William and the Lost Spirit

On the surface, this three-part story from French duo de Bonneval (Last Days of an Immortal) and Bonhomme seems like the usual fantasy fare. William de Sonnac, a fair-haired and willful boy, runs away from home in search of his recently deceased father, who he believes is still alive. Along the way, William befriends a brawny knight and a clever goat, and is given his first taste of the often-unforgiving world, where good does not necessarily always best evil. As William searches for the mysterious “far-off lands” where his father may yet live, he meets corrupt kings, ruthless bandits, monsters, and other medieval regulars. But the tale is hardly predictable, and instead it subverts some classic fantasy tropes as it slyly broaches such concepts as atheism, violence, and the unconscious. There’s more to the book than meets the eye, and multiple readings reveal even more subtext. What does meet the eye, though, is quite nice, thanks to Bonhomme’s impeccable linework and breakdowns, as well as clean, if traditional, layouts. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)