Fans of the series will be thrilled to dive back into this world.
Courtney Crumrin is back in a new vampire-battling adventure.
Long ago, human brothers found their way to the Twilight Kingdom. One brother was allowed to leave, but the other, Wilberforce, had to stay. Returning to the human world 100 years later, Will is reincarnated as Courtney Crumrin’s little brother even though he is, in fact, her great-grandfather. Will struggles to fit in at school, so sorcerer’s apprentice Courtney makes him a magical necklace that makes him popular. But all magic has a price, and it’s never a price you want to pay. Can Will and his best friend, Tucker, save Courtney from a vampire, or will she be lost forever? This classic good-versus-evil story with an edgy, black-humor feel is visually compelling; the color palette and linework together effectively convey emotions. Short episodes move the story along quickly, although at times the transitions between narrative perspectives are disorienting. This volume draws heavily on background information from prior Courtney Crumrin books; newbies to this fandom may wish for more details. The magic used by Courtney, the villainous vampire, and creatures from the Twilight Kingdom is never clearly defined. Character development is also rather uneven; most cast members have just a handful of personality traits. Most characters read as White.
Fans of the series will be thrilled to dive back into this world. (Graphic fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: June 22, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-62010-930-4
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Oni Press
Review Posted Online: April 29, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2021
A few rough bits but inventive and visually stunning.
A young witch whose magic has been burned away undertakes healing journeys both physical and metaphorical in this graphic novel that was first serialized on Instagram.
Mingling riveting illustrations that incorporate fades, flashbacks, and other cinematic effects with a typographically venturesome narrative, Dhaliwal tells a tale of heroic exploits in which allegorical elements are never far beneath the surface. Burned at the stake but rescued by a pair of helpful (if often annoying) witches on a quest of their own, dark-skinned young “Singe” goes in search of her real name and the rest of her burned-away memories, as well as her lost magic, while her body slowly recovers. Along the way to a climax on the shores of Perish Lake, she meets other witches—notably Smoke Witch, a collective gathering of burnt but still aware ashes that rides the night wind—and engages in desperate struggles with three powerful, vividly portrayed demons: Disgust, Doubt, and Despair. The author’s imagination and graphic skills outpace her literary chops, but there’s plenty of entertaining friction and bonding in the colorfully wrought cast, and more than enough action in the plot to make it easy to overlook awkward phrasings and inappropriate word choices. Said plot does take some arbitrary turns, perhaps so that the ending can be left conveniently open. Still, it’s a grand adventure in a richly articulated setting, featuring a racially diverse cast and clever twists aplenty.
A few rough bits but inventive and visually stunning. (Graphic fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: May 28, 2024
ISBN: 9781770466999
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
A somewhat entertaining, fast-paced journey that fizzles at the end.
A teenager runs away to Seattle, hoping to locate her missing sister.
Fifteen-year-old Eleanor idolizes her older sister, Sam, despite their being complete opposites: Sam is outgoing and wild, while socially awkward Eleanor is known as Little Miss Perfect, always doing the right and safe thing. After Sam runs away from home, the only communication she has with Eleanor are three postcards sent from Seattle. Eleanor decides to trace her 18-year-old sister’s footsteps, leaving her messages and hopping on a bus to find her. But when Sam doesn’t meet her at the bus depot, Eleanor, who has no real plan, has to learn how to survive on her own while searching the city for her sister. While the close bond between the girls is well depicted through flashbacks, the reveal of an important secret ultimately feels anticlimactic. A major plot point relies too heavily on chance and coincidence to be fully believable. While the color scheme, cityscapes, and background illustrations are atmospheric, the manga-inspired drawing style comes across as dated and flat. The depiction of the fabricated stories Eleanor tells is intriguing, as are the themes of friendship, living in the moment, and maintaining hope; unfortunately, none are thematically strong enough to resonate. The emotional impact of Eleanor’s experiences is diluted by her at times humorous narration. Eleanor and the main cast read as White.
A somewhat entertaining, fast-paced journey that fizzles at the end. (Graphic novel. 12-15)Pub Date: April 26, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-50023-4
Page Count: 280
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2022
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