I loved this and devoured it in a day! I've been off Webtoons since the conclusion of Lore Olympus, but after finishing this volume I immediately jumped back on to finish the rest of the story.

I will say, at first I thought I missed a part in the beginning, since it just jumps right into it, with hardly any back story. But quickly fell in love with both main characters and the story. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Thank you NetGalley, Mia & Lauren Boulton, and thier publisher for an early copy in exchange for a honest review.

Mercy has called Jonah, a monster hunter, to come take care of whatever creature killed her father. Except, something goes wrong during the fight and her and the monster get fused!

I started reading this on Webtoons and it is well worth the read. It's really sweet.

I was very much surprised by this read! I wasn't sure if I was going to love it as much as I did, but boy was I wrong. The romance was beautiful and the world-building definitely had me engrossed for a vast majority of the book. I'm excited to see what more is in store for the main characters as well as exploring further in-depth on their supernatural powers. Definitely keeping an eye out for volume two!

I enjoyed reading this so much and read through it so quickly that I was disappointed when it was done. Excited to learn it was a Webtoon so that I could keep reading it. Mercy is sweet and strong. Jonah is a mystery and clearly much more than meets the eye. Loved how the authors slowly unfurled their explanation of world's magic system. Illustrations are so cute. Major props to Mia Jay Boulton & Laurel Boulton for creating such a cool world.

Of Swamp & Sea Volume 1 will be published on November 4, 2025.

Thank you to Mia Jay & Laurel Boulton, First Second Books, 23rd St., and NetGalley for the ARC!

First off thank you netgalley for providing me this e-arc! First I want to say I loved the art style I thought it was gorgeous! Second, the Brancher holds my heart I thought it was so dang cute I want like a plushie of it or something I love it! The baby branches, to die for! Such big adorable eyes! Third I love the story! Very excited to see what happens next and will for sure continue with this series!

This was a great beginning to the series. The mysteriousness of Jonah mixes so well with his job of monster hunter. And we all love a flirty heroine, but one that can boss up when needed? Love that!!!!

Mercy and Jonah, I've only had you for one graphic novel so far but I'm already obsessed with you. Their dialogue feels grounded, even within this otherworldly premise, filled with electricity and banter. There's substantial emotional stakes and they naturally drive character development, both as a duo and individually. Stellar art style and use of color that enhances the worldbuilding that's always intriguing without ever being confusing. Mercy and Jonah's slowly developing dynamic, and their monster side quests, left me wanting the entire rest of the story immediately!

Thank you Netgalley, First Second Books, and Mia Jay Boulton, and Laurel Boulton for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was great graphic novel! The artwork was stunning.

The blurb was spot on with this book having a Witcher vibe. It's a darker story, but there are a few cozy moments, and possibly a budding romance as well. The pacing was fantastic, and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed picking up the little bits of worldbuilding, and slowly learning about out two main characters (plus the spirit beast). I also love that Jonah isn't the type of monster hunter that will kiss every beast, and that he has compassion for gentle creatures that won't harm humans.

I can't wait for the next one to come out, and see where this adventure leads us.

Make room on your shelf for a new fantasy graphic novel adventure featuring fantastical monsters, mystery, and a dash of romance.

Of Swamp & Sea is a beautifully illustrated comic that you can sink into for a couple of hours and revel in its intriguing story and characters that you'll be instantly rooting for. Mercy is sweet, kind, brave, and bookish. Jonah is strong, mysterious, and full of conviction. On their journey to exorcist the wolf spirit bound to Mercy, they encounter more fantastical monsters, some friendlier than others. The illustrations of these beasts are truly originally imaginative. The ending is action packed with a startling revelation of Jonah leaving readers on a cliffhanger, hungrily awaiting more.

I will definitely be reading the next installment as I'm eager to find out what happens next to Mercy and Jonah!

Of Swamp & Sea was my first real dive into graphic novels (aside from Lore Olympus), and I couldn’t have picked a better entry point. The art is absolutely stunning—moody, atmospheric, and richly detailed. Every panel feels intentional and immersive, pulling me deeper into the world with each page.

The story, centering on Mercy and Jonah, is just beginning, but it already has me hooked. There's a strong sense of mystery and tension—not just in the plot, but also between the two main characters. Their dynamic is layered and compelling, leaving me wanting to know more about their pasts and where they’re headed next.

I’ll be anxiously waiting for future volumes. This one left me with more questions than answers, but in the best way. If you’re looking for something beautifully drawn and full of intrigue, Of Swamp & Sea is a fantastic start.

Thank you to Mia Jay & Laurel Boulton, First Second Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Of Swamp & Sea features Mercy, a sheltered woman whose dad has recently been killed, and Jonah, a monster hunter who Mercy hires. Mercy and Jonah go looking for the monster who killed Mercy's dad but things go south. Mercy ends up possessed by a spirit wolf. She and Jonah set off on a journey to remove the wolf. There is adventure and some pining on Mercy's part.

Recommended for those who like fantasy with some romance. Bonus for monsters who aren't always monstrous.

I really enjoyed the illustration style. The character development was just ok but sets the stage for future volumes.

My first NetGalley graphic novel and it was so good!! Of Swamp and Sea, pulls readers right in with such a beautiful cover. This visually pleasing fantasy graphic novel by Mia Jay Boulton and Laurel Boulton was adapted from their Webtoon series.

The plot of volume one focuses on Mercy, a girl isolated from her local town whose father was recently slaughtered by a mist wolf. She sets out to kill this mist wolf with the help of self proclaimed monster hunter, Jonah. But the wolf unfortunately possesses her, causing her to develop wolfish powers (anger issues, haha…girl is just a bit blood thirsty for a fight). Finding it difficult to not help her, Jonah informs her it’s either detach the wolf or die. These two set off on a journey to find the man that may be able to help them. This journey leads them to encountering two monsters, one that’s absolutely adorable and another that is a bit problematic.

Throughout, volume one we see Mercy figuring out how to balance her human side from the wolf side. We also get brooding secretive Jonah and the budding relationship between the two of them. Loving the slow-burn romance vibe this is also giving off and I’m here for it.

Thank you NetGalley and First Second Books.
5 stars!!
Can’t wait for volume 2!

Mystery, fantasy, a little romance and a quest to save a life. The GN was written and illustrated so stunningly. I was obsessed and devoured it. I can’t wait for vol 2!

First, thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review🫶🏻

Where should I even begin? This volume started the series off perfectly. The dynamic between our main characters is sweet and fun. The art style is gorgeous and has a beautiful color scheme. The characters contain their own depths and personalities.

This is everything I look for in a first volume of a graphic novel series. I know I’ll be reading more when they come out because it just hooks you in.

It’s also really unique! I think there’s a lot of fantasy graphic novels so it’s hard to find a niche with your storytelling but this graphic novel didn’t feel like any others I’ve read. It was well done and I’m really excited to see where this story will be heading. The main characters are fun. It’s a light easy read and I know I needed that today. I can tell there will be some heavier themes and turmoils to our characters, but I know I will be looking forward to that as well!

I would absolutely recommend this read to others. Again, thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for the ARC!

Review to come on instagram (@seas.library) before pub date!

'Of Swamp & Sea Volume 1' was really fun! I liked the art style very much and the story is compelling enough I need to read more. Really great beginning to a series, I will definitely be keeping up with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Of Swamp and Sea. Mercy’s story pulled me in right away — a girl living in the swamp, grieving her father after a monster attack, and teaming up with gruff monster hunter, Jonah, to track it down? Yes please. Add in a ghostly wolf that might be inside her now, and you’ve got my attention.

The art is beautiful — misty, and eerie.

If you like quiet gothic fantasy, soft apocalypse settings, or stories about girls with mud on their boots and ghosts in their blood, this one’s for you.

So magical! I adored every page of this. The 'monsters' are all unique and beautifully drawn. You get to know our two main characters so much, even within the short amount of time. There's plenty of intrigue. The art is delicious, every panel calls to you. It gives so much more than words. I cannot wait to read the next volume!

Someone give this illustrator a raise! This book was gorgeous illustrated. Pure eye candy that kept me fused to the story for all 260 pages.

This was my first adult graphic novel and it was really cute. I’m not sure what to expect out of a graphic novel as it was my first time reading one but I was surprised at how invested in the story I was. The graphic illustration was definitely the star of the show. The facial expressions added so much humor to my reading experience and there were moments that even made me giggle out loud like when she makes him coffee.

I loved the characters! I never thought I’d say this about cartoons but they had good chemistry. The balance between grumpy vs sunshine worked really well and it was cute to see Jonah have tiny moments of softness for Mercy. The storyline was interesting and the pacing was perfect. It was fun going along with Jonah and Mercy and an adventure to hunt monsters.

Posted to Goodreads: 6/29/25

This story captured my attention right from the start! I really enjoy graphic novels, and the illustrations are amazing. The story follows a 21 year old girl named Mercy, who hires a monster hunt to hunt the beast that killed her father. Of course, something goes wrong and the beast possesses Mercy instead, leaving her and the monster hunter to find a way to undo what happened. The book has aspects that are fun, sweet, and serious, making it a great read for someone who wants to be fully immersed in a story that keeps you wanting more. I was given the opportunity to read a copy of this book through NetGalley and I hope that it finds other readers that enjoy it as much as I did!

OMGGGG IM OBSESSED!!! I devoured this graphic novel in less than an hour. I loved the plot and i loved all the different creatures in the story. The monsters were so creative and unlike anything i’ve read before (the rain fairies were awesome). The art was incredible and it really grabbed my attention and pulled me into the story alongside Jonah & Mercy.

I’m preordering this book now hehehe & I can’t wait for the second one already!!

THANK YOU to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I’m obsessed 🤩