Beetle is back in this powerful sequel to the graphic novel Beetle & the Hollowbones. The young goblin is struggling to accept the fact of her transformation and is hiding that and other secrets from those closest to her. Kat, her secret girlfriend, has struggles of her own as she tries to defy her parent's wishes for her life and education. There is a larger scheme at play involving dragons that the two girls must unravel to save themselves, and the world. This was a fun read with some heavier themes of accepting yourself for who you are, which any reader will relate to. I hope this is not all we see of Beetle and gang! Thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another awesome edition to serious. I love how Kat and Beetle found their way and were empowered to stand in who they are in this book. Their character arcs were wonderful. Also penny finding her long lost body was beautiful. I hope this is not the last of this series.

I enjoy this series so much, especially the stunning illustrations throughout. This a great new adventure with Beetle and her friends. She, Penny, and Kat are dealing with injured and disappearing dragons. Also, Beetle is having problems with her magic and is starting to transform at the moon like other goblins. Kat’s parents come to town and make the girls believe they will not have a chance at a relationship because of them.

This book deals with identity and learning to be yourself even if others might not like it. I love the representation in this story. Perfect for young readers.

I will definitely be picking up a copy of this sometime to go along with the first. Cannot wait to see the finished illustrations with color.

Big thanks to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review!

I absolutely fell in love with Beetle and the gang in the last book and was so excited to come back to this magical, spooky world. The versatile and beautiful use of color is what drew me to this series and it continues to make every character and action pop. I was a little disappointed that the ARC wasn't fully in color, but it definitely gives me a reason to reread the book once it comes out.

This world continues to feel so unique through imaginative character designs and an expanding lore. We get more background on the goblin, undead, and dragon races that really bring another level to this setting.

Beetle and Kat share an amazing arcs of accepting and loving parts of themselves that they are either scared to explore or share with others. Their internal journeys are unique, but complement each other in moving ways. There was such triumph in the scenes where self love and the love that they have for each other wins out.

If I had a gripe, it would be that there were so many plot threads to keep up with. In a way, they did kind of all merge together at some point, but it felt more like knotted up ball than a complete and neat whole, Still, I had such a fun time reading this and it is definitely a worthy follow up!

Here's to more Beetle, Kat, and Penny!

I LOVED the first Beetle book and this one is no different. I really like the expansion into Beetles magic and both of her and Kat's relationship to their own identities and with each other.

I received an arc of this and the arc was not in full color and so I can't wait to do a reread because I think that the color palette this author uses is so gorgeous and I think it's going to absolutely elevate everything up a degree. As of now I really enjoyed it but I just know that adding those full color illustrations is going to make a world of difference. I can't wait to see the finished copy!

I adored Beetle & The Hollowbone so I just KNEW I was going to love this second installment. It was so lovely to be back with Beetle and her friends as they prepare for the biggest carnival of the year! What’s not to love about a story centered around the power of friendship, dragons, magic and love?? I so appreciate the tact in which some serious topics were discussed within this story. I thought the storyline was so powerful and a wonderful sequel to Beetle & The Hollowbones. I can’t wait for the next installment!

What a fun, whimsical, and exciting sequel! Beetle is such an enjoyable FMC and I love her relationship with Cat. The two navigate their relationship, how and when to tell their families, and the curious disappearance of dragons surrounding the Chimera Carnival in this magical and touching graphic novel. I love the lgbtq+ rep, the artwork, the quirky cast of characters, and the growth that Beetle and Kat both experience. This series is the perfect mix of emotional and ridiculously good fun. I did find the pages to be a little too cramped sometimes and thought it was a little too long - but the charm overpowers any negatives.

Join Beetle and Penny and Kat in the second segment of this wonderful, magical tale! The Chimera Festival is coming to town and there's something not quite right amongst the dragons. But Beetle is more worried about sudden transformations and coming out to her Grandma. However, when the dragons go missing and Kat's parents start up trouble, Beetle must face her fears and do what she can.

I could not believe that Beetle's story was getting a sequel! This book did not disappoint. Beetle continues to learn more about magic and herself and being a goblin, alongside love and romance as Kat continues to be a prominent character. Delightful, well written, and so so much fun!

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s carnival time, and the dragons are here for the show. Beetle is dealing with her transformation powers, Kat is preparing her magic for the carnival, and Penny, the ghost, has been picking up the pieces to save their friends from evil. Something is amiss at the carnival; dragons are missing, and one doctor is acting suspiciously. Kat’s parents don’t trust her or her romantic interests, and Beetle’s grandmother is underground with the other goblins and creatures. Will Beetle and Kat finally be honest about their relationship before it’s too late?
This is such a delightful read, going back and diving into Beetle’s story once more. I loved how Kat stood up to her parents and her love for Beetle. Penny made me smile at their antics to save everyone, the little ghost blob reading between the lines of trying to figure everything out. Beetle’s change into a different creature really opened her eyes to her own origin story. I hope there’s a third book in this whimsical story.

this is the Sequel to Beetle and the Hollowbones, it is just as sweet, charming, and whimsical as the first. I love the new design Beetle gets in this book. The ending of this graphic novel makes it seem as though there might be another volume and if that is the case I hope we get to see more of Beetles new design. Kat and Beetle's relationship is very sweet and evolves in this book, I would love to see it evolve more in future installments. The story has a lot to say for those who want to dig below the surface.

Beetle & the Chimera Carnival by Aliza Layne is an absolute delight—silly, whimsical, and bursting with charm. The story is a magical adventure filled with quirky characters, heartfelt moments, and a carnival setting that feels like a dream come to life. What really shines is the lovely LGBTQ+ representation, woven seamlessly into the narrative in a way that feels natural and celebratory. Plus, the artwork is stunning—cute, colorful, and full of personality. It’s a perfect blend of fun and warmth, and I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. This is a second volume of Beetle & Hollowbones series which seemed somewhat confusing to me. Too much was happening while the parents of both main characters were sent away for specific reasons leaving them to deal with whatever bad stuff was happening without support. Artwork is in the same style as the first book, making it a pleasure to read.

Another fun adventure with Beetle and Kat, but this second volume suffered slightly from a convoluted plot. I had trouble keeping the motivations straight of all the players involved; either Kat's struggles with her parents or Beetle's concerns about transformation might have sufficed enough for a volume. But both these plotlines with the added "big bad" that also somehow looped into Penny's story was a lot to accomplish in 384 graphic novel pages. I also did not love that both parental figures for Kat and Beetle were simply sent away for reasons, and that's why they didn't have any support through all of this. I still love the style here, as well as the plethora of fantasy creatures involved. Beetle's transformation was beautifully illustrated and a great twist. Kat and Beetle are excellent characters who struggle with very sympathetic feelings of belonging and complex family dynamics. Penny, as always, is adorable. This one just tried to tackle too much.

As someone who adored Beetle and the Hollowbones, this sequel was greatly anticipated and that anticipation was well worth it! This sequel held up to the first book and was a delightful romp with Beetle and Kat. Something I loved was the introductory recap of the first book. It was adorable and informative since it has been a bit since I read the first one and it made it all come flooding back. I am all about all things queer, spooky, and cute and this graphic novel delivers on all three. With the warm days in this early false spring, I could almost believe it was actually fall while curled up with this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is so cute !! I love the main characters and how whimsy they are :’) it really reminds me of some of the DND campaigns I’ve been apart of when we didn’t take it too serious. I also like how there’s a lot of undertone to this story that doesn’t keep it only fun - making it a great coming of age graphic novel.

I adored the first Beetle book and was elated to find out there was going to be a sequel. This one expands so much more on Beetle’s world and its characters. I love the characters and their relationships. Penny is forever my favorite. The magic is so interesting. I loved learning about and seeing the goblin underground. I really hope we get another book. I would love to be immersed in this world even more. The story has darker elements to it than the first but still has its usual heartwarming and funny moments. One of my favorite graphic novels of all time. Already preordered it!

They’re lesbians!
Even though the arc is not fully colored the character designs are so hot. The settings are so cute.
This story include favorite tropes: sticking it to homophobic, elitist, high brow society members, twist villains, and young heroes trying to handle the pressure all on their own.
The Goblin underground is such a fun idea.

Although my arc wasn't fully colored in yet, and the story felt a little sluggish in the beginning, I ended up really enjoying this second installment of Beetle. I mostly enjoyed Beetle and Kat's relationship, and Gran's transformation. I can't wait to get the hard copy at my library when we get it in so I can reread it in all it's colored glory.

What an adventure! I absolutely loved the first book Beetle and the Hollowbones but this was jampacked with adventure, humor, and of course MAGIC.

“Beetle & the Chimera Carnival” features delightful illustrations that bring its magical world to life. However, the story is clearly geared towards a younger audience, which made it challenging for me to fully appreciate its depth. The plot, involving mysterious dragon disappearances and sinister forces, is engaging but feels more suited for middle-grade readers. While the book’s themes and artwork are charming, they may not resonate as strongly with older readers seeking more complex narratives. Overall, it’s a great choice for younger fans of fantasy and adventure.