BooksOfTheMoon

Hoo boy, things have suddenly got tense in Coco’s world. Everybody is gathering for Silver Eve, a great festival, celebrated by witches and common folk alike. Coco and friends are travelling to help Nolnoa and Tartah with their shop and we see their joy and astonishment at the festival; as well as this there’s the politics that the Wise get involved with alongside the monarchs of the lands; and a side story about the Knights Moralis and a really sleazy creep with glasses that let you see through clothes. And then we have an ending that brings back Custas, the boy with the damaged legs from last time, and things are starting to really heat up.

There’s some really nice artistic flourishes this time round, like a little game of the apprentices running around the fair before arriving at their destination, and a panel where they’re looking at it in awe, holding on to the edges of the panel. It’s little things like that that make this series continue to be a joy to the eyes. Can’t wait to see where it goes from here!

I’ve had a lingering sympathy with the motives (if not the actions) of the Brimmed Caps for some time now, and this volume brings it into sharp relief, despite them not actually making an appearance. Instead, we focus on Custas (who, apparently, we’ve met before, although I have no memory of that), a boy without the use of his legs, who uses a walking chair to get around. Circumstances bring him back into contact with Coco and her friend Tartah and she’s forced to confront that it’s not a lack of power stopping witches from helping him, but a refusal to.

Medical intervention is the obvious one where magic has the opportunity to do the greatest good in this world, although I suppose it also has the ability to cause the most harm too. Coco is already in two minds about this, since she needs to be able to undo the spell cast on her mother, but it looks like circumstances are going to force their hand in the near future, if the mysterious Ininia has her way.

It feels like things are starting to come together here, and there’s definitely confrontation in the air. After a little pause, I think the overall plot is going to start moving quickly now. I can’t wait for the next volume.

In volume 7 of this ongoing series, Beldaruit the Wise tells Coco the story of how Qifrey came to be his apprentice, leading to her making a break for the Tower of Tomes, all bookended by Olruggio and Qifrey having a heart to heart. Coco, presented with a problem with two options at the end of the last volume ends up striking her own path, something which shines a light on her personality and the sort of witch she’s going to be. We get a little standalone story about Olruggio doing some work for a local lord, and that conversation at the end, along with Qifrey’s actions, undo a lot of work in the middle of the volume and make me suspect his motivations (and more!) all over again.

The art is as adorable as ever (even if I do have to rely on the hairstyles to distinguish the apprentices) and the story definitely seems to be moving apace. Qifrey’s actions definitely mark a change in the reader’s perception of him, and, along with learning about his tragic past, make me suspect there’s going to be no good outcome for him. I’m still enjoying the story and the characters a lot. I look forward to see where it goes next.

Volume six of this delightful series has the apprentices, along with Master Olruggio, travel to the Great Hall of the witches, where Qifrey is taken for healing after the events of the previous volume. One of the Three Wise Ones offers to let the apprentices retake the test (all of them, not just the ones who were doing it previously), by creating a spell that can surprise him.

We learn more about Agott in this volume, particular why she’s so driven, and the four apprentices grow closer together as they try to find something to impress Beldaruit. It’s a lovely conceit, the idea that despite being this very powerful witch, he still retains a childlike sense of wonder with magic, something which makes it hard to find things that surprise him, as he’s constantly seeking out .

The art continues to be a joy, and the story is drip-feeding us answers while adding in new questions all the time. It’s a very fun series and we end on a bit of a cliffhanger. I look forward to seeing Coco’s answer to the proposal that’s been put to her.

Volume five of this delightful series has Coco and Tetia try to help Master Qifrey fend off the creatures that were surrounding them at end of the last volume, while Richeh and Agott try to save Euini. And, of course, the Brimmed Caps are also causing mischief. Each of the apprentices makes realisations about their inner lives and grows as a person, which is pleasing progression for long term readers.

I found myself fairly sympathetic to the motive, if not the methods, of the Brimmed Caps (as, I assume, I’m being primed to be, by the author). The forbidden magics seem like they could be very useful, and the absolute ban on them seems unreasonable. I don’t entirely see why they’re focussing on Coco, but I expect that will become clear over time.

The art is still lovely, although sometimes action sequences can be a little hard to follow. I’m looking forward to seeing what our formidable apprentices get up to next.

Volume 4 of this charming series moves the focus from Coco to her fellow apprentices Agott and Richeh, as they take the Second Test, along with, Euini, an apprentice of a different master who has crippling anxiety. Richeh has no interest in learning other people’s magic but focusses entirely on perfecting her own spells, and is initially furious that she’s been put forward for the test. The three of them have to put their differences aside, however, once the Brimmed Caps show up, and work together to save themselves, and the baby penguin-like myrphons that they’ve been in charge of.

The story here moves on at quite a pace, and we get an insight into why Richeh is fixated on using her own magic and becoming her own kind of witch. The art is lovely and we get another (pair of) cliffhangers at the end. Very readable and a lot of fun.