School Library Journal Review
Gr 5--8--Alto, a prince living in a land where ballads played by bards wield magic, is more interested in perfecting his music skills than in his princely responsibilities. His mother, Lady Toril Brightblade, along with bard Eluvian and weaponsmith Calder, slew a dragon and brought peace to their kingdom. Toril is now in the midst of negotiating a peaceful alliance with the neighboring trolls' kingdom, working to overcome distrust from their earlier conflicts. During sensitive negotiations, Alto's fledgling musical magic goes awry and almost derails things, so Toril ends his lessons, demanding he focus on being a prince. Instead, Alto runs away and meets Ebbe, a troll bard who, like Alto, had to leave her community to pursue music. While traveling together they encounter the Discords, bards who use their music to create conflict among listeners. Alto is frightened to discover the Discords' eventual target for their chaos. Alto and Ebbe, joined by young bard Clarabel, must overcome their youth and inexperience to figure out how to stop them. Relying on a soft yet vibrant palette, the gorgeous hand-painted watercolor illustrations lend the story a dreamy quality while still showing the intensity of action scenes and the power of the musical magic. The characters include diverse humans and members of various fantasy races; Alto, his family, and Clarabel are brown-skinned. Themes of friendship, following dreams, and relationships with blood and chosen family are deftly woven into the narrative. VERDICT Beautiful artwork and an exciting, heartfelt story make this a winner.--Carla Riemer
Publisher's Weekly Review
Brown-skinned Prince Alto was raised on ballads describing his mother's defeat of the evil pale drake and her rise to ruler of Skald. In the current time of peace, however, Lady Brightblade would prefer that her son learn diplomacy and statecraft instead of the music-based magic that he loves. When Alto's music disrupts a diplomatic dinner, his mother ends his lessons with the master bard. Running away in a pique, Alto soon encounters other gifted young bards, and is thrilled to discover that collaboration enhances his music and his magic. When he stumbles upon a plot to overthrow his mother, though, only he and his new friends may be in a position to thwart the conspirators. In crisp, bright washes of watercolor and ink, Aldridge (Estranged) paints a world that is equally indebted to The Hobbit and Jem and the Holograms, in which trolls and elves of various skin tones render music as candy-colored magic. The story is savvily grounded in Alto's struggles with familial expectations and his evolving role in a new friend group, and its larger stakes feel sufficiently important to keep the pages turning. A nimble pace, light approach to worldbuilding, and sprightly hero lend a welcome air of effortlessness to this blithe adventure. Ages 8--12. Agent: Stephen Barbara, InkWell Management. (Feb.)
Booklist Review
In a time of tenuous peace, Prince Alto longs to be a hero like his mother before him, but she won't allow him to practice magic on his mandolin and become a bard. Instead, she insists he focus on his political responsibilities, so Alto runs off into the lush countryside in search of adventure. When he overhears a villainous troupe of bards planning to throw the kingdom into chaos, Alto forms a troupe of his own and races to defend his mother and her hard-won peace. Aldridge paints a beautiful medieval fantasy here, and fans of the genre will instantly be engaged by the rich world map, which gives scope and beauty to the story before even the prologue. Bright watercolors bring energy to the elegant designs--detailed enough for rich world building, simple enough for young readers--and the magic system based on making music, no small feat for a graphic novel, really shines, literally and figuratively. An excellent option for budding fans of fantasy, especially young musicians.
