If you want to dip your toes into the world of graphic novels, I have the perfect one to get you started!

Persephone by Loïc Locatelli-Kournwsky

Synopsis: An adaptation of the Greek myth of Demeter and her daughter Persephone, in an exciting universe that blends high fantasy adventure with visuals reminiscent of Japanese anime and 1950s American-style comics.

Persephone is an ordinary girl, which is exactly what is bothering her. She may be the adopted daughter of the famous magician Demeter, but Persephone struggles to find her place alongside such a force of nature. Driven by recurring nightmares as well as a budding curiosity, Persephone decides to explore the secrets of her birth, which everyone seems rather intent on keeping from her. With or without help, Persephone will embark on an epic adventure deep into the Underworld where she’ll discover far more than she bargained for.

My rating: 5/5 stars

My review: I was looking for something to keep me entertained on a long flight and found myself browsing through graphic novels in the Kindle store. I had a vague feeling reading a graphic novel on the Kindle app wouldn’t translate well, but I found Persephone, LOVED the synopsis, and decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did! The images were sharp and clear on my ipad, I didn’t have to wrestle with turning pages while also wrestling with my six-year-old in the seat beside me, and WOW what a story!

This is a Greek myth retelling, but there are enough differences in the story to keep you guessing and entertained. The world is stunning and perfectly rendered in the beautiful drawings. It feels like something straight out of a Miyazaki film. I was pleasantly surprised by the powerful themes of family and self-discovery throughout- for such a short story it packed an emotional punch. When I turned the final page it felt like saying goodbye to old friends.

I loved it so much I had to order a hard copy as well! But the really cool part about Persephone is how accessible I found it to be. It’s not massive, it translated really well to a tablet screen, and the Kindle price is just 9.99$ (cheap by graphic novel standards). It’s the perfect place to start if you’re looking to explore this genre more but don’t want to make a big commitment.

If you love sweeping stories of fantasy and adventure, Greek myth, and Miyazaki- you will adore Persephone. Check it out here!