Hasib & the Queen of Serpents

May 21, 2018
Nothing is as it seems in this relentlessly paced but sumptuously decorated graphic adaptation from the Arabian Nights, by the creator of Epileptic. A barely clothed and bedroom-eyed Scheherazade starts her 422nd night by telling the enraptured king the story of the sage’s heir, Hâsib, who “never learned or did anything.” After a trick leaves him trapped underground, Hâsib embarks on the first of many adventures, meeting the Serpent Queen, who in exchange for his story tells him one of her own. That tale tracks the Cairene King Bulukiya who, after varied and magical travels in search of the prophet Mohamed, encounters a prince who unfurls a lengthy digression on his love affair with a bird woman and great battles of animals and demons. These narrative nesting dolls are densely constructed with mythology, fable, tragedy, and romance, but never seem archaic, perhaps in part due to the modernized language (“Go to his aid instead of whining”). Similarly, the brightly colored artwork nods to antiquity, with flattened perspectives and the action rendered like carvings. This sumptuous sprawl enchants like a collection of grown-up fairy tales.

November 1, 2018

The book begins in the middle of Scheherazade's "One Thousand and One Nights," with the tale of Hâsib the woodcutter. When his friends betray him for profit and abandon him to die deep in a forest, Hâsib meets the Queen of Serpents, who will help him find his way home but not before weaving her own spellbinding saga. Both Scheherazade and the Queen of Serpents are framing devices for magnificent tales of magicians, demons, princes, and spiritual gurus, in a dizzying story-within-a-story extravaganza. Though the stories may seem convoluted, the twists and turns come to a delightful close. The author has clearly spent time with the ancient classic, updating the language without losing its mythical tone. Stretching out like a tapestry, the illustrations are a detailed feast for the eyes, rendering the text nearly superfluous. Some violence and nudity make this more appropriate for mature readers. VERDICT This stunning work is the perfect vehicle for graphic readers to connect with the canon of ancient literature.-Michael Marie Jacobs, Darlington School, GA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2018
French artist David B. turns his eye on the Thousand and One Nights for his latest inspiration. Beginning on the 422nd night, Scheherazade weaves for her husband, King Shahryar, a magical story within a story that captivates him and ensures her own life for more than 70 nights. H�sib, a young man with a promising future, is trapped in a cave by conniving thieves. While trying to escape his death, he meets the queen of serpents, who shares with him a fantastic tale filled with ancient creatures, kings, and prophets that is as magical as it is enchanting. Vibrant in both visual and literary tones, this book offers a feast of rich, bold colors and traditional Persian imagery. Using a variety of panel sizes and saturated hues, David B. draws the reader through the twisting, spiraling stories as they build on each other. Filled with quests, battles, and philosophical questions, the thread of H�sib & the Queen of Serpents gently carries readers through the narrative until its final resolution. Gorgeous and captivating from start to finish.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)