Strange Cases: A Graphic Novel

by RiotBones

A rakish law student inherits his late mother's practice—and its beastly secrets—in this sumptuous gothic graphic-novel debut from Riotbones, perfect for fans of James Tynion IV and paranormal crime dramas.

In the wake of his attorney mother's sudden death, dutiful law student Jude Aguilar returns to the town of Lazaro to take over her practice—but the only thing stranger than the peculiar cases she left behind are the clients themselves.

As the cases unfold, Jude uncovers a tapestry of family secrets and local monsters. Can he save Lazaro, his mother's legacy, and himself before it all goes up in flames?
The new-adult debut from queer creator RiotbonesComing-of-age paranormal horror meets crime dramaAn uncanny world inspired by Filipino and European historyLush, atmospheric, gothic graphic novel artThe gloom of Emily Carroll meets the socio-political drama of Jose Rizal
Step onto the streets of Lazaro, where justice and monstrosity blur and leave an indelible mark.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Horror, Fantasy, Comics, Fiction, Gothic, Queer

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 2026

Reviews

[vaishnavi ☆ﾟ⁠.⁠* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could've easily finished this in a single sitting, but the artwork was so gorgeous; every page deserved to be admired for a little longer. The story can be a bit difficult to follow at times. Still, if you're looking for a blend of gothic-inspired art, law, investigations, courtroom drama, and a story where the 'monsters' are simply human, this will absolutely scratch that itch.

Count me in if more books are planned for this series, because I'd love to learn more about Jude's past. This ended far too abruptly for my liking :(

[angelinabvby ۶ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing, & Riotbones for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ law & order with a gothic twist ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ

a well-crafted set of gothic mysteries interwoven with spanish folklore. the gothic art captured the atmosphere perfectly and brought the story to life. while the paranormal mysteries had me on my toes, the politics were a bit confusing & the law cases were handled too rashly. i would definitely read more of this series for the vibes & intrigue𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶ♱ ྀིྀ

𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉
can you tell im really into gothic horror.

[Lily the Lilac ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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⚖️≋🐺≋📕 Strange Cases 📕≋🐺≋⚖️

꒰➛ Stars: 4 ⭐!
꒰➛ Pov: N / A
꒰➛ Spice: 1 / 5
꒰➛ Content: Violence; no spice

꒰➛ This review is spoiler-free!
꒰➛ Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC!

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✎𓂃 Mini Review! ✎𓂃

Did you look at this and think the cover was gorgeous? Of course you did, it's just a plain fact 🤭 Well the art inside is just a great; I was genuinely impressed! The coloring is so nice, and there's so many frames that are creatively drawn (like two frames inside the negative space of a set of scales) or wide, spreading images! It was an absolute treat to look at! 💗

The story, unfortunately, could be a little confusing at times. Especially the feeling like we were teleporting between scenes a bit, but that's my only complaint. Otherwise, I really liked the supernatural creatures and the deeper meaning of people who don't fit rigidly into the conformity of a society being labeled as monstrous. I think a lot of us, but especially minority communities (I myself being a part of the LGBTQ+ community) can relate to that

Overall, I'd recommend people who like mysterious vibes and top-tier art to give this a read! It's short and sweet, perfect for a late-night binge with only a lamp on 👻

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[ren ౨ৎ (in a tiny slump) · Rating 5 out of 5]

─── ୨ৎ 4.5 stars
⤿ .ᐟ spoiler-free review

gosh, there aren't enough words to describe how much i enjoyed this!

our main character jude returns home after the passing of his mother, tied between homesickness and wanderlust as he finds himself stepping into the shoes of his deceased mother and representing supernatural creatures in the courtroom.

while this book is short, i really think it packs a punch within those 288 pages. the book is divided into chapters that make it feel like episodes from a gothic historical crime show. it's a bonus that the art style is extremely gorgeous and unique, as well. though on that front i am super biased because i've been a fan of riotbones' fandom related art for a while.

i think that jude is a really intriguing protagonist overall. i think his self-doubts and lack of sure direction are relatable and through the cases in which he discovers that the "monsters" that live in his hometown possess more humanity than some of the corrupt humans living within it, it's satisfying to see him become more sure of himself. there's that very important over-aching theme of how broken the criminal justice system is, especially in foreign countries. the added intrinsic weavings of filipino folklore, culture, and the colonization that the country faced throughout history makes his story feel more grounded in reality despite the supernatural happenings that are also simultaneously unfolding.

while the story ended on a bit of a cliffhanger that left me feeling a bit unsatisfied in how abrupt it felt, it made me hopeful that this won't be the last volume we see in this series! i think so much more can be done here, and i'm desperate to learn more about jude! i'm begging on my knees for more.

a big thanks to riotbones & andrews mcmeel publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young gentleman returns from college after his mother dies and takes over her law practice and her penchant for strange cases. It's pretty good, especially for someone just out of college. It could have used a bit more refinement though. Also, I want to know how the main character got that scar across the bridge of his nose. He even has it in the flashbacks from when he was a child.

[B (mostly-offline) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley Read Now Section. All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I quite liked this book. The story is interesting enough, albeit a bit confusing at times. The art is no doubt gorgeous but I wasn't a big fan of it personally, specially the colouring and font, but I think many will like it. I couldn't tell if this was YA or Adult though.

I am curious to see where this story goes from here, I am expecting there will be sequels. Overall not a bad read at all.


#Book 98 of 2026.
# for Pride Month June 2026- Rep: Queer characters .

Review written on 17th June, 2026.

DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.

How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jude Aguilar fled his home city of Lazaro with its gloomy and moist (Yes! I went there!) atmosphere to attend law school in a distant and orderly city. But the death of his mother brings him back out of obligation to her memory and the necessity of winding down her law firm's caseload.

Soon he finds himself drawn into strange cases (Hey! That's the title!) involving mutiny . . . and possession (Woo-ooo-ooh!), arson . . . and pyrokinesis (Scary stuff, kids! Don't play with matches!), murder . . . and lycanthropy (Eek! Shriek!).

Very overwrought Gothic crap seasoned with a critique of classism and political corruption, all played dead serious. So very serious. To a very boring degree.

Ernest and meh.


Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.

[Ash · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

⚖️Order in the court! New evidence has been submitted—There’s a new graphic novel you NEED to read ⚖️

Strange Cases by @riotb0nes follows a law student who returns home after his attorney mother’s unexpected passing. He quickly finds that she left behind some strange that he takes on.

This is a full color graphic novel and I must say, the artwork is absolutely stunning! I loved all the Filipino folklore mixed into the story. While you can finish this in one sitting, I advise you to take your time and marvel at the incredible color and artwork that reside within these pages.

I cannot thank the publisher, @andrewsmcmeel , for reaching out and offering a gifted copy. If you’ve been following me long enough, you’ll know I’m obsessed with any graphic novel that has horror in it

Affiliate link here: https://bookshop.org/a/79577/97988816...

[cloot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

this graphic novel follows our main character Jude, an almost-sorta-lawyer coming back to his ever drowning home city and jumping on strange and stranger cases involving supernatural elements. a gender bounding story, brilliantly mixing folkloric elements with gothic inspired horror and classic fantasy accompanied by strong characters.

first of all, what an amazing read! the drawing style was just my taste, but also objectively *stunning*. the color work is striking, working from contrast and surprise and an obvious artistic perception of the world. the light rendering is another thing i fell in love with. some pages left me in awe, while other gave me a sense of calm and safety. sometimes quiet, sometimes loud. the story, dialogues and illustrations keep the book oscillating between intense scenes and tender ones. it makes you feel angry, safe, comforted, and sad.

but this isn’t a disheartening story. although i wasn’t a fan of the ending (which is why this isn’t five star — it left me slightly dissatisfied), i do appreciate the intention behind it. it did give me a disappointed feeling, but in this scenario, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

now, let’s talk storytelling. again, what a good book ! the lore and world building was a little vague, but in an exciting, enticing way that gave me so much excitement. of course I wanted to know more, i wanted tales and legends but i also think the subtle way in which the folklore is sprinkled over the book, here and there on beautiful pages, makes it even more exciting. it somehow makes the world feel more real, and some frustration is sometimes good when it lets the imagination run thrillingly around what tales the children of this world have grown up hearing. it also keeps away any boring and unnecessary info dropping, which would’ve been completely unnecessary for this story to unfold as naturally as it did.

the dialogues and narrations were particularly good. i sometimes read graphic novels where i find the dialogues to be either rushed or clumsy, and it’s always something i find frustrating when the art and the story are so good. but in strange cases, the dialogues were simply wonderfully written. Riotbones isn’t only a great artist and storyteller, they are also a properly skilled writer. the dialogues work so well together with the character design and their expression for the characters to touch your heart directly. outside the dialogues, the narrative elements are engaging and keep the story moving at, in my eyes, an ideal pace.

i have to mention the subtle but impossible to miss critique of colonialism. of course, i always love myself a good anti-colonial story, even if it’s only one of the central themes. the author also tackles privileges, what you do for love, anger and injustice, all in a realistic but not hopeless way.

this is a touching story for persistent people with a beautiful sensitivity inside them — things that can be precious and strong qualities that, if you’re careful enough when putting them together, work absolute wonders.

[Krissi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

This had potential to be really good. However, it fell short in a crucial element for the story by explaining the lore of the powers the characters had, how they came to acquire them, and where the story ultimately lead. The ending was so abrupt and did not feel conclusive at all. I understand the writing was poetic in a way and trying to have that air of ambiguity, but it did not help the plot. I just wish we could have gotten a little more from the story as the characters were interesting and the artwork was stellar.

[Mahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book scratched a very peculiar genre itch of mine with its strangely Gothic/colonial world-building (and the subversion and resistance that entails), “monsters” that are more human than they realise, and a courageous main character in denial about being a nice person and helping these creatures out.

The gaps between fantasy and the human world are deliciously blurred here; I loved how these strange creatures found ways to navigate human life on their own before landing in trouble, and the dialogue in every scene always felt crisp, cutting, and satisfying in every way.

The core of the story is the brokenness of the law and the flaws in judicial systems that allow and even encourage injustice. There was also some surprisingly profound anti-colonial sentiment, especially in the beginnings of the third case “Of the Broken Vow”, and I appreciated how it fitted neatly into the many narratives the novel offers. And of course, Lord Malinao’s scenes were a visual treat!

My most unexpected but memorable 5 star read of the year.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Abby · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

I actually think this could benefit from being a little longer or even a second volume, but overall I really loved this.

100/10 for the art though. There’s some breathtakingly gorgeous panels in this.

[Kokechii · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one gorgeously illustrated novel, my gosh. So many of the pages are lush, either with the color palette or with the details. Certain panels blending or "bleeding" into each other to create eeriness and unease was just so well done. I also really liked the character design, specially our protagonist, the slight boyish charm but the scar across his bridge and how he carries himself.

The story is intriguing one and I felt myself pulled in instantly with the short prologue. I loved all the cases but the four star rating is for the slightly abrupt ending, it almost feels like something is lacking, maybe a bigger conclusion for the city or some bigger comeuppance or maybe it's just what my brain was expecting and feels it's missing.

All in all this was a joy to read, I really enjoyed it and will come back to it if for nothing else but to stare at the gorgeous art.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are voluntary and my own.

[Monica (switching platforms) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before I get into why this graphic novel didn’t leave the impact I was hoping for, I have to highlight the artwork, because it is absolutely gorgeous.

The art is easily the strongest part of this graphic novel. I especially loved the colour palettes, the gothic atmosphere, and the way these elements blend with Filipino culture. Lazaro felt incredibly vivid, with so much attention given to the buildings, backgrounds, and smaller details. Some pages were genuinely stunning, and I could have stared at them forever. I also loved how the colour choices were used to convey certain emotions and moments. That is definitely an aspect of this graphic novel that will stay with me, and I think the artwork ultimately leaves a stronger impression than the story itself.

Unfortunately, the story had the opposite effect on me. There were so many interesting ideas packed into it—folklore, monsters, colonialism, legal injustice, and family secrets—and I can understand why the author wanted to bring all of these elements together. My problem was more with how they were woven into Jude’s story. The different cases and characters enter his life, but they often felt somewhat marginal to his actual development, when I wanted them to have more weight and meaning.

I especially wish we had spent more time with the clients and their background. The idea of these supernatural beings living in Lazaro was fascinating, but I wanted more of a window into their stories and why they were there in the first place. Instead, many of the cases felt like they came and went before they had the chance to really leave an impression.

This also affected my connection with Jude and the other characters. I understood the general direction of his journey after his mother’s death and taking over her practice, but I didn’t feel like I got enough time to really understand him or see his development. Even the case involving his mother felt, in some ways, like another case rather than something that carried significantly more emotional weight. The information was certainly there, but the impact felt quite limited.

I also found the dialogue a little jarring at times. The very modern way the characters spoke didn’t always fit the gothic atmosphere, and several characters seemed to have very similar voices. The story also tended to tell us what characters were thinking rather than giving them enough room to reveal themselves through their actions and interactions.

I wouldn’t say the story was necessarily confusing, but there was simply a lot happening within a relatively small amount of space. I honestly think this could have benefited from being a longer graphic novel series, with more room to develop each case, the supernatural world, and Jude himself. There was enough material here for something much richer.

Despite my low rating, I would still recommend this graphic novel for the artwork alone. It is genuinely beautiful, and I think the visual work will stay. The ending was also bittersweet, and while I think it could have been given a little more room to breathe, I appreciated the note it ended on.

Overall, I think this is a graphic novel with a lot of imagination and an incredibly strong visual identity, but the narrative needed more structure, depth, and development for me to become truly invested. I’ll definitely keep an eye on Riotbones’ future work, because I think there is a lot of potential here.


Thank you to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Riotbones for providing me with an eARC of this graphic novel. All opinions are my own.

[ValkyrieRuna]

I really struggled with this one. The art is beautiful, but it doesn't really have any consistency. Some pages will be very minimal and others have so much detail crammed into every inch. It's like we could visibly see which panels the artist liked spending time on, on which ones they got bored with. It makes it feel as if it's only half finished.

The back blurb mentioned this would be great for fans of "procedural crime dramas". But if you spend any time consuming those, you'll cringe at the cases in here. First off, we find out that Jude hasn't graduated from law school yet - but he's practicing in this small town, anyway. Second he doesn't really spend any time working the cases themselves and most of his arguments while defending his clients are half-baked at best. Even without a rigged justice system (which I wish we spent more time diving into in this story) there's no way he'd win these.

There are also three entirely separate cases in this single volume, so the pacing is extremely rushed and we don't really get explanations or details for any of them. I would have preferred if each case was a separate volume so we would have time to learn more about our key players, and the cases themselves. Instead, we're rushed through at a sprint, blindly trying to grasp onto any meaning.

The setting is fantastic - it's dark and gothic, with such rich cultural history, but we don't really get any time to explore it. There is so much potential here and I felt like we were only scratching the surface.

All in all, I really hate to rate this so low, but I wish this story had spent more time in the development / fleshing out stage before going to print.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a free eARC of this in exchange for my honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

[[melanie] · Rating 4 out of 5]

The real charm of this book, the part that makes it stick out in my mind, comes from the art, not the story.

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

Don’t get me wrong, the story was engaging, but to me it read more like a collection of short stories about a sole character rather than a continuous novel. Not a necessarily a bad thing, just an observation.

The art is really what kept me reading. Not only was it colored beauifully, the color had purpose. A small hint of orange coloring the seal of an envelope leading to the next page where the room is filled with orange, signifying that the letter was opened without being explicitly shown. The way sunlight cast upon the family portraits, but not upon Magdalene’s to signify that she was not seen in the same light as her sisters. How the papers Jude looks through flutter in the air to form the silhouette of his mother in the negative space. When Jude is stressed and confused, we see his reflection in the water distort and swirl down the drain. These things are what kept me reading.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I see promise in this author’s work, and will look forward to future releases.

Thank you for this ARC.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. This is an absolute slam dunk, art is beyond gorgeous, gothic, moody, atmospheric. I fucking loved it, will be thinking about this for a long long time

[Jennifer]

I wasn't familiar with this creator when I requested the book through NetGalley, but wow. riotbones has a stunning art style completely unique to themself that masterfully creates a moody, gothic horror atmosphere that captures what it feels like to walk old, old places that have drunk their fill of blood and sorrow. The creator somehow captures the complex feelings of living in diaspora and coming "home" to the Philippines, and also what it feels like to live, knowing in your bones, that colonialism has reshaped/continues to shape your home, history, culture, and people's lives.

Jude's acceptance of corruption existing at the highest level, and inequality being the result, isn't cynicism, but rather pragmatism. He acknowledges that the law as it is exists, and is most often executed, is unjust, but Jude exhibits a certain kind of hope and resistance, as did his mother, in finding workarounds to help those who the rich and powerful want to scapegoat with the veneer of the law. It's interesting, because Jude doesn't literally speak truth to power. In fact, he lies to those in power in order to do what he believes is morally right. I find this resonant, in this time and place, because resistance in a balancing act and a long game, and those who have been doing it know what it is like to balance safety with fighting for liberation through code switching and carefully choosing ways/places/when to push.

The intentional two-dimensionality reminds me of gothic period religious art, and on some pages riotbones layers images in a way reminiscent of paper collage. The background is generally black, which often makes the use of negative space unexpected. riotbones also plays with layouts in creative ways, mixing straight and curved panel lines, and often using shapes that I would describe as dripping or melting for both visual and tonal impact. I'd love to see a physical copy of this book.

The ending to this felt a bit rushed, and if they had wanted to, I think that riotbones could've extended this into a series. Although the end is abrupt and a little hand-wavey, it is on-theme.

[Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

˖.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖
Strange Cases is a graphic novel following young law student Jude Aguilar as he is suddenly faced with taking over his late mother's legal practice, encountering new and peculiar mysteries that quickly become personal.

I just want to say that the art style for this novel was phenomenal. As a gothic fantasy heavily inspired by folklore, the author does an amazing job of using their art to depict beautiful and emotional scenes that blend the two genres together. The colour palette felt very apt for the vibe and tone of the novel, and each page felt like its own separate piece of art.

The story itself was intriguing, as I appreciated how the author was able to feature unique fantastical mysteries while also highlighting the impact colonization had on these stories. The one issue I had was that it felt little fast paced. Just as I was starting to get invested in the mystery, it was over. I know graphic novels aren't meant to be long, but I found myself wishing for more time spent on the mysteries themselves and getting to better understand the cases.

Overall, I would give this graphic novel a solid 3.5 stars but the illustrations alone could be a 4.5 stars.
˖.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

[Raaven💖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

A young lawyer in training returns home after many years away to attend his mother’s funeral. After he returns, he realizes how much horrible things have stayed the same and he becomes determined to leave his mark before he goes.

I love the idea of a lawyer that defends magical creatures in the human world. I really think that’s a neat idea that could have been expanded on. I wish there had been more to this story. I liked Jude. He cared about everyone he helped and he wasn’t afraid to do what’s right in the face of danger. The ending was so bittersweet. I honestly felt bad for Jude. But this was a very unique story about a man who is suffocated with this small town life and its corruption. Sometimes you gotta burn it down (literally). The art for this was also so beautiful! I loved all the muted colors and the way the eyes lit up. I really would like to see more from this universe and more from this artist.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story follows Jude Aguilar, a law student who returns to the town of Lazaro after his mother's death and inherits her legal practice. He soon discovers that her clients and cases involve monsters, supernatural mysteries, and long-buried secrets. As he investigates, he uncovers both family mysteries and larger questions about justice and morality.

The book seems to be set in some version of a 19th-century colonial Philippines, with the town of Lazaro operating under colonial rule, oppressed by injustice and corruption. Lawyer Aguilar seems to specialize in representing marginalized people, highlighting aspects of what truly makes a person a "monster."

The artwork is lush and gothic and seemed to have a papery, parchment look to it, even as I was reading on my tablet.

I very much enjoyed this graphic novel, and I am grateful to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this book.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The graphics are really good in this novel, dark, eerie, gothic.

After his mother's sudden death, Jude returns home and inherits her law firm with some of her unfinished cases as well. He seems more intrigued as he learns more about the clients and how his mother interacted with them. Once totally invested you can tell it was more than met the eye. The book was slow paced, which I appreciated since some of the cases were a bit hard to understand from the get go. The supernatural element was a huge surprise and it gives this novel that edge that was totally unexpected.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! The pacing was a bit (very) fast, but the haunting imagery really held my interest and conveyed the poetic writing style. The art style is simplistic, but packs in details when it wants to, and it uses the space so well to direct the reader's attention with the flow of the page. I can definitely see myself picking up a physical copy of this when it comes out in October.

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

[Erin Larson-Burnett]

An unfortunate near-immediate DNF. I don't know if it's just the digital version, but the text is SO hard to read. I strained my eyes for a couple of pages and just couldn't keep at it. Disappointing because the art is so beautiful and the story seems like it would be phenomenal 😭😭

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This is an intriguing supernatural graphic novel set in a small town in historic Philippines. The story has many layers and depth in both the art and the writing. At its heart, it explores colonial-era Philippine culture through the lens of a young man returning home after studying abroad.

Story: Aguilar was born and raised in the Philippines but left in his teens to attend law school overseas. When he returns years later upon his mother's death, he becomes embroiled in the mysteries of a town struggling under Castellano rule. His mother had defended the supernaturals in their town and now he finds himself doing the same. But his strange past will catch up with him as he faces long held secrets about his family.

This is definitely a graphic novel that leans into the format: the illustrations tell the story as much as the writing. There are three parts to the book. The first is about his return to the Phillipines to take care of his mother's estate. There he becomes involved in the trial of a sailor who returned alone on a Castellano ship - the sailor is in jail because he says he remembers nothing. The second story involves a young nobleman with a terrifying supernatural secret; he is accused of setting fire to a building housing a gala party for the wealthy colonials. And the third part of the story is where Aguilar addresses his past, his relationship with his mother, and her legacy.

The writing is excellent and invokes a contemplative mood in which our protagonist, Aguilar, is calm, confident, and grounded. Yet the world around him is fraught with chaos - the supernatural as well as normal native villagers dealing with the corrupt Castellano officials. Many of Aguilar's scenes are in the courts as he pleads cases or just avoids the law as necessary to see true justice done.

The illustration work is excellent and you definitely get a feel for Colonial Philippine life. Many of the panels are monochromatic to exemplify the life in the village under the Castellanos. Aguilar is young but also an interestingly complex person - and those he interacts with throughout the story are given excellent designs and art that showcase the complex emotions underneath.

This is a stand alone novel with a complete story arc. Well worth the time to read but also especially rewarding upon rereads. It doesn't go where you would expect. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Art: 3☆
Plot: 2☆
Characters: 2☆
Writing: 3.5☆
Pacing: 1☆

It was like the story was constantly running from itself. Weak, shallow characters that are doomed to form weak and shallow relationships. Everything felt really rushed. I've read reviews saying it was somewhat confusing. I don't think it was confusing, I think this format just wasn't capable of translating the story very well.

The best part was, undoubtedly, the writing in general. So, I believe that a different medium (a book) where the author could go in depth with the characters and message would be more beneficial. It really seems like the author fast-paced the narrative specifically to cut down on the workload of creating more art, and that's not a good feeling to have when reading a graphic novel.

The art was... fine. What pulled me in was the stunning color palettes that were well applied throughout its pages. I think the atmosphere as well as the buildings and the overall backgrounds overshined the characters' drawings and their designs as well.

The story itself was lacking. It had potential, but never really took off, and then the ending was too abrupt. I didn't care for the characters enough for it to really matter either way. Heavy themes like colonization were deep interwoven into the story without bringing any new light on it. I don't think authors need to bring something new to the table for this or any topic, for that matter, in fiction, but it felt like a missed opportunity of crafting an interesting take/view on a oversaturated subject nowadays. The depictions of court injustice would be interesting if they weren't just as shallow as the rest of the book, because although central to this story they are very quickly brushed over... Everything was.

This is my 26/26 book of my reading challenge! 🎉

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this e-arc in exchange of an honest review.

[Misa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful graphic novel with a mix of Spanish gothic traditional style and the 19th-century colonial Philippines literature about a law student Jude Aguilar who returns to the full of secrets and mysteries town of Lazaro for the wake of his late attorney mother. He decides to take over her practice but instead he finds out that his mother had her own secrets and some peculiar clients.

I took my time discovering the work of Riotbones on this graphic novel which is pretty amazing, I could not put it down but I just found that the stories were a bit missing of something that could have made them so special in my eyes and to remain in my mind. Anyway, I would recommend it.

[Autummskies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artwork for the graphic novel was haunting and beautiful! It really fit the narrative of the court cases and developed an atmosphere of the novel. I especially appreciated the clever page layouts, which really highlighted the artwork! I also loved the commentary on the influence of Spanish colonialism on the Philippines.

I really wish the court cases were more fleshed out to make the novel longer as at times it felt a bit rushed. However, the story was long enough for me to enjoy Jude’s character throughout his journey. The bittersweet ending also felt very fitting for the novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC!

[itselv]

A gothic, somewhat legal procedural story, discussing in its core the decay of lands as a result of the corruption of governments and law.

A law student, Jude Aguilar, returns to his native town for his mother's funeral. He is determined to be out as soon as the funeral is over, but a case or two prolong his stay longer than he expected.

The artwork and panel design are gorgeous and creative. Very well put together. The story, interwoven with folklores and superstitions, is entertaining and fascinating.
I appreciated the conversation regarding the relationship between law and corruption, and how lawyers don't work with law, but against it, finding loopholes and bending law codes to fit their narratives for selfish gains.

I do have some critical points to make, and while they might seem excruciating, I found them not reducing the fun I had by much.

1. Almost every scene transition was confusing. As another reviewer said, it felt like we were teleporting rather than smoothly transitioning from one scene to another.
Other times, I just had to trust the author, and after couple of pages the direction would be clear and I will find my footing. But that would happen with almost every single instance, which gets undoubtedly frustrating by the second time.

2. The lack of relationships and protagonist progression on page; we would only get the important scenes, but you could feel that things shifted and the people involved had gotten closer, but all that progress had happened behind the scenes, making it confusing and lackluster.
This happened repeatedly between Isa and Jude.
One smaller example would be when Malinao said the dog claimed the chair in his study—but we've never seen that. It is such a tiny addition that would've made a huge difference in accepting this fact.
For Malinao and Jude's relationship, while there were an attempt to create a sort of relationship progression montage, which I quite liked, it was because I got what the author wanted to say, rather than feeling it naturally.

3. Jude's arguments in the court were immature and fragile. As was the aftermath of the first and third cases. Had to suspend my disbelief to get through them.

The conclusion would've been disappointing; as it ends abruptly, but I don't know where I've gotten this confidence that this wouldn't be a standalone, which made it easier for me to be content with the ending.

[Joana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Recommended if you like: gothic lit, horror, Supernatural, folklore and folktales, Law & Order, crime dramas

Jude Aguilar has just recently returned to his home town to take over his mother's law practice, but he could never expect the strange cases she left behind. Now, he has to do his best to uncover the truth behind these strange people and their stories, and help them if he can.

Strange Cases is a very special graphic novel.

I need to start off by saying that I loved the art style and the immediate vibe it helped to set for the story. It created a very gothic and mysterious atmosphere. The story is structured into different cases that almost give it an episodic (although continuous) vibe. At first everything seems relatively normal, even if there are hints at a deeper mystery, but soon enough we're faced with something outright supernatural.

Jude is a very interesting character and I deeply sympathized with his compassion and the need to help others, despite the injustices inherent to the system. This book also had plenty critiques to colonialism and the systems it left behind; this too is a haunted system, so to speak.

All in all, this graphic novel was great. I don't want to say too much and risk spoiling anything, but despite being considered horror, this is appropriate even for scaredy cats.

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing, RiotBones and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.