I'm pretty new to graphic novels. I have never really been interested in them, but I still like to try them out every now and then. This one just didn't do it for me. I found it to be a bit boring and it wasn't my favorite art style.

I'm still a relative newbie when it comes to graphic novels but I really enjoyed this one.

Nova is a young witch fulfilling an apprenticeship with her two grandmothers in a magical bookshop. Her childhood friend and crush Tam is a werewolf who has recently returned to the town. Together they team up to save the town from a neighbour who wants to claim the magic of wolves and use it for her own gains, while discovering that feelings they once had haven't ever gone away.

This was a charming fantasy tale with friendship, love and magic with just the right amount of adversity to face!

I received an eARC of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Representation: Representation: Chinese-American MCs (both queer), MC who is hard-of-hearing, MC who is non-binary, plus size SC, Jewish SC

CW/TW: Scary imagery, misgendering of MC (corrected ASAP)

The story of Nova and Tam, two childhood friends, facing feelings from the past, a demon in the woods, and a mysterious cult, Mooncakes is a fascinating tale of family, magic, danger, and more.

What I Enjoyed

The first glance at the Employees Only room at Black Cat Bookseller & Cafe. It's crammed with books (both stationary and flying), witchy imagery, and the linework is very good. It's homey and attractive and I remain sore that I can't visit it myself.


Seriously, the detail Wendy included in the various scenes. When Nova is talking to her friend Tatyana in the Cafe, not only can you see the tea bag in the teapot, but the covers of the books in the foreground are tributes to other Young Adult books such as The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan.


Nova's Nanas. Not only do they run a bookstore/cafe that caters to witchcraft, but they're super supportive in general and of Nova and Tam specifically. They're also funny when they needle Nova and Tam about their budding relationship and badass when they take on a possessed horse.


Tatyana, a friend of Nova who knows about magic but is a scientist so is sometimes O_O about the things that pop up in relation to magic. My favorite reaction was when she found out that Tam was the white wolf she'd seen in the woods and she tried to reconcile that werewolves were a thing in her brain.


The variety of creatures at Witchwood State Park. They're so darling, it made even homebody me want to go out for a hike in hopes of meeting them. :)


The conveyance of information between the Nanas and the creatures of the forest with imagery, not words. It was easy enough to understand not only what each party meant, but how they felt about the situation.


Tam's fangs appearing in a panel here or there. It was so cute. <3


Cousin Terry. Coo... lol


The mid-autumn festival/Sukkot celebration. From the feast to the family reunion (living & deceased)...there was so much feeling of family, both the good and the sometimes not-so-good.


The frank discussion and inclusion of Nova's hearing aids.



What I Didn't Enjoy

While I enjoyed the scenes in Witchwood State Park, I thought that there were parts that were overcrowded with magical creatures that didn't mesh well. They felt like they were placed there rather than they were meant to be there, conveying movement or what-have-you.


I was confused by an abrupt scene end concerning Tam & Nova doing a soul connection sort of thing. Going by the script, it felt like there was a path it story was following, but then it ended and was insinuated to be left off for a later time. It didn't make sense to me in the context of the moment.


I don't think there was any clarity regarding the origin of werewolves (bite, hereditary, etc.) and that didn't sit quite right with me. Tam's family history is complicated say the least and gives no answers. Their mother was not a werewolf & doesn't understand the "wolf thing." Their stepfather is also not a wolf and there was no mention of other parents. So, what gives? Nova's family answers the witch facet.



To Sum It Up

Mooncakes is a richly illustrated, well told story about trying to find oneself, about the different kinds of magic in life, about love and family in different forms. A definite recommendation. 👍

the illustrations in this graphic novel are a work of art. THE COLOR PALETTE OMFL, it sets the perfect atmosphere for this queer, witchy family story. And the autumn vibes happening, makes it a perfect October read!

this is a book you read with a smile on your face, it’s super sweet and soft and pure and just fun!
i just think it was too fast and to-the-point for me to fully appreciate it. i Just wish there was more depth to the story, and overall that it were longer.

finally i wanna add that the representation in here was amazing and that i think anyone can find something they relate to, be it the identities or the experiences that are included into the narrative.

This was an enjoyable, cozy read. I loved the diverse characters, the art was vibrant and adorable. I recommend this supernatural read!

Super cute comic about witches, werewolves, magic and demons. It's truly heartwarming and I loved the romance bit.

Panels are well drawn and create the peculiar atmosphere of the comics. I loved the characters, the bookshops, and how rituals were presented.

I hope there will be more :-)

Five Stars!

This ARC was provided for review, but in no way affects the following impartial and unbiased review:
•
4*
Pros: Cutest art style and amazing colors. Full of magic and mystery. LGBT and PoC leads. Non-binary representation. Powerful witches. Fluffly badass grandmas. Wholesome and sweet.
.
Cons: Very predictable.

I had seen this talked about a lot and so when I got an ARC from Netgalley, I sat down with a cup of tea and read it (I do love how quick graphic novels are sometimes). And this is just as cute as I was promised.

Nova is a teen witch who helps her grandmothers out in their magical bookshop when she goes to investigate talk of a white wolf out in the forest. While out there, she meets up with Tam, an old childhood friend, and helps them with investigating the reason why they’re on their own in the forest.

This is just adorable. Nova and Tam both have their own character arcs to go through in this book but the two of them together just felt really sweet and when they ended up getting together, it just felt like it was a natural part of their existing friendship – which was impressive considering it happened in the first hundred pages or so. I liked how Nova had a good existing support system and her grandmothers and best friend just accept Tam as they are.

The world-building of this is exactly what I want from all those urban fantasy/cosy mystery books I read. The magic is a secret part of the world but also fairly open, there’s no huge angst about it being a secret or Nova or Tam not having to tell anyone and the magic itself, along with the forest spirits, is really lovely and comforting. It makes me think of Kiki’s Delivery Service all over again. Not to mention it fit in nicely with the plot as the magic itself didn’t get too dark, it was what certain people did with it that caused the darkness.

The colours and style of the illustrations fit the cosy, light fantasy theme really well and I adore how Nova and Tam are both drawn, together and apart.

One little nitpick is that when the big bad is taken care of, I would have liked a little more wrap up, a little more talk about what Nova and Tam are going to do now. We know what they’re going to do but I would have liked to see a longer conversation about where and are you sure and all that. But that is mostly personal preference.

I was going to give this a 4.5 stars but I think I’m going to bump this up to a 5 because when the finished version comes out, in full colour all the way through, I’m probably going to end up buying a copy.

5 stars!

Well, I hope you are ready for the most adorable, witchy graphic novel that has ever existed. Mooncakes wowed me from the beginning to the very end. I adored this fantasy story about friendship, family, love, and self-acceptance. The pages are filled with vibrant colors, which sketches a well-developed and mysterious plot, spooky and vivacious scenes, and most importantly, the artwork allows the characters to fully come to life throughout the pages.

In addition to a world of witches, werewolves, and demons, Mooncakes depicts a cozy little bookshop in a small New England town. Melded into this setting, the graphic novel provides intriguing (and tragic) backstories for both the two main characters, Nova and Tam. As the characters pursue a spell to battle dark forces, demons, and their very own internal struggles, Nova and Tam are also exploring their past friendship and new relationship. With the most adorable female/non-binary love story I have ever read, this fantasy graphic novel is swoony with a dash of eeriness. It is definitely the perfect graphic novel to pick up during the season of autumn.

Mooncakes is the perfect story for this time of year. It has witches, spells, and a werewolf. Add in some teenage angst, a budding love story, and friendship and I think that covers it all. I wasn’t extremely fond of the story line. It felt lacking in a way, but it is cute and has a good moral. 3.5⭐️

The plot was interesting, totally enjoyed the mix of characters in this. The fact it was set in new England was cool, the way the pronouns are used/corrected I enjoyed.
I did not get paid for this arc review all thoughts are my own.

While I really loved the queer, trans, Asian, and deaf rep in this book. I don't think the story and the characters offered anything very special. I did like the art style and do think this is a very cute story.

Mooncakes is one of the most satisfying stories in the comics industry in 2019. I say this as someone who has been a fan of both Wendy and Suzanne for years from following their work on twitter. The letter to the readers in the beginning sketches out the history of this book: “Mooncakes began on the eve of separation, in spring of 2015, as Suzanne was preparing to move back to Chicago and Wendy remained in New York. Our creative partnership became a way to keep our friendship alive and thriving, the space where we could connect across the country”. This graphic novel is a reunion for the two and a project that thrived under circumstances that kill most relationships: friendships even. With that being said The world that Walker and Xu have made…from seeing their earlier versions…To that end, opening this book up feels familiar, it feels like home. For new readers and new fans, I’m quite certain that this one will be greatly loved and bookmarked after settling in for a chapter or two.

Mooncakes was everything I love and more. With a narrative that focused in on Support systems, defining family it was paired up nicely with the magic, witches, werewolves and other supernatural bits. I especially loved the deep emphasis on how being different doesn’t and shouldn’t set you apart from being loved, protected, befriends, validated. The artwork came across with a warmth you feel just a few page sin. There's a love of territory to cross with all the supernatural beings and witchy stuff yet its pages to be in awe of and even somethings that are wildly terrifying stalking the woods at night. Mooncakes Is a Heart Warming, Spell Binding Magical Read that is a win for the Ya community that loves graphic novels and unique characters dealing with problems of love, life and purpose that we can all relate to! A win for LGBTQAP representation in comics and a win for friendships, love and magic!

This witchy diverse fall read follows a witch and a werewolf reuniting after many years apart in order to defeat evil while also trying to overcome the walls that kept them apart. This was cute and quirky, supernatural without being spooky. I loved the inclusion of a hard of hearing main character along with a non-binary character and both are easily accepted without judgement or exclusion. Spot on.

What I liked :
The art was really beautiful – This is an ARC so the last few pages weren’t in full color, but the rest of the book was, and it really made me appreciate the artist’s work ! The use of the colors in the story is captivating and helps understand a lot of details.
This is a very diverse book, but it never feels “forced” or badly done – the characters feel pretty authentic and it was easy to relate to them while reading, and understand their motivations.

What I didn't like :
I felt like it was lacking a bit in the plot department. For a book marketed towards Teens and YA, I was expecting a little more complexity in the intrigue. It stays enjoyable, of course, but feels a bit too simple for the themes it tries to talk about.
I love anything and everything magic. I would have liked to get to know more about the promising magic system that Mooncakes’s cover let me hope for, but it is mostly left unexplored through the course of the book, the author focusing more on the rest of her story than on explaining her world-building to the readers.

Conclusion :
I’d give this book a solid 3 stars – not bad at all ! I overall enjoyed reading this and took my time to appreciate the art. I would maybe suggest it to an audience a little younget than the one currently reading YA, though, as the story itself isn’t one of the most complex there is.

Still, I’d definitely recommend this book if you have teenagers, or for something like the new acquisitions display of a school library !

Mooncakes is an adorable graphic novel! The artwork in this is so beautiful, the story is so touching. I absolutely love it and found it so cute! Completely recommend it.

💖 <strong>"Mooncakes was such a heartwarming story full of found family, strong friendships, witchcraft, werewolves and a cute friends to lovers couple that stole my heart"</strong> 💖

<strong>Mooncakes can be described in one word: heartwarming</strong>. Don't get me wrong, the book deals with a few heavy topics such as recovering from losing a loved one and running away from abusive parents, but it was such a positive force as well. I flew through the graphic novel and would still consider it a great comfort read, because there were so many loving dynamics in the story. Here is a quick list of things that I really liked about the graphic novel and that you could end up enjoying as well!

➡ The <strong>art style is SO cute</strong>!! I wasn't sure if I was allowed to include a sample page, but just the cover gives off the vibe of the graphic novel: aesthetic, very atmospheric and very cute. Exactly what spoke to me.

➡ I loved how the <strong>book explored the two main characters</strong>. Both characters are Chinese American (and in love). Nova is a hard of hearing witch and dealing with the loss of her parents and figuring out where she belongs as a witch. Tam is a nonbinary werewolf running away from an abusive household and coming to terms with who they are.

➡ The<strong> romance was adorable</strong>. Tam and Nova are very cute together, they used to be friends before Tam went away and now that they're both reunited, we see how much they meant to one another. There's a lot of respect and caring between them, it's just plain adorable. They'll quite literally melt your heart.

➡ <strong>Found family</strong>!! Tam is basically adopted into Nova's family and gets a lot of support from <strong>Nova's two grandmothers</strong>! In general, there is lots of family love, because Nova has such a close bond to her grandma's, as she lives with them since her parents died. Her grandmother's also kick ass, they are super cool, I love them!

➡ I was also a big fan of Nova's <strong>best friend Tatyana</strong> becoming part of things later on. She could have been a bit better integrated into the story, but I like the unlikely friendship that we got to see.

➡ <strong>WITCHES</strong>! I love witches in books, so seeing the witchcraft and a rogue horse demon on the loose was a super interesting premise to read about. I also liked that Tam being a werewolf was connected to magic as 'wolf magic' that was a nice original twist on the species.

<b>In the end:</b> <i>Mooncakes</i> could <strong>have made for a fantastic graphic novels Series</strong>. Sadly, that wasn't the case, so I was a bit disappointed that we only got this one story. It could have had a less predictable and more complex storyline that better connected internal and external conflict if we would have gotten a bigger amount of page time with these characters. That's why I ended up giving the book 4 stars! ⭐

This book follows Nova, a witch, and Tam, a werewolf, and their romance as they try to stop a demon. Nova and Tam are the cutest and I really appreciated how accepting of each other they both were. There is a lot of really great representation in this graphic novel which was another plus. Another aspect to this story was the unexpected family drama that both Nova and Tam have. This is just a really well done contemporary story with a lot of witchy, magical elements thrown in. The pacing of this story was also really well done because the author, Walker, did a great job of balancing the magical elements of this story with the more realistic parts. 

The majority of the arc that I read was in color and I adored the art style. It is not as whimsical as  The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill but it was equally as cute. I loved the colors and way Nova and Tam looked at each other. Such a sweet romance and I hope we get more from these two in the future. Also, the side characters in this story added so much to the different layers of the story. I really liked Nova's best friend and her Grandma's. I also wouldn't mind a story based on the Grandma's when they were younger. 

Definitely check this out for a fun, sweet, cozy fall read. Mooncakes has all the elements for the perfect (non scary) October read.

This was a great love story full of magic, what family really is all about and with a diverse romance

The story of two childhood friends that meet again years later in a mission to destroy a demon and the love they always had for each otehr resurfaces

Fantastic coloring and great characters. Can not wait to see more from these authors.

A charming story of friendship, love, and family, with gorgeous illustrations. Really enjoyed it. The magic systems are very original and it's the perfect read for a cozy autumn day.