The Firelight Apprentice

Author/Artist: Bree Paulsen
Designer: Celeste Knudsen
Writer: Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: October 29, 2024

Following a bloody struggle by which they misplaced their mom, a beloved and gifted magician for the king, sisters Ada and Safi help their father at his retailer, the place he makes and sells magical lightbulbs—the household commerce. His lungs are severely broken from the salts he used within the incendiary bulbs he created in the course of the struggle, and as his well being worsens, enterprise continues to say no.

Then, there’s Safi: a toddler who already possesses unbelievable magical energy and desires a correct mentor to assist her management it. Her household can’t afford such a instructor, and there are few touring magicians who come this fashion. There are additionally rumors of liches kidnapping magic customers and draining them of their energy, heightening the stakes for Safi and her household—particularly Ada, who can’t bear one other loss after their mom.

Lastly, a pair of magicians carry their present to city, and so they spot Safi’s magic within the crowd. They ask to tackle Safi as an apprentice, which suggests taking her away to journey, leaving Ada and their father behind to run the store. It’s the most effective and most secure alternative for her, and he or she goes—however whereas she’s gone studying magic and constructing upon her blood household with discovered household, issues worsen again residence and considered one of her new associates will not be so pleasant in spite of everything.

Garlic and the Vampire and Garlic and the Witch creator Bree Paulsen has as soon as once more crafted a masterpiece with The Firelight Apprentice. Paulsen’s signature cartooning model interprets fantastically to this post-war world, with expressive characters and fully-detailed backgrounds offering a world readers can’t assist however wish to reside inside. Her shade palette is extremely wealthy, with deep shadows fantastically contrasting shiny sparks of magic that carry the story by means of.

As Safi learns extra about her magic, together with tips on how to management and develop her skills, her world opens up. She travels to far-away locations, meets new individuals, and engages with coaching she by no means might have had at residence. All of the whereas, she stays steadfast in her kindness and dedication to her household, and he or she needs to go to her older sister Ada and her father greater than something.

Again residence, Ada struggles to maintain it collectively as their father grows weaker, even when the letters she receives from Safi don’t acknowledge any of the hardships she’s reluctantly written about in her personal missives. Ada struggles to know why her youthful sister doesn’t appear to be studying her letters, and good points some perception from Elba, a former magician to the king who lately arrived on the town now lives on its streets, seemingly drained of the powers he claims to have had.

Paulsen roots the core battle of The Firelight Apprentice in miscommunication facilitated by a malicious third celebration. On the web page, we see her letters being destroyed, however we don’t know who’s doing it till the finale—throughout which Safi discovers the complete extent of her powers and the way a lot additional she will be able to push her magic when she’s defending the individuals she loves. Paulsen builds rigidity slowly, planting hints all through so when the story reaches its climax and determination, nothing feels out of the blue or rushed.

The pacing makes The Firelight Apprentice stand out, significantly due to the way it tackles grief head-on. Safi, Ada, and their father all strategy their grief otherwise, and discovering pleasure turns into more and more tough for the latter two. However because the story progresses, rediscovering pleasure after loss turns into a core focus, with the characters taking the time and area they want to determine what that appears like for them.

Paulsen’s writing on these themes is really lovely, and paired together with her art work, The Firelight Apprentice turns into an ideal addition to any library.

Last Verdict: Purchase