Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

Strange Bedfellows might be one of the coolest books I’ve ever read. Truly it has such an interesting concept that is executed very well. I’m always partial to dream magic or any sort of magical manifestations of dreams/nightmares, and I LOVE the way Ariel Slamet Ries explores how this sort of situation interacts with anxiety. Also, the art is GORGEOUS and the imagery works with the style of the graphic novel perfectly. I will say, I found the worldbuilding to be very minimal. I don’t think it took away from the story, but I do think it’s worth mentioning since many people who read sci-fi and fantasy look for immersive worldbuilding. Personally, I tend to gravitate more towards fantasy than sci-fi, so I’m not entirely sure how this compares to the average amount of worldbuilding for a sci-fi story

In the near future, humanity is living on a planet called Meridian, a place where you’re likely to be born with superpowers. But Oberon wasn’t one of the lucky ones. Ever since his pretty public breakdown, he feels like he can’t get control of his life. When he suddenly has the ability to conjure his dreams into reality, things start to get really complicated.

One of the things Oberon conjures is his high school crush, Kon, who mysteriously disappeared three years ago. As the two work together to get a hold on Oberon’s powers, things start to spiral into chaos, especially as Oberon starts to fall for Kon. Will he be able to get control before it’s too late?

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for an advanced copy of Strange Bedfellows by Ariel Slamet Ries to review! The cover is definitely what drew me in to this one, and the art inside is just as stunning. I’ve loved Ries’ art in everything I’ve read from them so far, so I’m not surprised that I loved this.

The story and the characters match the artwork in quality. There is so much emotional tension in this, and the exploration of mental health is so well done. Both Oberon and Kon are dealing with their own struggles, from panic attacks to anxiety to depression. The unfolding of Kon’s story is extremely well done, and is so heartbreaking.

This is a wonderfully layered story with absolutely gorgeous artwork. If you like sci-fi stories that are character forward, definitely check this one out in March!

Loved the illustration and
the journey with that the main character went on to find acceptance and learning how to love themselves would definitely read more by this author.

I’ve been reading a lot of futuristic sci-fi/fantasy graphic novels and absolutely loving it!
Oberon’s grandparents travelled from Earth on an Ark to Meridian. He lives in a world where the descendants of Earth have developed abilities, they are mutants, and they are called Ghosts. If the government finds out that you have extraordinary abilities, then your name is put on a government registry, and you and your family will be surveilled FOR LIFE. Always the odd one out, Oberon is the only one of his siblings to not have manifested powers. Amidst this world, Oberon is just trying to survive. During his first years at college, a relationship ended, he had a nervous breakdown and promptly dropped out. Not to add to his stress, his health is in crisis with constant headaches and they’re becoming worse. On top of all that, he is having weird dreams involving his high school crush. Read this one to find out more.
This was a fantastic read and you need to read it…like yesterday.

#ThxNetGalley #ArielSlametRies

Hello??!! This was incredible! Hands down my favorite read of the year so far.

The characters are so well-developed, and the worldbuilding is insanely good. I had never heard of solarpunk before, but this book made me fall in love with it instantly. A futuristic society where money doesn’t exist, where healthcare, food, and housing are provided, but everyone still contributes? Sign me up. The little worldbuilding details—like everyone having a garden to help with the food supply or Oberon’s mom casually mentioning, “I know you’re old enough to be assigned your own apartment”—made everything feel so natural. The way worldbuilding is handled is *chef’s kiss*—not through heavy exposition, but by letting the reader experience how everything works as the story unfolds. It’s the perfect example of show, don’t tell.

Reading this was incredibly immersive. It’s a medium-paced story, which really suited the world and themes. I was so absorbed that when I finished, it felt like coming up for air—like suddenly remembering the real world existed.

I loved Oberon’s relationship with his sister, even the moments of conflict between them. It felt raw and real, just like the rest of the characters. The book never falls into the trap of making everyone perfectly enlightened just because they live in a utopia—people still make mistakes, say the wrong thing, and grow from it. It made everything feel lived in.

One of my favorite details was Oberon’s tattoo honoring past trans men—such a beautiful touch. The dream sequences were also a highlight; they were gorgeous and genuinely felt like slipping into a dream.

On top of all that, the plot itself was super engaging. I was completely invested from start to finish.

If you’re looking for a unique and beautifully crafted read, Strange Bedfellows is it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I already pre-ordered the ebook but I'm ordering the physical now, too, this was so good!

I've followed Ariel Slamet Ries on a couple of socials at this point, and read an early preview they posted on Patreon, and I've been hooked and excited for a long time, and this truly turned out incredibly well, incredibly. The art is gorgeous, the cast is amazing, the story is excellent. These characters have my heart, and I cannot recommend this highly enough.

If you like science fantasy m/m about superpowers, anxiety, <spoiler>self-hatred and suicidal ideation</spoiler>, hurt/comfort, and trying to do right by people and support them when they need you, then this is the book for you.

A truly beautiful book, I needed this today.

Strange Bedfellows is a new queer graphic novel with fantasy and science fiction elements. It’s beautifully written and illustrated and I can’t recommend it enough.

The story follows Oberon, who has recently had a very public panic attack that led to him dropping out of college. He’s feeling lost when he suddenly gains the ability to bring his dreams into reality. His new power manifests a dream version of his high school crush, Kon, who decides to help him understand his new powers.

The plot is surprisingly layered. It gracefully melds a touching story about recovering from mental health struggles, a mystery, a family story, and a sweet romance. The result is a beautiful, hopeful, funny, and emotional story that I found surprisingly complex. I think many people with anxiety will identify strongly with Oberon’s story. I certainly did!

This is all set in a lush and diverse sci-fi world. The technology is more advanced than ours but still recognizable enough to avoid confusion The world-building is incredibly well done. In just under 300 pages, Meridian feels like a fully realized place. We get glimpses of the politics, wildlife, weather, and problems that former Earthlings (and their children) encounter on their new home planet.

The artwork here is stunning. The colors and style strike me as truly unique. Normally, I rush through graphic novels, but this one made me want to linger and really appreciate the art.

I highly recommend Strange Bedfellows to any fan of inclusive stories, stories about making it through tough times, or character-centric sci-fi/fantasy. It is genuinely one of my favorite graphic novels that I have read to date!

"Strange Bedfellows" by Ariel Slamet Ries is truly one of the greatest graphic novels I've read in a while. It's story is about the main character, Oberon, as he realizes he has magic powers and gets help in learning how to control them from a dream version of his high school crush. The art is gorgeous and is both artistic and clear about the action. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about dreams, when books blend scifi and fantasy, or queer stories that also have a strong focus on friends and family. In all honesty, I'd maybe even recommend this book to literally any one.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my eARC.

The art is absolutely beautiful. The story is a little confusing at times, especially in the beginning, but I will happily buy this for my patrons.

*Strange Bedfellows* by Ariel Slamet Ries is a captivating, thought-provoking graphic novel that masterfully combines science fiction, political intrigue, and deeply human storytelling. Known for their webcomic *Witchy*, Ries once again demonstrates their ability to craft vivid worlds and compelling narratives. Set in a richly imagined dystopian future, *Strange Bedfellows* follows an unlikely alliance between individuals with starkly opposing ideologies. Through its intricate plot and stunning illustrations, the story explores themes of power, identity, and survival while also delving into the complex dynamics of trust and collaboration in dire circumstances.

If you're a fan of stories that challenge conventional narratives and explore the gray areas of morality, *Strange Bedfellows* is a must-read. Ries’s writing is sharp, their characters are unforgettable, and the story resonates on both an emotional and intellectual level.

This story was not only well written but also had amazing artwork to match. It was nice to see Oberon find his true self and connect with an old flame. It took some time to figure out exactly what was going on but as the story progressed I found myself invested in Oberon and his struggles. I liked how his family plays a big role in how he sees himself and how quick they are to reach out when he needs them. I also liked how the love interest is so much more than that and how their stories connect. This was such a cool read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

This story was so goddamn good. After Oberon has a mental breakdown in the middle of a lecture at college, his life seems to be spiraling out of his control. He distances himself from his friends, drops out of college, and spends a lot of time dreaming. In his dreams, he starts dreaming of his high school crush, Kon, who went missing shortly after high school ended. Until Kon appears outside of those dreams as an apparition! Together, they slowly try to turn Oberon's life back around. This story was so interesting, and I adored both Oberon and Kon. They felt like real people and their struggles, though futuristic, were very relatable. Also, I really like how slang was written in this story. It feels like something kids of the future would use, but they also included "outdated" slang that older people use! It was a little detail that really helped add some reality to the story. The art was GORGOUES. I loved the art style so much, and the dream scenes were so pretty. I don't want to say too much about the story because it was so good. It's also a solar punk utopia style of a story that acknowledges the dystopia that it rose from. Please just go read it for yourself, it's worth it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Trigger warnings for suicide attempt

I loved this graphic novel. While the art is nice, well drawn and with a very well-chosen color palette, it’s the story that stands out to me. Oberon, as the only one of his siblings (two older, two younger) without powers feels hopeless, and helpless. His friends are in college, which he has sort of/sort of not dropped out of — taking a deferment — after being dumped (among other stressors) led to him having a panic attack. He’s shut down around his family, doing his best to get by without having to do much of anything until his dreams of Kon. Kon, the crush who vanished. Kon, who seems so real …

This Kon is cheerful, friendly, bossy, obnoxious and Oberon both hates him and relies on him, because Kon is, after all, just part of Oberon’s own magic, which makes his dreams a reality. And the more he summons Kon — or channels Kon, or dreams Kon into being — the stronger Kon becomes as a separate personality. And, because he always had a crush on Kon, this leads to some … er, feelings. Is kissing Kon, wanting to be held by Kon (to do more with Kon) masturbatory, is it just loneliness?

Oberon’s struggles to not take responsibility, to go back to a passive, placid life are at odds with Kon’s desires for him to practice his magic and get out and be with his family and friends. Is Kon his superego? Or his Id? Oberon wants Kon to go away, but Kon makes him happy, helps him feel comfortable with his powers, makes him feel wanted and loved.

There’s a lot of emotional tension, a lot of lovely, rich character work both for Oberon and Kon, and it was beautifully paced, each moment given time to breathe without it feeling too long. The action scenes are well drawn, vivid and colorful, and the world building about the arc, the magic powers, the realities of living in a colony world were present enough to add to the world without taking over.

Please read this story! It’s just so good! Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

This is a beautiful graphic novel! The art is amazing. There was a lot of words on a page sometimes and it was hard to follow the plot in a few parts, but I really liked the overall story. There is a lot of good themes here and I think it might be easier to read in person. This was super sweet and fun!

God, what an absolute grand slam. This book was BEAUTIFUL. I adored reading every moment of it. I need to buy it ASAP.

As somebody who had read Ariel Slamet Ries before picking this up, I found this to be an upgrade from her previous work. One, the artwork was even more beautiful than Witchy, and the colors were stunningly done. Two, the story was more captivating, and the mini-twist near the end was really well written. I might be buying myself a copy of this when it releases!