Title: Peter and Max: A Fables Novel

Author: Bill Willingham and Steve Leialoha

Publisher: Vertigo 2009

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 400

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables

How I Got It: borrowed from library

Set in the imaginative realm of the award-winning comic book series FABLES, the book takes place long ago, in the deepest dark of The Black Forest. Two brothers — Peter Piper and his older brother Max — encounter ominous forces that change them both irreparably. Thus begins an epic tale of sibling rivalry, magic, music and revenge that spans medieval times to the present day, when their deadly conflict surfaces in the placid calm of modern day Fabletown.

PETER & MAX: A FABLES NOVEL features the prose of award-winning comic book writer Bill Willingham and the lush ink drawings of FABLES artist Steve Leialoha. The novel also reveals secrets of some of the regular FABLES series cast members including Bigby Wolf, Frau Totenkinder and Bo Peep. Also included is an 8-page sequential story by Willingham and Leialoha that serves as a bridge to the FABLES titles.

So excited about this story!  Throughout the entire novel, I had this image of sitting in front of fire listening to a storyteller tell a tale.  The writing throughout felt like a conversations.  it didn't have stilted descriptions or unrealistic dialogue.  I enjoy the style so much I kept stopping to wonder how Willingham can write like this.  I want to write like this.  It seemed so effortless.

In regards to the story itself, I loved how Willingham weaves all the Peter stories into one seamless tale.  We see Peter and Max both in the Homelands and on the outskirts of the Farm.  We get appearances by many other Fables throughout.  My favorites still has to be Frau Totenkinder (or the Witch of the Black Forest or whatever name she happens to go by).  I loved that the story was associated with the comic series, but not dependent on reading the Fables series to enjoy the book.  Overall a hit!