The Dragon Prince’s first graphic novel explores the aftermath of that huge battle

The first installment in The Dragon Prince’s publishing initiative explores what the characters are going through after that huge third-season battle.

If you’ve finished season three of Netflix’s The Dragon Prince — and if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?! — you’ll know the most recent episodes tackled a major battle between the series’ heroes and the increasingly corrupt Lord Viren. The epic conclusion sets the tone for the series to get darker moving forward — but there’s not much time to catch up with the characters and get their thoughts about everything that’s unfolded so far.

Luckily, that’s exactly why the franchise is getting four more seasons and additional stories in the form of books and graphic novels. The first Dragon Prince graphic novel, Through the Moon, hits shelves today, and it delves into the aftermath of that big battle at the end of season three. Bridging the gap between this past season and the upcoming fourth one, the graphic novel takes the time to slow down and delve into how the characters are feeling about all that’s happened. Written by Peter Wartman and illustrated by Xanthe Bouma, this tale may show Xadia at peace for a change — but it highlights how much the characters still have to contend with.

For one, Rayla isn’t faring so well following her near-death experience. Lord Viren is haunting her dreams, and she can’t shake the feeling that he’s still out there somewhere — especially since they never found a body on the battlefield. (Fans of the show know she’s absolutely correct, which makes it even harder to see her struggle through this while Callum and Ezran remain skeptical.)

On top of that, the fates of Rayla’s parents and Runaan continue to tug at the back of her mind, coming between her and Callum. Because, even if the world claims it’s ready to move forward, the past is still hanging over each of these characters’ heads. And it’s nice to spend more time in their minds than usual, something that will no doubt enhance the experience of watching season four when it arrives.

Rayla isn’t the only person struggling either. As you might imagine, Soren isn’t having the easiest of times after losing his sister and father — the latter almost at his own hands. With humans and elves coming together, however reluctantly, Soren also has to face his part in his father’s crimes. Soren’s character has gotten more and more interesting to follow as The Dragon Prince has progressed, and it’s great to see him getting some deserved page time (and a more serious examination, as much as we love his comical moments).

And like Rayla, Soren’s not convinced that Viren’s gone either.

While these two deal with inner obstacles, Callum is still learning to master the magic the world previously thought humans were incapable of wielding. And somewhere in there, he gets the idea to open the portal to a place between life and death in order to help Rayla answers. (Against Lujanne’s advice, I might add.)

What Rayla finds there changes her path moving forward, and the illustrations throughout the graphic novel — and particularly toward the end — are absolutely stunning. Wartman also manages to capture the heart of these characters and their relationships so well, making readers feel like there’s little difference between absorbing this medium and watching the show.

With such a solid start, it’ll be fun to see where The Dragon Prince’s publishing initiative goes. It’s certainly a fun way to know the characters better. And once the new episodes arrive, fans will have a better idea of how these stories fill the gaps in the larger narrative.

Through the Moon, the first graphic novel in The Dragon Prince‘s publishing lineup, is on sale today. Do you plan on picking up a copy?