The Glass Frog
J. Brandon Lowry. Trailerback, $16.99 trade paper (378p) ISBN 979-8-9864912-0-2
A young woman comes of age on a charming adventure in Lowry’s sweet and simple debut. Fourteen-year-old orphan Sophie Farrier has always wanted to escape her dreary island village of Seaside. She finally gets some excitement in her life when an unnamed and mysterious Navigator washes up on Seaside’s shore. As soon as he awakens from a deep slumber in the village’s clinic, he rushes to Fairport to carry out a secret mission. Sophie decides to follow, fleeing her increasingly chaotic home life and leaving her brother Damon behind. In her wake, the Merling King emerges from the sea, demanding that the villagers surrender the Navigator or he’ll send waves to wash away the village. Lowry effortlessly toggles between village intrigue as the townsfolk scramble to accommodate the Merling King and Sophie’s quest, which sees her learning more about both the world and her own past. The result is a affecting tale of growing up and discovering one’s identity. (Self-published)
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Reviewed on: 09/17/2024
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror