This was a really fun graphic novel! The timeline was a little confusing, it switched to flashbacks and present day often and kind of jumped around a lot. Not everything was really well explained or gone to in depth, but overall it made sense.
After I got into the world of it, it was a really fun story, I liked Alec and Abby. For me, sometimes characters don't have much depth in graphic novels, but I think these characters were portrayed well and I felt like I connected with them. I liked Alec's diabetic rep, my best friend in school was diabetic, so I find it great when characters have real illnesses. It didn't take up a big portion of the book, but was portrayed accurately in my opinion. I also loved how Abby tried to get to know Alec even though he didn't want to reach out or talk to anyone.
The artwork was beautiful and amazingly colorful.
I really got into the story near the end. I'm really hoping that there is more to this story because I want to see what happens next!

I absolutely adore Maggie Stiefvater's books, Swamp Thing included! The story is exciting and gritty, paired with perfect illustrations. I love science experiments gone wrong, or maybe the results were exactly what Alec intended to achieve. Alec and Walker Holland are twins who have such a great dynamic and brotherly bond. I cannot wait to see what happens next in the second installment, this might just be my new favorite graphic novel series! I got major cult classic vibes with a little mix of Little Shop of Horrors, and just can't get enough.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

Rating: 2.5 stars

I seem to be in the minority here, but this graphic novel didn't work for me (but I definitely recommend checking out other reviews!)

The artwork is truly stunning, but the story and characters fell flat. I was pretty much confused throughout the whole thing, one scene would cut off, leaving me hanging, and then another scene would start with a massive time skip. The ending felt rushed and, again, super confusing to me. Literally nothing is explained in any depth whatsoever and I really didn't like any of the characters.

Overall, I would recommend checking this out if it sounds like something you would enjoy, unfortunately, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

The art of this graphic novel was different, great, very interesting. The plot, though, wasn't like I expected. I found myself often angry, at the "party twin", at the cousins, at the bullies. I hate bullies so much. Why couldn't his cousin stop the car for Alec to take his insulin? Why are people so mean? Why don't they care about others? So selfish and infuriating! I didn't like it at all. Oh, so this thing is making you feel sad, guess what I don't care I will keep doing it. Why??

The story was good, the characters made me shake my head multiple times. It was a bit weird at points. It's a weird graphic novel but the weird I'm referring to is the fact that nobody actually talked about things, always running to conclusions and always with the not caring attitude.

Will there be a next volume? I hope so, there's a lot of potential here!

As a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater’s work I knew I had to check that one out.

This story about twin brothers who couldn’t be more different was gorgeous and unique. I loved the dynamics between the twins and how they cared so much about each other even though they are so different. I absolutely loved the artwork and the colour pallete they used. It just fits the mood and the whole story so well and all the shades of green that represent the plants is just fantastic. That eerie atmosphere created in this graphic novel was beyond beautiful. But I have to admit I loved the amazing art much more than the general story.

I also was a bit disappointed with the ending. It somehow felt incomplete or like this is only the beginning of a series? I wouldn’t be surprised if we get another book. I would definitely pick it up though!

This was so much fun to read! I loved getting a chance to see a new sort of story from Maggie Stiefvater, and this was both exactly what I expected of her and like nothing I've read before. The art was utterly gorgeous, the story gripping and enthralling. I flew right through it and immediately wanted to read it again.

A new origin story for Swamp Thing, this story follows twins, Alec and Walker Holland. Complete opposites but the brotherly connection and love for one another absolute. Both are willing to do whatever for the other and will never abandon the other. After catching Alec and Walker catch their father cheating on their mom, they leave to spend the summer with their cousins. Alec isn't great with people. He doesn't understand them much, but he does understand plants and loves to do research. But when his plants are destroyed when they arrive at the swamp, he is devastated but determined to start over and see if he can fix the damage. His experiments are basically trying to capture the memories of plants. And the more experiments done, the weirder things get. I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Especially that it wasn't too long ago that I watched the new DC show, Swamp Thing. Though very different from this novel, it was nice to see a different interpretation of these characters from the original comics. Great story!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The art was interesting and different. The story panels can be a bit hard to follow at times, and the end felt incomplete. With more meat and potatoes, this plot could have made a great full length book. Overall entertaining, but I'm still not a fan of graphic novels.

Thank you to #NetGalley for providing a copy.

This new take on the Swamp Thing universe reflects the direction DC has taken in branching out with stories that speak to young adults in ways that expand fandom. The themes of self and identity echo in this book, and there is a grounded sense that isn’t disrupted by the moments of supernatural narrative.

The story is engaging, and the art is unique, organic, and attractive. These books belong in the hands of adolescent readers.

I cannot believe I’m rating a Maggie Stiefvater book two and a half stars. I just excepted more. The Art was really good, the plant life especially. The details were great. The story wasn’t terrible either, but I was expecting so much more. I was actually bored for almost the entire first half of the. Nothing exciting happened, well ever, but I was only mildly interested in the last half. .

I even liked the love interest and the dogs were pretty creepy, but I felt like that could have been condensed into 100 pages and been more concise and interesting. Ugh!!!!

I guess what I’m saying is that it wasn’t for me. It just fell flat when I really, really wanted this to be the best graphic novel. While I can’t recommend this myself, my advice is, if you’re going to read it, don’t expect it to be awesomeness.

Thank you to NetGalley and DC Comics for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I requested this book because it looked worth the read and I LOVE Maggie Stiefvater. I’m not usually a big graphic novel or superhero person, but I decided to give it a shot. Overall, I wasn’t disappointed.
TWIN BRANCHES was the tiniest bit confusing, partially because I read it on such a small screen and couldn’t see some words, but otherwise really good. Stiefvater applies her familiar technique to all of the writing of the novel, and despite being different from her other books, TWIN BRANCHES still has the same Maggie Stiefvater glow.
The art in this book was really beautiful. It suited the story so well and in some times was so wonderfully intricate that all I could do with my eyes was follow the lines.
I haven’t read any other DC books or comics besides WONDER WOMAN: WARBRINGER by Leigh Bardugo, so I can’t say how much fans of other SWAMP THING installments would like this, but fans of Maggie Stiefvater will not be disappointed!

I have to start by saying that I am both a big fan of Maggie Stiefvater and of DC, and seeing both come together in Swamp Thing like this was equally unexpected and fantastic.

At first I thought the art style wouldn't be for me, but I was wrong. 10 pages or so in, and I was in love with Morgan Beem's work as well. Especially the color palette that was chosen for this graphic novel. It is STELLAR! So bright, downright trippy at times - it perfectly underlines the whimsical atmosphere of the story (and all the GREEN!)

It was great getting to know both Alec and Walker; two very different yet equally lovable twin brothers, in this unique origin story, and my only wish would be for the ending to be slightly slonger.
Maybe another 10 or 20 pages to wrap things up and I'd had zero complaints at all. But then again, I'd gladly take.a follow up to continue the story as well.

I had really high expectations for this one. I love graphic novels and I'm a huge Maggie Stiefvater fan. To my dismay this was only a 3 out of 5 stars for me. I liked it, but I didn't love it. I wanted a bit more from this. I found I never really got attached to the characters and didn't care all that much about them. I did like the artwork. There were some nice frames about plant science. But overall, this was underwhelming. I think this was a classic case of it's me not you scenario; my expectations were just too high.

I have been on a graphic novels kick lately, so I couldn't wait to pick this copy up. The artwork is AMAZING. Serious drool-worthy things happening here. The relationship between the brothers was amazing. I loved the science speak. The progression of the story was great. The writing was amazing.

Overall, I have very few complaints. I love it, pick it up, eat it up, and then give it to your friends so we can all drool over it together!

*Thanks to the folks at Netgalley for an eARC*

This was a unique retelling of the origins of Swap Thing. I found the story arc to be very interesting and I enjoyed the development of the brothers. The art style was definitely unique and I really enjoyed the plant monsters. I liked the dynamic between the brothers and I enjoyed the unique plot. Overall, I found this to be an interesting comic and enjoyed reading it.
* Thank you Netgalley and DC Comics for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

EGADS! This book is so unusual and engaging. I found the twins very relatable. It was particularly refreshing to see a male teenage protagonist with crippling social anxiety.

Plants. Science. Belonging. Friendship. Brothers. Creepy friggin' plant creatures.

Everything about this was just such a welcome change of pace from everything else that I have been reading lately.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Swamp Thing follows twin brothers Alec and Walker Holland as they spend their last summer before college at their cousin's house in Virginia. Alec spends his time researching in a lab-he is a plant nerd, and Walker tries to get him out of his shell by attempting to get him involved in the social scene. As time goes by, it becomes clear that Alec's experiment has unintended consequences.

Let's start with the art! It is beautiful and eerie and compelling. It is very legible and does an excellent job conveying the tone and emotions of the story.

The story is also compelling; it does a good job making you care about the characters quickly and sets up the stakes and information about the world very well. My only issue was that some of the later on plot details felt like the needed a bit more time of adequately build; we are introduced to a mystery that is solved almost immediately after it is introduced, and I would have liked the end to be a bit longer because it felt quick. Also, disclaimer, I knew nothing about Swamp Thing coming into this, so I cannot comment on Stiefvater's specific approach in comparison.

Overall I think this was a fun, quick read that anyone who likes Maggie Stiefvater, sibling stories, or graphic novels that you will fly through.

First I have to admit that I don’t usually read graphic novels often, and know absolutely nothing about Swamp Thing but I’ll read just about anything Maggie Stiefvater writes. I enjoyed this!. It’s the perfect amount of weird and spooky but also with a deeper story of the twin brothers.

The story is about two brothers. Twin brothers who are very different from each other. Alec is the nerdy, introverted, sensitive, plant obsessed twin, While Walker is the loud, fun, outgoing Twin. Both are carrying around wounds they won’t let the other see. When their dad is discovered cheating on their Mother they decide to spend the summer in the country with their cousins.

The art is creepy and dark and weird. Perfect for Swamp Thing with it’s creepy plant dogs and talking plants. It’s immersive and you really feel as though you’re there. There needs to be more because it ended really quickly and I need to know what happens!

"Plants have long been underestimated. Their intelligence put down to instinct, downplayed to enforce a human-centric world. But plants have lives of secret drama and insight..."

5/5 stars!

Wow! I can honestly say that this wasn't what I was expecting from a Swamp Thing graphic novel, but it is certainly what I should have expected from a Maggie Stiefvater novel.

This book is about Alec Holland, whose always felt at home with plants rather than people. The summer before college, he and his twin brother decide to stay with their cousins to avoid their cheating father and spend time together. But when Alec's experiments have unforeseeable effects on the local flora and fauna, he begins to understand everything his research is capable of.

First thing, it terms of character development, I thought all the side characters were okay. No one really stood out, but I did love Alec and Walker. The two had a great sibling dynamic that I've come to love from Maggie Stiefvater, who always writes such great ones. They both cared so much for each other despite being so different. So different in a way that it's something that doesn't escape either of them.

Walker is so sweet and open, but often forgets to slow down. Alec is pensive and caring, but can almost never really reach out. Needless to say, I was fascinated. Abby was also nice, I wish there was more to her, but it is very short so I get that there wasn't a lot of room for it.

I also just want to point out that the book constantly uses the science of plants as direct allegory for what is happening with the characters and this is now my kink. I loved it so much, the art was especially beautiful during these parts and I really love how it told the story.

Last thing! This book, at times, is very cute. However, the majority of the book was more like a very kind horror movie. Think a cottage-core vibes meets The Fly in the way the suspense builds with all the hints toward the chaos that will come. I was very freaked out multiple times. Some of the scenes or even the art was very creepy and I wasn't initially expecting it. I thought it was awesome and definitely worked for the book, but take care.

To add to this, I want to say that the art specifically, occasionally falls into body horror-type images, which isn't everyone's cup of tea. Overall though, I thought it was really interesting and definitely an original take on all things Swamp Thing.

TL;DR: A very creepy, but sincere take on Swamp Thing and his origins. I really loved the methods of storytelling and the art is so interesting and vibrant, if not at times, terrifying. Perfect for long time fans and new readers alike.

"Twins Alec and Walker Holland have a reputation around town. One is quiet and the other is the life of any party, but they are inseparable. For their last summer before college, the two leave the city to live with their rural cousins, where they find that the swamp holds far darker depths than they could have imagined.
While Walker carves their names into the new social scene, Alec recedes into a summer school laboratory, because he brought something from home on their trip—it’s an experiment that will soon consume him. This season, both brothers must confront truths, ancient and familial, and as their lives diverge, tensions increase and dormant memories claw to the surface." —Goodreads

Recently, I wrote a review for an ARC of "Teen Titans: Beast Boy" from DC comics. While I have always been a huge fan of DC, I haven't delved into the comic book/graphic novel side of the fandom. Which is why I was so excited to receive these two ARCS for review.

I do admit, "Swamp Thing: Twin Branches" did not resonate with me quite like "Beast Boy" did, though I did still enjoy it. Stiefvater brilliantly explains the creation of Swamp Thing; however, the constant time skips within such a small graphic novel came across as jarring. The constant jumping around did not allow me to enjoy the story as much as I would have liked. While "Beast Boy" had some elements of timeskips, it was done seamlessly, while "Swamp Thing" wanted to explore an entire summer worth of events within a few pages. Understandably, the timeskips were to show the growth of Alec's science experiments, but for some reason did not seem to work.

Despite this, the emotion behind the novel was relatable and enjoyable. With every sibling relationship, Alec and Walker must accept the fact that they have grown to enjoy different things and in the process, have grown apart. While the brothers acknowledge their differences and are faced with having to accept these differences and set them aside to hold onto their relationship, outside forces threaten to teat them apart. As someone with three older siblings all in very different stages of life than I am, I truly felt the emotions coming from the twins. The emotion also coming from Alec's introverted and antisocial tenancies resonates with anyone who struggles to fit in with the crowd. Stiefvater truly creates a memorable and relatable world in which DC fans old and new will absolutely enjoy.