The chapters for this series were released 1-2 times yearly originally and just by the first few pages alone you can see why: this is a visually stunning graphic novel with beautiful full page art to tell the story. Yet it relies so much on the art, the pacing is glacial and the volume ends just as the story was beginning. You'll have a long wait for the next book that actually gets the story rolling. But the cover art is very indicative of the incredibly artwork you will find inside.

Story: It's 1977 and 12 year old Jonas is a happy dreamer more interested in drawing or making up imaginary worlds than living in the present with his widower father and the drudgery of homework and school. Now, after the last day in elementary school, he leaves the City behind to spend the Summer with his father and grandmother in her large cottage at the edge of a great German forest. Jonas loves the house: in his room he found an old door to the attack and there he can make up his imaginary worlds in peace. Until the day one of his drawings comes to life and leads him to a special framed mirror with a view into an exciting fantasy world.....

The story moves very slowly - that's a good thing in that it lets you build a relationship with Jonas and get a feel for his character. But it's also frustrating in that the book pretty much consists of: first part Jonas and his home life; second part arriving/settling in at grandmother's house; and then c) entry into the fantasy world. It makes the book feel almost like a long prologue - an introduction to Jonas and his escape world but the actual story taking place later. Because the heart of the story will be set in the fantasy world we only just entered in this first volume.

But really, since the illustration work is so beautiful, it was a book that reminded me to slow down and take in the scenery rather than just the words. From Jonas' grandmother's cat accompanying him in his secret attic room to the fantastical world in which he finds himself. There are some wonderful creatures, from bugs to beasts, that inhabit the lush forest Jonas is exploring. Daniel Lieske is truly a master artist and this was a very rewarding story visually. Even grandmother's cottage seemed both mundane and magical at the same time.

The tale was beautifully written and does not play second fiddle to the art. The plot is something to savor - to see Jonas' frustration with life, his fun playroom escapes into dream worlds, the frustration of his father and single parenting after an accident in a home fire took away his wife in the past, the lovely grandmother and, of course, the old cottage which all combine to encourage Jonas to seek out the mirror world. And little things like Daniel's knit red sweater which he imagines is armor, his wooden sword, bicycling gloves gauntlets, and old knapsack as his journeying kit to defend the downtrodden. In many ways, it feels very intimate and autobiographical - the loneliness of a dreamer who, while having many friends, still is very introverted. It's a story that will resonate with young and old; the book is suitable for all ages and I believe younger kids would love it.

I can't give this a five star with the story needing a more definitive arc in this first volume. But there is something really beautiful here that even with the brevity of the tale, it feels very much worth it. I greatly look forward to the next volume but I'm willing to wait patiently knowing that it is worth the time for such beautiful art. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.