At its heart, the Firelight Apprentice is a story of a family's perseverance in the heart of a war. There is magic, grief, hope, and betrayal. This was so different from Bree Paulsen's previous work with Garlic and the Vampire, definitely not a cozy read...but it was a masterpiece all the same. If you're looking for a hard-hitting book with beautiful illustrations, you can't go wrong with this one.

This was so good! I loved the Garlic graphic novels by this author and was so excited to read her newest! I love her art style and the storyline of this was very interesting. Even in just a short graphic novel I felt for the characters and was so interested in the plot! Will definitely be recommending for fall!!

Really loved the Garlic graphic novels and had this on the list of my most anticipated releases for the year and it didn’t disappoint! I loved how magical this was and it was very fitting for spooky season ironically! I can’t what to see what Bree Paulson releases next - she is an auto buy other for sure!
Thank you NetGalley for the arc 💗

My family are huge graphic novel fans so I was thrilled to receive an ARC from HarperCollin's to read The Firelight Apprentice. The artwork is beautiful and alternates between colors of grief and worry to childlike wonder and joy. The supporting characters are rich and the storyline engaging. My biggest complaint is I wanted more. I feel like the story ended rather abruptly and I wanted more details on the sisters lives.
Ada and Safi work hard to support their father, a veteran of the war that claimed the girls mother not long ago. Ada is worried for her younger sister Safi. Safi's magical power continues to grow and she lacks proper training. Safi will become a target for the hideous Liche that target untrained magic users. When Safi is invited to train with traveling magicians Ada reluctantly lets her go. Safi learns and grows while life grows more and more desperate back home.
This is a beautiful book of grief, death, and horror. Things are not always as they seem in this spooky graphic novel for middle grade readers. Can Ada and Safi save themselves?

I am a huge Garlic fan, so I was really excited to read Firelight Apprentice. It did not disappoint. The art is adorable as always and the story was so engaging I could not put it down. Can't wait to get this in the hands of my students.

5 stars

4.5 rounded up
I adore Paulsen's style-- everything from the details, to the coloring, to the eldrich horrors.. simply a masterpiece!

Nothing will probably ever top Garlic for me because that is the book of my heart but gosh this was a fantastic book. The characters are complicated and have their own traumas. The world has so much depth but Paulsen doesn't give so much information as to bog down the reader in the GN format. The trans and aro/ace rep was heartwarming as well!

The conclusion felt a little rushed to me in the epilogue. I think I would have liked one more chapter after the big fight before we got to the happily ever after bit.

But truly fantastic and I can't wait to recommend the firelight apprentice!

The Graphic Novel “The Firelight Apprentice” by Bree Paulson follows the sisters Ada and Safi dealing with Safi’s emerging gift to conjure magic after the war has torn apart their family.

I read “Garlic & the Vampire” and “Garlic & the Witch” by the same author last year and fell in love with the characters. It was magical and whimsical. So I was really excited to take a look at the new series from Bree Paulson. In “The Firelight Apprentice” the tone is much darker than in previous novels. The story centers around the subjects of loss and war. While Safi always had the childlike sense of wonder and joy, it wasn't enough for me to balance out the darker plot points.

The story takes its time to introduce the world and characters and rapidly picks up speed in the second half. I liked the little twist and the way the conflict was resolved in the end. The world felt unique and had some interesting elements. The characters however didn't really resonate with me.

This was a solid read that didn't quite hit my taste but still showed Bree Paulson's talent for tackling important topics in a magical way.

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher HarperCollins Children’s Books and Quill Tree Books for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting graphic novel that almost left me wanting a full length novel. The use of Magicians in the war is such a different aspect than I have normally read. I cannot imagine having a gifted child and knowing you don't have the capability of training them, so you are forced to let them leave to excel. Although, I think I would have tried a little harder to get to know the people she was leaving with. I get that life was tough without their mother and their father dying, but geez. The switch off was so instantaneous. The art style was interesting, I enjoyed the style except for the main MC. The child was apparently harder to draw. Over all, very interesting and quick read.

As a lover of the Garlic graphic novels, I was so excited to read this new one from Bree Paulsen. There is so much magic and whimsy on every page. Even while taking on some heavier themes and conflicts, it still has a lot of joy. From the story to the illustrations, everything is unique and gorgeous. I particularly loved how the LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and disability representation were all so naturally incorporated and that the grief, both of the dead and the dying, felt so real. People of all ages will relate to and enjoy reading this book. It was the perfect read on the first day of fall. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

The Firelight Apprentice is a cozy fantasy read that begins with sisters Ada and Safi that live in a magical world where magicians power the country, Safi is developing magical skills and she has yet to find an affordable tutor since their Father's shop is struggling and they're also still mourning the loss of their Mother.

It's such a palatable read, perfect soft introduction for children to some adult topics that might be hard to grasp. The story was beautifully illustrated, and the characters are lovable! The twist at the end was a nice touch! This will be a great addition to your young children library, I know i will add it to my sons once the book is out! And definitely will check out more of the artist work! Thank you to NetGalley for this e-book ARC.

This was a sweet graphic novel about the love between sisters and the dangers of greed and power. The magic system is simple, yet elegant, while leaving space for creativity. The illustration style isn’t my favorite, but it didn’t take away from the storytelling.

Quick read. I really liked the illustrations. Elva was cool. I really enjoyed this world and their magic system. Ada and Safi are adorable
Would love to see more of their story or atleast in this universe

I loved this graphic novel! A beautiful story about family and magic and the danger of greed and abusing power. The art isn't my favorite style but the story is wonderful

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this wonderful book. This is a lovely story full of magic and great illustrations, exploring the topic of grief and teaching important lessons of the value of the sibling bond and good triumphing over evil. I enjoyed Bree Paulsen’s Garlic duology and was excited for this book; it didn’t disappoint. A great quick read and a world I’d like to revisit.

Thank you so much to Quill Tree Books, HarperCollins Children's Books, and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

I’ve recently read Patrik the Vampire, Garlic and the Vampire, and Garlic and the Witch by this author, and I’ve loved each one, so I knew I had to read The Firelight Apprentice ASAP!

As an adult, I always struggle a bit with reviews of books aimed at younger audiences. The themes of this story really hit home with me as I read; I definitely felt invested and even teared up a few times. The vibe, style, and colors of the art worked perfectly with this story. The characters were well-crafted and believable, and I really enjoyed the plot!

My only note would be that I think the ending felt a bit abrupt or rushed — I think I would have wanted some scenes after the final conflict but before the epilogue where the characters maybe debriefed or some other story threads were tied back in. That way, the book as a whole may have felt more balanced or complete? I went from feeling quite emotionally affected and very ~in~ the story to the story just being over, which was a little jarring.

Overall, though, I think this was great, and I’m really happy that I read it!

Thank you, NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy of The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen!

This was a great cozy, atmospheric read with a splash of magic!
I enjoyed this graphic novel but felt like the ending conflict was a bit rushed.
Still recommend this for a fun cozy read! The art was stunning and I loved the magical aspect.

3.5⭐️ (rounded up)

Wonderful tale and skillfully created. I thought the story was very compelling and had a lot of interesting elements, great for Ghibli fans, particularly those into Howl's Moving Castle.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for me to review!

I really loved the art style for this one -- I've read this author's Garlic books, they're so cute -- and the storyline seemed quite solid. My only confusion was the lack of "firelight" being used in the book, it was referred to primarily as "magic" instead. The casualness of queer characters included was a big plus. Definitely would read a whole series set in the universe, it's all very intriguing! The sisters being the focal point was wonderful.

4.5 ⭐

“The Firelight Apprentice” is a middle grade fantasy graphic novel.
The artwork is vibrant and expressive, perfectly complementing the story's themes of sisterhood, courage, and personal growth. The pacing is well-crafted, seamlessly guiding readers through moments of tension and tenderness.
Highly recommended for young readers and those young at heart.

Oh, this was so cute! It was such a fun story in a short amount of time, and yet it still felt complete. The magic was super fun, the characters were adorable, and the illustrations were great! It is a bit darker than some Middle-grade graphic novels, so if you don't want to read about the death of a parent or war, then maybe avoid this one. But, it managed to have these hard topics in the book without it feeling super depressing and only focusing on them. I think it was a perfect way to explore these topics for this book.

I would recommend this book if you want a graphic novel with a nice plot, don't mind it being a little darker, and like seeing magic drawn in very cool ways.

Thank you HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!