“But you’re more than one mistake.”
From the co-creator of Mooncakes comes this beautifully illustrated fantasy story about the power of emotions, friendship, and family relations. Tidesong is not a book you want to miss out on.
In this slice-of-life fantasy story we meet Sophie, a young witch that is sent off to live with her aunt to train and gain control of her magic in order to have the chance to be accepted in the Royal Magic Academy. However, she doesn’t get to practice as much as she’d like and so, in an attempt to prove her worth, Sophie creates a spell that ends up with her binding her magic to a water dragon called Lir and almost drowning. After binding their magic, Lir is trapped on earth and suffers from memory loss. Together, Sophie and Lir will face some difficulties but they’ll ultimately work together to overcome them and help each other reach their goals.
Xu did an amazing job creating this fantasy world and its magic in a simple and easy to understand way yet still different from other stories and books. It’s very interesting and it certainly leaves the reader wanting for more. As for the designs, it was sweet to see how Xu took elements from the dragons of Chinese mythology and mixed them with other fantasy elements as well as with other real-life animals to create their final designs. The movement they show is just flawless. And the rest of the designs are equally as beautiful, from the people to the backgrounds. The story itself is well made and there is not a dull moment, it’s so fast paced and it hooks you from the very beginning. The storytelling in Tidesong is just wonderful. It’s simple but it delivers such deep messages with its narrative. Xu’s art really complements beautifully with the story presented. Sometimes words aren’t even necessary to carry the story, her illustration-only sequences are so expressive that the story tells itself.
As for the characters, there’s a wide variety of personalities. Sophie is so young yet puts so much pressure on herself to be perfect in every way, especially with her magic. She is quite stubborn and determined to reach her goals to the point she may seem irritating but it’s clear to see where she’s coming from. Usually talking herself down and telling herself she’s not good enough, one clearly sees her need to do better comes from insecurities that come from herself and from comments she’s received from others in the past. She just doesn’t want to feel like a failure. And this negative-self talk is something universal that many readers, young and old, will be able to identify and connect with. With some other characters’ help she begins to change and believe in herself a little more.
On the other hand, Lir is a bit more confident and just a pure little sunshine. Of course he also has his own struggles and insecurities, that one discovers along the way as the story progresses. Yet he is such a kind soul. The rest of the characters from Sophie’s family members to other water dragons are equally interesting and each with real life struggles. Another thing Xu did really well is portray family relations and feelings: jealousy, being strict on children and showcasing how this is really not very helpful. Everyone needs to be treated with respect and shown love.
Ultimately, Tidesong is a story about how it’s okay to stumble, and make mistakes and take our time to figure things out and do them our own way at our own pace. Whilst also focusing on the importance of mental health and relying on others when we’re struggling. It’s okay and necessary to express our emotions in order to not let them consume us, as the main characters in this book learn. It’s so necessary as well to show these messages to younger audiences.
A sweet and fun read with Studio Ghibli vibes, lots of beautiful illustrations, and a lovely message behind, Tidesong is perfect for those who are looking for a cute and heart-warming story.
Tidesong is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of November 16th, 2021.
Will you be picking up Tidesong? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and The Tea Dragon Society, this is a magically heartwarming graphic novel about self-acceptance and friendship.
Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandmother pressure her to attend the Royal Magic Academy–the best magic school in the realm–even though her magic is shaky at best. To train for her entrance exams, Sophie is sent to relatives she’s never met.
Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan seem more interested in giving Sophie chores than in teaching her magic. Frustrated, Sophie attempts magic on her own, but the spell goes wrong, and she accidentally entangles her magic with the magic of a young water dragon named Lir.
Lir is trapped on land and can’t remember where he came from. Even so, he’s everything Sophie isn’t–beloved by Sophie’s family and skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might just ace her entrance exams, but that means standing in the way of Lir’s attempts to regain his memories. Sophie knows what she’s doing is wrong, but without Lir’s help, can she prove herself?
