Firelight Apprentice
Writer/Artist: Bree Paulson
Designer: Celeste Knutson
Publisher: Quill tree book
Publication date: October 29, 2024
After losing their mother (a talented magician beloved by the king) during a bloody war, sisters Ada and Safi assist their father in his shop, where he makes and sells magic light bulbs – This is a family business. His lungs were severely damaged by the salt used in the incendiary lightbulbs he made during the war, and business continued to decline as his health deteriorated.
Then, there’s Safi: a child who already possesses incredible magical powers and needs a suitable mentor to help her control it. Her family couldn’t afford such a teacher, and there were very few traveling magicians here. There are also rumors that lichs kidnap magic users and drain their powers, raising the stakes for Safi and her family – especially Ada, who can’t afford the risk of losing her mother again.
Finally, a pair of magicians bring their show to the town, and they spot Safi’s magic among the crowd. They asked to take Safi on as their apprentice, which meant taking her on a trip, leaving Ada and their father to run the shop. It’s the best, safest chance for her, and she goes – but when she goes to learn magic and start her own bloodline with the family she finds, things take a turn for the worse at home, with a new Friends may not be so kind.
Garlic and Vampires and Garlic and the Witch creator Bree Paulson Create a masterpiece again Firelight Apprentice. Paulson’s signature comic style perfectly illustrates this postwar world, with expressive characters and detailed backgrounds providing readers with a world they can’t help but want to live in. Her palette is rich, with deep shadows contrasting with bright sparks of magic that carry the story throughout.
As Safi learns more about her magic, including how to control and expand her abilities, her world opens up. She travels to far places, meets new people, and receives training that she couldn’t get at home. Always steadfast in her kindness and devotion to her family, she wanted most to visit her sister Ada and her father.
Back home, with her father declining, Ada struggles to hold things together, although the letters she receives from Safi fail to acknowledge any of the hardships she reluctantly writes about in her own letters. Ada struggles to understand why her sister doesn’t seem to read her letter, and gains some insight from Elba, the king’s former magician who recently arrived in town and now lives on the streets , seems to have exhausted all the power he claimed he had.
Paulson Rooted in Core Conflict Firelight Apprentice Poor communication facilitated by malicious third parties. On the pages of the book, we see her letters being destroyed, but we don’t know who is doing it until the ending – during which Safi discovers her full power, and as she protects the ones she loves In person, she can work her magic even further. Paulson builds tension slowly, planting hints throughout the story, so that when the story reaches its climax and conclusion, nothing feels sudden or rushed.
rhythm makes Firelight Apprentice stands out, especially because of how it tackles grief head-on. Safi, Ada and their father all deal with grief in different ways, and for the latter two, finding happiness becomes increasingly difficult. But as the story progresses, rediscovering joy after loss becomes the central focus, and the characters take the time and space to figure out what that looks like for them.
Paulson’s writing on these topics is truly beautiful and combined with her artwork, Firelight Apprentice Makes the perfect addition to any library.
Final verdict: purchase
