Orchard Of The Tame by Marlo Meekins & Nick Cross

I go into lots of books blind nowadays, so I definitely wasn’t prepared for how powerful this book about surviving trauma and abuse would be. I was definitely lulled into a false sense of security by Nick Cross’ art, which deliberately hearkens back to animations of the early to mid 20th century, but that — perhaps weirdly — only adds to the timelessness of this tale.

Two love birds are flying around the forest looking for blue things to put into their nest egg when they spy a strange contraption in the ground. They open what looks like a porthole, and discover River Siren in a watery compartment inside. River Siren is thrilled to meet new people: she only ever interacts with Ainsprid, a toad-like creature who keeps her confined and only occasionally visits with exhortations of how much trouble River Siren is and how much Ainsprid sacrifices to keep her safe.

The birds immediately understand that River Siren is being abused, and try to persuade her to leave her prison to enjoy the outdoors, at least for a little while. River Siren, however, has been so conditioned to think of the outside world as dangerous and terrifying that she initially resists. But loneliness is even worse for her than fear, so she decides to just slip out for a little while to see what there is to see.

There are, ofc, genuine dangers in the woods but with the help of her new friends, River Siren perseveres. When Ainsprid discovers that she’s escaped, tho, there will be all hell to pay. Ainsprid kept her imprisoned for a reason, and River Siren and her friends will have to discover this the very hard way.

A sort of dystopian Rapunzel meets The Little Mermaid (sans, blessedly, any gender roles reinforcing the idea that women need to wait around for men to save them,) this graphic novel is a subtle, smart and sensitive look at abusive relationships and the strength it takes to leave them. River Siren’s feelings are so nuanced and palpable throughout the book that it’s impossible not to ache for her.

Just as compelling is the portrayal of the support she receives from her bird friends especially, as they risk everything to help her. Combined, these make a powerful portrait of strength and community that understands that escaping abuse isn’t just about the will of the person being abused: while that’s a necessary component, having a support system is integral to the hard work of both leaving and rebuilding your life afterwards.

The cutesy black and white illustrations underscore the fact that abuse can happen to anyone at anytime. Marlo Meekins and Nick Cross have collaborated to convey a truly important message in this seemingly anodyne graphic novel. Recommended.

Orchard Of The Tame by Marlo Meekins & Nick Cross was published November 5 2024 by Pegamoose Press and is available from all good booksellers, including