Nico Bravo and the Hound of Hades

May 27, 2019
At Vulcan’s Celestial Supply Shop, anyone from the mightiest of gods to a celestial monster can find the magical item they need. The staff—Nico Bravo, a mortal kid; Lula, a sphinx; Buck, a veteran of the Unicorn War—is there to assist. But when Eowulf, an aspiring monster slayer descended from Beowulf, needs supplies for a quest, Nico is reluctant to help her, especially when a powerful, newly made sword chooses Eowulf as its master. When Eowulf declares that she’s planning to slay Cerberus, Hades’s dog and guard of the Underworld, Nico decides that she must be stopped before dead souls overrun the dimensions. Cavallaro’s (Decelerate Blue) bright, psychedelic illustrations extend the dimension-hopping plots about Nico and Eowulf, while a subplot tracks the rest of the supply shop staff as they try to prevent a future in which the Unicorn War never ended. Introductions to various mythical beings—including Greek mythology’s Zeus, Egyptian mythology’s Iškur, and Norse mythology’s Thor—add interesting informational layers without slowing down the interwoven plots. A final discovery sets the stage for the next volume in this graphic novel series. Ages 8–11.

August 2, 2019

Gr 3-6-Nico Bravo works at Vulcan's Celestial Supply Shop, helping gods, demigods, and mythical creatures purchase magical items and weapons. Nico also rooms above the shop with his two coworkers: Lula, a sphinx, and Buck, a unicorn veteran from the mysterious Unicorn Wars. What begins as a normal workday soon turns into an adventure for Nico and his friends. Nico's latest customer, a young novice adventurer, is actually Eowulf, a descendant of Beowulf. When she reveals that she wants to slay the infamous three-headed Cerberus, Nico knows that he must stop her. Eowolf wants to prove herself as a monster slayer, even if that means potentially letting all of the dead out of the Underworld if she is successful. While Nico is off preventing the end of the world, Buck finds himself back in the jungle in an alternate universe where the Unicorn Wars never ended, and Lula is left alone to run the crowded shop. Familiar characters such as Gilgamesh, Zeus, Hades, and Persephone join new mythical heroes and villains in this humorous adventure. The vivid colors are a perfect fit for this fun, fast-paced graphic novel. VERDICT An engaging series opener recommended for most middle grade collections. Pair with Jorge Aguirre's Giants Beware.-Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

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