“Mooncakes is spellbinding. It had everything I love in a story—magic that felt inventive, characters that became my friends, and a romance that felt truly authentic. It was one of those books that I was sad to see end. Luckily, I can always reread.” —Tillie Walden, creator of Spinning and On a Sunbeam
"Mooncakes transported me to a gorgeous magical realm that I never want to leave, and introduced me to lovable characters who stuck with me long after I finished reading. This graphic novel is the joyful fantasy romance we all need right now, and it might just restore your faith in magic." —Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky
“Mooncakes is heartwarming, playful and absolutely magical! A story about love and family, with a kind and powerful core that radiates through the vibrant cast of characters.” —Katie O'Neill, author of The Tea Dragon Society and Princess Princess Ever After
A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.
Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.
One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.
Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.
I have been following Mooncakes since it was being published as a webcomic on tumblr and I'm so happy to see it coming into print. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mooncakes is a queer, sweet, heartfelt, handwritten love letter to love, friendship and families whether they be the family you were born with or the family you choose along the way. The cast of characters is diverse and rendered with such tenderness that you want to hug everyone. Nova is a witch carefully finding her footing in a world that has been hard for her. Raised by her grandmothers, she begins the comic searching for purpose and direction. Enter long-time friend and crush Tam, a werewolf, who comes back in to her life with a problem that takes a village to solve. With everyone working together, they fight to protect their homes both literally and metaphorically speaking. The end result is something so pure and wonderful and I cannot recommend it enough.
The art style is lovely, full of muted Fall colors and evokes the same sweet sentiment of the story itself, creating a truly complementary experience overall. The level of detail is impressive, every panel is designed with balance and symmetry, nothing overwhelming any of the story notes, and with an aesthetic that is truly pleasing to the eye.
I specifically applaud the genderqueer representation and perfectly executed acceptance without hesitation or question of Tam Lang in all their magical brilliance. If you like stories about discovering who you are and what you could be, sweet, soft romances, and a touch of magic, you will love this.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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Finished reading
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10 July, 2019:
Reviewed