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Ghoul
Be careful what you wish for! This graphic novel about a lonely Filipino American teen and her ghoulish companion puts a spooky twist on the imaginary friend.
When they were little, Lyn and Meg promised to be friends forever…but now Meg is dead, and Lyn is 15 and miserable. Moving into a new condo with her family doesn’t help, especially given the gossipy neighbors. But just when Lyn needs a friend the most, a monstrous cartoon ghoul climbs out of the pages of a comic book and into her life! The bizarre duo will soon discover just how many secrets lie within the walls of Forest Court Apartments.
When they were little, Lyn and Meg promised to be friends forever…but now Meg is dead, and Lyn is 15 and miserable. Moving into a new condo with her family doesn’t help, especially given the gossipy neighbors. But just when Lyn needs a friend the most, a monstrous cartoon ghoul climbs out of the pages of a comic book and into her life! The bizarre duo will soon discover just how many secrets lie within the walls of Forest Court Apartments.
292 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
[check trigger warnings]
Ghoul is a very different type of manga book that tells the story of loss, grief, and new beginnings.
The main POV is a young teenage girl called Lynn, who lost her childhood best friend to suicide. Moving away to make a fresh start, other residents in the building they are living in tell tales of a grumpy, angry old man who lives there whose wife died and whose son disappeared. Some insinuate that he may have murdered his son. Lynn tries to get the man to confess at a family meal and ends up in hot water with her parents, who are shocked and ashamed at her behaviour. That is when Lynn somehow pulls a character out of a comic book called Ghoul, who becomes her friend and challenges her behaviour, which is due to grief, coming across as rude to others.
The book does have a happy ending and a very clever twist. When you start reading it it does feel weird as it's set out in such a different way to any graphic novels or comic books I've read before but it is very well done and the writing is often incorperated within the illustrations which was fun and unique.
The illustrations are very expressive, and I loved the colour scheme throughout and how the author used native language/expressions within the comic, and I found it a nice and interesting touch.
The book includes a short bonus story at the end, which was a pleasant surprise, too.
[check trigger warnings]
Ghoul is a very different type of manga book that tells the story of loss, grief, and new beginnings.
The main POV is a young teenage girl called Lynn, who lost her childhood best friend to suicide. Moving away to make a fresh start, other residents in the building they are living in tell tales of a grumpy, angry old man who lives there whose wife died and whose son disappeared. Some insinuate that he may have murdered his son. Lynn tries to get the man to confess at a family meal and ends up in hot water with her parents, who are shocked and ashamed at her behaviour. That is when Lynn somehow pulls a character out of a comic book called Ghoul, who becomes her friend and challenges her behaviour, which is due to grief, coming across as rude to others.
The book does have a happy ending and a very clever twist. When you start reading it it does feel weird as it's set out in such a different way to any graphic novels or comic books I've read before but it is very well done and the writing is often incorperated within the illustrations which was fun and unique.
The illustrations are very expressive, and I loved the colour scheme throughout and how the author used native language/expressions within the comic, and I found it a nice and interesting touch.
The book includes a short bonus story at the end, which was a pleasant surprise, too.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.
This is a tender, melancholic story about grief and new beginnings, told through striking and unconventional manga panels. The use of soft pinks and purples, rather than the traditional black and white palette, gives the artwork a warmth and distinctiveness that beautifully complements the emotional tone of the narrative.
Despite its less conventional panel structure, the story is easy to follow. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of Tagalog dialogue, marked clearly with asterisks and translated into English. It adds authenticity while being accessible to readers unfamiliar with the language.
The story centres on fifteen-year-old Lynn as she struggles to process loss while adjusting to a new home and a new chapter in her life. Just when she feels most alone, she meets an unexpected companion — a ghoul who has stepped straight out of a storybook. Together, they unravel a mystery, and in doing so, form a touching and unlikely friendship.
Lynn is not always easy to like; her grief often manifests as sharpness and rudeness, which at times can be frustrating. However, these flaws make her feel realistic and emotionally raw. She is a teenager afterall.
In contrast, the Ghoul is witty, sarcastic, and surprisingly endearing, bringing genuine moments of humour that balance the heavier themes.
Overall, this is a heartfelt and visually distinctive read. The inclusion of a bonus story exploring the Ghoul’s origins adds further depth and is a lovely addition. A beautifully illustrated exploration of loss, friendship, and healing
This is a tender, melancholic story about grief and new beginnings, told through striking and unconventional manga panels. The use of soft pinks and purples, rather than the traditional black and white palette, gives the artwork a warmth and distinctiveness that beautifully complements the emotional tone of the narrative.
Despite its less conventional panel structure, the story is easy to follow. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of Tagalog dialogue, marked clearly with asterisks and translated into English. It adds authenticity while being accessible to readers unfamiliar with the language.
The story centres on fifteen-year-old Lynn as she struggles to process loss while adjusting to a new home and a new chapter in her life. Just when she feels most alone, she meets an unexpected companion — a ghoul who has stepped straight out of a storybook. Together, they unravel a mystery, and in doing so, form a touching and unlikely friendship.
Lynn is not always easy to like; her grief often manifests as sharpness and rudeness, which at times can be frustrating. However, these flaws make her feel realistic and emotionally raw. She is a teenager afterall.
In contrast, the Ghoul is witty, sarcastic, and surprisingly endearing, bringing genuine moments of humour that balance the heavier themes.
Overall, this is a heartfelt and visually distinctive read. The inclusion of a bonus story exploring the Ghoul’s origins adds further depth and is a lovely addition. A beautifully illustrated exploration of loss, friendship, and healing
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this story and the color palette used to tell it. The imagery was beautifully done and Ghoul is a very creative looking beast (in my opinion).
Where this falls a bit short for me is in the formatting. Some of the spreads have a confusing layout of the dialogue. I found myself having to back up to the top of several pages to ensure I knew who was talking and in what order. This was a bigger problem on the full page spreads where the comic is less broken up.
In addition, I would have loved if the author hadn't included the translations for the Tagalog words on the page they are said. If I were reading this either physically or on an e-reader, I wouldn't mind toggling between the glossary that is helpfully included and the pages to piece together what is being said.
Finally, and this is a bit nitpicky, I don't love the use of unalive in this book. It downplayed the seriousness of what was being discussed (for me) and made the tone feel sillier than intended. I understand that TikTok language is slowly permeating into every facet of our lives, but I don't like the idea of shying away from saying things like murder or killed in order to appeal to a wider audience or censoring.
Where this falls a bit short for me is in the formatting. Some of the spreads have a confusing layout of the dialogue. I found myself having to back up to the top of several pages to ensure I knew who was talking and in what order. This was a bigger problem on the full page spreads where the comic is less broken up.
In addition, I would have loved if the author hadn't included the translations for the Tagalog words on the page they are said. If I were reading this either physically or on an e-reader, I wouldn't mind toggling between the glossary that is helpfully included and the pages to piece together what is being said.
Finally, and this is a bit nitpicky, I don't love the use of unalive in this book. It downplayed the seriousness of what was being discussed (for me) and made the tone feel sillier than intended. I understand that TikTok language is slowly permeating into every facet of our lives, but I don't like the idea of shying away from saying things like murder or killed in order to appeal to a wider audience or censoring.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
[Overview]
✍️ Writing Style: 2.5/5
📖 Plot / Storyline: 3/5
🌙 Character Depth: 2/5
💬 Artstyle: 4/5
[Spoiler-free Review]
The presentation and colors are quite stunning, I really enjoy the vision here, the pink is a soothing color and the artstyle is incredibly cute and charming. The visual storytelling is the showstopper here. However, the anatomy can be quite janky at times, lots of missing eyes. And while I do love dialogue that includes two languages, it feels a little random which words are English and which words are in her native language. As someone who speaks three languages and uses a combination of them in daily life I appreciate the representation, but it feels a little unnatural at some points and overused.
Some people mentioned it’s hard to read with the layout and I think I understand what they mean, but I’ve read so many webtoons, comics on tumblr, etc. that I’m used to these kind of layouts, so it wasn’t a problem for me.
The design of the ghoul is amazing, big props to the artist! It’s kind of creepy but also cute and his personality is fun. The story remains mostly wholesome and deals with grief and teenage angst, there are some “creepy” parts which I greatly appreciated, it gave the story a little edge. It’s not too creepy to give anyone nightmares, but enough to catch a child’s interest. (Or my interest in this case lol). This is tagged as young adult, but I would classify this as middle grade. That's not a slight or diss, as I love middle grade, just the truth that this story and presentation feels geared towards children not teenagers.
The plot twist was good and made mostly sense, the only thing I could criticize about the story is that it’s not really about our protagonist and about a whole different family instead. That’s a bit of a shame that our girl is just a bystander who didn’t really do anything for the plot. It does feel like the story started out one way, about our protagonist Lyn and her grief and got intercepted by a whole different story. Her best friend killed herself but that plot point went nowhere and the crush on the ghoul was cute… but also came out of nowhere and went too fast at the end. There was a lot going on, but not everything tied in together.
To end this review on a very positive note, the short story inspired by little red riding hood (my favourite fairytale!) has such a unique artstyle! Little Red as a lil’ skeleton? Spooky cute! I would definitely buy a graphic novel in that artstyle.
[Overview]
✍️ Writing Style: 2.5/5
📖 Plot / Storyline: 3/5
🌙 Character Depth: 2/5
💬 Artstyle: 4/5
[Spoiler-free Review]
The presentation and colors are quite stunning, I really enjoy the vision here, the pink is a soothing color and the artstyle is incredibly cute and charming. The visual storytelling is the showstopper here. However, the anatomy can be quite janky at times, lots of missing eyes. And while I do love dialogue that includes two languages, it feels a little random which words are English and which words are in her native language. As someone who speaks three languages and uses a combination of them in daily life I appreciate the representation, but it feels a little unnatural at some points and overused.
Some people mentioned it’s hard to read with the layout and I think I understand what they mean, but I’ve read so many webtoons, comics on tumblr, etc. that I’m used to these kind of layouts, so it wasn’t a problem for me.
The design of the ghoul is amazing, big props to the artist! It’s kind of creepy but also cute and his personality is fun. The story remains mostly wholesome and deals with grief and teenage angst, there are some “creepy” parts which I greatly appreciated, it gave the story a little edge. It’s not too creepy to give anyone nightmares, but enough to catch a child’s interest. (Or my interest in this case lol). This is tagged as young adult, but I would classify this as middle grade. That's not a slight or diss, as I love middle grade, just the truth that this story and presentation feels geared towards children not teenagers.
The plot twist was good and made mostly sense, the only thing I could criticize about the story is that it’s not really about our protagonist and about a whole different family instead. That’s a bit of a shame that our girl is just a bystander who didn’t really do anything for the plot. It does feel like the story started out one way, about our protagonist Lyn and her grief and got intercepted by a whole different story. Her best friend killed herself but that plot point went nowhere and the crush on the ghoul was cute… but also came out of nowhere and went too fast at the end. There was a lot going on, but not everything tied in together.
To end this review on a very positive note, the short story inspired by little red riding hood (my favourite fairytale!) has such a unique artstyle! Little Red as a lil’ skeleton? Spooky cute! I would definitely buy a graphic novel in that artstyle.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Final Grrl Horror
No Spoilers Review
Ghoul by Kasey Iris, releasing May 5, 2026, is a YA graphic novel that leans more into eerie paranormal mystery and grief than straight horror, and that worked really well for me. The first thing that grabbed me was the art. This book is gorgeous. It’s very cute, very pink, soft, and visually inviting, but still manages to feel strange and unsettling underneath all of that. My 13-year-old would absolutely be drawn to this cover and style immediately, and honestly, so was I. It has that “something is off here” feeling without needing to be overly dark or heavy-handed.
The story follows Lyn, who is dealing with the death of her best friend Meg while moving into a new apartment complex with her family. There’s already tension in the building because of rumors surrounding one of the neighbors, Mr. Cho, and the disappearance of his son. Then Lyn ends up connected to a strange pendant, an old comic book, and a weird little ghoul that only she can see. From there, it turns into this emotional mystery about grief, memory, loneliness, and figuring out what’s real.
What I liked most was how the story balanced that creepy atmosphere with emotional weight. It’s not trying to be nonstop horror or jump scares, it’s more about that lingering weirdness and the way grief can make everything feel haunted. The relationship dynamics felt genuine, and the story had a lot of heart underneath the paranormal setup. I also appreciated that the art style made the heavier themes feel approachable instead of overwhelming. The expressive characters and dreamy pink-purple palette gave it a softer vibe while still keeping that eerie edge. It reminded me a little of Anya’s Ghost or Coraline, where the supernatural is there to support the emotional story rather than just the scares.
I will say that if you go in expecting full horror, this probably won’t hit that mark. It’s definitely more melancholy and reflective than scary, and there are moments where the pacing feels softer and more dreamlike instead of sharp and intense. Some of the layout choices can also feel a little loose or abstract, which works for the mood but might not work for everyone.
Still, I really enjoyed it. It feels unique, emotionally honest, and visually memorable, and I loved that it chose atmosphere and feeling over trying too hard to be shocking. Cute, creepy, and surprisingly tender is kind of my sweet spot, so this landed well for me.
4/5⭐️
No Spoilers Review
Ghoul by Kasey Iris, releasing May 5, 2026, is a YA graphic novel that leans more into eerie paranormal mystery and grief than straight horror, and that worked really well for me. The first thing that grabbed me was the art. This book is gorgeous. It’s very cute, very pink, soft, and visually inviting, but still manages to feel strange and unsettling underneath all of that. My 13-year-old would absolutely be drawn to this cover and style immediately, and honestly, so was I. It has that “something is off here” feeling without needing to be overly dark or heavy-handed.
The story follows Lyn, who is dealing with the death of her best friend Meg while moving into a new apartment complex with her family. There’s already tension in the building because of rumors surrounding one of the neighbors, Mr. Cho, and the disappearance of his son. Then Lyn ends up connected to a strange pendant, an old comic book, and a weird little ghoul that only she can see. From there, it turns into this emotional mystery about grief, memory, loneliness, and figuring out what’s real.
What I liked most was how the story balanced that creepy atmosphere with emotional weight. It’s not trying to be nonstop horror or jump scares, it’s more about that lingering weirdness and the way grief can make everything feel haunted. The relationship dynamics felt genuine, and the story had a lot of heart underneath the paranormal setup. I also appreciated that the art style made the heavier themes feel approachable instead of overwhelming. The expressive characters and dreamy pink-purple palette gave it a softer vibe while still keeping that eerie edge. It reminded me a little of Anya’s Ghost or Coraline, where the supernatural is there to support the emotional story rather than just the scares.
I will say that if you go in expecting full horror, this probably won’t hit that mark. It’s definitely more melancholy and reflective than scary, and there are moments where the pacing feels softer and more dreamlike instead of sharp and intense. Some of the layout choices can also feel a little loose or abstract, which works for the mood but might not work for everyone.
Still, I really enjoyed it. It feels unique, emotionally honest, and visually memorable, and I loved that it chose atmosphere and feeling over trying too hard to be shocking. Cute, creepy, and surprisingly tender is kind of my sweet spot, so this landed well for me.
4/5⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Recommend for readers looking for a story featuring Filipino American characters, no matter the content. Recommended for people looking for graphic novels with a cutesy artstyle. Slightly recommended for themes of grief.
But, quickly stop for the premise:
After the suicide of her best friend, the teen Lyn moves with her family to a new condo. There, she quickly discovers the newest gossip: Her neighbour is suspected to be responsible for his son's disappearance. Meanwhile, she makes a new friend in the form of a strange ghoul, who originates from a book, and whom only she can see.
So ... from the description it may already be evident, but this comic has a lot going on. It continues to be a mess of storylines throughout the whole run. This is not eased by the graphic novel's artstyle, whose composition is sometimes more reminiscent of sequential doodles. The best I can describe it as cute and simplistic, but personally, I was not awed by it.
The clunky story is not supported by its characters. They are straightforward, and I was easily annoyed at their actions (Lyn screaming immediately at her neighbour based on rumours, her hitting her crush when she is flustered, etc). I want to give the main character more grace considering her loss, but the suicide plot line felt disconnected from the rest of the work. I do give the author grace, who, as far I understand from the author's note, went through the same tragedy.
I refrain from recommending the comic to teens (its target audience) nor middle-grade kids (the comic's style felt more suited to that age range), because I cannot. I cannot recommend them a graphic novel which unironically uses slang like "unalive". Multiple characters do that, so it's not even an individual quirk I could forgive. (For reference, some social media users use words like "unaliving" substituting "killing" in order to circumvent censorship.) Why is this in a written, serious medium. Why does the comic literally start with heavy themes like a girl's suicide, but ends with writing choices like a character calling another seriously "unaliver".
Not for me. Hopefully other people enjoy it at all. Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for an ARC for an honest review.
But, quickly stop for the premise:
After the suicide of her best friend, the teen Lyn moves with her family to a new condo. There, she quickly discovers the newest gossip: Her neighbour is suspected to be responsible for his son's disappearance. Meanwhile, she makes a new friend in the form of a strange ghoul, who originates from a book, and whom only she can see.
So ... from the description it may already be evident, but this comic has a lot going on. It continues to be a mess of storylines throughout the whole run. This is not eased by the graphic novel's artstyle, whose composition is sometimes more reminiscent of sequential doodles. The best I can describe it as cute and simplistic, but personally, I was not awed by it.
The clunky story is not supported by its characters. They are straightforward, and I was easily annoyed at their actions (Lyn screaming immediately at her neighbour based on rumours, her hitting her crush when she is flustered, etc). I want to give the main character more grace considering her loss, but the suicide plot line felt disconnected from the rest of the work. I do give the author grace, who, as far I understand from the author's note, went through the same tragedy.
I refrain from recommending the comic to teens (its target audience) nor middle-grade kids (the comic's style felt more suited to that age range), because I cannot. I cannot recommend them a graphic novel which unironically uses slang like "unalive". Multiple characters do that, so it's not even an individual quirk I could forgive. (For reference, some social media users use words like "unaliving" substituting "killing" in order to circumvent censorship.) Why is this in a written, serious medium. Why does the comic literally start with heavy themes like a girl's suicide, but ends with writing choices like a character calling another seriously "unaliver".
Not for me. Hopefully other people enjoy it at all. Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for an ARC for an honest review.
June 13, 2026
It had been a while since I read a graphic novel, and I must say that jumping back in with Kasey Iris’s Ghoul was a delight. Iris is both author and illustrator and excels on both fronts.
The color scheme in GHOUL (mauve/rose) was a great choice for conveying the often-melancholy storyline of a teenager Lyn’s grief in losing her best friend to suicide. Her parents recognize a change is needed and move the family overseas, to the US, in hopes that Lyn can get a fresh start.
In their new apartment building, Lyn not only finds a new friend (Imaginary? Real?) and a bit of intrigue in the rumors surrounding a neighbor who may—or may not—have killed his wife and son. (Interesting side note from this reader who’s considerably older than the target audience: apparently, we don’t say “killed” or “dead;” we say “unalived” or “unalive.”)
Being out of practice with graphic novels, I had a little difficulty following the flow of the text bubbles, especially with the Tagalog translations sprinkled throughout. But kudos to the author for corralling all those terms in a glossary of terms at the end. Fortunately, the expressive and evocative illustrations assure that readers are never lost or confused. And the spooky, spiritual, mysterious plot is sure to keep them fully engaged and turning pages.
There are surprises and plot twists that both charm and satisfy, and the bonus materials at the end are a real plus. Included at the end are a fab playlist, a mini-graphic novel that the author created nearly ten years ago, and some character sketches the artist created for GHOUL.
GHOUL is a truly entertaining and thoughtful book that belongs in school libraries and counselors’ offices. It leaves readers hopeful and happy. I look forward to what’s next from this talented author/illustrator.
Thank you to the publisher, Top Shelf Productions, for providing me a digital ARC.
This full review on Hall Ways Blog.
The color scheme in GHOUL (mauve/rose) was a great choice for conveying the often-melancholy storyline of a teenager Lyn’s grief in losing her best friend to suicide. Her parents recognize a change is needed and move the family overseas, to the US, in hopes that Lyn can get a fresh start.
In their new apartment building, Lyn not only finds a new friend (Imaginary? Real?) and a bit of intrigue in the rumors surrounding a neighbor who may—or may not—have killed his wife and son. (Interesting side note from this reader who’s considerably older than the target audience: apparently, we don’t say “killed” or “dead;” we say “unalived” or “unalive.”)
Being out of practice with graphic novels, I had a little difficulty following the flow of the text bubbles, especially with the Tagalog translations sprinkled throughout. But kudos to the author for corralling all those terms in a glossary of terms at the end. Fortunately, the expressive and evocative illustrations assure that readers are never lost or confused. And the spooky, spiritual, mysterious plot is sure to keep them fully engaged and turning pages.
There are surprises and plot twists that both charm and satisfy, and the bonus materials at the end are a real plus. Included at the end are a fab playlist, a mini-graphic novel that the author created nearly ten years ago, and some character sketches the artist created for GHOUL.
GHOUL is a truly entertaining and thoughtful book that belongs in school libraries and counselors’ offices. It leaves readers hopeful and happy. I look forward to what’s next from this talented author/illustrator.
Thank you to the publisher, Top Shelf Productions, for providing me a digital ARC.
This full review on Hall Ways Blog.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was very excited to read this, especially for the mythological aspects! The premise itself also sounded quite interesting, and the colour scheme made this graphic novel very appealing.
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this too much. The plot felt like it was going everywhere all at once, with very little buildup to the final confrontation/revelation, while the initial stretch of it felt very, very forced — the rumour mill around Mr. Cho was very exaggerated, and I doubt a teenager would be so prone to hate someone they barely know over some random accusations. I also thought this book would focus a lot more on our main character’s loss and, although the general message of Ghoul does speak of grief, I do feel like it leans a lot heavier on forgiving those who wronged you. Plot wise, it didn’t land for me.
I can’t say the characters were much better. Lyn’s strong emotions and meltdowns are relatable, especially if you struggled with mental health during your adolescence, but it’s still kind of hard to grasp and understand, even more so when there’s very superficial exploration of her best friend’s death. The Ghoul is the most sympathetic and lovable character, but every other supporting role felt dull and underdeveloped — especially our main antagonist.
The art style is cute, and I really enjoyed the colours used in this graphic novel. However, the structure of the panels was very confusing at times, requiring some re-reads. I can appreciate the innovative use of the page structure, but it wasn’t always successful, and it sometimes became quite exhausting to follow.
Overall, it wasn’t for me, but I’d definitely recommend this to children between 8 to 14 years old, especially if they’ve been struggling with something. I can see how this novel could be very helpful and meaningful for those going through loss, grief, loneliness, and familial distancing and hardships.
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this too much. The plot felt like it was going everywhere all at once, with very little buildup to the final confrontation/revelation, while the initial stretch of it felt very, very forced — the rumour mill around Mr. Cho was very exaggerated, and I doubt a teenager would be so prone to hate someone they barely know over some random accusations. I also thought this book would focus a lot more on our main character’s loss and, although the general message of Ghoul does speak of grief, I do feel like it leans a lot heavier on forgiving those who wronged you. Plot wise, it didn’t land for me.
I can’t say the characters were much better. Lyn’s strong emotions and meltdowns are relatable, especially if you struggled with mental health during your adolescence, but it’s still kind of hard to grasp and understand, even more so when there’s very superficial exploration of her best friend’s death. The Ghoul is the most sympathetic and lovable character, but every other supporting role felt dull and underdeveloped — especially our main antagonist.
The art style is cute, and I really enjoyed the colours used in this graphic novel. However, the structure of the panels was very confusing at times, requiring some re-reads. I can appreciate the innovative use of the page structure, but it wasn’t always successful, and it sometimes became quite exhausting to follow.
Overall, it wasn’t for me, but I’d definitely recommend this to children between 8 to 14 years old, especially if they’ve been struggling with something. I can see how this novel could be very helpful and meaningful for those going through loss, grief, loneliness, and familial distancing and hardships.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay, I feel bad for giving low stars and critiquing works harshly, but I have to do this. So here it goes.
This was one of the most difficult graphic novel reads ever for me. someone on goodreads said they finished it in 1hour. me? i took multiple days, because my brain was getting fried.
First of all, the panels were laid out so haphazardly that it stopped being creative, and it became messy, it was so difficult to follow the story on some pages merely because of the panel layout. Secondly, the main characters were so annoying but was being passed off as 'annoying but cute", no, they were not cute at all, they were annoying, period. Thirdly, Lyn has been here for like 3 seconds, and already solved the case and has a criminal to arrest. Like, are you for real? Fourthly, the storyline was extremely convoluted, not in a clever way, sorry, but in an unnecessary way. I can't go into details without spoiling it, but things happened that felt like it wasn't planned. And if it was, this poor artist needed an editor, for the story, because the storyline is downfall of MANY graphic novels i've read so far!
However, I could look past ALL of these. What actually HATED here was the genz speech, especially "unalive". Let's think a little bit, why did influencers start saying "unalive"? because of censorship. yeaa yeaa. You know what you can do in your own graphic novel? Not censor yourself! I know, wild concept. It bothers me this much because we are losing our "ability", or percieve it so, that we can't say some words anymore. Have you ever stopped to think how much those censored words diminish the real word and victims? So, stop it, get some help. (this is the ad reference lol)
I do have some positive points though! I LOVED the art style. I loved the creativity in some descriptions when it comes to abstract things. And I loved the colour palette!!!
This is it from me. I could go more into detail about this graphic novel! Thanks NetGalley for this opportunity!
This was one of the most difficult graphic novel reads ever for me. someone on goodreads said they finished it in 1hour. me? i took multiple days, because my brain was getting fried.
First of all, the panels were laid out so haphazardly that it stopped being creative, and it became messy, it was so difficult to follow the story on some pages merely because of the panel layout. Secondly, the main characters were so annoying but was being passed off as 'annoying but cute", no, they were not cute at all, they were annoying, period. Thirdly, Lyn has been here for like 3 seconds, and already solved the case and has a criminal to arrest. Like, are you for real? Fourthly, the storyline was extremely convoluted, not in a clever way, sorry, but in an unnecessary way. I can't go into details without spoiling it, but things happened that felt like it wasn't planned. And if it was, this poor artist needed an editor, for the story, because the storyline is downfall of MANY graphic novels i've read so far!
However, I could look past ALL of these. What actually HATED here was the genz speech, especially "unalive". Let's think a little bit, why did influencers start saying "unalive"? because of censorship. yeaa yeaa. You know what you can do in your own graphic novel? Not censor yourself! I know, wild concept. It bothers me this much because we are losing our "ability", or percieve it so, that we can't say some words anymore. Have you ever stopped to think how much those censored words diminish the real word and victims? So, stop it, get some help. (this is the ad reference lol)
I do have some positive points though! I LOVED the art style. I loved the creativity in some descriptions when it comes to abstract things. And I loved the colour palette!!!
This is it from me. I could go more into detail about this graphic novel! Thanks NetGalley for this opportunity!
February 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an eBook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ghoul completely surprised me — and honestly, it left me emotional in the best way.
What begins as an eerie, slightly whimsical graphic novel about a grieving girl and a mysterious creature unfolds into something far more layered and heartfelt than I expected. Beneath the supernatural elements is a story about grief, jealousy, unspoken love, and the difficult work of breaking generational cycles.
Lynn is navigating loss and isolation in a new apartment complex filled with quiet tension and unanswered questions. When a strange amulet brings an unexpected companion into her life, the story balances humor, mystery, and emotional depth beautifully. What I loved most is that this isn’t a simple “good vs. evil” narrative. The characters feel deeply human — flawed, wounded, and capable of both harm and healing.
Some scenes genuinely made me tear up, while others warmed my heart in the softest, most wholesome way. The artwork enhances every emotional shift — shadows build tension, and even the smallest facial expressions carry weight.
I also thought it was such a cool touch that the author included a soundtrack list and the full comic RED. It adds another layer of immersion and intention to the world.
By the end, I felt satisfied, hopeful, and unexpectedly comforted. I can’t wait to read more by this author, and I would absolutely love to own a physical copy when it’s released.
A beautifully illustrated reminder that breaking cycles begins with compassion.
Ghoul completely surprised me — and honestly, it left me emotional in the best way.
What begins as an eerie, slightly whimsical graphic novel about a grieving girl and a mysterious creature unfolds into something far more layered and heartfelt than I expected. Beneath the supernatural elements is a story about grief, jealousy, unspoken love, and the difficult work of breaking generational cycles.
Lynn is navigating loss and isolation in a new apartment complex filled with quiet tension and unanswered questions. When a strange amulet brings an unexpected companion into her life, the story balances humor, mystery, and emotional depth beautifully. What I loved most is that this isn’t a simple “good vs. evil” narrative. The characters feel deeply human — flawed, wounded, and capable of both harm and healing.
Some scenes genuinely made me tear up, while others warmed my heart in the softest, most wholesome way. The artwork enhances every emotional shift — shadows build tension, and even the smallest facial expressions carry weight.
I also thought it was such a cool touch that the author included a soundtrack list and the full comic RED. It adds another layer of immersion and intention to the world.
By the end, I felt satisfied, hopeful, and unexpectedly comforted. I can’t wait to read more by this author, and I would absolutely love to own a physical copy when it’s released.
A beautifully illustrated reminder that breaking cycles begins with compassion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review!
This story follows Anna Lyn after a tragic event in her life (i suggest checking content warnings if you wish to read) as she moves to a new town and adjust to a new community.
Following some mysteries, Lyn ends up pulling Ghoul out of a dropped comic book. Ghoul is a silly and non intimidating monster character more similar to a monster you’d find in a kids animated show. I really enjoyed his character and this take on having a playful monster.
While Ghoul was definitely my favorite character, the art style and pops of pink really drew me in. I liked the variety of style, and the overlapping of illustrations was a unique visual. While i did like the story, sometimes the overlapping and unconventional panels made the dialogue harder to follow. I got a little lost at points but once I got back on track I was sucked in.
I think it takes a little too long to get the plot moving and the middle bits dragged a little for me, but that could mainly be due to my struggle to follow at points.
I think that the inclusion of another language was beautifully done though! having those moments in Tagalog with the asterisk flowed really well and made the story cohesive.
Overall, I really enjoyed the art style, could tell there was a lot of love put into this one, and the story felt unique. I think even making this a multi volume story could give more of the slower/smaller moments without making the pacing feel disjointed.
This story follows Anna Lyn after a tragic event in her life (i suggest checking content warnings if you wish to read) as she moves to a new town and adjust to a new community.
Following some mysteries, Lyn ends up pulling Ghoul out of a dropped comic book. Ghoul is a silly and non intimidating monster character more similar to a monster you’d find in a kids animated show. I really enjoyed his character and this take on having a playful monster.
While Ghoul was definitely my favorite character, the art style and pops of pink really drew me in. I liked the variety of style, and the overlapping of illustrations was a unique visual. While i did like the story, sometimes the overlapping and unconventional panels made the dialogue harder to follow. I got a little lost at points but once I got back on track I was sucked in.
I think it takes a little too long to get the plot moving and the middle bits dragged a little for me, but that could mainly be due to my struggle to follow at points.
I think that the inclusion of another language was beautifully done though! having those moments in Tagalog with the asterisk flowed really well and made the story cohesive.
Overall, I really enjoyed the art style, could tell there was a lot of love put into this one, and the story felt unique. I think even making this a multi volume story could give more of the slower/smaller moments without making the pacing feel disjointed.
June 16, 2026
To be honest was I put off a little by Kasey Iris’s Ghoul graphic novel published by IDW/Top Shelf.
At first I wasn’t sure what to make of it. It certainly isn’t your ‘normal’ graphic novel. The art-style is unique, a little unsettling and yet somehow it draws you in.
It’s both charming, comforting, spooky and a little unnerving.
Rendered in heavy black lines and lots of blacks overall will various shades of deep red, the art has element so of Manga-but not quite.
It kind of grows on you-it did me.
The writing style is spontaneous, almost flow of consciousness and minimal. The emotions of the characters are amplified by their words and expressions.
I like it.
Ghoul centers around Lyn who as a child loved her dear friend Meg. But then Meg is gone. Death? Moved? I’m not really sure.
Lyn moves away to a condo of the Forest Court Apartments.
One day she finds a comic book and to her surprise a character from the book: Ghoul, suddenly springs to life.
From that point on Lyn’s life is a roller-coaster ride to the bizarre as she and Ghoul discover some disturbing secrets about her neighbors. Secrets that cross-over to the supernatural and life after death.
If you want to read a graphic novel unlike any other then I highly recommend Ghoul. But, be warned. It will draw you in, play with your emotions and surprise you at every turn.
Romans 14:8
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
At first I wasn’t sure what to make of it. It certainly isn’t your ‘normal’ graphic novel. The art-style is unique, a little unsettling and yet somehow it draws you in.
It’s both charming, comforting, spooky and a little unnerving.
Rendered in heavy black lines and lots of blacks overall will various shades of deep red, the art has element so of Manga-but not quite.
It kind of grows on you-it did me.
The writing style is spontaneous, almost flow of consciousness and minimal. The emotions of the characters are amplified by their words and expressions.
I like it.
Ghoul centers around Lyn who as a child loved her dear friend Meg. But then Meg is gone. Death? Moved? I’m not really sure.
Lyn moves away to a condo of the Forest Court Apartments.
One day she finds a comic book and to her surprise a character from the book: Ghoul, suddenly springs to life.
From that point on Lyn’s life is a roller-coaster ride to the bizarre as she and Ghoul discover some disturbing secrets about her neighbors. Secrets that cross-over to the supernatural and life after death.
If you want to read a graphic novel unlike any other then I highly recommend Ghoul. But, be warned. It will draw you in, play with your emotions and surprise you at every turn.
Romans 14:8
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
March 7, 2026
🌺 Ghoul by Kasey Iris: A Graphic Novel 🌺
Special thanks to @netgalley and @idwpublishing for the arc of this stunning graphic novel.
Page count: 268
Pace: Medium
Themes: Grief, loss of a friend, su!c!de, folklore, family issues, fresh start, mystery
Thoughts: in this YA graphic horror novel, young Filipino-America teen Lyn moves with her family for a fresh start. Lyn has had a hard time processing the loss of her best friend due to su!cide. After moving into new complex, Lyn fixates on an old man who is rumored to have mud€red his family. With the help of a mysterious ghoul who appeared from a comic book she found, she buries herself in the investigation.
This was GORGEOUS. The pink, purple, and blue tones used in the one was absolutely stunning. I loved the storyline and devoured this in a sitting. I’m such a sucker for graphic novels and was so excited to get approved for this one. My only complaint is that the set up is a bit chaotic. While I found it unique, sometimes I got a smidge lost following the text. A second glance did the trick. Beautiful story and loved the mythology/folklore inclusion!
Catch this one when it releases on May 5th, 2026.
Pre-order here 👉🏻 https://bookshop.org/a/79577/97816030...
Special thanks to @netgalley and @idwpublishing for the arc of this stunning graphic novel.
Page count: 268
Pace: Medium
Themes: Grief, loss of a friend, su!c!de, folklore, family issues, fresh start, mystery
Thoughts: in this YA graphic horror novel, young Filipino-America teen Lyn moves with her family for a fresh start. Lyn has had a hard time processing the loss of her best friend due to su!cide. After moving into new complex, Lyn fixates on an old man who is rumored to have mud€red his family. With the help of a mysterious ghoul who appeared from a comic book she found, she buries herself in the investigation.
This was GORGEOUS. The pink, purple, and blue tones used in the one was absolutely stunning. I loved the storyline and devoured this in a sitting. I’m such a sucker for graphic novels and was so excited to get approved for this one. My only complaint is that the set up is a bit chaotic. While I found it unique, sometimes I got a smidge lost following the text. A second glance did the trick. Beautiful story and loved the mythology/folklore inclusion!
Catch this one when it releases on May 5th, 2026.
Pre-order here 👉🏻 https://bookshop.org/a/79577/97816030...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 rounded up to 3
I wanted to love this one. The cover really grabbed me and the premise sounded good. A young girl loses her best friend and moves to a new town. Her new condo has a bunch of older kooky characters. Just when our FMC needs a friend, Ghoul, a mysterious character shows up.
Sounds good but this was kind of a mess. I get wanting to go out of the normal panels of a comic but this one was hard to read. There was too much going on on each page to try something like this. The story and character dialogue jumped around a lot. Then there was Filipino mixed in with the English, which was fun but then I had to track down the translation somewhere on the page. Because many of the pages weren't done in panel form it wasn't just under a panel. Sometimes it was next to the speech bubble, other times at the bottom of the page, and others some place random.
I am also kind of confused on who the demographic is supposed to be. I thought this was for middle age but some of the references seem outdated for that age. The dialogue and randomness does lean towards middle age though. Then there is the pink over load that also seems to suggest a younger audience. But then the theme of loss, grief, and suicide could suggest the opposite.
I wanted to love this one. The cover really grabbed me and the premise sounded good. A young girl loses her best friend and moves to a new town. Her new condo has a bunch of older kooky characters. Just when our FMC needs a friend, Ghoul, a mysterious character shows up.
Sounds good but this was kind of a mess. I get wanting to go out of the normal panels of a comic but this one was hard to read. There was too much going on on each page to try something like this. The story and character dialogue jumped around a lot. Then there was Filipino mixed in with the English, which was fun but then I had to track down the translation somewhere on the page. Because many of the pages weren't done in panel form it wasn't just under a panel. Sometimes it was next to the speech bubble, other times at the bottom of the page, and others some place random.
I am also kind of confused on who the demographic is supposed to be. I thought this was for middle age but some of the references seem outdated for that age. The dialogue and randomness does lean towards middle age though. Then there is the pink over load that also seems to suggest a younger audience. But then the theme of loss, grief, and suicide could suggest the opposite.
March 27, 2026
4.5 ⭐️s
This is the first time that I’ve read a graphic novel that made me cry multiple times while reading it. The story deals with grief, suicide, and how everyone deals with death in different ways. It had a sense of magical realism as far as the comic book character ghoul coming to life. I really loved how the author included the translations for Tagalog as well as the bonus comic book at the end that the ghoul originates from. I feel like the author did a great job of dealing with these heavy topics in a way that not only kids can relate to, but also older adults. The illustration throughout the story was so good and unique. It really set the mood for story. I love the diversity of the characters and how despite the unlikable traits and actions of some of them, you’re still able to relate to them at the end. Like I said, I definitely cried a couple times while reading it being that I have both struggled with mental illness before as well as had to deal with the grief of losing someone I loved. Thank you so much to Kasey Iris, NetGalley, IDW Publishing and Top Shelf Productions for this ARC review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the first time that I’ve read a graphic novel that made me cry multiple times while reading it. The story deals with grief, suicide, and how everyone deals with death in different ways. It had a sense of magical realism as far as the comic book character ghoul coming to life. I really loved how the author included the translations for Tagalog as well as the bonus comic book at the end that the ghoul originates from. I feel like the author did a great job of dealing with these heavy topics in a way that not only kids can relate to, but also older adults. The illustration throughout the story was so good and unique. It really set the mood for story. I love the diversity of the characters and how despite the unlikable traits and actions of some of them, you’re still able to relate to them at the end. Like I said, I definitely cried a couple times while reading it being that I have both struggled with mental illness before as well as had to deal with the grief of losing someone I loved. Thank you so much to Kasey Iris, NetGalley, IDW Publishing and Top Shelf Productions for this ARC review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a bizarre graphic novel about Lyn, a Filipino-American teen who has lost her best friend to death, and her parents have moved to a new apartment where she can make new friends, as though that is the solution to death.
The building they move into has a bunch of characters that all introduce themselves as the family moves in, and they point out that Mr. Cho is to be avoided, because of how they all think he killed his son, who went missing after Mr. Cho’s wife died.
In the midst of all this Lyn meets the ghoul who lives in one of her books. They sort of become friends, because only she can see him.
Things happen. Lyn tries to solve the mystery of Mr. Cho, and the ghoul, and every other weird thing that is happening in the apartment building.
Interesting take on everything. I wouldn’t want to give too much away, though it all wraps up, and even the butterflies on the cover make sense, in the end.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 5th of May 2026.
The building they move into has a bunch of characters that all introduce themselves as the family moves in, and they point out that Mr. Cho is to be avoided, because of how they all think he killed his son, who went missing after Mr. Cho’s wife died.
In the midst of all this Lyn meets the ghoul who lives in one of her books. They sort of become friends, because only she can see him.
Things happen. Lyn tries to solve the mystery of Mr. Cho, and the ghoul, and every other weird thing that is happening in the apartment building.
Interesting take on everything. I wouldn’t want to give too much away, though it all wraps up, and even the butterflies on the cover make sense, in the end.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 5th of May 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Die Graphic Novel war allgemein etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig. Sowohl der Zeichenstil, als auch das Paneling und vor allem die Platzierung der Texte. Teilweise war's schwierig zu erkennen, in welcher Reihenfolge man sie lesen sollte. Aber an sich war das auch ganz interessant und gut umgesetzt.
Lyn und ihre Freundin Meg haben sich versprochen, für immer Freundinnen zu bleiben.. doch nun ist Meg tot und Lyn geht es miserabel. Ihre Familie zieht um, damit sie alle einen Neustart machen können. Doch im neuen Zuhause gehen seltsame Dinge vor sich.. alles beginnt damit, dass die Nachbarn über eine Tragödie erzählen und plötzlich taucht auch noch ein Ghoul auf!?
Ja, die Story klingt im ersten Moment etwas wild, bekommt im Verlauf aber doch ziemlich Tiefgang. Auch die Emotionen kommen an sich gut rüber. Das Artwork ist nicht jedermanns Sache, aber ich find ihn eigentlich ganz charmant und sehr passend dazu. Man muss den Band jetzt nicht unbedingt gelesen haben, aber es schadet auch genauso wenig es zu tun 😄 ich fand ihn ganz süß für zwischendurch.
Lyn und ihre Freundin Meg haben sich versprochen, für immer Freundinnen zu bleiben.. doch nun ist Meg tot und Lyn geht es miserabel. Ihre Familie zieht um, damit sie alle einen Neustart machen können. Doch im neuen Zuhause gehen seltsame Dinge vor sich.. alles beginnt damit, dass die Nachbarn über eine Tragödie erzählen und plötzlich taucht auch noch ein Ghoul auf!?
Ja, die Story klingt im ersten Moment etwas wild, bekommt im Verlauf aber doch ziemlich Tiefgang. Auch die Emotionen kommen an sich gut rüber. Das Artwork ist nicht jedermanns Sache, aber ich find ihn eigentlich ganz charmant und sehr passend dazu. Man muss den Band jetzt nicht unbedingt gelesen haben, aber es schadet auch genauso wenig es zu tun 😄 ich fand ihn ganz süß für zwischendurch.
Did Not Finish
April 10, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and Top Shelf Productions for an arc. All opinions are my own.
★ Rating: DNF @ 31%
Genre: YA/Horror/Graphic Novel
Are There Gay People in this?*: Not in the first 31%
I think the art style is really cute, and it kind of reminded me of Little Misfortune which is a game I ADORE. However, I wasn't really gelling with the writing. It's a little over the top and felt way more juvenile than I would expect for a book about a teenager. This reads as middle grade at most, but I think it feels more children's. I don't think the humor was to my taste, but my breaking point was the protagonist using the word "Unaliver." I just can't do it anymore guys I'm sorry, I need off this ride.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
★ Rating: DNF @ 31%
Genre: YA/Horror/Graphic Novel
Are There Gay People in this?*: Not in the first 31%
I think the art style is really cute, and it kind of reminded me of Little Misfortune which is a game I ADORE. However, I wasn't really gelling with the writing. It's a little over the top and felt way more juvenile than I would expect for a book about a teenager. This reads as middle grade at most, but I think it feels more children's. I don't think the humor was to my taste, but my breaking point was the protagonist using the word "Unaliver." I just can't do it anymore guys I'm sorry, I need off this ride.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
May 22, 2026
YA graphic horror. There's just too much going on here, especially because the writing doesn't really engage with some of the very serious topics. The main character's best friend committed suicide recently, and that's barely more than background information. The vicious gossip about the neighbor feels completely over the top, and that too is little more than background information. The characters are very flat and don't react like real people. And then there's the apparently unironic use of the word "unalive". There's a place for this word, in avoiding censorship to talk about serious problems in moderated spaces. A graphic novel isn't that place, and it's frankly silly to have the main character viciously describe somebody as an unaliver in the privacy of her bedroom. A lot of readers will also take issue with the creative panel layouts, especially if they haven't read a ton of comics before. I liked the unusual layouts, and only occasionally felt like Iris was letting originality get in the way of clarity.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Comic | Supernatural | Connection
Thank you to IDW Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
•Plot: Ghoul is a comic told in a pink palette. It starts off with a time skip of the MC moving to a new place to live, where a string of tragedies has occurred.
•What I liked: I appreciate that the Tagalog used is translated with asterisks in English.
•What didn’t work for me: At times, because there’s not always a distinct panel, and sometimes art is outside of the panel and overlaps, the order of bubbles to read can get a little strange.
•Themes / Ideas: suicide, teen angst, supernatural. drama.
•Who I’d recommend it to: Teens, those who speak Tagalog or are interested in basic Tagalog, and those who are interested in the supernatural.
Overall/Thoughts: This story deals with loss and familiar bonds. Because it follows a teen MC, the story is very dramatic throughout. It ends on a good note.
Thank you to IDW Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
•Plot: Ghoul is a comic told in a pink palette. It starts off with a time skip of the MC moving to a new place to live, where a string of tragedies has occurred.
•What I liked: I appreciate that the Tagalog used is translated with asterisks in English.
•What didn’t work for me: At times, because there’s not always a distinct panel, and sometimes art is outside of the panel and overlaps, the order of bubbles to read can get a little strange.
•Themes / Ideas: suicide, teen angst, supernatural. drama.
•Who I’d recommend it to: Teens, those who speak Tagalog or are interested in basic Tagalog, and those who are interested in the supernatural.
Overall/Thoughts: This story deals with loss and familiar bonds. Because it follows a teen MC, the story is very dramatic throughout. It ends on a good note.
May 5, 2026
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For fifteen-year-old Lyn, dealing with the grief of her dead friend, Meg, has been a lonely journey. When her family moves into a housing complex, she realizes that all the neighbors are nosy and love gossip. What Lyn needs is a friend, and that’s when a ghoul becomes her companion, as they both try to uncover his origins and the mysteries of Forest Court Apartments.
Blacks and pinks mix with purples and whites in this original take on the imaginary friend concept. Lyn may be lonely, but she is determined to solve the mysteries of her new apartment complex alongside her “ghoulish” friend. This graphic novel is displayed very differently through the conversations and art style than any other comic I’ve read, hooking me right in from the first page. Filipino folklore and mythology are the backbone of this interesting tale, shown through the eyes of a bizarre duo: one snarky ghoul and one feisty girl.
For fifteen-year-old Lyn, dealing with the grief of her dead friend, Meg, has been a lonely journey. When her family moves into a housing complex, she realizes that all the neighbors are nosy and love gossip. What Lyn needs is a friend, and that’s when a ghoul becomes her companion, as they both try to uncover his origins and the mysteries of Forest Court Apartments.
Blacks and pinks mix with purples and whites in this original take on the imaginary friend concept. Lyn may be lonely, but she is determined to solve the mysteries of her new apartment complex alongside her “ghoulish” friend. This graphic novel is displayed very differently through the conversations and art style than any other comic I’ve read, hooking me right in from the first page. Filipino folklore and mythology are the backbone of this interesting tale, shown through the eyes of a bizarre duo: one snarky ghoul and one feisty girl.
June 15, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, IDW Publishing, and Top Shelf Productions for this arc
5/5 stars
I absolutely loved this. The story was emotional, both with Lyn's loss and the losses of her new neighbours. The story and magical realism were unique and interesting. And the artwork!!! SO nostalgic. I would've been around the same age as Lyn at this time, and seeing this story illustrated in the same way as my friends and I were doodling people, hair styles, clothes, etc at that time was such a pleasant and unexpected trip down memory lane. The s!! The burnt cd!! So fun. I felt Lyn was a pretty accurate representation for someone so young going through so much change and grief at an already difficult and confusing time. Being a teenager is hard enough! The ghoul was a funny character, and I really liked the interactions between the ghoul and Lyn. The secondary characters were pretty well fleshed out as well. I loved this and I absolutely cant wait to read more of Kasey's work!
5/5 stars
I absolutely loved this. The story was emotional, both with Lyn's loss and the losses of her new neighbours. The story and magical realism were unique and interesting. And the artwork!!! SO nostalgic. I would've been around the same age as Lyn at this time, and seeing this story illustrated in the same way as my friends and I were doodling people, hair styles, clothes, etc at that time was such a pleasant and unexpected trip down memory lane. The s!! The burnt cd!! So fun. I felt Lyn was a pretty accurate representation for someone so young going through so much change and grief at an already difficult and confusing time. Being a teenager is hard enough! The ghoul was a funny character, and I really liked the interactions between the ghoul and Lyn. The secondary characters were pretty well fleshed out as well. I loved this and I absolutely cant wait to read more of Kasey's work!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
"Ghoul" is a tender and lovely story about loss, grief, family, and community. Lyn and her family move to a new place after Lyn's best friend commits suicide. The family quickly meets their neighbors in the apartment complex, and Lyn learns that one grumpy neighbor, Mr. Cho, is suspected by some of being involved in the death of his wife and the disappearance and possible death of his son. Lyn accidentally summons Ghoul, a literal ghoul from a short comic book she found, and the funny and adorable Ghoul then helps Lyn investigate. While the climax takes a turn for the didactic and everything wraps up rather quickly and a bit too neatly, the story is still enjoyable and the art is delightful. Recommended for middle grade and up, particularly for fans of Neil Gaiman, M. Night Shyamalan, and Remy Lai.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Kasey Iris for letting me read an early copy!
3 Stars! I was very intrigued by the cover of the book, the art is lovely. And it's also great in the book! Especially the scenes with Ghoul were great I found him funny and cute. I found the plot a bit janky at times, especially the beginning. It was too many characters talking at once and I kind of got lost I had to reread a couple of pages.
I also somewhat how Kasey used typesetting for this novel, the formatting hurt my eyes from time to time. However, this might work for a physical copy of the book. It was hard to read at some points.
Didn't like the term "unaliver" being used either. I blame Tiktok for that.
Overall, a very cute novel! <3 I do think with all it's fault it's still a fun read especially for younger readers.
3 Stars! I was very intrigued by the cover of the book, the art is lovely. And it's also great in the book! Especially the scenes with Ghoul were great I found him funny and cute. I found the plot a bit janky at times, especially the beginning. It was too many characters talking at once and I kind of got lost I had to reread a couple of pages.
I also somewhat how Kasey used typesetting for this novel, the formatting hurt my eyes from time to time. However, this might work for a physical copy of the book. It was hard to read at some points.
Didn't like the term "unaliver" being used either. I blame Tiktok for that.
Overall, a very cute novel! <3 I do think with all it's fault it's still a fun read especially for younger readers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the ARC.
It's about Lynn, who moves to a new apartment with her family one year after her best friend, Meg, died. There, they meet new neighbours. One of them spreads a rumour to Lynn about Mr Cho and his missing son.
A sorrowful yet heartwarming story. This book touches on themes of loss, acceptance, and family. One of the things I liked the most was the interaction between Lynn and Ghoul. They are sweet and funny, and even though they sometimes have little disagreements, they still care for and protect each other.
You can also learn a bit about Tagalog, a Filipino language. There is an 8-page comic that the author created in 2018, featuring Ghoul's first appearance, along with a playlist.
Besides the story itself, I really adored the art style. Overall, I quite enjoyed this book.
It's about Lynn, who moves to a new apartment with her family one year after her best friend, Meg, died. There, they meet new neighbours. One of them spreads a rumour to Lynn about Mr Cho and his missing son.
A sorrowful yet heartwarming story. This book touches on themes of loss, acceptance, and family. One of the things I liked the most was the interaction between Lynn and Ghoul. They are sweet and funny, and even though they sometimes have little disagreements, they still care for and protect each other.
You can also learn a bit about Tagalog, a Filipino language. There is an 8-page comic that the author created in 2018, featuring Ghoul's first appearance, along with a playlist.
Besides the story itself, I really adored the art style. Overall, I quite enjoyed this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I very much enjoyed the artwork in Ghoul. The coloring choices are enjoyable, and I liked how consistent it was.
This story premise is very interesting, and the story itself is a good one down at the bones, but I feel like the execution was lacking. My initial impression was that this story would focus on Lyn’s grief and her reconciling with the loss of her friend, but that was barely touched on at all. Most of the characters were pretty flat (though I did enjoy Ghoul). Also, the layout of some of the pages was a bit jumbled – I had to read some panels multiple times before I figured out what was going on. And once again, I find myself wishing that a graphic novel included just a tiny bit more back story.
This was a quick, easy read with some nice visuals. If you’re looking for that, Ghoul is a decent choice.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc!
This story premise is very interesting, and the story itself is a good one down at the bones, but I feel like the execution was lacking. My initial impression was that this story would focus on Lyn’s grief and her reconciling with the loss of her friend, but that was barely touched on at all. Most of the characters were pretty flat (though I did enjoy Ghoul). Also, the layout of some of the pages was a bit jumbled – I had to read some panels multiple times before I figured out what was going on. And once again, I find myself wishing that a graphic novel included just a tiny bit more back story.
This was a quick, easy read with some nice visuals. If you’re looking for that, Ghoul is a decent choice.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this graphic novel from NetGalley as an advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
This book is about Lynn, a teenager that just moved with her parents to a different country. She has no friends. And a neighbor she doesn’t trust due to rumors.
At some point she finds a comic and a pendant and somehow gets the character out of the comic. Together they try to find out what’s going on.
First of all, the comic style is very pretty.
But I have to say this all felt like a big fever dream. It was so chaotic. The story did have good potential. It was interesting. But at some point, it got so strange I didn’t really enjoy it anymore. (Snake scene for example).
The ending was cute again. But I really can’t rate it higher than 2 stars unfortunately. This wasn’t it for me.
This book is about Lynn, a teenager that just moved with her parents to a different country. She has no friends. And a neighbor she doesn’t trust due to rumors.
At some point she finds a comic and a pendant and somehow gets the character out of the comic. Together they try to find out what’s going on.
First of all, the comic style is very pretty.
But I have to say this all felt like a big fever dream. It was so chaotic. The story did have good potential. It was interesting. But at some point, it got so strange I didn’t really enjoy it anymore. (Snake scene for example).
The ending was cute again. But I really can’t rate it higher than 2 stars unfortunately. This wasn’t it for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this e-ARC to review.
The colour scheme of this is so beautiful and interesting and the art is a style I haven't really seen before. I like a lot of it so far but some of the exagerated styles are a bit, not much, but hard to get used to. Sometimes the style really does work, other times I feel like it doesn't. The layout of the comic can be a little disjointed at times.
I know Lyn is a fifteen year old and I know that some teens can be dramatic and that she is clearly struggling mentally but some of the things she was saying and doing wasn't something I enjoyed reading but it was also sad to see her struggling so much. A lot of this book, I personally found a lot of this predictable and preferred one character's story over the other.
The premise of this is good but the execution is not.
The colour scheme of this is so beautiful and interesting and the art is a style I haven't really seen before. I like a lot of it so far but some of the exagerated styles are a bit, not much, but hard to get used to. Sometimes the style really does work, other times I feel like it doesn't. The layout of the comic can be a little disjointed at times.
I know Lyn is a fifteen year old and I know that some teens can be dramatic and that she is clearly struggling mentally but some of the things she was saying and doing wasn't something I enjoyed reading but it was also sad to see her struggling so much. A lot of this book, I personally found a lot of this predictable and preferred one character's story over the other.
The premise of this is good but the execution is not.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC! TW: Death by self-unaliving
I’m half Filipino, so I love seeing books with Filipino rep! I was so excited to read this one, and although the plot could’ve been a little more straightforward and strong, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I love how there was Tagalog directly in the panels with the English translation beside it. There was even a glossary at the end. I think it may have been better to have the translations only in the glossary because the panels were quite cluttered with text. The busyness of the panels made them hard to follow sometimes, and there was also a lot going on in the plot. The story was still quite emotional, and I found myself tearing up while reading the bit where the father and son is at the funeral. I really love the art style as well! Overall, I would still recommend this!
3.5/5 Stars
I’m half Filipino, so I love seeing books with Filipino rep! I was so excited to read this one, and although the plot could’ve been a little more straightforward and strong, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I love how there was Tagalog directly in the panels with the English translation beside it. There was even a glossary at the end. I think it may have been better to have the translations only in the glossary because the panels were quite cluttered with text. The busyness of the panels made them hard to follow sometimes, and there was also a lot going on in the plot. The story was still quite emotional, and I found myself tearing up while reading the bit where the father and son is at the funeral. I really love the art style as well! Overall, I would still recommend this!
3.5/5 Stars
April 25, 2026
***ARC from NetGalley***
The story opens with best friends Meg and Lyn promising to be together forever. The story then jumps several years forward, to Lyn, now 15, and her parents moving to a new town, all in an effort to give Lyn a fresh start following the loss of Meg.
As Lyn meets the new neighbors, she is warned away from Mr. Cho, who lives next door and is the resident grump and maybe, killer? Did he kill his wife? Where is his son? Lyn is determined to find out.
What follows is a mystery that starts like a typical whodunnit that then introduces Chinese folklore and allegory.
Beautifully told and drawn in the most beautiful palate of pinks and purples that lends the story the perspective of a teenage girl without being childish.
The overall theme of the story, for multiple characters, is loss and learning how to live without the ones we love.
The story opens with best friends Meg and Lyn promising to be together forever. The story then jumps several years forward, to Lyn, now 15, and her parents moving to a new town, all in an effort to give Lyn a fresh start following the loss of Meg.
As Lyn meets the new neighbors, she is warned away from Mr. Cho, who lives next door and is the resident grump and maybe, killer? Did he kill his wife? Where is his son? Lyn is determined to find out.
What follows is a mystery that starts like a typical whodunnit that then introduces Chinese folklore and allegory.
Beautifully told and drawn in the most beautiful palate of pinks and purples that lends the story the perspective of a teenage girl without being childish.
The overall theme of the story, for multiple characters, is loss and learning how to live without the ones we love.
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