Skull Cat (Book One): Skull Cat and the Curious Castle

by Norman Shurtliff

It’s Scully the Cat’s first day as the new garden-keeper at a spooky castle… but when everyone goes missing, is he brave enough to become a hero? Draw your sword and let's find out!

Even though the castle is an eerie place, full of dark secrets, Scully is excited to start his new job and prove himself to be a great gardener. But wait a minute… what happened to all his co-workers? Were they devoured by bloodthirsty vampires? Spooked by a love-struck ghost? Pranked by a comic-reading goblin? Enchanted by a sleepy sorcerer? Will Scully have to become the hero and uncover the truth behind Le Dark Chateau? He never signed up for this!!

Middle-grade readers who love fantasy and spooky adventure will treasure Norman Shurtliff's debut graphic novel like a magical gem.

• ISBN10: 1603095195
• ISBN13: 9781603095198
• Publish Date: 21 February 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Top Shelf Productions
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 112
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781603095198

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Throw cats into a graphic novel, and you know I will read it. Just sayin'. Skull Cat: Skull Cat and the Curious Castle is a short and sweet graphic novel created by Norman Shurtliff. It's set in a fantastical world where vampires, monsters, and ghosts exist - as do talking cats. Naturally.

Scully the Cat is a sweet little boy (cat) trying to take care of his family. If he comes across an adventure worth bragging about, that's all the better. He wants to become a hero someday, but for now, he'll settle for being a gardener.

Why a gardener? That's the job currently available to him, though the garden in question is set around a creepy castle that may or may not have a dark sorcerer trapped somewhere in the depths. Or so the legend goes.

The best part about Skull Cat: Skull Cat and the Curious Castle (other than our kitty protagonist) is that this story is perfect for any age. It's not so spooky as to frighten young ones, but it is also not childish, making it a fun read for teens and adults. Basically, if you like magic, cats, and adventures, you'll probably enjoy Skull Cat.

The artwork is another highlight of this graphic novel. Shurtliff uses purples and blues to provide shadow without eliminating a sense of color. And the characters are so stinking cute! Even the ones that have no right to be. I'm in love.

Thanks to Top Shelf Productions and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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