'The Lost Sunday' is a charming fairy tale story about the importance of having time to relax and knowing when to step up and help.

Nina helps a different person on each of the six days of the week, but the never ending cycle of work is exhausting, even for someone who likes to help. Supported by her village friends, she sets off on a quest to find the witch of the well, and see if she can restore the lost sunday.

With a beautiful art style, and a good pace, this will be a great story to read to kids and have them follow along.

This was an amazing fairytale about the lost Sunday, a day which people usually rest.

I loved the amazing artwork of this, the colors were so vibrant and the story was so heart warming. I would definitely reads this tale to my nephew and I believe the messages of this tale are really important.

I highly recommend it.

I was recently approved for an ARC of The Lost Sunday by Ileana Surducan, and it turned out to be absolutely magical.

The story takes place in a quiet village where a witch has stolen all the Sundays, and a young woman sets out on a gentle but determined journey to bring them back. It’s a whimsical tale with a fairy tale feel—charming, imaginative, and full of heart. The art is absolutely stunning, with colourful, expressive illustrations that perfectly complement the dreamy tone of the story.

If you love cosy, folklore-inspired stories with beautiful visuals and a touch of quiet magic, The Lost Sunday is a gem you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lost Sunday is a loose fairytale retelling. The main character works every day without rest, since Sunday is missing. She then goes on a quest to find Sunday.

The art style and colour palette are beautiful, perfectly suiting the story’s whimsical feel.

Overall, this book is a lovely read, I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

💭 My Thoughts
Someone go call Disney to make a short film based on this because this was AMAZING! The artwork was vibrant and gorgeous, and the story was paced beautifully with a deep message behind it and had a fairytale feeling reminiscent of the classic childhood tales. I appreciated the overall idea of taking breaks from working daily without allowing yourself to become like the "imaginary Nina" as well as that it's worth it to go out of your way to help others. This is a perfect story to read with your little readers of all ages.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for a digital copy. All opinions are my own

One of the best uses of colour pallets!
This is based on a fairytale found all over the world - two sisters and a witch who challenges them. One tends to be helpful, one selfish.
Here, Nina goes on a quest to rescue Sunday from a witch, burnt out from working so hard and wanting a carefree day.
A chance to relax compared to a prince as a reward? That’s is relatable.

I read this in about ten minutes.
It’s a graphic novel that is magical in its illustrations. The colours were masterfully deployed to suit the themes, moods, days!

Nina’s town, with its suspended, multistory houses, its hidden corners and narrow alleys are inventive and unique.
The auntie states in their note at the end:
It’s a metaphor for one’s mental space—cluttered, compressed, and full of secrets.

This was just delightful!

Arc gifted by ONI Press.

The Lost Sunday is an enchanting little graphic novel that gently reminds us of the importance of rest and balance in our lives. Right from the start, I was charmed by the dedication: "To all those brave enough to take a break and cherish their free time." It perfectly sets the tone for the story that follows.

This delightful tale unfolds in a town where Sunday has been captured by a witch, leaving the townspeople stuck in an endless loop of work from Monday to Saturday. Refusing to accept a life without rest, one brave young girl embarks on a quest to rescue Sunday and restore the rhythm of life. Since this is a short book, I won’t reveal more, but it’s absolutely worth discovering for yourself.

Both the story and the artwork are captivating. The illustrations are very whimsical. What makes it even more special is that the book draws inspiration from folktales, which is explained beautifully at the end.

Overall, The Lost Sunday is a heartwarming and thoughtful read. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for a quick yet meaningful escape.

Thank you to @netgalley and @onipress for providing me with a review copy of this wonderful book.

such a cute and meaningful story! the artwork was very detailed and it fit the narrative sooo well ☺️ bonus points because it read like a fairytale and i love fairytales and fairytale retellings with all my heart ✨

thank you oni press for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so adorable! I thought the premise was so cute and such a wonderful little story!

The art was incredible! I loved the very loose sketchy style of the line work, and the use of colors (and lack thereof) was so good!

I loved the contrast and difference between Nina and her double, which I suppose is the point, but I love how it brought out the best in Nina!

I will say, I would have liked to see more of their world and that it was a bit longer.

overall, I think it's a beautiful little story and that the message of the story is "take a break" which I think is something we all need to do more often!

This story follows Nina, who lives in a world without Sundays. She goes on an adventure to bring Sundays back home, and the people in her village are very supportive (which I thought was nice). Through her dedication and hard work with all the other days, perhaps Nina will be able to bring Sunday home and find just a little bit of free-time in her otherwise grueling, non-stop week.

5/5⭐️ First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an arc of “The lost sunday”. The story, the art, the message, THE ART…I don’t give this graphic novel more stars because 5 is the highest rating available, i absolutely loved it.

A charming tale sympathetic to anyone who's suffered burnout or felt overwhelmed by the demands of life. The days of the week as wolves was quite fitting and cute, serving to show how they could be a threat but also something that needs tending to. Having been previously familiar with the Frau Halle folk tale via OSP's brief retelling of it, it was nice to see a fleshed out twist here.

The Graphic Novel “The Lost Sunday” by Ileana Surducan follows the young female protagonist Nina on her quest to find the missing day of the week. Everyone in town knows that Sunday has been stolen by an evil witch but no one is able to muster the courage to confront her. Meanwhile the people of the town work themselves too hard every day resulting in many accidents and mistakes.

While this book is categorized as Middle Grade I can wholeheartedly recommend this book for every age range. I would go as far as to say that this story is even more relevant for adult readers since they tend to neglect their work life balance the most. This story is not only about getting a free day back but focuses on the message of searching for a moment of joy every day of the week and that being productive and relaxed don't have to be mutually exclusive. It discusses values and burnout in a whimsical way that captivated me.

The story is inspired by a mix of old folk and fairy tales from different countries and transforms them to discuss relevant topics. I really appreciated the section in the back of the book explaining the inspirations. Together with the beautiful and expressive illustration style I was absolutely enchanted by this book.

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisherOni Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Frau Holle was a fairytale I loved as a child because it felt like it showed the value of work that was often overlooked and underappreciated. This beautifully illustrated retelling takes a much needed approach of acknowledging hard work and the potential rewards of it, while also recognising that without a break work becomes a relentless grind where the rewards never come because the work never stops.

Burnout is a very real issue we are faced with today, the pressure upon everyone, adults or children, is so high, and so much of the time the focus is always on motivation to keep going. Stories like this, where the focus is on finding the balance and the joys in life, are so important. Motivation will stem naturally from the moments that make the work worthwhile.

The artstyle here is beautiful and wonderfully expressive, and the use of colour is so well done as we move from the constant unmotivated grind to joy and accomplishment and rest, at last. I would honestly recommend this book to everyone, I don't think there's a single person out there who couldn't benefit from this message, addressed in such a charming way.

*Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*

I really liked this fairytale adaptation! The illustrations were gorgeous and the wolves were so cute. I like how different versions of the tale along with the author's experience were combined really well

The residents of a cluttered little town have endless work to do, for their Sunday is missing. But no matter how much effort they put in, everything comes out feeling pointless. At last, one brave girl descends into the underground to find the witch who has taken Sunday. She meets her doppelganger, who insists on getting as much rest and "personal care" as possible.

This whimsical story has touchstones in many classic fairy tales, but it more broadly speaks to the need for balance in rest and work. The residents of the town are burnt out after endless days of toil, but an opposing character is the doppelganger, who is so committed to self-care that she appears selfish. The book is not subtle with its themes, but because of that, it can be very playful in its interpretations. The text is readable, the scenes dynamic, and the art truly a joy to behold. While it's currently Thursday morning and I've a ways to go, I'm now looking forward to my own Sunday quite a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a sweet and unique art style! I thought it felt a lot like fairytales I read growing up and it turns out it did take inspiration from variations of the story around the world. Making time to rest and care for yourself and spend meaningful time with others feel like such important values to instill these days. The emphasis on community is a lovely thing to see. Character designs are are quirky and fun; I loved Nina's expressive hair and her shadow version's colorful attire. I think this would make a great addition to a middle grade graphic novel library collection.

The Lost Sunday is a beautiful tale of a girl searching for the forgotten peace of a Sunday - life filled with endless work, chores and tasks to be completed. On the journey to find.a day of rest, she completes small tasks which reap greater rewards later - a beautiful tale of mindfulness, and that to accomplish tasks allows for rest in the longer term.

Thank you Oni Press for sending this copy on NetGalley.

In a desolate town, where dust swirls through the air like the remnants of forgotten dreams, Nina struggles to navigate a life overshadowed by the relentless presence of six fierce wolves, each representing the burdens of the week—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each day is a grueling cycle of monotonous chores and tedious responsibilities, leaving little room for joy or respite. The townspeople whisper of a mythical seventh day, a day meant for rest and rejuvenation—Sunday. However, it is widely believed that an evil witch has cast her wicked spell, stealing this sacred day and locking it away in a dark, hidden chamber, ensuring that no one can reclaim the peace it once offered. As Nina endures the weariness of her daily grind, she begins to feel a flicker of determination ignite within her heart. The weight of the wolves' demands grows heavier with each passing day, and she realises that she can no longer accept a life dictated by their relentless chase. Resolute and filled with a newfound sense of purpose, Nina decides that enough is enough. She sets forth on an ambitious quest, armed with courage and a desire to reclaim her town's stolen day of rest. But the journey ahead will not be easy; she must confront the malevolent witch, navigate treacherous paths, and face the unknown dangers that lie ahead. Will Nina possess the strength and cunning to vanquish the witch and restore the lost Sunday, or will the shadows of the past continue to loom over her town, trapping everyone in a never-ending cycle of toil? The fate of her community hangs in the balance as she embarks on her daring adventure.

I like the way when Nina finally decides to take a rest from these mountainous tasks – Hide and Seek with Monday, Sand castles with Tuesday, Marshmallows with Wednesday, Stars with Thursday, Drawing with Friday, Fireworks with Saturday, and then a pillow fight! Would anyone like to join me in this adventure?

I love the illustrations in this book. They are wonderful. I also love the characters that Nina works with all the six days and I will be listing it here with their place of work – Ma Selena (The Great Garden), Uncle Martin (The Clockmaker), Chef Woden (The Cook), Professor Julyne (The Lab), Master Peter (Fix The Houses), Lady Artemis (The Throwaways). Imagine working with all these people and learning so many things!

This book will be released on June 2025. So go and grab yourself a copy of this if interested!

I really appreciated this book’s perspective on how we treat our days and weeks. It demonstrated the way we see each day as something to pack to-dos into every hour, seemingly never resting and leaving us exhausted of the weekly cycle. There’s no joy in doing this, and it shows the young person getting progressively more disillusioned and tired, so much so she tries to see why they have no Sunday (in many cultures known as “the day of rest”).

Since this is for a middle grade/young child, I’m not sure they will fully understand what the book is getting at unless they have a caregiver explaining it to them (maybe an older middle grade child would? I’m not sure), so I’m not sold on age appropriateness. I do think that the illustration style was phenomenal, and I appreciated the diversity of characters. There are characters of different body shapes, sizes, and capabilities as well as dress and faith. I loved the contrast of the bright colored pages (seems to be when she’s doing something that is meaningful to her) vs. the muted pages (where she’s doing the dreaded things/chores) - such a nice touch! Overall, a lovely book.