Waverider

Kazu Kibuishi

42 pages 1-hour read

Kazu Kibuishi

Waverider

Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2024

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

A teenage stonekeeper with red hair and a bright pink stone, Emily has matured from an impulsive child into a thoughtful leader. Having lost control of her powers in the past, she now handles her magical abilities with extreme caution. She remains fiercely protective of her family and committed to saving the world of Alledia without resorting to domination or violence. As she travels across realities, she faces intense internal pressure to abandon her quest.

Key Relationships

Sister of Navin Hayes

Daughter of Karen Hayes

Great-granddaughter of Silas Charnon

Opponent of Ikol

Ally of Trellis

Mentee of Vigo Light

Rescuer of Cora and Cala

An antagonistic program and mysterious entity that feeds on the fear and shame of stonekeepers. Operating as a dark, swirling shadow specter with a mutable form, Ikol seeks to manipulate others into giving up their free will. He constantly shifts his tactics by creating illusions and appealing to characters' deepest insecurities to advance his own controlling agenda.

Key Relationships

Opponent and Manipulator of Emily Hayes

Creation of Silas Charnon

The thoughtful younger son of the deposed Elf King. Identifiable by his silver hair and a stitched scar under his eye, Trellis actively rejects his inherited claim to absolute power. He seeks to establish a collaborative style of governance and works diligently to rebuild trust between the skeptical elves and the powerful stonekeepers.

Key Relationships

Friend and Ally of Emily Hayes

Traveling Companion of Vigo Light

Political Counterpart of Gabilan

An older, experienced stonekeeper and former member of the Guardian Council. Recognized by his gray beard and furrowed brow, he serves as a guiding figure for the younger generation navigating magical conflicts. He carries heavy regrets about his past mistakes and initially holds a rigid perspective on those cursed by the shadows.

Key Relationships

Mentor to Emily Hayes

Ally of Trellis

Former Colleague of Ronin

A bold builder and exiled former member of the Guardian Council. She embraces a radical approach to stonekeeper magic. Instead of teaching traditional combat, she trains her students to pass through the void to harness their power for creation rather than destruction.

Key Relationships

Former Colleague of Vigo Light

Teacher of Bren

Teacher of West

Teacher of Lia

Teacher of Janis

Ally of Riva

Emily’s sensitive younger brother who operates as a key leader in the resistance against the shadows. Lacking the magical amulet that complicates his sister's life, Navin relies on mechanical strategy and an unwavering belief in his family's survival to manage the ongoing war.

Key Relationships

Brother of Emily Hayes

Boyfriend of Aly

Subordinate to General Jandoh

Supporting Characters

The mother of Emily and Navin. Her initial kidnapping sparked her children's entire journey into the magical realm of Alledia. She serves as the emotional core for her family, representing the human connection that keeps them grounded amid cosmic magical battles.

Key Relationships

Mother of Emily Hayes

Mother of Navin Hayes

Two giant, flying spider-beasts who act as transport and steadfast companions. Originally corrupted by shadows into destructive monsters, they regain their true senses after a confrontation with Emily and agree to assist in her desperate search.

Key Relationships

Allies of Emily Hayes

A dedicated resistance fighter managing the deteriorating war against the shadows. She provides emotional and tactical support on the front lines, hiking through dangerous terrain and facing impossible odds alongside the remaining military forces.

Key Relationships

Girlfriend of Navin Hayes

Subordinate to General Jandoh

An elf who has assumed the throne out of necessity to manage a destitute kingdom. He is highly practical and skeptical of stonekeepers, openly questioning whether individuals wielding such immense magic can truly bring peace to the realm.

Key Relationships

Political Counterpart of Trellis

Emily's late great-grandfather and a former stonekeeper. His historical legacy casts a long shadow over the current conflict, and his image is frequently exploited by dark forces attempting to manipulate his descendants.

Key Relationships

Great-grandfather of Emily Hayes

Creator of Ikol

A pilot operating near the mechanical battlegrounds. After witnessing incredible displays of magical power during his rescue, he promises to spread the story of the heroes who saved him.

Key Relationships

Rescued by Emily Hayes

The mayor of Lucien, a city that was once part of the floating metropolis Cielis. She fully supports the new generation of stonekeepers and empowers them to take bold leadership roles in the rebuilding effort.

Key Relationships

Ally of Ronin

One of the young stonekeeper students training at the quarry. He has learned to build and wrangle shadows, taking the form of a giant turtle when accessing his full magical capacity.

Key Relationships

Student of Ronin

A young stonekeeper studying advanced magical techniques. He transforms into a wyvern when accessing the void, though he struggles significantly with the overwhelming pressure of his abilities.

Key Relationships

Student of Ronin

A student learning the art of building and shadow-wrangling. She takes the form of a sea serpent when letting go of her control to access deeper magical energy.

Key Relationships

Student of Ronin

A young stonekeeper student who can transform into a giant insect. She assists her peers in actively liberating cursed citizens from parasitic shadow infections.

Key Relationships

Student of Ronin

A woman stationed at the floating city who manages its shutdown procedures. She deals directly with the fallout of the overwhelming infections spreading among the citizens.

Key Relationships

Acquaintance of Ronin

A military leader who fears rapid change but acknowledges the overwhelming power of the young stonekeepers. He escorts the new arrivals to the failing engine core despite his deep personal reservations.

Key Relationships

Colleague of Sergeant Birch

Suspicious of Trellis

A traditionalist military figure who dismisses the new generation of stonekeepers as mere children, preferring to maintain strict control over the failing city.

Key Relationships

Colleague of General Puk

A resistance general forced to execute desperate defensive measures. As enemy forces overwhelm their positions, he orders his soldiers into highly dangerous situations to minimize overall damage.

Key Relationships

Commander of Navin Hayes

Commander of Aly

A loyal resistance fighter trapped in an animal form due to a dark magical curse. He supports the main heroes in their long campaign against the encroaching shadow forces.

Key Relationships

Ally of Emily Hayes

An older elf who believes in carefully controlling giant magical forms. He remains highly skeptical of the young students' ability to safely manage their immense powers during crisis moments.

Key Relationships

Fellow Elf of Trellis

A character trapped in an animal form by a dark curse. He awaits liberation as the heroes attempt to restore order to the failing magical cities.

Key Relationships

Companion of Enzo

A cursed individual confined to an animal form. He experiences the secondary effects of the massive magical battles waged by the powerful stonekeepers above.

Key Relationships

Companion of Rico