This YA/MG Middle Eastern-inspired fantasy is profound in every way. I know middle grade and graphic novels are usually ignored (ehem Goodreads 🙄), but this was amazing.

Squire, in its essence, is a story about identity and culture, about glory and purpose, and about colonialist and imperialist agendas. Aiza wanted to join the military for glory and a better chance at life. But she soon found out just what the military truly represents, and what it does to her people.

The storytelling in this book was just so good. And themes were handled really well—from the family to friendship to racism and colonialism. I also have to commend the writer because they kept the dialogue simple and straightforward, even though they were highlighting more serious or heavier themes. It made some scenes even more impactful for me. A couple of times in the book, I had to stop just to admire the scene I was reading.

Also, the artwork and the colors? They were amazing! And to discover that most of the art was inspired by the illustrator's trip to Jordan and Turkey? You just know that these authors care a lot about this story and want to make it the best it can be. I think they did a great job.

Some scenes just feel rushed/disjointed, but other than that, this book was just incredible.