Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 06/02/2025 In his riveting series-opening prose debut, Stevenson (Nimona) deploys lush, lyrical writing to craft an original pirate adventure. According to the lore of the region of Dickerson’s Sea, after the pirate captain Scarlet Morning murdered Queen Hail Meridian, a storm dramatically altered the world, turning the ocean into a salt desert. Abandoned by their caretaker on the isolated outpost Caveat, 15-year-old Wilmur and 14-year-old Viola grow up reading stories about the pirates, who disappeared along with the sea. As they await their guardian’s return, the teens protect a book of esoteric knowledge. When Cadence Chase-captain of an iron-hulled ship called the Calamary Rose-arrives, seeking the tome, Wilmur and Viola strike a deal: they will relinquish the volume if Chase ferries them to the fabled city of Faire Distance, where Queen Meridian once ruled. While Wilmur endears himself to the crew, Viola grows suspicious of Chase, whom she believes to be Scarlet Morning. Soon disaster strikes, separating Viola and Wilmur, and their efforts to reunite force them deeper into the mysteries of their mystical world. Dynamic b&w illustrations heighten the surrealist atmosphere of the vividly rendered fantasy setting. Characters are described with varying abilities, body types, and skin tones. Ages 8-12. Agent: Charlie Olsen, InkWell Management. (Sept.) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 08/01/2025 Gr 5 Up—Viola and Wilmur have grown up alone on a dead island in Dickerson's Sea. They spend their days scavenging, inventing games, and reading The Book, which was left behind by their former caretaker and can only be opened by solving complex puzzles. When the mysterious Captain Chase arrives looking for The Book, Viola and Wilmur offer it if they can go along. So begins the adventure of a lifetime, involving the murdered queen Hail Meridian, a bevy of pirates and Queensmen, secret puzzles, and—maybe—the famed pirate Scarlet Morning. Stevenson has already left a legacy with his graphic novel Nimona, and he will surely leave a mark on the prose scene with this illustrated novel. This is a truly fantastic title, offering complicated heroes and villains, intriguing mysteries and backstories, and moments of genuine creepiness that will have readers gripping their seats. It takes a bit of time for the plot to pick up, but the reward is well worth the wait: reading this is like finding a pot of gold. Stevenson has crafted a diverse cast of characters with various skin tones and identities; Viola is depicted in illustrations with dark skin. VERDICT A must-purchase for any school library with lovers of fantasy, this novel hits all the right notes and will have readers eagerly awaiting the rest of the series.—Kristin Brynsvold - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 08/01/2025 *Starred Review* Viola and Wilmur try their best to enjoy their days on their salty, isolated home of Caveat. They create stories to pass the time, but the probably 14- and 17-year-old, respectively, are growing bored of trying to find anything remotely edible from the shipwrecks in the hardened Dickerson’s Sea. Luckily for them (or perhaps not), Captain Cadence Chase comes knocking during a storm, her sights set on a mysterious tome left in the teens’ possession by their caregiver, Hestur, who disappeared without a trace several years ago. Viola and Wilmur hesitantly agree to pass along the book, but only if Chase will take them on her ship in order to search for their long-lost parents. From there, the teens are thrust into adventures and mysteries, from coming to better understand the rather pirate-y “not pirate” crew of the ship to the haunting oddities of Dickerson’s Sea, which deals in monsters and unexpected disappearances. Stevenson's foray into prose is a fantastic demonstration of his ability to create immersive worlds and eclectic, engaging casts of characters in which each stands out without crowding the narrative. His mixed-media illustrations and excellent use of white space add charm and thrill, and the complexity of this soon-to-be classic will keep readers hooked and ready for the duology closer.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Stevenson is a proven tour de force across animation and graphic novels, so it's no surprise that his storytelling skills translate well to prose. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.