Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the advance copy!

“Atana and the Firebird” was lovely and epic! Vivian Zhou has created a beautiful and magical world filled with interesting characters. The twist at the end was a bit obvious, but I still found it effective. There were at least two tragic sapphic relationships in the text and a cute visually hinted relationship between side characters as well! Reminded me of the kind of tragic romance you find in a Chinese fantasy drama, so I was very pleased. The few romantic bits were of course appropriate for middle grade readers, and the friendship between the three central characters was the main focus of the story. Atana the mermaid, Ren the firebird, and Cosmos the witch guard in training are all on different paths of exploration and growth and I look forward to seeing them further develop. I enjoyed the story's themes of identity, fate, and friendship. There were interesting threads that can be followed up on in the future book two, and I can’t wait to see what will happen next when it comes out!

*Thank you Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!*
Posted to: NetGalley, Goodreads, and The StoryGraph
Posted on: 10 August 2023

4.1 (rounded down to 4) out of 5 stars.

‘Atana and the Firebird’ was such a lovely story with a cute art style to illustrate its tale. This is aimed for a younger audience (definitely more middle grade, maybe even young adult range) yet I still found so much to love about this easy read!
When I first requested this book, I didn’t know that it was set to be a duology, so as I neared the end, I was getting worried that it would be a rushed finish to the story- then I saw it was expecting a second installment. Thankfully, there is no rushed wrap-up to this tale, giving readers enough time with this main trio that you kind of grow to love while reading!
The characters started to go through bits of growth in this first part of the story, showing naiveness in a world that they didn’t fully understand nor explore yet until they meet with the mysterious Witch Queen. Here, Cosmos comes in- another friend for the, now, trio and a helpful ally as the truth of what they sought starts to unravel.

I wish this story would have been longer! I absolutely adored the main cast we have and the little twists and turns in this first half. With the expectation of more to come though, Vivian Zhou will *definitely* have me awaiting for the next part of this to release. This was such a cute read that I honestly think many readers can come to enjoy. It’s certainly not a standalone that I see other reviewers made the mistake of believing as well, but it was such a nice paced read that the length and the cliffhanger of it wasn’t terrible! Besides waiting for the next book to see where our characters will go from here, I think this is the perfect read for those seeking something fun and easy with a nice story to its art and great characters to follow along with!

I loved it. Very creative story, beautiful art work, and engaging dialogue. I want to continue reading and I look forward to Book 2.

In a Nutshell: A magical and adventurous graphic novel aimed at middle-graders. First of a duology, so this leaves many threads dangling. Nevertheless, a commendable debut work.

Story Synopsis:
Atana is a mermaid who has stayed alone on her isolated island for as long as she can remember. As she knows that there are dangerous magic hunters who are always searching for magical beings such as her, she never dares venture out in the open sea. But when a firebird named Ren crashes into her life, quite literally, Atana feels brave enough to explore the uncharted with Ren by her side.
However, Ren is the first firebird in centuries to crash on earth, so her arrival doesn’t go unnoticed. When the two embark upon their adventure, they realise that they are both in need of protection, and it is soon offered to them by the powerful Witch Queen, who assigns young trainee Cosmos the duty of protecting her guests.
But can such a generous offer come without its demands? Atana, Ren, and Cosmos each have to take a call on this tough question.

Bookish Yays:
🌹 Interesting characters: One mermaid, one firebird, one witch. Each of them have their own powers and their own secrets, so to see their bond with each other and their battle over their personal issues was a treat to read.
🌹 Even beyond the central trio, there are some interesting characters in the narrative. I particularly enjoyed Suah’s arc, and hope there’s more of her in the next book.
🌹 I loved the various kinds of magic systems in use. Because the characters weren’t typical, neither was the magic they wielded.
🌹 There is a minor LGBTQ+ track in the story. Though this should have been lengthier (and maybe it shall be so in the sequel), I appreciate the inclusion.
🌹 Though on the lengthier side of MG graphic novels at 260 pages, the book just whizzes by. It never slacks off the storytelling paces, and at the same time, it never shoves in too much too soon. I liked the pacing and the steady flow of the narrative that balances between adventurous action and lull moments with aplomb.
🌹 The illustrations, though on the simpler side when it comes to character faces, are perfect for the story. The magical elements are especially beautiful. Quite a few pages allow the art to speak for itself without needing support from text.

Bookish Nays:
🌵 I hadn’t been aware that this was the planned first of a duology. Given a choice, I always prefer reading standalone works. Though the ending is at a fairly safe point for the characters and not exactly a cliffhanger, it leaves plenty of unanswered questions and a few characters with unclarified backstories. I will not be able to evaluate the current story better unless I know how the sequel tackles the pending arcs. (I guess I’ll update this review once I read the sequel.)

All in all, this is a commendable debut with an interesting storyline and just enough magic as to captivate its young readers. Definitely looking forward to the sequel.

4 stars.

My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “Atana and the Firebird”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I was happy I came across this title. The world-building in it is great, the characters are fun, but also flawed and I loved how the story played around with some fantasy/ fairytale building blocks like prophecies, curses, and protecting the world by any means. It's a solid story that could remain its own thing or turn into a series, depending on what other tales might exist in the same universe.

A great start to a series filled with fantastical world-building, myths, and gorgeous illustrations. Can't wait to see where the next chapter takes us.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t even know where to get started with this one. Atana and the Firebird is a middle grade fantasy graphic novel by Vivian Zhou that follows a mermaid, a firebird, and a witch.

I absolutely adored the story. I LOVED the art and the characters were so much fun and so endearing! This was the perfect mix of art and actual plot. I couldn’t put this book down and I will definitely be revisiting it. I can’t wait to see where Zhou takes this story!

Atana and the Firebird is a fantasy graphic novel reminiscent of Stardust by Neal Gaiman with beautiful illustrations.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperAlley for providing me with a review copy.

Atana is a mermaid living alone on an island until a firebird named Ren leaves space to visit Earth. They quickly become friends and decide they want to see the world. Not long after they leave Atana's island, they are chased by magic hunters, but rescued by a witch. They are then invited to the Queen's palace, but the Queen has nefarious reasons for wanting Atana and Ren to visit. Can the flow of magic be restored? Can Atana's prophecy be avoided?

Thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review:

I was initially drawn into this book for its gorgeous cover and interested description. It did NOT disappoint. If you loved the the cover art, you'll adore the entire book illustrations. If you thought the premise sounded interesting, you'll turn page after page faster than you can read.

The multiple story lines, character development, mysteries, and yes, even the cliff hanger, are all perfectly executed. This is for anyone who loves magic and adventure and mystery. I already can't wait for the sequel.

What a fantastic start to a fantasy series! This pulled me in from the start with the magic surrounding the world that Zhou has built. I can't wait for book #2!
A great recommendation for fans of Reimena Yee or K O'Neill, I will be booktalking this for 4th grade and up. Ages are not specified, and the story is so enthralling that all ages will be sucked in.

What a nice story! The mix of magic and friendship will appeal to many middle and young adult readers. The artwork is appealing with tinges of anime style. This is a quick read and one I will definitely recommend to students.

I was lucky enough to get this book as an eARC from the publisher.
I'm trying to keep up with my graphic novels reading, but find it hard to do on the computer. Hopefully this will be the start of me getting back on track.

We follow two girls Ren (a firebird), and Atana (a mermaid who's been banished to land). The two meet and quickly befriend each other. They decide they want to see the world as neither of them have had the chance before. What should be a fun trip of them seeing the wonders of the world before Ren must go back to her flock ends up with them running for their lives from magic hunters.

This book was really good. I loved the art style and loved the characters. I'm really excited to see there will be a book two. I want to know what happens next so badly.

This is a fun quest/exploration story with two unlikely friends-Atana the exiled mermaid, and Ren a firebird who broke away form her flock to experience the Earth her aunt always spoke of.

The art is simple and cartoon-like but effective. I enjoyed the story (not realizing at the time it was part of a series) and was disappointed when it ended suddenly with no resolution. There were things hinted at that were never explained and I'm not sure if they intend to be resolved in the larger story (such as Cosmo's sister's memories=what they were, why they were removed, ect). Ren, Atana, and Cosmo, all different, have become fast friends and while minor, have encountered disagreements that normally exists between friends.

I believe Middle grade kids will absolutely love this adventure story of three magical friends and the bright colors of the illustrations. I did find the story a bit predictable but still fun.

Atana and the firebird was a story I wasn't expecting to love as much as I did. The compassion between the 3 colliding groups of people, the friendships, the history, the talk of prophecy all tied in with a captivating story and gorgeous art style made for a story I didn't want to put down. And didn't until it was finished! A lovely, cozy way to spend an afternoon.

I'm so glad this is a duology and am now eagerly anticipating the sequel. I Adored Atana so much, and her story, her curiosity the desire to seek a path your own. But I similarly adored ren and cosmos and their vibrant individuality but what I adored most was there interactions with each other which I'm desperate to read more of :)

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley/Edelweiss.)

Atana is a mermaid who lives by herself on an isolated island. She has no memory of her family, or how she came to be alone. She spends her days scavenging the wreckage that washes up on shore, hoping for a nice, fat crate of books to keep her entertained. Until.

Ren is a firebird. Her pack travels the galaxy, feeding on cosmic energy and searching for all the knowledge the universe has to offer. Raised on her aunt Ilo's fantastical stories of Earth, one night Ren strays from her pack and takes a nosedive straight into Earth - and Atana's life.

Together, the girls decide to leave Atana's island to explore the world. But their journey isn't without danger: creatures like them are pursued by humans called magic hunters. So when Her Majesty, the Witch Queen, extends an invitation to Atana and Ren, it seems too good to pass up. Stay at the Blue Palace, under her protection; in exchange, the Queen would like to study Atana, the first firebird to set foot on Earth in generations, in hopes that her magic might solve the worsening "disturbance in the magic cycle of earth." As for Atana, the Queen hopes that she'll agree to be an ambassador to the Merfolk Empire, which has taken an isolationist stance in the face of the looming magic crisis - not to mention a catastrophic prophecy involving Atana herself.

But are the Queen's intentions as benign as they seem?

And how can Atana reconcile the two parts of herself - human and mermaid - if she confines herself to land?

ATANA AND THE FIREBIRD is a charming book, perfect for children and adults alike (the recommended reading age is 8-12 years). If I was writing a blurb I'd peg it as "Isabel Greenberg with shades of THE DARK CRYSTAL." The artwork is lovely and whimsical and definitely brings to mind ONE HUNDRED NIGHTS OF HERO. Atana and Ren are truly magical, while the Witch Queen projects just the right amount of dread and menace.

Likewise, the storytelling is engaging as well - the plot is simple enough for younger readers to follow, yet engaging enough for adults. Part one of this duology ends on a satisfying note, wrapping up the main conflict of the first book, while also promising further adventure.

I adored this very queer and very complex deceptively simple graphic novel with gorgeous illustration. The plot was so engaging that I cannot imagine it ending and I'm so happy to see that it's apart of a duology.

Simple but beautiful artwork. Its got magic, mermaids, firebirds etc. Its the first in a series (a duology?) and I'd recommend it. Super cute.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this arc!

- I’m obsessed with this story, and I cannot wait for the next book!! The different kinds of Magic with different societies with diplomatic issues/secrets reminded me a ton of Avatar the Last Airbender! I also think fans of Amulet would enjoy this one!
- I want an entire series of Atana, Ren, and Cosmo exploring and going to different festivals.
- the character design is so well done-especially the witch queen! She’s so spooky/eerie.
- while the plot follows a fairly predictable path, there is enough twists/mysteries that are well done throughout that I enjoyed the familiarity of the events throughout.

Cute! And perfect for people who like Lumberjanes, Witch Boy, Garlic and the Witch, and other quirky fantasy MG graphic novels.