When I settled down to read Jane Irwin's Vögelein, I suspected I was in for a treat, and boy was I right. Vögelein, the title character, is a true heroine: independent, strong-willed, but also at times naive, uncertain, and afraid without being any less strong. Like a great fantasy hero of any sort, she braves danger, learns from her mistakes, and is just human enough to take us all along for the emotional ride as well as the physical journey. The artwork is all grayscale, and the somber quality of the solid and fluid art perfectly fits the tale. This volume acts more as an introduction to Vögelein and her world, and I can only beg for more!