Review by Ian Keogh

At sixteen Jax Epoch had dreamed of fantasy and magic her entire life, and at first her acquiring magical armour and a book of spells from another dimension seemed one great adventure. However, a sinister corporation also knows of the other dimension, and their intervention turned a generally cheery adventure into something darker. In addition, as she dreams she enters a different reality where she’s on trial for messing with the fabric of the universe.

Anyone who’s not read Borrowed Magic can pick this up and catch up with what’s going on via Dave Roman and John Green’s opening chapter, which provides a summary while also moving Jax forward. Although only one aspect of the story involves dreams, and they’re pretty lucid, there’s a continuing dreamlike atmosphere, but as Roman and Green grow as creators there’s an increasing ambition to Jax Epoch. Take a look at the novel way Jax’s trial is presented on the sample art. How many creators would take that option? Yet as clever as it is, there’s never any sense of not knowing what’s going on.

Green’s art, already excellent in the opening volume, is even more impressive here. The character designs are individual and leap from the page even among many other startling images, such as a room being invaded by rabbits. The storytelling is clear, despite the many turns taken, Jax herself remains appealing and sympathetic, and even when characters from one reality intrude in another they fit.

Beyond the progress, if there’s a change from the first book it’s that Jax is no longer always centre stage. The cast has broadened, they have different motivations, and others are sometimes the focus. Despite this, there’s never a sense of the story running away from Roman. There’s a confidence all the pieces will fit, although perhaps not in this volume. Actually, definitely not in this volume as in book form the series ends here. There were three further comics, and a new eight page story supplied at the end offers a conclusion of sorts, but goshdarnit, we want more. There were plans to continue online, but the Quicken Forbidden website has stalled since 2013, so two volumes and three extra comics is all there is.

If the series was never finished, you may wonder, why should you care? Because what there is over two volumes is imaginative, energetic and a seamless fusion of magic and reality beautifully drawn. That’s why.