Spellbent

Hellaween #2

by Moss Lawton

Perfect for fans of Hooky and Netflix's Wednesday, the second book of this wickedly funny graphic novel series follows an aspiring witch and her two best friends as they try to have the most epic Halloween ever…while also dealing with pesky do-gooders, escaped monsters, and one harsh curfew!Halloween is hella fun when you’re a monster! Or at least it used to be, before those junior Helsings got in the way of Gwen and her friends. Now, on top of that, the whole town is in lockdown, with a curfew and everything.Gwen thinks it’s time to ditch suburbia and finally head to the Hallowlands, the monstrous realm her bffs Miles and Sloane are from. But the vampire and werewolf are determined to save their “normie” holiday and are scrambling to fulfill their sacred need to party. The throw the most epic bash this town has ever seen . . . and then scare everyone who shows up!But Gwen has plans of her own. Fed up with being told no, she decides to use her magic to break into the Hallowlands once and for all.  And she quickly discovers it’s as strange as she always dreamed, but also as dangerous as her friends have warned. Luckily, she soon meets a fellow witch who can be her guide through the bizarre land and also help level up her powers. But could it all be too good to be true? The fate of these three best friends’ Halloween night hangs in the balance—but will it end in trick or treat?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Fantasy, Halloween, Comics, Horror, Ebooks

208 pages, Hardcover

Published August 20, 2024

Reviews

[Marybeth (Marybee.books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Penguin Kids, Storygram Kids, & Moss Lawton for sending me an early copy for participation in this tour! And thank you for sending me a copy of book 1! ☺️🫶
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WOW! I love this series! It fills my Halloween-loving heart with glee! I think I loved this one even more than the first as I’m already familiar with the world and characters and there was even more worldbuilding established! This takes place right after book 1! Before reading I thought it would take place a year later and I’m glad that it didn’t and continued on from the first. I just love this book series! It's so fun and you can really tell how passionate the author is with the characters and all the beautiful details! The illustrations are SO good! Spooky and vibrant with color! It's perfect for the story! In this installment, we get to journey into the Hallowlands, a place name-dropped in book one. It was so cool to see how spooky this dimension is and see Gwen come into her magic more. I loved the added characters and the conflict of this book. I also loved to see the Helsings become more like frenemies in this one. I’m hoping this series continues! Be sure to pick this series up if you're looking for a spooky read this Halloween season (or anytime!).
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Hellaween: Spellbent, by Moss Lawton, is out NOW!

[Neshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic start to September and gearing up for Halloween season.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lovely ode and celebration of Halloween. Beautiful art and colours, but again I just can't with the storyline and characters. The plot and themes are marginally better than the first book though.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back at it again with Gwen, Miles, and Sloane. The town is suffering from a lockdown thanks to the shenanigans and giant worm from the first book. There's no candy, no trick-or-treating, no corn maze without adult supervision, a curfew; it's all AWFUL! How will the squad survive? Maybe, they'll throw a Halloween bash at the old house?

And, maybe, Gwen will find her way to the Hallowlands and meet another witch who might have a nefarious reason for teaching Gwen how to hone her magic better? Can they prevent chaos from reigning down before the portal closes, leaving Miles and Sloane in the human world for a whole year?

Once again, I loved the art and the characters. They're silly and fun. I look forward to the sequels, which I'm hoping there will be some.

[Clayton Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book had a lot to live up to, and it more than delivered. Obviously it does everything a good sequel should do; expands the characters, their stories, and the world they live in. But most importantly, it makes sure to retain the truthful nature of the first novel. Because truth should still imitate fiction (as truth is often stranger than fiction). Supernatural or fantastical elements don’t mean you shouldn’t try to scare or disturb your audience as much as you entertain or enchant them. Moss Lawton knows that more than most and it comes through in both their amazing works. I’m hoping they give us one more graphic novel to complete the trilogy, which the ending hints at. But either way, a perfect second part to a perfect story.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gwen's friends won't take her to the Hallowlands even though her witchy skills are improving....so she decides to take herself. She's able to open a door to the other world where she sees it is pretty dangerous like her friends have been telling her....but she can handle it, right? Luckily she makes a friend, another witch....she's so excited that there's another like her. Gwen trusts Jarrahdale who helps her make a new wand, a powerful wand, from a Helderwood tree. But Gwen makes some mistakes. Back in the world of the living it's Halloween and the local teens are having a party in the haunted house, a new guard threatens to close the door to the Hallowlands for good and Gwen's friends are worried about her.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy fun! I did think Frankenstein was a bit much, and seemed inspired by Shaman King/Soul Eater designs, but the vivisection bit made me leery about booktalking or recommending the book to younger readers, just in case a kid googles what that is... It just seemed too specific a threat, if that makes any sense? But otherwise loved the continuation and how Gwen's relationship with the gang evolves.

[Bobby Keniston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the second volume of Hellaween, called "Spellbent," to be even more fun than the first. This is really saying something considering how much I enjoyed the first one.

The story, by Moss Lawton, has higher stakes, and their drawings are perfect, with excellent color by Victoria Harris.

I love how this stands on its own as a graphic novel, but could definitely see it becoming an animated series.

Good, Halloween fun!

[Rose Aria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book.

Spellbent was nicely bound with cute illustrations. I love the Halloween theme and dark colour scheme. However, I found the plot and writing very disjointed and, despite having relatively few words overall, there were typos. Some children may enjoy this book for the fun theme, but I personally was not impressed.

Writing: 2
Characters: 2
Plot: 1
Setting: 4
Enjoyment: 2

[Keely Mikkelsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to see this series return! The characters and story are just as fun as the first book, with even more fun new side characters and villains this time around, and it makes me so excited to keep seeing their adventures. I adore the visual style - it's a fun reflection of Moss Lawton's earlier work on Invader ZIM, and similarly, this would lend itself so well to being an animated series.

[Shannon Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

{4.75 Stars}

Everything I loved about volume one is amplified in this installment! The characters get further development, their relationships grow more complex but also closer, and the addition of a stronger villain presence adds so much to the story. I also really love the new settings we get to see the characters explore and the better plot structure. You can tell that the author truly worked hard to make this volume even better, and it shows. I look forward to volume three!

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting for this sequel forever! It did not disappoint! In this installment, we learn more about Gwen (witch), Sloan (werewolf), and Miles (vampire) and how they met. Gwen also takes it upon herself to try and reach the Hallowlands and things don't go quite as planned. A great story and I'm looking forward to the next!

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like I was watching an animated series so major kudos to Lawton for their work on this series. It’s so well articulated that it FEELS like an Invader Zim-type TV show. I’d love to see it too.

I really like these characters and how they move together. This world is big fun! I hope there will be more books in the future!

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh dear. Gwen figured out how to open a portal... and chaos ensues. Maybe, hopefully, fingers crossed, she will eventually figure out that she can indeed trust her friends. And they will learn that they can trust her, also. And maybe make some new friends along the way?

I love this series! And I'm hoping there will be a #3.

[Maddison Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the second book and oh my god, I want more! The sequel to Hellaween was awesome! Almost inspired me to write and draw something like this comic. The art, the writing and the characters were really good! Hope there’s gonna be a book three in the future but if not then thanks for such a cool comic book series!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first Hellaween I was impatiently awaiting the second part. With each new character introduction, the world grew and I wanted to see who else was lurking just off the page. I really hope we get to visit the Hallowlands again sometime.
I absolutely enjoyed pouring over every panel.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

I loved the artstyle and how the characters are like Frankenstein, and anything popular in monster or vampire media or anything like that that’s popular monster characters. I feel like the book was rushed but other than that, it was okay. I wouldn’t buy it but it was a cute book for Halloween.

[D.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ayee, the sequel’s just as creepy good as the first. No drop in quality! The character designs are so sleek.

I love Hiro and Bea so much! And the fact that they all become friends in the end. This is a perfect ending, but I’d read more in this series.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like I was missing a lot of the story because I haven't read the first volume, but it did give a little backstory at the beginning. Overall a story about friendship with a bit of creepy halloween stuff.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes everything you love from the first book and ratchets it up to eleven. Gwen finally takes a dive into the Hallowlands which means more monsters, higher stakes, and new characters. As funny and charming as ever, Spellbent just builds on the already great "Hellaween" world.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the first one, Spellbent is dripping in spooky fun Halloween aesthetic. The story is a bit darker than the first so may be a bit too spooky for younger kids but solid for young teens and mall goths at heart.

[Alli Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sparkling adventure for any age, I enjoyed watching these teens get into hi jinks and calamity while laughing and scoffing at the risk. It's easy to believe these relationships are genuine and to root for everyone even if they aren't all on the same side.

[Courtney Center · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! The art and colors are great, and the story was a lot of fun and felt like it was left open for more exploration of the Hellaweenverse. I would recommend this book to anyone!

[Michelle Marquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

a much loved part two to the first book

I enjoyed this as a fun read to get into the mood for the spooky season . This is gonna be a reread series for me that’s for sure.

[Alisha Lemmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the first one, I love the halloween and the characters. I am looking forward to the next if Moss Lawton will make a third. 🎃

[Zombi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reeeeallllly hope theres a third!

[Jordan Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn’t realize this was a second; so can be read as a stand alone. Great story that links Halloween/spooky time themes with a powerful message about friendship, honesty, and doing the right thing.

[Jalen Durant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!!!

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah this slaps

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art style was just incredible! I loved it so much!