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Over My Dead Body #2
Speak of the Devil: A Witchy Graphic Novel
In the thrilling, witchy sequel to Over My Dead Body, Abigail fights to clear her name as strange occurrences continue to plague Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft—a spooky teen graphic novel perfect for fans of Wednesday Addams and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina!
Months after Abigail and her friends thwarted a dark magic ritual that threatened to destroy Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft, new dangers and long-buried secrets bubble to the surface.
As autumn turns to winter, a mysterious rune-dotted fissure has appeared in the school grounds, and no one from the Coven is able to seal it—no matter how powerful their magic is. Even worse, it’s believed this fissure is the source of hazardous tremors that continue to rip through the grounds, threatening the institute’s very foundation. Abigail is certain this is all her fault and hatches a plan to seal the fissure herself, but when her ritual goes sideways, she awakens a long-dormant entity hellbent on revenge. To put things right, Abigail will need to unearth the true history of Younwity Institute and, just maybe, unravel the secrets of her own forgotten past along the way.
Months after Abigail and her friends thwarted a dark magic ritual that threatened to destroy Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft, new dangers and long-buried secrets bubble to the surface.
As autumn turns to winter, a mysterious rune-dotted fissure has appeared in the school grounds, and no one from the Coven is able to seal it—no matter how powerful their magic is. Even worse, it’s believed this fissure is the source of hazardous tremors that continue to rip through the grounds, threatening the institute’s very foundation. Abigail is certain this is all her fault and hatches a plan to seal the fissure herself, but when her ritual goes sideways, she awakens a long-dormant entity hellbent on revenge. To put things right, Abigail will need to unearth the true history of Younwity Institute and, just maybe, unravel the secrets of her own forgotten past along the way.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2026
About the author
Sweeney Boo
74 books181 followersSweeney is a comic artist and illustrator living in Montreal, Canada.
She grew up in the southwest of France, where she studied graphic design and listened to really loud rock music. She started working as a comic letterer and colorist for french publishers right after graduation, while pursuing her dream of being a comic artist. In 2015 she made the decision to move to Canada. One short year after the big jump across the ocean she started working at a mobile game company as a 2D Artist. She never lost sight of her true dream though, so she continued to draw comics during the nights and weekends. Her comic debut happened during the summer 2016 when she created a cover and a short story for Rat Queens (Image Comics). Later on, in December 2016 she launched a Kickstarter campaign for her first graphic novel called "Eat, and Love Yourself", a 150-page story about eating disorders, depression, body dysmorphia, and ultimately self-love; a subject really important to her. The book was financed and picked up by Boom! Studios in 2019, for publication in 2020. In 2017, she had the chance to work on the costume designs of America Chavez, Inferno, and Patriot for the show "Marvel Rising", combining two of her favorite things, fashion and superheroes.
Today Sweeney lives a happy, full time freelance life of drawing all day, watching of true crime shows and eating lots of nice cheeses. All the while being kept company by her feline assistant Loki, who doesn't do much except sit pretty while being a fluff.
Sweeney loves drawings edgy fashion ladies, especially if they are witches.
She grew up in the southwest of France, where she studied graphic design and listened to really loud rock music. She started working as a comic letterer and colorist for french publishers right after graduation, while pursuing her dream of being a comic artist. In 2015 she made the decision to move to Canada. One short year after the big jump across the ocean she started working at a mobile game company as a 2D Artist. She never lost sight of her true dream though, so she continued to draw comics during the nights and weekends. Her comic debut happened during the summer 2016 when she created a cover and a short story for Rat Queens (Image Comics). Later on, in December 2016 she launched a Kickstarter campaign for her first graphic novel called "Eat, and Love Yourself", a 150-page story about eating disorders, depression, body dysmorphia, and ultimately self-love; a subject really important to her. The book was financed and picked up by Boom! Studios in 2019, for publication in 2020. In 2017, she had the chance to work on the costume designs of America Chavez, Inferno, and Patriot for the show "Marvel Rising", combining two of her favorite things, fashion and superheroes.
Today Sweeney lives a happy, full time freelance life of drawing all day, watching of true crime shows and eating lots of nice cheeses. All the while being kept company by her feline assistant Loki, who doesn't do much except sit pretty while being a fluff.
Sweeney loves drawings edgy fashion ladies, especially if they are witches.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
June 26, 2026
let me be honest with you: i wanted to love this more than i did.
the first thing that hits you is the art and yeah, it’s beautiful. atmospheric and dark in that cozy winter way that makes you want to curl up under a blanket. sweeney boo knows how to create a visual mood and that part she absolutely delivered.
what didn’t land for me was everything underneath it. the story felt like it was going through the motions like it knew where it needed to go but forgot to make me care about the journey. i never felt pulled forward. i just kept reading and hoping something would click and it sort of… didn’t.
3.5 stars because the art alone deserves credit and there are moments where you can see the potential. but potential and execution are two very different things.
the first thing that hits you is the art and yeah, it’s beautiful. atmospheric and dark in that cozy winter way that makes you want to curl up under a blanket. sweeney boo knows how to create a visual mood and that part she absolutely delivered.
what didn’t land for me was everything underneath it. the story felt like it was going through the motions like it knew where it needed to go but forgot to make me care about the journey. i never felt pulled forward. i just kept reading and hoping something would click and it sort of… didn’t.
3.5 stars because the art alone deserves credit and there are moments where you can see the potential. but potential and execution are two very different things.
March 17, 2026
While I did still enjoy this, it is, in my opinion, a fair bit weaker than the first one. That one was a solid 5 star read, but unfortunately I don’t think I can rate this one any higher than 3 stars. It still has the lively illustrations with gorgeous colours. The art style has changed slightly, which is a bit weird if you read both graphic novels in the same sitting, but it’ll probably go unnoticed by most readers.
I honestly don’t have much to say about the story. It’s fine, but I never felt as captivated or emotionally invested in the sequel as in the first graphic novel. There’s also a bunch of new characters that have so little page-time that I actually forgot about their existence while reading.
Also good god the pseudo old-timey english was genuinely difficult to persevere through. It is a bit ambiguous where and when this takes place, but as someone who has a Bachelor’s in English and had to take a year-long course on the History of English, I can guarantee you that at no point did people actually speak like that.
----
Thank you to HarperAlley for the ARC
I honestly don’t have much to say about the story. It’s fine, but I never felt as captivated or emotionally invested in the sequel as in the first graphic novel. There’s also a bunch of new characters that have so little page-time that I actually forgot about their existence while reading.
Also good god the pseudo old-timey english was genuinely difficult to persevere through. It is a bit ambiguous where and when this takes place, but as someone who has a Bachelor’s in English and had to take a year-long course on the History of English, I can guarantee you that at no point did people actually speak like that.
----
Thank you to HarperAlley for the ARC
February 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really wish I had known going in that this was the second book in a series. It always throws me off when that isn’t clearly stated on NetGalley. I started the story feeling a bit disoriented because it was obvious there were events and relationships established in the first book that I hadn’t experienced. That said, even without having read the previous installment, I was still able to follow along and enjoy this one for what it was.
The artwork is genuinely beautiful. I loved the color palette and the overall art style added so much personality and atmosphere to the story. Visually, it was a standout and definitely one of the strongest aspects of the book.
My main issue was with the climax. We spend the majority of the story building toward this confrontation, uncovering the mystery behind the earthquakes and building up the villain as a major threat. But when the final battle finally happens, it’s over almost instantly. There’s no real struggle, no extended fight, just a quick defeat that made all the buildup feel a little anticlimactic. The hype for that moment unfortunately fell flat for me.
Overall, it wasn’t a hard story to follow, and I did enjoy parts of it, especially the art, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it a standout or a must-read.
I really wish I had known going in that this was the second book in a series. It always throws me off when that isn’t clearly stated on NetGalley. I started the story feeling a bit disoriented because it was obvious there were events and relationships established in the first book that I hadn’t experienced. That said, even without having read the previous installment, I was still able to follow along and enjoy this one for what it was.
The artwork is genuinely beautiful. I loved the color palette and the overall art style added so much personality and atmosphere to the story. Visually, it was a standout and definitely one of the strongest aspects of the book.
My main issue was with the climax. We spend the majority of the story building toward this confrontation, uncovering the mystery behind the earthquakes and building up the villain as a major threat. But when the final battle finally happens, it’s over almost instantly. There’s no real struggle, no extended fight, just a quick defeat that made all the buildup feel a little anticlimactic. The hype for that moment unfortunately fell flat for me.
Overall, it wasn’t a hard story to follow, and I did enjoy parts of it, especially the art, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it a standout or a must-read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2026
2 Stars
While this had absolutely STUNNING art, ultimately the story was a total mess, especially towards the end. There were so many plot holes, and entire plotlines were retconned toward the end and/or just dropped entirely. It felt like the author was rushing to just get the story over with, or maybe just didn't know how to tie everything together.
While this had absolutely STUNNING art, ultimately the story was a total mess, especially towards the end. There were so many plot holes, and entire plotlines were retconned toward the end and/or just dropped entirely. It felt like the author was rushing to just get the story over with, or maybe just didn't know how to tie everything together.
December 17, 2025
More like 3.5 stars. I’d like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved the first volume in this series and couldn’t out it down. The visual art of it was stunning and totally made the story. This book while the same in that matter, I found the story this time to be a little slower but still overall kept my attention. I hope there will be more volumes in this series.
June 9, 2026
We continue where we left off last time and then enter a whole new exciting new mystery! I really enjoyed learning more about the coven, about witches, about memories past and present. And I just love the cast of characters (and their sweet familiars). The art was perfect! I would definitely love more books set in this universe!
March 23, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
March 27, 2026
The art is gorgeous, especially winter landscapes
April 19, 2026
Visuals were better than the first book but story seemed like an after thought to connect it to the first one.
June 6, 2026
Nice art but the story was a bit confusing at times. 🤷♀️🙂
May 12, 2026
having enjoyed sweeney boo's "over my dead body", i was looking forward to reading the follow-up graphic novel. the art style is noticeably different than the first one, and i honestly preferred the original art style. the storyline, pacing, and characterization all feel considerably weaker. i read the first book years ago when it first came out in 2022, so having all these new characters thrown at me in the second book was overwhelming. furthermore, the new characters that are thrown at readers aren't "introduced"--it felt like we were just expected to already know and recognize them.
with all of that being said, i had a decent time reading this graphic novel. it's not something i would pick up and read again, though.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
with all of that being said, i had a decent time reading this graphic novel. it's not something i would pick up and read again, though.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 22, 2026
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during Season of the Witch (September-October 2026)
At the Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft life has not returned to normal since the events that transpired a month earlier on Samhain. Since the botany professor was exposed and sent to prison along with the headmistress. The Coven now has security stationed at the school due to the geological and magical ramifications from Lilith's Samhain ritual of dark spell crafting. A magical fissure that has formed is most likely the cause of all that is wrong at Younwity. Ghosts are off, doorways aren't stationary, there's rain in the dining hall, and great cracks are appearing throughout the building with every tremor that rattles the bones. Because the student body doesn't know the truth about what happened on Samhain they are blaming poor Noreen. Noreen who was a victim of Lilith and who saved the day. She's now ridiculed and scorned. Plus she's suffering from sleepwalking and nightmares. The school has locked her in the highest tower and hopes that her problems will resolve themselves, or at the very least wait until after the fissure is sealed to be addressed. This isn't good enough for Abby. She still feels guilty she wasn't looking out for Noreen enough as her mentor. Which means that Abby is trying to seal the fissure. Sure the Coven has brought in one of their own, Cora Perenell, who specializes in sealing magic, but she appears to be making no headway, in fact the fissure is expanding. Which is why Abby has to succeed. Thankfully she has the help of her friends. But it's getting more and more dangerous for Abby to sneak out at night, let alone create a diversion to get near enough to the fissure. Her latest attempt seems to be succeeding when she's interrupted. Noreen's primary bullies, Cabnus and Rupert, followed Abby to prove that her and her friends are behind everything. Only because of their intrusion Rupert is drawn to the fissure and disappears into it. This is obviously next level bad. So of course the school will want to keep a lid on it. Unfortunately the school's incipient journalist, Atlas Hewett, was on hand to witness the whole debacle. He quite recently realized that wherever Abby and her friends are is where the story is. Which means that Abby has another problem to deal with. At least there's the oblivion of sleep. Or there used to be until she gets what is clearly a prophetic dream. So now Abby and her friends have to seal the fissure, clear Noreen's name, and figure out why Abby is dreaming about the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1652. A family named Younwity tried to flee Newdory because of the peril of the witchfinder. Aurora and her three children, Diana, Lucius, and Magdalena, summoned the sisterhood, but if Abby's visions are anything to go by, they were too late. Could the past be what is leaking through the fissure to the present? And how dangerous can a powerless witch be?
This second volume in Sweeney Boo's Over My Dead Body series was a chance for her to take the series beyond being just Harry Potter FanFic and really make it her own and she just named a character Lucius. OK, deep breath, moving beyond Harry Potter, time for invisibility cloaking spells. Well, that is a choice. Oh, a hack journalist who has a "niffler" for a familiar!?! Yeah. No. Mole my ass. The point was to move beyond Harry Potter, to form a world of her own making, not just jump ahead a few books in the Harry Potter series to where everything is dark and there's Dumbledore's Army. Even if she wanted to do this just skipping ahead doesn't work because we didn't build to this point and that means the infodump was gigantic. The first book centered on four students and four faculty members, within the first few pages of Speak of the Devil we have an historical family of five who are all important, then in the present there's seven new students of import and two adults. At two-hundred and forty pages this is not a lot of time to develop a story and almost trebling the cast just bogs the narrative down. Throw in horrible Charmed worthy rhyming spells and a "haunting" song from the past that is drawn over the art in the ugliest pink font I've ever seen, and this story, for whatever it's worth within the sphere of Harry Potter FanFic, just feels cheap. Which we, as readers, know is not the case. It's obvious this took years to draw but therein I also have a problem. The style of the art has changed. While an artist's style will never remain consistent, they will change and grow, it's perhaps best if they don't regress. Reading these two volumes back to back you'd expect a little more consistency, but Sweeney Boo's style has changed so much that I felt annoyed looking at this new volume. All the characters had this flatness to their features now. They literally look as if they've been hit in the face with a frying pan. It's disconcerting. But it's nothing to the fact that when the characters are shown in profile the lower portion of their face around the mouth is distorted outward, almost as if they were drawn transforming into a werewolf. Which, for the record, they weren't. Instead you have this weird, unrealistic, beaver profile with a flatness viewed head-on. In the first volume they looked cartoonish but obviously based on humans. Here, they no longer look human. Each and every character is off-putting in their own special way. Though at least messing up the human form and flattening features to make it look like Monkey Christ is something that's happened before. Just look to Cecilia Giménez. Outlining every single character with vibrant color as if they all have a magical aura makes no artistic sense. Even Monkey Christ didn't get a halo. This book needed to narrow its focus to the history of the foundlings and their connection to Diana Younwity thus creating it's own mythology while maintaining the look of the previous volume. None of this came to pass. Sadly.
At the Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft life has not returned to normal since the events that transpired a month earlier on Samhain. Since the botany professor was exposed and sent to prison along with the headmistress. The Coven now has security stationed at the school due to the geological and magical ramifications from Lilith's Samhain ritual of dark spell crafting. A magical fissure that has formed is most likely the cause of all that is wrong at Younwity. Ghosts are off, doorways aren't stationary, there's rain in the dining hall, and great cracks are appearing throughout the building with every tremor that rattles the bones. Because the student body doesn't know the truth about what happened on Samhain they are blaming poor Noreen. Noreen who was a victim of Lilith and who saved the day. She's now ridiculed and scorned. Plus she's suffering from sleepwalking and nightmares. The school has locked her in the highest tower and hopes that her problems will resolve themselves, or at the very least wait until after the fissure is sealed to be addressed. This isn't good enough for Abby. She still feels guilty she wasn't looking out for Noreen enough as her mentor. Which means that Abby is trying to seal the fissure. Sure the Coven has brought in one of their own, Cora Perenell, who specializes in sealing magic, but she appears to be making no headway, in fact the fissure is expanding. Which is why Abby has to succeed. Thankfully she has the help of her friends. But it's getting more and more dangerous for Abby to sneak out at night, let alone create a diversion to get near enough to the fissure. Her latest attempt seems to be succeeding when she's interrupted. Noreen's primary bullies, Cabnus and Rupert, followed Abby to prove that her and her friends are behind everything. Only because of their intrusion Rupert is drawn to the fissure and disappears into it. This is obviously next level bad. So of course the school will want to keep a lid on it. Unfortunately the school's incipient journalist, Atlas Hewett, was on hand to witness the whole debacle. He quite recently realized that wherever Abby and her friends are is where the story is. Which means that Abby has another problem to deal with. At least there's the oblivion of sleep. Or there used to be until she gets what is clearly a prophetic dream. So now Abby and her friends have to seal the fissure, clear Noreen's name, and figure out why Abby is dreaming about the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1652. A family named Younwity tried to flee Newdory because of the peril of the witchfinder. Aurora and her three children, Diana, Lucius, and Magdalena, summoned the sisterhood, but if Abby's visions are anything to go by, they were too late. Could the past be what is leaking through the fissure to the present? And how dangerous can a powerless witch be?
This second volume in Sweeney Boo's Over My Dead Body series was a chance for her to take the series beyond being just Harry Potter FanFic and really make it her own and she just named a character Lucius. OK, deep breath, moving beyond Harry Potter, time for invisibility cloaking spells. Well, that is a choice. Oh, a hack journalist who has a "niffler" for a familiar!?! Yeah. No. Mole my ass. The point was to move beyond Harry Potter, to form a world of her own making, not just jump ahead a few books in the Harry Potter series to where everything is dark and there's Dumbledore's Army. Even if she wanted to do this just skipping ahead doesn't work because we didn't build to this point and that means the infodump was gigantic. The first book centered on four students and four faculty members, within the first few pages of Speak of the Devil we have an historical family of five who are all important, then in the present there's seven new students of import and two adults. At two-hundred and forty pages this is not a lot of time to develop a story and almost trebling the cast just bogs the narrative down. Throw in horrible Charmed worthy rhyming spells and a "haunting" song from the past that is drawn over the art in the ugliest pink font I've ever seen, and this story, for whatever it's worth within the sphere of Harry Potter FanFic, just feels cheap. Which we, as readers, know is not the case. It's obvious this took years to draw but therein I also have a problem. The style of the art has changed. While an artist's style will never remain consistent, they will change and grow, it's perhaps best if they don't regress. Reading these two volumes back to back you'd expect a little more consistency, but Sweeney Boo's style has changed so much that I felt annoyed looking at this new volume. All the characters had this flatness to their features now. They literally look as if they've been hit in the face with a frying pan. It's disconcerting. But it's nothing to the fact that when the characters are shown in profile the lower portion of their face around the mouth is distorted outward, almost as if they were drawn transforming into a werewolf. Which, for the record, they weren't. Instead you have this weird, unrealistic, beaver profile with a flatness viewed head-on. In the first volume they looked cartoonish but obviously based on humans. Here, they no longer look human. Each and every character is off-putting in their own special way. Though at least messing up the human form and flattening features to make it look like Monkey Christ is something that's happened before. Just look to Cecilia Giménez. Outlining every single character with vibrant color as if they all have a magical aura makes no artistic sense. Even Monkey Christ didn't get a halo. This book needed to narrow its focus to the history of the foundlings and their connection to Diana Younwity thus creating it's own mythology while maintaining the look of the previous volume. None of this came to pass. Sadly.
December 22, 2025
As with the first volume, the drawings are a real treat for the eyes. From the line art and colours to the choices of composition and perspective… I absolutely loved everything visually. Going back to Younwity Institute almost felt like coming home—there’s something so cosy about the place, despite all its dangers. I truly liked the quotes from Emily Dickinson’s poem. Also, Seymour was as lovely as ever (oh how I missed that diva!). The plot itself isn’t groundbreaking, though I suppose it works for the YA genre. I wouldn’t mind if a third book was on the way…
Huge thanks to my sister for the recommendation and to HarperAlley via NetGalley for the ARC!
Huge thanks to my sister for the recommendation and to HarperAlley via NetGalley for the ARC!
June 24, 2026
To the graphic and story author Sweeney Boo - that I cherish her works, thanks you for everything you make around art and people. Your creativity, passion, imagination and talent reunited are very inspiring.
🪄
Now about this second novel and this next chapter of story following the first book, I was feeling good, at the beginning. I was so happy returning back to this witches academy, following their art and magic again. I loved very much reading Violet and Noreen in this second book, of course alongside the brilliant Goldie, the kindest Enver and the persevering Abi too.
—>>
The new group of witches coming in this one was a pleasant breath of fresh air BUT the fact that we only see them rarely from beginning to end slightly saddened me because we could not enjoy that much their rebellious intelligence, which breaks with certain clichés… I would have liked to discover much more about them!!
Now aside those characters I really appreciated their strong, unbreakable friendship and ever-growing bond - always together and that’s GREAT. What’s real friendship look like WHEN it’s « thoughtful and deliberate choices knowing the consequences».
I was since the beginning “caught between two stools” if I can say.
1. I was pretty enjoying the fact we were following quite directly the events of the last book.
2. The idea of the plot was fair and good.
3. Sadly - Why this end? 🥲
…
I explain myself. When we start (no spoiler dw) we follow them in their journey after the end of the first book. Till this moment everything was setup in the right place. Again I was happy to see new characters appearing but those same characters have not been sufficiently introduced and showed. WHEN they actually seem interesting to be honest.
/!\
About the plot, all the adventure is featured with actions, new spells, deep magic, familiars… But again I was expecting a little more about it. Not the action but the details in between and all the “rest”.
• I wanted to see more of the others main witches characters bounding and talking with their familiars too, not only Abi and Seymour.
• I wished to see some pages, just some at least about the classes of magic. Not only when they practice it directly for the story while we never even once admired their training and skills in class.
• I wanted to see better professors to be honest. Apart from the headmaster, Mr. Boudreaux (<3), no one is truly competent or caring towards the students. I swear, none of them. I wanted to see a powerful and great figure represented in the Younwity Academy. Or at least a witch that can actually do witchcraft and really TEACH younger witches…💀
((Everyone needs to listen and learn from each other, no matter their age, beliefs or experiences.))
Now please, this school needs some real professors of witchcraft 🥲 that’s a serious subject.
-> The group is caring all the centuries-old problems of the school alone, on their own, while all the professors are struggling, stressing, blaming each other’s responsibility and screaming so nothing can change and be resolved. (Typical adult behavior at least)..
About this end.. well. I was a little frustrated I will not lie. I was expecting better end.
When the plot is plotting and accelerating the story, the end is already there and finish as soon as we read it.
And just like in the first volume (personally), the ending is abruptly cut off, almost rushed, described and resolved in 4 pages. It's far too quick. I’m sorry!
}
Not to mention that I'm left with far too many questions related to this volume, which probably won't be answered in volume 3.
I hope not, but sadly I think our beloved Sweeney Boo buried the answers at the same time she wrote her conclusion of this second one.
This second opus had good ideas, highly potential, good characters and ambient.
But the end wasn’t here for me.
Now, I will totally recommend this book to anyone loving fantastic magic, witches, autumn/winter ambiance, dark powers and secrets, friendship adventures and to spend a good time admiring incredible drawings🪦🖤
✨NOW, last but not least✨
Let’s talk and mention !please! her artwork.
MY SAINTS SHE IS SO TALENTED.
Everything about her graphic novels is enchanting and inspiring!!!
The colors palette, the designs, everything.
I follow her art since I’m a teenager and my mind is still obsessed with what she create and how she materializes her thoughts and imagination.
I very hope she will never stop creating her creativity🙌🏻
🪄
Now about this second novel and this next chapter of story following the first book, I was feeling good, at the beginning. I was so happy returning back to this witches academy, following their art and magic again. I loved very much reading Violet and Noreen in this second book, of course alongside the brilliant Goldie, the kindest Enver and the persevering Abi too.
—>>
The new group of witches coming in this one was a pleasant breath of fresh air BUT the fact that we only see them rarely from beginning to end slightly saddened me because we could not enjoy that much their rebellious intelligence, which breaks with certain clichés… I would have liked to discover much more about them!!
Now aside those characters I really appreciated their strong, unbreakable friendship and ever-growing bond - always together and that’s GREAT. What’s real friendship look like WHEN it’s « thoughtful and deliberate choices knowing the consequences».
I was since the beginning “caught between two stools” if I can say.
1. I was pretty enjoying the fact we were following quite directly the events of the last book.
2. The idea of the plot was fair and good.
3. Sadly - Why this end? 🥲
…
I explain myself. When we start (no spoiler dw) we follow them in their journey after the end of the first book. Till this moment everything was setup in the right place. Again I was happy to see new characters appearing but those same characters have not been sufficiently introduced and showed. WHEN they actually seem interesting to be honest.
/!\
About the plot, all the adventure is featured with actions, new spells, deep magic, familiars… But again I was expecting a little more about it. Not the action but the details in between and all the “rest”.
• I wanted to see more of the others main witches characters bounding and talking with their familiars too, not only Abi and Seymour.
• I wished to see some pages, just some at least about the classes of magic. Not only when they practice it directly for the story while we never even once admired their training and skills in class.
• I wanted to see better professors to be honest. Apart from the headmaster, Mr. Boudreaux (<3), no one is truly competent or caring towards the students. I swear, none of them. I wanted to see a powerful and great figure represented in the Younwity Academy. Or at least a witch that can actually do witchcraft and really TEACH younger witches…💀
((Everyone needs to listen and learn from each other, no matter their age, beliefs or experiences.))
Now please, this school needs some real professors of witchcraft 🥲 that’s a serious subject.
-> The group is caring all the centuries-old problems of the school alone, on their own, while all the professors are struggling, stressing, blaming each other’s responsibility and screaming so nothing can change and be resolved. (Typical adult behavior at least)..
About this end.. well. I was a little frustrated I will not lie. I was expecting better end.
When the plot is plotting and accelerating the story, the end is already there and finish as soon as we read it.
And just like in the first volume (personally), the ending is abruptly cut off, almost rushed, described and resolved in 4 pages. It's far too quick. I’m sorry!
}
Not to mention that I'm left with far too many questions related to this volume, which probably won't be answered in volume 3.
I hope not, but sadly I think our beloved Sweeney Boo buried the answers at the same time she wrote her conclusion of this second one.
This second opus had good ideas, highly potential, good characters and ambient.
But the end wasn’t here for me.
Now, I will totally recommend this book to anyone loving fantastic magic, witches, autumn/winter ambiance, dark powers and secrets, friendship adventures and to spend a good time admiring incredible drawings🪦🖤
✨NOW, last but not least✨
Let’s talk and mention !please! her artwork.
MY SAINTS SHE IS SO TALENTED.
Everything about her graphic novels is enchanting and inspiring!!!
The colors palette, the designs, everything.
I follow her art since I’m a teenager and my mind is still obsessed with what she create and how she materializes her thoughts and imagination.
I very hope she will never stop creating her creativity🙌🏻
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm so grateful Harper Collins Children's Books/Harper Alley gave me a chance to read SPEAK OF THE DEVIL. I requested it on NetGalley solely based on the cover art, and am delighted to share that the haunting, creepy, and beautiful art of the cover permeates the graphic novel in its entirety.
What I did not do was read the description closely, which indicates this comic is a sequel. Oops. Because of this, it felt like I was missing out on a huge chunk of something special--characters mention it; it's a precursor to the current events in the story--in other words, you need to read the first book in order for this one to be a completely fulfilling story.
Not that this book was hard to follow. It starts with a flashback to a Salem Witch Trials-adjacent town where a family is persecuted for witchcraft and a great tragedy leads to madness and a loss of control of powers, and...murder. Fast forward to present day Younwity Institute, and there are a slew of significant problems plaguing this witchcraft school--earthquakes, flooding, and a mysterious fissure that has appeared in the ground that is causing students --a specific kind--to disappear. It ties to lead character Abigail, who is descended from the mysterious young woman who appears in the old flashbacks (like 1600s or so). Anyway, Abigail feels guilt for all of this stuff happening, believing it to be the result of the events in the first book, and she tries to close the fissure, but only makes things worse. In investigating what happened (including disappearing a student), this leads to mystery after mystery, including strange visions, and a haunting lullaby that appears and reappears.
Because I didn't read the first book, there was some stuff (worldbuilding and character relationships) that flew over my head. So let me reiterate, you HAVE to read the first book, OVER MY DEAD BODY, to get a clear understanding of what's happening and how deep everything goes. Despite my lack of knowledge, I enjoyed this comic. I liked the familiars the characters had (Abigail's hairless cat is particularly fun), and I liked that all of the magic had risks to it and was a little bit on the darker side. There is a rich history to this series that is touched upon here, but again, I think would come out fully if I'd read the first book. Which I'm running to do right now.
Due to beautiful art, a great mood, interesting worldbuilding, and likeable characters, I'm rating this book four stars. I hope I get the same wonderful experience reading OVER MY DEAD BODY as I had reading SPEAK OF THE DEVIL.
What I did not do was read the description closely, which indicates this comic is a sequel. Oops. Because of this, it felt like I was missing out on a huge chunk of something special--characters mention it; it's a precursor to the current events in the story--in other words, you need to read the first book in order for this one to be a completely fulfilling story.
Not that this book was hard to follow. It starts with a flashback to a Salem Witch Trials-adjacent town where a family is persecuted for witchcraft and a great tragedy leads to madness and a loss of control of powers, and...murder. Fast forward to present day Younwity Institute, and there are a slew of significant problems plaguing this witchcraft school--earthquakes, flooding, and a mysterious fissure that has appeared in the ground that is causing students --a specific kind--to disappear. It ties to lead character Abigail, who is descended from the mysterious young woman who appears in the old flashbacks (like 1600s or so). Anyway, Abigail feels guilt for all of this stuff happening, believing it to be the result of the events in the first book, and she tries to close the fissure, but only makes things worse. In investigating what happened (including disappearing a student), this leads to mystery after mystery, including strange visions, and a haunting lullaby that appears and reappears.
Because I didn't read the first book, there was some stuff (worldbuilding and character relationships) that flew over my head. So let me reiterate, you HAVE to read the first book, OVER MY DEAD BODY, to get a clear understanding of what's happening and how deep everything goes. Despite my lack of knowledge, I enjoyed this comic. I liked the familiars the characters had (Abigail's hairless cat is particularly fun), and I liked that all of the magic had risks to it and was a little bit on the darker side. There is a rich history to this series that is touched upon here, but again, I think would come out fully if I'd read the first book. Which I'm running to do right now.
Due to beautiful art, a great mood, interesting worldbuilding, and likeable characters, I'm rating this book four stars. I hope I get the same wonderful experience reading OVER MY DEAD BODY as I had reading SPEAK OF THE DEVIL.
June 10, 2026
This is a sequel to “Over My Dead Body,” a book I quite enjoyed when I first read it, so much that I used it for a college presentation where I compared it to Harry Potter. When I read it a second time for that project, I had a great time once more! So, naturally, this sequel being a tad disappointing is something to remark.
Though fun and witty, existing within this cheeky but underdeveloped world, “Speak of the Devil” was just a bit too disjointed for me. Compared to the first book, this one moves in a really strange way, almost eradicating Abigail as a main protagonist and, instead, making (or attempting to make) her new friend group the center focus. Because this is a quick-ish read, though, there’s not enough time to truly feel immersed and invest care.
The first installment used the medium to its advantage, moving the story along with precision and pre-established arcs. But here, the narrative line is a bit all over the place, the main mystery is watery, and the new characters introduced feel rushed and like we don’t really get to know them. This made the stakes for everything happening lower quite a lot, so, even though the read had the potential to be at least fun, it had that distracting aspect.
This ends up making the book feel quite middle-of-the-road by the time you’re done, rather than stricken and somewhat moved like the end of the first one. There was a simpler sense to the first book that this one lacked in a fracturing way. Every new concept and idea introduced in this book feels flimsy and undoes the material that makes up this world and keeps it afloat.
On top of it all, just like the first book, this is simply very clearly inspired by Harry Potter, which does get tiresome or at least eye-rolly. There were lots of Order of the Phoenix elements in this, and the end wrapped up almost identically to the way things land and unravel during Harry Potter endings.
The first book might not work for many because of the heavy HP similarities, while it did for me, but this second book doesn’t quite save itself. It is way too convoluted and rushed. The beginning was somehow moving along slowly before picking up and absolutely catapulting through to the end. Still, I think it’s a fun read and continuation to the first book, just perhaps bit too pointless at times, which is unfortunate all the same.
Though fun and witty, existing within this cheeky but underdeveloped world, “Speak of the Devil” was just a bit too disjointed for me. Compared to the first book, this one moves in a really strange way, almost eradicating Abigail as a main protagonist and, instead, making (or attempting to make) her new friend group the center focus. Because this is a quick-ish read, though, there’s not enough time to truly feel immersed and invest care.
The first installment used the medium to its advantage, moving the story along with precision and pre-established arcs. But here, the narrative line is a bit all over the place, the main mystery is watery, and the new characters introduced feel rushed and like we don’t really get to know them. This made the stakes for everything happening lower quite a lot, so, even though the read had the potential to be at least fun, it had that distracting aspect.
This ends up making the book feel quite middle-of-the-road by the time you’re done, rather than stricken and somewhat moved like the end of the first one. There was a simpler sense to the first book that this one lacked in a fracturing way. Every new concept and idea introduced in this book feels flimsy and undoes the material that makes up this world and keeps it afloat.
On top of it all, just like the first book, this is simply very clearly inspired by Harry Potter, which does get tiresome or at least eye-rolly. There were lots of Order of the Phoenix elements in this, and the end wrapped up almost identically to the way things land and unravel during Harry Potter endings.
The first book might not work for many because of the heavy HP similarities, while it did for me, but this second book doesn’t quite save itself. It is way too convoluted and rushed. The beginning was somehow moving along slowly before picking up and absolutely catapulting through to the end. Still, I think it’s a fun read and continuation to the first book, just perhaps bit too pointless at times, which is unfortunate all the same.
June 25, 2026
3.5
Very fast-paced. Loved the additional world and character building/development as well. I do wish there had been more of Seymour, and more moments with Seymour and Duke. I love that cat, and it's cute that Duke seems so friendly with him. Two completely different personalities.
I only have one big issue, and that's near the end.
Very fast-paced. Loved the additional world and character building/development as well. I do wish there had been more of Seymour, and more moments with Seymour and Duke. I love that cat, and it's cute that Duke seems so friendly with him. Two completely different personalities.
I only have one big issue, and that's near the end.
July 2, 2026
Speak of the Devil is an intriguing book with a good concept, but unfortunately it just fell flat for me.
The illustrations are beautiful, as is typical of Boo, and the lead-in effectively builds suspense, but it all falls apart by the climax, which is much too rushed to feel satisfying. Multiple concepts I was interested in (such as the idea of fusion with a familiar) felt disappointingly underdeveloped or ignored. The Harry Potter inspiration is also glaringly apparent, and while it might have been less of an issue in different circumstances, Rowling’s heinous actions make it another sour note.
This would likely have been a three star review with much less annoying griping if it weren’t for the book’s numerous historical inaccuracies. The witch burnings and old-timey English are distracting but understandable—burning is much more dramatic than accurate hangings, and older language is hard to get right—but the insertion of real magic into what was essentially the Salem witch trials bothered me through the entire book. The witch trials were tragedies not because witches were hanged, but because, through the rampant misogyny, xenophobia, and racism of the time, 25 innocent people were murdered. The story beats easily could have been accomplished without insertion of an off-brand witch trials, and I find choosing to do so anyway a deeply irritating misunderstanding of important history.
To end on a lighter note, I found this line from the end of the book almost uncannily ironic: “Good writing isn’t just a given, you know. It needs structure and proper research.”
The illustrations are beautiful, as is typical of Boo, and the lead-in effectively builds suspense, but it all falls apart by the climax, which is much too rushed to feel satisfying. Multiple concepts I was interested in (such as the idea of fusion with a familiar) felt disappointingly underdeveloped or ignored. The Harry Potter inspiration is also glaringly apparent, and while it might have been less of an issue in different circumstances, Rowling’s heinous actions make it another sour note.
This would likely have been a three star review with much less annoying griping if it weren’t for the book’s numerous historical inaccuracies. The witch burnings and old-timey English are distracting but understandable—burning is much more dramatic than accurate hangings, and older language is hard to get right—but the insertion of real magic into what was essentially the Salem witch trials bothered me through the entire book. The witch trials were tragedies not because witches were hanged, but because, through the rampant misogyny, xenophobia, and racism of the time, 25 innocent people were murdered. The story beats easily could have been accomplished without insertion of an off-brand witch trials, and I find choosing to do so anyway a deeply irritating misunderstanding of important history.
To end on a lighter note, I found this line from the end of the book almost uncannily ironic: “Good writing isn’t just a given, you know. It needs structure and proper research.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It has been almost two years since I read Sweeney Boo's Over My Dead Body and so, admittedly, some of the plot aspects have sort of slipped my mind. As a result of that, even with the brief summary, it felt a little odd stepping back into this world, especially since the book begins with an out of context flashback that I fully did not understand the purpose of or relation for. The character reintroduction jogged my memory a bit, though Enver I truly could not place, and I was able to reorient myself a bit.
From there, the story was intriguing enough—some sort of rift that is causing tremors and all sorts of problems in the school, caused by the events of the previous book and one that the main character has been sneaking out every night to try and close. This leads to a series of missteps that put everyone in danger and somehow links back to that event at the start of the book—though, I'll be honest, I'm not super clear on how it all connects—and then is
From there, the story was intriguing enough—some sort of rift that is causing tremors and all sorts of problems in the school, caused by the events of the previous book and one that the main character has been sneaking out every night to try and close. This leads to a series of missteps that put everyone in danger and somehow links back to that event at the start of the book—though, I'll be honest, I'm not super clear on how it all connects—and then is
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Book 2️⃣, a YA graphic novel sequel to Over My Dead Body by @sweeneyboo
🧙🏻♀️
Abigail returns to Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft only to find the school once again under threat. As autumn fades into winter, a mysterious rune-covered fissure opens on campus, triggering dangerous tremors no witch can stop. Believing she’s to blame, Abigail attempts a risky spell that accidentally awakens an ancient, vengeful entity. To save the institute, and herself, she must uncover Younwity’s buried history and confront long-hidden truths about her own past.
🔥
I loved how this installment leans hard into a wintry, eerie atmosphere in a dark academia setting: the creeping cold, cracked ground, and shadowy magic make the stakes feel even higher. I’m a fan of all things Sweeney Boo and the artwork is absolutely gorgeous, with expressive characters, rich color palettes, and cozy-spooky visuals that perfectly match the season. Just as powerful as the magic, though, are the friendships: the bond between Abigail and her friends feels authentic, supportive, and emotionally grounding, making this a sequel that’s as heartfelt as it is haunting. I’m hoping for another installment too! This title releases March 3.
CW: death, murder, fire, persecution, parental death
Pacing was a bit slower than in book 1, but still very good. 4.25 ⭐️
🧙🏻♀️
Abigail returns to Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft only to find the school once again under threat. As autumn fades into winter, a mysterious rune-covered fissure opens on campus, triggering dangerous tremors no witch can stop. Believing she’s to blame, Abigail attempts a risky spell that accidentally awakens an ancient, vengeful entity. To save the institute, and herself, she must uncover Younwity’s buried history and confront long-hidden truths about her own past.
🔥
I loved how this installment leans hard into a wintry, eerie atmosphere in a dark academia setting: the creeping cold, cracked ground, and shadowy magic make the stakes feel even higher. I’m a fan of all things Sweeney Boo and the artwork is absolutely gorgeous, with expressive characters, rich color palettes, and cozy-spooky visuals that perfectly match the season. Just as powerful as the magic, though, are the friendships: the bond between Abigail and her friends feels authentic, supportive, and emotionally grounding, making this a sequel that’s as heartfelt as it is haunting. I’m hoping for another installment too! This title releases March 3.
CW: death, murder, fire, persecution, parental death
Pacing was a bit slower than in book 1, but still very good. 4.25 ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a copy from HarperAlley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Younwity, a secret school of magic, is still reeling from the events that nearly destroyed the entire place. Most people just want things to settle so they can move on, but a strange fissure has appeared and no one can close it. What’s worse is that the fissure is slowly breaking down the school grounds!
I absolutely loved the first volume, so I was extremely excited when I saw that volume two was on the way! Unfortunately, the story was all over the place. I think it was an interesting concept that could’ve worked, but it might’ve needed a whole new setting and characters rather than reopening an existing story. I even reread the first volume since it’d been a while and I still felt like I stepped into a new world that just happened to have the same characters.
While it wasn’t my favorite read, I still enjoyed the artwork and seeing how Abigail’s friendships have grown and become even stronger. I just wish the story itself was executed better on top of having a more solid and clear ending. It wasn’t a bad read, and if you’ve read the first book, I urge you to pick this up. Just head in knowing that it has a completely different vibe.
Younwity, a secret school of magic, is still reeling from the events that nearly destroyed the entire place. Most people just want things to settle so they can move on, but a strange fissure has appeared and no one can close it. What’s worse is that the fissure is slowly breaking down the school grounds!
I absolutely loved the first volume, so I was extremely excited when I saw that volume two was on the way! Unfortunately, the story was all over the place. I think it was an interesting concept that could’ve worked, but it might’ve needed a whole new setting and characters rather than reopening an existing story. I even reread the first volume since it’d been a while and I still felt like I stepped into a new world that just happened to have the same characters.
While it wasn’t my favorite read, I still enjoyed the artwork and seeing how Abigail’s friendships have grown and become even stronger. I just wish the story itself was executed better on top of having a more solid and clear ending. It wasn’t a bad read, and if you’ve read the first book, I urge you to pick this up. Just head in knowing that it has a completely different vibe.
March 4, 2026
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s been months since witch Abigail and her friends thwarted a dark and deadly magical ritual. However, their hidden school, Youngwity Institute, begins to feel the aftereffects not only in a magical way but in the physical foundations of itself. Hoping to save her school, Abigail tries her own ritual to save everyone and stop the fissures that are overcoming the school. In a fight against time and against a foreign entity, will Abigail make the right choice amongst the fiery flames and dangerous secrets that are willing to consume all?
Diving right back into the drama of Youngwity Hidden Institute for Witchcraft, teen witch Abigail and her familiar Seymour, try to do whatever they can to save her crumbling school and schoolmates from falling into a scary fissure. Having that historical background about the foundlings and the witches of the past brings forth a twist that Abigail never saw coming. With gorgeous artwork on every page, this graphic novel lures readers in, telling a haunting tale of witchcraft, misunderstandings, and the meaning of friendship despite the allure of what tempting rituals may be.
It’s been months since witch Abigail and her friends thwarted a dark and deadly magical ritual. However, their hidden school, Youngwity Institute, begins to feel the aftereffects not only in a magical way but in the physical foundations of itself. Hoping to save her school, Abigail tries her own ritual to save everyone and stop the fissures that are overcoming the school. In a fight against time and against a foreign entity, will Abigail make the right choice amongst the fiery flames and dangerous secrets that are willing to consume all?
Diving right back into the drama of Youngwity Hidden Institute for Witchcraft, teen witch Abigail and her familiar Seymour, try to do whatever they can to save her crumbling school and schoolmates from falling into a scary fissure. Having that historical background about the foundlings and the witches of the past brings forth a twist that Abigail never saw coming. With gorgeous artwork on every page, this graphic novel lures readers in, telling a haunting tale of witchcraft, misunderstandings, and the meaning of friendship despite the allure of what tempting rituals may be.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐ Middle Grade / YA Fantasy | Witches | Mystery
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Speak of the Devil continues the witchy adventure right where the first book left off. The story opens in a past village deeply opposed to witchcraft, setting a dark tone before time-skipping back to the present-day witch institute.
The transition is smooth, and the narrative picks up the ongoing threads without missing a beat.
This installment expands the world with an even larger cast of characters and a deeper magical mystery centered around the unsettling Fissures appearing at the institute. Magic is used not just for spellcasting but for investigating and understanding the source of these disturbances, giving the plot a strong supernatural-mystery vibe.
The comic is enjoyable especially for readers who love witchcraft, magical schools, and returning to familiar characters.
My only critique is that the main antagonist’s motivations felt strange and didn’t land as strongly as the rest of the story. But aside from that, it’s another fun addition to this magical series.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Speak of the Devil continues the witchy adventure right where the first book left off. The story opens in a past village deeply opposed to witchcraft, setting a dark tone before time-skipping back to the present-day witch institute.
The transition is smooth, and the narrative picks up the ongoing threads without missing a beat.
This installment expands the world with an even larger cast of characters and a deeper magical mystery centered around the unsettling Fissures appearing at the institute. Magic is used not just for spellcasting but for investigating and understanding the source of these disturbances, giving the plot a strong supernatural-mystery vibe.
The comic is enjoyable especially for readers who love witchcraft, magical schools, and returning to familiar characters.
My only critique is that the main antagonist’s motivations felt strange and didn’t land as strongly as the rest of the story. But aside from that, it’s another fun addition to this magical series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 ⭐ rounded up to 4 ⭐
This volume shifts in tone compared to the first, though it maintains the core themes of rebellion and friendship. Younwity institute has just as many secrets and problems as always, a fissure has appeared along with a unknown entity. Abigail and friends must once again confront the dangers and mysteries looming at their school. She must uncover secrets not only about Younwity but also about her own past.
The art is just as stunning as Over my Dead Body. After switching back to present time, it took me a moment to refamiliarize myself with the characters.I did prefer the first volume, I didn't find the ending of volume two to wrap up as well. I found this volume to be all over the place and the main antagonist was never fully developed.
3.5 ⭐ rounded up to 4 ⭐
This volume shifts in tone compared to the first, though it maintains the core themes of rebellion and friendship. Younwity institute has just as many secrets and problems as always, a fissure has appeared along with a unknown entity. Abigail and friends must once again confront the dangers and mysteries looming at their school. She must uncover secrets not only about Younwity but also about her own past.
The art is just as stunning as Over my Dead Body. After switching back to present time, it took me a moment to refamiliarize myself with the characters.I did prefer the first volume, I didn't find the ending of volume two to wrap up as well. I found this volume to be all over the place and the main antagonist was never fully developed.
December 20, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed Over My Dead Body by this author. It was a pleasant surprise to find out there was a sequel to it! This story has all the elements I love: Historical fiction, witches, found family, magical school, a dark academia atmosphere. I really enjoyed the historical aspect that was brought into the story. Learning more about the characters as well as the school’s past added so much to the world and story. The writing and art style are incredibly atmospheric and immersive. The visuals of the school grounds are breathtaking. The characters are very well written. I love the world that this is set in. I would honestly read more in it, if there is another book in the works. But the story wraps up nicely. The winter setting is perfect for the eerie mystery. I highly recommend this graphic novel series for lovers of witches, dark academia, found family, and a dash of historical fiction.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review!*
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review!*
January 18, 2026
First, I want to thank NetGalley and the publishers for access to the ARC of Speak of the Devil. I absolutely devoured Over My Dead Body, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it so I picked up the second one, pushing it to the top of my list of ARCs.
And now that I have finished it, I can officially say that I loved this one even more than I loved the first one. This story continues with the crew from book 1, but focuses more on the Younwity history as well as the history of a family of witches from the 1600s.
Just like the first book, the series continues developing the importance of friendships and how friends become family. However, the familiars stepped into a larger role this book and I was *unwell.* (aka I cried, but it’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine.)
I am still left with questions at the end of the story, but questions that I want to spend time investing in. I hope that we continue with the series and end up with more books in the series.
And now that I have finished it, I can officially say that I loved this one even more than I loved the first one. This story continues with the crew from book 1, but focuses more on the Younwity history as well as the history of a family of witches from the 1600s.
Just like the first book, the series continues developing the importance of friendships and how friends become family. However, the familiars stepped into a larger role this book and I was *unwell.* (aka I cried, but it’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine.)
I am still left with questions at the end of the story, but questions that I want to spend time investing in. I hope that we continue with the series and end up with more books in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Speak of the Devil is a sequel to the graphic novel Over my Dead Body. I was thrown off by the opening in the Salem witch trials. We are then thrown into the world from the first book, but it was difficult for me to figure out the exact timeline of when the current setting was. I read the first book within the last year but I still found myself forgetting the plot that was referenced in the sequel. A magical rift has opened outside the school, and the group of student witches work to seal it back up. People start falling into the rift and the girls are under suspicion by the school leaders. They must find a way to save the school and those who have fallen in. The art was definitely the standout of this book, and I enjoyed some of the characters' storylines, but overall it didn't quite fit together for me. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 3, 2026Thank you Harper Collins / Harper Alley for the eARC.
Now here are my thoughts & review:
Overall I still love the illustrations — they really bring the story to life and then some. I enjoy following the characters on their journey to discover the truth about Younwity institute. I did like the first in the series more than the second, but I also wouldn’t mind if this series continued (maybe focusing on other secrets not necessarily tied to the institute or maybe what happens if they don’t make it thru their senior year).
It reminded me much of the first bc the Younwity students are somewhat at odds with the Coven. I do think the first one was a little more surprising/shocking/intriguing.
Definitely was excited to read and enjoyed it! I do believe this one has more spells involved which is nice to see. I would love to watch an animated series of this as well.
Now here are my thoughts & review:
Overall I still love the illustrations — they really bring the story to life and then some. I enjoy following the characters on their journey to discover the truth about Younwity institute. I did like the first in the series more than the second, but I also wouldn’t mind if this series continued (maybe focusing on other secrets not necessarily tied to the institute or maybe what happens if they don’t make it thru their senior year).
It reminded me much of the first bc the Younwity students are somewhat at odds with the Coven. I do think the first one was a little more surprising/shocking/intriguing.
Definitely was excited to read and enjoyed it! I do believe this one has more spells involved which is nice to see. I would love to watch an animated series of this as well.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin's Children's books for an arc of this graphic novel in exchange for my review!
I really enjoyed the first graphic novel in this series and I was excited to pick this one up. I love the vibes of this series, it was witchy and mysterious but also with cute teenage hijinks. I liked this installment a little less than the first book though, I felt like there was a point to be made about found family and friendship but that it wasn't really ironed out. Like where did those candles come from? The story of the ancestor was interesting but with the hazy flashbacks meant to keep you guessing, I feel like I really didn't get a good grasp of her character or understand what was happening. I enjoy the art a lot and I love the idea, but I felt it could have used some more fleshing out.
I really enjoyed the first graphic novel in this series and I was excited to pick this one up. I love the vibes of this series, it was witchy and mysterious but also with cute teenage hijinks. I liked this installment a little less than the first book though, I felt like there was a point to be made about found family and friendship but that it wasn't really ironed out. Like where did those candles come from? The story of the ancestor was interesting but with the hazy flashbacks meant to keep you guessing, I feel like I really didn't get a good grasp of her character or understand what was happening. I enjoy the art a lot and I love the idea, but I felt it could have used some more fleshing out.
March 15, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for this arc!
I loved the first book in this series, and the sequel was an amazing follow-up.
Ancient magic has been exposed as a consequence of the events of Over My Dead Body. And of course, Abigail and her friends are here to sort it out. But when a foundling gets sucked into a magic portal as Abigail tries to close it, the stakes raise as even older secrets are revealed.
Abigail and her expanded group of friends were so much fun to rejoin in this adventure. The twists and turns of the tale kept me engaged and fascinated, and perhaps a little stressed. It was a great time and if you enjoyed the first one, you will definitely enjoy the sequel. The artwork is fantastic, as I've come to expect from Sweeney Boo in their works.
My only small grievance is the runes they use appear to be Norse ruins, not Irish ones, but they id them as Irish.
I loved the first book in this series, and the sequel was an amazing follow-up.
Ancient magic has been exposed as a consequence of the events of Over My Dead Body. And of course, Abigail and her friends are here to sort it out. But when a foundling gets sucked into a magic portal as Abigail tries to close it, the stakes raise as even older secrets are revealed.
Abigail and her expanded group of friends were so much fun to rejoin in this adventure. The twists and turns of the tale kept me engaged and fascinated, and perhaps a little stressed. It was a great time and if you enjoyed the first one, you will definitely enjoy the sequel. The artwork is fantastic, as I've come to expect from Sweeney Boo in their works.
My only small grievance is the runes they use appear to be Norse ruins, not Irish ones, but they id them as Irish.
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