The Midwinter Witch

【女巫男孩#3：仲冬】

仲冬季即將來臨，在魔法部族中是一年一度的盛會，更是讓成年的變形師與女巫們展現實力的舞台。Aster 總是期待著仲冬季，而今年他終於能以「女巫」的身分參加，他想向大家證明這些日子以來習巫的成果。然而暗處卻有神秘的力量正向 Aster 的親友悄悄伸出魔爪...

由美國女漫畫家 Molly Knox Ostertag 所創作的 The Witch Boy 系列，出版後便榮獲美國伊格納茲漫畫獎(Ignatz Award)的肯定，作者本人身為女同志擁有著切身的人生經驗，她將多元的性別氣質、性別刻板印象對成長的影響巧妙地融入於奇幻世界的角色刻畫之中。傳統社會加諸於男女身分的期待無所不在，即便在童話裡也沒有消失！藉由作者筆下角色的成長與蛻變，扭轉刻板印象與陳舊教條的束縛，成為我們心中最棒的自己。

Magic has a dark side . . .

Aster always looks forward to the Midwinter Festival, a reunion of the entire Vanissen family that includes competitions in witchery and shapeshifting. This year, he's especially excited to compete in the annual Jolrun tournament-as a witch. He's determined to show everyone that he's proud of who he is and what he's learned, but he knows it won't be easy to defy tradition.

Ariel has darker things on her mind than the Festival-like the mysterious witch who's been visiting her dreams, claiming to know the truth about Ariel's past. She appreciates everything the Vanissens have done for her. But Ariel still craves a place where she truly belongs.The Festival is a whirlwind of excitement and activity, but for Aster and Ariel, nothing goes according to plan. When a powerful and sinister force invades the reunion, threatening to destroy everything the young witches have fought for, can they find the courage to fight it together? Or will dark magic tear them apart?