Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

This was some very cool mythos. I'm not sure if it's based on something in particular but it seemed like it was. The illustrations were marvelous. Every detail of it was so pretty and I loved all the swirling colors. It was a lot shorter than. I was expecting, even for a graphic novel, but I still really enjoyed the story details. I loved the narration of Barnabus and Maddy and wished, as a reader, that I could've spent more time with them. I'm looking forward to where the rest of the story goes and what Maddy and Nura will do together.

This graphic novel has the most gorgeous artwork, intriguing world building, and enough mystery to make you needing more!

Overall, this is great but my only critique is that there is some clunky expositional dialogue which isn’t effective.

I loved this so much and will definitely be reading onwards when I can.

The Night Mother was an interesting story. I really enjoyed the illustrations and colors used throughout. I wish the book would’ve been longer and more detailed, but I understand why it ended where it did. I look forward to reading the rest of this series!

Compelling story and captivating illustrations. Definitely interested in reading more.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an arc.

In the haunting embrace of “The Night Mother Vol 1”, Jeremy Lambert crafts a narrative woven with the threads of gothic mystery and celestial wonder, beautifully illustrated by Alexa Sharpe. This graphic novel introduces us to Madeline Tock, a young guardian of the dead, living in a town smothered by an unyielding night, tasked with facing the enigmatic Night Mother.

Madeline serves as our eyes and ears, a bridge between the reader and the eerie world of the novel. Her innocence and resolve make her a compelling protagonist. Barnabus Tock, her father, is a beacon of love and protection, whose depth is slowly unfurled through secrets that shape the narrative. Nura, a newcomer, initially seems like she’s there for support but ends up showcasing her own strength and complexity, promising more layers to be revealed in future volumes. The Night Mother, reminiscent of Coraline’s Other Mother but with a grander cosmic role, is both fascinating and frightening as she manipulates the celestial cycle to harvest souls.

The plot is a tapestry of classic Neil Gaiman and the whimsical pathways of Neil Gaiman’s “Stardust”, marked by an art style that evokes a “Coraline”-like eeriness. Each page is a piece of folklore brought to life, with the storyline guiding us through dark revelations and gripping twists, leaving readers eagerly awaiting the next volume.

Sharpe’s illustrations are nothing short of captivating—each panel enriches the tale’s dark folklore vibes and breathes life into Lambert’s chilling narrative. The character designs, especially the creepier ones, add layers of depth to the already rich story, enhancing the folklore and fairytale essence that permeates the pages.

Central to the story is the concept of family—how bonds of love and duty hold stronger than those of blood alone. This theme resonates deeply through the interactions between Madeline and her father, highlighting the realness and warmth of adopted families.

“The Night Mother Vol 1” is a compelling start to what promises to be a deeply engaging series. It is perfect for those who love their fantasy with a touch of nightmarish beauty and those who find solace in stories of the night sky. For anyone who cherishes stories like “Coraline” or enjoys the mystical flow of “Stardust”, this graphic novel is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Dive into this eerie adventure and let yourself be swept away into the night that Madeline battles to save.

Positives of The Night Mother
Captivating characters: Madeline and Barnabus Tock bring depth and relatability.
Enthralling art style: Alexa Sharpe’s illustrations are beautifully gothic and atmospheric.
Engaging storyline: Combines elements of folklore with a suspenseful plot.
Rich themes: Explores meaningful concepts like the value of chosen family.
Promising setup: Ends on a cliffhanger that promises more intriguing developments.

Negatives of The Night Mother
Predictable plot points: Some twists may seem obvious to seasoned readers.
Limited setting: Most of the story unfolds in one locale, which might feel restrictive.

“The Night Mother Vol 1” serves as a stellar beginning to what promises to be a gripping series. With its rich blend of eerie aesthetics and a heart-pounding narrative, it stands as a testament to the power of graphic novels to tell complex and mature stories through the artful interplay of words and images. Whether you’re a fan of fantasy, folklore, or just looking for a beautifully crafted tale that explores the depths of family and courage, this book is a compelling addition to your reading list. Keep an eye on the night sky – and this promising series!

I am always up for reading a new graphic novel and really enjoyed the imagination that was present in this book. It is a combination of a creative author, as well as a talented artist. I would gladly add this book to my classroom shelf and enjoyed it on my own as a comics reader — a wonderful book for a variety of ages

G9rgeous artwork that kept me speechless in this new worldbuilring that border on dark fairy tales , explores a father-daughter relationship without being cliché with original mythos and likeable characthers

The Night Mother is about a father and his 12-year-old daughter who live in isolation near the graveyard of a seaside town, where the moon has been stuck in the sky for what seems like forever, causing endless night, The main character, Madeline, has the ability to hear the dead speaking. When someone in town dies, their coffin is set adrift in the water, washing up near the graveyard, where Madeline takes it upon herself to bury them.

As the story progresses, we learn more about Madeline and are introduced to a villainous character. I don’t want to give too much away since this first volume is quite short at just about 90 pages. Since the first volume is so short, the story felt a bit underdeveloped and rushed. The action moves quickly, and just when things start to get interesting, it ends on a cliffhanger. Now, I really need to read the second volume. I hope the next volume is longer and provides more details and backstory.

As for the artwork, I thought it was nice—not my favorite, but I liked it, especially the coloring, which was beautifully chosen and really added to the atmosphere of the story. Despite the rushed pacing, I’m interested enough in what’s happening to continue reading. I just wish the first volume had spent more time building up the story and developing the characters before diving into the action.

3.5⭐️

I wish this was a bit more in depth, the story moved along so quickly and I just wanted MORE. There was hardly time for character development, which made me not super invested in our cast. I did love the art and the concept, and the Night Mother was super creepy! I'll definitely read vol 2 to see how the story goes, but rushed snippets like this feel like a marketing ploy? I don't want to need to buy ten rushed volumes to get the story..

When the powerful “evil” one is that scary and dangerous, the book is really good!

This is the story of The Night Mother who gathers souls of the dead in her lantern. She gets greedy for power and starts taking souls from the living too! But Madeline is one young girl who bravely stands up to this and fights against it.

The artsyle is awesome and the first volume is just perfect!

Can’t wait for the second volume!

Thank you, Oni Press, for the ARC.

The illustrations are stunning and the characters designs are fantastical and creative.
I loved the colour scheme and the mythology of the Night Mother and the moon people.

A gothic tale about a girl in a sleepy seaside town who finds her life turned upside when a stranger washes ashore and tells her that the Night Mother is coming after her... Madeline Tock is a twelve-year-old girl who lives in a sleepy little season town where the unnatural darkness has been for as long as anyone can remember. When a stranger washes up in the town and says that Madeline is in danger and thatr someone known as the Night Mother is coming after her, things are about to get crazy. Can Madeline and her new friend stop the evil force coming after her and is she really Madeline's mother? This is a beautifully drawn story and the first one in a series. It's a fun read and I absolutely needed more! I need the second book right now because I am so curious where the story goes next! Definitely pick this up if you ant a spooky seaside read!

Release Date: October 8,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Oni Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

The drawings perfectly reflects the atmosphere of this comic: dark, mysterious and full of magic.
Madeline is a very endearing character that I enjoyed following in this story. I can't wait to learn more in volume 2!

5 moonlit stars.

Magically wonderful comic. The illustrations and vibrant colour-scheme are beautifully wrought, and bring an other-worldly, folklorey vibe to the whole. I really adored this story, with its endearingly weird main characters of the old not-timekeeper, stargazer and his grave-digging daughter who can hear the whispers of the dead. Despite being only 88 (glorious) pages long, the world-building in this first volume was well flushed out, and the characters' plight pulling tight on my heartstrings!

The tone and pacing - perfection. Match between story and its artful manifestation onto the page - delightfully magical. The lore explaining the fate of those who die - heartwrenchingly beautiful.

I very much look forward to eventually seeing this full adventure in graphic novel form, and will likely buy a print copy of it then! In the meantime, I look forward to reading the progression of segments as this story unfolds.

Huge gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher, Oni Press, for an e-ARC of this comic, in exchange for my delighted review. Oni Press really publishes some amazing stuff!

In a small town by the sea, a twelve-year-old girl and her father live in a house on a graveyard. The townspeople are so afraid of them that they float the caskets of the dead across the water to their island. The moon has been stuck in the sky for years. No sun, no dawn and only endless dark, starry night. While trying to bury the most recent dead, Madeline Tock is interrupted by her father and forced to return inside where she has a disturbing dream. She dreams of the Night Mother, a woman who lives on the moon and guides the souls of the dead into her lantern to be turned into moonlight. In her thirteenth year, the Night Mother’s daughter becomes the new Night Mother and the previous Night Mother retires and fades to entropy. But what if the previous Night Mother doesn’t want to finish her tenure quite so easily? What if she begins to take the souls of the living to buy herself more time? Madeline awakes with a start to see a girl running on the waves and rushes out to help her. The girl tells her that the Night Mother has found Madeline and is now on her way with nefarious intentions. Madeline runs with the girl to a local inn where they are soon confronted by the Night Mother. Will Madeline succumb to the Night Mother’s schemes or will she escape and start on the path to her destiny?

This graphic novel was so cute. The art was so beautiful and the story was compelling and creepy, but not scary. I really liked the storyline and how it managed to be both sweet and a little frightening at the same time. I did feel that the pacing was a little rushed, which is to be expected with a graphic novel, but I’m still going to knock off a star because I’ve seen it done better. It was honestly too short to be able to write a full, detailed review without spoilers. I liked this, though, and I would recommend it for adults and kids aged 10-17. I can’t wait to read more!

I don’t normally read graphic novels but I really enjoyed The Night Mother. It’s magical and whimsical. I loved the premise, the spooky atmosphere of the setting, the fear and suspicions of the town’s inhabitants. I felt for Madeline, her loneliness and her macabre job of fishing the dead out of the river to bury them. The illustrations are really good, with vivid colours and plenty of atmosphere (although I wasn't convinced that Madeline was a twelve-year-old girl but that could be for a particular plot point.).

My only disappointment was when I reached the end and realised that this is only the first part of the story - I had missed the words 'vol 1' in the title!

Overall, The Night Mother is a strong start to a very promising series, so if you like graphic novels, (and even if you don't), check it out!

Ita
Ringrazio NetGalley e Oni Press per l'opportunità di leggere questo e-Arc. La Madre della Notte è una graphic novel che mi ha catturato istantaneamente con la sua copertina e il suo titolo. Questi due elementi sono stati poi confermati dalla lettura: la trama è avvincente, la tavolozza è stupenda e la storia della Madre della Notte mi ha molto interessata. Vorrei saperne di più su Maddy, Nura e il problema a cui devono porre rimedio. Non vedo l'ora di andare avanti con il secondo capitolo.

Eng
Thank you so much NetGalley and Oni Press for the opportunity to read this e-Arc. The Night Mother is a graphic novel that captured me instantaneously with its cover and title. These two elements were confirmed during the reading: the plot is gripping, the palette is stunning and the lore behind the Night Mother is very interesting to me. I wanna know more about Maddy, Nura and the problem they have to fix. Can't wait to read the next chapter.

The Night Mother Vol. 1 by Jeremy Lambert is an engaging fantasy graphic novel set in a haunting world where time has stopped, trapping its inhabitants in an endless night. The art style perfectly complements the dark, fantastical atmosphere, drawing readers deeper into this mysterious universe. The plot is intriguing and left me eager to see how the story will unfold in future volumes. However, I found myself wishing for more character development early on, as the fast-paced narrative sometimes felt a bit rushed. Despite this, the book offers an entertaining read, and I'm excited to see where the story goes next. 
Thank you Netgalley and Oni Press for the digital ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a digital arc of this book!

The Night Mother is the first installment in Lambert's debut kid's graphic novel series. It's set in a world where time has stopped, and people are trapped in an endless night. The main character, 12-year-old Madelline Tock, can convene with the dead, but everyone in her life, her father included, is overly protective of her. She grew up hearing the legend of the Night Mother, a woman who wears the night sky and gathers the souls of the dead in her lantern. But when the Night Mother begins to take the souls of the living as well as the dead, there is only one who can stand up to her.

Illustrations alone, this story would be a five-star read for me. Take the stunning illustrations and add them to the whimsical fairytale-esque story, and that makes this a perfect read. It is very easy to consume and incredibly entertaining from start to finish. It gave me the sensation of reading a Grimm's fairy tale with its feeling of familiarity with a healthy twinge of horror. I almost wish I had waited to read this book so I could binge the entire series, but as it is, I am happily counting down the days until the next installment.

If you take only one book recommendation to heart this year, let this be the one. Easy 5/5 stars.

I knew nothing going into this book and I’m so glad that was the case because I greatly enjoyed myself reading this first volume of a middle grade graphic novel series. I’m a sucker for novels and graphic novels to do with the sky and celestial beings so this book was it for me.

The art style was so beautiful and I loved each and every character design. The plot was fascinating and one I hadn’t read before which is always a win. I can’t wait to see where volume 2 takes us after the way this volume ended. I only hope everything that happened can be undone, or something close to it.