The artwork in this was so so so gorgeous. Any time I pick up a First Second graphic novel, I just know the art is going to be top tier, and this was no exception. From the character design to the grand atmosphere, it was just stunning.

I also really loved the story at hand. It felt very much like a myth or fable in the style of oral storytelling for the sake of passion on generational lessons in its structure. It had a moral without being a lecture.

But as other reviews have mentioned, there was some unnecessary antisemitism. This book has greedy trickster goblins that are in control of an island of money and eat the people who try to take it. There were definitely plenty of alternatives to this as a plot beat. And frankly, the fact that this side quest plot beat was about greed was a little redundant as money plays so much into the main storyline as it is. (Why have I been reading/seeing so many books with antisemitic goblins this year?)

CW: violence, death of loved ones, grief, kidnapping, blood, fire, illness