Review of Alexandria From Publishers Weekly ~

It's been 11 years since Bantock first introduced the eponymous stars of Griffin & Sabine, the beautiful and unusual novel in which the reader became a voyeuristic third party to the lush correspondence between London postcard designer Griffin Moss and South Pacific postage-stamp designer Sabine Strohem; two subsequent volumes completed the trilogy. Last year, Bantock launched a second trilogy with The Gryphon, reuniting Griffin and Sabine and introducing Egyptologist Matthew Sedon and Isabella de Reims, a student in Paris. At the outset of this latest epistolary volume, Matthew informs his beloved Isabella that Sabine has somehow become a part of him, in order to heighten his powers of intuition. This comes in handy when Isabella finds herself menaced by their sinister foe, Frolatti, and Matthew is called away by an exciting archeological find. Is the mysterious sculpture discovered at the dig site what Frolatti has been after? Bantock has fashioned a maddeningly labyrinthine, wildly romantic and exquisite work that reveals just how much story can be conveyed with a few well-placed words and images. He threads the theme of dualism seamlessly throughout, underscoring Sabine's assertion, "In each of us there are two worlds — the practical and the mythological" and the notion that the coming together of the two, as embodied here by Isabella and Matthew, is an essential part of some grand design. The book's cliffhanger ending will only intensify the eagerness of fans for the concluding volume, The Morning Star.

From The North Shore News ~ Alexandria Book Review

In 1991, Nick Bantock released a small book titled, Griffin & Sabine. In it he created a pair of characters and drew the readers into their lives in an entirely original fashion. Through a series of postcards and envelopes with actual letters folded inside, we read their correspondence and became fascinated with the magic of their connection. Eleven years later, the West Vancouver author-illustrator has brought us more news from the long-distance lovers.

With the exquisite artwork that has characterized Bantock's books, we are allowed to read the postcards and letters of Matthew Sedon and Isabella de Reims. These lovers, separated by vast distances, write of their longing, their fears and their desires, and are guided into uncharted regions by the experienced Griffin and Sabine.

The quality of the artwork remains superb, as Bantock's deft handiwork and beautiful design provide more pleasure with each successive viewing. Initially you cannot help yourself from rushing through to the end, reading each piece of mail quickly, almost afraid that the fictional recipient is going to walk in and catch you. But then a tranquility settles in as you ponder the wonders described and allow yourself the delight of studying each page in detail, and marvel at the fantastic art there.

First-time readers may feel a bit lost with the story and find it necessary to go back and read the earlier books, but the millions of fans familiar with the story of Griffin and Sabine will be able to jump directly into the unique experience that a Bantock book provides.
~ By Terry Peters