Review by Ian Keogh

Readers who’ve followed the deaf Chiri through two previous volumes of Rune will need no encouragement to pick up this continuation of her adventures in the magical land of Puddin’, and they won’t be disappointed. Carlos Sánchez delivers another engaging, magical and twisting story to enthral and amaze.

King Mango is seen on the left of the cover, a sly and greedy man keen on expanding his territory, to which end he’s been learning forms of magic. It now seems as if he’s found an ally willing to help him invade other kingdoms, but in inviting them in he’s opened the door to a larger threat.

The end of The Obsidian Maze revealed the nuns running the orphanage in Little Valley that’s home to Chiri and her friend Dai actually know about the gateway to Puddin’, and as seen on the sample art, when Dai returns he brings a spirit with him. That plot takes a surprising turn, and anyone worried about Chiri after her exertions ending the previous book should know she’s recovering well.

Sánchez’s art charms as much as his plots. That the people look flat is almost immediately forgotten as the activity, designs and depth of detail register. Wherever someone is, Sánchez ensures they’re in a fully realised environment. Items scattered about the place ensure it always looks as if someone lives in a house, or indeed a palace, and external locations also feature details to catch the eye. He continues to use a very restricted colour scheme, which can be limiting, especially during action scenes.

Having caught up on events connected with the previous book, and shown what characters intend, Sánchez then makes the bold move of jumping forward several months. Everything now distils to a search for Margareth. She has possessions King Mango covets, and knowledge Chiri and her allies need. Sánchez once again incorporates Chiri being deaf as an essential plot point, presents the dangers well and drops a couple of great surprises before the end. That, though, isn’t the end of the story. Rune isn’t just a trilogy.