Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Some graphic novels impress you with their artwork.
Others captivate you with their storytelling.
The Book of Murmurs by Candice Purwin attempts to do both, creating a lush fantasy world filled with witches, magical creatures, folklore, and emotional themes of grief and identity. While its breathtaking artwork and imaginative world-building make it unforgettable, the story occasionally becomes tangled in its own mythology.
Even so, it’s an ambitious debut that fantasy fans should have on their radar.
What Is The Book of Murmurs About?
After tragedy destroys her family and her precious book of spells is stolen, Little Moon is pulled into a magical realm known as The Fault.
To survive, she must uncover her true name, find allies among strange creatures and witches, and confront the terrifying Shenk—a monster that feeds on fear.
Beneath the fantasy adventure lies a story about grief, family, courage, and discovering who you are after loss changes everything.
A World You Want to Explore
The greatest strength of The Book of Murmurs is undoubtedly its world-building.
The Fault feels alive with folklore, mystery, and imagination. Every forest, creature, and magical encounter hints at centuries of history waiting to be discovered. The setting feels inspired by fairy tales and folklore while still managing to create an identity all its own.
The artwork elevates everything even further.
Each page is filled with expressive characters, rich color palettes, and dreamlike landscapes that make the graphic novel feel like an illustrated storybook come to life.
It’s the kind of book you’ll find yourself lingering over simply to admire the illustrations.
Beautiful Artwork Can’t Solve Every Story Problem
As much as I admired the world Candice Purwin created, I occasionally found myself wishing the story spent more time letting readers experience it instead of explaining it.
As Little Moon’s journey continues, the narrative introduces increasingly complex lore, histories, magical rules, and supporting characters. While all of these ideas are fascinating individually, they sometimes compete for attention, slowing the pacing and making the central story feel less focused.
Rather than discovering the world naturally through the adventure, there are moments where the story pauses to explain its mythology.
The lore itself is compelling—it just occasionally overshadows the emotional momentum of Little Moon’s journey.
The Emotional Themes Still Shine
Even when the plot becomes more abstract, the emotional themes remain strong.
At its heart, The Book of Murmurs is about grief.
It’s about losing family, searching for identity, confronting fear, and finding strength through the stories passed down by previous generations.
I especially appreciated how the novel explores identity through Little Moon’s search for her true name. Combined with the emphasis on family history and inherited stories, it gives the fantasy adventure emotional weight beyond simply defeating a villain.
Those quieter moments are where the graphic novel feels most powerful.
Who Should Read The Book of Murmurs?
I’d recommend this graphic novel to readers who enjoy:
- Folklore-inspired fantasy
- Beautifully illustrated graphic novels
- Character-driven fantasy adventures
- Stories centered on grief and healing
- Rich world-building
- Fairy tale-inspired storytelling
If your favorite fantasy books are those that prioritize atmosphere and imagination over fast-paced action, there’s a good chance you’ll appreciate what this book offers.
Final Thoughts
The Book of Murmurs is one of those books that’s easier to admire than to summarize.
Its artwork is stunning, its world is imaginative, and its themes of grief, identity, and courage leave a lasting impression. At times, the abundance of lore and mythology makes the narrative feel less focused, but the emotional core never disappears.
While the story occasionally loses itself in the world it has so lovingly created, that world is beautiful enough to keep turning the pages.
If you’re looking for a fantasy graphic novel filled with gorgeous illustrations, imaginative creatures, and thoughtful themes, The Book of Murmurs is well worth experiencing—even if it asks you to embrace a little mystery along the way.
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