The start of this book was so promising, and I did love characters and the overall story--it's a great quick read with a fairytale feel--but the ending was so rushed. Didn't help that I was reading a digital copy so I didn't realize I was getting close to the end until it was over, but even if I had known it was almost over, I think the final confrontation would still have been disappointingly quick and easy.

I love Bree Paulsen's unique illustration style. The steampunk world of magic was well crafted and the characters were interesting. I did feel the story had some pacing issues with too much character focus in the beginning and a rushed ending.

5/5 Stars. What a charming graphic novel! Not only is the art style super whimsical, but the story is equally enchanting. I loved the world building and characters. I did not see that twist coming! The Firelight Apprentice tells the story of young Safi and her older sister Ada. Safi is a young magician looking for an apprenticeship to showcase her magic, meanwhile lichs, or restless souls, roam the post-war towns looking for magicians to feed off of. This story was beautifully intricate and wove together themes of grief, war, magic, sisterhood, and overcoming hardship. I thought it was just beautiful and I enjoyed reading it very much. I look forward to checking out more works by this author, Bree Paulsen, now. Thank you HarperCollins, Quill Tree Books, Bree Paulsen, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review!

Loved it! Cute, magical, fast paced.
I hope that the author writes sequels about the adventures for all of the characters, main and side. Loved them all and hope to revisit this world in a sequel or a reread of this. <3

In a magical city still recovering from war, Ava realizes her sister Safi is manifesting magical powers. Fearing that if Safi leaves for the King's palace she'll be killed like her mother, Ava is left trying to figure out how to hold her family together, as well as safe from the magical liches who syphon power from unknowing magicians.

A traveling group of magicians might be the answer Ava needs, or it might just be what she most fears.

This is another great read from Bree Paulsen, and will be a popular graphic novel read series!

3 stars - I liked it

In a world of magic that is recovering from a war, Ada is concerned about her younger sister’s developing powers. She knows she needs an apprenticeship with the king's magician but she is still fearful that war will return. When a traveling group of magicians pass through the city, they see Safi’s talents and take her on as an apprentice, leaving Ada and their sickly father behind.

This story had a bit of a darker tone than Paulsen’s other books but it was still really enjoyable. We see Ada being the protective older sister but also knowing that she has to let her sister go. Safi is a talented and energetic child who quickly soaks up everything that is being taught to her.

The twist with who the villain is in this was well done I think. I figured it out beforehand but I think if I was a child reading this it would have been a big surprise. I enjoyed this book and this unique world of magic that Paulsen has created. I especially liked how she ended the epilogue and how we see a better situation for everyone.

TW: war themes; death of parents; grief;

Another great graphic novel from Bree Paulsen! I had a great time reading this and loved the sibling bond.

So good! I have enjoyed Bree Paulsen's previous graphic novels, and this one was also fun, although with darker themes. The magic and world were exciting.

This is a propulsive and engaging graphic novel perfect for kids who like like Lightfall, 5 Worlds, Sorceline or Amulet. The art is beautiful and suits the story very well. I thought the world building was interesting and I would definitely read more if this becomes a series. I think there is a lot more that we could learn about the world and the characters that we've met.

I adore Garlic and the Vampire books and this new graphic novel, while a bit darker, doesn’t disappoint. Safi and Ada are poor and their dad is dying. Safi possesses magic but they are too poor to pay for a mentor for her. When some traveling magicians come to town, this is the chance they have been hoping for. The magicians agree to mentor her, but things are not always as they seem.

I love Bree Paulsen. This addition just made me love her more. I loved the world that she created with magicians in this book. The illustrations were fun as well. I wonder if this story is set in the same world as her Garlic stories! The themes of grief and the toll that war can have on families were very evident. I highly recommend this one and I hope that Paulsen has plans to write more about these characters!

I loved this story even though it had the lose of two parents and war it was still very heartwarming. I also loved how one of the magicians was of the trans experience. I hope there is a second book.

I really enjoyed the exploration of war in this graphic novel. It's great seeing Safi still love and wants to learn magic even after everything magicians went through in the war. I also loved seeing the family dynamic develop throughout the story. The illustrations were perfect and really brought the world to life.

I loved Bree Paulsen’s Garlic books and have read them several times to myself and to my little nieces. I received an ARC of The Firelight Apprentice and read it immediately. It is excellent, and I’m so excited to have another world of Paulsen’s that I can return to again and again.
The world building in The Firelight Apprentice is excellent. As a reader, I felt dropped into a magical world that was fully developed and that I learned more about as the book continued. It is a beautiful book to read. The illustrations are full and exciting, but the plot is clear and intriguing.
Thematically, I love Paulsen’s focus on the relationship between the sisters. Safi and Ada felt like richly drawn characters even in such a short work. I’m very impressed by what Paulsen can convey through art. For example, while they did not speak of it, it seemed clear to me that Ada had to step into a motherly role to her younger sister upon their mother’s death. This was not explicitly stated, but shown in a way that I found impressive. I also always appreciate Paulsen’s subtle but important queer representation. Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for my copy of this book.

Bree Paulsen's work and art is a shining light in my existence. I loved this story, it was original and imaginative, and perfect for fans of her other work! I'd like to see more set in this universe.

Bree Paulsen definitely has a style! Fans of Garlic and the Vampire will love a return to Paulsen's cozy artwork, and fans of historical-feeling magical worlds will find much to love in this story of sisters. Hand to fans of Victoria Ying's City of Secrets looking for a slightly shorter read.

This was a beautiful little book that as an older sister hit me right in the feels. I connected so deeply with the idea of having to relinquish control of a sibling in order for them to flourish.

The art was adorable of course! And that plot twist. I loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc :)

Thank you HarperCollins Children’s Books | Quill Tree Books and NetGalley for the early digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

The art style is beautiful. Paulsen's artwork is unique and sets her apart from many other artists. The amount of detail that goes into each frame is one of the reasons I keep picking up her graphic novels.

The story, in theory, sounds super cute. I don't gravitate toward magical stories, but after reading Garlic and the Witch / Vampire, I still wanted to try this. The reader follows two sisters, Ada (oldest) and Safi. Ada is very protective of Safi, but she knows that it's essential to make your own mistakes. What's even harder to come to terms with is that Safi is gaining her magical abilities and will be apprenticed by the king's magician. She goes on to practice with traveling magicians and leaves Ada to watch over everything, even their ill father. When Ada starts sending letters to Safi to keep her up to date, Safi has no clue that they're not getting to her, so she keeps updating Ada with new and exciting news. But who's destroying the letters and why?

Although it was super cute, it didn't evoke any emotion from me like I expected it to. However, I believe the lessons learned in Paulsen's stories are something all ages can stand to learn, which makes it appealing to a wide range of readers. I don't have a lot to say about it because I know that it will be a beloved story for many readers. It just wasn't what I was anticipating and that's okay. I will continue to read from Paulsen regardless.

Interesting book! While I wasn't the biggest fan of the plot since the pacing was too slow for me, the characters were wonderful to get to know throughout the book. Though I must add that twist at the end was super cool!

The Firelight Apprentice follows Safi as she enters an apprenticeship under the king's magician, but all is not as it seems. I loved the relationships Safi makes and strengthens throughout the story, and I love Bree Paulsen's illustrations. With an overall theme of good triumphs evil, this graphic novel has the perfect blend of darkness and light.

I received an ARC from HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.