Taproot is a magical story that completely sucks you in. Since it’s a graphic novel, and a short one at that, it’s incredibly easy to read the entire thing in one sitting, which is what I did. From start to finish, I was completely enraptured with the story and stunning artwork. I kept turning and turning the pages until the next thing I knew, I’d finished all of it.

While I enjoyed every aspect of Taproot, my favorite part was definitely the artwork. I love graphic novels for several reasons, but seeing stories told in different styles of art is so neat to me. Since this one took place in a garden store, there were tons of plants illustrated throughout, and I was so impressed with the amount of detail in each greenery. There were times when I swore I could smell what was happening on the page, or if I just reached out and touched it, I’d be able to feel the texture. The forest was also incredible. I won’t say much about that part cause of spoilers, but it was perfectly creepy and atmospheric.

Watching Hamal and Blue’s relationship develop was very sweet. It was so obvious how much Blue cared for Hamal and vice versa, though it was also tinged in sadness since Blue is a ghost. I thought it was neat the way their past was explained, and their present explored, without taking away too much from the overall plot of the story.

My only wish is that Taproot had been a little longer. I would’ve liked a little more development on certain aspects of the world and the different friendships. Since it was so short, though, I do feel that the development we were given was entirely satisfactory. I do hope we get a sequel at some point, though, cause I’d love to see Hamal and Blue working together like they were at the end!

So, even though I wish it had been longer, I overall really loved this graphic novel and would definitely recommend it!

Such a cute read! I've never gotten a chance to read a ghost x human love story, but I'm tempted to find more now that I have. The colour palette and overall drawing style were impeccable, and I was obsessed with Hamal and Blue. Definitely recommend it if you're looking for a wholesome and beautiful read.

✨4/5✨

Taproot was just what I needed, a quick read to lift the spirits during Pride Month. Taproot is a graphic novel about a ghost an a (necromancer) gardener who fall in love. There were so many spreads where I was like, I really want this as an art print hanging up! Loved the art and ease of read!

Pros:
- M/M love story
- Necromancy
- AMAZING art

Cons:
- Too short, would have LOVED more backstory. (literally the only con)

Cozy and cute romance, lovely illustrations, and a heartwarming feeling. What more could you ask for? I really loved this one.

Taproot is an adorable story about a ghost named Blue and a gardener named Hamal. While I did not particularly like the art style, the setting and the vivid coloration brought this graphic novel to life. It’s a queer romance set in a world where ghosts & necromancers exist. The main story was very interesting but near the end of the book it began to drag & lost my interest. The last 30% or so of the book could have been cut out, as it did not add much to the story. The reaper character was funny and very interesting, and I would’ve liked to have seen him more. Overall I enjoyed this graphic novel enough but would not reread it or continue it if it became a series.

This had such Pushing Daisies vibes and that's good because I'm still obsessed with that show! Keezy Young's artwork is soft and cozy but also sharp where it needs to be. They did a great job with the environment and style. The story felt like a warm embrace even though it involves ghosts. I read this on a tablet and I definitely want to get my hands on the graphic novel version because I could tell some of the pages were designed to be beautiful splash pages and I'd very much like to see that. I think my only critique would be that some of the plot points were a bit abrupt, but maybe there are some other stories that could potentially come out of them. Just all in all a really sweet book - is undead cottage core a thing? It is now.

Rating: 4.4 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 4/5
-Cover: 3.5/5
-Story: 5/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy/Romance
Type: Comic
Worth?: Yes!

First want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review! I have put this comic off for a bit because comic style hurts my head but oh my gosh, why? Why did I wait to put it off? So worth the headache! I read it in one go and loved every second of it. It was such a heartwarming story!

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this ARC and to Keezy Young for writing such a cozy story.

Hamal is boy who works as a gardener and can see ghosts. Blue died some time ago in a car crash, and since then has “lived” as a ghost among humans. After following Hamal for a long period of time, he is surprised by the boy interacting with him, as Hamal is the first person who has been able to actually see Blue. The plot complicates as Blue is teleported to a dark and mysterious forest, where he has to find out what connection he has with that place.

Their friendship and later romantic relationship is beautifully written and throughout the whole story I just wanted to protect them and give them the biggest hug.

The story involves queer and poc representation, and its plot is centered on the needed balance between death and life. This topic is treated with much care but importance at the same time, and the funny phrases made everything much more lighthearted. There is much needed fluff, there is also a bit of angst, but everything is pieced together so flawlessly so you can enjoy every moment.

The drawing style is also so adorable and the colour palette I think is perfect and expresses so many emotions.

I would love to have a physical copy of this in my bookshelf, that is how much I loved it. Really really recommend it!!

What a cute book!!! I was very intrigued by the concept of gardener and ghosts and was not disappointed. It has everything, from BIPOC representation to queer love. 100% recommended read!

~Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review~
An absolutely ADORABLE romance story between Hamal, an accidental necromancer, and Blue, his ghost boyfriend, as they overcome the boundaries between life and death in order to be together. The art is GORGEOUS, the characters are loveable and diverse and the story is heartwarming, if a little strangely paced. Highly recommend you pick up this graphic novel when it comes out July 5th!

Necromancy, gardening, queer romance, ghosts, and absolutely magical art!

Taproot by Keezy Young is a graphic novel gardener-slash-necromancer named Hamal who befriends ghosts and falls in love with one named Blue. The art in this graphic novel is beautiful! The colors are soft and dreamy, and the way Young colors the living vs. the dead is really simple but effective. The romance between Blue and Hamal is so sweet and wholesome. The storyline in Taproot was sweet and simple, but I almost wish it was longer and had more depth to the connection between Blue and Hamal because theyre really wonderful characters! Overall, the art was gorgeous and I loved the softness and magic on every page.

Thank you Netgalley for giving the opportunity to read and review this graphic novel! I didn't realize that this was a rerelease when I saw it. When I saw this GN my thoughts were 'Oh cute, a gardener who can see ghosts.' I was looking for something cute and wholesome and the author did not disappoint. There was a bit of a dark moment but it was about balance, something we all need. The dialogue was easy and had some good lessons. I definitely hope there will be more.

This is such a cute book. I don't know what else to say expect how cute it is. The art is stunning and calm. It reminded of the tea dragon society series. I absolutely loved it. It made me so happy.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this graphic novel! This is not something I would have normally picked up for myself, but it was sweet and wholesome and I enjoyed it enough.

Let me start by saying that the illustrations are beautiful. Truly. The art style of this graphic novel is definitely visually appealing. I also super appreciated the queer representation since that was something I wanted more in my books this month in particular and I was pleasantly surprised to find it here.

I went in to this story completely blind; I didn't read the description nor look up any reviews. As someone also into plants and gardening who has also unfortunately lost someone recently, I thought early on that this was going to be extremely profound and moving for me. It just wasn't. It was good don't get me wrong, but I just wanted more. I think that for me personally, I just like my graphic novels to be a bit darker or more intense. Nothing against this one, I think it was sweet, I just probably wasn't the best person for this, even though in theory, I thought it was going to be a bit out of my comfort zone but a lot more impactful. I think that if the darker scenes, like with the Grim Reaper for example, were more spooky (again, not the point of this story, so maybe it would have just been a mess for an otherwise super sweet and simple story) it would appeal to me a lot more.

I also think that this story could have been a bit longer. To me, after the "plot twist" the story felt so rushed and ended too abruptly for my liking. It also leaves it very open and after such an unsatisfactory conclusion, I don't feel inclined to pick up the next one, if this is even a series? We just spent so much time in the beginning that rushing through the surprise and into the new task if you will, didn't make any of it hit as hard.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this and I definitely want to pick up more graphic novels in the future. Because if nothing else, the art in this one was so nice that I want to give similar styles a try now.

Another beautiful story coming from Oni Press.

With an art style reminiscent of Kay O’Neill it was hard not to fall in love with Blue and Hamal’s story.

A gorgeous story that is sure to captivate everyone who reads it.

This is billed as a sweet queer romance between a ghost and a gardener, and it certainly delivers on that promise, but it has a lot more depth to it than you might expect from the description. I loved both Blue and Hamal as characters, and I really appreciated the way their friendship blurred into romance not as a smooth, seamless transition but in a series of awkward, stuttering steps, both of them making mistakes and accidentally hurting the other but both willing to forgive and make amends. Where the story turned a little darker in places, I really felt all the emotions of the characters. The art style was gorgeous, and suited the story perfectly.

If I were to criticise anything, it would be that there were a few occasions where jumps in time or plot felt a bit abrupt. I actually had to turn back a couple of times to check I hadn't missed a page somewhere. But overall, I very much enjoyed the story.

2.5 stars - I really wanted to like this book, unfortunately I don't think it's for me. Although the art's definitely lovely, the characterization and story leave something to be desired.

One of my main issues is how I barely get to know the characters. No minimal backstory (aside from Blue's initial post-death wandering) or information is provided on either of the main characters; literally the only thing I know about Hamal is his love of gardening. This leaves me feeling flat throughout the whole book no matter what's happening as I barely feel any connection to the characters.

In terms of story, many things feel inadequately explained; we barely get the 'what' and never a deep dive into the 'how' or 'why.' Hamal's necromancer thing, for example, leaves me confused as to how his own gardening affects the death forest, and there's no brief explanation of what the forest even is, really. The ritual at the climax also happens without any reasoning; we see what's happening on the page, but have no idea how it works or why.

The pacing is also a little off, in my opinion. Things happen slowly in the beginning, then reach a climax at the end without any preemption. Some pages could have been used for the interim between reaper's visit to Hamal and the ritual, showing the reader more of the main duo's interactions and going through the grimoire. The 'one year later' section also feels off, tacked on at the end but the length's too long.

The art, however, is lovely, and I really enjoy the detailed linework and flat colors. The color scheme is nice and I find the settings and flowers to be particularly well-drawn, though the scenes with the reaper too dark to be clearly legible (I also find the reaper's color to be too flat).

Overall, TAPROOT is a nicely drawn graphic novel, though it could be improved story-wise.

This was an adorable story with pretty art. Enjoyable and quick to read, however the plot was confusing at times. The story was too short to get attached to, making the characters and the plot forgettable. The story moved a bit too fast for my liking, and many plot points were glossed over.

Thank you to NetGalle and Oni Press for the ARC.

Blue is having a hard time moving on. He's in love with his best friend. He's also dead. Luckily, Hamal can see ghosts, leaving Blue free to haunt him to his heart's content. But something eerie is happening in town, leaving the local afterlife unsettled, and when Blue realizes Hamal's strange ability may be putting him in danger, Blue has to find a way to protect him, even if it means... leaving him.

This story is super cute. A romance with a gardener and a ghost. Artistically is super beautiful and narratively it is very sweet. I enjoy Blue and Hamal's relationship and their ending.

Taproot is a really cute and wholesome graphic novel. I found the artwork fun and the story interesting though I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was a bit more fluid and dynamic. I would definitely read the sequel though, focusing on necromancing and ridding evils!

I recommend this as a quick read. It's not earth shattering, but it's fun!