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.

A lovely sequel! I didn't enjoy this one as much at the first Beetle graphic novel - mainly because some parts felt pieced together, but I know there may some finishing touches before it's published!

i loved this! i loved the growth of these young characters, the dynamics of being true to yourself and learning how to be confident and accepting yourself let alone confronting family. there was so much packed in this and i think this is such a creative way to tell this story

Ohhh my gosh. I loved this even more than the first, and the first book got a 5 star perfect score from me! These books are like a warm hug, a therapeutic experience, a found family, I could go on forever. The art is gorgeous, the characters are amazing, I don't think I'll ever forget these stories. FANTASTIC. I will be buying this when it is published!

Beetle and the Chimera Carnival takes place directly after Beetle and the Hollowbones. Visually it is just as stunning. Some parts of the story were a bit too repetitive for my liking. Other parts didn’t quite seem to fit. I think Aliza Lyne is a creative storyteller. She would however benefit from editing some of her ideas out and saving them for a different book/s perhaps.

I would recommend this book to the DnD players that let their cats be a druid and sit in on the campaign. Those that are down with making the dark stuff cute and quirky. It’s a read for the monster girls, who are just learning to be comfortable in their skin.

As an adult reader, I really enjoyed this book—the story was engaging, and the illustrations were fantastic. However, as a teacher, I’m a bit hesitant about including it in my classroom library. A few scenes, like Grandma revealing her rainbow pasties, might not be the best fit for a 5th-grade audience. While I personally found it delightful, I’d be mindful of whether it aligns with what I want to introduce to my students.

This is a glorious sequel to Beetle & the Hollowbones, with more sapphic love, a budding teen relationship, a vastly expanded world, and some truly terrifying and gorgeously weird illustrations. I cannot wait to get this in my hands and then get it in the hands of everyone I can!! But now I'm miserable, because I *need* the third book, which will presumably be more focused on everyone's favorite blob ghost Penny (which, !!!!!). In the meantime, I think this is my favorite book of the year?!?!