work in a Tolkeinesque world, employing clever pen and ink drawings awash in luminous colors to deliver a cliffhanger ending that will have readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. Ages 8--12. (Mar.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--6--Haru is a small blue bird who lives in the forest with their little sibling Goose and their mom, who is a ghost. Haru dreams of leaving the forest but can't fly. Schoolmates make fun of them (their words "sting like paper cuts"), but they do have a best friend--a small pig called Yama. When an evil "heart of briar" finds Yama, and Yama can't get rid of it, the friends ask a wise oak tree for advice, and soon, they set off on their quest to The Beacon ("we're never alone as long as we have each other"). Their journey is full of danger: the heart of briar has a negative effect on Yama, and Haru faces a creature of darkness and death called Blight, but comes through unscathed by holding fast to their inner light. Meanwhile, Goose and his friend Frei, a firefly, follow Haru's trail while Herb, a sentient mushroomlike figure they meet along the way, helps as much as they can. The ending is left to be resolved in further volumes, with Haru and Yama continuing their journey, Goose in danger, and Herb regretful that they couldn't help more. The themes and artistic style call to mind books like Ben Hatke's Things in the Basement and T. Probert's Lightfall. VERDICT Good-hearted Haru is a character to root for in this often-dark beginning, leavened with moments of humor. Recommended where graphic novel fantasy is popular.--Jenny Arch
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A bird and a boar embark upon an adventure and encounter a fearsome foe. In this first entry in a new graphic novel series, Haru, a blue, flightless bird who uses they/them pronouns, is picked on by the other birds ("Are they even a real bird?" "Looks more like a blueberry!"). Their best friend, Yama, a kindhearted pig, does her best to offer Haru warmth and reassurance, but their confidence falters nevertheless. One day, after chasing an errant paper airplane, Yama discovers "the heart of briar," which "glows with darkness" and has a mysterious past. Frightened by this heart that's wrapped in thorny brambles, Yama tries to rid herself of it by throwing it into the water, but it magically reappears and slowly infects her with negative, unkind thoughts. Haru and Yama soon find themselves having a wild and thrilling adventure through an unusual shopping mall, befriending an anthropomorphized mushroom and a firefly, and ultimately coming up against a terrifying nemesis who harbors his own secrets. Latham's tale is lush and evocative, recalling the quirky whimsicality of Hayao Miyazaki and striking an original balance between contemplative and exciting. The muted, earth-toned palette stylishly plays off the dreamy, lyrical text, which brims with alliterative descriptions. Despite portraying no humans, Haru's world is familiar, with mentions of electricity, Google, and an automobile; perhaps in later volumes, this intriguing but undeveloped element of the worldbuilding will be explored further. A series opener that both enchants and captivates. (Graphic animal fantasy. 8-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
