Sleepless Volume 1

by Sarah Vaughn, Leila del Duca (Artist), Alissa Sallah (Artist)

Overview

Amazon Book Review’s Best Comics & Graphic Novels of 2018
The Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books 2018

Lady "Poppy" Pyppenia is guarded by the Sleepless Knight Cyrenic but becomes endangered when an assassin threatens her life in the new king's reign. As Poppy and Cyrenic try to discover who wants her dead, they must navigate the dangerous waters of life at court and of their growing feelings for one another. Writer Sarah Vaughn (ALEX + ADA, ETERNAL EMPIRE) and artist Leila del Duca (SHUTTER, AFAR) team up with editor / colorist Alissa Sallah and letterer Deron Bennett for this fantasy romance.

Collects issues 1-6.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534306844
Publisher:	Image Comics
Publication date:	07/10/2018
Pages:	168
Sales rank:	251,074
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 16 Years

Editorial Reviews

Delivered courtly intrigue in a lushly illustrated fantasy world, with plenty of hints of dark magic, animal familiars, sworn protectors and dark plots, all hooked around a compelling female lead.” —Polygon



“The whole thing feels natural and organic... A style that is both soft and crisp with an almost stained glass like quality to it that lends the whole thing a certain etherealness.” —NJ.com



“The world here is lush in character and color... Some of the richest, deepest colors I've seen in a book.” —The Oregonian

From the Publisher

★ 11/01/2019

The illegitimate daughter of the late King of Harbeny, Lady "Poppy" Pyppenia would like nothing better than to retire from court. But intrigues, assassination attempts, and relations with the new king's family all tangle her in a potentially fatal web. She and Cyrenic, her faithful guard from the Sleepless Order of knights, develop feelings for each other, yet all seems to conspire against them. A gorgeously drawn sword-and-sorcery romance with Mediterranean and Moroccan influences. (SLJ 10/18)

Library Journal

★ 10/01/2018
Gr 8 Up—Pyppenia, or Poppy, illegitimate daughter of the king of Harbeny, is the only living child of the monarch when he dies. Although the throne passes instead to her uncle Surno, Poppy is still the target of multiple assassination attempts. She's guarded by Cyrenic, an elite member of the Sleepless Order, a prestigious order of knights who vow never to sleep. When Surno orders Poppy to remain in Harbeny despite the attempts on her life, Poppy and Cyrenic set out to uncover who is trying to kill her while Cyrenic struggles with a life-changing dilemma. This riveting medieval fantasy is refreshing in its inclusion of people of color in a typically white European setting. The striking and sophisticated imagery evokes the creamy, floral designs of illuminated manuscripts, particularly surrounding chapter headings. Elsewhere, the subdued and occasionally dark color scheme is coupled with intricate line work and expressive characters. The story touches on themes of loyalty and greed, and there is plenty of trickery to engage readers, though Vaughn doesn't explain precisely how the Sleepless go without rest. There is also romantic tension, as well as minimal references to sex. A tantalizing cliff-hanger ending will leave readers eager for more. VERDICT Teens interested in royal fantasies will revel in this lavish setting that pays homage to Arthurian literature. For all graphic novel collections.—Alea Perez, Westmont Public Library, IL

School Library Journal