A dynamic, funny read for emo days.
Hawthorne Vandecast yearns for the glamourous villain life.
Miserable doing the menial work of a potion barista in their family business, nonbinary Hawthorne yearns to join the Brigade of Shade, an organization of elite villains who once ruled over their city of Idlewood. But when Hawthorne gets the chance to audition for the Brigade of Shade, it doesn’t go well. Worse, flower-loving Maple McCoy (who annoys Hawthorne with her sugary overtures of friendship) easily makes the cut. Freckled, redheaded Maple approaches Hawthorne with an idea for a do-over that goes awry—but leaves Hawthorne the Brigade’s new leader. Finding the organization’s day-to-day operations stagnant, Hawthorne whips the Brigade back into mischievous shape. But soon their efforts pay off beyond what they wanted, as the newly competent Brigade engages in evilness well beyond Hawthorne’s comfort zone. Since Hawthorne’s flirtation with villainy started this whole mess, it’s their responsibility to make things right, which includes coming to grips with thematic questions at the heart of the story. Tarrell’s portrayal of life in Idlewood—a charming combination of medieval fantasy standards and modern twists—includes plenty of humor while establishing pale-skinned, pink-haired Hawthorne’s angsty misfit relatability. Although the characters’ motivations aren’t particularly robust, the aesthetics and vibes—beautifully moody color palettes and expressive, active illustrations—make this fast-paced story compelling. The Brigade members and Idlewood residents are racially diverse.
A dynamic, funny read for emo days. (early character designs, process gallery, background designs) (Graphic fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: July 22, 2025
ISBN: 9781250839961
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty.
In this retelling of a classic, a drama student’s obsession with beauty leads her down a dark—and possibly deadly—path.
Eighteen-year-old Penny Paxton is beginning her first year at Dorian Drama Academy in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she hopes to follow in her starlet mother’s footsteps—and earn the love that her mother has never seemed to offer. At Dorian, Penny is mentored by Royal Shakespeare Company legend Orlagh Camran, who makes her the compelling offer of a portrait by the Masked Painter, a mysterious artist with the ability to gift his subjects everlasting youth and beauty. But shortly after Penny’s portrait is complete, several of the Masked Painter’s subjects are found murdered. Fearing that she’s made a terrible mistake and may become the next victim, Penny, who’s gay, begins to investigate the murders with the help of an unlikely ally. As she attempts to uncover the truth surrounding the Masked Painter and the murders, she’s forced to reckon with her own toxic obsession with beauty. This chilling, atmospheric novel, inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, is entertaining and full of twists, though some of the reveals feel contrived and some questions are left unanswered. The plot unravels at a leisurely pace but eventually builds to an action-packed (if somewhat convoluted) conclusion. Most characters are cued white.
An entertaining and atmospheric, though sometimes clumsy, exploration of the true cost of beauty. (content note, author’s note, bonus scene) (Fantasy thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9781250346797
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
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