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Heaven, West Virginia

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Lamont's father was not a good man. And now Lamont's father is dead.

When Lamont arrives in the tiny Appalachian town of Heaven, West Virginia, its lush landscape feels stubbornly at odds with the roiling anxiety that's come to define his inner life. Living there and learning the art of foraging and tea-making from his kind, stoic aunt LaToya should be idyllic—even a paradise. But in the shadows of Heaven's woods, Lamont sees a dark, hulking figure, long, glimmering teeth, and piercing red eyes. No one else seems to see this beast . . . not his aunt, and not the handsome cowboy, Coyote, whose gentle voice evokes the comforting, electric aroma of LaToya's brews. Escaping its voraciously hungry pursuit feels impossible, and Lamont will have to face more than the darkness of the woods to do so.

A singular and seductive meditation on the complexity of grief, healing, and the power of the natural world by cartoonist Ravi Teixeira (A Quick & Easy Guide to Coming Out).

172 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2025

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Ravi Teixeira

4 books3 followers

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5 stars
14 (12%)
4 stars
33 (29%)
3 stars
44 (39%)
2 stars
19 (16%)
1 star
2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for Erin.
3,056 reviews374 followers
August 16, 2025
ARC for review.

Lamont’s father dies and he moves to the small town of Heaven, West Virginia to live with his aunt LaToya, who forages in the woods for the ingredients for her specialty teas (lots of recipes included in the book.) Lamont is troubled by his father’s death and with his sexuality, this manifests in his seeing creatures with red eyes in the woods. Coyote, a neighbor, makes quite an impression on Lamont and helps him through his pain.

I’m not the target audience for this book; I was interested in it because it is set in West Virginia. For me it didn’t really mesh well though it will likely have lots of fans.
Profile Image for Sisi.
108 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2025
3.25⭐️

Heaven, West Virginia is a quick and intriguing read with slightly unsettling vibes that come through in both the storytelling and the art style. While I was a bit confused at first, it didn’t last long. The story moves quickly, and the core themes become clearer as you go.

The art style really complements the mysterious tone, adding to the overall atmosphere without being overbearing. One of my favorite touches was the inclusion of tea recipes scattered throughout, which added a cozy and unexpected contrast.☕️🫖

I wouldn’t say I was fully immersed or deeply affected by the story, but I did enjoy it.😌
Profile Image for katarina.
214 reviews18 followers
August 29, 2025
*2.5 rounded down
The story of this one fell pretty flat for me. A lot of this book is left up to your own interpretation with a limited use of text boxes and dialogue on a lot of the pages. Heaven, West Virginia follows Lamont who moves in with his aunt after his father dies, dealing mainly with themes of grief, homophobia, and religious trauma.

I was immediately drawn into the art style. There were so many gorgeous full page spreads. The use of static throughout the novel was also such a unique choice that I really liked.

The symbolism of the wolves being the grief and trauma Lamont held onto was very impactful. He couldn’t escape them and they were there with him at every waking moment just how those things feel internally.
The pacing of this story was a bit odd. It was hard to gauge the true passing of time and the structure of the events occurring didn’t seem to have a good flow. The romance was too underdeveloped for my liking. Although it wasn’t the main point of the story it still would have been nice to establish more depth between Lamont and Coyote instead of jumping straight to kissing.

One thing I would like to note is the fun element of tea recipes placed throughout the book. I always love some mixed media and can see it being fun to recreate the recipes from the book.

Even though I didn’t end up really liking this I can still appreciate the talent and art that went into it.

Thank you so much to Oni Press for providing me with this eARC.
Profile Image for blok sera szwajcarskiego.
1,065 reviews324 followers
August 3, 2025
Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion, thanks!

Heaven, West Virginia is a short graphic novel tackling themes like internalised hate, grief, regret, but on top of that – a struggle in fight for a new beginning. Chracteristic art style adds a new layer to the story, helping it provide a voice of narration. Ravi Teixeira shifts away from words, using them only in an obligatory dialogue or tea recipies scattered around the book (which is super nice addition!). I really liked the simplicity of it, how I, as a reader, never get the details straight, instead am presented with the opportunity to dive deeper into the medium. I am a real sucker for stories set in Appalachia, and this did not disappoint.
Profile Image for Jeremy Fowler.
Author 1 book30 followers
October 13, 2025
Haunting, Tender, and Surprisingly Feral!

A recurring theme in stories that continues to draw my attention is those set in bleak Appalachian settings. Heaven, West Virginia, is another excellent example. Ravi Teixeria has created a very personal gothic tale full of that bleak setting and queer longing. Our hero, Lamont, returns to the town of Heaven after his father's passing. However, he seems to be coming apart at the seams. He is seeing things and is haunted by the ghosts of his past. Enter Coyote, the soft-spoken stranger who sets Lamont's blood ablaze. This story is a whirlwind of healing, love, unapologetic queerness, and the strong power that grief holds over us all. Don't miss this!

PS - I cannot wait to try some of these tea recipes in this story. It was such a fun addition and I think they will be a fun adventure to remind me of this story!
Profile Image for Lanie Brown.
267 reviews4 followers
September 13, 2025
I loved this. This was a very simple story about escaping an abusive parent. And with many difficult stories sometimes it is in the simplicity that we find that beauty. This could have been much longer but I feel that thanks to the vivid imagery Teixeira was able to convey not just his fear of his father but his fear of accepting himself because of his father's abuse. Thanks to a supportive Aunt and a patient man our MC is finally able to accept himself and that's beautiful.

As always thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the eArc!
Profile Image for CJ .
194 reviews184 followers
September 5, 2025
received an ARC from netgalley

The art and dialogue was sparse in letting the story tell itself but it worked for this short story. Would have liked the recipes to be gathered together at the end of the book as they would break up the flow while reading especially because they're dense with words in a story that isn't.
Profile Image for Em.
250 reviews4 followers
July 31, 2025
I love when there is Surprise Gay in comics I pick up without researching.

I LOVED the art style of this so much, it was a fast paced suckerpunch of grief and coming to terms with your identity. Ideally would have been more fleshed out but I say that about every comic I read.
July 29, 2025
⭐⭐⭐.5
back with another short comic but Deep then I expected, first of all ;
A special thanks to the author for allowing me the chance to read this work before its official release.
This comic came as a light break after a heavy read, but it surprised me with the depth of its themes despite its seemingly simple presentation.

The story follows a man who grew up under the shadow of his father, a priest, and lived his childhood under constant psychological pressure—something he only fully recognized after his father’s death. From my interpretation, the main character had his own sexual orientation, but his father, bound by strict religious beliefs, labeled it as a sin. As a result, the child grew up in fear, one so profound that even after his father’s death, he continued to perceive him as a terrifying presence—symbolized by massive, haunting wolves that followed him everywhere.

Later, he meets a mysterious man and a relationship begins to form between them. It’s not portrayed explicitly, but rather gently revealed as the protagonist admits to being more drawn to men. This moment becomes part of his gradual emotional release from the grip of his father’s long-standing judgment.

The comic is short, simple, and sweet.
What I didn’t fully enjoy was how quickly the protagonist seemed to move past the trauma of his father’s influence. I would’ve liked a deeper emotional resolution—perhaps a symbolic confrontation, like a dream where he speaks to or faces his father, something that shows him conquering the fear rather than simply suppressing it.
As for the art, it was minimal and clear. It wasn’t a major element for me since I was more invested in the story itself.
---> thank u for reading my review 🌷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Fiona Davis.
24 reviews25 followers
September 15, 2025
⭐⭐⭐✨
3.5 stars

After the death of his hateful, conservative father, Lamont goes to live in the Appalachian forest, where his aunt begins to teach him the art of foraging and tea-making, and where he catches the eye of a handsome sheep farmer. All the while, Lamont is being followed by wolf-like creatures only he can see.

As someone who grew up on fairytales and fairytale retellings, I really enjoy stories like this. Through beautiful, vibrant illustrations, the author uses the “big bad wolf” as a manifestation of the trauma, grief, and fear Lamont is forced to confront in the aftermath of his father’s death. While the beasts and witch-in-the-forest imagery makes this story feel a bit like something out of folklore, at its heart, it’s about a young man learning to accept himself and his sexuality. It’s stories like this that really make me believe in the power of folklore and how fairytale motifs can be used in storytelling.

However, because the author tackles so much in such a short amount of time, I believe they end up spreading themselves too thin. We don’t ever fully learn about any of the characters. Lamont’s romance and his relationship with his aunt are never really fleshed out. Even his relationship with his dad is not as showcased as I was hoping for. And while I thought the creature was sometimes an incredibly effective metaphor, at other times it felt like the underlying meaning was muddled and underdeveloped. I know it isn’t easy to ask an illustrator to just “add another 50 or so pages to your book,” I do feel like we need more time with these characters to really grasp everything the author is trying to tackle in this narrative.

Thank you Netgalley and Oni Press for providing me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads).
3,361 reviews181 followers
September 25, 2025
This was about a teenager named Lamot who recently lost his father and is now living with his aunt and uncle in Heaven, WV. He is struggling with his grief, his sexuality, the homomisic environment he grew up in, and religion.

While I think this had an interesting concept, I think too much of it was left up to your own interpretation with its very limited dialogue and gaps between scenes. I think the story of Lemots traumas, depicted as wolves in the story, would have been a bit more impactful and rich if more dialogue and clarity had been included in the story. Because of this, the story fell a bit flat for me, which was disappointing since it covers an important topic.

TW: death of parent and family member; grief; homomisa; religious trauma;

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Profile Image for Rachel.
94 reviews
August 26, 2025
Not only are graphic novels one of my favorite forms to read but I am also from West Virginia! Combine those two things, and needless to say, I was very excited to get my hands on this book.

First, the artwork in this was absolutely stunning and mesmerizing. I could stare at the pages for hours. This worked well for the graphic novel, as the words are few and far between. Teixeira clearly wants you to spend time with their artwork. I loved trying to glean as much as possible from the detailed lines, coloring, and panel placement on the page.

The story itself is also beautiful and touching, and all too familiar—as I have many many friends who have experienced similar feelings of grief, entrapment, and complex relationships with their own past, religion, and coming to terms with their identity.

My only wish is that this graphic novel was longer!! Because there were so few words in the novel, I found myself wanting to know more at the end. I wanted to spend more time with Lamont and Coyote. I wanted more from Latoya. I wanted to know more about Lamont’s past. I appreciate how much trust the author has in their readers, but alas, I still finished this feeling slightly dissatisfied with how quickly I entered and exited Lamont’s world. I would have especially liked to see the complexity of Lamont’s religious and racial identity explored a bit more within the context of his sexual identity—especially considering this is set in WV.

Overall, I think this graphic novel is certainly worth picking up, especially if you want to look at beautiful artwork and ponder the complexities of grief, identity, and the wonders of the natural world.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
Profile Image for Juniper.
37 reviews2 followers
July 30, 2025
★★★★☆ — A beautiful visual experience, just wish there was more of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! I'm glad I got to read it.

Heaven, West Virginia is a wonderful art piece. The art was my favourite part, it was simple yet striking, with such a lovely style and a strong sense of mood and place. It's a beautiful example of visual storytelling, and I really loved the tea recipes scattered throughout. They added such a warm touch, it felt homey and I will be trying some.

That said, I do wish this was longer. A lot of the story happens off-page or is only implied, and there's not quite enough time to sit with Latoya and his struggles. It doesn't really sink in to you the way it has the potential to. If I were rating the story execution alone, it would be lower, but the art really picks up the slack and makes the whole experience worth it. I really enjoyed the premise, I just would’ve loved to spend more time with it. Thank you again, I wouldn't have thought to pick it up had I not seen it on Netgalley.
Profile Image for Elaine White.
Author 43 books260 followers
August 6, 2025
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

~

Heaven, West Virginia
by Ravi Teixeira
★★☆☆☆
172 Pages



Unfortunately, this one really didn't work for me.

Personally, I found the entire plot full of contrivances and convenience, which made little sense and had no depth of real emotional impact. The story itself was illogical, with plot points that appeared out of thin air with no explanation, with the only purpose being to force Lament into yet another confrontation with his inner demons, the wolves. And the ending was so out-of-left-field and illogical that I don't even know what happened, if I'm honest. I just didn't get it at all.

I would have given this 1* but there is an attempt at a story here, it just falls too flat to really make an impact.

~

The art wasn't my style at all. It didn't have any nuance, any real definition or individuality between characters. For example, I didn't even realise that Auntie Latoya was female until it was spelled out during the recipe pages, because there was a distinct lack of depth or individuality in the characters. People tended to blend into one or they were so flat that it was hard to notice individual features. It was very choppy and lacked realism or depth.

The characters were extremely one-dimensional. No one had a back story, they were all just exactly what they appeared on the page at the time of reading, with no history, no complexity or real personality, which made them quite flat and boring.

The romance was...non-existent. I mean, Lament met Coyote and is instantly attracted; fine. But he gets scared in the forest, accidentally stumbles across Coyote's cabin and, after about three words exchanged, Coyote kisses him out of nowhere. And the very next time they're even tangentially alone together, they sleep together. They've only exchanged about a sentence with each other until now and there was not even the most basic hint of chemistry, other than instant attraction.

Lament saw wolves everywhere. I presume they were a symbol of his...depression, being gay, his father, his inner demons...or all of the above? It's hard to say. I know the main themes are grief at losing his father – which I saw nothing of, really – and internalised homophobia – which was rather plainly and obviously stated rather than show – but everything is more implied rather than properly explored throughout the story and its themes.

For me, the story missed on nearly every mark. The art could be overlooked as personal preference and that wouldn't normally affect my rating, but the art was really all there was of substance, because some pages were literally just art and no story, which can only work if there's depth and dimension and purpose behind it, which this story lacked.
Profile Image for Jenna.
391 reviews3 followers
August 27, 2025
**I received an electronic ARC via the publisher through NetGalley.**

Actual rating: 3.5

Ravi Teixeira presents their newest graphic novel with Heaven, West Virginia. Readers follow Lamont as he moves to the titular Appalachian town following the death of his father. Lamont struggles with grief and anxiety as he comes to terms with being queer and leans into the healing associated with nature.

I will first say that this is an adult graphic novel with adult themes, including but not limited to the following: death of family members, grief, homophobia, queer sexuality, and mental health. Please read with care.

Teixeira's art style is deliberately a bit rough around the edges with a saturated color palette that lends itself readily toward horror in tone and vibe. I definitely like the art style and felt it contributed to my enjoyment of the work as a whole. That being said, I would describe this work as more contemporary in genre with some horror elements associated with mental health and grief rather than calling it a straight horror. A lot of the concepts are presented metaphorically, but there is not a ton of interpretation needed on the part of the reader.

My biggest complaint is in the area of pacing as, to me, the story felt a bit disjointed and unevenly paced. If we lean into the grief narrative, I will acknowledge that it is highly likely this could be deliberate on the part of the author despite it not suiting my personal taste.

I would still recommend this story as the art and message are both solidly delivered for those who don't have issue with the subject matter.
Profile Image for ech0reads.
119 reviews
July 28, 2025
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me an ARC.

The art and illustrations were absolutely stunning. I loved the use of colour or absence of to show how Lamont was feeling. The premise immediately drew me in.

Lamont has to deal with a lot of trauma when his father dies. His father pressured him to take over the family business, be aloof, and preached religious hatred in regards to men who lie with other men. Lamont deeply struggles to reconcile his lived experience of his dad with how the majority of people say he was a good man. He goes to live witn his aunt and meets a cute cowboy called Coyote.

Lamont then goes through a series of cathartic experiences, admitting out loud that he's gay. This was really heartwarming to see and I liked how it was shown a lot. There is a small intimate scene of Lamont and Coyote, but only skin is shown, and it isn't graphic.

With the nature of graphic novels, a lot of things happen 'off-screen' which are then hinted at in the text. This was the same, except sometimes it took me a while to catch on, and to realise that there had been a time skip/something significant had happened. It wasn't a major issue by any means, I just worry that I may have missed important details.

The design of the monster was exceptionally cool. I was kinda sad to realise that it was a metaphorical monster rather than an actual one, but it was cool none the less.

I really look forward to seeing what the author writes next.
Profile Image for Hana.
155 reviews5 followers
August 23, 2025
🌟🌟🌟.5

my ARC review of the graphic novel Heaven, West Virginia by Ravi Teixeira. this is my first time reviewing a graphic novel, so that’s fun.

I think this one is going to find its audience in weirdos, & they’re going to love it. I could see what the creator was trying to do with it, & there were a lot of elements I truly loved.

it was quirky, queer, dark, & interesting. the little tea recipes were adorable, & I really liked the visceral, nightmare-ish art style (the whole novel was kind of like a fever dream/nightmare, tbh). I felt like it fit the story very well. the Appalachian feels/horror vibes worked really well too. it really was, in a lot of ways, my cuppa.

the not so great was that there was a lack of character development (the characters were very one-dimensional)/ really almost any character work at all. it’s just too short to do anything with plot or character. it was like reading the first chapter of a book. I would’ve loved to have seen MORE.

if you go into this as a quick (VERY quick), weird, queer, little creepy jaunt into a man’s complicated emotions surrounding his grief over losing his family that hadn’t been accepting of him for who he is, & the demons that haunt him for that, you’re golden. it is what it is, & didn’t try to be more. & that’s ok. but I would’ve wanted to FEEL more, to give more stars. & I just didn’t.

thank you to the publisher, the creator, & Netgalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Niké.
203 reviews8 followers
November 10, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for an ARC!

Heaven, West Virginia was a moving story, fast-paced and dream-like, and I really enjoyed the themes it explored. Lamont's religious trauma was the center of this graphic novel, a trauma that came from his late father and his homophobic preaching. It was interesting how the art conveyed the trauma via the wolves - such a good metaphor for the bigotry and Lamont's father in one, and something that actively evoked fear. I also liked how it was not just the wolves, who could be more connected with the father, but also other creatures that took up this darkness, and how they lost it - for example Coyote's horse. Lamont's journey of overcoming his father's shadow, the bigotry and fear, was so good, and I enjoyed the progress and the last 'confrontation'.
I overall liked the art very much. I feel like it was such a good fit for this story, the colours - the change between the lush of forest and safety, and the darkness and cold of the fear - the very charming character design, and the panelling. I have to say, the panels were so clever in many places, it was a delight to see how they visually moved the story and made it much more dynamic. I feel like it really helped to make the pacing feel exciting, and fast moving without too much chaos. It conveyed the emotions really well. I also liked the tea recipes, and how the foreshadowed the different sections of the novel, it was a really cute addition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
314 reviews6 followers
July 29, 2025
I feel like much of this story was told in between the pages, and that the pages that were there moved too quickly for me to really get a feel for … what was going on. Lamont’s father is dead, so he’s moving in with his aunt who also dies. There’s no sense of how long he lived with his aunt, no sense of … anything. The grief and shame and guilt — the wolves, the shadows and shapes — are present, but overcome in a single page. He falls in love with a goat rancher and then falls into bed with them with no sense of the relationship between the two of them being anything more than physical appreciation and convenience as there doesn't seem to be anyone else in the book.

The art is fine, but what I really liked was the use of static instead of black, as if Lamont was missing the truth of what was in those spaces. The imagery is fine, if a little expected, and I never knew why there were two wolves. Was one Lamont and one his father? Was one society? Was one guilt and the other shame? While the wolves were all in his head, the horse wasn’t, so why did the horse also get the demon treatment?

I’m sorry, but this didn’t work for me either as a story, or as a graphic novel. I’m left too confused and feeling unsatisfied by the rushed pace. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Author 27 books31 followers
July 28, 2025
This comic was interesting. The art style was beautiful, and I loved the coloring and full-page spreads. In many regards, this reminded me of a zine: unconventional storytelling with highly-stylized and striking imagery.

My main problem was that it felt quite rushed and generalized. Many events are implied, not fully fleshed out (though speaking of flesh, there is one sexy scene in which we see bodies and butts... it's PG-13, not R). The main character is dealing with lingering childhood trauma from his preacher father. He goes to stay with his aging aunt, and falls for a pretty, gay goatherd rancher named Coyote. Other than the resolution, I can tell you very few details about this story, because things are often hinted or implied without being addressed directly. As a result, I was left feeling somewhat detached from the characters, and filled in a lot of the details on my own as I read.

I do think this is worth reading, I just felt like too much was left up to the reader to fill in, and I wanted a little more detail from the narrative. This story felt like it was more about queer trauma than about one person's specific life experience, you know? I would love to try some of these tea recipes, though...

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the ARC of this comic.
Profile Image for Laurenz.
6 reviews1 follower
September 26, 2025
Thank you to the publishers over at NetGalley for approving me for an ARC copy!

I went in blindly and was pleasantly surprised at how amazing the art style was!

This book made me think about all the times I encountered grief myself. The way that the "wolf" kept appearing at unexpected times was very relatable at how grief strikes us when we least expect it to. I enjoyed reading it so much that I couldn't stop when I started. It's just a short book but it makes a lasting impact on you -- one that you'll think about from time to time. The way that the main character had to deal with his trauma even when his dad passed away makes you think about the times that someone has also dimmed your light or made you believe that who you are as a person is unnatural and should be corrected. It shows that no matter how far along in life you may be, the past will always play a big part of it and there's honestly no way of escaping that except to face it and realize that you are now free to choose to believe that being yourself was never the problem after all.

Beautiful book! Would love to read more from this author since I really liked his style of narration and how he was able to hold my attention all throughout.
Profile Image for Dalyn Miller.
496 reviews8 followers
December 12, 2025
Heaven, West Virginia is a haunting, visually mesmerizing, and emotionally layered graphic novel that blends psychological horror, Appalachian atmosphere, and queer longing with remarkable precision. Ravi Teixeira crafts a story that is as much about grief and healing as it is about the monstrous figure stalking Lamont through the woods. The setting lush, green, and deceptively serene contrasts beautifully with the internal turmoil that Lamont carries with him following the death of his father. Through stunning artwork and subtle emotional beats, Teixeira builds a world where the supernatural becomes a mirror for trauma, memory, and transformation.

The relationship between Lamont and his aunt LaToya, along with the tender but electric connection he develops with Coyote, brings warmth and grounding to the narrative. Yet the looming, red eyed beast symbolizes a past that refuses to stay buried. The story is gripping not only for its eerie tension but also for its gentleness, sensuality, and vulnerability. Teixeira’s visual storytelling carries emotional depth in every panel, making Heaven, West Virginia a singular exploration of the ways grief hunts us and how healing, connection, and nature can guide us out of the dark.
Profile Image for Madd.
122 reviews4 followers
October 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love comics, and this was a very dreamlike one.

The pros: I really like the art, and the repeated use of the static and the wolves and the "everything in nature wants you dead." I love how quiet this comic is, there is very little dialogue at all. It's quick, it's direct, and I want to try some of the recipes in it :> I also like the religious imagery and tone, and damn if the condolences aren't relatable to anyone who's experienced grief.

The cons: I do wish there was a tad more. I like the quietness and lack of dialogue, but the tone of the synopsis sets this up as something veering far more into horror, which this kind of isn't. It's certainly got horror elements, but even as a dive into the horror of grief and trauma, it didn't really hit like that. It does feel like an delve into those topics, but not in a horror sense. I also wish we got a bit more of Lamont and Coyote's relationship, it just moves very fast for me.

Overall, very pretty and I had a good time :>
Profile Image for Michaela.
2 reviews
July 31, 2025
Rating: 2.5-3 ⭐️s
Trigger warnings: religious trauma & death of family members

Thank you Netgalley, the author, and Oni Press for letting me review this e-arc.

After Lamont’s father dies he moves in with his aunt where he learns how to make tea from his aunt. While living with her he deals with his traumas and grief while also finding and understanding his sexuality.

A few things I did like about the book was how the author used their art and used color to show his fear. In some parts it felt really unsettling. I also really enjoyed the tea recipes throughout the book, I thought they were a really nice touch. As for things I didn’t like was I felt that the book was rushed and was really fast paced at the expense of character development. And how the characters interacted with each other was quite hollow and felt emotionless. I also felt like we were missing out on some scenes that happened off page. The book itself was also quite confusing changing from one topic to the next without any real smooth transition.
Profile Image for Julia.
140 reviews
July 29, 2025
Lamont is dealing with the grief of his fathers death and the struggle of coming to terms with being gay while being haunted by his father, a renowned preacher. We mostly follow Lamont, now living with his Aunt and his relationship with a goat herder/cowboy named Coyote, as he works through his childhood trauma and figuring out who he is without his father.

The art style and flow of the story was very engaging and was great in reflecting what Lamont was feeling. I will definitely be checking out more of Ravi Teixeira’s work.

When reading graphic novels things tend to move bit faster. But I think in this so much, particularly the relationship development, happens very quickly that I felt a bit blindsided by some of the plot jumps. There’s a lot left for the reader to fill in and I wish it was just a bit longer so we could get a better feel for the characters.

Thank you Oni Press and NetGalley for the ARC
Profile Image for Oliver.
51 reviews
August 17, 2025
This graphic novel follows Lamont and explores the complexities of grieving a family member, who was seen positively by the wider community, but was a source of pain for him. I think that the story captures the feelings of coming to terms with your sexuality, navigating religious trauma, and healing in the arms of a comforting partner. As such, I know a lot of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals will relate to the story.

I absolutely loved the art as well, and even though the pacing was quick and it felt like some of the story was being told off of the pages, I didn't have any issues following along and absolutely devoured this book so quickly. The depth of exploration it had regarding grief and shame was impressive, as this is a quick read, and it felt very true to how an individual like Lamont would feel navigating the world while holding so much hurt.

Thank you to Netgalley and Oni Press for the ARC.
Profile Image for Kayla Smith.
717 reviews12 followers
September 10, 2025
Truthfully, the art style in this wasn't my favorite but once I got past that it turned out that the story wasn't really doing it for me either. This felt very surface level and gave the air that we were rushing through what could have been a really interesting exploration of grieving the loss of a parent when that parent was a source of trauma and pain for you growing up. I really was looking forward to some discussions of processing loss when, perhaps, the loss shouldn't be that much of a loss to you at all, but that isn't what happened here. I also think there were opportunities in this story to talk about combating internalized homophobia and confronting our inner demons and childhood trauma but that felt a bit glossed over as well.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

Content Warning: homophobia, childhood trauma, loss of a parent
Profile Image for Sirah.
2,983 reviews27 followers
September 20, 2025
After the death of his father, Lamont goes to live with auntie Latoya deep in the woods. But no matter where he goes, it seems there are always wolves waiting to devour him, especially when Lamont admits he might be gay, something his father could never condone.

This is a remarkably quick read for such a heavy topic. It's not terribly complicated, especially since most of the character development emerges in the form of surreal metaphor. It's creepy but not terrifying, just where I like my horror to land. The end is satisfying after all the deep emotions we feel, even though it's far from a happy ending. I'll note for the children that there is graphic sex depicted, but it's not gratuitous: it serves an essential role in how Lamont's character unfolds.

Short but memorable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Frankkie.
182 reviews3 followers
November 16, 2025
This was a quick read, and I actually went through it twice to catch the subtleties and metaphors woven through the art. It follows a young man processing his sexuality after his controlling father dies, and there’s a quiet, reflective tone that runs through the whole thing. I liked the stillness in the panels and the wordless exchanges between characters; I think the art handled those moments well.

The drawings look hand-inked and a little rough, which is cool to see on the page, but it does give the book a slightly less polished feel. The story itself is gentle and thoughtful with a few unique characters, but it didn’t end up being especially relatable for me. Still, there’s something about the soft rawness of it that made the read worthwhile.

3.25 stars rounded down

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for this eARC.
Profile Image for Micha.
736 reviews11 followers
December 16, 2025
I always like a Southern Gothic atmosphere. This graphic novel was fairly short, very simple, but touched on depths of grief and shame well despite that. The full-colour illustrations echoed the story's themes with rich but deep colour choices, and I liked the use of church-window framing that came up as a device to add both visual interest and represent the religious undercurrents influencing the characters and setting. Texeira layers a lot very quickly, such as Lamont sharing his father's name, a quiet but incredibly clear note that doubles-down the parental expectations. I do wish we had more of Aunt LaToya and the love that Lamont finds for her, the special place she occupies. And while I thought I was indifferent to the inclusion of tea recipes in an already pretty short narrative, I do want to try one or two them.
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