Brielle and Bear: Once Upon a Time

By Salomey Doku

Reviewed by Lucy Rose

Brielle and Bear: Once Upon a Time is a heart-felt graphic novel that explores the lives of book-nerd Brielle and rugby jock Bear. Brielle is just your average fairytale lover, living her best life as a student at Once Upon a Time Academy and employed at the campus’s local bookstore. Brielle loves daydreaming about dashing princes and courageous heroines, but when it comes down to it Brielle is… a bit lacking in both departments. That is until she stumbles upon a fellow fairytale enthusiast, though he isn’t as open about it as she is. The connection is instant, and Brielle and Bear can’t seem to get enough of each other, especially as they grow closer. Their tale continues to unfold in strange and beautiful ways, but will Brielle become the heroine she’s always dreamed of being? And will Bear become the night in shining armor they both need?

The plot was, while at times fast paced, well thought out and executed. It managed to retain a charming, affectionate storyline while still exploring sensitive topics. The author, in her exploration of these themes, not only made their characters relatable to the reader, but spread positive messages about kindness and acceptance.

I felt that Brielle’s character was a bit muddled and cliched. Despite proving to be a lover of all things magical, when it came time to engage in magical adventures she became sour and antagonistic. There were multiple moments when the author tried to make her “unique” and “different” by making her disapproving of popular activities and subjects, when in reality it made her come off as self-absorbed and snobbish. Bear’s character was comforting, but at times plain. Other than his past traumas and secret interests, he didn’t have much personality.

I say this as an older reader who isn’t the target audience, but overall, it was very enjoyable novel.

Age 13+ Three out of five stars.

Warning: contains descriptions of bullying.

HarperCollins GB 2024

Salomey Doku