A review by hickorynut
Witchy, Vol. 1 by Ariel Slamet Ries

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This was a beautifully multi-faceted adventure that was so much more than I was expecting. It introduces the story of Nyneve, a young witch who is hiding her true level of power to escape military conscription or death. It begins with her father being put to death for his power, and shows her experiences with her peers and the unjust nature of the magical military seeking to recruit them. The characters are diverse in skin tones, body types, gender identities, and pronouns. It follows her journey as she works to avoid conscription at all cost, ending up at a sanctuary for children whose parents have been killed for their powers. Ultimately she chooses to move on, a story that will be explored in the sequel.

The art style was lovely but what really made it pop was the stunning lighting changes through every panel. It gave such environmental depth without cluttering the pages or having details blend together. Truly some of the best lighting I've seen from my modern graphic novel reads.