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Review: Tidesong

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Title: Tidesong

Author: Wendy Xu

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication date: November 16, 2021

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TidesongSummary

Sophie is a young witch from a long line of witches. Her mother and grandmother want her to attend the Royal Magic Academy, the best academy for magic in the realm. However, Sophie’s magic isn’t quite up to par, so she’s sent to her cousin and great aunt’s house to study.

When she’s there, it seems like all they want to do is give her chores instead of teaching her magic. Annoyed with her situation, Sophie tries magic on her own. However, her spell goes wrong, trapped Lir, a water dragon, on land. Their magic becomes tangled, and the only way to save Lir is to untangle it. But without him, Sophie won’t be able to ace her entrance exams.

Review: Tidesong

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this to review! Always looking for new graphic novels to read, and I absolutely loved this one. Wendy Xu worked on one of my favorite graphic novels, Mooncakes, so I knew I was going to be in for a treat with this one.

We can start with the art! Right from the beginning, you’re pulled into this magical world that Xu has created. I loved the way that magic and water were represented in the book. And the water dragons! They were so magestic and wonderful. The color palette also contributes to the sort of whimsical atmosphere of the book, and I thoroughly enjoyed how it all worked together.

I also thought the magic system also felt unique to me. The prologue sets the tone for the book, and there is almost a story within a story. Between each chapter you get a glimpse of what’s happening under the water while Sophie is trying to learn magic. By the end, both stories connect seamlessly, bringing everything full circle.

And the characters! Throughout, Sophie struggles with self-doubt and negative thoughts, and a lot of the story is focused on her finding confidence in herself. For a middle grade graphic novel, I feel like a lot of readers will relate to her journey, even in this fantasy world.

All in all, I absolutely loved this graphic novel and can’t wait for other people to read it when it comes out in November!

4.5/5 stars

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