I typically don’t read many graphic novels, but after reading an excerpt of Coven, written by Jennifer Dugan and illustrated by Kit Seaton, I could not wait to continue reading! Honestly, this book has convinced me that I need to read graphic novels more often!
The book is about Emsy, a young witch whose family moved away from her coven when she was young. She has a life, friends, and a girlfriend in California, but when tragedy strikes her coven in New York, her family forces her to move across the country. She soon learns that she is more powerful than she thought, but being part of a coven is not all fun and games.
Everything about this book was fantastic! When it was advertised as a queer fantasy graphic novel, I was interested because you don’t see that every day. The queer rep in the book really elevated the overall quality, and I loved that it was normalized within Emsy’s family and coven. While it is important to have books about coming out, it is equally important to have books that simply show queer people living life, and this book was a phenomenal example of the latter.
Furthermore, I enjoyed both the fantastical and mysterious elements of this novel. The magic system was compelling, and not too complicated. Watching Emsy discover more about her powers was fun, and it was endearing to see members of her coven teaching her more and being open with her.
Similarly, the friendships that Emsy developed were complex, personal, and inviting. She developed relationships with different dynamics, which added a lot to the story.
Finally, the illustrations in this novel were what really made it stand out. All of the drawings were well thought out and pretty consistent. Every now and then there would be a drawing that was simply breathtaking, and gave me chills.
As a whole, I will definitely be trying out more graphic novels in the future. I would love it if Dugan and Seaton decided to create a sequel to Coven because the book was truly fantastic!
The book is about Emsy, a young witch whose family moved away from her coven when she was young. She has a life, friends, and a girlfriend in California, but when tragedy strikes her coven in New York, her family forces her to move across the country. She soon learns that she is more powerful than she thought, but being part of a coven is not all fun and games.
Everything about this book was fantastic! When it was advertised as a queer fantasy graphic novel, I was interested because you don’t see that every day. The queer rep in the book really elevated the overall quality, and I loved that it was normalized within Emsy’s family and coven. While it is important to have books about coming out, it is equally important to have books that simply show queer people living life, and this book was a phenomenal example of the latter.
Furthermore, I enjoyed both the fantastical and mysterious elements of this novel. The magic system was compelling, and not too complicated. Watching Emsy discover more about her powers was fun, and it was endearing to see members of her coven teaching her more and being open with her.
Similarly, the friendships that Emsy developed were complex, personal, and inviting. She developed relationships with different dynamics, which added a lot to the story.
Finally, the illustrations in this novel were what really made it stand out. All of the drawings were well thought out and pretty consistent. Every now and then there would be a drawing that was simply breathtaking, and gave me chills.
As a whole, I will definitely be trying out more graphic novels in the future. I would love it if Dugan and Seaton decided to create a sequel to Coven because the book was truly fantastic!