I mean, come on. How can we not love a book with roar in the title?

Honestly, though, A Sparrow’s Roar (created and written by C.R. Chua and Paolo Chikiamco, illustrated by Chua, and published by Boom! Studios under their Boom! Box imprint) is all kinds of awesome, and I sorely hope we get more – either set in this world or from these creators.

Elena of Esterpike is the revered commander of the legendary Lions of Esterpike, but a cruel twist of fate requires her rebellious younger sister Per to assume that role and “become” her sister.

Elena is strong and brave and seems to have been born to be a general commanding legions of loyal soldiers. Per… well, not so much. But with the help of Amelia, Elena’s second in command, Per will step up and do what needs to be done to keep their country together.

Because Esterpike is one of four countries that comprise Unity, a group of nations from a previously dissolved empire, there’s a fair amount of politics and backstabbery going on behind the scenes. And part of Per’s “stepping into her sister’s shoes” involves full-scale revolt and war. Oops.

A Sparrow’s Roar is steeped in lessons of trust, loyalty, love, friendship, and honor. Per learns about these things, yes, but so does the young reader. Per’s story – like so many good fantasy stories – uses its unfamiliar setting and tales of high adventure to drive home relatable lessons pertinent to our very real world.

Chua and Chikiamco’s book slipped into stores a few months ago, and it tells a more-or-less complete story. Alas. Listen, I don’t need every book to be part of a series (though my kids certainly do appreciate it), but when I fall in love with characters and connect to them and their world, I want to know there’s more.

And right now, the all-too-brief 160 pages of A Sparrow’s Roar seems to be a “one and done.” Please say it ain’t so.