Lord Ballister Blackheart is a disgraced knight turned villain who follows a strict moral code of non-lethal schemes to expose the corruption of the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics. His life changes when Nimona, an impulsive teenage shapeshifter with a volatile temper, forces her way into becoming his sidekick. While Blackheart attempts to maintain tactical restraint, Nimona prefers bloodier methods, shifting into dragons and sharks to chaos-start battle. Their partnership reveals that the shining hero Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and the Institution are hiding a dangerous magical project.
Fans of subversive fantasy and graphic novels read this for the subversion of hero-villain archetypes and the mix of futuristic technology with medieval settings. It appeals to readers looking for stories about queer identity and the rejection of binary social roles. The reader walks away with a perspective on how institutional power labels individuals as monsters to justify control and how fluid self-expression can act as a weapon against rigid authority.
Escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2015
- Language
- EN
