This whisks readers away to a land of magic where an isolated mermaid, Atana, and an adventurous firebird, Ren, team up to explore. But this magical world has many dangers, including powerful witches, a cursed fog, and magic-hunters who stalk magical folk. Ren and Atana find themselves under the protection of an ancient, all-seeing witch queen as honored guests. But secrets of old betrayals, prophecies, and a potentially world-ending calamity lurk under the surface. The pair, along with young witch-guard friend Cosmos, must navigate these treacherous waters if they want to maintain their freedom and their lives. Zhou's art matches the charming nature of the characters beautifully. Small touches like Ren's winglike sleeves or Atana's drawings of her home plus the wonder of magical effects create a vibrant world to sink into. Younger readers will love the friendship and impetuous nature of the main trio, while older readers can also guess at what secrets will be revealed in the next volume. Recommended for any child looking for a magical adventure with loyal friends.

A mermaid and a firebird explore Earth together in this duology opener.Mermaid Atana was living alone on an island and in its surrounding waters (on land, Atana has legs), until the night firebird Ren appeared from the sky. Ren's fearless curiosity inspires Atana to join her adventure, despite the mermaid's fears of magic hunters, and the two set off together. It's been centuries since firebirds last appeared on Earth, and Ren's arrival hasn't gone unnoticed. The two are immediately waylaid by magic hunters, taken in by a stranger, and invited into the protection of the mysterious Witch Queen. But does the Witch Queen's hospitality come with a hidden cost? Along the way, Ren and Atana pursue their own family secrets, and they befriend Witch Guard trainee Cosmos, who's on a mission of her own. This intriguing, complex story is simply and elegantly drawn, with many wordless panels. Readers may need to reread portions of the book to identify characters or work to pick up on other visual clues. Just as the rapport between Atana, Ren, and Cosmos starts to gel, the plot hurtles to a climax, and the story comes to an end. Still, lovers of the genre will find plenty to enjoy. Ren's human form has brown skin and long, white-blond hair; Atana has light-brown skin and close-cropped green hair, and the supporting cast is varied in appearance.An uneven but appealing introduction to a fantasy world. (development art) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

Gr 5 Up— When Ren, a Firebird, falls to the Earth, she meets Atana, a mermaid living in solitude away from her flock. Together they set out to explore the world but are pursued by magic hunters. They are rescued by the Queen's guardsmen and spirited away to her castle for refuge. There, Ren agrees to aid the Queen in experiments that will help balance the Earth's magic force. But Ren is unaware of how far the Queen will go to pursue her goal. There are many twists and turns as well as characters that emerge who are pivotal to the plot. At times, the magical worldbuilding seems vague, hard to grasp, and not integrated well. But it eventually comes together. This graphic novel adventure is clearly a set-up for future titles, though the story does come to a satisfying conclusion. The artwork, with quiet lines and subtle soft pastel colors, almost underrates the adventure and intrigue that builds in the story. VERDICT Readers looking for a magical story will be satisfied.— Esther Keller