The “Amulet” Series Is A Masterpiece

Nostalgia has me hooked, especially in the wake of all of 2020’s sickeningly (hah) endless free time. As a result, I’ve delved back into the world of my childhood favorites, from the likes of “Percy Jackson” and the “Moonbase Alpha” series (don’t worry, I’m sure there’ll be an article about this series soon— a complimentary one!). The “Amulet” series of graphic novels penned by Kazu Kibuishi has fallen victim to my nostalgic conquests, and boy, am I glad they did!

The current eight installments (soon to be nine!) revolve around Emily and Navin Hayes’ trip into the mystical world of Alledia, filled with magic governed by ancient amulets and their stonekeepers. Emily is chosen by the heirloom amulet found in their ancestral home following the tragic passing of her father in an unexpected car crash, and must come to learn to control her newfound powers. Due to the medium of the story, each scene is immersive and moody, tinted with Emily and Navin’s struggle to acclimate to a world filled with mystery.

There are so many aspects of this series I could dissect with compliments, but I’ll start with the diverse and distinctive cast of characters. Each character’s design and demeanor is so unique, and makes the story’s directions much more compelling to follow. Personally, I struggle with mixing up characters and plotlines, especially in forms of literature like graphic novels where I can’t consistently follow internal monologue. The fact that I can keep track of who’s who and who’s doing what is commendable to say the least. 

But not only do I know which character is which, but each character’s personality and motives are evidently tangible. Empathy and perspective seep out of these novels’ pages, and I have to say that my favorite characters are Emily, Cogsley, Miskit, and Ikol. Each character’s development serves an irrevocable purpose in support of the plot, and I love the visible growth seen in every novel’s progression. Real magic seems too difficult to find, but it animates every character’s arc and inspires readers to strive to act with kindness, bravery, and selflessness. 

The plot took me for a ride, though I won’t get into it too deeply for the sake of sparing spoilers; however, I can say that I was consistently surprised and pleased by how far down this story was willing to delve into the basis behind the evils of Alledia. I’d have to say my favorite installment was “Firelight,” the seventh installment. This sequel took its time to view inside the mind of the Voice within the amulet, and the coloration was absolutely GORGEOUS.

This takes me into another beloved part of this series: the art. A massive aspect of why I enjoyed this series so much when I was younger was the amount of time I spent poring over every single panel. This seems hyperbolic, but I can’t make this up— I would genuinely spend hours reading the latest novel, scanning every image for a minimum of five minutes (don’t worry, my appointment to get tested for ADHD is coming up in August). In anticipation, I would plan a day dedicated to rereading the books before the newest release, and you better believe I would elbow my way into the Scholastic Book Fair to get that book. Justin K. and Kamaran couldn’t get in my way, not on “Amulet” day. Any scene in those books teleports me back to midnight on a school night in first grade with my Target reading light and the covers over my head. 

Kibuishi’s style is soft and friendly, though it adapts to the high stakes of evil that appears continuously throughout the series. Rounded faces and willowy nature scenes emulate present comfort residing in future nostalgia, and the tones are unbelievably atmospheric. Kibuishi and several extremely talented contributors utilize color in a way that permeates the mood of the reader, soaking into an immersive reading experience. Whether it’s a sunset, a whimsical forest, a fiery battle, or a serene night walk, these novels invite you in with dynamic coloration and understated sketching— an art style fit for both the imagination of an easily distracted seven-year-old with an overactive imagination and a love for reading and a sixteen-year-old with an extremely overactive imagination and an insatiable love for reading. 

It certainly doesn’t hurt that these novels are a quick read (bless my short attention span, it means well), and they become more engrossing as they progress. I genuinely cannot stress my love for this series and Kibuishi’s storytelling enough, and I am ecstatic that I was able to reread and appreciate these books as a teenager. I recommend these books for any age, and I will revisit them and their magical art style over and over again.

Kazu Kibuishi is a master storyteller with an affinity for setting a scene, and as the ninth installment’s release approaches at the time of this article, I can’t wait to return to the wonder of being a child and stay up all night with a stack of “Amulet” books on my bedside table waiting to be opened. I will treasure the wonder and magic that “Amulet” exudes, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank and commend Kibuishi. Keep it up, bud!

His books are available at popular book-selling sites like Amazon and Barnes & Nobles, and make sure to take a look at his website: https://www.boltcityproductions.com/. Show him some support at BoltCity on Instagram and Twitter, and keep an eye out for the ninth “Amulet” novel, as its release date is currently undisclosed!