Review by Frank Plowright

Somali is a human child looking for her parents, guided by a forest spirit. Both masquerade as something other than they are in world where humans are hunted and persecuted. While that’s the backdrop to Yako Gureishi’s world, it’s not a true representation of what’s between the covers, as Somali and the Forest Spirit is far more about exploration and learning than about action and violence.

Vol. 1 ended with Somali in the company of witches maintaining a library where strange fish were starting to consume the books, and that threat needs to be dealt with before the books can be consulted.

Already a series characteristic, Gureishi’s art continues to be fully detailed and conceptually imaginative in the creation of new beings and circumstances. The library within a forest is an example, and there’s a richness to all locations. She’s also able to generate considerable sympathy for a character whose face is hidden throughout by an eyeless mask. Interestingly, having established that, Gureishi then introduces a similar looking being, also benign, but this time clothed completely in black to test sensibilities. Haraiso features in a flashback, but proves an astute judge of human fear and response.

That flashback occupies a fair portion of this volume as we learn of the oldest witch’s childhood and why that’s relevant to the story’s present. It connects well with a story told in Vol. 1, and ties in with the theme of humanity’s persecution.

While generally optimistic, there’s a sense of sorrow hanging over Somali and the Forest Spirit as the spirit knows its lifespan is long, but strictly limited and he’s just over a year away from its end. Somali’s greatest fear, though is that he’ll leave her.

This is another gentle journey of discovery, beautifully drawn and constantly intriguing. Bring on Vol. 3.