Evil-ish is a fun oneshot graphic novel with an art style I really enjoyed and characters I liked a alot! It packs a punch of story on finding your place and exploring yourself while also learning to let go of the things that are hurting you or causing you to hurt others and grow to be a better, happier, version of yourself.

This was my first graphic novel and I ate it up! Filled with funny banter! I loved the illustrations in this graphic novel!

This was okay. It has some good but overall, it was just okay.

Good:
While the character art wasn't my favorite, I did really enjoy the aesthetic. And I'll always be amazed at people's skills. I also thought the idea was cute.

What didn't resonante with me:
The characters. I just didn't understand Hawthorne's character. His wanting to be "evil" but he just wanted to be a prank bro instead. It just didn't really make sense why he was the way he was and his evolving was very flat.

Some of the scene jumps were just too much. It went really quickly from one scene to the next in the middle which made me feel a little whiplashed.

Recommended audience:
I think this will do great for the intended audience, more of the younger side of the spectrum. While this does have some redeeming qualities - I think there was a lot more for the wanting.



But I loved Maple. She was the best character from start to finish.

We all know the feeling of not belonging. Well, maybe not ALL of us, but the people that know that feeling, should definitely pick up Evil-ish. It’s all about finding your place in the world, even when it isn’t where you thought it would be.

Hawthorne has dreamt of joining the Brigade of Shade their whole life. Being evil is all they’ve been able to imagine: idolizing the villains and wishing to be by their side. The stories of the dissent they sowed and the places they’ve been are the stuff of legend. So when they put out a flier saying they are accepting applications, it’s finally time!

But then they don’t get in. And yet Maple, the bubbly girl who sings to birds and looks nothing like your typical villain, does.

As Hawthorne is lying in their room, crying over what should have been, Maple shows up to offer help at asking for a second chance. Which, of course, goes terribly wrong and the leader of the Brigade ends up dead… leaving Hawthorne their new leader.

This was delightfully fun and full of queer characters. I mean, there are 2 nonbinary characters and I imagine Hawthorne and Maple becoming a thing somewhere down the line, so even though it’s not fuuuuuuuuuully canon, it is in my head. I love Hawthorne’s growth throughout the story and how they may not have fit in with the town they live in, they just needed some coaxing and a little evil to show them the way.

My favorite part/character of the story was Hawthorne’s mom giving them an apron that said Mx. Manager on it. She asked around for the correct thing to say on it so that they would feel properly represented. It’s that extra step of caring and affection that really show a parent’s love and devotion to their child. I wish more parents were like fictional ones.💜Every queer kid needs this kind of love.

Honest Netgalley ARC Review: This was such a sweet, fun, magical YA graphic novel. Hawthorne doesn't feel like they fit in. They wish to be an infamous villain so they try out to be part of the notorious Brigade of Shade. Hawthorne is done helping their mom by being a potion barista and instead cover their bedroom walls with posters of evildoers. When a deadly accident puts Hawthorne in a position of power they can't wait to be the villain they’ve been dreaming of being. The problem is that being evil may not be what they actually want. Hawthorne is a non binary teen who has evil aspirations but is stuck working with their family. They want to make their own way in the world and they think a life of evil is what they want. Hawthornes character can be stubborn and selfish but they are also kind, helpful, and forgiving. They grew a lot in this story and it was so sweet reading about their journey.

This was a cute graphic novel about how sometimes realizing we aren't who we thought we were or who we thought we wanted to be.

I really enjoyed reading this though there were a few things that threw me off...it's giving high fantasy but then they have video game systems and Hawthorne, our main character, mentions something about never remembering to text back...kind of pulled me out of the story a bit since everything else has it set up as a time before tech.

Overall though I really enjoyed this and thought it was sweet with a great message. ^^

4.5/5 (rounded down to 4)

CW: violence, murder, death

I would like to thank NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was such a fun graphic novel! Being that I absolutely love the Assistant to the Villain series by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, I knew heading into this book that it was going to be something I really liked. I think the dynamics between Hawthorne and Maple were very interesting, especially when you consider their conversations about good and evil and how people can ultimately change. Additionally, I think Tarrell does a good job with balancing artwork and storytelling to help ease readers into the heart of the story. However, my only issue with this book was the world-building. Like, I understand that it's supposed to be a medieval-like setting and the magic system wasn't too hard to figure out. However, there were these modern elements added into the story, like keto diets and little league teams, that didn't really make sense to the type of setting the book was supposed to be nor was it really explained why these modern elements were there in the first place.

Nevertheless, if you like stories that really examine morally grey villains on if they're actually villainous or just simply misunderstood, want a fantasy graphic novel with a non-binary MC, and/or you just love the Assistant to the Villain series, you might want to check this book out.

This book was so whimsical and fun. The art work was beautiful and I read it all in one sitting because I just could not put it down

this didn't go where I expected, but it was such a good read about found family and discovering your place in the world and how it's never too late to make amends

Evil-ish is a lovely and fun story about finding your place in the world, but more importantly it’s about doing evil. Kind of. Mostly it’s mischief, the fun kind of “evil.” The story gives dnd vibes with fun and chaotic characters, including liches, and ancient magics. The artwork is wonderful, both beautiful and at times perfectly cute. The art style is a perfect match for the tone and vibes of the story itself

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For potion barista Hawthorne Vandecast, leaving their mundane life is all they want. And being preferably evil is even better. When tragedy strikes, Hawthorne is pushed to lead the Brigade of Shade. Yet, when bubbly and cute Maple joins the evil party, it confuses Hawthorne on what truly defines evil. Can they turn things around before it’s too late for their small village?
I absolutely adored this graphic novel! It was so much fun to read in one reading session, too. Hawthorne wants change for themself, and Maple wants to fix her past. The cast of characters for the Brigade is hilarious, and Hawthorne trying to come up with evil things is funny. It’s a classic twist on good versus evil and finding what makes oneself authentic and true.

Super cute villainous graphic novel with a twist. The exposition of the first few pages was a little confusing to me, but once I met Hawthorne, I loved it.

this debut young adult fantasy graphic novel is well done.

the story is to the point and fast paced. the graphics are amazing. the detail that goes into this artwork is incredible.

i relate to hawthorne and maple a lot. it was nice to see feelings i don’t talk about with anyone reflected onto the page. reading this story made me feel less alone. i saved a few quotes that hit way harder for me than expected.

from a bit of a seasoned reader within the new adult range, there are some things about the story that i feel are missing. nothing too drastic, of course, but i found myself keeping track of questions i had while reading that never got answered clearly or at all. i don’t think i should reveal my questions here because it would spoil the book. i wouldn’t mind the book be longer if it meant all questions got answered and, at certain parts, the plot marinated a bit longer in order for the character development to hit harder, but looking at the bigger picture, there were certain messages that needed to be told in a way that the target audience or anyone could understand while also keeping their interest in the story. i just felt like some things were given away too easily or happening to quickly to fully take in the weight of the situation, at certain points.

overall, this story is great for it’s target audience and a younger audience as well. i appreciate the messages portrayed and feel they are important to remember. there seems to be room for this story to continue and i’d love to see more, if it does.

thank you so much kennedy tarrell, netgalley, feiwel & friends, and macmillan children’s publishing group for gifting me this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinions!

I loved the line art for this graphic novel. It was very cottagecore and it also reminded me of Hilda when it came down to the line are. I loved the colors they were not too flashy and everything was comforting to read and process.

The story follows a PG romance between Hawthorne and Maple whom at first Hawthorne wanted to be evil on the outside but deep down he was a softee. As for Maple who was the complete opposite, she was sweet on the inside and just looked for revenge for what the common ground group they were trying to join brought out all of her anger. I liked how in the end he made her see herself and they she could rise above it with someone else rather being alone and trying to get the comfort that she needed that she missed out for so long. Like she didn’t have to be alone, she was just choosing to do it. This overall was a really cute, graphic novel but, also very interesting on world-building and understanding where you need to be in life by who you hang around.

A cute and vivid graphic novel I've read in one sitting.

Hawthorne is a non-binary teenager who feels they don't fit in, life is a chore and they're destined for bigger things - like joining the local villain's entourage! But neither joining nor leading the gang will be as easy and glamorous as Hawthorne dreamed, and their self-confidence will be sorely tested.

In the end, it's a humbling tale about false first impressions, and that chasing "fun" means being saddled with the negative consequences of it. It also conveys a positive message about the power of friendship and supportive community.

This is marketed as YA, but I'd say it fits for MG readers too. It's very short and fast paced, the illustrations are very dynamic, there's nothing drastic shown but mostly implied, big problems are surprisingly easily solved, it focuses on friendship, and the main characters' behaviour with worshipping their idols and throwing fits resembles a 12-14yo.

I would recommend this for reluctant readers of upper MG and younger YA age bracket who want a quick, easy to absorb story.

I loved the diverse characters: mc is non-binary, there's a Black side character and another side character who is a butch-presenting woman. There's also another non-binary character who mc idolizes.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC! It's the first time I'm approved for a graphic novel / comic outside of "Read Now" titles, so I'm double grateful for this one!

I signed up for this without reading all the tags to see what the aesthetic was about. I thought it was a fun, cute read about wanting something and then realizing it wasn't what you thought. I was leery at first. But Hawthorne seemed like your typical young person trying to find where they belong. I would have liked to see a little more of what the motivation was to join team evil. The character had more of a explanation for the motivation. Hopefully we get to see more of Hawthorne's adventures in the future.

This was the most delightful YA graphic novel, and such a treat to read! I can definitely tell Tarrell's background is in animation, because this gave Disney vibes in the best way possible! The world of Idlewood is one that feels lived-in and fully imagined, and the art is an absolute dream. I was hooked from the first page.

Evil-ish centers on Hawthorne, a disillusioned potion barista who dreams of bigger things--namely, joining the evil Brigade of Shade that rules their town. The only problem is that tryouts are full of hopefuls, all with powers of their own. Hawthorne doesn't have powers, but they have a killer style, a sharp wit, and a big dream. But that's not enough. When they fail miserably at their audition, a surprising friend gives them a second chance, and they stumble their way into the Brigade. But is Hawthorne evil enough for the team they always dreamed of...and is evil really what they want to be?

I literally could not put down this graphic novel. It felt cinematic and cozy, and I adored the detail put into every panel. The character designs are great, from Hawthorne's slick, spiky style, to friend Maple's Disney princess charm. The members of the Brigade all felt distinct, too, with Dredimer being my favorite. I really enjoyed how Hawthorne and Dredimer's gender was never used as a plot point--they are both nonbinary, and that's normalized and accepted. It felt kind of like Owl House or She-Ra in that regard; queernormative, gender-normative, etc, and I think it's so important for teens to have media like that. I loved that Hawthorne had such a wonderful family, and I liked how the Brigade supported each other. Positive vibes all the way around! I also liked the messaging here: Hawthorne's idea of "evil" is more angsty outcast who wants to cause some mischief, and when confronted with true evil they understand where their values lie. Tarrell also explores the idea that hurt people hurt people, and how to stop that cycle, which I think is also important messaging.

I do wish, as some other reviewers stated, that there had been a bit more fleshed out motive for both Hawthorne and Maple, Hawthorne in particular. The plot moves so fast, which is not a bad thing, but I felt that I never understood Hawthorne's reason for wanting to join the Brigade so badly. I WAS that "too cool for this town" angsty teenager, so I totally get that not wanting to work at their mom's potion shop could be motive enough, or perhaps the fact that the Brigade has an absolutely enviable aesthetic. But I'm largely extracting that from my own teenage years, and less from what's on the page itself.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Feiwel and Friends, and Kennedy Tarrell for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was such a cute graphic novel! The art style is so quirky— I love it.

I love when authors include snippets of their processes creating a book so the ending section with the concept art, etc was so nice to see.

The pacing and occasional dialogue were my only issues. But then again this is a ya graphic novel (not something I read often!) so take that with a grain of salt!!

3.75/5 rounded up to 4

Evil-ish is about what you'd expect from the premise of "teenage batista winds up running an evil empire." I just wish it took a little bit longer to get there.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Macmillan for the Advance Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Evil-ish, as the name would suggest, gives a story of young adults who set out to join an evil group and then war about actually being evil. The premise is interesting, but the execution is a bit lacking because the pace is too quick. The art style is beautiful - I can tell that Tarrel put a lot of thought into world building which is why it's so jarring to me that we don't get to sit into that world longer. Pacing at the beginning felt good, we see a glimpse into background, how our main character feels, introduction to possible enemies and friends, and then suddenly it feels like we're holding down the times two button on a tiktok video to get to the protagonists realizing the moral of the story. It's not necessarily bad, I was just left wanting by the whole experience.

If you have a young angst reader in your life who likes graphic novels and dressing in black, they may enjoy this book. If you're like me and used to be that young angsty reader, you may see yourself a bit in Hawthorne. Whatever the case, this is a quick and visually beautiful read that you can't go wrong with to pass the time.

I usually wait to read a book until closer to is publishing date, but this sweet graphic novel called for me to read it the moment I was approved!

Hawthorne lives above their family's potion/tea shop in a small town. But they have big dreams of joining the Brigade of Shade, a band of evils who wreak havoc on the town. When they show up at the open call for new Brigade members, Hawthorne meets Maple, the most unlikely, cheeriest of candidates. Together, they accidentally find themselves in charge of the Brigade, and must learn what it means to be good and evil, and how to live with the consequences of your choices.

This artwork captured my attention. The vivid use of color set the mood in each panel. I particularly liked Hawthorne's character design.

I'm hoping there's more coming in this series.

I received this ARC from @netgalley and publisher @macmillanusa. The opinions are my own.

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