Lightfall by Tim Probert

Book Review | Maya Rogalski

The art is what drew me in, but the characters have stolen my heart. Cheesy, I know, but it’s entirely

true.

Tim Probert’s Lightfall: The Girl & The Galdurian is the first installment of a children’s graphic novel

series that is adventurous, endearing, and fun. The pages hold captivating illustrations that are filled

with the struggles of an anxious heroine. Beatrice “Bea” is the adopted grandchild and apprentice of the

local wizard.

When her grandfather sends her out on morning errands, Bea falls into a bigger adventure

than she, or her new friend, could have imagined. She is a relatable protagonist who wants the best for her family and friends yet can be frozen with overwhelming uncertainty. And who hasn’t been paralyzed with existential dread?

Well, apparently, not Bea’s new friend, Cadwaller, the seemingly last of his kind that is searching for his missing family. Cadwaller is the lovable comedic relief whose inner and outer strength radiate positivity even in the direst of situations.

His reassuring nature perfectly foils Bea’s apprehensive tendencies in a charming way that left me rooting for both characters along their journey. The world that Probert built is fascinating and original. One of my favorite aspects of the art in Lightfall is the way Bea’s anxieties are portrayed. What looks to me like black fire swirls around Bea when she starts to become overwhelmed that is not seen by other characters. This illustrated queue for the readers is a visual representation of how all of us feel when doubt starts to creep in, and I feel is endlessly relatable.

A quest isn’t epic without a wickedness to be vanquished. Our “big bad,” as I affectionately refer to the overarching antagonists of stories, is a recognizable evil with unknown deeper motivations, besides world domination. However, I am intrigued to see how this villain develops in Lightfall: Shadow of the Bird, Probert’s second book of the series. I believe Book One of Lightfall is the exposition of our main characters and look forward to, hopefully, many more books in this promising new series.

I rate very few books a one- or five-star rating. If I purposefully do not finish a book, for whatever

reason, it's one-star. However, if I know I will come back to a book again and again and even purchase a copy for my personal library, it’s five-stars. Lightfall is my first five-star rating of the year! I picked it up and could not put it down until I was done. The world building is adorably unique, creating characters you’ll remember for a long time.

What is on the page is delightful and engaging, and what isn’t there yet will be thrilling to uncover in future additions. Probert’s newest series is on its way to becoming a staple

in children’s graphic novels, proving that children’s literature can transcend audiences.

---

Contributing Editor, Maya Rogalski is a poet, bibliophile, and librarian. Maya has loved books since her elementary school days, where she hid away in the library to get lost in literature. She grew up meditating on the Patapsco River where she was first inspired to write poetry. Maya graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and journeyed back home to Maryland’s Eastern Shore where she now resides. Her playful, but earnest voice shines through in her work as an up-and-coming writer, eager to wrangle her lexicon to move her audience.

You can follow Maya on:

Instagram @somecactusjuice

Linked In @Maya Rogalski