Who could resist exploring beautiful woods that surround the only place you’ve ever known? Serafina stays within the walls of
the Biltmore Estate, following her Pa’s wishes; as long as she can but how can she stay inside when children start mysteriously disappearing?
This graphic novel edition of the best-selling quartet fantasy novel series by the same name has been well adapted into this new format. Adapting author, Michael Moreci, stays true to the magic you find in the original book series written by author Robert Beatty.
Serafina’s story starts off tragically. She was born malformed with a strange back and collarbone, with eyes closed and the wrong number of toes. The Biltmore Estate’s maintenance man found her in the forest near the estate and brought her back to hope the nuns would help her. They called her a demon child. He feared they would kill the baby so he secretly kept her to raise by himself. He loved on that little baby and she finally opened her eyes for the first time under his loving care.
It was heartbreaking for Serafina to learn the story of her beginnings when she was a young child, but there was a piece of her that felt such immense gratitude and love for her Pa that it strengthened their relationship even more. The story picks up quickly as the man with the black cloak is introduced and strange things start happening around the estate. Children start to go missing, the electricity stops working, and it’s clear right away to Serafina that something is wrong with this man with the black cloak as she finds his dropped glove, lost in haste, filled with large chunks of old, hairy, shedding skin.
The artwork, by Braeden Sherrell, is so beautifully done and created in a style that is absolutely perfect for this rather dark children’s tale. A lot of text keeps the story moving and keeps details consistent with the original book. Pages are colored to match the mood of the current scene in the story. Bright yellows for daytime cheerfulness or dark purples and blues splash across pages to highlight the darkness of not only the nighttime but of the situations that characters face.
Overall, this is a wonderful adaptation of the original book. I hope they do continue on this series and create the next 3 in this children’s fantasy quartet. The story follows a typical hero’s journey pathway with tragedy and challenges to overcome that strengthen the protagonist and help her to grow, learn her strengths and conquer.
Serafina and the Black Cloak Vol. 1
By Robert Beatty, Michael Moreci and Braeden Sherrell
Disney, 2023
ISBN: 9781368076906
Publisher Age Rating: 8-12
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11)
