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meganpbell's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Mags has a dark family secret, and her long lost childhood best friend has just returned to town with questions. This moving and mysterious graphic novel so vividly depicts how shame and shouldering responsibility can bleed you dry, but family, friendship, and love can give you the courage to befriend the monstrous in you and bring the darkest parts of you into the light, all through a powerful, beautiful, and tender queer love story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Confinement, Abandonment, Infidelity, Blood, Child death, Drug use, Terminal illness, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thanks to Graphix for sending an ARC to the library! This was easily one of my most anticipated graphic novels of the year, if not my most anticipated. I have loved everything I've read from Molly Knox Ostertag, and quite honestly, I think this might be her best yet. There are so many layers to the story in this book, and each person who reads it will get something different out of it.
Reading the ARC means that the images were mostly in black and white, so I absolutely cannot wait to see this in full color. Definitely going to be pre-ordering it for that reason. Because even just the small glimpse in color was magnificent.
The characters, the emotion, the art and design just all work together to create this story that I guarantee you'll still be thinking about when you're done with this book. Our main characters, Mags and Nessa, are both dealing with their own baggage, but learn that maybe there are people who can help with that. Mags especially learns that despite her secrets and her past, she deserves to be happy.
I know it's so early to be talking about this book, but definitely have it on all your lists when it comes out this summer. It will absolutely be worth it.
Reading the ARC means that the images were mostly in black and white, so I absolutely cannot wait to see this in full color. Definitely going to be pre-ordering it for that reason. Because even just the small glimpse in color was magnificent.
The characters, the emotion, the art and design just all work together to create this story that I guarantee you'll still be thinking about when you're done with this book. Our main characters, Mags and Nessa, are both dealing with their own baggage, but learn that maybe there are people who can help with that. Mags especially learns that despite her secrets and her past, she deserves to be happy.
I know it's so early to be talking about this book, but definitely have it on all your lists when it comes out this summer. It will absolutely be worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Abandonment
Minor: Car accident, Dysphoria, and Animal cruelty
booksdogsandcoffee's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
4.5
The perfect allegory for queerness, being a teen and the secrets we keep.
This gorgeous story shows us we don't have to fight our demons, we can embrace them. We don't have to fight them alone. There is always a way to find the light in the dark and even the dark in the light. They live with in each other. Ostertag shows this beautifully both in illustrations and through her story telling.
I cannot recommend this book more to anyone trying to find their way. Both kids and adults.
This gorgeous story shows us we don't have to fight our demons, we can embrace them. We don't have to fight them alone. There is always a way to find the light in the dark and even the dark in the light. They live with in each other. Ostertag shows this beautifully both in illustrations and through her story telling.
I cannot recommend this book more to anyone trying to find their way. Both kids and adults.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Medical content, Death, Drug abuse, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident
storiesatstarfall's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Hot damn this was good. Heavy and suspenseful and tense, but good. Upon publication, the artwork will be in full color, but the black and white of the proof absolutely gave it a noir feel that is equally fabulous. Definitely a great read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Death, Murder, Self harm, Chronic illness, and Child death
Minor: Dysphoria and Animal cruelty
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