Amulet Book 1: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi



Kibuishi has done his homework when it comes to myths and fantasy quest stories. Older readers might recognize moments that match the Lord of the Rings or the Star Wars films. When I met the fox bounty hunter Leon Redbeard in the second volume of the series, I was immediately reminded of Strider from J.R.R. Tolkien's stories. There are rugged heroes, mysterious prophecies, and many examples of bravery and friendship throughout the three books. It also successfully keeps its characters from falling into stereotypes. Few in this adventure are completely evil, and everyone offers understandable motives for their actions.

The most important detail of the book is that it's a well-done example of a swashbuckling fantasy adventure, which can be hard to find. Fans of the graphic novel series Bone, by Jeff Smith, will immediately feel at home in Alledia.