Scan barcode
letiross's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Grief
Minor: Death and Child abuse
cemeterygay's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Just a really fun, quick graphic novel read. The main relationship is really adorable and the witchy elements are really fun and cool. I love the relationship between Nova and her parents and I would die for the grandmas. While pretty low stakes, I still was really rooting for Nova and Tam. I also adored the casual nonbinary, deaf, and queer rep. The art is also just so nice to look at. Honestly this book has cozy Scooby Doo vibes in the best way possible
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Body horror, and Death
Additional CW: Mentions of parental abuse, adoption, captivity, dead parents, cult rituals, accidental misgenderingednam0dewannabe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This graphic novel has been a light read that I needed: lovable and well-developed characters, interesting and original story, and good representation. Although I couldn't give it more than 3.5 stars because the narrative is too fast and doesn't give the reader time to digest anything (besides the insta-love) . Despite that, I liked it a lot and will surely read it again soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Death, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
thelibraryofanolive's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This book was sweet but pretty boring lolz but the inclusivity and gay grandmas were a slay fr
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, and Deadnaming
thanmayi's review
dark
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This is probably the best fantasy graphic novel I have ever read, the art and writing are absolutely stunning and the amount of diversity this novel had. We have a deaf MC and a NB love interest.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well developed some of the side characters were and their main reason to exist wasn't just to push the plot along.
Some parts of the plot felt slightly rushed but apart from that this was a fantastic and fast paces read that was definitely worth it.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well developed some of the side characters were and their main reason to exist wasn't just to push the plot along.
Some parts of the plot felt slightly rushed but apart from that this was a fantastic and fast paces read that was definitely worth it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
emily_mh's review
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Let's start with the positives! The art style was incredible. The four main characters had such wonderful relationships with one another and were all super sweet in their own rights. I also loved how central the witchiness and paranormal elements were in the story, which was unexpected yet welcome, as I thought it would be more romance-focussed. I ended up really loving the plot and the magic system.
I did, however, have some gripes. The first two are spoilery, and the other ones are about the disability rep.First of all, I felt like Tan's block was so important to the progression of the story, yet it appeared to have been resolved off-page. Secondly, the ending decision of Nova seeking her apprenticeship elsewhere seemed out-of-character, and also at odds with the rest of the book, where the focus was more on her parents accepting her decision (one that suited her better, too). I don't think every coming-of-age style story needs to end with the MC leaving their hometown.
Now, about the hearing disability rep. I also have a hearing disability and, like Nova, wear hearing aids for it, which is why I'm commenting about it. I know that Suzanne Walker has a hearing disability, so this is own-voices rep, yet I have very mixed feelings about the way in which it was done. First of all, I loved that in most illustrations of Nova her hearing aids were visible. I also liked that her disability was referenced throughout the book, so that while being disabled wasn't who Nova was as a person, it was never glossed over as part of her life. But some of the references were just... ??? It felt like certain situations were engineered to show that Nova was disabled - for example, Nova has to dial down her aids when the shop phone rings, but it turns out the caller is her best friend who (as stated in the book) would usually text, or if they would call, would call Nova's personal phone, which presumably would ring at her preferred volume. Also, I hated the comparisons that were drawn between being a werewolf and having a hearing disability. It felt kind of degrading to have my disability compared with something that doesn't actually exist. Sure, in a world where werewolves were real, it would make more sense to compare the two, but this book is written for readers who live in a world where it doesn't, so that felt pretty gross to read.
I did, however, have some gripes. The first two are spoilery, and the other ones are about the disability rep.
Now, about the hearing disability rep. I also have a hearing disability and, like Nova, wear hearing aids for it, which is why I'm commenting about it. I know that Suzanne Walker has a hearing disability, so this is own-voices rep, yet I have very mixed feelings about the way in which it was done. First of all, I loved that in most illustrations of Nova her hearing aids were visible. I also liked that her disability was referenced throughout the book, so that while being disabled wasn't who Nova was as a person, it was never glossed over as part of her life. But some of the references were just... ??? It felt like certain situations were engineered to show that Nova was disabled - for example, Nova has to dial down her aids when the shop phone rings, but it turns out the caller is her best friend who (as stated in the book) would usually text, or if they would call, would call Nova's personal phone, which presumably would ring at her preferred volume. Also, I hated the comparisons that were drawn between being a werewolf and having a hearing disability. It felt kind of degrading to have my disability compared with something that doesn't actually exist. Sure, in a world where werewolves were real, it would make more sense to compare the two, but this book is written for readers who live in a world where it doesn't, so that felt pretty gross to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Violence, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Minor: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Excrement, Ableism, Sexual content, and Death
foreverinastory's review
adventurous
fast-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
I loved this so much! This was the cutest graphic novel ever and I've read Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey. Now I kind of want to reread it.
Mooncakes follows a witch and a nonbinary werewolf who used to be childhood best friends and they meet again when Tam comes to track down a demon. Together, the two will have to figure out Tam's werewolf magic and stop the demon before it can hurt anyone.
I love Nova and Tam so much. They're both so precious. This story is precious. I need it to be a series. I loved every single second of this graphic novel and I want more of everything in it. Queer nonbinary werewolf? Yes! Queer sapphics witches? Yes! magic and mayhem? Extra YES! I wish I read this sooner.
Rep: Jewish Sapphic female MC who uses hearing aids, queer nonbinary BIPOC love interest, WLW side couple.
CWs: Kidnapping, violence, confinement, emotional abuse. Moderate: death, death of parents, blood, animal cruelty, grief.
Mooncakes follows a witch and a nonbinary werewolf who used to be childhood best friends and they meet again when Tam comes to track down a demon. Together, the two will have to figure out Tam's werewolf magic and stop the demon before it can hurt anyone.
I love Nova and Tam so much. They're both so precious. This story is precious. I need it to be a series. I loved every single second of this graphic novel and I want more of everything in it. Queer nonbinary werewolf? Yes! Queer sapphics witches? Yes! magic and mayhem? Extra YES! I wish I read this sooner.
Rep: Jewish Sapphic female MC who uses hearing aids, queer nonbinary BIPOC love interest, WLW side couple.
CWs: Kidnapping, violence, confinement, emotional abuse. Moderate: death, death of parents, blood, animal cruelty, grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
lavalaempchen's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Just reread it and it is as fun as the first time. The drawings use lots of earth towns and don’t overwhelm, just add to the cuteness, the story is well written and has ups and downs but never loses its cuteness.
It’s a nice book to just have a quick read and be happy and feel more welcomed and wholesome after that.
It’s a nice book to just have a quick read and be happy and feel more welcomed and wholesome after that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Kidnapping
morganperks's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, and Confinement
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Grief
Minor: Death
literarypenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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? No
5.0
This is the magical, cute and just plain adorable graphic novel I have been waiting for! I had a constant smile on my face the whole time i was reading and was very sad when the book came to a close. I wanted more cute and was sad to see it end.
A young witch follows a white wolf into the woods one night, what she didnt see coming was to get attacked by some scary house demon and to run into her childhood crush she hasn't seen in years. Follow them as they reconnect and discover the threat of a cult who wants to use werewolves and their magic to change the world in their awful image.
The characters, Nova who is a Chinese American with magical gifts and also hearing impaired and Tam, a Non Binary werewolf are the most sweetest characters I have ever seen. I love them both separately and love them even more together. Nova is still struggling with the loss of her parents and is currently living with her two grandmothers( who are amazing by the way!) and Tam who has ran away from home after being mistreated by their parents. I love how they supported each other and loved each other so unconditionally. You could feel their love for each other come right off the pages and it was adorable.
This novel had such good representation of found family, finding your own place in the world and being comfortable there and loving and accepting who you are. The writing and the illustrations were so beautiful and I can not wait to see what Suzanne and Wendy do next.
If you want a cute magical adventure with equally cute magical characters then go and get Mooncakes, you won't regret it. Get some actually Mooncakes while you at it too it would be the perfect compliment to such a good graphic novel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Body horror, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Death and Domestic abuse