Pirates, a sea cursed by strange magic, and an island without color—Scarlet Morning by Nate Diana (ND) Stevenson contains all of that and much more. Published in September 2025, Scarlet Morning is an illustrated fantasy-adventure novel and the first part of a duology. The book follows best friends Wilmur and Viola after an encounter with a mysterious captain sends them sailing on a pirate ship away from their gray, bleak island home of Caveat to bizarre adventures across vast and unknown waters.
Scarlet Morning is a book exploding with wonder, containing a diverse and distinct cast of characters with only one thing in common: their ridiculously silly, witty humor. It has a fast-paced plot with something new always happening, along with unique worldbuilding (like a crystallized sea that one can walk on, seagulls with deadly, poisonous feathers, and cliffs that drop off into absolutely nothing). The unworldly and unnatural dangers of the sea ensure continuous adventure amid the immersive, fascinating setting.
The illustrations also play a major role in keeping this busy and exciting book grounded. Every few pages contain an illustration by the author (who also wrote and drew the graphic novel Nimona). Some of the drawings take up just one corner of the page, but there is the occasional full-page illustration, brimming with tiny details and striking emotion. Drawn in a distinctive cartoonish style, each drawing is bold and helps the reader more clearly visualize the scenes as they happen.
While Scarlet Morning is mostly considered middle grade and for younger audiences, there’s something about it that feels ageless—from the dynamic, vibrant drawings juxtaposed with the occasionally dark and sorrowful themes, to the eccentric characters who can be thoughtful and clever as well as funny and imaginative. Together, these different aspects create a balance: readers experience a whimsy reminiscent of a childhood picture book, along with a deep and engaging story. The thrilling action, deep friendships between characters, and complex, creative worldbuilding of Scarlet Morning all make it enjoyable regardless of age.
