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justcallmeemily's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence, Child death, and Body horror
Minor: Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
hardbackhoarder's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, and Toxic friendship
devynreadsnovels's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, Body horror, Physical abuse, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
serendipity421's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Body horror, and Violence
dollhousebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
booktalkwithrae's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I picked up this graphic novel because of the art style. I thought it was beautifully done, clean pictures, and beautiful depictions of settings and characters. And that was probably my favourite part of the story.
This book really gives me Harry Potter vibes with a sprinkle of Wednesday. We have a magical school of witches learning magic when there is a mysterious missing person, and our main character and her friends defy the headmistress and try to find the kissing person. Everything was very predictable, including the ending.
The characters in themselves are a little interesting, however, I felt like the relationships between them were a tad rushed. There is a lot of great representation in this book which I do appreciate but overall I just found the story boring. It didn’t really hold my attention, and I found it difficult to finish and that rarely happens in a graphic novel because of how quick they are to finish.
This book really gives me Harry Potter vibes with a sprinkle of Wednesday. We have a magical school of witches learning magic when there is a mysterious missing person, and our main character and her friends defy the headmistress and try to find the kissing person. Everything was very predictable, including the ending.
The characters in themselves are a little interesting, however, I felt like the relationships between them were a tad rushed. There is a lot of great representation in this book which I do appreciate but overall I just found the story boring. It didn’t really hold my attention, and I found it difficult to finish and that rarely happens in a graphic novel because of how quick they are to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
oddduck's review
medium-paced
5.0
Sometimes when I just pull a book off the shelf at the library, I hit the jackpot. This was one of those times. What a gorgeous and delightful book.
I absolutely loved the art style. It was beautiful and the colors were stunning. The character designs were excellent, the backgrounds were exquisite, and really just everything was to die for. I'd honestly say this book is worth picking up just to look at the art.
But the story was really good to! The mystery is super interesting and there's way more to it than we initially think. I think my favorite kind of mystery is one where we think we've got an idea, and then the character learns something that completely changes everything. I'm also a sucker for long buried secrets, curse breaking, and learning the truth behind tall tales that may or may not have some basis in reality, which are all important parts to this mystery. Plus, we've got some interesting characters along for the ride, including a variety of animal companions. It's been so long since I've seen witch-focused media that includes familiars.
And that's just one aspect of the worldbuilding that I really liked. The lore behind the school is fascinating, and there are some tantalizing references to what witch-culture is like outside of the school too. Honestly, I'd love more books set in this world! I want to know more about the Coven, and why there are so many Younwity's.
I absolutely loved the art style. It was beautiful and the colors were stunning. The character designs were excellent, the backgrounds were exquisite, and really just everything was to die for. I'd honestly say this book is worth picking up just to look at the art.
But the story was really good to! The mystery is super interesting and there's way more to it than we initially think. I think my favorite kind of mystery is one where we think we've got an idea, and then the character learns something that completely changes everything. I'm also a sucker for long buried secrets, curse breaking, and learning the truth behind tall tales that may or may not have some basis in reality, which are all important parts to this mystery. Plus, we've got some interesting characters along for the ride, including a variety of animal companions. It's been so long since I've seen witch-focused media that includes familiars.
And that's just one aspect of the worldbuilding that I really liked. The lore behind the school is fascinating, and there are some tantalizing references to what witch-culture is like outside of the school too. Honestly, I'd love more books set in this world! I want to know more about the Coven, and why there are so many Younwity's.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Blood, and Kidnapping
Minor: Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Body horror
betweentheshelves's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Beautifully drawn and colored, this the mysterious magical school book you didn't know you needed. There's something to be said about purple/pinkish color palettes, and it might actually be my favorite for graphic novels. Book renders the school in this so beautifully that you'll want to go to it. Especially that witchy library.
The plot wasn't necessarily the strongest aspect of this book, but the characters are what really stand out. Sometimes characters in graphic novels can blend into the background, but that isn't the case here. Boo does a great job making them all unique and stand on their own, outside of this magical world that she has created. Thoroughly impressed by this, and I will keep a lookout for other things Boo writes because this is lovely!
The plot wasn't necessarily the strongest aspect of this book, but the characters are what really stand out. Sometimes characters in graphic novels can blend into the background, but that isn't the case here. Boo does a great job making them all unique and stand on their own, outside of this magical world that she has created. Thoroughly impressed by this, and I will keep a lookout for other things Boo writes because this is lovely!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, and Body horror
emily_mh's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The strongest part of this book was its sense of place and atmosphere. The magical academy setting bleeds through on every page. It felt fully realised, with lesson details, a cast of teachers, and a host of different spaces shown such as classrooms (which all had a unique look), the library, dorm rooms, gardens etc. As well as this the plot is structured around the school celebration of Samhain. So when I say this book is set in a magical academy it is SET in a magical academy. The colours and lighting, in addition to the castle/manor-like feel of the academy, made for a spooky, dark academia atmosphere.
The mystery plot was perfectly fine considering this was a YA graphic novel. It kept me interested in picking the book up again and again, especially given it had a cold/historical case component.
The art was also great. I liked the fine lines and the narrowness of the illustrations, although I will say that the panel placement in trying to keep things fresh and unique all the time was ironically sometimes repetitive.
The characters were definitely the weakest part of this book. The MC was very Mary-Sue to me. I think exploring the foundling aspect more, which was underutilised all round, could have given her more dimension. Goldie and Violet were compelling enough side characters, but Enver needed more work; outside of being friends with Noreen I didn't really know who they were.
The mystery plot was perfectly fine considering this was a YA graphic novel. It kept me interested in picking the book up again and again, especially given it had a cold/historical case component.
The art was also great. I liked the fine lines and the narrowness of the illustrations, although I will say that the panel placement in trying to keep things fresh and unique all the time was ironically sometimes repetitive.
The characters were definitely the weakest part of this book. The MC was very Mary-Sue to me. I think exploring the foundling aspect more, which was underutilised all round, could have given her more dimension. Goldie and Violet were compelling enough side characters, but Enver needed more work; outside of being friends with Noreen I didn't really know who they were.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder, and Child death
Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Animal death, and Body horror
Major: missing loved one Minor: self-injury, hunting, death of petabookwormsgarden's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.0
I want to thank Netgalley, Harper Collins, and HarperAlley for allowing me to read this book.
CW: Death, bullying, blood, child abuse, kidnapping
Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo was a beautiful dark academia graphic novel. The art and story was fantastic!!! Over My Dead Body follows the main character Abby as she struggles with the disappearance of her friend, Noreen, who is like a sister. No one at the school seems to be taken Noreen's disappearance seriously. On top of that Abby is dealing with the everyday struggles of being a teenager in highschool. I think it was really interesting to see Sahmain celebrations come alive. I honestly wish readers saw more development in this world's magical system. There was also some plot points that I felt were not fully explained within the graphic novel. I highly recommend checking Over My Dead Body.
CW: Death, bullying, blood, child abuse, kidnapping
Over My Dead Body by Sweeney Boo was a beautiful dark academia graphic novel. The art and story was fantastic!!! Over My Dead Body follows the main character Abby as she struggles with the disappearance of her friend, Noreen, who is like a sister. No one at the school seems to be taken Noreen's disappearance seriously. On top of that Abby is dealing with the everyday struggles of being a teenager in highschool. I think it was really interesting to see Sahmain celebrations come alive. I honestly wish readers saw more development in this world's magical system. There was also some plot points that I felt were not fully explained within the graphic novel. I highly recommend checking Over My Dead Body.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Bullying, Blood, Kidnapping, and Child abuse