Coven by Jennifer Dugan was/is my mot anticpaited reads of the year and it didn't disapointed me! It was so good and since it was a graphic novel I read it in one sitting. It follows our main character name Emily (who also goes by esmy) and we follow her in this small town setting as she is forced to moved back to where her parents grew up because their coven is under attack... It was so good and there's a love triangle and a mysterious boy that we have to figure out and of course even though this was a contemporary/fantasy graphic novel from Dugan there were still LGBT+ characters and one of my favorite thing Dugan does really well is texting/email format but it was mostly texting for this one! Well done Jennifer Dugan another new favorite of mine! Five out of five stars!
Ps. Thank you penguin teen for sending me this e-arc my way to read and review but all opions are my own!(:

I'm always looking forward to witchy season, so I was so excited to read this! It's a one-sitting kind of read and quick to the point, which is great for people that want a fast read - not so great for people that love details. The story was very cute and morally grey at times. The artwork was some of the most beautiful I have ever seen in a graphic novel and I found myself pausing at times just to take in just how gorgeous it is.

I reeeeeeally hope that this is going to be a series because I still have so many questions! What happens to Kelsey? What happens with Emsy's relationship? Ben and Ash? I need more information about Aunt Kat AND I DO NOT TRUST THAT KITTEN. I don't know why, but Ben's cat gives me strange vibes.

This story is perfect for fans of Buffy or Sabrina. Overall, I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Dugan's work.

Thank you NetGalley and PenguinTeen for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Graphic novels are always a big hit in classrooms so students are going to LOVE this one. The art is engaging and the storytelling is wonderful. This is a great book to use to dissect visual elements in a story that make the book an engaging narrative and a unique work of art!

Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. As a fan of this format, it had beautiful artwork that was engaging, and realistic but still had a flare of fun and youthfulness to it that anyone could enjoy viewing. the story itself was also really entertaining. It was fun watching Emsy, a young witch, step into her powers and learn more about who she is and where she comes from. A witch who knew of her powers but didn't really know how to use them, we get to briefly see her gain a bit more control over them. The cast was really diverse, which was great to see, though I believe a few stereotypes were played into that definitely didn't have to be there. The only Black teenager had no biological family because his mother left and...that could be an entire review in and of itself but I don't feel like getting into why that didn't need to be a part of his storyline at all. Though Ben's family is also not around, it wasn't by choice like Ashley's. But anyway, I got passed that and of course, continued reading. I think my favorite part of the story truly was the found family aspect between 3 young witches in the coven, Emsy, Ben, and Ashley. They were a fun trio to get to know. There were a few gaps in this story that I think could've benefited from more dialogue. There were moments that I felt could've had more explanation given to me as a reader, that would've helped me understand the background of a few characters. All-in-all, I enjoyed the book for what it was.

Coven is a queer paranormal graphic novel filled with vibrant art, teen witches, and (an initially reluctant) found family.

Content Warnings: fire, fantasy violence, loss of parents, murder, animal death

When Emsy’s parents uproot her from her California life, she is forced to leave her friends and girlfriend behind to go “home” to a coven she doesn’t know or care about. There she meets Ben, a teen witch who is grieving after his parents and sister are murdered. Together, they conspire to bring Ben’s family back from the dead using forbidden magic.

The main aspect that stuck out about Coven was its characters. They were well developed and distinctly unique from each other. I was drawn more to side characters rather than Emsy because I found her to be self-centered in some instances. This sucked some enjoyment out of my reading experience, but I really enjoyed Ben and Ash’s characters.

This book was quick-paced, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read books in one sitting. The plot wasn’t super unique, but getting to the conclusion was entertaining.

One of my favorite things about graphic novels is that they add a new artistic dimension into reading. This book is a great example of this. Coven’s illustrations enhance the story tenfold.

Overall: 3 stars

What a fantastic witchy graphic novel about found family and friendships!

Coven has beautiful, vibrant artwork that ties into the storyline perfectly. I feel like I could just look at the illustrations and follow the story just fine without even reading the dialogue and that, for me, is a sign of a wonderfully illustrated graphic novel. The plot is quickly paced and has just enough depth to provide all the necessary elements for a well-put together story.

I definitely recommend picking this one up if you love witchy, magical reads with themes surrounding found family, friendships, and dealing with loss. I'll be picking up a copy myself when it releases!


Thank you PenguinTeen for the e-ARC to read and review!

Graphic novels are a great way to get out of a reading slump! I loved this one, it was such a quick read. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the art. I really hope to read more by this author. This story was definitely one I am adding to my favorites!

This is such an exciting story about friendship, magic, and what you get when a bunch of 16-year-olds get ahold of magic. I could barely put it down.

This was an interesting graphic novel. I love the LGBTQ+ characters, the art style, and the witchy vibes. What I wasn't as fond of was the way the plot wrapped up so quickly, the very quick shift in attitude of our MC and the dismissal of the life/love from "home". The shift felt too fast, the keeping the kids in the dark plot device didn't seem to mesh with the extreme danger the coven was in. Overall, I struggled to connect to the characters. But, it was a beautifully illustrated and colored graphic novel.