A short analysis of Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

 Some Graphic Novel Recommendations  (Fiction) - Marina

I’ve noticed that these blogs have a lot of great recommendations for books of all genres, but one thing that’s been missing in our lists is graphic novels! Personally, I find it very easy to get into a graphic novel as opposed to a traditional book, because the illustrations immediately draw me in. I still love normal books, but in between novels when I haven’t found a longer read, I like to read whatever graphic novel I recently found while browsing in the library. 

The art styles of each artist are so different from each other, not to mention the colors, the formats, and fonts that are used that can convey a story on a whole level that just text does not, and as someone who also likes drawing, graphic novels are just that much more interesting for me. 

Enough about my love for graphic novels for now. I tried not to give any spoilers, but if I accidentally gave something away that you didn’t want to know before reading, I’m sorry. Here are some of my favorite graphic novels, specifically in fiction, which is most of what I read:

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Nimona is an exciting and funny fantasy narrative about a villain and his shapeshifting sidekick, both who are not exactly what their titles imply. They have adventures together and fight the evil institution that controls their kingdom. I really liked the story and definitely recommend this book.

The Prince and the Dressmaker and Stargazing by Jen Wang

The Prince and the Dressmaker is a fairytale like story about dressmaker Frances who is asked to create dresses for the crown prince Sebastian, but there’s a catch: The prince doesn’t want people to know that he loves to wear dresses, so Frances must stay a secret, even as Sebastian’s alter ego Lady Crystallia and her gorgeous outfits grow in popularity. Another book by Jen Wang that I liked was Stargazing, which was aimed at slightly younger audiences, but whose realistic fiction story of 2 kids becoming unlikely friends despite rumors was wholesome and inspiring. Both are quick reads that I recommend to anyone looking for a  good graphic novel.

Delilah Dirk Series by Tony Cliff

 The daring swashbuckler Delilah Dirk and her traveling companion Selim have all kinds of adventures in this historical action-packed trilogy. They start in Turkey 1807 and travel around the Mediterranean helping those in need, getting revenge, and finding hidden treasure. If you want to read this series, it starts with the first book: Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant. I really liked the fast paced storyline and the complexity of the characters as the stories progressed, and would highly recommend these books.

Rapunzel’s Revenge by Dean Hale and Shannon Hale

This unique retelling of the traditional fairytale of Rapunzel is a creative graphic novel that incorporates so much more than just the old tale. The characters are new and complicated in their relationships with each other, and the authors bring some topics of real world poverty and inequality into a thrilling story where Rapunzel’s hair doesn’t just weigh her down and get stepped on, it becomes her tool of choice as deadly braided lassoes. Recently (ish) the book got a sequel called Calamity Jack that follows Rapunzel’s travelling companion and friend Jack into more of his backstory. If you’re bored of the princess being helpless but still want a fairytale, this is the graphic novel for you!