In the preceding The Hunt Is On (2019), brothers and aweto seekers Xinyue and Qiliu became enemies after they killed an aweto deity and Qiliu caught Xinyue secretly caring for its adorable, magical, carrot-like baby. Strange Alliances opens with the baby w dubbed Kshana aling Xinyue's wounds and winged, redheaded Qiliu held captive by merchants, having lost both his soul and memories. As the title suggests, Xinyue reluctantly teams up with a young, bald religious apprentice as well as a spoiled princess. Meanwhile, Qiliu reunites with Ashmi, who resents him for killing the mother deity, and meets musical frog people and violent wolf people. If readers thought Kshana was cute in the first volume, wait until they see Baokeli, a froggy prince who dons a cavalier hat and has a boundless enthusiasm for adventure, even urging Ashmi to take him hostage. Nie Jun's striking gray washes and warm watercolors add to the story's serious and humorous beats; but more so, they once again invite readers to delve into a unique, dreamy fantasy world ripe with redemption arcs and its own mythology.

A second series entry introduces many new faces in this graphic fantasy translated from Chinese.A brief prologue explains the context for the events taking place immediately after what happened in The Hunt Is On (2021), as the allure of the mystical aweto, strongest of the plantlike chadolo deities, leads brothers Qiliu and Xinyue to split up and pursue their own journeys. Younger sibling Xinyue has been healed from his brother's attack by the aweto Kshana. He and Kshana find themselves under the care of a lost apprentice monk named Miaodeng, who begs to join them. Despite the dangers, Xinyue reluctantly allows Miaodeng to follow along. Older brother Qiliu, meanwhile, wakes up with no memories, unaware that his taking his brother's life in the previous volume has led to his losing his soul. Wandering in a daze, he runs into Ashmi, a Sanamo warrior, and they head toward the Forest of Poison Mists. Xinyue is now reluctantly accompanying Princess Anxi and her caravan, while Qiliu and the Sanamo are coerced by men who are seeking Kshana. The ending teases another entry. The story is action-packed, but the sheer number of new characters and challenges occasionally disrupts the flow. A highlight is the beautiful watercolor artwork that conveys a strong sense of movement. Light background washes of color are pleasing to the eye, while pops of more saturated tones add emphasis.A roller-coaster ride that is at times overwhelming. (character guide, map) (Graphic fantasy. 12-18)