Talli, Daughter of the Moon (Talli, Daughter of the Moon #1)

In this well-paced, medieval European–feeling fantasy graphic novel debut by Sourya, Lady Talli, the adopted daughter of Lord Borin, is on the run after their castle is seized by rival Lord Ulric. Accompanied by her earnest, noble-to-a-fault knight Sir Alan and pursued by Lord Ulric’s guard captain sharpshooter Nina, the duo make their way toward Dame Sybbl, where Talli assumes she’ll be safe. Antiques merchant Pavel and his sleepy grandson Lélo, a surprisingly formidable fighter, offer them safe passage to Dame Sybbl, but a dangerous encounter with a group of heretics unveils Talli’s previously unknown heritage as a Summoner, a descendant of a powerful goddess. As a Summoner, Talli has the power to conjure fearsome chimeras with her blood. With Talli’s next period on the horizon, the group’s quest for refuge is imbued with an added sense of urgency; if they don’t reach Dame Sybbl, the inevitable chimera summoning will make them an easy target for their pursuers. A classic manga influence is clear in Sourya’s b&w art, which renders detail-rich backgrounds populated by expressive characters portrayed with myriad skin tones. Dynamic action and humorous dialogue personify this exhilarating series opener. Ages 12–up. (Oct.)