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Feba is a white wolf that is feared among her pack as being a bad omen. Overhearing plans to eliminate her, Feba quietly flees into the night. She bumps into a leopard named Usha, who is searching for a son who has fled from her home. The two bicker and fight until they ultimately become lost in Migoi’s maze, where they become trapped. Feba eventually claws her way out, meeting one Batu, a wild cat, along the way. This threesome of Feba, Usha, and Batu continues to help Usha search for her lost son. But Usha’s quest becomes more complicated, and it seems as if strange forces are arrayed against them, with Feba seeming to be the ultimate target. Who are what is pursuing the white wolf?
This full-color graphic novel is a lengthy tale with many plot twists and surprises. There is much emotional and physical conflict, and the theme of sacrifice for the cause of friendship emerges organically. But it is the characters who drive the story forward most strongly. Feba, the young white wolf, and Usha, the leopard she befriends, have a rocky relationship that forms a satisfying development arc by the end of the story. The pace lags a bit during the periodic chases and escapes but ends in a suitably exciting manner. The rendering is in the form of stylized realism, but this conceit is undercut by the fantasy element that dominates throughout. However, the artwork is vibrant and innovative, greatly helping readers visualize the scenes. Overall, this is an engaging tale, populated by animals who speak and converse across species, and will likely garner many fans.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review