Both are women that fight in Jousts under their respective codenames, Bull and Harrier.

We don’t get to see anymore of princess Tara in Book 1, but rest assured her story gets developed much more in Book 2.īesides Pan, there’s a rowdy married couple named Cass and Bee. The first thing Pan does in Book 1 is help her friend Tara escape this fate by sending her rocketing into the unknown. Maybe not so much for the princess getting sold like a piece of property. Sounds like a decent deal, right? At least for the knights themselves. In the case of the titular Cosmoknights, these characters literally fight for their hand in marriage, along with any assets connected to their kingdom.

In the world of Cosmoknights, princesses get auctioned off to the lucky winners of gladiatorial combats referred to as Jousts. She’s just a small town girl who befriends a literal princess at a young age. First and foremost is Pan (short for Pandora). The sort of story that I love.Ī big part of why this book is so captivating, besides the stunningly gorgeous artwork that looks like a watercolor anime, are the people caught up in this colorful space opera. It’s also a tale about a varied and engaging group of characters who set themselves against the status quo. It’s clear out of the gate that Cosmoknights is about “gays in space” and there’s nothing wrong with that. Not because I have any problem with gay people or issues, mind you–after many years I like to think of myself as an ally–but just because I always try and focus on whether or not a story is compelling in its own right before I focus on the author’s identity. Part of my hesitancy to take a chance on the series was due in part due to its apparent focus on LGBTQ+ issues. And after reading not just the first volume, but also C osmoknights Book 2, let me tell you, this is a series everybody should own on their bookshelves.įirst, let me get something out of the way. But thankfully, I’ve been given a chance to rectify my huge mistake. Ultimately I made the wrong choice and put Cosmoknights Book 1 back on the shelf to pick up other stories. I must have held it in my hand for a good half hour as I debated whether or not to take a chance on an author I wasn’t yet familiar with. Which is where I first came face to face with the original Cosmoknights. But like any giant nerd, the first thing I searched for was Kepler’s selection of graphic novels. I browsed hungrily and found tons of interesting literature. So naturally I was introduced to a place called Kepler’s Books & Magazines.

I also have a bad tendency to always search out bookstores, despite how jam-packed my own house is with books and comics. And while it’s a place known for the weather and beach life, I’m more vampiric in nature and prefer the dark and cool corners of the world. I recently visited a close friend who lives in sunny California.

Cosmoknights 2