This graphic novel is so cute and fun to read. The main protagonist is named Nova who is a witch and lives with her two grandmothers. Nova discovers her friend Tam is back in town and they find themselves trying to defeat a demon.

Things I love is that the two main characters are Chinese American
Nova is hard of hearing and Tam is non-binary. Also the grandmothers are in a relationship together. I liked the pictures and the story is cute.

This was such a fun book with great characters, really nice magic, and warmth.
I loved the writing, the story and the illustrations. If you want to have a good time, go for it. It's amazing!
Thanks a lot Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a sweet story!! Nova is a witch with hearing aids who lives with her grandmas and works at their bookstore café. Tam is a non-binary werewolf who used to be Nova’a crush before they moved. Both of them are Chinese-American and now that Tam is back, trying to stop a demon who’s hiding near Nova’s home, they find each other again.
I loved all the characters, especially Nova’s best friend, who loves science and does not understand witchcraft but supports her friend no matter what.

I’m so glad NetGalley provided a copy in exchange for an honest review, because I loved reading this and if you’re looking for an adorable, fun story with tons of representation, do not hesitate to get this book!

I never knew how much I needed this precious graphic novel about a queer hard-of-hearing witch and a nonbinary werewolf (both Chinese-American) childhood-friends-to-lovers relationship, but WOW, here we are and this is going to be one of my favorite releases of the year, no doubt at all.

Because I'm having a hard time putting into normal review formatting how much I loved this, let the bullets do their thing:

• DIVERSITY FOR DAAAAYYYYYS
• Not only are both MCs Chinese-American and queer, but Nova has two grandmas in a relationship with each other, too?! KILLING ME WITH CUTENESS, Y’ALL
• Such sweet and wholesome witchy rep, please give me more stories about good witches interacting with nature and doing sweet protective craft ♥
• This art is adorable, full stop, and can we just take a moment to appreciate the precious quiet detail of Tam’s ears?!
• Tam uses they/them pronouns (and even corrects other characters) and the other characters are so respectful of them!
• Multiple references to Nova’s hearing aids ♥
• Nova’s bestie is the obligatory skeptic character who’s also a trip and ships Nova/Tam so hard, A++ wing-woman over here
• Everything is just so wholesome and precious and we stan 😭

I seriously can't recommend this highly enough and I hope everyone picks it up and obsesses over it when it releases this October! 😍🎃🔮

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was the cutest, most precious thing.
It about two queer main characters. It was a F/NB relationship between the two main characters. Nova is a Witch and Tam who is a werewolf. The story has a strong family dynamic. I highly recommend this graphic novel, and I can’t wait to get a finished copy.

3/5 stars

<i>ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </i>

Let me start by saying this has a lot of potential. But it needs more information added to the story. The story is interesting but if feels like a rough draft, it needs more details. Everything I know about ALL characters in this story could fit a single page. We learn a very slight amount about each of the characters pasts. And find out a very, very small amount about their families and their relationship from when Tam lived in the town originally.

The world seems very interesting and I would love to know more about it and the magic system. I would love to know more about Tam and Nova. I think I would really like them as characters if I had more information about them. Tam is a nonbinary, werewolf. And Nova is a witch that needs hearing aids.

But like I said it’s a cute romance but should be marketed towards middle grade, as I think most people would find the story bland and very predictable. The final fight felt like it lasted 3 pages.

Everything in the story was predicable and had very easy solutions. Also, there were some very cheesy lines the characters would say.

While running from the main villain
Villain- “That’s right…. run back to your little wolf friend…while you can”
And the main character brilliantly replies “I will! And I’m going to make out with them while I’m at it!”

<i> *facepalm*</i>

There are plenty of things like this, but this is one of the worst.

It is a good graphic novel for a fun cute quick romance read.

I need to start by saying that I absolutely love this cover! It's what immediately drew my attention to this graphic novel. The artwork throughout has a lot of quirky details that I really enjoyed and every time I look back through this I find another small detail that pops out.

Mooncakes is a love story between Nova, a witch, and Tam, a werewolf. Nova works at her grandmothers' bookshop and investigates any supernatural stirrings in her small town. One night she follows up on strange reports of a white wolf in the woods only to discover her childhood crush and best friend Tam who has been driven from place to place by a supernatural cult led by their stepfather. This is a story of witchcraft, friendship, family, betrayal, love and self discovery.

The magic really takes a back seat here to the representation that is happening with these characters and I love that. Both of the main characters are chinese-american. Nova has two grandmothers who appear to be in a supportive relationship. Nova is hard of hearing and Tam identifies as nonbinary. Plus, Nova's bestfriend, Tatyana is representing woman interested in science fields. I am here for all of this and quite frankly we need more of it!

That being said, I didn't love this quite as much as I thought I would. There is a lot going on here and it felt a little too overwhelming for me. I wish the authors had edited down some of the story elements or made it longer to really explore all of these elements on a deeper level. Overall, however, I thought this was great and I'm curious to see if they continue this as a series.

Mooncakes is a delightful romp through a magical town, following a young protagonist and her childhood friend-turned-lover as they fight to keep evil at bay. The story keeps the small wonders of magic alive, honing in on the fun parts of being a witch in the modern world. Conflict remains on the periphery of the story, but the real joy lies in the everyday lives of these extraordinary witches. To the grandmothers, nothing appears to be dire or overwhelming. They’re confident in their abilities and their combined skills, content to protect their small community day in and day out.

At the center of all of this magic lies a number of powerful relationships that fuel the narrative. We see the powerful connection between Nova and her grandmothers. She’s learned everything she knows from them, both in magic and in love. We see the rekindled relationship between Nova and Tam, providing the central love story. That love is guided delicately in the narrative, and we get to watch it bloom into something powerful by the end. Last but not least is the friendship between Nova and her best friend, providing comic relief at key moments. It’s a solid support system, giving Nova everything she needs to thrive and grow into her abilities.

The art style is stunning, creating a warm landscape that instantly captures the imagination. The forest artwork is done expertly, revealing a hidden magical world on the outskirts of this everyday town. Little details are drawn with care, giving us a relatable setting and personable characters you can’t help but fall in love with.

Overall, Mooncakes features a strong story about the fun of magic, the mysteries of love, and the power of a support group when the going gets tough. It’s a compelling journey set in a wondrous world that was a joy to experience.

Review to be published on 10/15: http://reviewsandrobots.com/2019/10/15/mooncakes-book-review

The illustrations were great and I enjoyed the story concept but I had a little trouble getting into it.

3.75/5 stars.
This was so so cute!!

I don't usually read much comic books, not because I don't like them but because for some reason I don't seem to be able to really get into them but I'm glad I picked this one up!

This was a very quick, entertaining read. I enjoyed it so much and I found myself having fun reading it. I loved both Tam and Nova. I also loved her grandmothers and her best friend. The plot was also very interesting and enjoyable.

The LGBT rep in this one (bi, nonbinary and lesbian) rep in this book was very refreshing. Would definitely recommend this one!

Delightfully cute and diverse read. following two Chinese-American teens.
Tam is a Non-Binary shapeshifter while Nova is a deaf witch in training who rekindle an old flame while trying to save the town from a strange demonic entity thats made it new home in the local woods.
The story line progresses very quickly but I was still left feeling satisfied by the end of it. If you're you're looking for a quick, feel good read this is one I would recommend.

** Copy kiindly provided by authors, publishers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I received with thanks an ARC copy of Mooncakes from Lion Forge and Netgalley.

This is my review of Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu. This will be published on 15th October 2019

This was a beautiful tale of a witch and her werewolf friend. This has mystery, magic and intrigue. I really enjoyed reading this tale and would read another graphic novel by this writing duo. This also had excellent LGBTQ+ representation.

Would recommend if you love a good witchy romance.

This was so cute and adorable but it felt like I was missing in something. It felt like a sequel rather than a first volume. I felt no connection with the characters. Nova and Tam were cute but their development was totally not good. It felt like they met and then directly fell in love. The suspense was also not that good and I knew how it would end in the first pages. The art was so good though. But I wanted more of everything.

Cute, beautifully illustrated. It had a Buffy-esque feel to it and full of diversity representation. Lesbian, non-binary, deaf/hard of hearing, werewolf. It was just cute and fun, however a little bit predictable.

This was cute. The relationship happened very suddenly which I wasn't a huge fan of, but I enjoyed all of the characters nonetheless.
The pacing was fast, the art was cute and it was a fun witchy read to curl up with a hot drink on a cool day.

I’m still very new to graphic novels, but that being said, I couldn’t stop hearing hype for this one! When I was able to get my hands on it I knew I would devour it.

If you aren’t aware, Mooncakes follows a queer witch and her non-binary werewolf friend on a quest to eliminate a demon trapped in the forest. And of course, there is a romantic relationship that sparks between the pair.

Obviously I am all for a good witch story, especially one that is coming of age. Nova is experienced in magic, but still has a lot to learn and there was great give and take between those two sides while Nova decides where she wants her magic to go.

It was also incredibly refreshing to see such a supportive family, not just when it comes to magic, but also when the topics of sexuality and gender identity are brought up. Hands down my favorite scene in the graphic novel is when Tam tells the grandmas they are non-binary. You see their initial confused reactions, but then they instantly switch into acceptance.

It makes me so incredibly happy to see such accepting people written into stories on top of such diverse characters. From that moment on there was never a question as to who Tam was. Everyone was immediately on board and never messed up a pronoun.

Diversity aside, it really was a wonderful graphic novel. Albeit a little predictable, it was still a fun journey to be apart of and watch unfold.

Sparkling with magic, brimming with diversity, and wildly imaginative, this delightful love story is a must read for YA comic fans. In the same vein as Brave Chef Brianna and In Real Life, this comic brings together fun illustrations with a depth of emotion and full character development. The diversity in gender identity, abilities, and sexual orientation feels so genuine. It's part of the story, but there's so much more to the characters than those details. There are no "token" characters in this book, which I really appreciate.

The creativity of the demon and woodland creatures are part of what made me love it so much. For example, the evil horse monster that stands upright, has 6 legs, breaths fire, and a GIANT EYEBALL ON IT'S TORSO. It's terrible and incredible.

I also adore Nova's fashion choices. Several times throughout the book I looked at a skirt or shoes she was wearing and realized that I have the same ones, and would definitely wear her outfit. Especially the orange skirt / teal sweater / tights / boots combo near the beginning. And her bright pink fluffy morning robe.

All in all, I truly enjoyed this read, and highly recommend it.

I loved this! Not only did it have everything I love (witches. Werewolves.) but it had queer reps AND gave me serious Sabrina and Kiki vibes. The only thing I needed was more back story on some things. Other than that it’s a must read!

Arc kindly provided by Netgalley

This graphic novel was amazing! It's very diverse, the story is engaging, the artwork is stunning - what more could you want in a graphic novel!

This is the story of a young witch and a young werewolf who find each other again after Tam (werewolf) moved away. But there's a demon running amok and a cult to deal with.

I really loved this graphic novel and it even made me cry! I loved all the characters and how accepting everyone was about disability, culture and how they identify.

Would definitely recommend picking it up when it's released in October!

Unique and cute as can be, Mooncakes is unlike any other graphic novel that I have read so far. The story is different and the illustrations are fun and colorful. This graphic novel definitely kept me entertained throughout with its simple story line and fantastical creatures.

In Mooncakes we follow Nova, a young and budding witch, and Tam a werewolf with undiscovered magical talent. Nova and Tam embark on an adventure to banish the demon in the woods behind Nova’s house, while also discovering their feelings for each other. This story is filled with quirky characters like Nova’s pigeon headed uncle and her sassy but wonderful grandmas. This graphic novel is sure to make you smile and feel fuzzy inside.

My favorite character is Tatyana, Nova’s best friend and science nerd. She brings a lot of humor to the story and I enjoyed viewing her paralleled views of science versus magic. Her constant desire to understand and her unending frustration with the “physics” of magic made me fond of her. As a character she felt well rounded and interesting.

Weirdly enough I did not feel the same connection to Nova or Tam even though they were the main characters. To me it felt like they took a back seat to the quirkier secondary characters. The grandma’s were also well crafted, and in my opinion were more interesting than Nova and Tam. Nova and Tam just felt like a regular teen romance with angst and a small side of secrecy. It just did not feel as original as I wanted it to. With Tam being non-binary and Nova being bisexual ( I believe this is the proper interpretation though I may be incorrect) I felt like the dynamic would feel more unique and impactful, it didn’t. It seems their relationship was composed entirely of the same typical young adult romance tropes as any other YA novel. To me the characters just felt a little hollow.

While entertaining and composed of some unique character aspects this story didn’t diverge much from the usual YA plot system. I felt like it was a novel I had read before but with a different skin. I definitely did not hate it because I love YA, but it wouldn’t stand out in a crowd. It felt like it wanted to be like SAGA mixed with Steven Universe but didn’t quite meet the expectations of either.

On the other hand, the illustrations of this graphic novel are excellent. Wendy Xu made this novel absolutely stunning. The woodland spirits and the grandmas’ three cats were so cute. The world created is absolutely beautiful, it’s colorful while not feeling like an acid trip, and it creates a definite autumn weather feel. I am interested to see what else Wendy Xu has illustrated.

In all, I did not love this graphic novel. But, I also do not hate it. I think that if this story is to continue and really focus on Nova and Tam’s character development, my mind could change. There is a lot of potential here and I do not want to judge it too firmly because it was not a bad story, I just think that it could use some expansion. I give Mooncakes 3/5 stars with the strong hope that I get to see more in the future.