Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal
| Company type | Graphic novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Daniel Middleton (DanTDM) |
| Products | Graphic novel |
Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal marks the first graphic novel authored by YouTuber Daniel Middleton, known online as DanTDM. Set within the sandbox video game universe of Minecraft, it features characters drawn from Middleton's YouTube channel. The book enjoyed significant commercial acclaim, securing top positions on international bestseller charts for three weeks and claiming the number one spot on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover graphic novels in the US.
Background
For several years, Middleton considered writing a book. Although not an enthusiastic reader himself, he sought to craft "the kind of book that I would read," incorporating familiar personalities from his YouTube videos to establish a unique narrative voice.
The publishing rights were put up for auction by Middleton’s management company, OP Talent Limited, with HarperCollins acquiring US rights and Trapeze (Orion) obtaining UK rights. The project was publicly unveiled in May 2016.
In October 2016, Middleton appeared at the Cheltenham Literature Festival to promote the novel, becoming that year’s first author at the festival to sell out all tickets.
Plot
The storyline of Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal centers on DanTDM and his scientist companion Trayaurus, who uncover a powerful crystal split into five shards scattered across The Overworld. Their mission is to retrieve all fragments while contending with their adversary Denton, who intends to harness the crystal's power for himself. The duo strives to secure every piece first to thwart Denton’s dangerous ambitions.
Sales
The novel enjoyed robust sales figures in both the UK and US markets. In the United Kingdom, it maintained the number one position on bestseller charts for three consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, in the United States, it reached number 23 on USA Today's Best-Selling Books list and dominated The New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover graphic novels for eleven straight weeks.
Critical reception
Reception to Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal ranged from mixed to favorable. Common Sense Media awarded it three out of five stars, highlighting its "entertaining" battle between good and evil but pointing out occasional pacing difficulties and moments of confusing action. GeekDad commended its "clear and accessible storyline" but critiqued the roughness of the artwork and lack of color refinement. Night Owl Reviews offered a more positive evaluation, granting four out of five stars for its "exceptional" illustrations and "charming" storytelling, although it mentioned the absence of female characters as a limitation.