I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up!

TL;DR: The minute I finished Meesh the Bad Demon I immediately wanted more! I loved this illustration style so much. All of these characters were ridiculously adorable and it made the story even more fun to read. Meesh was an adorable demon who simply wanted to be good and I loved following her as she journeys beyond her world to save her home, makes unexpected friends along the way, and learns to love who she is. This is a story about being yourself, not judging others based on differences, and most importantly, it's a story of friendship. It's a funny, heartwarming and hopeful read!

First of all, I need to talk about the illustrations. I've never heard of or seen any of Michelle Lam's work before but now that I have I want to read everything she's ever illustrated because I absolutely loved her style! It's freaking adorable and I loved the way she was able to so clearly translate all the emotions through the character's expressions. It was this expressiveness that made it easier to connect and empathise with Meesh, Nouna, and even Xavier!

Meesh is an adorable young demon who loves flowers, the faerie TV show called Princess Nouna, and simply being good. She gets bullied in school for being a 'bad demon' because she's unable to do all the things a demon *should* be able to do. Thankfully, she had a really wonderful relationship with her grandma whom she lived with. Their relationship was so heartwarming and supportive, and I loved how grandma encouraged her to just be herself regardless of how others will think of her at school. She's such an easy character to root for as she's shouldered with the responsibility of finding help to her save her grandma and her home.

Things get off to a rocky start when she encounters Princess Nouna in the faerie realm but not everything is as it seems with the perfect on-screen princess. Nouna was an interesting character who also had secrets about herself that she kept from the public. Meesh and Nouna weren't perfect but I love how they tackled the preconceived notions they had of each other and by overcoming these differences, they formed a beautiful friendship full of positivity and encouragement. It's not a conflict-free friendship either but they don't hesitate to step up for each other when the time comes. Xavier was also an interesting character as the bully because we see his own insecurities get exposed (although that's obviously no excuse for bullying). I do wish that his bullying was addressed rather than ignored due to what happened in the demon realm though but I'm looking forward to seeing how his character will change as the story progresses.

There were some moments where I felt the story jumped around a bit when it came to the world-building and particularly the history between the faeries and demons. Although I can sense that the tension between these two races will have a more prominent role in the story moving forward, it did feel a little shoehorned in as the history is only introduced halfway through the story rather than at the beginning. That said, I'm really looking forward to seeing this history explored more in the future and I can't wait to also see how it might connect to other storylines that were touched upon in this book.

Overall, I thought this was a great introduction to a new MG fantasy graphic novel series. I'm excited to see where Lam will take the story and how these more serious themes will be explored in the series and I can't wait to follow Meesh and her friends on their adventures ahead!

This was so cute! An adorable take on the power of friendship and the ways that our differences can actually be what bring us together.

Rating:5 stars (9.14/10)

Characters-9

I loved the characters in this Graphic Novel. Meesh was such a sweet character, different from the other demons, and what one would classify as a stereotypical demon, and I loved her so much. Meesh knew that she was different, and embraced that she was different from others around her. Nouna was a fairy, and she was one who was her own person, despite what people said to her. Meesh and Nouna had a beautiful friendship, and I loved how they interacted in the story. The other characters in the story were also wonderful, and I enjoyed them as well.

Plot-9

Meesh the bad Demon had an interesting story. I loved how both Meesh and Nouna’s stories intertwined, They wanted to help each other because they saw that they could be happy if they helped each other. The story also showed that fairies and demons can be friends, and they can work together for the greater good. I loved this story, and how much it showed that the demons and the fairies could get over their differences, and work together.

Writing and art-9

The writing in Meesh the Bad Demon is delightful. I loved how the writing was great for Middle-Grade readers would enjoy, along with adult readers. The art style in this game is one that is charming, and I loved the color pallets used. The art in this graphic novel works with the writing to tell the story, and I loved how the art works well with the writing to expand on the story. There were lighter scenes, and heavier scenes, and each of its own distinct style and color pallet used in the scene.

Enjoyment-9

I loved this story so much. The story was amazing, and the characters, writing, and art were fantastic. I recommend this for fans of Middle-Grade Fantasy, and for readers who enjoy it.

This was so cute! I loved all the characters and the artwork was very nicely done as well. Meesh is a great character and the story moved along at a nice pace but it didn't feel rushed. Overall, a great story with fantastic artwork.

Thank you to TBR Tours and Random House for letting me read this early!

This was such a cute read full of found family and friendship, I adored every minute.

Meesh the Bad Demon was such a fun middle grade adventure graphic novel!

Really loved Meesh as a character, and her adventure in this world. The idea of a "bad" demon being good was funny, and I enjoyed the lore of this world and the friction between demons and faeries.

Hope to see the friendship between Meesh and the princess develop in further books!

I finished reading this in one sitting and cannot believe I have to wait for more. This is such a sweet heartfelt story with beautiful art and quality world-building. The world Lam creates is expansive and has an entire history and geography I loved learning about and can't wait to explore further. Meesh is an excellent protagonist whose feelings of not fitting in are compelling and particularly relevant for young readers finding their own place in the world for the first time. The relationships between Meesh and her grandmother and Nouna and her mother are both well-developed for such a quick read, and I appreciated seeing adults trust kids while also still recognizing that they are kids and therefore still need help and support reaching their goals. This was a fun read and I'm excited to revisit this world in future volumes.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review*

This was a wonderful story of a young demon, Meesh who didn't want to be bad. I loved it. Sometime the labels we put to ourselves are our worst enemy. This amazing story, with wonderful illustrations, will captivate you from beginning till end. I can't wait for the second book.

A demon girl who isn’t really that great at being a demon and adores the fairy realm soon finds herself on a unlikely heroes journey to save not only her family but both the demon and fairy realm when people begin to turn to stone and nobody else is around. Meesh is a 12 year old demon girl who isn’t the best at being a demon, she adores the fairy realm and fangirls over the fairy princesses. When her grandma is suddenly turned to stone as well as many other demons, its up to Meesh to travel the fairy realm to get help... only when she gets there she is in for a shock at how she is treated. Soon things get out of hand and now she is stuck with a fairy princess to help her on her journey. Can Meesh and her unlikely allies save their worlds before it’s too late or will everyone be turned to stone? This was a really cute story and the artwork was cute too! Definitely recommend for middle grade and younger readers who are looking for a magical read filled with courage, friendship, and strength!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

i absolutely love this! I'm hoping to convince out children's librarian of getting this for our J Graphic novel section now the story is so interesting and the characters are so cute and well written! I think many kids can relate to the feelings of the characters in this story and who doesn't love a good mystery that hinges the fate of the world? Absolutely love it!

I loved the color palette and art style, and I know that so many of my students will enjoy this series! The arc is enough to leave you satisfied but also provides some cliffhangers and questions for the future. I also appreciated how they touch on prejudice and the truth within history without being too heavy for younger readers.

Meesh is a demon but not very good at being a demon. Her love for flowers and fairies and inability to breath fire and spit acid is a recipe for getting bullied by her demon classmates. When their demon world is attacked by disaster, Meesh seeks out the help of her fairy idol, a werewolf, and a bully turned friend to save their world.

There is a lot to explore in this world. The artwork is cute. The story is fast moving and thought provoking. Recommend for middle grades.

I follow Michelle Lam (@mewtripled) on instagram so I was excited to receive this eARC of Meesh and the Bad Demon #1 from Netgalley and the publisher (thanks!). The following opinion is my own!

This. Is. Adorable. I loved it. As an elementary and middle grade teacher, I love the themes and ideas presented in this book. I love the colors and Lam's art style. I will be adding this one to my library!

Review to come April to blog/goodreads/etc.

I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher/TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange of an honest review!

I am doing a spotlight post, but I just couldn't resist to read this one when I got the e-ARC invite. I hope you all enjoyed my Blog Tour (which was late March) and will enjoy this review!

This was a bit chaotic, sometimes confusing story, but in overall I had a blast reading it! So much adventure! A dash of magic and strange amulets doing things (which I liked, especially since each time did something different and I loved seeing Meesh discover what she could do). I loved how many things come together and as the story continues we learn more and more about the world. But there is still a surprise at the end! I loved that one part of the story is now finished, but that there is still plenty of things to happen. I loved seeing how the demons lived, but also discover a world for fairies, and even one were everyone was living together (I am especially curious about this world and why the other two worlds are so separate). The story with something happening to the lava and how that turned everyone into stone was an interesting one, especially since it wasn't as simple as lava turning peeps into stone, there was something more to it, something dark and exciting that will continue in the next book.

Meesh was adorable and fun. I could definitely understand that she wondered if she was a real demon or not. She loves fairies, she loves cute things, she has a hard time with demon stuff (like vomiting acid or fire breathing), she loves flowers. You can imagine that people around her, especially her classmates, are making it hard for her. I just wanted to give her so many hugs and tell her it is fine. That being a demon doesn't mean you should be able to do all that and do all the same as everyone. You can also be yourself. And I was hoping that she would discover that as the story continued. Discover that being a demon isn't so bad.

I would definitely love to see that TV-show! Could we have a book with just those adventures? I would love love love that!

And I love Nouna and Meesh! So sweet! At first they had their differences and at times throughout the story they also argued, but you could see them bonding, getting closer. Learning both how to fly and see them discover that fairies and demons may not all be that different. And that the story told through the times may not all be truth.

Though I am bit done with bullies turning into friends and aww, boohooo sob sob. I am sorry, as a girl bullied most of her life, I am fucking done with that trope. I just want either no bullies or let them just be bullies. BTW, I also told my hubby about it, and he was the same as me.

The art is fantastic, as I had already hoped it would be! The style is very fun and pretty~

All in all, despite being a bit confusing, this was fun to read and I just couldn't stop. I need to know how it will continue~

Meesh is supposed to be a scary demon who can breathe fire and spit acid, but she'd rather play with fairy action figures and watch princess cartoons. When her whole world and everyone she loves are threatened by a mysterious curse. Meesh is sure that Nouna the fairy princess can solve all her problems, but when Meesh gets to the fairy city, she discovers decades of prejudice and misunderstanding. When an accident forces Nouna and Meesh together, they have to put aside their differences for the good of both their worlds.

This clever story plays with classic superhero tropes and ponders systemic racism in an approachable and whimsical way. The characters are fun and believable, and I loved seeing new magic pop up at every turn. Fans of the Legend of Zelda and Crystal Cadets should definitely pick up this exciting first in series graphic novel. I can't wait for the second one to come out!

Oh man I love this series opener. The art is gorgeous, the world building is so immersive, and all of the characters are engaging and personable. The book ends on a cliffhanger which will definitely have kids asking when the next one comes out! I love the cute but also spooky ways that Mesh is depicted and the lessons in friendship along the way.

The first in a series, Meesh begins with a heroine’s journey and has strong middle-grade appeal. Manga-inspired illustration style plays with the magical girl genreThe fantasy story addresses compelling real-life issues including bullying and subverting stereotypes.

I love this debut about judging differences and finding friends with those who you don’t expect. I was a huge fan of the art style, too–it was so much fun to read.

A cute fantasy graphic novel (clearly part of a proposed series) suitable for both child and adult readers. It follows Meesh, a demon who would really rather be a fairy, as she first deals with her differences and then saves her world. The language is spare and the illustrations do most of the heavy lifting. Comic violence, but nothing really scary. Bonus: werewolves!

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

Meesh isn't like the other demons at Mount Magma Middle School. She loves flowers, adores all things fairy, and fangirls over Princess Nouna. Her fire breathing skills are subpar, and she's hardly the star pupil in acid-puking, horn-sharpening, night vision, or lava-molding class, either. Meesh feels like an outcast among her own kind.

But, when contaminated lava turns all the demons of Mount Magma to stone and Meesh must travel to Plumeria City in search of help, she's shunned by the very beings she so idolizes. Little does Meesh know that Princess Nouna is hiding her own 'shameful' secret. Together, the two tweens must figure out who's trying to poison the demons - and learn to love themselves in the process. Luckily, they have some help in the form of Xavier, one of Meesh's classmates (and her former bully); and Chai, a werewolf whose family was also driven from their home.

Honestly, the #1 reason I picked up MEESH THE BAD DEMON is because my younger sister Michelle's nickname is Meesh, and I find the idea of her as a demon delightful (no offense, sis). I'm so glad I did, too, because MEESH THE BAD DEMON is such a fun, sweet, and cozy read - definitely the kind of thing we need in these here times. The artwork is so cute and charming (who knew demons could be so adorable!?), and the story is quirky and imaginative. I love the various realms, but of course Ponderosa - "the place where all kinds of creatures live together!" - is my favorite. While the main story lines are all resolved satisfactorily, the book ends with a bit of a tease, which hopefully means that there will be a volume 2.