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Ghoul
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Expected 5 May 26292 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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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
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
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
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
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.
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
2,5 ⭐, rounded up for goodreads
This was an entertaining read, though it was a little confusing at times. Some parts of the story felt disjointed, as if there were multiple stories playing out at once. It made it a little more difficult to follow.
I read through the whole thing in an hour, so it was a nice in-between read. Short enough to not milk the story, but long enough to keep my attention. The idea was fun, and the art-style fits really well with the story, and the pace made it enjoyable. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it was any longer.
**Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for a honest review**
This was an entertaining read, though it was a little confusing at times. Some parts of the story felt disjointed, as if there were multiple stories playing out at once. It made it a little more difficult to follow.
I read through the whole thing in an hour, so it was a nice in-between read. Short enough to not milk the story, but long enough to keep my attention. The idea was fun, and the art-style fits really well with the story, and the pace made it enjoyable. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it was any longer.
**Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for a honest review**
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, IDW Publishing | Top Shelf Productions and NetGalley for the chance to review and give my opinion on this book honestly.
4.5 stars
Did I cry? 100% and I full recommend you read it to cry too
This had a few twists I was not expecting but I did love the vulnerably and grief we experience from multiple people, not just out main character, and how it dealt with it as it continued the magical element.
4.5 stars
Did I cry? 100% and I full recommend you read it to cry too
This had a few twists I was not expecting but I did love the vulnerably and grief we experience from multiple people, not just out main character, and how it dealt with it as it continued the magical element.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Great read!!! The storyline was great!! I love the ending!! She can finally move on from the grief of losing her best friend. The ghoul are funny. I love that ghoul so much!!! At the end there also story of the ghoul and that is so cute!!
I love that the author also tell the meaning of all the tagalog words used in this book! Great read!!
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~
I love that the author also tell the meaning of all the tagalog words used in this book! Great read!!
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thabk you Netgalley for my arc copy. I really enjoyed the art style and overall story of this graphic novel. It was a very quick read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews