A young prince must learn to be his own kind of hero in this stand-alone graphic novel from the acclaimed creator of the Estranged duology. Perfect for fans of the Amulet series and The Witch Boy.

Young Prince Alto dreams of being a hero like his mother, the Lady Brightblade. Her well-known legend was woven into stories by the magical bard who fought by her side.

The kingdom may be at peace now, but Alto believes that the world still needs heroes. He has been learning the bard's magic, and has grown restless with royal life. Determined to have an adventure of his own, Alto runs away from the palace.

On his journey, he finds himself making new friends and encountering new and exciting magic. But when he discovers that there are dangers threatening the kingdom, Alto realizes that he might not be able to handle them alone—and making his mark as a hero is harder than the stories made it seem.

Ethan M. Aldridge is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and author. He was raised in a very small town in Utah. Growing up, his favorite things to draw were ghosts, monsters, and whatever dinosaur he liked most that week. He now does more or less the same thing for a living. Ethan lives in New York City with his husband, Matthew, and their dog, Kitsune. Visit him online at www.ethanaldridge.weebly.com.

Ethan M. Aldridge is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and author. He was raised in a very small town in Utah. Growing up, his favorite things to draw were ghosts, monsters, and whatever dinosaur he liked most that week. He now does more or less the same thing for a living. Ethan lives in New York City with his husband, Matthew, and their dog, Kitsune. Visit him online at www.ethanaldridge.weebly.com.

“The Legend of Brightblade is a heartwarming, spellbinding tale of finding your feet, finding your friends, and finding your voice. Pure magic.” — Marieke Nijkamp, New York Times bestselling author of The Oracle Code

“Immersed in a delightful watercolour fantasy world, The Legend of Brightblade is a spirited adventure of friendship, magic and following the music of your heart." — Kay O’Neill, author of the two-time Eisner Award-winning The Tea Dragon Society 

“Ethan's bright, beautifully expressive watercolors make this joyful, heartfelt, and immensely charming adventure SING!”  — Carey Pietsch, co-author of the #1 New York Times bestselling The Adventure Zone series

"Heroic Alto’s heartwarming and thrilling story about family and the family you choose is pure magic at its finest!" — Victoria Ying, author of City of Secrets

“Beautiful artwork and an exciting, heartfelt story make this a winner.” — School Library Journal

“In crisp, bright washes of watercolor and ink, Aldridge paints a world that is equally indebted to The Hobbit and Jem and the Holograms. A nimble pace, light approach to worldbuilding, and sprightly hero lend a welcome air of effortlessness to this blithe adventure.” — Publishers Weekly

“Aldridge paints a beautiful medieval fantasy. Bright watercolors bring energy to the elegant designs—detailed enough for rich world building, simple enough for young readers—and the magic system based on making music, no small feat for a graphic novel, really shines. An excellent option for budding fans of fantasy.” — Booklist

“The graphic novel format is brilliantly deployed here. This full and rich story is a treat.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Aldridge’s detailed watercolor and ink illustrations bring his tale’s magical jam sessions to life in scenes that burst with color. Fans of fantasy graphic novels, including Aldridge’s Estranged duology, will revel in The Legend of Brightblade’s gentle humor and spirit of adventure.”  — BookPage