Member Reviews
As someone who loves style over substance when it comes to graphic novels, I was quite surprised with Taproot.
Yes, the art is beautiful, messy in ways that don't matter and colours that bloom beautifully, but the story was also pleasing. Taproot tells the story of a ghost and the man he's in love with, and from there supernatural aspects blend with typical romance tropes to create a beautiful story.
Keezy Young expertly displays the notion of "we were all put on this earth for a reason" and does it with style.
📖 Here’s what you need to know:
“A Story about a Gardener and a Ghost” Hamal works at the local flower shop. He can also see ghosts, among which is his best friend, Blue, who has a big secret. Trouble with an otherworldly creature brings Blue’s secret to light and has the potential to change everything.
💭 Here’s why I LOVED this graphic novel:
First of all, the artwork is beautiful. It really leans into the natural, earthy theme and fills any empty space with sprawling greenery. There is also a very cute, butterfly-inducing romance. It was so well developed and the first kiss moment was flawless. I hope for more adventures with Hamal and Blue!
I really liked the art style and concept of this book, but the writing really let it down. There was essentially no worldbuilding and the plot was very very jumpy. It felt like the romance was the main focus, and the fantasy elements were added in around the romance plot. I couldn't really explain to you why anything happened in this book because nothing is explained, and the resolutions were so rushed it felt incredibly underwhelming. The romance was cute, but it wasn't enough to carry the messy writing at all.
A new edition of Seattle-based, queer/non-binary comic artist, Keezy Young’s award-winning debut. It’s a YA, queer love story, frothy but with a slightly gothic feel. Blue’s a teen ghost who falls for Hamal a gardener at Takashi Flowers. Hamal can communicate with spirits but doesn’t know why, and he and Blue quickly form a close bond. When they’re threatened by the appearance of a sinister, reaper figure they have to work together to survive. The narrative’s a little sketch-like in places, and the mythology could be clearer, but it’s a sweet story and I loved the use of colour, particularly the vibrant depictions of plants and flowers, although the graphic style overall’s not my favourite kind. This new edition includes a section charting Taproot's development from web comic to graphic novel, and an afterword by Young on the background to her work.
3.75 rounded up to 4 stars in total! This was a really cute read and I had a lot of fun with it. However, it was a bit too short and sweet in my opinion. I really liked the characters and overall storyline, but it felt like it was over before it could even begin. I'd love if the original comic was added to or made into multiple volumes. I feel like that way, you could probably get into the world building, story, and characters.
But other than that, I really enjoyed this cute lil queer love story between a ghost and a gardener and will likely reread it in the future alongside others like Mooncakes and The Witch Boy!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Keese Young for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Taproot was, in one word, enchanting. The art style, colors, and background were enough to amaze me right from the beginning! It was an adorably sweet LGBTQ+ romance, and the fantastical setting was… magical! You really can’t ask for more in a graphic novel.
*I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; thanks to publisher and/or author for the opportunity*
This beautifully illustrated graphic novel by Keezy Young was, in a single word, delightful —I grinned so wide, I even got called-out at work for staring like a lovesick puppy at my computer. “No,” I explained, “I’m not in love!!! But these characters are, and it’s adorable.”
Taproot follows Hamal and Blue, a ghosts-seeing gardener and the friendly apparition sweet on him; as the boys unscramble a handful of mysteries and come to terms with their affection, their story reveals to us a fascinating world that tangles nature, life, and death.
The artwork, of utmost importance in a graphic novel, is breathtaking. It feels Young turned nature itself into their palette: there are so many greens, and blues, and browns. Even the ghosts, all of them faded greenish-blue, felt colorful. What I’m trying to say is that I could sense this world: smell its blooming flowers, feel the cool dirt between my fingers, hear its rustling leaves and every funny one-liner.
For those of you who had the pleasure of reading Taproot before, this re-realese includes a lovely afterword by the author, plus a few pages of sketches, original designs and other drawn knickknacks that should tempt a return from those that were here before.
A taproot is, as defined by Merriam-Webster's dictionary, “a primary root that grows vertically downward and gives off small lateral roots; the central element or position in a line of growth or development”. To me, Taproot perfectly encapsulated both senses of the word, presenting through its pages a branching world that teaches touching lessons about the here and the hereafter: how to let go, how to hold on, and how intrinsically linked both lessons are in life and death.
To summarize, I highly recommend this book to all lovers of romance and light-hearted-paranormals, especially if they are searching for intersectional, inclusive stories. Taproot, I’m sure, won’t disappoint.
-
Trigger warnings: Death and discussion of death; child-death; very-minor blood.
Taproot is a beautiful graphic novel with a story that is at times wholesome, spooky, cute, and funny, and sometimes all At once. A ghost and a necromancer seem the perfect match, and even though it seems like the world wants to keep them apart they find a way. It’s got Cemetery Boy vibes (or maybe that’s the other way around?) and is definitely a cozy read.
This delivered all the creepy cute vibes, I loved it. It was a really quick read that felt even shorter because I was so into it! Ghosts and plants you really can’t ask for much more then that. I really liked the color scheme of the world being one color and the underworld being darker shades of those colors, and the living and ghosts’ word bubbles being different colors that brought a really great contrast between them. The bonus story was really nice and brought the whole thing to a nice close.
*a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Okay, i was super delighted when there was an lgbtq+ graphic novel i could just read! So i pretty much digged right in and i wasn't disappointed.
The story about Hamal who can see ghosts who pretty much are around all the time and even are somewhat his friends – is just so so sweet, Hamal is someone you pretty much like instantly, he has such a big heart, a big softie, loving flowers, being nice to basically everyone.
And then there's Blue, a ghost. Some kind of talkactive troublemaker in a way and gosh i dig some cute romance – especially in that character constellation.
Blue was definitely my favorite! Could relate to him pretty much, loved his design! (also Hamal's) and i had a blast reading through the story.
The art style is very cute and very unique in the best of ways and i loved how the story developed <3 will definitely recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for giving me this eARC to review.
I adore this book so much. It is sweet, queer and involves ghosts- what more could I ask for? The art is superb and while parts of the story are a little fast/slightly underdeveloped, I still truly adored this book. I want a physical copy of this that I can just read over and over again. In an odd way, even though there is some sadness (see, Ghosts), this book was incredibly heartwarming.
Thank you Oni Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this story. This review is my own opinions, freely given.
Let me start by saying that the cover of this book and the artwork within is phenomenal. It's so rich and layered.
The idea of queer love between a ghost and a human made me excited to read this story and see how their relationship developed.
Blue the ghost and Hamal the gardener are both intriguing and sweet characters, each in their own way. I enjoyed that Hamal could see ghosts and communicate with them. However I felt like the growth of Blue and Hamal's relationship wasn't given enough attention and detail. Especially for them to be so in love at the end.
Also, Blue coming back to life was a bit unbelievable for me. Is Blue now supposed to tell his family he's alive again or is the relationship with Hamal enough that Blue doesn't need anyone else? If the relationship is sufficient I would have needed more growth and story to believe that.
This was a quick read and a beautiful visual story. I recommend this to those who enjoy graphic novels and don't necessarily need all the extra details.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is certainly marvelous. It evoked such warm feelings for me and I truly loved it. The tones and the emotions were all so wonderful that it would make you wish you were there to join the characters in their journey.
Thank you so much!
I really enjoyed this comic. The artwork and colours were soft and reminded me of a Ghibli film. I enjoyed the story but in moments it felt rushed. It would have benefited from being longer and extending some of the plot points, especially around the climax, even if there was another volume. But overall very enjoyable and something I will be reading again..
Loved this! I wish it was longer or had more in the series. I really enjoyed the story and relationship between the two protagonists. The artwork is beautiful and really captured the emotional beats.
This is such a WHOLESOME and SWEET story. It's also incredibly queer and we love to see that! The story follows Hamal, a gardener and accidental necromancer, who can see and speak to ghosts. One of these ghosts happen to be Blue, a ghost who has a little crush on Hamal and who, when finding out a reaper is looking for Hamal, tries to protect him.
The story isn't anything new, nor is the idea of love growing between a ghost and a human, but queer people rarely get to have complete wholesome stories with happy endings so I absolutely love this story for giving us that. We aren't given any super in-depth background stories to any of the characters beyond maybe a few comments, but I actually think that's completely fine for a story like this. The simplicity of the art and the story makes it work.
I think this story would be perfect for a younger audience, whether they identify as queer or not, as it allows for queer kids to see themselves in a happy story but also for non-queer kids to know that this kinda love is completely normal. Taproot also has, what I think is, a positive approach to death which I think could benefit a lot of kids who may be interested in the topic. Despite recommending this to a younger audience I think, regardless of age, that everyone should read this if they're in need of a cute queer story with a happy ending (I know for one I really needed it!)
A very gentle, tender, wholesome love story about death and bugs and necromancy.
No, really! Subtitled "A Story About a Gardener and a Ghost," Taproot portrays the blossoming young love between Hamal, a gardener who can see ghosts, and Blue, who is, well, a ghost. Through expressive lines in a soft, earthy color palette, the art and dialogue are effective and emotional. Though the second part of the story felt oddly tacked on, like a bonus chapter or something, I would happily read a longer series about these two and their adventures through life, death, and gardening.
Thank you Oni Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
I spent almost a year hoping to find a way to read this graphic novel, and I was ecstatic to see it on Netgalley. "Taproot" did not disappoint in delivering a unique and funny story focusing on a ghost and a human who can see him. The characters were enjoyable, and hilarious and goodness, the graphic was great!
However, I did feel it was too short and I would not mind a continuation of the graphic novel in order to give the characters more personality and space to evolve.
I loved the ideas of this comic, and the colours... but I found the illustrations a little clumsy and I wasn't engaged very much. While the background stories for each character seemed interesting, I didn't really get attached to any of them, maybe because it didn't go in deapth or seemed a little cliche. It is very cute, but this might just not have been for me. In the same genre I adored Snapdragon, and the feelings it evoked was amazing. I was looking forward to a story about adults - sadly it felt less... well mature.
Thie book was so cute. Just the right bit of romance and magic. I'd love to see more of Hamal and Blue, and their adventures "hunting ghosts". The art style was really nice and beautifully drawn as well.