By Emily Erdos and Deya Muniz
Forget figure skating—these animals are putting the fur in fury as they claw their way to the top of the ice-skating championships.
Blades of Furry: Volume 1, is a captivating young adult graphic novel created by Emily Erdos and Deya Muniz . Here the reader sees the high-stakes world of battle skating, a dynamic mix of figure skating and martial arts, in the form of a queer sports romance. The story centers on Emile, an earnest and talented deer rookie who is preparing to face his idol, the reigning champion Radu, a fruit bat known for his grace and power. During their intense match, their rivalry takes an unexpected turn when Emile discovers Radu’s secret, which could potentially knock him out of the competition. This revelation sparks a complex relationship, blending fierce competition on the rink with a budding rivals-to-lovers romance off. Both characters must deal with secrets, systemic discrimination, and their growing feelings for each other in a world that might not accept them.
This book is a fantastic choice for engaging students with barriers to reading. As a graphic novel, the detailed, dynamic illustrations do much of the narrative heavy work. For visual learners or English language learners, the art clearly conveys the fast-paced battle skating action and the subtle emotional shifts in the characters’ relationships, reducing reliance on text. The dialogue is contained in easy-to-follow speech bubbles and uses primarily simple and compound sentences. By pairing high-interest themes of romance, identity, and competitive pressure with a low-readability text it is an ideal bridge for reluctant teen readers. Honored with positive mentions from Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal, Blades of Furry proves that a story can be both accessible and emotionally sophisticated. It is an excellent addition to any collection, perfectly suited to build reading confidence while offering a story that students will genuinely connect with and enjoy.
