This book, this graphic novel is such a work of art! The fantasy world combined with the most perfect drawings ever, it seriously takes the concept of graphic novel to the next level. Usually, there are drawings that complement the text. Here? The drawings tell most of the story and it’s PERFECT. Absolutely loved it.

After reading Atana and the Firebird, my thoughts on it are that the artwork is absolutely spectacular with its simplicity and the framing of the story is relatively complex enough to where one is guessing what will happen next and not already knowing. So far, the story has good potential for making a learning moment in any future books as we watch the main characters learn and grow emotionally. This is a good read for mid teens to young adults.

Actual Rating: 3.5

A mermaid, a firebird, and a witch become entangled with a mysterious and powerful Witch Queen, who may hold the key to each of their pasts in this epic middle grade fantasy graphic novel.

Oh what a lovely surprise to read this book and experience just how beautifully Queernorm it is. It was absolute perfection to read a side character getting referred to using they/them pronouns with no explanation at all or even hints toward them being nonbinary or queer. Their pronouns were just accepted and inserted so beautifully into dialogue. Later on in the novel, a sapphic pairing appears between important characters and once again it was not questioned, just wonderfully accepted. This brought me so much joy.

In addition, almost every character had different shades of brown and cream so there's definitely a lot of diversity in the representation.

While I did very much enjoy the story, I do feel like there were a lot of unanswered questions at the end of the book, which also ends in a cliffhanger so I did not feel very satisfied with how it ended. As a personal preference, I also was not too big of a fan of the art as well.

Nonetheless, I am eagerly awaiting the next installment and hope that it will come soon enough because I'm quite invested.

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and HarperAlley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Atana and the Firebird is a fun and adventurous beginning to a new series rife with magic, intrigue, and a dash of drama. When mermaid Atana meets a Firebird, she doesn’t expect to be dragged around the world on a journey to see new sights and explore, but they set out together anyway. Dangerous people make the journey difficult, but along the way they meet new people, make new friends, and discover a bit about themselves and the mysterious world around them.

Join Atana, a cautious lonely mermaid, and Ren, an adventurous curious firebird, on an adventure to explore the world and learn about Atana’s mysterious past. On the way, they encounter magic hunters, loyal soldiers, and a secretive Witch Queen. The first in a series, this whimsically conceived and beautifully illustrated story left me eagerly awaiting future installments of Atana and Ren’s journey.

Wow, this was so pretty! I loved it! The colors and character designs were beautiful, as were the buildings and backgrounds. The story was sweet and I can't wait for the second part.

This graphic novel has beautifully simple art that carries this magical story along. The characters are unique in their appearance and species. I appreciated the dream-like quality of the story. However, I think the plot was a bit confusing. There was some lore that ended up being important to the plot, but I felt wasn't explained very well. Readers who enjoyed the Amulet series, especially those younger than the target audience of that series, will surely enjoy this one. My enjoyment was a 3 star due to the simplistic aspects and confusing plot as an adult reader. But for the intended audience, I would give it a 3.5/4 star rating.

For the lonely mermaid Atana who loves reading about adventures but doesn't feel brave enough to go on one, meeting Ren seems like fate. Ren is a firebird who leaves her flock in order to learn more about Earth. She is a rarity and since she is alone, she is an easy target for those that want to use her powers. Atana and Ren make it to the island of the Witch Queen who offers them a safe place to live and a seemingly endless amount of books for Atana to learn about her past. The Witch Queen is very interested in Ren's powers because when the Firebirds all decided to leave Earth they caused a major magical leak that she is trying to fix. Ren could be the key to saving magic but how far will the Witch Queen go to obtain it?

Positives: Conceptually I felt like Atana and the Firebird could be adapted into a Pixar movie (it reminded me a little of Luca) or even a Miyazaki film. I grew more and more intrigued by what Atana's prophecy was that kept her from her home as I read on although, I was hoping for more of a conclusion to that plot point by the end of the story. I enjoyed Atana's friendship with Ren and Cosmos (a witch on the island). They all had their own struggles and secrets, making them well-developed characters to follow. Ren shined mostly at the end of the story when there was a big reveal that I think really made the story all the more interesting. There were a couple of LGBTQ+ character relationships that made small appearances that created new plot points that will be exciting to explore more in the next book. Visually, the artwork was a treat. The color design throughout was beautiful as well as cozy which I can see readers of all age ranges being drawn to.

Negatives: I wish Atana and Ren were able to explore more islands before landing on the Witch Queen's island. I was expecting more of an adventure story but it felt like there was more talking than doing. The author has set readers up for more of an adventure in the sequel so there is that to look forward to. I think based on where everything is going this would have done better as a trilogy where in the second book our characters would have gone on the Witch Queen's island and the first would have been more island exploration, evading capture, and reveals about the characters' past.

Final Thoughts: Although I would have preferred more adventure, I was drawn to each of the characters' motives and character development. Conceptually and visually, Atana and the Firebird nailed it out of the park. There is a whimsical nature that I think middle-grade readers who love fantasy worlds will love. Overall, the setup for the next book makes it sound like it's going to be fantastic. I am curious to see how our heroes' stories end.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the E-arc!

The art in this graphic novel was very mesmerizing and I loved when the author had scenes with no dialogue because I was able to stare at panels longer. The story follows the unexpected friendship of Ren and Atana as they embark on a journey to see the Earth. I enjoyed the worldbuilding in this installment and I think the pacing worked out well since this is the first in a series. This comes out in November 2023 and I highly recommend checking it out. I am already anticipating the sequel to see where the main two go from here.

Atana is a mermaid banished to live on land where she meets a firebird named Ren. After the two become friends they set out on an adventure to learn what they can and also keep Ren safe.

First, the art for this graphic novel is gorgeous. I love the cover, it's amazing and invokes so many emotions in me. The magic system was interesting and different than what I've read before, I like how it incorporated three different kinds of magical beings in order to function, how they are all reliant on each other. And the casualness of queerness is always appreciated!

I very excitedly await book two!

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

4.75 stars rounded up. Vivian Zhou has created a masterful fantasy graphic novel filled with the magic of witches, firebirds and mermaids. The simple, clean art is gorgeous with predominantly pastel colors. I loved the world building and bond between the characters. Given this book is a duology, the ending lacked some satisfaction that I hope will come in the next installment- I’m looking forward to it! This book features strong female characters and is LGBTQ positive. I’m grateful for an advanced read from NetGalley.

Stunning artwork and a lovely first installment in a middle grade fantasy graphic novel about a firebird, a mermaid, and a witch teaming up to learn more about themselves, encountering some peril along the way. I can’t wait to see what Atana, Ren, and Cosmos get up to next.

Atana and the Firebird (Atana Duology #1) by Vivian Zhou, 256 pages. HarperAlley (HarperCollins), 2023. $16.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
The mermaid Atana lives alone on her island, contenting herself with reading about the world—until the night a firebird falls from the sky. Ren, the firebird, has heard stories about Earth and wants to see everything. But the world is not just beauty and books.
Unknown adventure becomes a quest, acquaintances become best friends, and generosity becomes a trap. Life is full of surprises, and, like our heroines, we make the best decisions we can. Sometimes that looks like leaving our islands for adventure and sometimes that means standing our ground. The illustrations are simple and beautiful.
The characters in this world are depicted to be diverse. The mature content rating is for partial nudity, and the violence rating is for fantasy violence.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

This was such a sweet surprise! I adore the art style and found the world building to be pretty in depth given the format. The characters worked wonderfully together and I enjoyed seeing their progression in this odd world together.
There were a few story beats that I found slightly rushed to have a full impact, but I think that's mostly a fault of it being a graphic novel and things movie quickly.

The art is cute and the story is fun. My students will really like the fantasy element to the book. It is a middle grade adventure story.

4 stars

I am all-in on Atana and the Firebird. I love the visuals, the style, the storytelling, and the genre. A middle grades/upper elementary and onward read that has lots of imagination and close work woven in — recommended!

Atana and the Firebird is a gentle fantasy graphic novel that explores how past slights and prophecies of the future affect current generations. A young mermaid, sent to live alone on land, watches a firebird fall from the sky. The two then go on the adventure of a lifetime to find out what else the world has to offer them. And they both find out that actions of those in the past have caused them pain.

This story is a good mix of found family/friendships, magical world building, and a little political intrigue in the form of a mysterious queen with a magical army and a group of magic bounty hunters. I enjoyed the pretty artwork, the different types of magic at work in the world, and the set up for future books that I hope come along soon!

A lonely mermaid meets a firebird and they decide to go on adventures together. But their idea to explore the world is quickly thwarted by magic hunters and witches, and they discover the world is more dangerous than they realized. A story about discovering yourself, being true to your friends, and figuring out not everyone is who they seem.

This graphic novel was great. I can't wait to order it for our collection. I know the cover alone is going to draw people in.

A charming and magical story about a mermaid, a girebird, and a witch who all become entangled with the mysterious Witch Queen and the prophecy that surrounds them. Atana is a mermaid who has been exiled from the merkingdom all because she was prophesized to be the downfall of all merfolk, she's lived on a quiet island alone and has been afraid to step outside it's shores.... until a firebird named Ren crashes into her life (literally). Ren is the first firebird in hundreds of years to land on Earth and now magic hunters and all are after her. Ren and Atana find themselves being invited to stay with the mysterious and powerful Witch Queen, who has her own motive for wanting them. The protection the witch queen offers comes with a price and now Ren and Atana, as well as their new witch friend Cosmos must find out what exactly she wants with them! This was such a charming and fun adventure to read, I loved the world and can't wait to read more books from this author and discover more adventures with this trio. Seriously, it was a really cute and magical read and the artwork was fantastic!

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperAlley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*