Thank you to Netgalley for providing an uncorrected proof as an advance review copy. In will be published on 13 May 2021 by Hodder & Stoughton.

It’s quite weird for me to be nervous about writing a review. Yet, I am worried about reviewing In by Will McPhail. That is because I want to do the book justice, it is a novel that I think that everyone should read, one that provided me comfort and joy when I was feeling very low. I know it early in 2021, but I believe In is my book of the year, I’ll be surprised if I read another book this year that touched me the way that In did.

Our protagonist is Nick, a young man who is drifting through life. He is in search of authentic experiences. While not isolated, Nick has family and work colleagues, Nick feels like he is missing out on something. In is about how scary it can be to make a real connection with people. That moment of vulnerability when you open yourself up in the hope that they reciprocate. Much of the book is about Nick failing to make these connections and the frustration he feels about it. It’s about how we can feel isolated even when we are around people all the time.

In is a hilarious book. It has fantastically funny visual gags, and, the dialogue utterly charming. Everything from poncy hipster coffee shops to boring Zoom meetings are skewered by gags that had me laughing out loud. McPhail’s punchlines are often the change in expression on a character’s face. One of the main things I noticed was he draws eyes, it is simple but manages to convey so much emotion.

McPhail’s illustrations, especially when we enter the inner world of people’s minds, is mesmeric. McPhail’s mastery of simple, unfussy lines would be impressive enough, but creating weird and surreal full-colour landscapes full of emotion is just a towering achievement. The book’s layout is brave, with single pages devoted to a single small image, that said the book is sublimely paced. It’s a book the rewards re-reading as you catch subtle jokes that you previously missed out on with background gags.

A bad thing happens in In. I won’t say what it is, but it floored me. I suffered a bereavement recently, and the words that McPhail wrote perfectly captured how I felt in my grief. Comfort and compassion is something we seek from people, and in the stories we read, I didn’t expect to find them here, but I am glad that I did. 

There are weak points in the book as some of the characters are a bit tropey. Wren especially verges on being a manic pixie girl. Overall though the cast of characters is engaging, I felt genuine chemistry between them that lent their relationships with each other a realness.  

In is a hopeful book. For those struggling with isolation or grief, I highly recommend it. It is just about essential reading for anyone looking for something to pick them up. In is exquisitely written, is at points breathtakingly beautiful. A glorious, emotive, and heartwarmingly witty novel. 

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Description:

Best-selling writer Kurtis Wiebe (Rat Queens) and newcomer artist Justin Osterling launch a new fantasy saga! The Glass family has spent thirteen years hiding peacefully in the sleepy forest settlement of Frostbrook where Morgan and Yale planted roots and raised their twins, Griffon and Rana. But secrets never stay hidden, and the entire Glass family find themselves the target of an unearthly attack on Frostbrook. Now on the run from Muse Corp., they must flee to the massive city of Silver’s Bay to hide in plain sight. Rana and Griffon find themselves uprooted and answering for their parents’ mistakes. But, they’ll soon find that the past has a way of finding you, no matter where you run.

Review:

One of my favourite comedians Patrice O’Neal one said lies are brutal. At the heart of Dryad are the lies that parents tell their children to protect them and what happens when the truth is shocking revealed. Dryad has all the ingredients for a superb fantasy comic. Weibe’s characters are charming, well rounded, and, despite the elf ears believable. Something has driven Morgan and Yale to seek refuge in the isolated village of Frostbrook. Morgan and Yale have many lovely character moments centred around the affection they feel for each and how they both struggle with the demands of parenthood differently. Weibe’s dialogue is often witty and for the most part, engaging. Barcelo Osterling’s art is sumptuous. For me, it is somewhat reminiscent of Joe Madureira illustrations in Battlechasers with its thickly inked lines. The battle scenes have are dynamic and easy to follow.  

However, as with a lot of ongoing series, there are problems with pacing. There are obvious big reveals and explanations that are being held back for future issues. This is fine, but in Dryad’s case, there were moments that I felt that this was being done artificially, e.g. we will talk about it later. The other fault I found was that as more and more characters are introduced into our heroes’ lives, I found myself a bit lost as to where everyone’s loyalties lay. A common criticism of fantasy stories is the number of factions and world-building jargon thrown at a reader with the expectation that they remember it. I think this a fair criticism that Dryads was guilty of. This is an enjoyable and diverting read but is not one that lingered with me as the very best fantasy stories do. It is somehow less than the sum of its parts. 

There is a lot to like here, and while Dryad doesn’t quite reach the heights of Montress or Saga, this is a very, very good comic. Wiebe and  Barcelo Osterling have set an impressive stage for what could be comic books next grand fantasy adventure story.