Princess Aisling can think of nothing more exciting than her upcoming 18th birthday, when surely she’ll be swept away by a “charming courtier” to live a life like in her favorite storybooks. The last thing she expects is to be awakened in the middle of the night at swordpoint by a brawny, brooding teenager, who seemingly transforms Aisling into a fairy.
This is how Aisling learns she’s a “changeling”—it turns out she’s always been fae. When she was a baby, a conniving High Fae cast a glimmer on her and swapped her with a newborn princess. That real human princess is the intruder holding the sword, and her name is Forgive-Me-Not. After growing up captive in Faerie, Forgive-Me-Not now has her own plot to trade Aisling for her freedom. Love is absolutely not in the plan, but when do plans ever go accordingly in fairy tales?
Forgive-Me-Not, by cartoonist Mari Costa (who has written several YA works like Belle of the Ball, and a recent adult debut, The Demon of Beausoleil), is a sweet and stunning graphic novel that explores the complex nature of love. The land of Faerie is gorgeously detailed, both visually and in lore. Since Aisling needs to be taught about fairies, any reader will quickly pick up on their many rules and vast hierarchy.
Costa’s art is fantastic, with a vibrant palette that leans toward cooler hues, especially throughout Faerie, giving it an otherworldly feel. Scenes depicting Forgive-Me-Not’s memories of enduring servitude and cruel tricks stand out for being colored exclusively in shades of purple. Interesting details appear throughout: For example, the start of each chapter includes a pencil sketch on parchment paper, which slowly reveals an adorable story within the story.
In her acknowledgments, Costa writes that “never in my wildest dreams did I expect I’d be able to bring to life something so deliciously self-indulgent.” Costa aimed to create something that she would have devoured as a fairy-loving teen, and the result is a beautiful, queer twist on the knight and princess tale that will delight and intrigue readers with the magic of love.