Spoiler-free
What a lovely way to kick off the new year. Reading this along with watching Flushed Away has really gotten 2026 off to a cosy start! I knew nothing about this book going into it, but I saw it available at the library so downloaded it to my Kobo and decided to just give it a shot. Graphic Novels are expensive, so borrowing them from the Library has been a game changer in allowing me to read them more often. So here’s your reminder to support your local library!
The Premise
We basically follow a witch called Nova Huang, who works at her grandmothers’ bookshop in a New England town.
One night, she encounters a white wolf in the woods, who turns out to be her childhood crush, Tam Lang.
Tam is experiencing difficulties battling a horse demon in the woods, so Nova naturally comes to her aid. However, the magic of wolves is powerful and sought after by dangerous people with malignant plans. And so, these old friends’ relationship begins to rekindle amidst the backdrop of witchcraft and occult rituals. Sounds pretty damn cool, right?
The Review
The front cover of this graphic novel is what initially drew me in. It looks adorable and sets the tone for a cosy romance vibe. While there is no doubt a cosy romance vibe, this is far from being your typical low stakes cosy fantasy, in the vein of Legends and Lattes. The stakes are high and the lore is rich. Nova Lives with her 2 grandmothers, who are also witches. Their relationship together is as adorable as it seems. Her grandmothers teach her everything she could know and their whole dynamic is incredibly wholesome and inviting.
Nova uses a hearing aid. I love when a disability such as this is featured in a book, as it really adds depth and nuance to a character. Despite being a highly skilled witch, Nova still faces very human challenges, such as this use of a hearing aid. This is also a perspective that is not often seen within mass media in general. In fact, the only other example where the use of a hearing aid is featured that I can think of is in the TV show - Undone (which if you haven’t seen, do yourself a favour and watch it! You’re in for a treat!).
Nova’s old friend, the white wolf, Tam Lang is also a unique perspective. They have been roaming from place to place for years, unable to call anywhere a home. They are on a journey of realising that perhaps home isn't a place after all. They use they/them pronouns which is honestly only mentioned once, and in a very casual way. This is how I like queer representation in media. It doesn’t need to be the focal point of the plot, but rather an additional asset to a character. The relationship between Nova and Tam is very sweet and feels organic. You can tell they care a lot for one another and it warms my heart. This is where the cosy side of the story comes in.
The actual plot of the book is less cosy. It’s cosy in the sense that you know deep down that everything is going to be okay in the end, but the stakes are still very high for the characters. Tam’s life is in danger and Nova, alongside her grandmothers, are doing everything they can to ensure Tam’s survival. I love how whenever something intense and bad happens, the two grandmothers instantly get the kettle on to have a cuppa while they all debrief. Adorable.
The magic is illustrated in such a whimsical way, which truly compliments the wholesome relationship dynamics of our characters. The art style in general, is stunning and feels like a mug of hot choccy on a cold night.
Alongside our magical characters, we also have a very human character in Tatyanna. She knows all about the witch stuff so we don’t have to go through that whole 'keeping it a secret' fiasco, which is always a treat. She is basically Nova’s best friend and confidant. If you like queer found family vibes, you will enjoy this book for sure.
One complaint I have, is that sometimes the dialogue (particularly towards to beginning) felt a little wooden and stiff. It was as though some information just needed to be expressed as concise as possible in order to confine within the space on the page. This didn't annoy me too much and all the characters do have their own personality which shines through, although I think this is largely enhanced by the illustrations, as opposed to the writing itself.
The end of the graphic novel featured some really cool additional materials, such as concept art and script breakdowns. I appreciated seeing how this particular graphic novel was produced over time, during each individual stage of the creative process. I love little insights like this, so it was a really nice add-on to an already excellent story.
This was a really pleasant read and I appreciate how this a completely self contained story, with lots of depth and queer representation. The art style is whimsical, the characters are adorable, the romance is heart-warming and the wholesome vibes are immaculate.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 4 Stars
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