Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Magic, mystery, and light romance in fantasy graphic novel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SORCELINE begins with the title character traveling to the Isle of Vorn to begin studying magical creatures known as cryptids. While she excels at identifying and understanding the magical creatures, her human companions are often a mystery to her, and she soon finds herself at odds with a number of her classmates. After finding an injured gorgon, the school is suddenly under attack, with kids going missing, creatures being injured in strange ways, and the appearance of an unusual cryptid that only Sorceline can see. As she seeks answers, she finds the truth might hit closer to home than she realized.
Is It Any Good?
Lovely, absorbing illustrations of magical creatures are the highlight of this book. The story in Sorceline, while interesting at first, gets a little cumbersome, with plenty of strange situations that aren't fully explained. Some of the confusion may stem from the story being translated from French, and some from the author's decision to add odd occurrences to increase the mystery. The magic school setting is fun and has several interesting classroom scenes. Many of the cryptids are uniquely depicted, though a few of the scenes and interactions with the magical creatures feel reminiscent of other books. However, the student rivalries and romantic dynamics will likely appeal to kids who like drama mixed in with their fantasy. The art is just lovely, with a hint of manga-style characters and really stunning depictions of the magical creatures. The story ends with a cliffhanger that will have fans ready for the second volume.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the perseverance the main character shows in Sorceline. What obstacles does Sorceline face? How does perseverance help her?
Stories of magic schools are popular and plentiful. How do you think this story differs from other, similar books?
What do you think about the relationships between Sorceline and the other students? Do the friendships and rivalries feel realistic? If not, how do they differ from real-life relationships?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Paola Antista
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy ( Dragons , Magic , Monsters , Vampires ) , Friendship , STEM
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC
- Publication date : May 17, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 144
- Available on : Paperback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 5, 2025
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