A nice little entry in the Shades of Magic world. I found it really interesting to see what King Maxim was like when he was younger. He has his arrogant or naive moments, but that adds to his satisfying character arc and growth.
I enjoyed his growing friendship with Isra. I don't remember her in A Conjuring of Light, but whenever I get around to rereading, I'll remember her character and feel a stronger connection to her.

As the graphic novel series is a prequel, I might even recommend readers try this first to get a taste for the world, magic, and a few characters who appear in the series.

Even though it's quite a short story, it doesn't feel like a full story isn't told. It had a full story arc and a satisfying conclusion with the promise of more to come. The final battle felt a little rushed, but I know that with comic books, the writers are limited to a page count rather than graphic novel format which can be any length.

The art is very lovely and well-realised. Character designs were constant and I could always tell who was who. The colour pallet is also very fitting, favouring a red tint. Perfect to symbolise Arnes, Red London, and the magic within this world.
Just a very quick, easy, and enjoyable read. I'll be reading the next volume for sure.