Castle in the Stars: The Knights of Mars

Castle in the Stars: The Knights of Mars is the third installment in a captivating graphic novel series that transports readers to an alternate 1869, where humanity has already ventured into space. Inspired by Jules Verne and 19th-century romanticism, this book follows a trio of young adventurers, Seraphin, Hans, and Sophie, who possess a gravity-defying substance called aetherite. When Seraphin's father, a leader in peaceful space exploration, mysteriously vanishes, the friends embark on a daring rescue mission to Mars, facing off against the Prussians. The watercolor art style creates an enchanting and immersive world, making it a perfect read-aloud for younger children (4-7) and an engaging independent read for early to late elementary students (8-11). It explores themes of scientific discovery, bravery, friendship, and the pursuit of peace against conflict.

What if man journeyed into space in 1869, not 1969? In The Knights of Mars, the third volume in this breath-taking fantasy graphic novel series, Alex Alice draws on Jules Verne and nineteenth-century romanticism to create a watercolor world of adventure and wonder to enchant adults and younger readers alike. When Seraphin, Hans, and Sophie returned from their voyage to the moon, they didn’t come home empty-handed—they brought with them aetherite, a miraculous substance that defies gravity! To keep their secret safe from the Prussians, the trio lives in hiding on a remote island in Brittany. Meanwhile, Seraphin’s father has founded the International Society of Aether, a group of scientists dedicated to the peaceful pursuit of space exploration. But on the eve of their inaugural meeting, he vanishes without a trace! The Knights of Aether’s last hope lies in a daring rescue of King Ludwig and Professor Dulac. They will find them on the farthest outskirts of the Prussian empire—the planet Mars!