Alanna (Song of the Lioness, Book 1)

STARRED REVIEW “[S]tunning…Whether depicting ancient ghosts, battles, or emotional confessions, the art draws the reader into a detailed, well-realized world. Recommended not only for fans of the original but anyone interested in one girl’s quest for adventure and the destiny that awaits her.”

* Booklist *The rich color palette and varied panel shapes are appealing. Fun, accessible, and still fierce, Alanna’s story is ready to be enjoyed by old and new audiences alike. A worthy adaptation, playing to the strengths of the visual format. * Kirkus Reviews *More than forty years after the original publication date, a graphic novel adaptation breathes fresh life into the first volume of Pierce’s beloved Song of the Lioness quartet…The vividly colored, intricate artwork offers an extra layer of storytelling …Readers will likely be deeply invested in Alanna’s ferocious grit and her unwavering desire to serve the realm as a knight. * Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books *Beck’s illustrations are excellent, with expressive faces, impressive fight scenes, and stunning backgrounds that anchor and expand the world. VERDICT New readers and existing fans of the original novels will fall in love with this world and Alanna. * School Library Journal *

Tamora Pierce is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over 18 novels set in the fantasy realm of Tortall. She is the winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her “significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.” Pierce lives in Syracuse, New York, with her husband, Tim, and their cats, birds, and occasional rescued wildlife.

Vita Ayala is a queer Afro-Puerto Rican writer born and bred in New York City, where they grew up dreaming of dancing on faraway worlds, fighting monsters on the block, and racing the fish along the bottom of the ocean. Their work includes The Wilds (Black Mask Studios), Submerged (Vault), Static (DC Comics), Xena: Warrior Princess (Dynamite), Shuri and New Mutants (Marvel), and Livewire (Valiant), among others.

Sam Beck is an artist living in Toronto, and the author of the fantasy trilogy Verse. She has worked with publishers like Dark Horse and Vault Comics on multiple series spanning across science fiction, fantasy, and horror. When she’s not working on her comics, you can find her admiring the forests of northern Ontario.