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.

Adorable, I recommend it to those who want to read a story with diverse characters and emotional intelligence! In this graphic novel, there is queer romance, ghosts, a Victorian setting, and so much more!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Ghostkeeper! I loved this! The story and the artwork was amazing. I want a Lucy and Gavin. I also appreciated grannie’s character arc because I couldn’t stand her the first half of the book. I’m glad Dorian was able to realize he didn’t have to do it all by himself. I enjoyed the side romance between Dorian and Brody. Can Gavin knit me a scarf? I would absolutely recommend this book to all graphic novel readers!

I almost cried. Absolutely beautiful story of grief and healing. Beautiful art as well. Brody is my absolute favorite 🥰

I did not care for this graphic novel. The story is dragged out way too long. The characters are not likeable. I will not be purchasing for my library.

4.5 stars

This was a great graphic novel to really talk about grief, mental health, and the pressure we put on ourselves.

I absolutely loved the art style (which is what really drew me in in the first place). I loved that we had an LGBTQ+ side romance plot. I loved that the characters were so diverse.

I did feel like the messaging and even character traits were a bit too over-emphasized, and at times I wished for a bit more subtlety. But I still found myself tearing up near the end because of the story.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a wonderful, queer supernatural graphic novel about a ghost therapist! I appreciated the way grief and death were portrayed for a book targeted toward teens. The writing was good and the plot was decently paced. This will be a title worth recommending to others.

Even ghosts need therapists. Dorian wants to help, unfortunately almost no one but the ghosts see it that way. This supernatural tale delves into how people (and ghosts) deal with grief. As Dorian tries to help ghosts move on, he must also struggle with those who simply want the ghosts gone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing for the copy of this book! This was a wonderful and heartwarming graphic novel. Anything that involves the paranormal is a must read for me and I was definitely not disappointed by this book! The premise of a therapist for ghosts and the inner rot that can happen with conflicting emotions was amazing. For a graphic novel that seems designed to be light hearted, it contains some pretty dark, yet important subject matters. I think this book tackled mental health in a very important way and I am so glad that I was able to read it!