Review by Ian Keogh

When Poe turns up at a presentation for a new development claiming the Faerie Queen Titania demands a park, she’s quickly ushered out, but shown kindness by one Demond Davis, connected with the project. He feels she needs help, but shortly after meeting her begins seeing strange creatures, and is also present to witness her transforming a pub.

Devin Grayson doesn’t keep readers wondering too long, disclosing how Poe is human, but abducted as an infant and raised by faeries. Artist Yana Adamovic conveys the compelling innocence of someone who just doesn’t understand how the world works, yet she actually has a greater awareness of the realities than Davis, or indeed, readers of Rewild. The faeries who ruled the Earth before humanity are returning, and they want a park.

Adamovic draws our world efficiently, but her pages depicting an alternative really shine as gloriously decorative, due as much to her bright colours as to her skilled designs for beings of legend. Poe lights up any page she’s on, a genuine force of nature, and there’s a deliberate contrasting stiffness to Davis and his world, while Grayson supplies the cues for neat visual effects, such as plants growing whenever Poe’s around. The short of it is that Rewild looks great.

Poe’s story is revealed gradually during conversations with others, which is a clever method, but, for all the decorative art and an interesting plot, Grayson overplays her hand when it comes to the ecological messages. Even readers sympathetic to the ideas might find themselves irritated by lectures in narrative captions and dinner table discussions. Additionally, there are puzzling moments, particularly concerning Davis. His having a conscience is clearly established from his first meeting with Poe, but some of what he does afterwards isn’t legitimately explained. Mental health problems are hinted at, but never confirmed.

Readers who prefer stories with definitive endings aren’t going to be happy either. Grayson builds the threat to humanity incrementally and excellently, but it becomes too vast to contemplate, and so it’s not considered.

Rewild presents a great deal to enjoy, but can’t quite bring it all home.