Die is back with a new party of players and whole new corners of the world left to explore. Penned by the original creative team of Gillen and Hans, Die: Loaded picks up a year after the original series. After having fallen into the world of a sentient role-playing game twice already, and with one of their number dead from the last time it happened, the remaining members of the friend group are doing their best to pick up the pieces and find something resembling normalcy in the real world. But living so much time in a fantasy land changes a person, and unable to explain to their loved ones the truth of what happened, to say things are uncomfortable would be putting it mildly. The kicker, Sol—who remains tangled in the game’s ambitions—has plans to release Die the game to the public. All is not well for our heroes who barely managed to find their way home the last time—but they are not the ones setting out on this next adventure.
The dice come as gifts, delivered discreetly to loved ones of the original adventuring party. Unaware of the danger, each unwitting hero touches their token and falls into a world of magic and monsters, proud gods and devastating prophecies. The first is Ash’s wife Sophie. Ignorant about Die and the rules of role-playing games in general, it now falls to her to navigate these strange landscapes, find the other players, and escape back home—but to do that, she’ll have to learn the rules, and quickly. Because death is all too real in Die, and nothing can be trusted. Especially not the game itself.
For anyone who read the original story arc, there’s plenty to settle back into here. Familiar faces fill the opening before tossing Sophie and the others into Die’s fantastic realms. Familiar character classes take on new flavors in response to the griefs and traumas of the players—because the game certainly does love to play off people’s darkest secrets. There’s a whole pantheon of gods looking to trade for favors. One entire realm is made of art while another is full of chosen one characters, all seeking to fulfill their destinies. With its meta-textual awareness, complex themes, and inside jokes aimed at gamers, Die has lost none of its edge.
In some ways, this series offers a landing pad for new readers. With a cast of characters not familiar with the rules of the game, there’s some explanation naturally woven into the reintroduction of the world. And being a new campaign, it’s not necessary to know every detail that transpired previously. At the same time, the shadow of the previous campaign looms over everything, with references to characters and events that will mean little to anyone who missed the previous story.
For new and familiar readers alike, Die: Loaded is full of the darkness and complexity the series showcased on the last outing. Lore and character conflicts unfold over time, but it’s the baggage that the players bring with them that sits at the core of the story. Grief, identity, betrayal—the nature of Die forces the characters to confront themselves and each other if they want to make it home alive. With volume 1, this new arc feels tighter and more intimate than before but remains a remarkable feat of storytelling to bring all these elements together, balancing humor and horror with an ensemble cast and a world that just keeps getting bigger.
While the writing remains on point, the art from Hans is also as gorgeous as ever. Shifting styles and palates across the story, the bold colors and sharp detail float in the watercolor landscapes and stranger spaces of the fantasy world. It’s dreamy, it’s horrifying, and it brings each character to life with vivid emotion. Even for readers who may be hesitant to dive into this world, it’s worth it to wander these realms for a while and discover what might be hiding around the next corner, with artwork that helps shape Die into such a unique title.
Image hands Die: Loaded a Mature rating. With graphic violence, strong language, mature themes, sexual references, and some heavy content in general, it’s definitely a title aimed at adults. For those more mature readers though, there’s so much here to love. Obviously, many readers of the original series will be interested to see what unfolds in this new chapter, and the series will have the most appeal for fans of fantasy stories and role-playing games. However, for anyone open to a fantasy comic with a lot of layers, complex characters, and a good bit of darkness, Die is one of those titles that may challenge the boxes people sometimes try to stick graphic novels into. I found it delightful to return to this world, and with the adventure only getting started, I eagerly await the opportunity to see where things go next. Things are already looking pretty dire, and if we’ve learned anything from Die—it’s that the situation can always get worse.
Die: Loaded Vol. 01: Zero Sessions By Kieron Gillen Art by Stephanie Hans Image, 2026 ISBN: 9781534335356
Are you afraid of the dark? For within the dark lurks a multitude of wonders hidden from the naked eye, yet a cautionary reminder prevails: “The night does not belong to us.” In another alluring graphic novel, Spanish illustrator and comics artist Laura Pérez guides readers on a journey into the depths of the night and everything that lies dormant—or awake—in the darkness.
Like an opening to a film zooming in on an establishing shot, the scene begins at dusk and gradually dims into darkness where denizens of the night—bats, centipedes, and owls—awaken from their natural habitats while humans take shelter. Dancing flames of fire offer illuminating warmth in a cave carved on the side of a mountain.
From there, the bonfire from within shifts to an isolated light in a side window of a building, leading to the fire on a kitchen stove top. These scenes transition fluidly, transporting readers from one scenario to another in just a few panels. Full-page panels on a two-page spread depict a medium long shot of the night in the forest and throughout the city. A brief caption reads: “Since time immemorial, night has been a place we’ve tried to conquer and in a way we’ve succeeded.” Despite the change from one time period to another, the setting may have evolved technologically from a rural to an urban locale, but the cloak of night still envelopes the same space from one era into the next.
As the narrative unfolds, a solitary owl sporadically appears—a winged creature of the night that swoops through time and space, transcending the physical world. Subtle yet pervasive details coalesce into Pérez’s deceptively simple, silent world. Shades of black and dark teal accentuate the mood and time. A young girl donning a red hoodie ventures forth from an RV at night into the woods, echoing snatches of Little Red Riding Hood. Punctuating these scenes are a night owl that sweeps through the night air as well as a dead deer lying on a deserted road, for the night camouflages and shelters, furnishing a sanctuary while rendering secrets out of sight, melting everything away in its embrace like a black hole.
Pérez plays around with metaphysical themes of universal consciousness and telepathy, of people and places stretched across time and space, echoes of a distant, primordial past. The panels, minimalist at times, accrue more meaning upon successive viewings as though beckoning readers to delve deeper into the mysteries buried within. As a graphic novel, a visual poem, and a meditation on the sublime enchantment of the night, Nocturnos bears repeated readings and integrates well with thought-provoking titles in adult graphic novel collections, offering a pictorial Zen-like exploration that generates insight through repeated readings that will tease, tantalize, allure, and enchant.
Nocturnos By Laura Pérez Fantagraphics, 2025 ISBN: 9798875001260
Company Age Rating: Series ISBNs and Order Related media:
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+) Creator Representation: Spanish,
Aisling is a princess about to turn eighteen, but a week before her big debut, she is kidnapped by Forget-Me-Not, who plans to get revenge for being replaced at birth by a changeling. Aisling is that changeling, although she had no idea of her fae heritage and neither did her parents because they don’t recognize her without the glamour she’s been wearing. As they travel through the fae lands, both Aisling and Forget-Me-Not discover they have more in common than they originally thought and start developing a relationship. We learn more about the fae lands through Aisling’s interactions (and almost disasters) and Forget-Me-Not’s backstory about growing up in an alien world that isn’t hospitable to humans. The story wraps up at the end of this volume and provides an epilogue to tie up all the loose ends of the relationship between our two main characters.
The saturated colors worked well with the fantastical setting, and I personally liked how the lighting was used to convey emotions and ambiance throughout the story. This is a standalone as opposed to the start of a series, which makes it a great choice for teen or adult readers looking for a one-and-done LGBTQ+ (specifically sapphic) fantasy romance. There is on-page kissing between two female characters (one that has a masculine look) but no sexual content. I would highly recommend this book for any public library and high school library looking to follow the romantasy trend with LGBTQ+ content. Your patrons will thank you for it.
Forgive-Me-Not By Mari Costa Macmillan First Second, 2026 ISBN: 9781250784179
Company Age Rating: 14-18
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Brazilian, Portuguese, Character Representation: Lesbian,
Mika Song’s repertoire includes both picture book illustration and the Norma and Belly graphic novel series. She returns to the world of tasty food in her newest graphic novel, Night Chef.
In a gourmet kitchen, when the chefs leave, Night Chef takes over. A small raccoon, she ties on her blue apron, recites her chef mantras, and gets to work. Her latest creation needs an egg and fortunately there’s one almost within reach… When her ingredient hatches a noisy baby bird, Night Chef ends up going on a journey with her new responsibility. Along the way, she will cook new dishes, encounter new friends, and discover secrets about her own past.
Song’s work is instantly identifiable. Her lush watercolors create a night world of dark greens and blues, a cozy waterfront diner with simple browns, and a unique cast of characters. Rounded green frogs with headbands mingle with a sharp-eyed grey shrew and a pink-hued possum. Night Chef herself is unique – when she first appears, sneaking olives from the humans, she’s a small round bundle, her cheeks bulging. In her own world, she stands on her hind feet, sporting a neatly tied blue apron with handy pockets and carrying a large spatula. At one point in her travels, she meets a crowd of other raccoons, “The Pats” and stands out from their round, brown bodies with her own larger size, gray fur, and oval head. The villain of story, although treated with understanding, is a flurry of brown and white feathers and snapping, angry beak.
The book ends with a fun little comic of Night Chef making “fly frittata,” and the same recipe tweaked for more human tastes. Song also includes the character development of Night Chef, from rough sketches to completion.
This is lengthier, with more space for a deeper plot and character development, than Song’s earlier works. Although the story is a simple one, readers will feel the courage and dedication of Night Chef as she steps out into a scary world, leaving the only place she’s ever known, but keeps following her calling as a chef no matter where she goes. Squeamish readers may not enjoy the plentiful servings of worm-related food at the waterfront diner, but Song’s art makes everything look tasty.
This will be a sure bet for fans of Mika Song’s earlier works but will also appeal to readers who like reflective animal stories like One and Only Ivan as well as funny-food based stories like Stick Dog. It’s a great choice for encouraging young readers to explore different styles of art and graphic storytelling and even includes a timely message about the consequences of poisoning “pests” in the wild. Readers will root for Night Chef all the way to the satisfying ending.
Night Chef By Mika Song Penguin Random House Graphic, 2025 ISBN: 9780593303153
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11) Creator Representation: Filipino-American,
It is the last days of the Roman Republic. The armies expanding into Gaul face increasing resistance from the Helvetii and Germanic tribes. The future of Rome itself is in question.
All of this is meaningless to Coax. He is Gallic, yet knows nothing of his tribe, for his parents were enslaved by Romans before he was born and died in the revolt led by Spartacus. He was content to be a slave himself, until an act of sacrilege destroyed his family. He freed himself and became a pirate, bleeding Rome as much as he could. And yet, while his thirst for the blood of Roman soldiers is great, he still ransoms one young officer who convinces Coax he is worth more alive than dead. Surprisingly, he proves to be right, and soon has the ransom Coax set.
Years later, Coax is in bondage again, captured and sentenced to slavery for his crimes. He seems sure to die in the arena as a gladiator, but for the intervention of a Roman officer. To his surprise, it is the officer he ransomed years before—a man named Gaius Julius Caesar. He offers Coax a choice – serve as his spy in those places where a Gaul can pass that a Roman cannot. In exchange, Caesar offers Coax his aid in finding those responsible for killing his daughter and driving his wife to end her life.
It is a devil’s bargain, though the two fighting men get along well enough despite their different stations. However, Coax is not under any delusions that he is anything but a weapon to Caesar. And though he does not realize it, his actions in the service of his savior may yet bring about the downfall of Rome.
I went into Caesar’s Spy with enthusiasm. Not out of any love for Roman history, but because of the pedigree of the creative team. I was familiar with Max Von Fafner’s work on various Conan the Barbarian books and loved what I had seen. I was less familiar with French writer Jean-Pierre Pecau, though I did enjoy his steampunk Sherlock Holmes story Moriarty: Clockwork Empire. Both are in fine form in Caesar’s Spy.
While it is tempting to call Coax a Conan substitute based on Max Von Fafner’s designs, Coax is a radically different character. He lacks Conan’s crude chivalry, though he does have a code of honor. He gives respect to those who respect him, even if they are Roman. He also takes offense at Caesar going against Coax’s word that a group of Helvetii refugees would be given safe passage. Not enough to stand against Caesar, who he honors as his commander. But enough to free the Helvetii princess Sanian, who is presented to him as a slave.
This goes on to form one of the main conflicts of the novel, with Sanian organizing her own campaign against Rome and Caesar. The irony is that she and Coax might have been allies, had it not been for Coax’s promise to Caesar and, later, Sanian’s rebellion killing one of the few men Coax calls friend. This is but one example of the emotional complexity of Jean-Pierre Pecau’s scripting. The story is also well-researched regarding Roman history during The First Triumvirate.
In terms of art, Caesar’s Spy is equally fantastic. As I said earlier, I’m a big fan of Max Von Fafner. His artwork is beautifully detailed and visceral, yet subtly streamlined. The action scenes are intense and the period costuming generally well depicted. The sole exception to this is some of the women’s clothing seems more like specialty lingerie than the sort of thing an Egytpian noblewoman would wear in her private chambers. In fairness, Von Fafner does not shy away from showing fit young men in equally revealing outfits.
On that note, Titan Comics rated Caesar’s Spy as 15+. Generally, I would agree with that assessment, but I would still classify this one as a graphic novel for adults. There is ample sexual content, brief nudity, and copious violence, though nothing I would classify as pornographic. The sexual acts are not depicted on the page, though we do see the characters naked before and after the acts. And yet, I would classify this as a work for adults because most teenagers are unlikely to appreciate the complex relationships and emotional depth of the characters.
Caesar’s Spy By Jean-Pierre Pecau Art by Max Von Fafner Titan, 2025 ISBN: 9781787746978
Company Age Rating: 15+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18) Creator Representation: French, Serbian,
Echoes of October is built around a simple yet difficult question. The sort of question that children often ask and adults wish they could answer.
Why can’t we just get along?
That question is asked around the world in many ways and many languages. Yet it has taken on a particular vibrancy within the Middle East and especially regarding the Gaza conflict. This is the focal point of Echoes in October, which builds to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The story is told through the eyes of four children. All of them are 11 years old, but all of them were born of drastically different circumstances. Jannah is a Muslim girl from Gaza City. Amir is a Druze boy from Daliyat-al-Karmel. Lily is a Canadian Evangelical Christian, born in Toronto but recently relocated to Kibbut Kfar Aza. Eli is a Jewish boy from Tel Aviv. The children do not meet as a group over the course of the novel, though Eli and Amir are cousins. Lily and Jannah also meet briefly, as Lily’s father works as a volunteer driver who escorts Jannah into Israel for medical treatment.
However, despite its setting, Echoes of October plays out as a slice-of-life comic rather than a political thriller. The story remains firmly focused upon the children and their individual issues. This drives home their common ground and makes them more relatable to the young readers for who Echoes of October was written.
Eli, for instance, is worried about his parents talk of moving away from Israel. Their only concern is the safety of their family and what the threat of war may do to Eli. Yet Eli’s biggest fear is moving away from his friends, his school, and everything he knows. This is counterbalanced by the story of Lily, who has already undergone this trauma. She misses her friends in Canada and worries that her dream of being the next Taylor Swift may be short-circuited by moving halfway around the world.
Amir, an aspiring comic creator, has similarly big dreams of creating the first Druze superhero – a Captain America figure modeled on his soldier father. Unfortunately, most of his family have no use for his art and intend to put him to work in their restaurant instead of letting him continue school. Jannah also has issues with her family, for she has dreams of becoming a politician and bringing peace to the region so the people around her can be happy. Unfortunately, the people calling for violence on both sides are so much louder and so many refuse to listen to women, let alone girls.
Echoes of October does not pretend there are any easy answers. It does, however, offer one of the most heartfelt and well-structured introductions to the conflict in Gaza and how there is more than one side involved in the conflict. While the artwork and language used by Ami Adan are simple, they deliver a powerful idea that ultimately boils down to that one big question.
Why can’t we just get along?
Echoes of October is recommended by the author for readers 10 and up. This is a fair rating, as there is no objectionable content to be found here. Doubtless some will object to the idea of a children’s graphic novel that discusses the conflict in Gaza sight unseen. Yet this book is not entirely about that conflict. It is about four young people struggling to cling to some sense of normalcy in an increasingly angry world. That is something that all too many of us can related to in modern times and why I would recommend this graphic novel to readers of all ages rather than just children.
Echoes of October By Ami Adan Self-Published, 2025
Company Age Rating: 10+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13) Creator Representation: Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish, Muslim, Character Representation: Canadian, Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant ,
To know Chase Darrow is to love her. But to love Chase Darrow is certain death.
There is something about Chase that draws men to her like flies to honey. Although a more apt metaphor might be ‘like moths to a flame.’ One kiss of Chase’s lips draws the life out of a man, slowly aging him and eventually leaving him dead. Even the men around her she doesn’t kiss just love her and want to make her happy.
The problem is that there’s something within Chase that forces her to seek out company. She’s tried living alone without success. She’s tried throwing herself at bad men who deserve a bad death. She even tried romancing an older man who would be content to just have a beautiful trophy wife to look at. Unfortunately, nothing has worked. Eventually either she or they push for a kiss and the inevitable happens.
When Chase’s latest relationship ends with a dead billionaire, she finally gets the attention of the American government. Thinking she’s some natural-born superhuman, they dispatch their oldest and most powerful home-grown superhuman agent in turn – an invincible slab of testosterone simply known as “The Man.” He has a talent for killing and not much use for empathy. This sets up a long manhunt and a confrontation between the unrelenting and the irresistible. What will prove stronger? The Man’s ability to deal death or Chase’s tainted love?
Originally published as a four-issue miniseries by Vertigo Comics in 1990, Breathtaker is the definition of a cult classic comic. It was well-regarded upon release and saw a trade paperback collection in 1994. However, because it was intended to be a one-and-done story, it fell into obscurity compared to other mature readers’ titles of the age that were longer-running and sought out for film and television adaptations. This may be because Breathtaker is distinctly designed for the world of comics.
No less a luminary than Walt Simonson speaks on this point in the introduction to this hardcover collection. The way a train silhouette becomes a roof to the three panels under it showing a conversation on said train. The way a checkboard pattern sets up the layout of the room beyond. There are many visual tricks like this that might be replicated on film, but nowhere near as well. Marc Hempel and Mark Wheately crafted one heck of a visual extravaganza, with the writer painting several sequences that punctuate key moments of the story.
That story is what truly makes Breathtaker memorable beyond the outstanding visuals. While many comics have explored the idea of a superpower that is more curse than blessing, few have done it with the same political acumen. Beyond the psychological torment Chase experiences as a woman who just wants to be loved despite knowing she is literally poison, Breathtaker examines the paradoxical nature of sex and sexuality in American society and media. Women are encouraged to be sexy yet are looked down upon as harlots who seek to drag good men down. Likewise “The Man” is held up as the epitome of everything a man should be – a cinematic action hero in the flesh – despite being an unpleasant bore.
Breathtaker is rated M for readers 18 and up by Titan Comics and rightly so. With a plot based around love, death, sex, and power, this title requires a certain level of life experience to fully appreciate. Beyond that, it depicts numerous scenes of sexual content and aggressive violence that it should go without saying are not suitable for children.
Breathtaker Collection By Mark Wheatley Art by Marc Hempel, Mark Wheatley Titan, 2025 ISBN: 9781785867354
When Cassie, a fourth grade girl, thinks she’s won a grand prize from a mail flyer, she finds herself excited to share this fabulous feeling with her family, best friend, and favorite teacher. But as she is confronted with new big feelings (e.g. a classmate coming between Cassie and her best friend, everyone telling her she’s too sensitive, she didn’t really win any prizes), Cassie can no longer rely on her usual methods to find her way back to the wonders of life. Eventually, she is able to put some of the advice she is given into practice and starts communicating her feelings to her friends and family and works to find balance between her feelings and theirs.
This book does an excellent job of describing big feelings at a young age when you don’t understand where those feelings are coming from or how to talk about them. The fact that it has gorgeous illustrations adds to the appeal since words to describe feelings can be hard. Kids will be able to relate to the (slightly) fantastical depictions of everyday occurrences of wonder. This is a must in every library where kids can experience it and find a way out of their own big feelings. There’s no nudity, adult language, or romantic relationships depicted or discussed. Use it in your classroom or programming to talk about depression, feeling overlooked, friendship, or communication.
Dream On By Shannon Hale Art by Marcela Cespedes Macmillan Roaring Brook, 2025 ISBN: 9781250843067
Gruesome. Dramatic. Utterly wild. And just the beginning. I need more.
James Tynion IV is among the most exciting writers working in comics today. For Exquisite Corpses from Image Comics, he partners with Michael Walsh along with other artists and writers to deliver the first volume in a blood soaked battle royale conducted by the thirteen richest families in America who wield unchecked power from the shadows. To keep the peace between their factions, every five years these families select champions and unleash them within an unsuspecting small town on Halloween night. The last killer standing will claim a reward and another five years of unquestioned power for the family who sponsored them. The other killers will be dead. As for the town—well, it doesn’t look promising. This time, the killers have landed in Oak Valley.
Tynion has already built a reputation for layered, unflinching horror. What helps set his work apart is the thematic depth and character development that emerges amidst the carnage and action and intriguing stories he continues to build. As quickly as the body count starts to rise at the hands of mercenaries and flashy murders alike—we also meet the inhabitants of Oak Valley. A young couple. A young boy and his mother. A gas station attendant. Two EMTs unaware of the horrors that await them in the night. Tynion and the other writers (including Walsh and the acclaimed Pornsak Pichetshote), build a tapestry of character on all sides—townsfolk, ruling families, and the killers themselves. Even among the families and the killers, the story doesn’t shape the characters with only broad strokes. We get glimpses into rivalries, old resentments, and heartfelt loyalty among the shadowy rulers. Among the killers themselves—some are out for blood alone, but others have more complex reasons for stepping onto the killing floor. No side is entirely villainous. No side is only sympathetic. Some of these folks are larger than life while others are just trying to get by. It is these few, the desperate and the hopeful, that take the story beyond an action set-piece and into something that is crafted with flair—but also perhaps more relevant to today than some of us might care to notice.
Walsh’s art also maintains a gritty feel across each issue, blending shadowed realism with flashes of vibrant color. Along with Marianna Ignazzi and Valentine De Landro, the creative team build a small town that feels lived in and real, tucked in some quiet corner of the northeast where—unfortunately for them—help will likely not be arriving in time. This stylized realism balances well with the neons and blood spatter that explode across the page, especially in the presence of the eccentric killers. The visuals create a world of real places and people, telling story through costumes and expressions as much as the written narrative. Visually, the book is a delight—and as the chaos begins to unfurl, this unsuspecting town is only just starting to take notice.
Exquisite Corpses earns a solid mature rating with somewhat graphic violence and some language. It’s a story aimed at adults, though not out of reach of older teens who can handle the content. My only notable complaint about the book is that, at 3 issues, it was over far too quickly. There’s plenty more story to come, and this volume would sit happily in any collection with a focus on horror and crime-thrillers. Fans of titles like The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, and Alice in Borderland as well as Tynion’s other horror titles are sure to find plenty to enjoy within these pages. I highly recommend this one for anyone willing to take a step into the dark, and I look forward to the next installment.
Exquisite Corpses Vol. 01 By James Tynion IV Art by Michael Walsh Image, 2025 ISBN: 9781534331044
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18) Creator Representation: Canadian, Gay, Character Representation: Black, Gay,
Hawthorne Vandecast is entering their villain era… or trying to. If anyone would start taking them seriously. Instead, they’re a potion barista being prepped by their mother to take over the family coffee shop in the aptly named Idlewood -a painfully common village only recently released from the horrifying rule of Lady Wrath and her Brigade of Shade. Released, but not freed because Lady Wrath and her team’s influence still sits over the town like an evil, alluring mist. And they’re looking for new recruits. Hawthorne yearns for the rock star lifestyle promised by the Brigade and the chance it gives them to finally be more than a boring, common potion barista. How hard could it be when their biggest competition seems to be sweet as syrup Maple, who couldn’t have an ounce of Evil in her whole body?
Hard. Very hard. Like, embarrassingly hard. A nightmare audition leads to an oopsie assassination leaving Hawthorne in charge and finally seeing what being a villain is. Will they like it? Will it finally make them feel different and special? Or is being Evil more than wearing cool long coats and living in a castle?
There is a sweetness and irreverence to Evil-ish that is incredibly charming. Debut creator Kennedy Tarrell gives this YA graphic the feel of a 90’s Disney fairytale (which fits with the career outlined in their bio) while twisting tropes and appealing to the cheeky bent that’s so big in that genre right now. Readers want the villain’s story and Tarrell offers a view of the hurt people behind villainous tropes and how their stories might not match what we expect.
The pseudo-Medieval village of Idlewood is both comforting and obviously grating for a growing independent spirit like Hawthorne. Tarrell’s art adds to that comfort and familiarity, leading the reader to expect something predictable and basic and this book is neither. Tarrell’s subtlety in small character moments gives the story and the figures populating it a depth and humanity that defy the fairytale aesthetic of the art. The dialogue is almost perfectly matched to that. You can practically hear the giggle in Maple’s early dialogue and the disdain dripping from Hawthorne’s. It’s immediately immersive and exciting.
Hawthorne is an amazing character, immediately recognizable to teen readers as someone desperate to be more than people see them as while not being sure how to be. They are relatable and earnest while also being just a little clueless. Hawthorne is presented as nonbinary and this is an element that’s just part of the story in such a beautiful way. They feel different from the village not because they’re non-binary, but because -like a lot of teens- they want to be more special than they feel like they are. It’s a character element that is universal tied to a character identity that is underrepresented.
Evil-ish, available for purchase July 22, 2025, is so much of what I love: it’s funny, different, and shockingly heartwarming without taking itself too seriously. It’s an easy next read for fans of Nimona or Maelstrom: A Prince of Evil. Teen readers can easily find characters to relate to in this story while also, hopefully, recognizing that every character and person has a backstory that may be worth learning.
Evil-ish By Kennedy Tarrell Feiwel and Friends, 2025 ISBN: 9781250839954
Company Age Rating: 14-18
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
Who’s ready for a new campaign?
naked eye, yet a cautionary reminder prevails: “The night does not belong to us.” In another alluring graphic novel, Spanish illustrator and comics artist Laura Pérez guides readers on a journey into the depths of the night and everything that lies dormant—or awake—in the darkness.
revenge for being replaced at birth by a changeling. Aisling is that changeling, although she had no idea of her fae heritage and neither did her parents because they don’t recognize her without the glamour she’s been wearing. As they travel through the fae lands, both Aisling and Forget-Me-Not discover they have more in common than they originally thought and start developing a relationship. We learn more about the fae lands through Aisling’s interactions (and almost disasters) and Forget-Me-Not’s backstory about growing up in an alien world that isn’t hospitable to humans. The story wraps up at the end of this volume and provides an epilogue to tie up all the loose ends of the relationship between our two main characters.
Mika Song’s repertoire includes both picture book illustration and the Norma and Belly graphic novel series. She returns to the world of tasty food in her newest graphic novel, Night Chef.
tribes. The future of Rome itself is in question.
Echoes of October is built around a simple yet difficult question. The sort of question that children often ask and adults wish they could answer.
To know Chase Darrow is to love her. But to love Chase Darrow is certain death.
feeling with her family, best friend, and favorite teacher. But as she is confronted with new big feelings (e.g. a classmate coming between Cassie and her best friend, everyone telling her she’s too sensitive, she didn’t really win any prizes), Cassie can no longer rely on her usual methods to find her way back to the wonders of life. Eventually, she is able to put some of the advice she is given into practice and starts communicating her feelings to her friends and family and works to find balance between her feelings and theirs.
