In "Evil-ish" an angry non binary teen seeks to become a hench in a gang of villains ruled by a despotic undead ghoulish mistress. Very soon, though, things fall apart and the protagonist has more on their plate than expected and is confronted with the possibility that they may not be quite as evil as they had hoped. This is a fun coming of age story that focuses on friendship and self discovery without getting too heavy or preachy. Expect a YA appropriate story that stresses inclusion and acceptance, a D&D style fantasy world with sprinklings of modern tech and a bunch of fun Disney type would -be villains.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did not enjoy this book. It was just okay. Very predictable. Not a great story. I will not be purchasing it for my students.
Sorry

Some days I, too, long to be evil.
I have to say first and foremost that the illustrations in this graphic novel are absolutely top tier---this is a fantastically crafted graphic novel that is a treat to the eyes. This was a wonderful queer graphic novel, with characters and a premise I really thoroughly enjoyed. My only major complaint is that there isn't MORE. I would absolutely love more in this world or from these characters, though from what I've been able to gather this is a single volume graphic novel (I hope I'm wrong, though). Absolutely fantastic graphic novel, and I cannot wait to get in our physical copies at the branch.

A Villainous Graphic Novel about a Non-Binary Teen who longs to be truly Evil: until one day his dream is realized. Will it only be everything he hopes it to be?

The Illustrations are the star. I loved the artwork and coloring that brought this story to life. I wish it were longer or the beginning of a series, because I wanted more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a lot cuter than I was expecting! I didn't think the Shade Brigade wouldn't actually be evil (but I should've guessed from the title). The art and overall story was very good too. I thought it was really funny that they held auditions for the organization. I was glad too that Hawthorne was able to find what they really wanted to do with their life and help their friends too.

Evil - ish by Kennedy Tarrell was an adorable queer graphic novel. We follow our main character Hawthorne whose main goal is to join the Brigade of Shade. Truly Maple stole the show as the anti-hero. I loved the artwork and the premise of the book. It was like a more fleshed-out/ more thoughtful Assistant to the Villain.

What a cute story! I really enjoyed the representation here as well as the arch of the story. My only real issue is I felt like I needed more information at the beginning. I was fairly lost with the who’s who as well as for caring about characters, which I eventually did but initially not so much. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed Evil-ish! Thank you for letting me read it early. The art style was phenomenal—bright, expressive, and perfectly matched to the story. While the plot felt a little wishy-washy at times, keeping in mind the target age group and the heart of the messaging, I still loved the deeper themes woven throughout.

From a mother’s love and acceptance (including support for a child not wanting to be tied to a specific gender), to learning that dreams don’t always look the way we expect, to finding your place in the world, and the importance of forgiveness—this graphic novel impressed me. I’d definitely recommend it to readers who want a fun, easy-read adventure, and even to parents or teens looking for stories that spark meaningful conversations.

The biggest recurring themes are change and forgiveness. Each character faces moments where they realize their choices don’t have to be final, that identity and direction can shift, and that even when they feel undeserving, forgiveness is still possible.

The art style really elevated the story. I loved the character designs, the color palette, and how much personality came through visually. Maple’s character especially stood out—her backstory was well-developed, which can be tricky to pull off in a single-volume graphic novel.

Hawthorne hates their life. Working in their mother’s cafe, pouring drinks, serving, cleaning up, enduring the insipid conversations with customers, it’s all too much. Especially when their big day is coming up, when the Brigade of Evil opens their gates for tryouts, looking for new members. Hawthorne is determined to go! After all, they know everything about the Brigade and its members. Sir Elliot the Fallen! Valencia Sun! Dredimer who, like Hawthorne, is genderqueer.

Above them all is Lady Wrath, the most evil person there is, and Hawthorne wants to be just like her. The only problem is Hawthorne has no magic, no special skills, and a limited pool of charisma. When auditions go poorly, Hawthorne is crushed. They end up hiding in their room until Maple, the annoying customer with flowers in her hair and a sweet, lovely smile (and who was accepted into the Brigade), suggests sneaking into the castle to try one more time to make a personal plea to Lady Wrath.

It’s an adventure, it’s a lark, it’s all fun and games until Hawthorne, er, inadvertently kills Lady Wrath. Rather than being angry, though, the Brigade members instead accept Hawthorne as their new leader, ushering in a new reign of terror! It’s all a dream until it isn’t, until things go farther than Hawthorne meant them to and suddenly it’s up to Hawthorne to make a choice: Are they a villain, or a hero?

The art in this graphic novel is what really sold me on it, even before I started reading the story. Hawthorne’s face is so expressive, and Maple’s charming grin — even as they both watch Lady Wrath crumble to ash — is hilarious. The art is somewhere between Disney and Nickelodeon with its colors, backgrounds, and character art. Humor is subjective, but in my oh-so-unbiased opinion, the humor in this book is on point. But it’s strongest selling point are the characters.

Hawthorne is young and somewhat lost. They’re unhappy at home, wanting more than being a barista for their mother. What they really want is to have something of their own, something that they chose, rather than something that they are obliged to do, a life given to them rather than one they earn for themselves. Hawthorne doesn’t want to be evil; they want to be a villain for the coolness of it, due in no small part to Dredimer. But when they realize that evil is more than just a vibe, more than just a trendy outfit, Hawthorne has to decide what’s important to them and what they really want out of life.

Maple, the girl Hawthorne may or may not have a small (or giant) crush on, has grand ideas of what’s fun. When Hawthorne has the Brigade romp through town with pranks and hijinx, it’s Maple who suggests they go a little farther to do a little more damage. And then a little more, and a little more, until what they’re doing is dangerous and harmful. Maple is a tragic character, and the author builds up sympathy for her so very well. Because she had magic, powerful magic — which is rare in this world — Maple’s village was attacked. Everyone she knew was killed, including her parents. And now, hurting, she only wants to hurt everyone around her. Hawthorne isn’t fighting the banality of evil, she’s fighting the anger and hurt that has been growing inside her; Hawthorne has no magic, only compassion and a willingness to listen, to care. Their confrontation is drawn so well. At one moment, their colors — Maple’s red hair, Hawthorne’s pink — are rich and saturated, slowly being shaded with greens and golds, unifying them. It’s subtle and lovely, and the end of the story felt … perfect.

I strongly recommend this for people who love love stories, redemption arcs, strong friendships, and beautiful art. It’s very worth the read.

I LOVED this! The style was amazing, the characters were hilarious and well thought out, and the plot twist was a shock!

Evil-ish is a fun YA graphic novel. Based on the cover I really was expecting something different, but I love the characters, the story and the ending. This is a must have for all YA graphic novel collections.

I admit that I got interested in this YA graphic novel because of the cover. Don't judge me. Look at it! And the artstyle was equally gorgeous inside.

Evil-ish features non-binary teen Hawthorne Vandercast who has long decided that their life goal would be to become a villain and join the Brigade of Shade. But is it really a wise decision? Is it really everything they hoped for? If so, why are they being outshined by the least-evil-looking person possible?

The story is sweet and simple. Good vs Evil. We get to see Hawthorne face with the consequences of their actions, grow and learn. I especially liked their relationship with their family, seeing that the mother *did* influence their actions versus simply staying on the sidelines.

I can't help but wonder if the story would have benefited from either more pages or perhaps being split over two books to allow the pacing to slow down a bit. The ending felt a bit abrupt and I wish we saw Hawthorne (and another character) have more time for their emotions to gradually change. I would *love* for more books to explore the characters more, in general, as they really are fun and unique.

All I know is I'm hoping for more books in this series and I am so curious how this universe will evolve. Absolutely recommending this!

Hawthorne is a curmudgeonly young person working at their mom's cafe and dreaming of joining the Brigade of Shade, the local gang of villains. When an opportunity to join goes somewhat disastrously, local horrifyingly cheerful girl Maple, who got in despite her flower crown, tries to offer Hawthorne a second chance that goes so well/horribly that they're made the new leader of the Brigade. But as things start to spiral, Hawthorne has to stop and consider their priorities and plans.
This was a delightful graphic novel. I loved the art style and the fun, fresh medieval/modern fusion of the setting. Hawthorne, especially, has fantastic design. Love their whole aesthetic. Maple was such a fun counterpoint to Hawthorne. This book was adorable.

3.25/5 Stars
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Evil-ish is a cute debut YA graphic novel that follows Hawthorne Vandercast, a disillusioned teen who drams of joining the infamous Brigade of Shade. Throughout this story, we follow Hawthorne as they learn that what they thought they wanted out of life might not be what they actually need. I absolutely loved the art style of this graphic novel! The color pallet was definitely not what I was expecting, but I loved how whimsical it was. My only complaints were that we didn't really get to see Hawthorne's motivation for being evil, and the story seemed to wrap up a little too fast and neatly.

This was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the character arcs and their growth over the whole story. The art is beautiful and really helped to tell the story. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a fun, but somehow still cozy adventure into evil.

Kennedy Tarrell (She/They) is a Los-Angeles based writer, storyboard artist, and comic-maker. She's currently working as a story artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios, most recently on Wish - 2023. She’s also written, storyboarded, or developed in both the feature and TV space for clients including Cartoon Network, Netflix Animation, DreamWorks Animation, and WB. In the publishing space, her debut YA graphic novel, Evil-ish, is now available.



Hawthorne Vandercast has big plans: join the infamous Brigade of Shade, move into a glamorous castle, and leave their mundane life as a potion barista behind. But when they finally get the chance to join the Brigade, Hawthorne finds themselves overshadowed by Maple, a bubbly, bright, flowery girl who could not look further from evil. After Hawthorne accidentally destroys Lady Wrath, head of the Brigade of Shade, Hawthorne is suddenly tasked with leading the Brigade. They soon begin to realize that maybe villainy isn't actually all it's cracked up to be, especially when Maple reveals that there’s more to her than anyone first assumed.



Kennedy Tarrell has written a compelling tale for teens who feel out of place in their world. Hawthorne doesn’t fit in at home, doesn’t fit in in town, etc. Their dreams are within reach, though, and this quickly becomes a tale about getting more than one bargained for when they finally achieve their dreams. The tale delves into discussions of evil and good, what true evil looks like, and how those who are hurt and vulnerable often have the capacity for both good and evil in great amounts.



This is a book geared for teen readers, especially teens who are parts of fandom. Hawthorne Vandercast is a perfect protagonist for this tale, and their feelings of isolation and not belonging are palpable throughout. The foil of the perennially upbeat Maple works well, and the plot discusses large concepts in a way that teens will not feel lectured too. While teens are the target audience, any reader who has ever felt isolation for enjoying horror or dark things will find something in this book and will be able to identify with Hawthorne and Maple.

✨ Review ✨ Evil-ish by Kennedy Tarrell

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Hawthorne wants to join the villainous Brigade of Shade but are they evil enough to join this crew? When they get their big chance, they use their leadership for jokes and pranks, showing their true evil-ishness, but when true evil comes along, Hawthorne must take leadership to protect their home.

This YA coming-of-age fantasy graphic novel has great queer rep in Hawthorne's character. Gorgeous, colorful illustrations bring this fantasy world to life! It was a quick and vibrant read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: YA fantasy graphic novel
Setting: fantasy world
Pub Date: July 22, 2025

***ARC from NetGalley***

Beautifully drawn and charmingly told.

Hawthorne works in their mother's coffee house as a potions barista. All they want is to join the Brigade of Shade and be "evil." Except Hawthorne doesn't have an evil bone in their body. In case you haven't already noticed, Hawthorne is non-binary and in this world of medieval magic, no one blinks and eye at that.

On the day of auditions to join the Brigade, things do not go as planned and the very sweet and also, very powerful, Mabel is selected over Hawthorne. This sets in motion a series of events that culminate with Hawthorne as the new leader of the Brigade. Over the course of the book, the Brigade transforms from timid to terrifying and then completely off the rails. I won't tell the rest, but the resolution is satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for this e-arc.

This was a cute little read. I was lost at times and wished there was more development, but overall, it was still entertaining.

There were some parts of this story that I really enjoyed, but there were equally as many parts that felt rushed and/or underdeveloped. There wasn’t really any mention of why the main character wanted to join the “evil” group. And the ending felt rushed as well. Overall it was a cute story and I really like that the girl ended up being the villian even though she didn’t come across as the “evil” type at first.