Reviews

Coven by Taous Merakchi, Da Coffee Time

mamdid's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious

4.0

santa's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

esmewasreading's review against another edition

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3.5

 This was a cute graphic novel! I enjoyed it a lot! you can tell that the movie "The Craft" was a big inspiration for it (there's even a movie poster in one of the bedrooms!). The art style isn't my favorite but it was still beautifully illustrated, the artist really put a lot of effort on every detail. It's just a classic tale about witches figuring out their power! I would recommend!!!

thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for a honest review!! 

bibidanslalune's review against another edition

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adventurous funny 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? No

3.5

celiananas's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

mikkareads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny 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? It's complicated

3.25

 Genre: Graphic Novel, Teen Literature/YA
Themes: Witchcraft, Friendship, Environmentalism
Diversity: LGBTQIA+, larger bodied, and BIPOC representation
CW/TW: trauma, suicide

The plot:

The story follows a group of teenagers who engage in magic to protect an Elm tree in their local park. Their ritual inadvertently summons a demon of chaos, which begins to disrupt their friendship. They realize they must overcome their differences and work together to banish this demon​​.

My opinion:

The illustrations have a nice retro style that captures the essence of the story with vibrant colors and intricate details​​. While there are panels that appear a bit rushed, I feel that overall,​ the quality of the artwork is decent.

The characters' distinctive voices make it easy to get a feeling for their diverse personalities. Yes, I would have appreciated a bit more insight into their varied backgrounds and personalities … But this is a graphic novel, so it's less text-centric by definition! The book is gorgeous as it is, letting the art bring together various core themes into a cohesive, immersive whole. 

The blend of suspense, horror, and humor makes this an engaging read, with a charming pop culture vibe that evokes the likes of «The Craft», «Sabrina» or «Charmed.» Thus, the way the graphic novel represents witchcraft might not offer anything truly new … The combination with environmental themes and diverse representation, however, opens the story up to a 2024 YA audience.

«Coven» appeals to young readers who are interested in supernatural and witchcraft themes. The story's blend of environmental consciousness, friendship, and magic makes it suitable for a broad range of readers in this demographic. 

rhaenyrareads's review against another edition

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4.0

Si on ne peut pas nier une chose c'est que ce livre est vraiment très beau. Les illustrations sont variées dans les couleurs et se développent en plusieurs styles au fil des planches qui apportent une vraie richesse au récit et à l'ambiance de celui-ci.
J'ai adoré ma lecture ! On entre très vite dans l'histoire il n'y a pas d'introduction longue, on profite directement du plongeon dans la vie de nos quatre protagonistes Ève, Diane, Lily et Morgane qui ont toutes leur personnalité distinctes. Elles sont engagées, modernes, et se soutiennent. On suit leur petite aventure dans le but de protéger un arbre multicentenaire qui se transformera assez rapidement en une mésaventure qui finit par les forcer malgré elles à explorer l'univers de la sorcellerie. Il y a beaucoup de références à d'autres œuvres (musique, livres, séries, ce qui est super agréable). Leurs petites disputes entre amies donnent une touche de réalisme dans leurs relations, il y a beaucoup d'humour, les émotions de jeunes femmes et adolescentes qui traversent leurs épreuves chacune de leur côté et surtout ensemble. J'avoue que j'aimerais bien voir ce que donnerait cette histoire, ces quatre personnages et ces décors dans une version filmée. Quelle belle aventure, quel joli roman graphique

martereadsbooks's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

deluneth's review

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4.0

4/5 You know how you are sixteen and you and your friends play with witchcraft and you accidentally summon a demon? We’ve all been there!

Honestly, this graphic novel is so reminiscent of being in high school from the witch rituals to the fights between friends that it almost made me miss high school all together! Back when finding a spell book and talking about demons was PRIME sleepover material. The art in this book is truly stunning (sometimes so graphic that it made me jump!) and I would love a whole tarot deck from the artist!

There were some parts that had me confused, parts where it didn’t make sense what happened but could be explained by “the curse” even if that doesn’t make much sense either. I’m gonna need some justice for Diane though!

I love the potential for more and would gladly check out more! If you want a quick and fun read to help you reach your reading goal or as a cleanser between your books, check this out! It’s currently available on NetGalley!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

themichellegray's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars - A fun witchy-themed graphic novel told through stunning artwork and featuring four MC's who each have their own distinct personalities! I really appreciate that there was LGBTQIA+, larger bodied, and BIPOC representation too - we love to see ALL the diversity!

It did seem like the creators pulled from modern teen classics; Pop's Diner from Riverdale can be seen in the background and the four best friend's that are rekindling their friendship in high school gave strong Pretty Little Liars vibes. While this is a cute nod to those fandoms, I would've liked this to remain totally original.

Even though I don't have any outright negative thoughts surrounding this graphic novel there also isn't anything strongly pulling me towards a higher rating. If you're looking for a fast & fun read this will definitely provide that! (And here's hoping this becomes a series to get to know the entire coven better!)