Fantastic Tales of Nothing

Nathan Cadwell is the definition of a reluctant hero, hilariously rejecting most calls to adventure and laughing aloud when called the “chosen one.” Hailing from a small coastal town, Nathan travels the world of Nothing as an aspiring bard until an unexpected twist places him center stage in a brewing conflict between humans and Volken—shape-shifting bird and wolf creatures. The two groups were at war before a truce brokered by a star, Lerina, but ever since her death, an impending Darkness has laid in wait to siege the world anew. After Nathan crosses paths with Haven, a nonbinary elflike creature who, like Nathan, possesses magic, the two are kidnapped by a Volken and half-Volken pair hired by a human prince. The prince hopes that Nathan, due to his magic, may be able to recover an artifact belonging to Lerina’s companion and stop the impending Darkness. In vibrant lineless art that’s reminiscent of classic animated films, Green and Rodriguez bring the castles, towns, and forests in the world of Nothing to life with expressive characters, a smattering of Spanish and Esperanto, and a strong cliffhanger that leaves room for a second installment. Ages 8–12. [em]Agent: Mark Gottlieb, Trident Media Group. (Nov.) [/em]