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betweentheshelves's review against another edition
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
inkdrinkers's review
dark
emotional
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? No
4.0
Younwity is a magical school where witches go to learn the ropes - there's the witches born into magical families, then the changelings, who are witches born to non-magic parents and taken to the school as children to learn the ropes. Abby falls into the group of witches who don't know their parents, and when one of her close friends goes missing, a dark past of the school is revealed to her and her friends.
I've wanted to read Over My Dead Body since it came across NetGalley a few months back! Unfortunately, I missed the window for the advanced copy, but knew that I needed to keep checking my library for it when it did finally release. When I saw it come through, I snapped it up immediately to settle in for an end-of-year spooky romp and boy did it deliver.
This is my first Sweeny Boo book and the art is STUNNING, full color illustrations with so much emotion and expression held in them. The way she draws characters is truly amazing, each section could be an art print of its own with the amount of detail in them. I also really enjoyed how the author used the colors to convey the darker themes of this graphic novel and set it apart from other, similar works.
Without giving too much away, the first 30% of the plot struggled to get me on board. It felt very trope-heavy and leaned into the genre expectations, but the ending half really sold me on the connections made in this book and the way it ended. I'd be completely on board to see a sequel with the same characters!
Overall, great read, it had it's slow moments and small bits I didn't like, but the art, characters, and representation in it were wonderful!
content warnings: occult imagery, some light body horror (think Stranger Things, it didn't bother me, but if you're sensitive you might be disturbed)
I've wanted to read Over My Dead Body since it came across NetGalley a few months back! Unfortunately, I missed the window for the advanced copy, but knew that I needed to keep checking my library for it when it did finally release. When I saw it come through, I snapped it up immediately to settle in for an end-of-year spooky romp and boy did it deliver.
This is my first Sweeny Boo book and the art is STUNNING, full color illustrations with so much emotion and expression held in them. The way she draws characters is truly amazing, each section could be an art print of its own with the amount of detail in them. I also really enjoyed how the author used the colors to convey the darker themes of this graphic novel and set it apart from other, similar works.
Without giving too much away, the first 30% of the plot struggled to get me on board. It felt very trope-heavy and leaned into the genre expectations, but the ending half really sold me on the connections made in this book and the way it ended. I'd be completely on board to see a sequel with the same characters!
Overall, great read, it had it's slow moments and small bits I didn't like, but the art, characters, and representation in it were wonderful!
content warnings: occult imagery, some light body horror (think Stranger Things, it didn't bother me, but if you're sensitive you might be disturbed)
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror
emily_mh's review against another edition
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 pet
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