A Blood Moon (Snowlands #1)

In this earnest graphic novel, gradually declining prey causes tension within a wolf pack, whose members baselessly blame orphaned wolf cub Feba for their inability to find food. When the pack council decrees she must die to ensure the pack’s survival, Feba flees. She soon encounters leopard Usha, on a quest seeking a creature known as the Seerress, whom she hopes can help Usha find her lost son. Bonding over their respective grief and losses, Feba and Usha journey onward together, eventually adopting a pallas cat shunned by his musically inclined peers for his lack of throat-singing stamina. As the trio search for the Seerress, they simultaneously discover where the prey animals have gone and the circumstances surrounding Feba’s lineage. Meroz crafts unique voices for each animal protagonist; some speak in full sentences and others convey meaning through repeated sounds or words. Fogel’s high-contrast color palette amplifies the stakes of each finely detailed action sequence and moment of emotional vulnerability. Together, the creators present a melancholy yet hopeful series launch about community-building and its importance in establishing a brighter future. Ages 9–12. (Feb.)