I started off February with some great graphics novels that have come out, are soon to be out, or are out in March. I’ve loved these fantasy graphic novels with ghosts, fox demons, and pirates. Keep reading this blog post for my book reviews of Ghost Roast, The Fox Maidens, and The Marble Queen.
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Ghost Roast by Shawnee Gibbs & Shawnelle Gibbs and illustrated by Emily Cannon
For as long as she can remember, Chelsea Grant has tried everything she can think of to distance herself from the disastrous damage her father does to her social life. It’s not easy to shake her reputation as Ghost Girl when Dad keeps advertising his business as a “paranormal removal expert” in big, bold, loud letters all over New Orleans!
This year, Chelsea’s all grown up, attending one of the most prestigious high schools in the city, and she’s finally made friends with the popular crowd. Things are looking up—until a night on the town backfires spectacularly, landing her in hot water at home. Her punishment? Working for her dad at Paranormal Removal Services. All. Summer.
Worst of all, her new job reveals an unexpected secret she has to keep: While Dad hunts ghosts with his own DIY tech, Chelsea can actually see them. And when she meets Oliver, a friendly spirit, at the fancy mansion her dad is getting a handsome fee to exorcize, she realizes she has to save his after-life, even if it risks everything her father’s worked for.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Ghost Roast is a multi-layered graphic novel about confronting the past and standing up for the truth. Chelsea is balancing her feelings about her parent’s divorce as well as trying to fit in at school. She feels abandoned by her dad’s ‘hobbies’ all while also trying to have her popular friends not see behind the illusions she’s created. The color scheme of this graphic novel is soft and you can feel this whimsical magical atmosphere created.
Throughout Ghost Roast readers can see Chelsea’s distance from her friends increase. As Chelsea finds out more about the ghosts, she realizes that there has to be a way to banish those who wish ill and to leave those who are peaceful. Overall, there’s this theme of the importance to stand up for the truth even when the world is telling you that’s the status quo. While I wish there was a bit more thematic development towards the end, I enjoyed this graphic novel’s take on the past and using our voices.
Find Ghost Roast on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.
The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha
Kai Song dreams of being a warrior. She wants to follow in the footsteps of her beloved father, the commander of the Royal Legion. But while her father believes in Kai and trains her in martial arts, their society isn’t ready for a girl warrior.
Still, Kai is determined. But she is plagued by rumors that she is the granddaughter of Gumiho, the infamous nine-tailed fox demon who was killed by her father years before.
Everything comes crashing down the day Kai learns the deadly secret about her mother’s past. Now she must come to terms with the truth about her identity and take her destiny into her own hands. As Kai desperately searches for a way to escape her fate, she comes to find compassion, and even love, in the most unexpected places.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I was so excited for The Fox Maidens having heard of Ha’s previous book Almost American Girl. This YA fantasy retelling of the Fox Maiden legend does a phenomenal job at conveying this sense of action from the graphic novel. It’s hard to do in 2D, but for the battle and action scenes you got a sense of the movement. In The Fox Maidens is a story about what we would do if we had to, to survive, but also what we chose not to do.
It’s about individual acts of kindness, about seeing the truth behind those we love, and about wondering what our actions mean. The Fox Maidens unravels the secrets of our past as well as to figure out what we inherit – the legacies and lies. For Kai she has to figure out how to navigate these spaces where she isn’t welcome and the sexism. All throughout The Fox Maidens there’s this undertow of the connections between women and monsters and what makes them monstrous. What our treatment turns us into.
Find The Fox Maidens on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.
The Marble Queen by Anna Kopp & illustrated by Gabrielle Kari
Princess Amelia’s kingdom, Marion, is in shambles after months of their trade routes being ravaged by pirates, and now the only seemingly option left is for her to save it through a marriage alliance. When she gets an exorbitant offer from the royalty of Iliad—a country shrouded in mystery—Amelia accepts without question and leaves her home to begin a new life.
But she lands on Iliad’s shores to find that her betrothed isn’t the country’s prince, but the recently coronated Queen Salira.
Shocked, Amelia tries to make sense of her situation and her confused heart: Salira has awakened strange new feelings inside her, but something dark hides behind the Queen’s sorrowful eyes. Amelia must fight the demons of her own anxiety disorder before she can tackle her wife’s, all while war looms on the horizon.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I heard sapphic YA fantasy graphic novel and I was so intrigued. As a standalone, there are a few places I wish we’d have more detail – like the magic world elements – but overall it’s solid. My favorite element was the queer awakening and character journey for Amelia. She has to figure out if she can stand this political marriage and even potentially fall for her betrothed – the queen.
Additionally I loved the panels where we see Amelia’s fears manifest in such a beautiful and symbolic way. I wish we had a few more details about their relationship and experiences. The Marble Queen had moments where there was a lot of action – particularly towards the ending – which made it feel a bit rushed. I wanted to know a bit more about elements of the world, but overall The Marble Queen feels more focused on their relationship and Amelia’s journey. That being said, I am intrigued in where this would go if we got a sequel now that there’s the bare bones of the world and politics.
Find The Marble Queen on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.