Netgalley Review

Star Rating: ★★★☆☆

Interesting read. A solid 3 star read!

Like always though, read it and decide for yourself

CAWPILE Rating:
Characters: 7
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 7
Plot: 5.5
Intrigue: 8
Logic: 6
Enjoyment: 8

This story moved extremely fast, and that is my only major complaint. The Terrifying Tales of Vivian Vance follows young Vivian, a sophomore on the hunt for something extracurricular to do in order to aid in her application process for a program at her school that can help her receive financial aid. In her journey, she discovers that the flesh-takers lore in her hometown is true—witnessing one kidnap a man while in "the pillars" (a rundown neighborhood in her city for the down and out, orphans, and the neglected). Vivian and a ragtag bunch aim to unearth the truth behind the lore and save the town.

I liked the premise of the story and can easily see this as a limited series with Stranger Things vibes. That said, I would classify this more as a middle grade story. All in all, it was a nice, quick read, but I wish there had been more to it.

while i think the pacing was a bit off, I did really enjoy the story overall. i think this would make a great series and i can see how they left the crumbs for more books and i would be sat!

Please keep in mind that l'm always brutally honest when it comes to reviewing books. Even though I did receive an arc copy, I still believe in telling it like it is. No matter what.

I really enjoyed this book, from the plot to the illustrations. The drawings were super intriguing and kept me engaged the whole time. I especially loved the friend group Vivian formed with the group of kids at the Pillars—it was a fun adventure to experience with them. I hope there’s another part or that this becomes a series because it ended in a way that left me wanting more.

It feels more geared towards children than YA, but I still had a great time reading it.

This was a fun graphic novel with an interesting opening. I love the illustrations and colors used within the graphic novel!

An enjoyable read, very much Stranger Things meets Goosebumps. The art work was my favorite part, the pace of the story felt off. I love a good spooky book!

Thank you to Netgalleu and the publisher for providing me with a galley ahead of publication.

I adore the art style here. I love that it's giving Archie Horror vibes. Nobody loves a spooky comic more than I do. Unfortunately, some of the story beats and internal logic took me out of the story which impacted my enjoyment and immersion. Having said that, anybody who loves Archie and gang plus the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is in for a treat just in time for spooky season 👻

Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Not gonna lie, my first attraction to this book was the title. I mean, anyone that knows American television remembers Vivian Vance as one of Lucille Ball’s sidekicks on her wildly popular show, I Love Lucy, so I thought it interesting that an author would come up with that same name combination. The second reason I was attracted to this graphic novel is the way the book describes Vivian as sort of a Veronica Mars, also a favorite. The horror story aspect, I wasn’t so sure of but decided to have an open mind.

Vivian is told a terrifying tale as a bedtime story, one that guarantees she won’t go out at night. Most of the other children of Pensmouth are taught the same lesson. However, as Vivian grows older, and her dad becomes an invalid, her life focus changes. She’s in high school, working as sort of a private detective ala Veronica Mars or Nancy Drew, and she desperately wants to be accepted into a special program. Told she needs to have more school extracurricular activities, Vance decides that if she can crack one big case, she’ll get into the prestigious program.

The case she takes plunges her into a part of town called The Pillars, where people usually mind their own business and are scraping by. Vivian meets some orphans about her age and a little younger, and she enlists them to help her with the case.

The illustrations were great (ew to the flesh-takers), and the story was engaging, even though YA horror isn’t normally my jam. The smart-talking, quick-thinking Vivian Vance is a treat to follow. I can only imagine that this might be the first in a series of graphic novels following the plucky sleuth.

Josh Ulrich crafts a captivating blend of horror and humor that kept me engaged from start to finish. The character of Vivian Vance is brilliantly developed, showcasing her wit and resilience in the face of supernatural challenges. I particularly enjoyed the way Ulrich weaves in historical references, adding depth to the narrative and making it feel grounded despite its eerie elements. The pacing is generally spot-on, with suspenseful moments that had me on the edge of my seat.
However, there were times when the plot felt a bit convoluted, and some secondary characters could have used more development to enhance the overall impact. Despite these minor drawbacks, the book's unique premise and Ulrich's sharp writing style make it a memorable read.

I enjoyed reading The Terrifying Tales of Vivian Vance. It's a fun read. The story is spooky and interesting. The artwork is also good. Fans of Stranger Things are sure to enjoy this graphic novel. I look forward to more terrifying tales of Vivian Vance.

Vivian Vance is an amateur detective aiming for a spot in the Greater Achievement Program. What she really needs to push her application to the top is something that sets her apart. Proof of her contribution to the community. The perfect opportunity falls into her lap when she stumbles across a flesh-taker, a creature straight out of a childhood bedtime story. Flesh-takers are real, they’re stalking the streets at night and are behind the various disappearances in the area. Vivian, alongside some new friends, sets out to gain proof of their existence and to stop them once and for all.

I enjoyed the overall vibes and artwork of this graphic novel. The flesh-takers were chilling to look at and I liked Vivian’s character design. However, I felt like the actual substance of the story was lacking. I think the length of this graphic novel did the story a huge disservice as there wasn’t enough time to properly develop anything. I never felt like I got a grasp on any of our characters’ personalities. Their relationships with each other were even more absent. The world building was vague and leaves a lot of questions unanswered. I felt like we as the audience were expected to assume all the fine details and the in-between ourselves in favor of giving more page space to the action. I think overall this story would have worked better spread out across a series!

The Terrifying Tales of Vivian Vance delivers a spine-chilling collection of stories that expertly blend suspense and supernatural elements. Vance’s evocative storytelling and eerie atmospheres create a compelling reading experience that keeps readers hooked. Each tale is crafted with a deft hand, ensuring an engaging and unsettling journey through the macabre.

Overall, I enjoyed this read, but didn't love it.
I did love the darkness of the story and the mystery of what was happening.

This book is pitched as Veronica Mars meets Lovecraft. As a fan of both, I can see that comparison, but where I struggled was the depth.

I loved the artwork and the different outfits Vivian had, but I just was really confused what was happening. I mean, no, I wasn’t confused, but it felt like we jumped from point A to point Z with little build up.

At the end, I was left with so many questions of development that it felt like the author left off the page and I could go on and on about the questions I have rather than what happened with the monster.

It was just not properly developed and could have been a whole series rather than this one graphic novel.

Overall, it was an enjoyable time, but not one I’m going to rush to put in other’s hands. Creepy and fun if you like this genre, but not as good as it could be.

I’d definitely read a volume 2 if there were deep dives into all the characters and issues they are going through.

Thank you, NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for this advanced reader's copy. I loved Vivian Vance and her gang! This was spooky and definitely a mix of Nancy Drew meets Scooby Do. I hope there are more tales of Vivian Vance as she was a formidable and smart girl who had no problems taking on everyone to save her whole town! There are so many stories that we hear as kids that we think are just stories.... RIGHT?! Creepy and super fun comic! Definitely hope to see more in the future!

This graphic novel was such a fun read. It definitely gave me stranger things vibes and I definitely want to read more of Vivian's adventures

THAT WAS INTENSEEE

So there’s a girl named Vivian who’s very smart but bad at socializing. She wanted to get into the Greater Achiever Program, but one of the condition is having extracurricular activities, and she didn’t have any. Then she decided to investigate a bizarre and mysterious creature that plagued the city. She didn’t do it alone, she got help from 3 boys she just met but proved to be loyal and determined.

The Terrifying Tales of Vivian Vance was, indeed, terrifying. I had to read it in broad daylight so i could get through it. A thrilling graphic novel for young adults. And THE ENDING!!!! i hope there will be sequel because if there isn’t i’d go mad haha.

As soon as I read the description, I knew I had to read this. I would describe it as Veronica Mars meets Stranger Things. Ulrich's story is filled with action, sci-fi, humor, social commentary, and a little horror. I liked the way the artist used shadowing and lighting to help set the mood and feel.

Thank you to NetGalley and PenguinGroup for the advanced copy

This was a fun adventure book about a teen named Vivian Vance, who wants to be a detective, accidentally having a brush with monsters. She realizes that the whole town is essentially ran by them and enlists her new friends to help. The comparison to Veronica Mars is spot on and as a huge fan of the show, this made me happy and I'd love more Vivian adventures!

Well, this download is just a handful of excerpts, but even from that, I can tell that it's a bunch of well-worn tropes in horror with very little original to make it stand out. It's too bad, but it really is just another the teachers and principal (spelled "pal," not "ple," as the text has it) are the bad cultists, a parentized white girl is a hero to poorer (also white) boys, etc. Lots of typos, no surprises. Nope.