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Reviewed by Gabriel Santos for Readers' Favorite
Ellen is a young girl roaming the lands of Puzantium as she looks for her friend Riley, who happens to be a dog. He also happens to be a deity, but Ellen doesn't know much about religion. Or complicated words. Or most things, really. But while Ellen doesn't think there's anything special about herself or her quest, other people witness divine signs and miracles, believing her to be the foretold savior who will fend off the current famine. That said, "other people" doesn't include Porel, the narrow-minded, unpleasant abbot in charge of Geriatris Abbey and the one tasked with caring for Ellen, much to her chagrin. This setup marks the beginning of Ellen in Puzantium, a novel written and illustrated by CE Huntingdon.
If you're a fan of surreal comedies with plenty of bizarre characters, offbeat scenes, fourth-wall breaks, and unusual connections, you're in for a treat. The novel sets the mood from the start as we learn that the narrator is telling us his prophetic visions. Oh, and he's a dog (obviously). Things only get stranger from there. But you'll also find a lot of care and earnestness as the story weaves heartfelt moments and character exploration between the chaos. Even Porel, the comically heartless antagonist, gets a few scenes that add layers and humanize the character. The illustrations perfectly capture the two sides of the novel, ranging from quirky and whimsical to beautiful and heartwarming. I strongly recommend Ellen in Puzantium and look forward to enjoying CE Huntingdon's future works.
