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A Bite of Pepper
A skateboarding vampire falls for a human artist as they combine their talents to create a skating brand in this lightly paranormal coming-of-age young adult graphic novel romance for fans of Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and The Girl from the Sea.
Pepper Mint might be born a vampire, but she’s pretty much your average teenager who loves skateboarding and her dog. What she doesn’t love is her mother’s continuous efforts to find her a vampire bride so that she can become fully immortal. Then Pepper meets Ana—she’s a charming art student, a part-time waitress…and interested in Pepper.
Ana’s presence changes everything, especially when she uses Pepper for the inspiration behind her art. But the two girls’ instant chemistry seems to provide the perfect opportunity for Pepper to finally commit to becoming the immortal creature of the night her mother desperately wants her to be.
Between the pressure from her mom and her inability to figure out whether Ana likes Pepper for herself or her aesthetic, it feels like everyone just wants a bite of Pepper. And with all these looming questions, will Pepper be ready to take the biggest bite of her life, committing to an unchanging immortality?
Pepper Mint might be born a vampire, but she’s pretty much your average teenager who loves skateboarding and her dog. What she doesn’t love is her mother’s continuous efforts to find her a vampire bride so that she can become fully immortal. Then Pepper meets Ana—she’s a charming art student, a part-time waitress…and interested in Pepper.
Ana’s presence changes everything, especially when she uses Pepper for the inspiration behind her art. But the two girls’ instant chemistry seems to provide the perfect opportunity for Pepper to finally commit to becoming the immortal creature of the night her mother desperately wants her to be.
Between the pressure from her mom and her inability to figure out whether Ana likes Pepper for herself or her aesthetic, it feels like everyone just wants a bite of Pepper. And with all these looming questions, will Pepper be ready to take the biggest bite of her life, committing to an unchanging immortality?
224 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2025
15 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
July 15, 2025
This was an adorable graphic novel!!! A goth skater vampire girl with a pushy mom trying to get her to find a "bride" meets a human artist and a friendship develops into more. This was very funny with great characters and a fun take on vampire lore. Plus there's a cute little sapphic romance in the mix! I really like the art style and enjoyed how the main characters are good foils for the others personality. Definitely one worth picking up! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
January 5, 2026
A pastel soaked paranormal graphic novel with a skateboarding vampire?? Say less.
We follow a young vampire named Pepper who has been putting off her turning, the ceremony that will make her a full fledged immortal, despite her mother's insistences. At least in her current in-between state she can somewhat feel like a human, and therefore experience the thrill of skateboarding and mastering a new trick. Becoming an indestructible immortal would strip all that away from her. However when Pepper meets Ana, a human girl who wants to make Pepper the muse for her art, it creates the perfect opportunity for her to finally embrace immortality. But will she make the leap?
This was such a unique coming-of-age story as we see Pepper teetering between two choices. She feels a lot of pressure from her family to have her turning, but she is afraid that it will crystalize her into who she is now forever. She doesn't feel ready, and this vulnerability makes her lash out at those around her and feel very insecure in her interests and identity. Pepper's struggle really mirrors the inner turmoil a lot of us have on the cusp of adulthood. When you're expected to know who you'll be for the rest of your life, but you still feel so young and lost.
I did find the climax of this story to be a little melodramatic. Pepper becomes incredibly distrustful of everyone in her life and completely shuts down because of it. Her choices after came off as super immature, especially after a monologue from Ana showed how much more mature she was in comparison. There was a romance insinuated between Ana and Pepper in the summary for this graphic novel, and we do get some flirting scenes in the beginning, but it quickly gets forgotten.
I loved the art style and the bubblegum color scheme we had going on. Also, vampire puppies are the greatest creation on the planet. Shroom was absolutely adorable and I want ten of them. Overall, I enjoyed this and think it's a great quick read!
We follow a young vampire named Pepper who has been putting off her turning, the ceremony that will make her a full fledged immortal, despite her mother's insistences. At least in her current in-between state she can somewhat feel like a human, and therefore experience the thrill of skateboarding and mastering a new trick. Becoming an indestructible immortal would strip all that away from her. However when Pepper meets Ana, a human girl who wants to make Pepper the muse for her art, it creates the perfect opportunity for her to finally embrace immortality. But will she make the leap?
This was such a unique coming-of-age story as we see Pepper teetering between two choices. She feels a lot of pressure from her family to have her turning, but she is afraid that it will crystalize her into who she is now forever. She doesn't feel ready, and this vulnerability makes her lash out at those around her and feel very insecure in her interests and identity. Pepper's struggle really mirrors the inner turmoil a lot of us have on the cusp of adulthood. When you're expected to know who you'll be for the rest of your life, but you still feel so young and lost.
I did find the climax of this story to be a little melodramatic. Pepper becomes incredibly distrustful of everyone in her life and completely shuts down because of it. Her choices after came off as super immature, especially after a monologue from Ana showed how much more mature she was in comparison. There was a romance insinuated between Ana and Pepper in the summary for this graphic novel, and we do get some flirting scenes in the beginning, but it quickly gets forgotten.
I loved the art style and the bubblegum color scheme we had going on. Also, vampire puppies are the greatest creation on the planet. Shroom was absolutely adorable and I want ten of them. Overall, I enjoyed this and think it's a great quick read!
February 20, 2026
This would have been so good if it was good*
*more confident in its social commentary, 1000% more lesbian
*more confident in its social commentary, 1000% more lesbian
July 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for a complimentary early copy of A Bite Of Pepper by Balazs Lorinczi.
I really like the art style for A Bite Of Pepper, it’s cutesy and the pastel coloring goes nicely with the art. The story however isn’t for me, I didn’t like many of the choices that were made plus none of these characters were enjoyable to read about. The only one I liked was Shroom Pepper’s vampire dog. I thought there was going to be a bit more of a romance and it’s teased a bit but with how the characters act it’s giving some toxic vibes. All of these characters struggled a lot to communicate with each other and it got annoyingly repetitive quick.
The start of the book is on the slow side but once you reach the middle it goes by so quick. The ending was rushed and I feel like I am missing some events that were suppose to bring these characters together more. The characters hardly knew each other, the romance is blink and you’ll miss it, and no one in this family listens or talks to each other. I couldn’t feel for any of these characters but the dog and art style are cute.
I really like the art style for A Bite Of Pepper, it’s cutesy and the pastel coloring goes nicely with the art. The story however isn’t for me, I didn’t like many of the choices that were made plus none of these characters were enjoyable to read about. The only one I liked was Shroom Pepper’s vampire dog. I thought there was going to be a bit more of a romance and it’s teased a bit but with how the characters act it’s giving some toxic vibes. All of these characters struggled a lot to communicate with each other and it got annoyingly repetitive quick.
The start of the book is on the slow side but once you reach the middle it goes by so quick. The ending was rushed and I feel like I am missing some events that were suppose to bring these characters together more. The characters hardly knew each other, the romance is blink and you’ll miss it, and no one in this family listens or talks to each other. I couldn’t feel for any of these characters but the dog and art style are cute.
September 24, 2025
I love the color scheme of pink and purple and the unique take on vampires and sports in this graphic novel, but I felt the pacing was a bit off. The beginning starts slow and gets a bit repetitive as Pepper refuses to discuss turning and joining Bite. The ending is rushed even though we got multiple time jumps. I would have liked to have seen more of Pepper being on her own and more scenes of her talking with her family as well as a fully fleshed romance.
September 8, 2025
Let me start this by saying how much I loved the pastel pink and purple moment that this entire book gave to the world. Lisa Frank could never! It brought everything I love into one graphic novel: beautiful artwork, stunning coloring, paranormal QUEER romance, and an adorable dog that immediately stole my heart and the show!
To begin with, the MC’s name is Pepper Mint. I got the biggest kick out of it. The fact that she’s a vampire named peppermint is a little ironic, right? When you think of vampires, you imagine them biting humans to drink blood. After realizing her name is something used to freshen breath, I couldn’t stop imagining a vampire with bad breath, which in turn made me laugh even more. Please tell me someone else’s mind works like mine???
A Bite of Pepper is actually a coming of age store about a teenage vampire whose mother wants her to find a bride (any gendered human turned is called a bride, but it was equally exciting, because of the implications that she could choose any gender as her bride with no judgement) and become a full fledged vampire. But for Pepper, that isn’t the priority. She is placating her mother with dates and parties, but she just wants to be a skateboarder. (Think Flashdance, but sub a sport instead of dancing and you get the idea)
But when she shows interest in a human girl named Ana, her mother swoops in to maybe help the relationship along by offering her a job as her assistant. At least it seems that way as the reader. You don’t really know her motives as to why she would ask a complete stranger to work for her after only meeting her moments before.
The main plot point, besides being turned into a vampire, revolves around skateboarding and the juxtaposition of a vampire playing a very human sport. Which is really intriguing. Like why, if you could fly, would you want or need to skateboard? I think that’s what makes it interesting though and kept me reading.
I really loved this. Beyond it being a queer story. Beyond the colors really popping off the page. It was just really good!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a finished copy of the book.
To begin with, the MC’s name is Pepper Mint. I got the biggest kick out of it. The fact that she’s a vampire named peppermint is a little ironic, right? When you think of vampires, you imagine them biting humans to drink blood. After realizing her name is something used to freshen breath, I couldn’t stop imagining a vampire with bad breath, which in turn made me laugh even more. Please tell me someone else’s mind works like mine???
A Bite of Pepper is actually a coming of age store about a teenage vampire whose mother wants her to find a bride (any gendered human turned is called a bride, but it was equally exciting, because of the implications that she could choose any gender as her bride with no judgement) and become a full fledged vampire. But for Pepper, that isn’t the priority. She is placating her mother with dates and parties, but she just wants to be a skateboarder. (Think Flashdance, but sub a sport instead of dancing and you get the idea)
But when she shows interest in a human girl named Ana, her mother swoops in to maybe help the relationship along by offering her a job as her assistant. At least it seems that way as the reader. You don’t really know her motives as to why she would ask a complete stranger to work for her after only meeting her moments before.
The main plot point, besides being turned into a vampire, revolves around skateboarding and the juxtaposition of a vampire playing a very human sport. Which is really intriguing. Like why, if you could fly, would you want or need to skateboard? I think that’s what makes it interesting though and kept me reading.
I really loved this. Beyond it being a queer story. Beyond the colors really popping off the page. It was just really good!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a finished copy of the book.
August 16, 2025
This had no right to make me cry but here we are.
I loved the art style and the color palette is so easy on the eyes and so so pretty.
This was surprisingly emotional. I thought it was going to be just a quick and fun read, which it was, but I actually cried. You really get invested in the characters quickly and man that ending sneaks up on you 😭.
thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
I loved the art style and the color palette is so easy on the eyes and so so pretty.
This was surprisingly emotional. I thought it was going to be just a quick and fun read, which it was, but I actually cried. You really get invested in the characters quickly and man that ending sneaks up on you 😭.
thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
January 1, 2026
I don’t feel like breaking down why this graphic novel isn’t good, so read it for yourself. Or don’t, actually.
1.5 stars
1.5 stars
April 19, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 6
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 7
Originality: 8
Wow Factor: 7
In this lightly paranormal coming-of-age graphic novel, Pepper Mint—a skateboarding vampire teen—falls for Ana, a human artist who pulls Pepper into the world of creative collaboration and emotional confusion. As they team up to build a skating brand, Pepper must navigate her mom’s pressure to fully embrace immortality and her growing uncertainty about whether Ana likes her for who she is… or just how she looks on paper.
This was such a fun read, and I can absolutely see a lot of people loving it. I truly enjoy seeing traditional lore turned on its head, and this story did that perfectly. There were definitely moments when I was mad at everyone in this book—but honestly, it was still totally worth the ride. If this ever became a series (and it totally could), I’d be all in.
Thank you to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 6
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 7
Originality: 8
Wow Factor: 7
In this lightly paranormal coming-of-age graphic novel, Pepper Mint—a skateboarding vampire teen—falls for Ana, a human artist who pulls Pepper into the world of creative collaboration and emotional confusion. As they team up to build a skating brand, Pepper must navigate her mom’s pressure to fully embrace immortality and her growing uncertainty about whether Ana likes her for who she is… or just how she looks on paper.
This was such a fun read, and I can absolutely see a lot of people loving it. I truly enjoy seeing traditional lore turned on its head, and this story did that perfectly. There were definitely moments when I was mad at everyone in this book—but honestly, it was still totally worth the ride. If this ever became a series (and it totally could), I’d be all in.
Thank you to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
August 27, 2025
2025 reads: 229/300
i received a digital review copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
pepper is a teenage vampire who loves skateboarding. being a vampire creates some problems for her, though—such as people thinking she shouldn’t compete in skateboarding competitions and her mother pestering her to find a bride so that she can become a full vampire. then she meets ana, a charming art student who’s interested in pepper. at least, she’s interested in her as a muse. then, pepper’s brother proposes a business idea that might help bring humans and vampires together. as pepper juggles her hobbies, pressures, and now business, she must decide who she wants to be.
i’m kind of glad i went into this without brushing up on the blurb beforehand. the blurb makes this graphic novel sound much more romantic than it is (though the romance that was there was pretty cute!). since i didn’t have this expectation going in, i wasn’t disappointed, but i can see how this would be misleading for others. with that said, i did really enjoy pepper’s character development! she (mostly) stayed true to herself even with being pressured by some others.
i also loved the color palette in this! the drc only had a few pages colored (i’m not sure if this will be different in the finished version), but i loved the pastel color palette. i thought this was a unique, but fitting, choice.
overall, this was a sweet graphic novel. highly recommend!
i received a digital review copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
pepper is a teenage vampire who loves skateboarding. being a vampire creates some problems for her, though—such as people thinking she shouldn’t compete in skateboarding competitions and her mother pestering her to find a bride so that she can become a full vampire. then she meets ana, a charming art student who’s interested in pepper. at least, she’s interested in her as a muse. then, pepper’s brother proposes a business idea that might help bring humans and vampires together. as pepper juggles her hobbies, pressures, and now business, she must decide who she wants to be.
i’m kind of glad i went into this without brushing up on the blurb beforehand. the blurb makes this graphic novel sound much more romantic than it is (though the romance that was there was pretty cute!). since i didn’t have this expectation going in, i wasn’t disappointed, but i can see how this would be misleading for others. with that said, i did really enjoy pepper’s character development! she (mostly) stayed true to herself even with being pressured by some others.
i also loved the color palette in this! the drc only had a few pages colored (i’m not sure if this will be different in the finished version), but i loved the pastel color palette. i thought this was a unique, but fitting, choice.
overall, this was a sweet graphic novel. highly recommend!
June 1, 2025
This was so cute! I love reading graphic novels and getting to see all the beautiful artwork, and this did not disappoint in that aspect.
I LOVE any type of story that involves vampires. Always have and always will. And throw in some sapphic characters? Oh, this is made for me. I did wish we got to see a bit more of romance between Pepper and Ana but this wasn’t trying to be a romance-centered story.
I only had one real issue with this and it was the pacing. It felt very rushed at times to me. It seemed like we’d jump from scene to scene and I found myself wanting a bit more from a conversation or plot-line. I know sometimes with graphic novels it can be hard to find a balance on how to transition from scene to scene, but, this one struggled a bit more than others. It left me wanting more from the characters and their dynamics. I think if this story had maybe an extra 50 pages (I know, I know, that’s a lot!) it would’ve thrived.
Regardless I still did enjoy this! I think if you’re a fan of graphic novels and vampires then this would be something nice to pick up if you want to relax and just have some fun.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVE any type of story that involves vampires. Always have and always will. And throw in some sapphic characters? Oh, this is made for me. I did wish we got to see a bit more of romance between Pepper and Ana but this wasn’t trying to be a romance-centered story.
I only had one real issue with this and it was the pacing. It felt very rushed at times to me. It seemed like we’d jump from scene to scene and I found myself wanting a bit more from a conversation or plot-line. I know sometimes with graphic novels it can be hard to find a balance on how to transition from scene to scene, but, this one struggled a bit more than others. It left me wanting more from the characters and their dynamics. I think if this story had maybe an extra 50 pages (I know, I know, that’s a lot!) it would’ve thrived.
Regardless I still did enjoy this! I think if you’re a fan of graphic novels and vampires then this would be something nice to pick up if you want to relax and just have some fun.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2025
Oh, this was super fun! An engaging art style and color palette reel the audience into this intriguing sapphic paranormal story filled with nuanced dynamics and thoughtful main character arcs. I love how complex and unexpected a lot of the vampire lore is. The pacing was a bit off at some points, but your investment in their arcs really keeps you hooked. Genuinely, this would be a great start to a series of Pepper's world. More please!
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing/Margaret K. McElderry Books for the arc!
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing/Margaret K. McElderry Books for the arc!
January 27, 2026
baffling that this book starts off with such an interesting idea (once a vampire turns their first human they stop aging, and they're crystallized in time forever as That Kind Of Person) and then just spends the GN on the most frustrating shit imaginable about a skateboard brand.
August 14, 2025
I think was a super cute graphic novel! I loved the artwork and the colors that were used. It did feel rushed to me at some points and some of it kind of fell flat. I did still like it so if you like graphic novels and vampires you should read this!
————————
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.
————————
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.
June 18, 2025
Thank you Simon Teen for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
• My Reading Experience: Okay…
• Book Spice: None
• Adjusted Rating: 3.5 stars
• Content Thoughts:
This is a graphic novel about a half-vampire.
The plot was decent enough. I was intrigued to find out what was going to happen next to Pepper with everything that was presented to her. I will say I was a bit confused about what direction the connection between Pepper and Ana was going to take, but I guess it remained unclear on purpose. The dialogue seemed a bit lackluster at times and didn’t much the visual representation of a couple of the side characters. Overall, it was mildly enjoyable and wrapped up fairly well.
• My Reading Experience: Okay…
• Book Spice: None
• Adjusted Rating: 3.5 stars
• Content Thoughts:
This is a graphic novel about a half-vampire.
The plot was decent enough. I was intrigued to find out what was going to happen next to Pepper with everything that was presented to her. I will say I was a bit confused about what direction the connection between Pepper and Ana was going to take, but I guess it remained unclear on purpose. The dialogue seemed a bit lackluster at times and didn’t much the visual representation of a couple of the side characters. Overall, it was mildly enjoyable and wrapped up fairly well.
September 13, 2025
I absolutely loved the art style and the color scheme of this graphic novel! I’m also a vampire girl at heart so I enjoyed seeing how the author portrayed their vampires. It’s always so interesting to see what combination of vampire traits they’re given or if there’s some new ones tossed in. A Bite of Pepper had vampire dogs with wings and that is pretty much the coolest thing ever in my eyes. Shroom was the cutest vampire dog.
Now my main issue was the pacing. I felt like the last 25% or so of the story was so rushed. That threw me off because it seemed like the most important part was just glossed over. Another minor thing, I was absolutely floored that Ana would want to go into business with Jeb, Pepper’s brother, at all. I mean I know she was thinking about the money but I was focused on their first meeting. But maybe that’s just a me thing.
Overall, I did enjoy the story though. Especially Ana and Pepper’s connection. If you love vampires like me this will be a quick, easy read to get your fix.
*I received an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Now my main issue was the pacing. I felt like the last 25% or so of the story was so rushed. That threw me off because it seemed like the most important part was just glossed over. Another minor thing, I was absolutely floored that Ana would want to go into business with Jeb, Pepper’s brother, at all. I mean I know she was thinking about the money but I was focused on their first meeting. But maybe that’s just a me thing.
Overall, I did enjoy the story though. Especially Ana and Pepper’s connection. If you love vampires like me this will be a quick, easy read to get your fix.
*I received an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.*
April 19, 2025
A YA paranormal sapphic graphic novel from the author of Doughnuts and Doom.
🛹
Pepper Mint was born a vampire, but she can’t become fully immortal until she finds her mate. In the meantime she spends her time hanging with her vampire bat dog and skateboarding. When her overbearing mother makes her go to gala, Pepper meets Ana, a part-time waitress who ends up working for Pepper’s mom when she gets fired. Ana creates art with inspiration from Pepper and Pepper’s brother who wants to make a profit off of it. Pepper feels pressure to find her mate and become immortal. Can Ana be the key to that?
🧛🏻♀️
This was so cute! The color palette was my absolute favorite and I loved the coming-of-age storyline. This is going to be a hit in my school library when it releases August 25.
🛹
Pepper Mint was born a vampire, but she can’t become fully immortal until she finds her mate. In the meantime she spends her time hanging with her vampire bat dog and skateboarding. When her overbearing mother makes her go to gala, Pepper meets Ana, a part-time waitress who ends up working for Pepper’s mom when she gets fired. Ana creates art with inspiration from Pepper and Pepper’s brother who wants to make a profit off of it. Pepper feels pressure to find her mate and become immortal. Can Ana be the key to that?
🧛🏻♀️
This was so cute! The color palette was my absolute favorite and I loved the coming-of-age storyline. This is going to be a hit in my school library when it releases August 25.
February 4, 2026
*2.5 stars*
I really loved the art style and where the story was going, but it fell kind of flat overall? The pacing felt off and then the ending was rushed. I feel like if this was getting a sequel, I wouldn't have as such strong feelings, but as a standalone it isn't really fleshed out enough. The romance was so fast if you blinked you'd miss it and most of the story felt taken up by the business idea. It felt like we just jumped from scene to scene when I wanted to stay in each moment a little longer and hear more from the characters.
I really loved the art style and where the story was going, but it fell kind of flat overall? The pacing felt off and then the ending was rushed. I feel like if this was getting a sequel, I wouldn't have as such strong feelings, but as a standalone it isn't really fleshed out enough. The romance was so fast if you blinked you'd miss it and most of the story felt taken up by the business idea. It felt like we just jumped from scene to scene when I wanted to stay in each moment a little longer and hear more from the characters.
December 11, 2025
3.5? I was drawn to this little book by the unique coloring, and it's a really cute story. The art is great and a unique concept. Not particularly deep, and I wish there had been more character development, but it's a fun time.
May 5, 2025
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
A Bite of Pepper by Balazs Lorinczi is a fun Queer YA graphic novel about a fledgling vampire skateboarder and a human art student. Pepper, our almost vamp, doesn't see the appeal of fully turning into a vampire. She thinks it will over shadow her hard worked skills at skateboarding. However our human Anna can see the appeal and the found family and stability that being a vampire could bring her. Add in a meddling younger brother, a well meaning mother, an adorable vampire puppy, and a bit of drama and you have a well rounded graphic novel.
A Bite of Pepper by Balazs Lorinczi is a fun Queer YA graphic novel about a fledgling vampire skateboarder and a human art student. Pepper, our almost vamp, doesn't see the appeal of fully turning into a vampire. She thinks it will over shadow her hard worked skills at skateboarding. However our human Anna can see the appeal and the found family and stability that being a vampire could bring her. Add in a meddling younger brother, a well meaning mother, an adorable vampire puppy, and a bit of drama and you have a well rounded graphic novel.
February 5, 2026
The art style is cute and I like the characters for the most part but I feel like its kinda deceptive to imply has romance? At best it’s hinted at towards the end and thats all we really get.
August 30, 2025
The color scheme is pretty.
August 18, 2025
A heartfelt, adorable graphic novel perfect for everyone!
This was such a unique coming of age story; we meet Pepper, a vampire on the verge of her 'turning', who does not know for sure if she's truly ready for it. While at times acting quite immature, I enjoyed getting to see Pepper really grow into her own by making mistakes and standing up for herself, even when it hurt.
I just wish we had gotten more of Shroom, Pepper's vampire dog! Such a cutie!
I adored the art style and color palette for the story, and thought it really suited Pepper and her loved ones. Definitely check this one out!
This was such a unique coming of age story; we meet Pepper, a vampire on the verge of her 'turning', who does not know for sure if she's truly ready for it. While at times acting quite immature, I enjoyed getting to see Pepper really grow into her own by making mistakes and standing up for herself, even when it hurt.
I just wish we had gotten more of Shroom, Pepper's vampire dog! Such a cutie!
I adored the art style and color palette for the story, and thought it really suited Pepper and her loved ones. Definitely check this one out!
August 14, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
A Bite of Pepper by Balazs Lorinczi is a YA cozy paranormal graphic novel. Pepper and her younger brother Jeb still haven't had their Turning, the process that makes them into full-fledged vampires by taking a bride, a human that they also turn into a vampire. When Pepper meets Ana, a human artist working at a vampire event, it starts Pepper off on her journey to figure out what she really wants for herself.
There’s some fun new spins on vampire lore here. This is the first time I’ve seen individuals born to two vampires needing to turn someone else before fully becoming a vampire themselves. What makes this interesting to me is that it takes a different approach to the half-vampire concept and those who haven’t Turned can technically choose to never do so. The implication is that vampire society would view it as bizarre and that most people don’t wait that long so they can be young forever, but Balazs Lorinczi uses that to make a point that things we do that impact our lives significantly should be done at our pace and not someone else’s.
Ana and Pepper have a somewhat buddying Sapphic relationship that never fully develops into a romance. It stays a friendship over the course of the book, but I could see something possibly coming forward into the future. I don’t think the story would change significantly if it did become a romance, but I do love the choice of centering a book on female friendship with Sapphic undertones. We need more stories about female friendship.
The copy I received was in grayscale for the majority of the graphic novel with the first roughly ten pages being in full color. I’m not sure if the final edition is going to be completely in color or not, but the pages we did get in color were in beautiful pastels and helped convey a soft, dreamy cozy quality. The art style is more round with nice details in the physical features but the backgrounds are a bit on the minimalist side. It works well with the tone.
I would recommend this to fans of YA stories about vampires and readers of graphic novels looking for a cozier pick.
A Bite of Pepper by Balazs Lorinczi is a YA cozy paranormal graphic novel. Pepper and her younger brother Jeb still haven't had their Turning, the process that makes them into full-fledged vampires by taking a bride, a human that they also turn into a vampire. When Pepper meets Ana, a human artist working at a vampire event, it starts Pepper off on her journey to figure out what she really wants for herself.
There’s some fun new spins on vampire lore here. This is the first time I’ve seen individuals born to two vampires needing to turn someone else before fully becoming a vampire themselves. What makes this interesting to me is that it takes a different approach to the half-vampire concept and those who haven’t Turned can technically choose to never do so. The implication is that vampire society would view it as bizarre and that most people don’t wait that long so they can be young forever, but Balazs Lorinczi uses that to make a point that things we do that impact our lives significantly should be done at our pace and not someone else’s.
Ana and Pepper have a somewhat buddying Sapphic relationship that never fully develops into a romance. It stays a friendship over the course of the book, but I could see something possibly coming forward into the future. I don’t think the story would change significantly if it did become a romance, but I do love the choice of centering a book on female friendship with Sapphic undertones. We need more stories about female friendship.
The copy I received was in grayscale for the majority of the graphic novel with the first roughly ten pages being in full color. I’m not sure if the final edition is going to be completely in color or not, but the pages we did get in color were in beautiful pastels and helped convey a soft, dreamy cozy quality. The art style is more round with nice details in the physical features but the backgrounds are a bit on the minimalist side. It works well with the tone.
I would recommend this to fans of YA stories about vampires and readers of graphic novels looking for a cozier pick.
November 23, 2025
thank you margaret k. mcelderry books and simonteen for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of this book.
this was such a cute graphic novel. for me, i love to pick up a graphic novel as a quick read and palette cleanser and this was no exception to that. the coloring and art style was truly beautiful but i felt like the pacing for the actual storyline was a bit all over the place. i felt like some of the sections where just brushed over for my liking. but overall, i enjoyed the concept and found it very fun to read. i would love to see more graphic novels in this world and hope there is a planned sequel!
this was such a cute graphic novel. for me, i love to pick up a graphic novel as a quick read and palette cleanser and this was no exception to that. the coloring and art style was truly beautiful but i felt like the pacing for the actual storyline was a bit all over the place. i felt like some of the sections where just brushed over for my liking. but overall, i enjoyed the concept and found it very fun to read. i would love to see more graphic novels in this world and hope there is a planned sequel!
November 15, 2025
I picked this up because I like vampires and thought the art and all of the colors were cute.
There was little to no plot. weak world building. the characters were awful and had little to no character growth.
*spoilers*
Ana was the worst character. she has nothing and then attached herself, very quickly, to a rich vampire family. she weaseled her way in and then ignored all of the objections of the main character, who she's supposed to be into.
with in weeks peppers family was treating ana as if she was a permanent family member. not just a friend.
it also felt like bits of the story was missing. we didn't get to see ana redeem her self. when she's "apologizing" to pepper she also updates her about her brother. who ana makes it a point to say she thought he was going to eat dogs at the place he volunteers at.
after spending months with the brother, ana just assumed he had bad intentions towards animals. that seemed out of place
I think the last straw was when pepper came back home she found out that her family let ana move into her bedroom. as soon as pepper left if felt like her family replaced her. it's just weird that everyone was ok with this.
overall the story wasn't well written and actively made me hate one of the main characters.
There was little to no plot. weak world building. the characters were awful and had little to no character growth.
*spoilers*
Ana was the worst character. she has nothing and then attached herself, very quickly, to a rich vampire family. she weaseled her way in and then ignored all of the objections of the main character, who she's supposed to be into.
with in weeks peppers family was treating ana as if she was a permanent family member. not just a friend.
it also felt like bits of the story was missing. we didn't get to see ana redeem her self. when she's "apologizing" to pepper she also updates her about her brother. who ana makes it a point to say she thought he was going to eat dogs at the place he volunteers at.
after spending months with the brother, ana just assumed he had bad intentions towards animals. that seemed out of place
I think the last straw was when pepper came back home she found out that her family let ana move into her bedroom. as soon as pepper left if felt like her family replaced her. it's just weird that everyone was ok with this.
overall the story wasn't well written and actively made me hate one of the main characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2025
A gothic skateboarding vampire and a human artist bond at a 'Fangs & Wings Ball'. Pepper and Ana instantly have chemistry, and they are adorable together, but it's hard for Pepper to develop feelings with all the pressure from her mother. Pepper has a big decision to make: is she ready to become a full immortal? Or does she wait and hold on to a bit of humanity for a while longer? A Bit of Pepper is witty, charming, and readers will love the pink and purple pastels.
Pepper is a young vampire who feels pressure from her mother to take part in a tradition that would make her a true immortal vampire. But Pepper just wants to be young for a bit longer. She is great at skateboarding and hates when others don't take her skill seriously, assuming that her skill comes from her special vampire powers. If only they knew that it is all her. And then she meets Ana. They have instant chemistry. Add in Pepper's cute dog, Shroom, and it's even more adorable. Ana draws Pepper and quickly becomes her muse, and with the help of Pepper's brother, a whole skateboarding brand is born. Bite is supposed to appeal to humans and vampires who enjoy skateboarding and really sports. But now Pepper's insecurities are at the forefront. Is Ana only using her to make a brand? Will she ever belong?
Loved loved loved this graphic novel! Finished in one sitting!
Pepper is a young vampire who feels pressure from her mother to take part in a tradition that would make her a true immortal vampire. But Pepper just wants to be young for a bit longer. She is great at skateboarding and hates when others don't take her skill seriously, assuming that her skill comes from her special vampire powers. If only they knew that it is all her. And then she meets Ana. They have instant chemistry. Add in Pepper's cute dog, Shroom, and it's even more adorable. Ana draws Pepper and quickly becomes her muse, and with the help of Pepper's brother, a whole skateboarding brand is born. Bite is supposed to appeal to humans and vampires who enjoy skateboarding and really sports. But now Pepper's insecurities are at the forefront. Is Ana only using her to make a brand? Will she ever belong?
Loved loved loved this graphic novel! Finished in one sitting!
October 26, 2025
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Edelweiss. Caution: Minor spoilers in the last paragraph!)
Pepper Mint is just your average teenager (albeit with an unusually cheeky name) - she enjoys skateboarding, sleeping in, arguing with her annoying younger brother, and spending time with her pup. She also rocks a pretty bitchin' bat pack - that is, until this born vampire turns another creature, fully cementing her vampire status (complete with super powers, immortality, and an organic pair of wings all her own).
Pepper's mom, Spear - of Spear Mint Condition Used & Antique Books fame - didn't get turned until she was an "older" adult. (She can't be a day over 35, right? Right?) So she's absolutely adamant that Pepper should go through her turning while she's still young, beautiful, and wrinkle-free. Enter: the upcoming Gala, a once-a-year-event where born vampires turn their human brides (the humans are brides no matter their gender, just one of many little details to savor in A BITE OF PEPPER). Whereas Spear doesn't want her daughter "wasting" another year, Pepper just wants to skateboard - and not with vampiric super powers, but her own, hard-earned skills.
When Pepper meets Ana, a starving art student who's waitressing at the vampire ball (a kind of Gothic version of a Debutante Ball), she gains a new bestie ... and, before long, a whole new business. Ana's sketches of Pepper in motion start out as an art project, then morph into a skateboarding brand. Younger half-brother Jeb quickly hops on board, pushing Pepper to embrace the vampire aesthetic (or play on stereotypes, depending on your POV). Facing increasing pressure from her friends and family, things go sideways pretty quickly. Will Pepper have to say goodbye to her loved ones in order to stay true to herself?
A BITE OF PEPPER is a fun and interesting play on the teenage angst/coming of age story. You've got peer pressure, familial expectations, a reluctance to grow up, even a semi-paranoid suspicion that everyone is conspiring to advance their own agendas. The supernatural backdrop really makes the story pop, the world building is great, and the artwork is rad. If you've read any of Balazs Lorinczi's previous graphic novels - DOUGHNUTS AND DOOM, WOLFPITCH - the vibe is very similar. (I'm a big fan!)
I especially loved the nonhumans in this story. I may have came for the queer vampires, but I stayed for the rescue pups! Pepper's dog Shroom is a vampire (he has tiny wings! and can fly up to you for belly rubs!), and Jeb's "bride" ends up being a stray senior dog who was about to be euthanized, and not necessarily for space. (This dog was on death's doorstep, is what I'm saying. And at the animal shelter Jeb volunteered at after Pepper's dramatic exit! My Dog how much I loved this particular storyline!) This soft-hearted cheat code may have made him the laughingstock of his vampire peers - turning nonhuman animals is considered "slumming it" - but it gained him a loyal companion for eternity. (I could never be a vampire, I'd be turning dogs left and right!) Honestly, the last few pages are some of the warmest, fuzziest scenes to come out of the dumpster fire that is 2025.
Pepper Mint is just your average teenager (albeit with an unusually cheeky name) - she enjoys skateboarding, sleeping in, arguing with her annoying younger brother, and spending time with her pup. She also rocks a pretty bitchin' bat pack - that is, until this born vampire turns another creature, fully cementing her vampire status (complete with super powers, immortality, and an organic pair of wings all her own).
Pepper's mom, Spear - of Spear Mint Condition Used & Antique Books fame - didn't get turned until she was an "older" adult. (She can't be a day over 35, right? Right?) So she's absolutely adamant that Pepper should go through her turning while she's still young, beautiful, and wrinkle-free. Enter: the upcoming Gala, a once-a-year-event where born vampires turn their human brides (the humans are brides no matter their gender, just one of many little details to savor in A BITE OF PEPPER). Whereas Spear doesn't want her daughter "wasting" another year, Pepper just wants to skateboard - and not with vampiric super powers, but her own, hard-earned skills.
When Pepper meets Ana, a starving art student who's waitressing at the vampire ball (a kind of Gothic version of a Debutante Ball), she gains a new bestie ... and, before long, a whole new business. Ana's sketches of Pepper in motion start out as an art project, then morph into a skateboarding brand. Younger half-brother Jeb quickly hops on board, pushing Pepper to embrace the vampire aesthetic (or play on stereotypes, depending on your POV). Facing increasing pressure from her friends and family, things go sideways pretty quickly. Will Pepper have to say goodbye to her loved ones in order to stay true to herself?
A BITE OF PEPPER is a fun and interesting play on the teenage angst/coming of age story. You've got peer pressure, familial expectations, a reluctance to grow up, even a semi-paranoid suspicion that everyone is conspiring to advance their own agendas. The supernatural backdrop really makes the story pop, the world building is great, and the artwork is rad. If you've read any of Balazs Lorinczi's previous graphic novels - DOUGHNUTS AND DOOM, WOLFPITCH - the vibe is very similar. (I'm a big fan!)
I especially loved the nonhumans in this story. I may have came for the queer vampires, but I stayed for the rescue pups! Pepper's dog Shroom is a vampire (he has tiny wings! and can fly up to you for belly rubs!), and Jeb's "bride" ends up being a stray senior dog who was about to be euthanized, and not necessarily for space. (This dog was on death's doorstep, is what I'm saying. And at the animal shelter Jeb volunteered at after Pepper's dramatic exit! My Dog how much I loved this particular storyline!) This soft-hearted cheat code may have made him the laughingstock of his vampire peers - turning nonhuman animals is considered "slumming it" - but it gained him a loyal companion for eternity. (I could never be a vampire, I'd be turning dogs left and right!) Honestly, the last few pages are some of the warmest, fuzziest scenes to come out of the dumpster fire that is 2025.
October 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four Stars for A Bite of Pepper
A Bite of Pepper is a gorgeously illustrated and emotionally charged vampire graphic novel that sinks its teeth into love, loneliness, and identity with surprising tenderness. It’s not your typical gothic bloodbath—instead, it’s a story that finds the humanity in the monstrous and the beauty in the dark.
The artwork is stunning—moody palettes of crimson, shadow, and light that perfectly evoke the tension between desire and danger. Every panel feels alive, pulsing with atmosphere and emotion. The characters are complex and flawed, and the relationships—whether romantic, familial, or predatory—carry a weight that lingers.
The pacing occasionally drifts, and a few plot threads feel more hinted at than explored, but the emotional core never wavers. There’s a quiet melancholy here that makes the story feel more like a confession than a horror tale.
A Bite of Pepper is equal parts gothic and intimate—a story that reimagines vampirism as something achingly human. Beautiful, eerie, and bittersweet, it’s a feast for anyone who loves their monsters with heart.
A Bite of Pepper is a gorgeously illustrated and emotionally charged vampire graphic novel that sinks its teeth into love, loneliness, and identity with surprising tenderness. It’s not your typical gothic bloodbath—instead, it’s a story that finds the humanity in the monstrous and the beauty in the dark.
The artwork is stunning—moody palettes of crimson, shadow, and light that perfectly evoke the tension between desire and danger. Every panel feels alive, pulsing with atmosphere and emotion. The characters are complex and flawed, and the relationships—whether romantic, familial, or predatory—carry a weight that lingers.
The pacing occasionally drifts, and a few plot threads feel more hinted at than explored, but the emotional core never wavers. There’s a quiet melancholy here that makes the story feel more like a confession than a horror tale.
A Bite of Pepper is equal parts gothic and intimate—a story that reimagines vampirism as something achingly human. Beautiful, eerie, and bittersweet, it’s a feast for anyone who loves their monsters with heart.
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