I’ve had Nimona by @gingerhazing on my shelf since last Christmas, and it’s been a joy finally getting to read it! Nimona volunteers herself as sidekick to Lord Ballister Blackheart, a villain with a vendetta against his childhood best friend Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin, who defeated him in a jousting tournament and is the “hero” of the kingdom. Blackheart is determined to prove once and for all that Goldenloin and his pals at the Institute of Law Encorcement and Heroics aren’t as good as they seem, and with Nimona’s shapeshifting ability and her healthy disregard for authority, he may just succeed this time.

This is so much fun, and I really enjoyed the subversive and irreverent take on heroes and villains. The “who’s actually the good guy?” trope isn’t really new, but this brings a fresh take on it, with integrity uncovered in some unlikely ways, with a sweet (although not entirely unexpected) “queerly ever after” ending which warmed my heart. Stevenson’s writing and art are both fantastic, and they really capture the voice of rebellious and impulsive Nimona perfectly. A great addition to a high school library graphics shelf, and it’ll be staying on my bookshelf, too, for future heartwarming reading purposes.