Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved the character development in this graphic novel and the world building took my by surprise. Beautiful illustrations and immersive writing. I also appreciated the diversity of the cast. This was an emotional story, brought to life through stunning visuals, and I would recommend this to anyone!

The colors and story line are beautiful! The beginning of the book feels just like a dream; not fully sure of what is real and what is his imagination. I love Obi and Kon's relationship, the connection Obi has to his family, and how supportive the friends are. The entire scene 3/4 of the way through with Obi and his boss is a great conversation of life and purpose. Highly recommend this book if you like anything to do with dreams, Midnight Gospel, or space exploration.

beautiful story, beautiful artistry, beautiful vision, with lots of woven-in scifi worldbuilding that fascinates with the strategic glimpses into it. The relationship between Oberon and Kon was so messy, sweet, at times traumatic, and endearing in the best way. I was especially impressed at the apparent effortlessness that such a large cast (and their web of relationships) remains so balanced and memorable—I loved all the characters and can't wait to hopefully spend more time in their vibrant world one day! One of my all-time graphic novel picks, I'll be recommending this one aggressively to everyone (in fact I already am)! A must-read for anyone interested at all in sci-fi, fantasy, maybe romance in general (bc love is real), and the overall possibilities of the YA gn space, which can be so limiting because of the nature of publishing—not that you'd suspect it at all by reading this book

the color palette was really pretty, but the actual art style, specifically the design of the speech bubbles, made it impossible to tell what was happening and who was talking most of the time. I'm also so confused by all of the characters and their stories, the entire magic system, and any backstory. The plot seemed super cool and the emotions seeping through could've carried this, but unfortunately I was just going "huh?" the whole time

I really wasn't expecting the level of emotional depth that this graphic novel would offer, since the blurb and cover made me think it would be a cute, lighthearted romance with a bit of sci-fi action scenes but this was way more than that.

There's so much vulnerability in this story and the characters and their relationships are so complex.

Oberon's life is one that a lot of people his age will relate to. It perfectly captures the anxiety of not having followed the socially conventional path and knowing that maybe this is better for you but still being terrified of what it means for your future, of how others perceive you for it.

Kon's issues are by far the most complex of all and I was caught off-guard by it. I can't speak much on it without spoiling but his story was treated with so much realism. I can totally see a teenager acting like this if this scenario ever came to reality.

I also loved the outcome of his arc and Oberon's and how the book ended, it's a somewhat bittersweet but highly hopeful ending that just makes me want to give these characters a big hug.

I also love the worldbuilding itself, even if I often found myself wanting more from it. There's so much beauty in depicting a world where humanity has learned enough from its past that they've built a world free of oppressive systems and social constructs like money, heterosexuality, marriage that helped sustain them; where they've figured out ways to make technology a tool to better care for nature and humans and where they're still constantly learning to shed all that might create unnecessary expectations and suffering. The sci-fi of this book isn't just a setting, it's a dream of what life could be if we keep working for liberation.

And important note: this is a queernormative world! Oberon is trans and there are also lots of non-binary and queer characters throughout.

This was a great book on many fronts but there were still a few reasons why it wasn't a favorite for me. Some of the panels and speech bubbles were not very intuitive to read and I sometimes struggled on figuring out their order which broke up the pacing a lot. Some images were also a bit confusing to interpret due to how they're cut. I also felt like the last act was a bit rushed compared to the previous ones.

Regardless, this was a great read and one that I will recommend to anyone who's a fan of emotionally rich stories that are also still lighthearted to some extent and full of hope! The art is just great and very lively, kind of reminiscent of the W.I.T.C.H comics in style.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!

Ariel Slamet Ries's art is wonderful as always, and I really enjoyed the story. I don't know if I'd strictly bill this as.a romance, I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship at the heart of this graphic novel.

Stunning illustrations abound in this graphic novel about first love, friendship, anxiety, trauma, the weight of expectation, and the path to recovery. The world is richly imagined and the MC's family is wonderfully diverse. It's storytelling that takes its time--a warning for anyone impatient to figure out what's going on from the jump, but rewarding in its own right when you get to the end.

That being said, I do recommend reading the description on the back of the book for some necessary context before you jump into it--I started it based on the cover alone, and it took me a while to shake off the confusion of what was happening when it came to world-building. But that's how it goes with sci-fi and fantasy.

Strange Bedfellows was one of the most beautiful graphic novels I've ever read. The colors and the world Ariel built with them were just so stunning. I really loved the idea of this utopia that is just so queer, so anti-capitalist, so lovely in every way. I really was enthralled by every detail of the world that they built. The story itself was so touching, and I found myself relating to the family dynamics quite a bit. I zoomed through this one and will be thinking about it for a long time to come.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC..
A visually bright and fun graphic novel but the story was lackluster for me and didn't captivate me sadly.

A queer M/M graphic novel following our main character who, after having a public breakdown, develops powers to conjure things out of his imagination. He works through some tough anxiety and self-hatred while trying to get a grasp of his powers.

While I love that this is a queer M/M graphic novel and I love the subject matter (anxiety), I never connected with the characters. I found the world building a little difficult to follow and felt like I was trying to orient myself into the world too much versus enjoying the characters and their relationships.

The artwork is beautiful though.

I’d recommend this for fans of sci-fi leaning graphic novels, or those who like their reads with queer characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy for review.

Wow. How absolutely wonderful. I loved every part of this book.

The visual art itself was vibrant and beautiful. I couldn't get enough of it. But the STORY. Oh my goodness, the story. The combination of dreams as a magic system and anxiety was such a wonderfully woven idea. It helped this story be filled with so much emotional tension and heart. It really pulled at me and made me feel the story quite deeply.

I'd say some more expansive world building would have been nice, but it still did not take away from the story, in my opinion.

Most of all, I loved seeing the bond between the two boys grow throughout the story. They were both so sweet and nicely individualized characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

Strange Bedfellows might be one of the coolest books I’ve ever read. Truly it has such an interesting concept that is executed very well. I’m always partial to dream magic or any sort of magical manifestations of dreams/nightmares, and I LOVE the way Ariel Slamet Ries explores how this sort of situation interacts with anxiety. Also, the art is GORGEOUS and the imagery works with the style of the graphic novel perfectly. I will say, I found the worldbuilding to be very minimal. I don’t think it took away from the story, but I do think it’s worth mentioning since many people who read sci-fi and fantasy look for immersive worldbuilding. Personally, I tend to gravitate more towards fantasy than sci-fi, so I’m not entirely sure how this compares to the average amount of worldbuilding for a sci-fi story

In the near future, humanity is living on a planet called Meridian, a place where you’re likely to be born with superpowers. But Oberon wasn’t one of the lucky ones. Ever since his pretty public breakdown, he feels like he can’t get control of his life. When he suddenly has the ability to conjure his dreams into reality, things start to get really complicated.

One of the things Oberon conjures is his high school crush, Kon, who mysteriously disappeared three years ago. As the two work together to get a hold on Oberon’s powers, things start to spiral into chaos, especially as Oberon starts to fall for Kon. Will he be able to get control before it’s too late?

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an advanced copy of Strange Bedfellows by Ariel Slamet Ries to review! The cover is definitely what drew me in to this one, and the art inside is just as stunning. I’ve loved Ries’ art in everything I’ve read from them so far, so I’m not surprised that I loved this.

The story and the characters match the artwork in quality. There is so much emotional tension in this, and the exploration of mental health is so well done. Both Oberon and Kon are dealing with their own struggles, from panic attacks to anxiety to depression. The unfolding of Kon’s story is extremely well done, and is so heartbreaking.

This is a wonderfully layered story with absolutely gorgeous artwork. If you like sci-fi stories that are character forward, definitely check this one out in March!

Loved the illustration and
the journey with that the main character went on to find acceptance and learning how to love themselves would definitely read more by this author.

I’ve been reading a lot of futuristic sci-fi/fantasy graphic novels and absolutely loving it!
Oberon’s grandparents travelled from Earth on an Ark to Meridian. He lives in a world where the descendants of Earth have developed abilities, they are mutants, and they are called Ghosts. If the government finds out that you have extraordinary abilities, then your name is put on a government registry, and you and your family will be surveilled FOR LIFE. Always the odd one out, Oberon is the only one of his siblings to not have manifested powers. Amidst this world, Oberon is just trying to survive. During his first years at college, a relationship ended, he had a nervous breakdown and promptly dropped out. Not to add to his stress, his health is in crisis with constant headaches and they’re becoming worse. On top of all that, he is having weird dreams involving his high school crush. Read this one to find out more.
This was a fantastic read and you need to read it…like yesterday.

#ThxNetGalley #ArielSlametRies

Hello??!! This was incredible! Hands down my favorite read of the year so far.

The characters are so well-developed, and the worldbuilding is insanely good. I had never heard of solarpunk before, but this book made me fall in love with it instantly. A futuristic society where money doesn’t exist, where healthcare, food, and housing are provided, but everyone still contributes? Sign me up. The little worldbuilding details—like everyone having a garden to help with the food supply or Oberon’s mom casually mentioning, “I know you’re old enough to be assigned your own apartment”—made everything feel so natural. The way worldbuilding is handled is *chef’s kiss*—not through heavy exposition, but by letting the reader experience how everything works as the story unfolds. It’s the perfect example of show, don’t tell.

Reading this was incredibly immersive. It’s a medium-paced story, which really suited the world and themes. I was so absorbed that when I finished, it felt like coming up for air—like suddenly remembering the real world existed.

I loved Oberon’s relationship with his sister, even the moments of conflict between them. It felt raw and real, just like the rest of the characters. The book never falls into the trap of making everyone perfectly enlightened just because they live in a utopia—people still make mistakes, say the wrong thing, and grow from it. It made everything feel lived in.

One of my favorite details was Oberon’s tattoo honoring past trans men—such a beautiful touch. The dream sequences were also a highlight; they were gorgeous and genuinely felt like slipping into a dream.

On top of all that, the plot itself was super engaging. I was completely invested from start to finish.

If you’re looking for a unique and beautifully crafted read, Strange Bedfellows is it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I already pre-ordered the ebook but I'm ordering the physical now, too, this was so good!

I've followed Ariel Slamet Ries on a couple of socials at this point, and read an early preview they posted on Patreon, and I've been hooked and excited for a long time, and this truly turned out incredibly well, incredibly. The art is gorgeous, the cast is amazing, the story is excellent. These characters have my heart, and I cannot recommend this highly enough.

If you like science fantasy m/m about superpowers, anxiety, <spoiler>self-hatred and suicidal ideation</spoiler>, hurt/comfort, and trying to do right by people and support them when they need you, then this is the book for you.

A truly beautiful book, I needed this today.

Strange Bedfellows is a new queer graphic novel with fantasy and science fiction elements. It’s beautifully written and illustrated and I can’t recommend it enough.

The story follows Oberon, who has recently had a very public panic attack that led to him dropping out of college. He’s feeling lost when he suddenly gains the ability to bring his dreams into reality. His new power manifests a dream version of his high school crush, Kon, who decides to help him understand his new powers.

The plot is surprisingly layered. It gracefully melds a touching story about recovering from mental health struggles, a mystery, a family story, and a sweet romance. The result is a beautiful, hopeful, funny, and emotional story that I found surprisingly complex. I think many people with anxiety will identify strongly with Oberon’s story. I certainly did!

This is all set in a lush and diverse sci-fi world. The technology is more advanced than ours but still recognizable enough to avoid confusion The world-building is incredibly well done. In just under 300 pages, Meridian feels like a fully realized place. We get glimpses of the politics, wildlife, weather, and problems that former Earthlings (and their children) encounter on their new home planet.

The artwork here is stunning. The colors and style strike me as truly unique. Normally, I rush through graphic novels, but this one made me want to linger and really appreciate the art.

I highly recommend Strange Bedfellows to any fan of inclusive stories, stories about making it through tough times, or character-centric sci-fi/fantasy. It is genuinely one of my favorite graphic novels that I have read to date!

"Strange Bedfellows" by Ariel Slamet Ries is truly one of the greatest graphic novels I've read in a while. It's story is about the main character, Oberon, as he realizes he has magic powers and gets help in learning how to control them from a dream version of his high school crush. The art is gorgeous and is both artistic and clear about the action. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about dreams, when books blend scifi and fantasy, or queer stories that also have a strong focus on friends and family. In all honesty, I'd maybe even recommend this book to literally any one.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my eARC.

*Strange Bedfellows* by Ariel Slamet Ries is a captivating, thought-provoking graphic novel that masterfully combines science fiction, political intrigue, and deeply human storytelling. Known for their webcomic *Witchy*, Ries once again demonstrates their ability to craft vivid worlds and compelling narratives. Set in a richly imagined dystopian future, *Strange Bedfellows* follows an unlikely alliance between individuals with starkly opposing ideologies. Through its intricate plot and stunning illustrations, the story explores themes of power, identity, and survival while also delving into the complex dynamics of trust and collaboration in dire circumstances.

If you're a fan of stories that challenge conventional narratives and explore the gray areas of morality, *Strange Bedfellows* is a must-read. Ries’s writing is sharp, their characters are unforgettable, and the story resonates on both an emotional and intellectual level.