The themes in this book were dealt with in a carefully crafted way that tied the main plot and the subplots together very well. I loved Leith's character and him slowly realizing that it's ok to set boundaries along with the help of his friends along the way. Muffin stole the spotlight and my heart. The symbolism about the key to death's door being a way for ghosts to accept entering through the door instead of being forced through was amazing.

The Ghostkeeper is a fun vibrant Gothic Young Adult graphic novel about a guy named Dorian who helps ghosts on their journey to the afterlife. But the key to the door is stolen. Dorian has to find it before it's too late for the ghosts trapped on the side of the living. Perfect for spooky season.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing me with a review copy.

A vey engaging young adult graphic novel that will keep you turning the pages from the suspense and tension of Dorian trying to help ghosts to their final resting place. Dorian is a human man who can see and communicate with ghosts so he acts a a short therapist. This is a creative and subtle way to teach readers some therapy techniques as well as lessons about boundaries, burnout, and creating a good support system. The art is vibrant and does an excellent job using color to express the differences between the living and the ghosts and uses a bright green to signify the development of “rot” from grief and how it can develop into something bigger.
Highly recommend! Greta for fans of Grimoire Noir
by Vera Greentea.

This was intense! The pictures and the story were amazing. I highly recommend this one!! So good!! Perfect for spooky season or any time you’re in the mood for something cute and spooky.

The Ghostkeeper follows Dorian, a young medium who sees ghosts and helps them move on to the afterlife. He’s like a ghost therapist. Things get out of control when the key to death’s door is stolen and the ghosts are stuck in the living world.

I enjoyed this graphic novel. I loved the artwork and the coloring. I thought the story was interesting, heartwarming and sad. The story deals with death, grief, and learning how to move on. I may have cried a little at the end.

If you’re looking to read a paranormal graphic novel that will tug at your heartstrings, definitely read this one.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC of this graphic novel via NetGalley for review.

I enjoyed the story, though I felt it could have easily been a little longer to flesh out some parts. That might just be a part of the goal for the page count, however, and everything got wrapped up neatly enough. The plot was good, I thought the world was quite interesting, I enjoyed the characters, and I loved the plot. Very sweet read with a heavy push towards reconciliation and healing, while also acknowledging that sometimes that just isn't possible and everyone's situation is different.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this graphic novel. 4.5/5 stars.

This is a powerful graphic novel about hurt, pain, grief, death, and mental illness/therapy. While yes, it's based on ghosts, the main character -- gifted with ghost sight -- becomes a therapist to ghosts and helps them move on. As the graphic novel progresses, the main character also loses himself to his work and forgets to take his own advice i.e. coping skills. Not only is there also LGBTQ rep (albeit lowkey) it is also just a beautiful representation of mental illness and the power of therapy and help. And that it's okay to not be okay.

And yeah, I may have almost cried at the end.

This was so beautifully done. Amazing messages on grief and anger and fear. It felt like a therapy session for me. I loved the hints of gentle parenting we got while Dorian was working with the little girl. I loved the queer love. I loved the real life struggle with setting boundaries. This book was so relatable and if you couldn't tell, I loved it.

If it hadn’t been a comic book drawn for older kids I probably would’ve found this too much to the horror side of the genre for my tastes. But stick a cute ghost cat in there and it’s within my capacities. Well written story and if you’re an adult reading this you’ll want to have a Kleenex to hand for the end I think!

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the e-arc!
This is an absolutely beautiful graphic novel that totally gives ghost whisperer vibes! Durian has a gift that allows him to see ghosts, and he uses his ability to help them move on. He doesn't just exercise them; he helps them deal with their unfinished business and gives them a more peaceful transition. When someone steals the key to death's door, and ghosts are trapped in the living world, Dorian must find it before it is too late. This is a really amazing story with themes not only about processing and moving on from death but also about taking care of oneself. Dorian is such a wonderful person and is constantly giving is all the help of others! He is constantly sacrificing his own health and well-being in order to continue his work with ghosts. This book really focuses on how unsustainable this is for him and how important it is for him not only to prioritize his own well-being but to have things outside of this work.
Overall this was such an amazing graphic novel! The romance was really cute, the lore was very interesting and the themes were remarkable.

Perfect for fans of everything from Lockwood & Co to The Haunting of Hill House, this gothic graphic novel follows a young medium with the gift—or curse, as some might say—to communicate with the dead.

This was so cute! I loved the art and the characters! I really hope there will be more volumes in this series!

This book is just so lovely. If you had the ability to see ghosts, what would you do? Dorian uses his ability to help ghosts find their way to the other side, through connection and therapy. Sadly, there are others who would destroy the ghosts with potions and gas. Yet when the door to the other side is locked Dorian is faced with not being able to help his patients cross over, until he gets the key back from a very scared ghost. Will he be able to help her let go in time to save ghosts before the root takes them over completely?
This book is so sweet. I love the LGBTQ+ aspect along with how kind Dorian is. The art work is stunning. I don’t think you could have handled mental health better, or grief. This is just lovely and one that I am going to highly recommend to patrons of all ages.
Thank you so much to Penguin Group Young Readers, G.P Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Spooky, Sweet, magical. The concept is of a ghost therapist is adorable and so unique. I really enjoyed the characters and plot, however it did feel a bit drawn out at times. The romance was sweet, and it balanced the darker aspect and concepts. Overall it was a very enjoyable read, however due to some of the concepts I would argue to switch from YA to NA or even just straight adult.

The Ghostkeeper is a beautifully written graphic novel about a young man, who can see ghosts and becomes a therapist for the dead. The illustrations were beautiful, & I loved the way the "rot" was depicted when ghosts had negative feelings. I think the mental health themes of this book were handled really, really well, and I finished the book thinking about boundaries and kindness.

This will definitely be one that I reread! Beautifully thought out characters, queer representation, and spooky vibes made it a win for me. Thanks to NetGalley, Johanna Taylor, and Penguin Group for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own.

Is this a ghost story? Definitely, yes. But is this also a significant story tackling the importance of mental health and establishing boundaries, while also touching on people's outlook on death itself? Oh, absolutely.

This graphic novel is just so precious and so surprising 🥺 I knew I'd be getting a peculiar, paranormal story (the MC is literally a ghost therapist 😆), but I wasn't prepared for how profound it was going to be. It touched on a lot of important topics, the main ones being mental health advocacy and establishing boundaries. Dorian communicates with the dead and helps them move onto the afterlife, but in doing so he's also sacrificing a part of himself and his own mental health. This isn't exactly healthy, and definitely not in real life for us. I just really loved how the whole story doubles down on that and the readers get to realize that along with Dorian.

Also love the little bit of mythology and lore in this story! Ghosts, banshees, Death's door, Grim Reaper? I love it. Also there is a ghost cat, that's a whole star, right there. 😂

And of course the romantic subplot! It wasn't too major or anything, but it was so cute and sweet? I also saw from the author that the MC is bi/ace so that's also a wonderful surprise 🥹

As for the art and color, AMAZING. I did notice the art tend to be a bit blurry? But maybe that's just my e-arc, ofc that might not be final. But the art and style is so good, and I have no trouble following the dialogue and conversations between two or more characters. Also the character designs are incredible!

I could also argue that this isn't YA but maybe more on NA, just based in the characters since they seem older (but not yet middle aged). Overall, this was just a wholesome treat, and everything wrapped up nicely for me.

Exact rating: 4.00⭐️

Thank you so much to the publisher (Penguin Teen) and NetGalley for this e-arc!

CW: death, grief, trauma, discussions about mental health/burnout, diseases, injuries, blood

3.5*
This had some great mental health representation and was a beautiful story combined with amazing artwork. I will admit that this isn’t a new favourite for me but I would still highly recommend this. And who knows maybe in a few years I’ll re-read this graphic novel and fall in love with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

An emotional fantasy graphic novel about what we owe to each other and to ourselves. A lot of dealing with trauma, death, and grief. Kind of slow in parts and light on action, but beautifully drawn.

The Ghostkeeper is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel. I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

The Ghostkeeper is a charming graphic novel set in a fantastical late 1800s Scotland. It follows Dorian, a young therapist for the dead, who helps ghosts haunting the local citizens move on to the afterlife.

While I enjoyed the graphic novel, I found that it didn't quite captivate me as much as I had hoped. I struggled to become fully invested in the characters. Although I appreciated the relationship between Dorian and Brody, as well as Dorian's interactions with Lucy, I felt like I needed something more to connect with them. I understand that graphic novels often have different pacing compared to regular novels, and perhaps a longer format would have allowed for a deeper bond with the characters.

The story contains important themes and messages, particularly about the importance of setting and enforcing personal boundaries. The plot premise is intriguing, and the artwork is stunning. I appreciated the inclusion of Celtic folklore, the historical setting, and the queer main character.

Rediscovering my love for comics and graphic novels has been a joy, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have read this one.

A huge thank you to the author, Penguin Teen, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this beautiful work.

I liked the artwork and the storyline was great! I felt like it was emotional and a beautifully told story.