Parents may want to give this one a look-over before handing it to their children, if only so they can be prepared to discuss the more difficult material in an effective way. This prequel, set in 1115, fulfills the promise the wise oldfur Celanawe made to tell Lieam of. There are a handful of scenes where the lack of color makes it difficult to discern between foreground and background and sometimes causes characters to blend into the background, but these are few and far between.įinally, though the premise of the text-a world inhabited by mice!- lends itself to the realm of children’s literature, this text includes multiple deaths and at least one murder, albeit alongside some detailed exploration of ethics, and one especially haunting scene wherein a group of crows mourn the loss of one of their own. Mouse Guard: The Black Axe (Mouse Guard, 0.5) TOP RATED5. Set in 1115, this prequel to Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 fulfills the promise the wise oldfur Celanawe made to Lieam the day his paw first touched the Black Axe. Petersen’s selected settings also prove useful for the development of craft the text includes several ocean and forest scenes that demand attention to detail on the page, and Petersen largely delivers. The black-and-white color scheme is fitting for the text’s setting - a fantasy space that feels a little like England, except this England is inhabited only by non-human animals and generally contributes to the part-fantasy, part-medieval mis-en-scene. This particular version is printed in black and white to give readers the most direct experience of Petersen’s manuscript. These features operate meta-textually, as well the journey’s success relies equally on compelling secret-keeping and good note-taking, and Em keeps a detailed journal that maintains the same aesthetic. Each chapter includes a heading page that features elements of medieval manuscript, such as ornate letter art and calligraphy. Celanwe and Em are both compelling characters, and their quest is easy to invest in. The setting and tone of the story, both of which are well supported by the art and pacing, are charming and make this text a pleasant read.