Haphaven
Traditional superstitions are the inspiration for a rich, fully imagined fantasy world in the graphic novel Haphaven.
Alex, a girl who’s about to turn thirteen, is captive to her superstitions. From the stories of her long dead great-great-grandfather searching for a real “Lady Luck” to the baseball bat her father engraved with various “lucky” symbols, her life is dominated by her belief in specific behaviors that can bring about—or stave off— improbable events.
Prompted by her mother to abandon her superstitions, Alex steps on a sidewalk crack, which immediately sends her mother to the hospital with a broken back. Seeking salvation for her mother, Alex meets a leprechaun and embarks on a magical adventure to the world of Haphaven, where Earth’s superstitions draw their power from. There, she encounters a talking black cat and a talking white rabbit and discovers the truth behind her family legends.
Superstitions, less commonly mined than the fairy tales that form the foundation of so many modern fantasies, offer a well-established starting point for Haphaven. Elements such as throwing salt over one’s shoulder and the luck of a rabbit’s foot are combined and embellished in interesting ways, while Alex, a memorable character faced with several surprisingly stark moral dilemmas throughout the story, makes Haphaven much more than a mere checklist of superstitions.
The book’s art is an appealing mix of realism and cartoony exaggeration. A fast-moving tale with a satisfying conclusion, Haphaven is sure to please fans of unique fantasies.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
