Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian: A Graphic Novel - Softcover

Probert, Tim

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062990462 ISBN 13: 9780062990464

Publisher: HarperAlley, 2020

Synopsis

In the first book of the Lightfall series, Bea and Cad are two unlikely friends who get swept up in a quest way above their pay grade to save their world from falling into eternal darkness. For fans of Amulet and middle grade readers who love sweeping worlds such as Star Wars, comes Tim Probert’s author-illustrator debut, Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian.

Deep in the heart of the planet Irpa stands the Salty Pig’s Tonics & Tinctures, home of the wise Pig Wizard and his adopted granddaughter, Bea. Keepers of the Endless Flame, they live a quiet and peaceful life, crafting medicines and potions for the people of their once-prosperous world.

All that changes when Bea meets Cad, a member of the Galdurians, a race thought to be long-extinct. Cad believes that if anyone can help him find his missing people, it’s the Pig Wizard. But when the two arrive home, the Pig Wizard is nowhere to be found—all that’s left is the Jar of Endless Flame and a mysterious note. Fearing for the Pig Wizard’s safety, Bea and Cad set out across Irpa to find him.

Meanwhile, a dangerous being grows more powerful each day, and will stop at nothing to rid the world of whatever light it has left.

Will these two unexpected friends find the beloved Pig Wizard and prevent eternal darkness from blanketing their world? Or has Irpa finally seen its last sunrise?

About this title

About the Author

Tim Probert is an author and illustrator. He is the creator of Lightfall, an all-ages fantasy adventure graphic novel series. He has illustrated the D&D Dungeon Academy series as well as several other books. Tim has also been an art director in animation at the studio Nathan Love, working on all sorts of short-form projects. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and two cats, surrounded by the smell of fresh bread and the sound of frogs.

Reviews

Gr 4–6—Beatrice lives in a small, isolated town in the woods with her forgetful grandfather and potions shopkeeper, Alfirid the Pig Wizard. While out collecting ingredients, Bea happens upon Cadwallader (Cad), a tall, brown, animal-like creature who may be the last of the Galdurians, a race thought to be extinct. Cad needs Alfirid's help to translate a document that may lead Cad to other Galdurians, but Alfirid is missing, and Bea and Cad find a note that sends them on the adventure of a lifetime. Sweeping scenery and exquisite setting detail, combined with intriguing dialogue, contribute to impressive world-building. Pages are usually awash in the light of a perpetual sunrise or sunset falling on a range of earthy tones, but when the evil Tikarri appear, this palette changes to a mix of crow black and pewter gray with a celestial and hazy purple-pink blend. While Cad is humorous and daring, Bea is cautious and appears to suffer from anxiety, depicted as black tendrils that wrap around her. She is often unhelpfully told to put things in perspective, which may sound familiar to readers who relate to her. Characters are a mix of human and anthropomorphized animals; Bea is a beige-skinned human girl, while Alfirid, her adopted grandfather, is a pig. Fights, weaponry, and explosions are all depicted, as is a minimal and strategic amount of destruction and death; darker tones are present, but outright gore is avoided. VERDICT Majestic artwork, a burgeoning friendship, and the promise of adventure keep the pages turning in this to-be-continued tale. For readers who enjoyed Ryan Andrew's This Was Our Pact and Kazu Kibuishi's "Amulet" series.—Alea Perez, Elmhurst P.L., IL

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperAlley
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062990462
• ISBN 13: 9780062990464
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Probert Tim
• Number of pages: 256