In the Shadow of the Throne

July 11, 2022
In this portal fantasy, Filipino American Jordan Rivera is sick of playing babysitter for his two younger brothers while on vacation with his family in New York. Looking for a moment of respite, Jordan cashes in on a bathroom break to wander the museum he and his family are visiting, ducking into a fantasy exhibit that literally morphs from quiet halls decked out in Renaissance-inspired paintings featuring elven royals to an eerie forest with no cell service. After saving taciturn Prince Astel, he and his knight, Sir Griffith, bring Jordan back to their kingdom of Lymeria. There, Jordan becomes embroiled in Lymeria’s dangerous politics and grows closer to Astel, even as he searches for a way back to the real world. Sheridan employs inventive if underdeveloped worldbuilding, breakneck pacing, and classic tropes such as Jordan’s fish-out-of-water deep dive into Lymeira’s world and his and Astel’s will-they-won’t-they relationship. Cardinali’s (Disney Mulan’s Adventure Journal: The Palace of Secrets) vibrant color palettes, bombastic depictions of magic, and clean and crisp lines elevate Sheridan’s breezy summer debut. Characters with varying skin tones populate Lymeria.

July 1, 2022
A teen boy escapes to the dangerous and fantastic land of Lymeria. A trip to New York City with his family should have been fun, but Jordan is sick of being responsible for his active younger twin brothers. When he wanders through an odd museum exhibit and into a mysterious wilderness, Jordan encounters Prince Astel being attacked by wolves. After saving him, Jordan is drawn into a fantastic adventure with monsters, knights, and royalty. Ruled by Queen Emereth, Lymeria is a land where magic is banned, but as strange and dangerous occurrences surface, Prince Astel and Jordan seek answers. Compelling themes of trust, secrets, friendship, and power are weakened by the rapid pacing that leads to shallow characterization. Likewise, the discussions of family ties and responsibility are intriguing but weakly developed. Despite Jordan's reinventing himself in Lymeria, inverting typical genre tropes as he claims to be an orphan and is a brown-skinned foreign savior in a largely light-skinned fantasy world, the purpose of this interlude and its impact on Jordan as a person are ambiguous. Experienced readers will find the mystery predictable, with easily anticipated villains, and the awkwardly choreographed fight scenes weaken the drama and tension. The queer romance offers a sweet, slow burn that relies on blushes, introspective conversations, and adorable moments. The artwork is attractive and atmospheric, with clean, uncluttered lines. Jordan and his family are cued as Filipino. Despite a sweet romance, misses an opportunity to fully develop its themes and characters. (Graphic fantasy. 12-16)

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August 1, 2022

Gr 7 Up-When Jordan Rivera visits a museum in New York City with his family, he's supposed to be there to enjoy the art, but it feels like he's really just there to be a babysitter for his annoying kid brothers. When he walks away to try to get a few minutes to himself, he discovers a very unusual painting, and moments later he finds himself inside that painting, rescuing a prince from a pack of ferocious wolves. This is just the beginning of an astonishing adventure in the land of Lymeira, a place where magic is outlawed-but that same magic might be the only thing that can save Jordan and his new friends. Jordan sees this as an opportunity to become a knight and escape the obligations of his family. Prince Astel and Sir Griffith see Jordan's arrival as a sign that he will be able to help them untangle a mystery and win a magical battle. The scene-stealing character in this book is the enormous monster they encounter, with its twisted horns, sharp teeth, many eyes, and a secret of its own. Cardinali's artwork is captivating throughout the story, but especially when showing readers details like magical energy, spilled blood, and that drooling monster. VERDICT For fans of magical adventures with hints of LGBTQIA+ romance.-Andrea Lipinski

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