I can't belive that this graphic novel was able to keep me glued to the screen to finish reading it.

People know Amparo as a little delinquent. But Amparo likes Iolanthe, she didn't likes them the same way... after a bad "date" Amparo came back home and a talking cat offers to grant one wish. They have to offer up a drop of blood. Suddenly the cat muted his aspect an became Amparo. He stole the their life and future.

On the other hand, Amparo are banished to some place called the Bright World. A strange world without rules, where there is animals' domination and humans are treated as "servants". Here, Amparo can survive due to the work at Mimi's local.
A fashinating - and kinda creepy - character is Amparo’s patron, El Ciervo. EL CIERVO! I could dream about it and see the blue eyes creeping me out.

On Heart Iolanthe - that in the meantimes dates the "fake" Amparo - started noticing that something is not quite right with Amparo... and suddenly Amparo disappeared?

I loved the palette of this GN. The vivid colors used for Bright World, the illustrations are amazing.

You can certainly see Amparo as a nonbinary teen. The LGBTQ+ representation in this graphic novel is actually soft and I liked it so much.

The book ended on a very bad cliffhanger and I really cannot wait to the read the next book.

I honestly did not know what to expect from this book based on the blurb, but I requested it because it was about queer characters and looked weird, and that's right up my alley.

I ended up reading it all in almost a single sitting, and I'm obsessed! Amparo is a fantastic character: tough, snarky, deeply caring, and flawed but definitely still someone you root for. I love their vibrant character, and how they fight to maintain their sense of self throughout all the fantastical things that happen to them.

I don't really want to spoil things, so I'll speak more generally. From a worldbuilding standpoint, Bright World is incredibly creepy, and absolutely fascinating. Every detail intrigues me more and more, and the art makes it even more stunning. Another review compared it to Spirited Away, and I totally agree; while the art style and story are different, the themes (losing one's name and identity but finding oneself, fighting to escape an other world to return to those one loves) and the vibe (beautiful, atmospheric, super creepy) are similar, and in a way that I love.

The characters are all fantastic; everyone is interesting, if not always likeable, and most characters, even the cat who steals Amparo's name and life, have enough depth that you can at least sympathize with them a little. The romance is charming, but not the focus; rather, it's enjoyable to see a story where queer identity is a part without being the focus, normalized but not glossed over.

The incorporation of Spanish words and references to (I'm assuming, because I read it in another review) Mexican culture are also really cool, and definitely contribute to the overall mood.

All in all, this is the kind of book that queer kids need, and that queer kids deserve. I didn't start seeking out queer lit until college, and before then I didn't even know it existed because you had to look to find it. This hits both my love of weird fantasy and my love of positive LGBTQ+ representation, and it makes me incredibly happy to know that more and more books like this are being published.

I'll end this review by saying that I don't often track down Netgalley books to buy, but I'm already so excited to buy and read Volume 2 when it comes out!

The hairless cat on the cover of this graphic novel is what initially drew me in and omg did I get more than I bargained for. First, the colors and illustrations are so beautiful. Second, wtf did I just read?! This was creepy, dark, and mysterious. I can’t wait to read more!

Amparo is suspended from school as he pulled the fire alarm.  He wants to not be a prankster but he is.  He’s fallen for Iolanthe who is interested in getting good grades.  A cat appears on Amparo’s windowsill and offers him a chance to be “good.”  He. Agreees but finds himself in Bright World which is a terrifying land in between earth and what lies beyond.  Bright World has creatures that live on humans and uses their memories as currency.  Amparo is indentured to a cafe owner who gives him the name “Paola.”  But then he finds a new master, El Ciervo who is a creepy doctor that specializes in medical procedures on humans.  His new master names him Fawn.  The cat who took over Amparo’s body and life is enjoying living on earth.  Amparo knows he must figure out how to escape Bright World but will he?  Can he?

Amparo appears to me as a nonbinary person — not just queer and Latix, while Iolanthe is Black.  Bright World is very well developed making it seem like a real place.  My summary of this book only “scratches the story of this graphic novel.  There are two stories.  It shows what is happening on earth as well as Bright World.  There are many panels in Spanish.  The pacing of the novel is well done.  The colors are bright.  I enjoyed the creepiness of this story that is filled with adventure, mysteries and romance.  The ending is a cliffhanger making me want to read the next book.

*Thank you to NetGalley and OniPress for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

!!!SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!

Wow. I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this graphic novel, but I was pleasantly surprised, if not slightly weirded out. In a good way. This story is only just beginning, but I can see the potential. The 250ish pages of this graphic novel were over really quickly, and I look forward to the next installment.

I gave it four stars because I haven’t formed any emotional connection to the characters, but that’s not reflective of the author in any way, that’s on me. However, I always found myself rooting for Amaparo and Iolanthe, and was constantly wondering what would happen to Amaparo/Fawn/whatever their name is currently. I hope they are able to return home and that evil deer man El Ciervo leaves them ALONE. LET THEM LIVE IN PEACE. Iolanthe, the ‘sapphically inclined person’ as described in the graphic novel, is an awesome character, who goes through so much development in such a short arc and I am looking forward to seeing where author takes her. 

The strange, alternative timeline of Bright World is very intriguing. In future volumes, I am excited to see where the author take us readers, because the vibrant colours and real life influences make for a dark, seedy world where humans are subservient to the animal/monster hybrids who are the first-class citizens. It’s differentiated from ‘our’ reality by a green tinge, which is a fab addition by the artist that I think really draws home the contrast between the two worlds. The currency of Bright World is memories, names and experiences of the humans that the animals barter to control and take ownership of the humans. As you do. The fact that it runs alongside the real life world and time works differently made the intrigue and mystery of the situation so much more thrilling. Honestly, I was wondering what would happen next. The plotting, therefore, was a tad confusing in small places, but on the whole, pretty solid and consistent. 

Please check the trigger warnings I will list below, because this graphic novel isn’t overly violent, but does contain some aspects that might be upsetting to some readers. Recommendation: Author maybe putting a content warning at the start of the graphic novel, considering the things that happen during the course of the graphic novel. Only so their readers are aware of the potentially triggering content for them. Just a thought.

The art style is vibrant, colourful, and the text is just the right size to be readable. Well done author for creating such an aesthetically pleasing book that adds to the creepiness of the whole story. 

There was a slight case of insta-love that kinda threw me off and the fact that Iolanthe was seduced by the cat form of Amparo…yeah. That was something if not hilarious and slightly concerning. Also, the generously gifted necklace of fingers was something I did not expect, but it got Amparo out of a sticky situation, so that was advantageous.

Concluding thoughts: I WANT MORE OF THE LESBIAN MAFIA. The evil cat is not in my good books. El Ciervo is a scary animal. Genuinely terrifying. Love the introduction of diversity and representation. Pretty colours. Great start to the story, excited to see where it continues in the next volumes.

Did I mention this book has representation? Things that are canon: non-binary, queer MC, black sapphic female side character/LI, gay character and a whole bunch of introduced LESBIANS. Gimme more of that please. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Misgendering, violence/deliberate body mutilation, swearing and mentions of alcohol.

A great, enjoyable, creepy read that anyone who is a fan of morally grey animals (and just morally grey humans, because let’s face it, everyone apart from Amparo’s aunt is a bad person in some way), unreliable narrators, burgeoning friendships and scary adventures, will enjoy. Onto the next one, when it releases. Thank you for reading and I’ll see you soon with my next review :)

I loved the artwork in this comic so much. The vibrant colors are amazing. The story starts out a little cheesy and I did not expect to enjoy it, but I ended up falling in love with this comic and I hope to read more soon.

I wanted to like this so much! I always love love love WLW stories, especially comics and graphic novels. This one just fell flat for me though, I guess. I think it was more so the artwork than the story itself? The artwork felt harsh and hard on the eyes, and it just wasn't something that I enjoyed. Other than that, the story itself was enjoyable and cute, but not memorable or standout. I'd more so give it 2.5 stars than 3, but I don't wanna go as low as 2 stars. It was just very average and almost meh.

Wow. Wow. Wow, Omg. Wow. Going into this I was not expecting to have a story with so many twists and turns. Amparo, first off is on my list of my favorite nonbinary characters that I've interacted with in media. They  radiate/exudes the energy of not my favorite type of characters (ie strong willed, humans that plow through plots). Instead  you see how a "shifty character" goes through  a world that is filled with already shifty characters. The Bright World is where most of the story takes place  and its filled with monsters and creatures that are here to be shifty and doing what they can to survive, constantly changing the rules to help themselves and no one else.  This graphic novel has some unique art that isn't usually used in graphic novels and I find it quite enjoyable especially when it comes to the Bright World itself. This will keep readers on your toes (as someone who normally guesses plots before they happen) I could never keep up with what would happen next! Beautiful work!

ARC kindly received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

This bizarre graphic novel takes on a journey through a parallel world full of monsters that like to eat humans. 

I really wanted to love this. However ....it just fell a little flat. The storyline was bizarre. Now I like bizarre, however this was too odd even for me. It felt a little all over the place and overly complex. The artwork was nice enough but the lines felt a little thick. 

I did start to get into it a little towards the end, maybe I would try the second volume? 
2/5

I have no idea why I never heard of this webcomic before?! 
When I was specifically looking for queer webcomics?! 

I'm half glad I didn't as the colour in this is absolutely beautiful. Bright Lands is a fantastical world and we are just dropped in and immersed, we learn alongside Amparo what it is and the rules there. 

I really loved it, I loved the art style, the colours, I loved the use of untranslated Spanish (most of which I was able to understand...go me), I loved the premise. I loved our characters and learning more about them. I love our main character and how they are still struggling with their gender identity rather than a "this is who I am" without that being what the story is about.


I felt the story lost me for a little while in the third quarter, so it wasn't quite a 5 star for me. 

Now I need to decide whether to catch up with the black and white webcomics or wait until a colourised volume 2.

I got a e-copy from Netgalley's "Read Now"

Oh gosh look at the cover design !! It's beautiful, eye catching and colorful. I didn't even bother to read the book synopsis before deciding to read it. 

I would like to apologize if I am mistaken with the non-binary pronouns. 

Oh Amparo, you have it bad for Lolanthe!! Alright, I see how opposite Lolanthe and Amparo is with each other. It's very interesting how each of them are quite opposite in their personality, character and interest. I find this very interesting. 

A talking cat casually walks in Amparo's room and makes a deal, wow! Amparo is extremely trusting of a cat that wants to grant wishes with blood trade. Anything involving a blood trade/contract is bad news!!

The Bright World is amazing, full of fantasy like tropical plants and unusual creatures. Creatures who are very sinister and manipulative. Bright World is not a good place for humans, apparently Minion human is not eaten and works for a sponsor but a Morsal human is edible and does not have a sponsor. Lucky thing Amparo is street smart and was able to talk herself out of a tense situation.  However, Miss Mimi is one step ahead of her always, she is a double edged sword!

Reading this comic/GN remind me of the anime movie "Spirited Away" Because it somewhat felt like that, traveling to an alternate reality and forgetting her identity along the way. Not to mention all the wonderful creatures she meets along the way some is human friendly while others is out to get you. So far the story is great and kept you interested in the Amparo's experiences in the Bright World. 

If I must complain, it would be the lack of surprise and panic portrayed by Amparo with all the magical creatures he meet in the fantasy world. He just didn't see very surprised to have made a deal with a cat or that he is now in a fantasy Bright World. I find that to be slightly weird. While the artwork is amazing, at times the story seem to progress very slow and the artwork can be quite overwhelming and I find myself loosing interest in the story plot. I guess one being it focused a lot on Amparo rather than a balance of two world. 

This GN is very long and when we reach the end, I felt like there are so many questions yet to answer. Perhaps this will be answered in the next vol.

4.5/5
This was so interesting! I want to read all the volumes now!

Queer non-binary teenager Amparo made a deal with a talking cat: a drop of blood and their name in exchange of becoming a better person. But when the cat takes their shape and they are sent to another place called Bright World they fight to find a way back while the cat steals their life.

This graphic novel is really interesting as I said, it's full of plot twists, it's funny and it's fascinating. Bright World is a strange place and it has its own rules, it's amazing (bit scary though!).

I really like the idea of the story, another world or dimension (not really sure yet) where there are lots of creatures and almost no humans.

Also, it's so colorful! The art and the colors were wonderful!

There's so much intrigue that it keeps you reading until you finish it! I was watching the pages get closer to the end but then it ended!! There were more pages but the story was over! I really need the next volume cause I need to know everything.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the digital ARC of The Hazards of Love Volume 1!

The Hazards of Love follows queer, non-binary teenager Amparo as they try to find a way to turn their life around. Rather than putting in the hard work, Amparo strikes a deal with a cunning, talking cat. 

A drop of blood later and we are in the Bright World. An amazing, colourful place inspired by Mexican culture. The artwork of the Bright World is beautiful, rich and quite literally a Bright World. You can see how the author has used her Mexican heritage and poured it in to her work. 

I really, really, really enjoyed this graphic novel. It was like a breath of fresh air for me. The concept was so unique, and to make it even better- it was queer. 

The idea of a world on the other side of the veil inhabited by superior animals was a wonderful concept for me. I really got invested in Amparo and how they were going to get back to their world, Mother and girlfriend. 

This book was really fun, it had some fantastic twists and really was a one-of-a-kind story. I am already looking forward to the next instalment, and I plan on buying myself a hard copy of this novel when it is published. 

I will be posting my review on goodreads, my bookstagram (Instagram @lostinthepaiges) and in my private Facebook book club

What a weird little one. I did not expect this when I asked for this book on Netgalley. Don’t get me wrong, it’s positively weird and I quite liked it, I just don’t know how to express my feelings about this graphic novel.
First of all, the cast is really diverse and the story is quite easy to follow. The only difficulty is getting into this new universe and understanding how it works. I mean, this is difficult because even the main character is struggling with this. Then, the drawings are very nice and colourful. The only kind of negative point for me is that there is so much on each page, it’s difficult to see and pay attention to everything. The story is very original, I don’t think I have ever read something like that before. It is spooky, and mysterious but also funny, magical and there is a touch of friendship that links it all and makes it great. The characters are all very different, it’s very interesting. The author does a great job at making them come alive. 
I really want to read the next book in the series. I want to know what happens and how Amparo will get out of this mess. I recommend this book to fantasy and graphic novel lovers.
3.5/5

Just a truly touching and lovely story. The art style is amazing! I was hooked from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting. I can’t wait to see what else the author comes out with. I’d love to have this graphic novel as part of my collection.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this one so though I would pick it up. The art style was vibrant and punchy and had me instantly enjoying it but I did find the story a little hard to get into. It starts with action off the bat and the introduction of Bright World is like being thrown in head first. This made it a little hard for me to understand at first, but as the story goes on we learn along with the main character as they navigate it and it definitely picks up. The second half was more and more enjoyable as it went along and I was a little bummed when I reached the end. Though the first half definitely was slow for me, I would be eager to read the next volume to see what happens!

3.5/5

"The Hazards of Love" by Stan Stanley wasn't what I expected. I was expecting it to be a teenage coming of the age love story. Instead, It's a fantasy induced graphic comic, which draws various parallels with the human world. It's a story of two worlds, the Human World and the magical world. It was quite interesting to see the free-flowing imagination of the author with the 'magical' world. I like how she explores the nuances of the two worlds. The magical world is not an evil world where humans are not welcomed, and if any human is trapped there by mistake, they have to work as slaves like workers to get by. 

The protagonist, Amparo, is stuck in the magical world. He is trying to get back to the human world and return to his family. It's fun to read about his ways to achieve the same. The fantastical elements of the books blended with the beautiful colorful illustrations make this an enjoyable read. I would be looking forward to the next volume.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this graphic novel! It has a very interesting premise that I haven’t seen before. It’s fun, wildly colourful, surprising, and diverse! I was pleasantly surprised to find how queer this book is. It is full of LGBTQ+ representation, as well as BIPOC characters! The characters were likeable and interesting. I would definitely like to keep reading to find out what happens.

A beautifully illustrated graphic novel, with the scenes set in The Bright World being particularly vibrant and eye-catching. An exciting premise and intriguing characters, however the plot was slightly difficult to follow for a little while in the middle. But I would definitely recommend this, and will be interested to read further volumes to find out how Amparo's journey continues.

<b> The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </b>

3/5

The stunning art and writing is done by Stan Stanley (I like this name, bonus points) and the design is by Sarah Rockwell. I find it hard to comment on the art, it's something you either like or dislike. In this case, I liked it. 
I'm not an art critic. I review books. I did an art history class in high school, so that's why I don't really comment on it unless I think I really know what I am talking about.

The story was odd but interesting? I went into it thinking like '''Aw, a queer romance, cute'' but this was more than that. Suddenly I was captivated by a story, an odd one that's for sure, but I was captivated. I loved the cover of issue 6 and 10 in the book. So beautiful!

Interesting to see how it continues!