Bloodlust & Bonnets

by Emily McGovern

[paperbackjedi]

I really enjoyed this. I've always loved the My Life as a Background Slytherin comics and so when I saw this came from the same creator, I was excited to read it and it did not disappoint.

Bloodlust & Bonnets follows the exploits of Lucy, a hungry for adventure, rebellious (yet hilariously impressionable) girl who gets wrapped up in the antics of a vampire cult, Lord Byron-- yes that Lord Byron, the poet and rake extraordinaire, and Sham, a mysterious traveler with secrets who joins on their quest to hunt a high society vampire. The panels are simple and bright and very pleasing to the eye. The art matches the whimsical nature and overall humor of the story and I found it paired well with the underlying tone of the comic.

The story itself is just plain fun; it's a romp through history told through a paranormal lens with such witty cleverness that you will find yourself smiling the entire time you're reading. Lucy is such a relatable character, vacillating between a fierce insistence on independence while struggling with the idea of acceptance overall and how she can achieve it without losing anything in the process. Byron is... well, exactly what you'd expect. His character is a fantastic play on the actual poet, his ego being one of the more humorous points in the story, often regaling his companions with his dashing deeds while at the same time somehow endearing himself to his companions. And Sham, their newfound addition and mysterious mercenary, adds a note of intrigue and dry humor to level everything else out. Add in some slight touches of romance between the ladies (Lucy and Sham) and you have a delightfully sweet and silly concoction, perfectly balanced in the insanity.

Also, there's a psychic bird named Napoleon who has a link with Byron, a sentient castle with incredibly lax security, secret feuding vampire cults, and absolutely no talk of feelings. No seriously, feelings are terrible. No one should have them. Let's all avoid them. Except, not actually.. So really, what's not to love? The overall voice of Bloodlust & Bonnets comes through strong, pulsing with vibrant funny notes that will delight fans of both history and adventure.