Reading: THE PRINCE AND THE DRESSMAKER - Jen Wang

In 19th-century Paris (or thereabouts), a poor but talented seamstress/dressmaker gets the opportunity to design a gown for a client that captures both the imagination of Paris fashionistas and the ire of the Paris upper-class. So much so, when the young designer is soon after contacted at her job to possibly work for royalty, she finds herself whisked off where indeed she meets none other than Prince Sebastian of Belgium himself. The young (16) prince is on an extended visit to Paris with his parents, in order for them to find Sebastian a suitable bride to marry, where Sebastian managed to see Frances's controversial gown featured in the local press and wants her to be his personal designer ... not of suits and royal princely finery, but of beautiful gowns and dresses, as Prince Sebastian finally confesses to Frances - that he often sneaks out of the palace at night dressed as his alter-ego Lady Chrystallia, a woman who seems to have at least three times the courage, energy, and passion for life that Sebastian feels when in men's clothing. Frances, out of the good nature of her heart while also understanding what being the prince's personal seamstress could do for her career in fashion, commits to Sebastian's secret, and over the next few months helps to turn Lady Chrystallia into something of a local celebrity via her innovative designs, as well as Sebastian's coming to terms with embracing his gender-fluid lifestyle at last. This is such a brilliant graphic novel, light on dialogue as in many cases author/artist Jen Wang can compact so much emotion into just a character's look or gesture on the page, making nearly every panel have an impact. Sebastian and Frances form a bond of friendship palpable on the page, and even as you feel that things are going to blow up (and open up) sooner or later, you feel for both of these characters, greatly, to come through it all okay. Anxious as heck to figure out where Wang was going with their story (and what the heck would happen when/if Sebastian's secret were discovered) - how many stereotypical endings or over-done tropes she could avoid, in order to bring this to the satisfying conclusion that her richly-drawn/lovable characters deserved - I plowed through the last third of the book fairly holding my breath the entire time. Then I read that last third again. It really is that good; a great story that plays fair with its characters and their story right up to the end, while hitting home some important, very valid points about friendship, loyalty, love, and acceptance. So great.  4.5/5 stars