A cute, short read about a little witch, her loyal friend, and an uncommonly intelligent pig, in the vein of something like Hilda. I picked this up thinking it was going to be a bit longer, but realized when I grabbed it that it was just slightly longer than your average floppy comic and ended on a cliffhanger like a true Issue #1. The illustrations were gorgeous and kids will probably like it!

Review to come in September close to the release day on blog/other places.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

What I loved:
😍 The Cover! It is what drew me into getting this book from Netgalley. 
😍 The illustrations inside, they were so gorgeous! I was just mesmerized by how pretty they were. You could have just told the story without words with how gorgeously detailed and pretty they were. I also love seeing the town at the beginning of the book. 
😍 Hugo was a fun character though I am bit done with the trope of strong female lead and wussy/constantly worried male friend. I loved that despite his worries he went along with Brume's hare-brained schemes. And I loved how he kept his wits about him.
😍 I loved the small town and the surroundings, I would love to explore those for real. The adventures our duo had, I wanted to be part. Discover the forest. Travel over the waters (though don't bite me mr. alligator/crocodile).
😍 I liked the ending/last pages with that reveal.
😍 I loved the extras at the end.

What I disliked/hated:
😒 The MC. When her hat is ACCIDENTALLY knocked off she flies in a rage against an ELDER person and tries to turn her into a pig. She found a pig on the way and just took it home without any care. Called him bacon. Smashed a piggy bank with a hammer and threatened that he better be on her good side. Someone talks to her and she just hits the little shop bell over and over to drown out his talking. When she meets a boy she threatens to turn him into a pig as well. She tells him that he smells. She is always angry. I could go on. She is egocentric, annoying, bratty, and not my favourite character.
😒 Oh, and of course her powers only activate when something terrible happens. What a surprise. I am sorry, I just have seen that one too many times. I just want to see something different.

While it was funny I didn't see why the squirrel had to change into a Pikachu, it seemed like such a weird choice.

All in all, a bit of a mixed bag for me. I had fun at times, but Brume just ruined a lot of the good moments. Not sure if I will continue.

It’s bad luck to have a village without a witch!

Oh my goodness, this was absolutely adorable! I picked it because the illustrations were so cute and ahhh, it’s honestly cute the whole way through! Little witch Brume desperately wants to be the village witch after Naïa, the last witch (successor to Merlin), has vanished. Brume is convinced she is The Next Witch! A belief that’s solidified when she finds a sweet little pig that she’s certain is an old woman she’s hexed into being a pig. Poor dear Hubert, whom she calls Bacon Bit (our narrator), wants only to eat chocolate croissants, while Brume’s friend Hugo wants to be her witch’s assistant, and both are dragged into Brume’s hairbrained scheme to fill Naïa’s vacant role as village witch. To do this, Brume must prove she can do spells, brew potions and of course Defeat the Dragon! (Which Naïa purportedly put to sleep.)

I cannot wait to see where the next one goes. This was so, so cute and I loved the trio of Brume, Hugo and poor put upon Bacon Bit.

Highly recommend!

A fun, sweet, witchy graphic novel! The art style is super cozy and charming. I loved the setting of the story. The characters were quirky and lovable. Of course, the pig was my favorite. The story had me giggling right from page one. My only complaint is that I wish this was longer. For a graphic novel, even if it is for a younger audience, it was too short for my liking. This is the first volume but I could easily see them combining one or two more into it. Regardless, I am eager to continue once more volumes come out. I especially enjoyed the addition at the end of historical context and the illustrators inspiration!

What first hooked me about this book was the incredible artwork—it's absolutely gorgeous! The characters are adorable as well, though it took me some time to warm up to the main character. For a good portion of the story, she lacked redeeming qualities, which made it hard to connect with her. I understand that her growth is part of the plot, but I wish she had been a bit more endearing earlier on.

One character I did really enjoy was the pig—he was charming and added a fun, silly tone to the story that balanced out some of the heavier moments. However, I found myself wanting more background on the town and its inhabitants. It felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story already in progress, which made it harder to feel fully immersed.

That said, the plot twist at the end was well done and definitely piqued my interest. While I didn’t absolutely love this book, it intrigued me enough that I’d be willing to pick up the sequel to see where the story goes next.

Brume: The Dragon Awakens by Jérôme Pélissier is a fascinatingly fun little graphic novel. Illustrated in gorgeous colors by the brilliant Carine Hinder, this story follows a little girl with big bright dreams of becoming a witch as phenomenal and impactful as Naïa, a witch long since gone from her little town and world.

Brume’s tale—because this truly is her story—begins with a pig. We are introduced to our narrator quickly, a little pig whom Brume believes is a rude old lady that she’s cursed into a different form (which makes her naming of him as Hubert rather amusing) as he scorns her behavior throughout the tale. Brume, you see, is very self-important from page one. She believes she has great magical potential as well as a rather exciting destiny—all of this culminating in her adopted father providing her with the spell book he found her with when she was an infant.

Brume’s self aggrandizing is at the forefront of her personality, exuding a level of confidence that Hubert certainly cannot help himself from mocking as the story progresses. This is largely due to the ways in which her hubris produces numerous mistakes and poor decision making that, unfortunately, our adorable and excessively self-assured young witch doesn’t quite seem to learn from. Though she causes all sorts of trouble, Brume is insistent upon believing that a dragon is the cause rather than herself and sets out to vanquish him, dragging along poor Hubert and her new friend, Hugo—though, admittedly, she sees him more as a lackey or assistant—on a rather dangerous quest that neither boys are excited about.

Overall, this was such a fun and engaging story. The characters are all flawed in their own brilliant and unique ways, leading to an introduction to a world that I truly cannot wait to learn more about. Illustrations were perfect both for the intended age group, but also for the adults who will inevitably read this story with—or even without!—them. Pélissier has truly built something exceptional here and I’m thrilled at the prospect of seeing more and introducing this book to my students.

4.5 stars
This was such a cute start to this fantasy story.
We kind of follow along in the POV of a pig who gets caught up in the adventure of Brume. Brume is a girl who wants to be a witch, but ever since Naia disappeared, there have been no witches. After thinking she turns an old lady into a pig, she thinks she's a real witch and keeps the pig as her assistant, along with her friend Hugo. When a spooky fog envelops the town (Brume's doing, unbeknownst to her), everyone thinks it's a dragon who has woken up so Brume goes in the forest to vanquish the dragon.
The first thing I want to touch on is the artwork. It was absolutely amazing. It was bright and colorful and immersive. The style really fit the story. I think it's one of my favorite art styles in a graphic novel I have read.
The characters were very cute. Brume was a little oblivious to literally everything and Hugo and Hubert (what she names the pig) are trying to pick up the pieces after her. Hubert is so funny. He was the narrator so in his head, he is telling Brume she's the reason behind the fog and he has to find the antidote and stuff. He really stole the show for me.
The plot was really fun too. It was quite short, but I really felt the story it was trying to tell was fully told. It also lead into the next volume really well, and I can't wait to see what happens next!

This was so cute! Brume is a young witch who is ready to save her village despite not knowing how to be a witch at all. When her dad gives her a spellbook he found when he discovered Brume out in the woods, she goes on a journey to kill a dragon that lives just outside of the village. I loved how sassy Brume is and how wise Hubert is. Hubert's commentary through the book really sold the story for me. I think kids looking for something short but fun will love this. I'll definitely be tuning in for volume 2.

Cute book though I will admit the main character is a little obnoxious and mean spirited in the beginning. While it maybe put that way to highlight her frustration, her name calling and sort of disrespectful/entitled attitude kind of turned me off. Love Hubert though!

Brume is a super cute story about a little girl who wants to be a witch told from the point of view of her pet pig. The characters are adorable and mischievous, and the art is fantastic! This is perfect for the Hilda crowd. I would definitely recommend this one for the older elementary/middle grade crowd!

Thanks to Netgalley, Jerome Pelissier, and Astra Publishing for the chance to read and review! My opinions are my own!

This was a delightful little book, perfect for young readers who like all things witchy. I will definitely be looking out for volume 2!

Thank you Jerome Pelissier, Astra Publishing House, and NetGalley for the ARC!

What an absolutely charming story! I loved this so much Brume was so determined to be a witch and I loved that in the end that came to fruition for her! I was a tiny bit sad that the villagers didn't believer her when she tried to tell them that it was her that slayed the dragon, but I'm guessing that in the next books they will come to see it for what it is. I loved the illustrations! They were so cute and whimsy and it really brought the story to life. My kids and I are really excited to read the next volume and see what happens to Brume, Hubert, and Hugo!

The book was adorable! Perfect for younger readers,but even as an adult I enjoyed it. The artwork is beautiful with lush colors reminiscent of anime.
The spunky little heroine of the story,Brume,is a bit of a mystery. An aspiring witch who may just be that. Along with her sidekicks(including the adorable pig,Hubert) off they go on an adventure,which of course includes a dragon.
The book ends on a cliffhanger - I'm looking forward to book two!
I received this arc courtesy of Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

My daughter couldn’t stop reading this! Brume is the perfect mix of funny, magical, and just a little chaotic.

Brume is exactly the kind of graphic novel I love having in our house: funny, adventurous, and full of heart. My daughter instantly connected with Brume’s curious, can-do spirit (and thought the pig sidekick was hilarious).

It’s silly in the best way, with just enough mystery to keep them turning the pages. Some moments felt a little fast-paced, but it sparked so much imagination—and a few giggles too. A great pick for ages 7–11, especially for fans of Hilda or Witchlings.

A lighthearted, funny, creative story. The world is unique and imaginative, one I am agree to return to in the next volume. Fans of stories like Hilda should give this one a look.

Such a fun story with the sassiest little witch and her pals. I loved this short adventure with a big task of saving their village, it was the perfect length to keep kids engaged without losing their interest along the way. The characters were cute and funny and often had me laughing out loud, that Hubert is quite the comedian. I appreciated the sweet connection she had with her dad and his gentle support of her dream to be a witch even if it seemed impossible. The illustrations were wonderfully detailed and beautifully depicted to add that bit of whimsy to their journey and full of so much life and colorful action it would draw anyone into Brume’s adventure. The sweet narration of Hubert was one of my favorite elements guiding the story in a clever way. I’m excited to read more of her spell worthy adventures and adored the informational addition at the end adding a bit of history to round out the foundation of who Brume is.

I love Brume! The whole adventure was absolutely delightful, and I look forward to reading more adventures. I kept thinking, as I read this, that it reminded me of a cartoon or family-friendly movie. I hope one day this is turned into a fun Pixar film. It was a fantastical, funny, and wholesome story about a witch, her pet pig, and the dragon she sets out to conquer.

At the end of the book, the authors describe their village in France, and their inspiration for this book, which I also enjoyed. I think it's inspiring to see where other writers get their ideas and hope that children will enjoy their journey as well.

YES yes yes. A much needed graphic novel for kids looking for witch graphic novels! I can't believe I have to wait unitl September to get this book in the hands of eager middle graders.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.