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Honey buzzards glide their lazy spirals. Wheezing two-note calls and splayed vane tips of flattened wings drift on thermals. Their lonely observation quietens the ground cover- just an occasional throaty woodcock, at sea a keening loon. Down and down this sintered incline, precipitous and feldspar veined.Until I reach its base and the haphazardry of sandy badderlocks and discarded razor shells that define this liminal edgeland. A boundary, a place of transition. It could only happen here, this meeting.

Dave McKean has always been a firm favourite of mine, whether it be his collaborations with Neil Gaiman, such as The Wolves in the Walls, his work with the 14-18 Now Exhibition for which he produced Black Dog: The Dreams of Paul Nash, or his solo work, such as this wonderful graphic novel.

How to describe Raptor? It is a juxtaposition between historical fiction and fantasy. A merging of dealing with grief and writing to escape. Dealing with the occult and the induced hallucinations of chanting Latin phrases in old Masonic halls.

It is beautiful yet haunting. It is everything you'd expect from McKean, showcasing his unique style and the illustrations could be described as art in their own right. A wonderful read that is more of an experience on the senses than a usual graphic novel. A top-notch 5 stars.