Robin recommended this graphic novel to me, and she was totally right. I enjoyed it. Its mysterious atmospheres and soft yet complicated characters truly transported me to another world.

When it comes down to it, the stories of Mia and the other characters are actually quite simple. The main plot revolves around a love story and a traditional quest. Many aspects of the subplots and the intriguing worldbuilding are never explained. In this sense On A Sunbeam is more of a character-driven experience than a story. An enchanting experience enhanced by beautiful art.

I once again turned out to be a hopeless romantic, as I felt for all the (sapphic) relationships throughout the story. It was also cool to see a non-binary character play a large role in the narrative. Come to think of it, I don’t believe I’ve seen any male characters come along at all. I can’t necessarily say I missed them, though.

On a Sunbeam is an excellent read for people who yearn for a more optimistic and magical world in which a sense of wonder may remain.

On a Sunbeam is an endearing story that puts me in mind of a Becky Chambers novel. The drawing style is very beautiful and the use of a limited colour palette adds a lot to the mysterious atmosphere of the book. The main ‘baddie’ did feel a little forced to me, like she was only put in so that the protagonists could have someone to shout at about why its important to use people’s correct pronouns. This sentiment itself is a really important one though, so I can forgive the slightly clumsy way in which it is included in the book. Overall I just really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it to young adults and older audiences alike.