SQUIRE

Teenage Aiza hungers for adventure and hopes to become a Squire in the Bayt-Sajji army, which would set her on the path to knighthood.

Being a Knight means heroism, glory, and—for those like Aiza who reside in conquered territories—the possibility of full citizenship. As an Ornu person, easily recognized by the tattoo on her right arm, Aiza faces discrimination from those who resent her people’s hesitation about integrating. Altering her identification papers and covering up her tattoo, she sets off and joins an ethnically diverse cohort that reflects the vast reach of the Bayt-Sajji Empire and the vision of unification held by Gen. Hende, the woman who oversees the recruits’ training. After Aiza fails the first set of Squire tests, she finds an unexpected mentor in groundskeeper Doruk, who helps Aiza improve her sword work but warns her about the violent realities of war; he lost his right arm in battle. History as a purposefully crafted narrative is a dominant theme throughout the story, underscored by calls for unity. The setting, which reads as a fantasy version of Jordan, is beautifully and luminously colored, with artwork that emphasizes the interplay of light and shadow. The characters’ expressions are another visual highlight, used to great effect for both comic and dramatic impact.

An engaging graphic novel that examines the nature of prejudice and the cost of imperial expansion.