The Great Battle on Kipling Isle between the animal tribes is interrupted by a shipwreck during a massive storm. Four young children appear to be the only survivors, and each is adopted by one of the warring tribes and kept ignorant of each other: Mowglii to the noble wolf tribe, Bomani to the violent Shere (tiger) tribe, Akili to the mischievous Tavi (mongoose) tribe, and Dewan to the (insane?) Bandar Log (monkey) tribe. The peace is broken when the Shere tribe attacks the wolves, and Mowglii’s hair-trigger temper ignites into a thirst for vengeance.

I initially requested the galley because of the artwork, and it didn’t disappoint. The art is beautiful, rich colours and vibrant scenes. The action was good and face-paced, but the story felt somewhat lacking at some points. No specific issues or problems, just… it didn’t go as deep as I wanted it to go into the characters. It felt like there was so much rich history and culture to explore with the characters and their tribes, not to mention the mystery of how the story begins, but it just skimmed the surface. I’m hoping that since this is volume 1, it was more of a taster and volume 2 will have greater depth. The graphics made me forget any deficiencies though! Eagerly looking forward to the next installment.

Overall, an very good read, beautiful artwork, and intriguing characters. I’d recommend it to any Fables or Elf Quest fan. ( )

Miller brings the classic to life with a new vivality. The plot remains true, yet more relatable. Changes only add to the story, rather than disappointing. The artwork is bright and beautiful, serving to bring the jungle to life with a wave of color on every page--one can truly imagine oneself in the book. A beautiful read for both fans of the original and newcomers to the story. ( )