Nyaegling, by the imaginative duo of artist Bex Ollerton and writer Richard D. Bass, is far more than a typical fantasy comic. While it delivers a thrilling adventure packed with dynamic action and a legendary sword, its true power lies in its deep, raw exploration of friendship, grief, and the true cost of revenge.
Ollerton, an artist whose work has previously shone a light on neurodivergent experiences, brings a similar depth of essential truth and emotional clarity to this tale. Stepping into this world is like engaging in a crucial, heartfelt conversation about friendship and hard choices, especially when your world is falling apart.
It kicks off with a jolt: the tense rescue of Tabitha, a heroic cat-like warrior, by her friend, Nyx, a small, mouse-like planner. Tabitha’s captors, from the mighty Kingdom of Lamorna, have taken her ancestral sword, Nyaegling, a family heirloom she’s only just received.
What begins as a desperate escape quickly twists into a dangerous quest for revenge. Tabitha is singular in her focus: reclaim her birthright and avenge the friends they lost in a devastating prior attack. The shadow of this grief (and Tabitha’s deep-seated guilt) is the fuel for her reckless actions. Nyx, having just saved her life, reluctantly agrees, bound by a shared promise to stick together, a commitment they call being “bound by fire.”
This high-friction relationship between Tabitha and Nyx is the engine of Nyaegling. Their contrasting personalities push their friendship to the absolute limit.
You know how some heroes just act first and think never? That’s Tabitha. She’s an amazing fighter, but she’s all impulse and feelings, totally focused on avenging her pals and living up to the family legacy. Nyx is the exact opposite: the planner, the realist. They’ve also got a heavy dose of survivor’s guilt hanging over them, especially since the rest of the crew got wiped out in that attack we didn’t see. The million-dollar question in the book is really: How did someone like Tabitha ever get so close to someone like Nyx?
The big confrontation with Roark, the wolf-leader who stole Tabitha’s sword, makes the conflict a lot more complicated. Roark’s reasons are surprisingly level-headed and political: her people in Lamorna are starving because their land is awful, and she wants a fair alliance to share the vital Shards (Smoulderglass, Rippleglass, Featherglass, and Glassroot) to help everyone thrive.
Unfortunately, Tabitha is too far gone. Blinded by her personal loss and the quest to get her family heirloom back, she just shuts down Roark’s plea for peace. To Tabitha, she’s not a political leader—she’s just the enemy who took her friends. This creates a masterful moment of moral ambiguity where you have to wonder if Tabitha’s personal mission is too selfish for the greater good.
The book wraps up with a massive, knock-down, drag-out fight between Tabitha and Roark, who’s armed with the amazing-looking Nyaegling! This clash pushes Tabitha to her absolute breaking point. After all the secrets are finally out and with Nyx seriously injured, Tabitha has to make a gut-wrenching decision: one that’ll really make you think. Seriously, you’ll be left speechless, totally questioning what a “hero” even means.
Bex Ollerton’s art is just charming, really vibrant, and perfect for this fantasy story. Even though the characters are unique animal-people, they are so expressive and memorable. Ollerton is brilliant with color for setting the mood; for example, the dangerous Rippleglass source underworld is all icy blues and glowing crystals, which really makes a powerful contrast when Nyx hits it with her warm red and orange fire attacks.
The combat choreography is also superb, making every parry, block, and counter easy to follow. You can feel the intensity of the action, from a simple kick to a re-stand. Ollerton even sprinkles in touches of humor, like Tabitha’s fast, low-to-the-ground dodge that ends with a triumphant kick to Roark’s behind! The book truly leverages the comic medium with energetic and dynamic lettering. Sound effects like WHAM, CRASH, and KABOOM leap off the page, immersing you in the moment. Finally, there are little physical nods throughout (the grip, the catch of a blade, the zoom of Tabitha running), all of which make the experience feel real and almost cinematic.
Nyaegling is a beautiful, hard-hitting, and memorable adventure that packs a serious emotional punch. While the character models are charming, the underlying subject matter of grief, guilt, and sacrifice is decidedly adult and complex.
It’s an engaging, action-packed story that doesn’t offer easy answers. It forces the protagonist (and the reader) to grapple with an uneasy truth: Is a personal goal, even a sacred birthright, worth sacrificing the person you love most? Tabitha’s ultimate decision is a shocking, complex choice that defies typical hero tropes, leaving us with much to think about and hungry for the potential sequel.
‘Nyaegling’ Review: The Tale of a Catgirl, a Stolen Sword & a Friendship Pushed to the Limit
Nyaegling is a beautiful, hard-hitting, and memorable adventure that packs a serious emotional punch. While the character models are charming, the underlying subject matter of grief, guilt, and sacrifice is decidedly adult and complex.
