Young Hag and the Witches’ Quest: A Graphic Novel

by Isabel Greenberg

A unique YA graphic novel about an epic quest through Arthurian legends and a girl’s journey to believe in magic again after the loss of her mother Once there was magic in Britain. There were dragons and wizards and green knights and round tables and kings that pulled swords out of stones. But now, the doors to the Otherworld have closed, and the magic is gone. All that is left are the stories of those bygone days. Young Hag, her mother and her grandmother, Ancient Crone, are the last of the witches in Britain. At least, that’s what Ancient Crone says. Young Hag has grown up hearing those tales, and believing in her the power of her Grandmother. But when tragedy strikes, and their world is shaken, Young Hag turns her back on magic. She is sick of the tales of family curses, faerie doors, lost magic, and ancient swords. If they are witches, where is their magic when they really need it? And then one day they find a changeling baby in the woods. Confronted with real magic at last, Young Hag has no choice but to believe. She sets off on the greatest quest of her life; to bring the magic back to Britain. But when faced with magic and myth, can Young Hag put aside her doubts and fears? Or will she simply become a forgotten footnote in the tale of famous kings and wizards?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Young Adult, Comics, Fiction, Adventure, Graphic Novels Comics

288 pages, Hardcover

Published May 14, 2024

Reviews

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love an Arthurian retelling and this one was inventive and original. Young Hag is the daughter of a witch and a granddaughter of a witch, but she is disappointed to learn after her naming ceremony that there is no more magic in Britain. Fifty years earlier, Merlin was sealed into a tree, the sword Excalibur was broken, and the doors between the human realm and the Otherworld were shut. But who closed them, and why? And what does it mean when human babies are suddenly getting replaced by Faerie changlings, and knights ride giant cats, and old secrets begin coming to light? The art is scratchy and wild, coloring done in a limited palette that suits the magically shadowed and misted landscapes of this world of story. If you enjoyed Spear by Nicola Griffith or The Winter Prince by Elizabeth Wein or The Once and Future King by TH White you should read this one as well.

[Lauren James]

In classic Greenberg style, this is a take on an old story - in a totally fresh and original way. Set many years after the events of King Arthur's court, the story is told by people who lived it - in a time when their own lives have already become myth. It's rooted in the female perspective, and leans into the magic of the world. There are goblin markets, giant cats, lady knights and magical witches. I loved this. A great addition to the YA graphic novel canon by an incredible British talent.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm all for feminist versions of the classics and picked this up because I have really loved some of Greenberg's earlier graphic novels.

Britain has lost magic and this is the tale of a quest to bring it back. This one lacked some of the magic (pun intended) of her other books, and while I liked that it was a female centered tale it wasn't an engaging read.

The Encyclopedia of Early Earth - 4 stars
The One Hundred Nights of Hero - 4 stars
Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës - 3 stars
Young Hag and the Witches’ Quest - 2 stars

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love feminist retellings of old stories. Too often they’re told only through a male lens and the egregious wrongs against women become simply part of the story. I loved that Young Hag and the Witches’ Quest pointed out the wrongs and held the men committing them accountable! It’s also a fun take on the tales of King Arthur and Camelot! 🗡️

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty fun, and I love the illustration style--it reminds me of Hark-era Kate Beaton or Emily Carroll. The ending gets a little muddled, but I'm so partial to well-informed riffs on Arthurian legend that I can mostly give it a pass.

[Brave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was EVERYTHING. An incredible take on the King Arthur storyline, especially if you're familiar with many of the tellings of it. Isabel Greenberg never, ever lets me down.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utterly delightful!

[Daisy May Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a wickedly sharp little moment, earlier on in this, when I knew that I was getting the good stuff. It concerns a storyteller and a comment on a character's agency and when I read it, I squeaked and I settled in because Greenberg is good and a feminist YA spin on Arthurian legends is pretty much everything and it was.

I have enjoyed Greenberg ever since her wild and spectral Glass Town and when I was in another library (not my normal one), I spotted this and picked it up with alacrity. And also my hands.

There's something special here in a book which tells its own story and points out what others have lacked and what others could do if they so tried (or even admitted that women were present in these stories of old) and I was just on board for it entirely. It's always difficult to adapt and work with a story that is so familiar to so many people in so many ways and yet Greenberg finds a neat, delicate, and often wickedly funny way into it. There's a whimsical edge here too, a kind of delicious blurring of the edges of where things make sense and an understanding that they might make sense somewhere else as well and why not go there in the scene, in the moment. It's lovely. It's brave and bold and so, so smart.

I loved this. I am here for things that go big or go home, that kind of go "look this is what I am doing and you really should come along for the ride" and "we might go some sticky places but we might go some awesome places to" and "you know what, this will be fun" because you should and we do and it is. It always is with Greenberg. Sign me up.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isabel Greenberg fixes Arthurian legend with a coming of age tale of a young witch on a quest to return magic to Britain fifty years after Merlin and Morgan le Fay set into motion the events that caused it to be sealed off.

Fun and engaging.

I became aware of this book from a list of 10 Exciting New Graphic Novels From 2024 (So Far) that has been pretty dependable (so far). Want to see how many you've read? Check the Goodreads list.



FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Prologue -- Part the First. A Coming-of-Age Thing -- Part the Second. The Paths Are Opening -- Part the Third. The Quest -- Part the Fourth. The Goblin Market -- Part the Fifth. The Otherworld -- Part the Sixth. Endings & Beginnings -- Epilogue

[Leah Prendergast · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Lovely illustrations but the story was a bit confusing.

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5; decent, didn’t love

[Katie Florida · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great "fractured fairy tale" of Camelot. Greatly enjoyed it!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t wait to be an ancient crone

[pyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very silly and joyful retelling of some legends surrounding King Arthur. Exactly the kind of story you need on a rainy day!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Greenberg so much and this work really lets her stretch out.

[Hannah Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm quite unfamiliar with the stories of King Arthur and his round table, but even with my limited knowledge, I really enjoyed this adaptation! Very well done, this is the type of graphic novel that I genuinely prefer.

[Ileana (The Tiniest Book Club) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabel Greenberg is one of the best graphic novel artists and authors there are, period. Her newly interpreted myths are just incredibly beautiful, funny and full of heart. "Young Hag" brings a fresh, feminist take to the tale of King Arthur.

Young Hag, twelve years old, wanders with mother Nearly Wizened One and grandmother Ancient Crone through Britain. The three witches make potions, tell stories, heal and help deliver babies, but there is no magic left in Britain since the Lady of the Lake closed the doors between the Otherworld and the human world. Ancient Crone tells the old stories while tragedy strikes, a mysterious changeling is found and the witches start their quest to bring the magic back into the world.

Stories within stories within stories are pure Isabel Greenberg brilliance, her books are always heart-warming celebrations of storytelling. "Young Hag" transforms the dusty and often misogynistic Arthurian legends into an empowering coming-of-age tale and emphasizes the importance of women defining and telling their own stories.

[Geertje · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a fun one, and I love the colours and the art style, but I was hoping for a little more from the story itself. I think this one may have worked better as a novel rather than a graphic novel.

[Mits · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the art in this one! I saw this on a display in our school library and was immediately drawn to the illustrations. The world of King Arthur and Merlin was one I'm not too familiar with, so it was a fun one to explore. The story wrapped up a bit too quickly, especially considering the pace of the rest wasn't particularly breakneck. I didn't really understand some of the arguments at the end about why some people couldn't be in certain places - it felt handwavy. Overall though, the art was amazing and I definitely want to read more by this author.

[Emily✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and original Arthurian retelling. I love Isabel Greenberg's style. 3.5 stars

TW: rape, Blood ritual, self harm, persecution, Violence, Death of a parent, kidnapping, forced separation of parent and child, infidelity

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun Camelot re-telling, with Isabel Greenberg's characteristic storytelling, where one story is not full till you understand another.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Isabel Greenberg’s interpretation of old stories with a modern, fun and feminist take. This one tells of the women of Camelot. Morgan, the sister of King Arthur and her imagined daughter, Young Hag. Witchcraft, giant cats and goblin markets, oh my!

[Liquidwitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I screeeeched when I saw there was a new Isabel Greenberg book on the shelf! This wasn't written specifically for me as much as Glass Town was, but still utterly delightful - brilliant art, a fun whip around Arthurian legend, witches and babies 💛

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb, slightly Sapphic, Arthurian retelling with plenty of freshness breathed into it.

Fans of Nimona would love this.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute retelling of Arthurian stories from a woman's point of view. The art is rather simple so you can plow right through. Nice coming-of-age and magical elements too. Fun.

[Nadide · Rating 4 out of 5]

Çizimleri çoooook güzeldi, hikaye eh

[Shannon (That's So Poe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit slow to start, but very engaging Arthurian retelling once it gets going, focusing on the women of the story. Greenberg's illustrations are unique and expressive as always.

[Morgan Greensmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I got used to the art style this was a really charming Arthuriana story, a great introduction to the material for younger readers and nicely weaves in a lot of different British folklore

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this take/expansion on Morgan le Fay. Art style and humor reminded me a lot of Kate Beaton.

[Bethan Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say this was the PERFECT read for a hungover New Year’s Day in bed!! Cute graphics cute female leads cute witches what more could u ask for really. Also side note need to get me the potion for alleviating the symptoms of an over-inflated ego for some of the men in my life 🫠🫠🫠