Member Reviews

I’m not sure why it was listed under horror because it’s not other than the every day horror of homophobic and racism which there are a lot of in this comic. I didn’t find any of the characters likable except the twins. I would have loved to see more of Henri. I did appreciate the rep that was portrayed in the story. The artwork was cute.

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Northranger is a fantastic addition to the queer YA graphic novels available. I’ve never read the book this story was very loosely based on, but that did not hinder my enjoyment at all. It has all the messiness of YA characters, while also dealing with death, grief, homophobia, and racism. There’s a lot to connect with in this story. I loved the two main characters and even their flawed families. The illustration is excellent and filled with muted colors, which seem fitting with the Texas ranch setting. I think this story will be a balm to some hearts. 4.5 stars

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Wow - I would not have known this was a Jane Austin reimagining if the book hadn't told me. Though, admittedly, I need to go pick of Northanger Abbey.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. As a horror movie lover, I loved the references to all of the movies. Truly an ode to horror fans.

Additionally, I think the conversations happening in this book are so important. Not only is there a really great conversation about being Queer and closeted (and in Texas on top of that). But there's also some great conversations about being forced into situations by parents.

I really love Cade's blended family and the healthy representation of step-families that it provides.

Overall, a super solid read.

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"Northranger" By: Rey Terciero is a queer retelling of Northranger Abbey By: Jane Austen. Having not read the orginal, I have no context for the references made in the graphic novel however I did enjoy this just fine. The characters were okay and the spooky gothic vibe was good however it just needed more. In graphic novels, it's difficult to develop strong character as it is in a traditional novel because there's so few words. This fell victim to that.

Overall it's a good queer read, with nice spooky vibes but it's not the best queer gothic I've ever read and I most likely will not remember it in about 3 months

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I received an ARC through Netgalley for an honest review
A charming but very real look into queer issues. As a gay man and fan of horror movies myself, this really hit home. I hope that there will be more novels set in this universe.

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Won't be able to review. The epub file is 275.9MB and kindle file size max is 200MB. Seems like ebook file format and size compatibility should be something the company knows about...

Can't send feedback without a rating, so please know that the star has nothing to do with the reading experience. Could still be a great book!

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This was a cute coming of age story. The comic feel art the Gothic atmosphere with a gay love story. I thought the romance was cute. The pacing was off it felt too slow at times and bit speed up. The miscommunication trope and easedroping trop I loath as a plot device and my lease and I feel like most over used tropes. Though I do like seeing it in a LGBTQIA+ story.

Others will enjoy this comic style graphic novel more than I would it wasn't for me. Thank you though for the arc.

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Graphic novels aren’t usually my thing, but a gay coming of age graphic novel with a horror twist? I had to sign up for this review! This is adorable. Quick, but packs a punch. I will say, for a fast read, the romance aspect was a bit slow for me, but when we get there it’s heartwarming and adorable. I quite enjoyed the art in this as well. This is a very niche book, which could either help or hurt the author. You have to like graphic novels, romance, ya, and a splash of horror for this to work for you. Thankfully it did for me

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Overall, I think this was a good book. The art style is really cute, in a way that really enhanced all the romantic moments, and the uplifting moments, but still managed to carry the dramatic, tense moments.
The emotional beats in the first half were very moving, especially the conversation between Cade and his abuela, and I enjoyed the buildup of the tension and the romance.
I also thought it was great that the book subverts how a lot of horror fiction handles mental health.

The one criticism I have of this book is the pacing. I felt like things went from a slow burn to escalating much too quickly at the end, and it made it harder for me to suspend disbelief. This pacing issue affected other aspects of the story- the conclusion felt like it wrapped things up too quickly, and the character arcs right at the end felt especially rushed. At the same time, there were plot threads from the beginning of the story that got dropped that I'd have liked to see resolved.

I also went into this book expecting more horror elements, and I was a bit disappointed by the lack of them. I wouldn't criticize the book for not having horror elements, but if I were recommending this to a reader, I would make sure to emphasize that this is a Northanger Abbey retelling, not a gothic romance in and of itself.

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This was a beautiful graphic novel. I loved the artwork and the colours. The storyline was both an equal amount of sweet and spooky, and I was instantly drawn to the characters. I am a huge Jane Austen fan, so I loved the subtle hint of Austen-inspired easter eggs and plot devices. Cade was such a well developed character, I understood his love for all things horror and spooky, whilst trying to navigate his own feelings and coming of age.

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I am always looking for new queer graphic novels for me and my teen to enjoy together. I quickly requested this one because I love cowboys, i love spooky, and this has a diverse cast.

Northranger follows Latin teen Cade Muñoz as he spends his super vacation with his stepfather at a ranch. This is the last summer job he wants but money is tight and his mother doesn't give him a choice. The ranch's owners are a family that seems to be hiding a fair share of secrets. Cade works alongside fellow teen Henry and the closer they get, he discovers Henry is also gay and they become boyfriends on the down low. Neither boy is out and they live in Texas surrounded by bigotry, racism, and homophobia. Slowly, horror movie obsessed Cade's mind gets the best of him when the secrets at the ranch piles up and he can't help but think the worst. His accusations result in him coming out to his family and their surprising support, but also destroy what he's built with Henry.

I loved the art style, I loved the characters, and I loved the story. The story, which is quite heavy at times and doesn't sugar coat the racism and homophobia or the south. Our darling Cade who just feels so alone has to deal with slurs and homophobic comments throughout the novel. Then we have poor Henry, who has been taught to hate who he is and that there's something wrong with him being gay. Yet amongst the heavy there are moments of hope and characters that bring acceptance to Cade's life. From Henry's sister and friend to Cade's own family when he finally comes out to them.

Overall, I think Northranger by Rey Terciero is a great graphic novel for queer teens looking for a relatable story that shows the heavy but also gives our two boys a happy ending. A queer teen graphic novel filled with farm chores, family, horror movie marathons, first dates, summer love, acceptance, saying your sorry and the forgiveness that can follow.

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In a word: adorable! This fresh take on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is sweet, heartfelt, lightly spooky, and deeply compassionate. Taking place in a rural area of Texas, Northranger plays both upon the fear of the supernatural and the fear of being forced out of the closet and bullied. I adored the complex take on family, loyalty, and young love - plus the art style was simple but expressive. Highly recommended to fans of "Heartstopper", "Mooncakes" and fans of cozy vibes.

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***4.5 stars rounded up***
A queer retelling of Jane Austen in graphic novel form? My immediate thought was: sign me up! This book did not disappoint! From the arguments about which horror movies are superior to the ongoing mystery to the romance to the lovely artwork, this was a highly enjoyable read! I look forward to seeing what else this duo has in store for us!

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Cade works the summer as a ranch hand along side his step-father to help his family out. His love of horror moves helps develop a friendship with the boss's son who is hiding secrets that are as scary as the horror movies.

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I love the representation in this graphic novel. I think it’s important for kids and young adults to be able to see themselves in media that they consume and I’m glad to see graphic novels are showcasing LGBTQ+ themes and situations. While I did not grow up in Texas or work on a farm, I was still able to see myself in some of these characters and relate to their experiences, some of which were difficult.

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What a creative retelling of Northanger Abbey! I loved the main character's fascination with horror movies, and the ranch location, and I think the whole story was fun to read, deep in topic, and fun illustrations! I really liked the main character and his interests, and most of the characters were also really intriguing, I'm looking forward to seeing what Terciero does next, and if it might be a classic retelling too!

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This was such a beautiful story. Like Cade, horror is one of my favorite genres and I absolutely loved all of the nods to different horror movies. But more so I found myself connecting with the love story and coming-of-age aspects of Northranger. There were beautiful moments and moments of heartbreak. But I do think everyone was a little harsh on Cade when he thought they were murderers. I mean, he DID ask everyone multiple times and they just didn't want to talk about their past. And they have the audacity to be mad at him for misunderstanding? Psssh. Give the kid a break... we all want our lives to be a movie. Cade just didn't realize he was in a romance, not a horror.

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One of the best books I've read in awhile. This book has a sweet romance, but also deals with heavy topics. The main character goes to a farm to work, and a romance sparks between the farm owners son. The story is set in texas and deals with racism and homophobia.

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I loved Northranger so much! It was one of my first 5 star reads of 2023. I would definitely call it more of a thriller than a horror novel as there aren't many of the elements that horror stories typically have. However, its so clever and fun that I didn't miss those elements. This is a great read for LGBTQ teens/adults and allies!

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This was a charming read accompanied by amazing illustrations. Despite this, and all the cute moments, I wasn't blown away by it. I've never read Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey so I'm not sure how much of the inspiration from that work was incorporated into the story.

To be honest, I was expecting/wanting more horror in the story. The way it was used and what it inevitably ended up contributing to the story wasn't really what I expected. The build-up didn't really go far. I was also not a big fan of the conflict/reveal towards the end either, mostly because it could've easily been solved if Cade had spoken to the right people.

Aside from that, I really liked the representation. There was a wide range of it too, from sexuality, race, and family. You witness the homophobia(and a bit of racism) sprinkled throughout the story and you feel and see how it affects Cade. Now the characters, they were okay. Cade, Henry, and Henri were probably the best ones, and the rest I didn't really care much for. Either they weren't fleshed out enough or they just weren't interesting enough to care about.

Overall, it was still a good read. If anything, it made me curious about reading Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

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