Forgive-Me-Not coming April 14th, 2026 from First Second; 320 pages
Content Warning: Violence, child abuse
About the Author: “Mari Costa is a Luso-Brazilian cartoonist with a bachelor’s degree in Character Animation. She’s in love with creating stories and populating them with people who have very messy interpersonal drama. Some of her work includes Life of Melody, The Demon of Beausoleil, and Belle of the Ball” (Bio from Macmillan Publishers’ website).
Find Mari Costa on the following platforms:
Aisling has always had the perfect life. As the royal princess with two loving parents, soon to come of age and ascend to the throne, she has lived a privileged life far from the realm of fae. But everything turns upside down when she is abducted by Forgive-me-not and discovers the truth: she is a changeling, replaced at birth with the real princess, Forgive-me-not. Forgive-me-not is on a mission to take Aisling to Faerie, in hopes of severing connections with an evil man named Gristlebone and regaining the life that Aisling stole from her. As the two embark on a long journey to Faerie, Forgive-me-not learns that Aisling is not the entitled princess she expected to face, and Aisling discovers that everything she’s been told about fae is false. As Forget-me-not spends more time with Aisling, she begins to question all she’s heard about her existence, and attempts to find a plan that will keep Aisling safe—even if it binds her further to Gristlebone.
Out of all the graphic novels I have read, this was the best one! I initially chose this story because the synopsis seemed interesting, and I enjoyed another graphic novel that First Second has published: Lara Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me. The illustrations and colors fit the cozy and mystical aesthetic of the story perfectly, and the story itself was very unique. It was a beautiful tale of the abductor falling in love with the princess—but with a twist. I absolutely loved Aisling as a character. I truly admired her selflessness and kindness. I adored Forgive-me-not’s bravery and care for Aisling as well. As a romance lover, this queer couple had the most moving and intimate scenes together, like their late-night conversations about past traumas. The love confession was touching; I was holding back tears in public. They are definitely on my list of favorite book couples now. I did find myself confused at some points by the faerie realm’s lore, specifically the changeling’s purpose as well as the fae politics and hierarchy. I felt like the political storyline was rushed; however, it did not affect how I felt about the story since I felt so attached to the characters and was fascinated by the world’s aesthetics. If you’re looking for a queer enemies-to-lovers story with a touch of princess and knight vibes and a journey through a magical world, this is the perfect book for you!
Forgive-Me-Not releases on April 14th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and First Second for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Anasofia Alejandro, Pine Reads Review Writer