“Not all stories are spells, but all spells are stories.” Thus begins the wisdom of the Book of Murmurs, a storybook Little Moon’s mother reads to her at bedtime. When one day her parents are slain by the frightful Shenk and the book is stolen by the mischievous Catwitch, these words will guide the girl on her quest to piece her world back together. Enter a fantastical world encompassing the lush Glassmoor forest, the shivering magic of The Fault, the ethereal grandeur of The Wandering Haar, the secret Mushroom Library. Along the way, the girl encounters curious friends and foes — the Goblin, the stranger, the assassin, the librarians, gigantic spiders, a family of giants, and many others. In this place, names carry power, and the nameless are lost, adding an interior and metaphorical dimension to the girl’s journey. Looming over all is the Shenk — who threatens to steal names and consume the realm with fear. In confronting this monster, the girl will face her trauma, learn of her maternal history of witchcraft, and discover her role. In The Book of Murmurs, graphic novelist Candice Purwin crafts a fantasy world rich in lore and vibrantly rendered in watercolors and colored pencils. An enchanting story of grief, identity, and queerness that conjures whimsy, wonder, and a delightful sense of dread.
