Brian Reyes was a normal kid until one day, a unicorn horn sprouted from his head. That’s not the oddest thing to happen in this fun and quirky graphic novel, though. Brian’s horn sings to him and gives him the power to fly (and sprout a long, flowing, purple and pink mane). Some kids at school tease him, but his best friend Avery, who is nonbinary, is there for him, encouraging him to embrace his destiny. And Brian’s breakfast muffin turns out to be an ensorcelled wizard who becomes Brian’s guide to the magical world (while still shaped like a baked good).
The downside is that being a magical hero also attracts the forces of darkness. When Avery, trying to protect Brian, is kidnapped by shadowy creatures, Brian must venture into the evil Skull-King’s realm to get his friend back. Author Dave Roman’s humor is what makes the book shine as it both embraces and pokes gentle fun at adventure tropes, with a cast of engaging characters who never take themselves too seriously.
Notable, too, is Avery’s depiction, sometimes in a tank top, pants, and earrings; sometimes in a button-down shirt and tie; other times in a dress—a genderfluidity that isn’t remarked upon; it just is. And Avery, while they are rescued by Brian, is hardly an enby in distress; they also exhibit a heroism of their own that I won’t say any more about for fear of spoilers.
This is the first book of a planned series, and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
Brian and his family have tan skin and brown hair and read as Latine. Avery is White. I’m tagging the book as having both a nonbinary kid (Avery) and a gender creative boy (Brian, since his pink and purple mane feels like it offers gender creative representation).
