A little thing you may not know about me: I love a girl with a sword. 

 

Squire is exactly that and more—a story about a girl who feels out of place due to her identity, a coming of age tale, and a deconstruction of colonialism set against the backdrop of a pseudo-medieval fantasy world inspired by Jordan and other areas of the Middle East. 

 

I could honestly gush about the illustration for this entire review, but I will try to keep it brief in the interest of word count. The world of Squire is infused with a gorgeous palate and I love how the illustrations of the main character, Aiza, give her such vibrant expressiveness. There was clearly a good amount of research that went into creating this comic, particularly on the aspect of architecture, which I loved. 
 

The story, at its core, is pretty simple. I think that the comic format manages to elevate this story in a great way, but for those who might be expecting more complexity from its plot elements, this will probably not be the book you are looking to read. As many graphic novels, this story flies by quickly and you can probably read it all in one sitting. 

 

I appreciate the more open but hopeful ending—the problem is clearly not resolved by the conclusion, but we have witnessed these characters learn and grow and they’re on the path towards a better future. Nothing is wrapped up in a simple bow, because war is never that simple.