The first volume covers the first season of Webtoon. There is no epic story, but I didn't mind that at all, as the author focuses more on the world and the characters as a set-up. Our protagonist, Callie, lives with her father on the border of two worlds, but one day her dad goes missing and she and her friend Declan from the real world start investigating. But it's no coincidence that Callie hasn't been able to set foot outside the village in the Wizarding World until now.

I really liked the implementation. My only disagreement is perhaps with the first chapter, where we see Callie as a young child, which can be quite misleading as to what happens next. The flashbacks in the volume, on the other hand, had me hooked, especially the way the plant spirits frame the whole thing. We also get montages to pass the time, so it didn't feel like everything was condensed into a few days. While we get less depth of field in the images, the birds eye perspective that pops up in places really made it special.

For me, it was the ghosts of the plants left in the world because of unfinished business that took the lead. It may all seem a bit absurd at first, because what is a dandelion, for example, to be offended by. The giant tree ghost crying about being cut down is more understandable, although it does look rather funny with its shapely butt and its whimsy of watching people sleep. Of them Raddish stands out who becomes Callie's number one guardian protector. He's jealous of Declan at first, but then a mutual "enemy" brings them together.

There are a surprising number of references to The Lord of the Rings, including Legolas, Pippin and Rivendell, but there are also references to Superman and Spider-Man. All of this makes for some rather comical scenes, as the inhabitants of the wizarding world are not familiar with them, but Callie and Declan use them as a sort of inside joke.

I had a great time reading this graphic novel. There was action, drama, suspense and a few surprises as this story moved along. While this adventure moves forward some shocking secrets came to the surface. As this story comes to a close it is clear the adventure has only just begun.

**SUPER SPOILER DETAILED SUMMARY**

Nothing Special Vol. 1 Through the Elder Woods by Katie Cook is a hilarious, cute, fantasy adventure with some romance! It has it all!

Callie is a human who lives with her Dad, a Daemon, who owns a shop that sells magical items. In a town that is in between the human world and the magic world, her dad has never allowed her to go into the magical realm on his adventures. She has always seen little ghost spirits of “beings” around her. On her 17th birthday she crashes, literally, into a classmate Delcan who has known her since kindergarten but she has never noticed. She has always hated going to human school and for all those years ignored everyone and never made any friends. Delcan, reveals that he can see the spirits too and they end up becoming friends.

One day they go to her dad’s shop and find it ransacked and he is missing. Using a blood oath necklace she realizes they have to cross into the fantasy realm to find her father. Along the way we can tell Declan and Cal have become a lot closer and have romantic feelings for each other.
In the magical world, the little spirits are drawn closer to Cal and swarm her. They meet a very sassy Radish ghost who claims that Cal belongs to him now and will protect “his lady.” Radish is the best. Cute, sassy, loyal, and absolutely hates Declan for being so close with Cal.

They continue their quest, meeting other spirits along the way, and going through several hilarious and cute montages of their adventure. After almost dying from falling off a huge hill,Callie is rescued from falling by Declan who flew down to save her. He has wings! He is a fairy! After their brush with death, they run into Lasser, a magical being who resembles a demon nymph. He finds himself quite charming, and is pretty obnoxious. He snaps Callie away to his home and says they are going to get married so he can go higher up in the family ranks. Callie doesn’t understand how that will help until Lasser reveals to her that she is not a human, she is a Muse. After Callie refuses and literally slaps him, Lasser takes her back to the sad Radish and Declan. Lasser decides to join the party to help find her Dad. Through the Elder Woods they go!

They find her Dad’s body encased in a tree. The tree comes to life as a Tree Nymph and we find out that the tree spirit is Callie’s mother! Her “mother” is pretty insane, and likes to capture spirits to decorate her tree as glowing orbs. Radish jumps in to protect Callie and ends up being killed! Noooooo!!!! Callie ends up killing her mom to save everyone.

The story ends with all of them, including the new employee, Lasser, back in her Dad’s shop as Callie and her Dad set off on a new adventure to find more magical items. After they leave, Lasser points out that they are going to a place where his brother is. A dangerous brother…who would love to claim Callie for her abilities as Muse. They panic and run off to find Callie and her father.

P.S. Radish reincarnates as a new Radish in Declan’s salad

Stay tuned for Vol. 2

I adored the world and background of this graphic novel so much that I actually did a little happy dance when I found out that the story continues. The main characters in this - Callie, Declan, Lasser, and Radish - are pretty fun, quirky, and interesting and their adventure in this is definitely one to follow. With it being pretty mild, this is great for middle school aged kids on up, although some of the jokes are a little more adult so if you’re on the stricter side, you may want to pre-screen. I’d trust my kiddo with it though. Overall, definitely a fun read.

I would like to thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Okey… didn’t expect to love this first volume this much. So cute but at the same time so dark, the mistery gets your attention but the main characters are the ones who makes you want to stay reading non stop. They have such a beautiful relationship. The drawing in my opinion is 10/10 and can’t wait to read more.

Summary:

All her life, Callie has been told never to cross the boundary. But the day her father goes missing is the day she'll have to disobey his only rule – it's her only chance to save him. Luckily, Callie isn't alone. She has her friend, Declan, and a friendly radish spirit to keep her company.

Nothing Special was originally a Webtoon (It still is, really), but now the first season is available for readers who prefer a hard copy.

Review:

I'm not gonna lie – I've been meaning to dig into Nothing Special for WAY too long. So, obviously, I was thrilled when I saw that Nothing Special Vol. 1 was on the publication lineup. It's the perfect excuse to get caught up (in theory).

Nothing Special Vol. 1 is a fun and sweet comic. I adore the friends-to-lover trope, especially as portrayed here. The characters and the plot are also a lot of fun. While a fair bit of danger is involved, it never hits that point of being overwhelming, you know? As such, it's a solid read for most age groups.

I bet most people come out of Nothing Special with a favorite character. For me, that's probably Radish. They're hilarious and a fantastic comedic relief for the series. I hope Radish stays forever (sorry, Declan, I know you're not Radish's favorite person).

Read Nothing Special Vol. 1 if you're hoping to dive into a fun adventure with limitless potential.

Highlights:
Middle-Grade Graphic Novel
Fantasy
Magic & Critters

A big thank you to Ten Speed Press for sending me an advanced copy of this book!

This comic is light and fun and so so so cute!
I originally read this comic when it was coming out weekly on Webtoon. Webtoon and I used to be very close until they started to add pay walls. When I was still a frequenter of the app, Katie's story was one of my favorites to read. I immediately read the newest chapter the moment she posted it.
I am so happy to see it coming out in print form. Katie Cook is a genius of adding in cute pop culture references in a story that is mostly about magical lands and creatures. It allows the story to be lightly anchored in reality so the reader can to relate to Callie and Declan. You feel like their friends and not just a bystander observing a story.

The art is beautiful and whimsical! They characters are fun and loveable! What more could you ask for?

Thanks Katie! I love the story and can't wait to support you in the future!

I also can not wait to see the next addition of the story, especially because I haven't read that one yet!

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Nothing Special, Volume One by Katie Cook was something special after all. It reads like a middle grade to young adult fantasy graphic novel and follows our friends Callie and Declan and a radish with attitude as they cross into a magical realm to find her missing father. This graphic novel has magic, and mystery, and lots of heart, the art was really cute, AND it was unique, a hard trait to come by these days. Solid recommend, can't wait for the next installment. Please give this a try!

I didn'y know that this Webtoon existed. If I had known, I would have read it sooner. It has become one of my favourites. I need to continue reading their story ASAP.
In love with the radish that is their companion.

So adorable. And strong. Add in a bumbling dad and it’s perfect. Already excited for the next installment; hopefully Radish is already hard at work.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an early copy of this fun graphic novel!

While its official release date is today, I remember reading this as a webcomic years ago and having so much fun with its weekly updates. So, it was a lovely surprise to see it in the catalog for requests. I had to see where this story ended up after losing track of my Webtoons account.
The formatting change from a scroll style to graphic novel pages was done so well. I read it like a webtoon for my copy just to keep the nostalgic feel to it. And the chapter number placing is so smooth that I almost missed noticing them until chapter 4. The way friendship and adventure montages are drawn makes it a lot of fun to read.

It was an absolute joy getting to read this again, things moved a lot quicker than I remembered for plot twists and reveals, especially the first reveal regarding Declan. The relationship between Callie and Declan as they searched for her father also moved fast but with the contrast of Lassar and Radish also trying to get Callie’s attention, it just makes things a little silly while still interesting as it got darker towards the end.

Katie Cook works for a lot of my favorite projects and now gives us this amazing fantasy journey with fantastic characters. I love the artwork, we can feel that she loves her story and characters. The story is filled with comedy, chibi, and an overload of cuteness. I hope to get a physical copy of this one because I want to open it on a random page and smile during overwhelming days. The characters all have things to reveal, to discover, with magic, fae, evil fae, hilarious scenes adventures, and romance. I love every time that Declan and Lasser interact. For anime, manga, and fantasy lovers.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this e-arc.

This is a super cute graphic novel that follows Callie whose dad owns a magical antique shop. She doesn't know who her mom is and grows up thinking she's nothing special. Her dad has one important rule: she cannot cross the town gate because it enters into a magical realm. But when she turns 17 years old and goes home with her friend, Declan, they discover her dad is missing. This forces them to enter the magical world to save him. Along the way they encounter a radish ghost and another unlikely sidekick who both fall in love with Callie. In fact, everyone in the magical realm seems drawn to Callie. Along their adventure Callie and Declan find out they are more special than they ever thought. And that they even have romantic feelings for each other. The graphics in this book really brought the story to life. The characters are loveable and fun to watch on their journey. Definitely recommend! Thank you NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I loved this adorable graphic novel and I know my students will too. It reminded me a lot of Lightfall which is one of my favorite graphic novels. I loved the hero’s journey aspect of the story and the allusions to other hero stories like Lord of the Rings and Spider-Man. Callie and Declan, along with Radish and the rest of the cast, go on a great adventure to find Callie’s dad. The illustrations are also beautiful!

Incredibly fun and cute graphic novel! I love the characters and story of this one and Vol 1 was such a great length to really get in to meat of this fantasy-realism mixed plot. I absolutely love the little spirits, Radish is the best of the best! All the characters are sweet and enjoyable and I will definitely keep reading to see more of this world that Cook has created!

I loved this book and can't wait for volume two. The story pulled me in right away, there were some surprising twists and turns, and the art was excellent. I'd recommend this book for all public library collections.

I am absolutely obsessed. I honestly cannot wait to continue reading this in the Webtoon app because I need more of Callie, Declan, Lasser, and ESPECIALLY RADISH. If you’re looking for a wholesome, cute, adventure book, this is the way to go! Volume 1 was filled with precious scenes between our mains Callie and Declan (and might I say the SHIP HAS SAILED), various mythologies and references for all fantasy fans, and of course a twist no one saw coming. I love that it ended by rounding out the story and getting you pumped up for the next one. Plus, the sketchbook and Radish’s notes at the end we so cute! Thank you so much Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

EEEEEP!! I’m SO excited!!

I once reviewed Katie Cook's <i>Nothing Special</i>, a comic series that I’d read on the Webtoon platform, and very explicitly stated that the only complaint I had about the series was the fact that I could not purchase a physical copy of it as a graphic novel. This egregious oversight has now been corrected!

<i>Nothing Special</i> is a story about a teenage girl who has always felt like somewhat of an outcast in the human world and prefers to talk to the spirits of plants all non-humans can see than the humans around her. Callie Benson's life changes when one of her fellow students begins seeing the plant spirits as well and realizes that she knows what they are. And when her father suddenly goes is kidnapped, Callie and her new best friend, Declan Hickey, set off on a dangerous adventure to find and rescue him.

Despite the somewhat dark nature of Callie's father's disappearance—there was a mild amount of blood on the walls!—<i>Nothing Special</i> is actually an incredibly cute comic and story. The macabre of the tale is handled in such a way that it’s kind of more cute than anything else. The flow of the tale and the adorable cartoonish quality of the artwork allows for the dark aspects and characters to come off as rather light-hearted in the most fascinating of ways. And best of all, you fall in love with the characters super quickly.

From Callie, to Declan, to Raddish, and even to Lasser—whom you do initially sort of hate; but don't worry, he really grows on you!—everyone in this wonderful series is so easy to adore. Honestly, I'd be really surprised if anyone could legitimately say that they don't love the amazing personalities that lead the adventures held within the pages of this book.

The story is episodic in nature, a rather quick and brilliant read, complete with light-hearted darkness and a wonderful cutesy feel to it. You leave this book eager for the sequel, but also feeling as though the main plot is wrapped up quite nicely in a very sparkly and swirly bow.

I happened to love this story <i>so much</i> when I first found it online that in the span of two months, I’d already read it more than five times. So, naturally, I was more than thrilled to see it on NetGalley and even more excited to submit multiple preorders (gifts, anyone?—and I’ve even already recommended it to a student who loves both magic, fairies, and the macabre!).

I would highly encourage, especially if the artwork looks like it could be your style, to pick this one up and give it a read. I’m of the mind that it’s a choice impossible to regret!

<i>I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review—and it was as brilliant as I remember it being!</i>

I love this book so much!! The story is ADORABLE! The graphics are incredible! Yet another beautiful wonderful whimsical magical graphic novel I fell in love with from the start and just want to “blue skadoo” into the pages and live there forever! I especially love the way the book portrays plants. Very important message to learn from that. Bonus points: It felt like I was living in a cute little video game. I was so immersed in this fantasy world, I could read it again and again! I even laughed out loud multiple times. I’ve never genuinely laughed out loud from a book before and this one did it for me. It was funny and heartwarming at the same time. (Make sure you read everything in the background of every picture! Some of the signs are hilarious) I love everything about this book. The only thing I don’t love is that I don’t own a physical copy. I received an ARC copy from netgalley but I want the physical book in my hands now! I’ll definitely be getting the physical copy when it comes out. “Nothing special” is definitely something special! ✨