Candice Purwin presents in The Book of Murmurs a graphic novel where a girl faces the loss of her parents at the hands of a creature. To recover her identity, she travels to a magical world. The work combines dark fantasy with detailed visual narrative, posing a journey of self-discovery in a hostile environment.
The technical engine behind the stroke: from pencil to render 🎨
Purwin uses a process that combines hand-drawn sketches with digital tools. The lines are scanned and cleaned in illustration software, applying flat color layers to maintain readability. Inking reinforces shadows and gives weight to the creatures. Each panel is structured with a variable grid that breaks the rhythm at key moments, using close-ups to accentuate tension without resorting to saturated effects.
How to lose your name and blame the monster 😈
The protagonist loses her parents and then discovers she also lost her name. Come on, the monster not only took the family but also stole her magic ID. The good thing is that, instead of going to a lost and found office, she steps through a portal. Good thing in fantasy worlds bureaucratic procedures are solved with swords and not with forms.