Artwork-4 stars
Writing-1.5 stars

There's some really cool art in here-worth picking up just to take a gander. ( )

4 stars mainly because Luke Pearson's story is really cool. ( )

Having recently enjoyed another graphic novel (Saga #1), I thought I would try another -- only to be disappointed by the simplicity of the plot here and frustrated by a multiplicity of illustators, which changed how the main characters appeared in each chapter or adventure story. Princess Lono goes on the run when her friend Pira (and fire spirit Yonder) arrives to tell her that Pira's mother is about to slaughter Lono's kingdom. This book follows their trek to Spera. ( )

Some good world-building and a great pair of female protagonists but the plot felt largely underdeveloped. Way too many unanswered questions and leaving the reader in the dark. This story needed to be fleshed out more before being published as a volume 1. Still lots of potential, fun dialogue (I like the way Tierney moves between more modern and more high fantasy dialogue), some great artwork and overall a nice package. ( )

Two young princesses go on the run from danger with a cool looking flaming wolf - or goofy looking smoldering dog, depending on which artist is drawing the current chapter. This work consists of a string of short episodes drawn by different artists with jarringly different styles and appeal. It takes a strong writer telling a strong story to carry the reader through such a conceit, but Spera, alas, has neither. ( )