Nimona

I picked this up because the cover looked cool and the girl had weird hair. Good decision.

Nimona is a shapeshifter who shows up at Lord Ballister Blackheart’s door and says she wants to be his sidekick. He’s a “villain” but the kingdom might be the actual bad guy? It’s complicated in a way that doesn’t feel confusing.

The art style changes between serious and silly and it works. Some panels look rough on purpose. Nimona as a dragon, Nimona as a shark, Nimona as a goose — the goose bit made me snort.

What I liked

• Nimona is chaotic but you care about her. That’s hard to write.
• The friendship between Nimona and Blackheart feels real.
• It gets dark near the end but not in a stupid way. It earned it.

What I didn’t like

• Goldenloin is kind of annoying at first but he gets better.
• I cried a little at the end and I’m not saying where because spoilers.

Verdict

This isn’t a “kids book” even though it’s a graphic novel. It’s proper good. I’ve read it three times. Wolfie sat on it during attempt two but I finished anyway.