My thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for an advance copy of this graphic novel that is equal parts a workplace comedy, a satire of corporate America and theme parks, and a muder mystery in the theme of fairy tales.

I love stories that take me places, even if that place is one of my least favorite states of the Union, Florida. I also love stories that show me things that I never knew, like the inner world of a theme park, how the magic happens for instance. And I love a good mystery, especially a good mystery with a theme, like for example fairy tales. There is so much to work with, so much darkness in the tales we tell children. Add a dash of satire, a hint of workplace dramedy, and a lot of murder and one has a great story. Just like this one. Murder Kingdom is written by Fred Van Lente with art by Chris Panda, lettered by Becca Carey and tells of the second most magical place on Earth and the no good very bad day one woman has as she rises from train engineer to princess who saves herself, all while investigating a series of escalating murders.

Tanith is not living the dream in Storybook Kingdom, a theme park based on classic fairy tales, and not affiliated with the Mouse in anyway. Tanith has decided to not go to college, has just had the ashes of a grandmother dumped on her, something that happens a lot, but is still a park no-no. And quit her job, to work at a Cat Cafe. Before she can leave Tanith is asked to fill in for a park princess who flipped out on social media, causing a stink, as Tanith has red hair and the wig can not be found. Tanith agrees but in a short period of time finds the woman she is replacing, killed by a sword stroke to the head. The murder is covered up the Prince Charming, head of security, and Tanith wants to know what is going on, and how many murders has the charming prince been hiding. As Tanith and her best friend dig into the underworld of the theme park, secrets come to the surface, as do many more bodies. And Tanith might be next.

A story that is not only fun and funny, but dark and surprisingly violent. Just like a good Disney cartoon should be. Not only a take on them parks and the misery of working there, the story is very well presented and the mystery is quite good, with many red herrings, but a conclusion that makes sense. Tanith is a very good character, one that slowly unfolds, a fan of escape rooms, she has the ability to see things that few do. Along with the courage to back her friends, and figure things out. There is a large cast, but Van Lente does a good job of keeping them straight and unique. There are a lot of things going on, the sale of the park, people walking around in VR helmets, that is explained later, and a bit of union action, which all fit the story. The art is really good. Gross when it needs to be, ie death by acid, light and happy when showing the magic of a theme park, but dark when showing the different fairy tales used in the murders. I liked the change in styles which really added to the way the story was presented.

The book has a satisfactory conclusion, with hints of sequel I hope there is. This was a fun story with a lot of potential. I look forward to a Volume 2.

Murder Kingdom follows Tanith, an escape room enthusiast working at a fairy tale themed amusement park, as she experiences the worst day at work ever. Someone is running around Storybook Kingdom, killing cast members in ways eerily close to their characters' deaths in the original Grimms Fairy Tales, and Tanith somehow keeps stumbling across the crime scenes. Running from a serial killer, bitter coworkers, and power-hungry management, Tanith must solve the mystery before this job gets her killed.

I loved this comic! It was gruesome and funny and poked at other similar parks and corporations in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways. The setting was perfect, mirroring Disney parks while also putting darker twists on it to connect this park to the original tales. The characters were so fun, too! Tanith is the main one we follow, but the other cast members who both helped and hurt her had good development as well. Tanith's background designing escape rooms made her a believable sleuth to solve this killing spree. While this type of story could've been left as a fairy tale themed slasher fic, Murder Kingdom also addresses labor unions and rights, the pitfalls of capitalism, and the monetization of childhood and subsequent corruption of it. I recommend this for anyone in love with fairy tales and dark comics.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

‘Murder Kingdom’ is a thrilling blend of fairy tales and horror, seamlessly brought to life in graphic novel format. With its darkly imaginative premise, vibrant artwork, and engaging characters, it’s an absolute page-turner that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Plot: ★★★★★
The plot is fantastic, masterfully merging fairy tales with horror elements in a way that feels fresh and exciting. The story unfolds at a gripping pace, keeping readers on edge as they navigate the dangers of the twisted theme park. It balances suspense, action, and eerie fairy tale nostalgia perfectly, making for an unforgettable ride.

Character: ★★★★★
Tanith is a compelling protagonist - strong, determined, and easy to root for. The supporting cast adds so much depth to the story, with each character feeling distinct and purposeful. Some are likable and worth cheering for, while others make you eagerly anticipate their downfall. This variety in personalities adds to the tension and makes the stakes feel even higher.

Setting: ★★★★★
The theme park setting is brilliantly executed, practically leaping off the page. Every part of it feels immersive, blending whimsical fairy tale charm with ominous horror undertones. The detailed world-building makes it easy to lose yourself in this eerie, dangerous wonderland.

Illustrations: ★★★★★
The artwork is stunning - bright, bold, and filled with vibrant contrasts that enhance the story’s dual themes of fairy tale magic and creeping horror. The color choices and dynamic panel layouts make the action even more intense, perfectly capturing the unsettling beauty of the setting.

Engagement: ★★★★★
‘Murder Kingdom’ is an absolute page-turner. The suspense is relentless, and the combination of strong storytelling and captivating visuals makes it nearly impossible to put down. Every scene is packed with tension, and the fast-paced narrative keeps you fully invested until the very last page.

Readability: ★★★★★
The storytelling flows effortlessly, making it an easy and compelling read. The dialogue feels natural, the pacing is smooth, and the mix of text and visuals is well-balanced. Whether you're a graphic novel veteran or new to the format, this book is incredibly accessible.

Enjoyment: ★★★★★
I loved every moment of ‘Murder Kingdom’. It’s the perfect mix of dark fantasy, horror, and fairy tale nostalgia, all wrapped up in a visually stunning package. It’s gripping, chilling, and thoroughly entertaining - a must-read for fans of dark, twisted tales.

Fred Van Lente delivers a brilliantly eerie and exhilarating story in ‘Murder Kingdom’. With its captivating plot, memorable characters, and breathtaking artwork, it’s an absolute standout in the horror genre. Highly recommended for fans of dark fairy tales and suspenseful graphic novels!

Unfortunately this fell very flat. Little to no real plot but has a lot of potential so I’ll stick around for #2. The graphics were good tho!

With a title like this, you sort of know where the story is going. The art was great and colorful with the left shades for the tone of the chapter. I liked all the little nods to the real Mouse supreme, whether it be with the name of the characters or ways to 'tell' you without copyright infractions.
One thing though. This is NOT for kids. This is rather violent and is definitely for adults who like slasher movies or dark retellings (ish).
Overall, it was wild and kept my attention through the story!

Tanith should be at college, but instead, she’s working at her local Storybook Kingdom to find inspiration for her dream job as an escape room designer. However, after the former Briar Rose has a meltdown and vanishes, Tanith is suddenly tasked with taking on her role as the new Briar Rose. The story takes a dark turn when she and a friend discover the grisly remains of Briar Rose. As the park attempts to cover up the murder, Tanith embarks on a quest to uncover the truth.

After following a lead that ends up dead right in front of her by a girl with no hands. Tanith and her friend soon realise these murders mirror the original fairy tales. With the park trying to cover it up before word gets out and more and more cast showing up dead, each more gruesome than the last, can Tanith find the killer before it finds her?

I really enjoyed this story, I liked how they didn’t just stick with the more common stories but branched out to some of the less known ones. The characters were engaging and interesting, and the art was phenomenal and perfect for this story.

This is a fabulous story that is perfect for anyone who loves a good murder mystery, thriller, or the original fairy tales.

I’m not sure what I was expecting with this book - but it was better. As weird as it was - with a spooky murderous Disney-like park - the story was highly entertaining!

There is a serial killer on the loose on the park, and the crimes are following the story tales’s trajectory - but the original stories, filled with death and revenge. You never really know who the killer really is.

Very entertaining and a great way to get curious about more fairytales.

I gotta admit that this one had a lot of potential because the plot was really interesting & unique but the execution fell flat.

To explain a bit, we follow Tanith who works in the Storybook Kingdom theme park that is fashioned upon the fairy tales and is focused on giving the children the place of their dreams. But when a cast member is murdered according to the original Grimms' Fairy Tales, Tanith is forced to fight for her life and also find the culprit because if she fails, she could end up as the next victim, so she must run against the clock & capture the culprit red-handed.

Well, I think the plot sounds really fun & exciting esp for a thriller or horror fan like me cuz the book combines Agatha Christie vibes with the Slasher vibes perfectly in idea, but on paper it doesn't translate well as lots of dialogues are left incomplete & are incoherent which creates this loss of understanding to the readers.

Still, I'd say that the artwork is amazing & perfect for this plot as it embodies the grotesque aspects of a Slasher very well and the characters were also done to look unique in their own ways. In a way, it was nostalgic to see the OG Grimms' Fairy Tales in here cuz I'm someone who likes dark tales than the diluted & pure version of these days.

Overall, I'd recommend this if you're looking for a gory mystery comic with some nostalgic vibes in it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-graphic novel arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The concept of this graphic novel was great. A knock off Disney based around The Grimm fairytales where cast members all of a sudden start getting murdered. Seemed like a great idea, but it was poorly executed. The story kept jumping around a bit too much. The characters didn't seem to have any depth to them whatsoever, and you can pretty much guess what's going on.

The dark humor and random quips throughout the story were good, but not enough to save it. There is a continuation of the story that will be coming out, but I don't think I'll be reaching for it.

This sounded fun but honestly it wasn't really for me. There's nothing wrong with it specifically I think I'm just not the target audience

This one wasn't for me, but I'm sure it's for someone. It's not poorly written or anything, it's just a little stranger that I prefer.

A very interesting look into a twisted world of fairy tale deaths.

The artists use of color is fabulous. The use of heavy contrasting colors to set of key moments of tension works visual wonders. Some of the dialogue between characters can be stagnant, but it is a quick, and overall interesting tale.

2.5

This story feels too highly of its mystery. It feels like a bunch of bland murder mystery cliches interspersed with extremely graphic gore. I was startled by just how gore-filled this comic was! I knew it involved a lot of murder, obviously, but the deaths are so gore filled that it completely distracts from the plot. This plot also had so many moving parts that tried to be crazy plot twists that just felt boring. The art style was fine, but it also felt very basic. This story was just a massive flop for me.

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

I did not understand anything that was going on !!
liked the gore and the colour palette but the storyline lost me from page 5 !

Murder Kingdom #1 is a wild ride from start to finish. The theme park setting, with its eerie behind-the-scenes chaos, is both ridiculous and taken to the extreme—in a way that makes it irresistibly entertaining. The “killer among us” vibe adds a refreshing twist, blending gore, dark humor, and clever nods to a certain famous theme park. Fast-paced and thoroughly engaging, this first installment delivers exactly what you’d hope for: thrills, laughs, and a good dose of carnage.

This was a pretty fun upper teen comic.

As someone who knows a great deal of people who either currently or formerly were employed at an infamous mouse theme park, I really enjoyed the nods to how a theme park of that scale operates.

For adults the messaging might be heavy handed but a lot of today's teens haven't really grown up experiencing the original eras of Disney so it might feel pretty fresh to them!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this title.

Murder Kingdom is just plain fun!

I didn’t know I needed to read about a serial killer in a copy right safe version of Disneyworld until I picked this title up.

In Storybook Kingdom, a theme park built around public domain fairy tale characters (sweet idea), actors start dropping left and right, mysteriously murdered in the same grisly ways their characters died in the original Grimm’s Fairytales. Our main character, Tanith, is a park employee playing Briar Rose (a legally separate entity from Sleeping Beauty) is going to get to the bottom of things…. if it kills her.

I greatly enjoyed this comic. I found it to be a refreshingly original idea executed with competent artistic flair and well-seasoned with whip smart, pitch black humor. Honestly, the Disney jokes alone are enough to make this book. But beyond the comedic elements, smart writing, and interesting characters, Murder Kingdom is also a well-crafted murder mystery à la Agatha Christie. Like the best mysteries, there are hints sprinkled throughout, no shortage of suspects, and you’re given all the information needed to solve it before the case is closed.

Pick this title up for a good mystery, a few laughs, and a bloody good time.

What an absolute ride this was! From the first few pages I knew I was going to love this.

The concept was so fun yet gory. It was the perfect mix of comedy and slasher horror. Using characters we know and love worked really well as did the setting of a character based theme park.

The characters, whilst lacking depth, keep me entertained and I'll be interested to see what the future brings for them.

The plot was fast meaning there was no opportunity to grow bored or frustrated with nothing happening.

Overall this was a really enjoyable read and I look forward to future volumes!