What do you think?
Rate this book
To Dance the Moon and Stars
In a kingdom where dance is forbidden, a future high priestess must bend the rules to stop an ancient evil from destroying everything and everyone she loves, including the crown prince, in this sweeping romantasy graphic novel.
Eighteen-year-old Myra has spent her entire life training to replace her grandmother as High Priestess. But with the day of her ascension rapidly approaching, she’s not sure if she’s meant for this path. How can she become the herald of the god Alrun when he forbids the thing she loves most: dancing?
Her kingdom can’t afford her hesitation though. Not only is the emperor looking for Alrun’s wisdom ahead of a peace treaty, but forces of darkness are seeping through the barrier between worlds. The only source of light Myra has is her childhood best friend, the crown prince. Without his support and…love, she may not be able to stop what’s coming.
To save her people, Myra must delve into her kingdom’s forgotten history, even if it means defying the laws of the land. But the key to salvation may just require her to make the biggest sacrifice of all.
Eighteen-year-old Myra has spent her entire life training to replace her grandmother as High Priestess. But with the day of her ascension rapidly approaching, she’s not sure if she’s meant for this path. How can she become the herald of the god Alrun when he forbids the thing she loves most: dancing?
Her kingdom can’t afford her hesitation though. Not only is the emperor looking for Alrun’s wisdom ahead of a peace treaty, but forces of darkness are seeping through the barrier between worlds. The only source of light Myra has is her childhood best friend, the crown prince. Without his support and…love, she may not be able to stop what’s coming.
To save her people, Myra must delve into her kingdom’s forgotten history, even if it means defying the laws of the land. But the key to salvation may just require her to make the biggest sacrifice of all.
Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
— 3.75 ☆ .ᐟ ⌗ ✨ spoiler free + mini review
⤷ this was great. i cannot even fathom how much i LOVED the art!
୨ arc @netgalley
⋆˚࿔ 57th review of the year
⌗ ꒰ my thoughts ꒱ 🍷
⤷ if i go back to my roots as a reader, you'll see graphic novels. growing up, i was such a fanatic for them and they were seriously my favorite type of books to read! nowadays i dont reach for them much BUT i had to make an acceptation for this one 🙈🤭
with gorgeous art, prose, story, and representation, everyone deserves to try this! initally, the book caught me because of its COVER but also because its YA + has royal, dance elements. the reason it wasn't a four is because i couldn't connect to the character/plot as much! i also felt the romance went by REALLY fast. then again its a graphic novel so i give it grace 💐
some of the dresses myra wore were GORGEOUS. oh to go to a ball in a pretty gown
⌗ ꒰ tropes ꒱
⋆ YA fantasy
⋆ poc rep
⋆ she's a heiress
⋆ set in a kingdom
⋆ mythology
⌗ ꒰ info ꒱
⤷ find my book review on goodreads @elliexreads
⤷ this is recommended for YA/middle grade readers (clean book)
⤷ a YA mythological fantasy
publish date: july 14, 2026
₊‧ all ratings and opinions are my own ₊‧
⤷ thank you to amazon and netgalley + random house publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review !
---------
𐔌 ♯┆6.2.26
⤷ YAYY im so happy i got accepted for this, the cover immediately caught my attention 🙈 idk what to expect, but a graphic novel is always fun here and there! espc because it has fantasy ! thank you thank you to netgalley 😚🫂💐
⤷ this was great. i cannot even fathom how much i LOVED the art!
୨ arc @netgalley
⋆˚࿔ 57th review of the year
𐔌♯┆dedicate yourself to love as much as you do to duty .ᐟ ⊹.
⌗ ꒰ my thoughts ꒱ 🍷
⤷ if i go back to my roots as a reader, you'll see graphic novels. growing up, i was such a fanatic for them and they were seriously my favorite type of books to read! nowadays i dont reach for them much BUT i had to make an acceptation for this one 🙈🤭
with gorgeous art, prose, story, and representation, everyone deserves to try this! initally, the book caught me because of its COVER but also because its YA + has royal, dance elements. the reason it wasn't a four is because i couldn't connect to the character/plot as much! i also felt the romance went by REALLY fast. then again its a graphic novel so i give it grace 💐
⋆˚ summary: dance is forbidden in the kingdom. ancient evil lurks and myra must find a way to supress it. a stunning romantasy with a tender romance, pretty dresses, and what it means to have responsiblity
some of the dresses myra wore were GORGEOUS. oh to go to a ball in a pretty gown
⌗ ꒰ tropes ꒱
⋆ YA fantasy
⋆ poc rep
⋆ she's a heiress
⋆ set in a kingdom
⋆ mythology
⌗ ꒰ info ꒱
⤷ find my book review on goodreads @elliexreads
⤷ this is recommended for YA/middle grade readers (clean book)
⤷ a YA mythological fantasy
publish date: july 14, 2026
₊‧ all ratings and opinions are my own ₊‧
⤷ thank you to amazon and netgalley + random house publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review !
---------
✨ — pre-read .ᐟ⌗
𐔌 ♯┆6.2.26
⤷ YAYY im so happy i got accepted for this, the cover immediately caught my attention 🙈 idk what to expect, but a graphic novel is always fun here and there! espc because it has fantasy ! thank you thank you to netgalley 😚🫂💐
![Profile Image for minnie. [traveling hiatus!].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1779543772i/190542410._UX200_CR0,23,200,200_.jpg)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The first thing to catch my attention was the gorgeous book cover, and unsurprisingly, the art inside the graphic novel was equally spectacularly beautiful. The world of the story was lush, interesting, vibrant, and brought to life by the art style. The dreamy artwork really conveyed the passion that Myra has for dancing, and I loved everything about the story, from the romance, to the world building, to the plot. The story was very interesting, and I loved how although Myra's religion and the expectations placed on her conflicted with her love of dancing, she persevered and found a way to prevail. Her dedication and determination to keep the two sides of her: the dancing and the priestess, added depth and connection to the story, and make her journey through the graphic novel inspiring and personal, in a way. Overall, a solid, enjoyable read, 3 stars, and would totally reccomend!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this graphic novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this graphic novel.
January 8, 2026
This is absolutely stunningly illustrated with an enjoyable stand alone fantasy story that’s easy to follow and heartwarming. It almost has a kpop demon hunter vibe with dancing replacing the singing . Loved it. Thanks to Netgalley the authors and the publisher for my copy
January 17, 2026
2.5 / 5 stars
To Dance the Moon and Stars is a nice graphic novel set in a kingdom where dance is outlawed, about a young woman who loves nothing more than dancing. As a premise it’s kind of gauche, but it still sparked my interest enough for me to give it a try, as I’ve read and enjoyed many a graphic novel where the premise was very cliche or clunky. But alas, this was not one of them.
Let’s start with the illustrations. As you can guess from the cover, there is some gorgeous artwork in this book. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of panels that didn’t look very nice. The style is somewhat inconsistent, there’s parts that are incredibly detailed and truly breathtakingly beautiful, but usually, on the same page, sometimes even in the same panel, there will be parts that look unfinished, like a first draft of a drawing that has yet to be completed. This is obviously a stylistic choice and it’s gonna be highly subjective whether you like it or not; I personally don’t. It just doesn’t work for me, the juxtaposition of really detailed work right next to blocky, imprecise sketches constantly took me out of the story and meant I never quite felt immersed in the world.
However, I could’ve easily looked past the somewhat incongruous art style if the story had been good, but unfortunately that was also a bit of a dud. The plot is incredibly simple and formulaic, to the point where I was easily able to correctly predict pretty much every plot point long before it happened. This graphic novel is marketed as YA, but the story is so simplistic that it read more like Middle Grade. It is a sweet story, it has a cute ending and there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with it, it’s just not very interesting because it feels like I’ve already read the same story many times before.
—————————
Thanks to Joy Revolution for the ARC
To Dance the Moon and Stars is a nice graphic novel set in a kingdom where dance is outlawed, about a young woman who loves nothing more than dancing. As a premise it’s kind of gauche, but it still sparked my interest enough for me to give it a try, as I’ve read and enjoyed many a graphic novel where the premise was very cliche or clunky. But alas, this was not one of them.
Let’s start with the illustrations. As you can guess from the cover, there is some gorgeous artwork in this book. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of panels that didn’t look very nice. The style is somewhat inconsistent, there’s parts that are incredibly detailed and truly breathtakingly beautiful, but usually, on the same page, sometimes even in the same panel, there will be parts that look unfinished, like a first draft of a drawing that has yet to be completed. This is obviously a stylistic choice and it’s gonna be highly subjective whether you like it or not; I personally don’t. It just doesn’t work for me, the juxtaposition of really detailed work right next to blocky, imprecise sketches constantly took me out of the story and meant I never quite felt immersed in the world.
However, I could’ve easily looked past the somewhat incongruous art style if the story had been good, but unfortunately that was also a bit of a dud. The plot is incredibly simple and formulaic, to the point where I was easily able to correctly predict pretty much every plot point long before it happened. This graphic novel is marketed as YA, but the story is so simplistic that it read more like Middle Grade. It is a sweet story, it has a cute ending and there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with it, it’s just not very interesting because it feels like I’ve already read the same story many times before.
—————————
Thanks to Joy Revolution for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This graphic novel just did not work for me overall. The story felt very rushed, like there were too many ideas packed into too few pages, and there was very little worldbuilding or meaningful dialogue to ground everything that was happening. The writing felt juvenile at times, and some important plot points were skimmed over before they could really land. I was also distracted by the backgrounds, which often looked like obvious 3D assets and did not match the artist’s style, pulling me out of the story.
June 16, 2026
actual rating : 3.5
it’s clear this has absolutely gorgeous art but there were pacing issues with the story, the info dump of villain monologue and feeling like we rushed through the end made for an experience that made me wish there was more page time for worldbuilding and lore but the romance and art style kept me invested and the overall premise was beautiful.
it’s clear this has absolutely gorgeous art but there were pacing issues with the story, the info dump of villain monologue and feeling like we rushed through the end made for an experience that made me wish there was more page time for worldbuilding and lore but the romance and art style kept me invested and the overall premise was beautiful.
August 6, 2026
Myra is a in training to become a high priestess who keeps darkness at bay, yet her passion lies in dancing. Dancing in her kingdom is forbidden though she shares her secret with her childhood friend, Prince Eyden, who is also reluctant to become heir to the throne.
This has to be one of the most beautiful covers I have ever come across. I am utterly enchanted by it and it is ultimately also what had me adding it to my reading list. That being said, when I originally added it, I didn't realise it was a graphic novel. Whilst I read a lot of manga, I am less interested in other comic styles despite appreciating different forms of art. This cover was too pretty to pass up on though, and I decided to give it a chance.
Whilst not quite on the same level as the cover itself, the interior illustrations are an absolute treat. Take the text away and you'd still have a gorgeous collection of artworks, full of vibrant colours and atmosphere. The story is by no means bad, though it is a little simple and probably lacks a bit of spark. The romance seems to be present from the start and I can appreciate that they have known each other for a long time so less build up was required, but from a reading perspective, it just felt a little less engaging. Parts of the story felt a little rushed but it was perfectly readable.
I think this one is worth picking up for the art alone but also if you are particularly interested in dancing. I'm tempted to say that I would have preferred this story in novel format, but then we would be missing out on the beautiful dance scenes.
July 28, 2026
I've been following Tasia's art on Instagram for a while, and it's so exciting to be able to read her debut graphic novel! The illustrations in this book are beautiful, and I loved all the nods to Indian culture and the celebration of dance as a form of art and prayer.
December 31, 2025
This was a quick and beautiful graphic novel that I could easily see turned into an animated film or series!
We follow our FMC, Myra, who is set to become the High Priestess in a society where her one true passion is disallowed: dancing. Along with her, we see the return of her childhood best friend (and growing love interest), Eyden, who is set to ascend to the throne around the same time. Both of their stories, while different, were very similar in that they had great expectations thrown upon them that were different from their personal dreams and goals. I loved how each honored their roles while still holding their passions true, and ultimately created their own paths within their society that made them happy.
I loved the mythology and all the Gods within this story’s universe, as well as the backstory on why dancing had become disallowed. I am a sucker for history, especially mythological, in romantasy stories, and this one was the perfect amount of detail without being overwhelming.
I loved the art style so much! It was very soft and passionate, which I felt was perfect for a fantasy/mythology read where the main character was chasing her dreams of dancing. The style was like a dream in oil pastels and I dug it!
Overall, a great story with characters I would love to visit again.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books | Joy Revolution, Tasia M S, and Barbara Perez Marquez for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
We follow our FMC, Myra, who is set to become the High Priestess in a society where her one true passion is disallowed: dancing. Along with her, we see the return of her childhood best friend (and growing love interest), Eyden, who is set to ascend to the throne around the same time. Both of their stories, while different, were very similar in that they had great expectations thrown upon them that were different from their personal dreams and goals. I loved how each honored their roles while still holding their passions true, and ultimately created their own paths within their society that made them happy.
I loved the mythology and all the Gods within this story’s universe, as well as the backstory on why dancing had become disallowed. I am a sucker for history, especially mythological, in romantasy stories, and this one was the perfect amount of detail without being overwhelming.
I loved the art style so much! It was very soft and passionate, which I felt was perfect for a fantasy/mythology read where the main character was chasing her dreams of dancing. The style was like a dream in oil pastels and I dug it!
Overall, a great story with characters I would love to visit again.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books | Joy Revolution, Tasia M S, and Barbara Perez Marquez for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
July 31, 2026
3.75 stars
Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.
SIMPLE AND SWEET.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I have been craving a graphic novel and was very excited when this book showed up on my doorstep! It’s a fast paced read that I do think is appropriate for the young adult audience.
I loved the art work. It was gorgeously colored and blocked throughout. I think it fit the story too. But for the story I wish there had been more. It felt like there was a lack of dialogue or narrator squares to help set up the world a little bit more. Everything moved SO FAST that it was hard to keep up with the pacing.
The romance is sweet and I did like the FMC, Myra. I loved the dancing content and how that fit into the world. Not a bad read by any means, just missing that deeper sense of connection from the characters/story.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy Romance Graphic Novel
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.
SIMPLE AND SWEET.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I have been craving a graphic novel and was very excited when this book showed up on my doorstep! It’s a fast paced read that I do think is appropriate for the young adult audience.
I loved the art work. It was gorgeously colored and blocked throughout. I think it fit the story too. But for the story I wish there had been more. It felt like there was a lack of dialogue or narrator squares to help set up the world a little bit more. Everything moved SO FAST that it was hard to keep up with the pacing.
The romance is sweet and I did like the FMC, Myra. I loved the dancing content and how that fit into the world. Not a bad read by any means, just missing that deeper sense of connection from the characters/story.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy Romance Graphic Novel
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars.
The art in this graphic novel is absolutely glorious. The story is romantic and whimsical and magical, with enough danger to provide tension.
My only quibble is that the plot felt a bit rushed. It was fun to have a standalone graphic novel, but it could have been a bit longer. There were a couple of plot points that felt a little glossed over.
Definitely recommended.
The art in this graphic novel is absolutely glorious. The story is romantic and whimsical and magical, with enough danger to provide tension.
My only quibble is that the plot felt a bit rushed. It was fun to have a standalone graphic novel, but it could have been a bit longer. There were a couple of plot points that felt a little glossed over.
Definitely recommended.
June 14, 2026
My Selling Pitch:
A generic YA fantasy romance graphic novel, but the Disney Princess style artwork is so gorgeous it’s worth reading anyway.
Pre-reading:
Love a fantasy graphic.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
God, the art in this is breathtaking. It reminds me of Barbie’s 12 Dancing Princesses, and Jasmine and Megara from Disney. Anastasia too.
How y’all gonna be stupid enough to have a statue of a musician god and be like no dancing.
Ugh, I hate the “same.” dialogue. It’s too modern. It’s so immersion breaking.
I really hate the trope in YA fantasy romance where if they sleep together before marriage he immediately has to betray her.
Okay, Dorian.
Everyone in this book is way too attractive.
How many times can this bitch trip?
The story is kind of shaky and cliché, but I don’t care because the art is so beautiful.
Aww, the Tangled lanterns.
Post-reading:
Look, you’re reading this for the art, not the plot. It’s a generic YA fantasy romance with a painfully underdeveloped villain that requires willful ignorance from its characters to function. You have a musician god and the writing is literally on the wall. It’s a bit much to ask your audience to believe that an entire kingdom is that stupid. But the art! It’s a mishmash of Renaissance sculptures and Disney princess animation. It’s ridiculously stunning. Distractingly gorgeous. The artist captured softness in the eyes during facial expressions so well, like there’s a warmth to the characters that will win you over on them and the romance even when the narrative flounders. Pick this up if you like pretty character art, but know you won’t be wowed by the story.
Who should read this:
Disney Princess fans
Throne of Glass fans
Generic fantasy romance fans
Pretty character art fans
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
I would look back at the art
Would I buy this:
Yes
Similar books:
* Song of the Lioness by Vita Ayala-graphic novel adaptation, OG YA fantasy romance series
* The Reaper and the Waiting by Jayessart-graphic novel, fantasy romance, queer
* The Princess and the Grilled Cheese by Deya Muniz-graphic novel, campy, historical, romance, queer
* Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas-OG YA fantasy romance series
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A generic YA fantasy romance graphic novel, but the Disney Princess style artwork is so gorgeous it’s worth reading anyway.
Pre-reading:
Love a fantasy graphic.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
God, the art in this is breathtaking. It reminds me of Barbie’s 12 Dancing Princesses, and Jasmine and Megara from Disney. Anastasia too.
How y’all gonna be stupid enough to have a statue of a musician god and be like no dancing.
Ugh, I hate the “same.” dialogue. It’s too modern. It’s so immersion breaking.
I really hate the trope in YA fantasy romance where if they sleep together before marriage he immediately has to betray her.
Okay, Dorian.
Everyone in this book is way too attractive.
How many times can this bitch trip?
The story is kind of shaky and cliché, but I don’t care because the art is so beautiful.
Aww, the Tangled lanterns.
Post-reading:
Look, you’re reading this for the art, not the plot. It’s a generic YA fantasy romance with a painfully underdeveloped villain that requires willful ignorance from its characters to function. You have a musician god and the writing is literally on the wall. It’s a bit much to ask your audience to believe that an entire kingdom is that stupid. But the art! It’s a mishmash of Renaissance sculptures and Disney princess animation. It’s ridiculously stunning. Distractingly gorgeous. The artist captured softness in the eyes during facial expressions so well, like there’s a warmth to the characters that will win you over on them and the romance even when the narrative flounders. Pick this up if you like pretty character art, but know you won’t be wowed by the story.
Who should read this:
Disney Princess fans
Throne of Glass fans
Generic fantasy romance fans
Pretty character art fans
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
I would look back at the art
Would I buy this:
Yes
Similar books:
* Song of the Lioness by Vita Ayala-graphic novel adaptation, OG YA fantasy romance series
* The Reaper and the Waiting by Jayessart-graphic novel, fantasy romance, queer
* The Princess and the Grilled Cheese by Deya Muniz-graphic novel, campy, historical, romance, queer
* Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas-OG YA fantasy romance series
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2026
A Beautiful YA Fantasy Wrapped in Stunning Artwork
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.
The artwork is what immediately drew me to this graphic novel, and it absolutely delivered. Every page is filled with movement, beautiful colors, and expressive character art that makes the story feel alive. While the romance between childhood friends is sweet and predictable in the best way, the heart of this story is really about a young woman learning to trust herself when everyone around her tells her she’s wrong.
This is firmly a YA fantasy, and I think it knows exactly who it’s written for. The themes of identity, destiny, courage, and believing in your own voice are accessible for middle and high school readers, while the fantasy world, forbidden dance, and romance keep the story engaging. The graphic novel format works especially well because so much emotion is communicated through the illustrations.
My only criticism is that the ending felt a little too tidy after spending so much of the story building conflict. I would have liked a bit more space to let those final resolutions breathe. Even so, it was an enjoyable read with gorgeous artwork and an encouraging message about trusting yourself.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Who Should Read This?
* YA fantasy readers
* Middle school and high school readers
* Fans of childhood friends romance
* Readers who love beautifully illustrated graphic novels
* Anyone looking for a coming-of-age story centered on finding your own voice
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.
The artwork is what immediately drew me to this graphic novel, and it absolutely delivered. Every page is filled with movement, beautiful colors, and expressive character art that makes the story feel alive. While the romance between childhood friends is sweet and predictable in the best way, the heart of this story is really about a young woman learning to trust herself when everyone around her tells her she’s wrong.
This is firmly a YA fantasy, and I think it knows exactly who it’s written for. The themes of identity, destiny, courage, and believing in your own voice are accessible for middle and high school readers, while the fantasy world, forbidden dance, and romance keep the story engaging. The graphic novel format works especially well because so much emotion is communicated through the illustrations.
My only criticism is that the ending felt a little too tidy after spending so much of the story building conflict. I would have liked a bit more space to let those final resolutions breathe. Even so, it was an enjoyable read with gorgeous artwork and an encouraging message about trusting yourself.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Who Should Read This?
* YA fantasy readers
* Middle school and high school readers
* Fans of childhood friends romance
* Readers who love beautifully illustrated graphic novels
* Anyone looking for a coming-of-age story centered on finding your own voice
July 6, 2026
I received an advanced digital copy from Penguin Teen Canada and NetGalley.
This was a fun and cute graphic novel!
Myra has been training her entire life to become high priestess. She lives in a world where dancing is banned, and yet it is her favourite thing to do in private.
Myra navigates wanting to be high priestess, her crush on the prince, and trying to save her kingdom from impending darkness.
The artwork is beautiful, unique and well done.
This was a fun and cute graphic novel!
Myra has been training her entire life to become high priestess. She lives in a world where dancing is banned, and yet it is her favourite thing to do in private.
Myra navigates wanting to be high priestess, her crush on the prince, and trying to save her kingdom from impending darkness.
The artwork is beautiful, unique and well done.
August 1, 2026
beautifully illustrated but the story itself lacked substance
January 26, 2026
4 ⭐️
This graphic novel is absolutely drop dead gorgeous! The art inside is just stunning, and it helps to drive the story with the beautiful flowing lines evoking dance wonderfully!
The story itself was reminiscent of a fairytale or legend, and it was enjoyable. The emotions of the characters and story felt extremely simplistic and quickly resolved, which at times felt a little off to me, I think the story would’ve benefited from a little more meat to the characters. Overall though the story was fun and the art was so beautiful I didn’t mind looking past some shortcomings in the plot and characters.
This graphic novel is absolutely drop dead gorgeous! The art inside is just stunning, and it helps to drive the story with the beautiful flowing lines evoking dance wonderfully!
The story itself was reminiscent of a fairytale or legend, and it was enjoyable. The emotions of the characters and story felt extremely simplistic and quickly resolved, which at times felt a little off to me, I think the story would’ve benefited from a little more meat to the characters. Overall though the story was fun and the art was so beautiful I didn’t mind looking past some shortcomings in the plot and characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
To Dance the Moon and Stars by Tasia M S Barbara Perez Marquez is a YA romantic fantasy graphic novel set in an Indian-inspired world. Myra is the future priestess of a country that has outlawed dance for centuries in order to keep the evil shadows from returning. But ever since she was a child, she's been drawn to dancing and is convinced that there is a way to not only bring it back to the land, but for it to serve a place in her role as the one who communicates with their gods. When her childhood friend and the heir apparent to the throne, Eyden, returns, the two finally confess their romantic feelings for each other. But the dark shadows are ready to return and they'll stop at nothing to bring the mortal world down.
This is some of the most beautiful art I have seen in a graphic novel in a long time. Every single frame feels very painterly and the colors really pop off the page. The characters’ feelings are displayed very well through their body language and facial expressions. And the clothes! I could go on and on about how beautiful all the clothes are and how the small details really enhance them. Loved every last image.
The romance between Myra and Eyden is built on their previous friendship and it moves into the romantic side quite quickly as the two have had feelings for each other for a while. I thought it was handled well, especially since the story opens with us seeing them as young children who clearly are close and can share things with each other, giving that foundation. They remain fairly chaste and there’s nothing explicit shown on page beyond kissing.
The world is built largely through the visuals and through religion along with some references to other cultures within the world. It is very strongly Indian-coded though I’m not sure which culture within India as there are many and I am not familiar enough with the nuances. There’s a lot of greenery and diversity in skin tones and body types which help make it feel fuller and realer while the art style lends to the fairy tale aspects.
I would recommend this to fans of YA romantic fantasy looking for a graphic novel and readers of graphic novels looking to dip their toes into romantasy
To Dance the Moon and Stars by Tasia M S Barbara Perez Marquez is a YA romantic fantasy graphic novel set in an Indian-inspired world. Myra is the future priestess of a country that has outlawed dance for centuries in order to keep the evil shadows from returning. But ever since she was a child, she's been drawn to dancing and is convinced that there is a way to not only bring it back to the land, but for it to serve a place in her role as the one who communicates with their gods. When her childhood friend and the heir apparent to the throne, Eyden, returns, the two finally confess their romantic feelings for each other. But the dark shadows are ready to return and they'll stop at nothing to bring the mortal world down.
This is some of the most beautiful art I have seen in a graphic novel in a long time. Every single frame feels very painterly and the colors really pop off the page. The characters’ feelings are displayed very well through their body language and facial expressions. And the clothes! I could go on and on about how beautiful all the clothes are and how the small details really enhance them. Loved every last image.
The romance between Myra and Eyden is built on their previous friendship and it moves into the romantic side quite quickly as the two have had feelings for each other for a while. I thought it was handled well, especially since the story opens with us seeing them as young children who clearly are close and can share things with each other, giving that foundation. They remain fairly chaste and there’s nothing explicit shown on page beyond kissing.
The world is built largely through the visuals and through religion along with some references to other cultures within the world. It is very strongly Indian-coded though I’m not sure which culture within India as there are many and I am not familiar enough with the nuances. There’s a lot of greenery and diversity in skin tones and body types which help make it feel fuller and realer while the art style lends to the fairy tale aspects.
I would recommend this to fans of YA romantic fantasy looking for a graphic novel and readers of graphic novels looking to dip their toes into romantasy
February 19, 2026
Thank you NetGalley this arc!
Firstly, I want to say the artwork was absolutely GORGEOUS. It genuinely felt like I was reading a dreamworks film. However, some of the facial expressions didn’t quite fit in well with the rest of the art.
Myra is next in line to be High Priestess, but she faces a lot of inner struggles because she loves to dance, which has been outlawed in the kingdom. She’s constantly fighting between the duty she was raised for and the love for Eyden, her childhood friend. This story was full of whimsy and had a lot of diversity, which I loved. However, a few of the plot points felt a bit too rushed.
I feel like some of the characters lacked depth to them. Myra loved dance, Eyden wanted to be free of his duties as a prince, and that’s basically what we know about them. I also would’ve liked more information about the side characters, especially Eyden’s sister.
The romance was cute, but felt a little rushed. I understand they knew each other when they were younger, but I would’ve liked to see them actually falling for each other. I did enjoy them but I wished there had been more. It kinda felt like they went from reconnecting and the next scenes was them kissing.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read but I wished there had been more to the characters and their facial expressions had fit in better with the rest of the art style.
Firstly, I want to say the artwork was absolutely GORGEOUS. It genuinely felt like I was reading a dreamworks film. However, some of the facial expressions didn’t quite fit in well with the rest of the art.
Myra is next in line to be High Priestess, but she faces a lot of inner struggles because she loves to dance, which has been outlawed in the kingdom. She’s constantly fighting between the duty she was raised for and the love for Eyden, her childhood friend. This story was full of whimsy and had a lot of diversity, which I loved. However, a few of the plot points felt a bit too rushed.
I feel like some of the characters lacked depth to them. Myra loved dance, Eyden wanted to be free of his duties as a prince, and that’s basically what we know about them. I also would’ve liked more information about the side characters, especially Eyden’s sister.
The romance was cute, but felt a little rushed. I understand they knew each other when they were younger, but I would’ve liked to see them actually falling for each other. I did enjoy them but I wished there had been more. It kinda felt like they went from reconnecting and the next scenes was them kissing.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read but I wished there had been more to the characters and their facial expressions had fit in better with the rest of the art style.
June 24, 2026
This is such a gorgeous graphic novel. To Dance The Moon And Stars is about a kingdom where dancing is strictly forbidden as it is believed to unleash evil upon all its people. Myra is training to replace her grandmother as High Priestess, but her secret love for dance is very distracting. Almost as distracting as a crown prince, who was her childhood friend, that is now all grown up. Together they need to figure out how to protect all their people during Navi Versano celebrations.
I simply cannot stress how beautiful this novel is. Both in its story and its artwork. Even though I read this one very quickly, I still took my time to really study the pictures and appreciate the effort and talent in each frame. The stunning setting is only eclipsed by the lavish outfits and styling of the characters. Plus the facial expressions and emotions are so brilliantly drawn. I really highly recommend adding this one to the TBR!
This graphic novel publishes July 14th so you should preorder now!
Thank you so much Penguin Teen Canada for the digital ARC!
I simply cannot stress how beautiful this novel is. Both in its story and its artwork. Even though I read this one very quickly, I still took my time to really study the pictures and appreciate the effort and talent in each frame. The stunning setting is only eclipsed by the lavish outfits and styling of the characters. Plus the facial expressions and emotions are so brilliantly drawn. I really highly recommend adding this one to the TBR!
This graphic novel publishes July 14th so you should preorder now!
Thank you so much Penguin Teen Canada for the digital ARC!
February 23, 2026
4.5 stars. I’m probably not the best judge of things, because being someone who is not particularly artistically inclined, I’m going to be impressed by even a modicum of talent, but even so, Tasia’s artwork here is STUNNING. I could have spent hours just admiring how beautiful every single frame was in this graphic novel. It blew me away the whole time and I have so much respect for the amount of time and talent went into this.
As far as the story goes, yes, it was pretty simple and predictable, but I still enjoyed it. I especially appreciated it after reading Tasia’s note at the end on the importance of dance in Indian culture. Things perhaps felt a bit rushed in the story, but I’ve seen that quite a bit in graphic novels, so I wasn’t wholly surprised by it. Plus, I thought Myra and Eyden’s romance was cute enough to carry the rest of it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book and offer my honest review.
As far as the story goes, yes, it was pretty simple and predictable, but I still enjoyed it. I especially appreciated it after reading Tasia’s note at the end on the importance of dance in Indian culture. Things perhaps felt a bit rushed in the story, but I’ve seen that quite a bit in graphic novels, so I wasn’t wholly surprised by it. Plus, I thought Myra and Eyden’s romance was cute enough to carry the rest of it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book and offer my honest review.
May 5, 2026
I’d first like to point out that the art that was used to tell this story was absolutely stunning. Like the style and the colors made it such a joy turning the page. All of that infused with the culture was really beautiful. (I could honestly yap about just the art forever, but I shall spare you).
Being as this is a YA romance story, it is honestly as one would expect. At least in my opinion having grown up with so many fairytales and star crossed lovers. It was easy to see the end in sight. But that doesn’t mean it made it bad. It was unique in its own way, but it also followed a simple formula.
If I’m being completely honest, the art was the highlight for me and the story really came in second. Like I want to live within the art, that’s how beautiful and captivating it is to me. And I can’t wait to get this physically when it releases July 14th, 2026!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
#ToDancetheMoonandStarsAGraphicNovel
#NetGalley
Being as this is a YA romance story, it is honestly as one would expect. At least in my opinion having grown up with so many fairytales and star crossed lovers. It was easy to see the end in sight. But that doesn’t mean it made it bad. It was unique in its own way, but it also followed a simple formula.
If I’m being completely honest, the art was the highlight for me and the story really came in second. Like I want to live within the art, that’s how beautiful and captivating it is to me. And I can’t wait to get this physically when it releases July 14th, 2026!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
#ToDancetheMoonandStarsAGraphicNovel
#NetGalley
July 29, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved the artwork in this graphic novel. Every character and scene was beautifully illustrated, and the visuals did an amazing job bringing the world and emotions of the story to life.
The story was captivating, with a beautiful blend of fantasy, romance, and themes of identity and sacrifice. I loved following Myra’s journey as she struggled between the path chosen for her and the things she truly loves. The characters were compelling, and the writing paired perfectly with the stunning art.
A gorgeous romantasy graphic novel with a magical world, beautiful storytelling, and characters you can’t help but root for.
I absolutely loved the artwork in this graphic novel. Every character and scene was beautifully illustrated, and the visuals did an amazing job bringing the world and emotions of the story to life.
The story was captivating, with a beautiful blend of fantasy, romance, and themes of identity and sacrifice. I loved following Myra’s journey as she struggled between the path chosen for her and the things she truly loves. The characters were compelling, and the writing paired perfectly with the stunning art.
A gorgeous romantasy graphic novel with a magical world, beautiful storytelling, and characters you can’t help but root for.
March 9, 2026
4.5 stars!!
Thank you to Random House Children’s book, Tasha M S, Barbara Perez Marquez, and Netgalley for the ARC!!
This graphic novel was gorgeous - the story was interesting and well written, the art and designs for all of the characters were stunning as well
I devoured this in only an hour or two, it was such a fun adventure full of whimsy, joy, sadness and love and it made me so happy the whole time :)
Thank you to Random House Children’s book, Tasha M S, Barbara Perez Marquez, and Netgalley for the ARC!!
This graphic novel was gorgeous - the story was interesting and well written, the art and designs for all of the characters were stunning as well
I devoured this in only an hour or two, it was such a fun adventure full of whimsy, joy, sadness and love and it made me so happy the whole time :)
April 17, 2026
This graphic novel has a very unique art style. Very lush and watercolor-y. I really enjoyed the look of the characters and the settings but sometimes the characters’ facial expressions seemed…off somehow. They looked somehow too emotive for the situation or something. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
The story was interesting, but the ending was quite rushed and hard to believe.
Still, if you’re a fan of gorgeous graphic novels, you would probably enjoy this one.
The story was interesting, but the ending was quite rushed and hard to believe.
Still, if you’re a fan of gorgeous graphic novels, you would probably enjoy this one.
July 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the free ebook to read and review!
The artwork for this was just GORGEOUS! I genuinely loved it. This was a fun and easy read. It did not feel YA. It read more like a very pretty middle grade book. If the author wanted to aim for YA, I would say maybe make the conflicts not as easy to resolve, or to involve a bit more work. Things were resolved too easily, though that may also be an issue with page count. Still, I did enjoy this! It was cute and adorable. The dancing was lovely and the world was beautiful.
The artwork for this was just GORGEOUS! I genuinely loved it. This was a fun and easy read. It did not feel YA. It read more like a very pretty middle grade book. If the author wanted to aim for YA, I would say maybe make the conflicts not as easy to resolve, or to involve a bit more work. Things were resolved too easily, though that may also be an issue with page count. Still, I did enjoy this! It was cute and adorable. The dancing was lovely and the world was beautiful.
July 27, 2026
The artwork in this graphic novel was visually stunning. The illustrator drew the art inside AND the cover art, and I really liked how the story was inspired by her own experiences growing up but feeling removed from her culture. The artwork did much of the heavy lifting when it came to the storytelling. That being said, the writing fell flat for me. At times, it read as too simplistic and could've been expanded on in different areas. Overall, a solid, enjoyable read!
December 28, 2025
This was such a beautiful story. The illustrations really brought the characters to life and were so well done. I loved the struggle the main characters faced with figuring out what was best for them and their responsibilities.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for a copy of this arc.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for a copy of this arc.
February 21, 2026
Stunning artwork. Seriously I took a whole hour just staring at all the incredible details. The story was so cute and wholesome. It gave Footloose vibes but in a fantasy setting. I loved seeing the characters buck the norm of the world and find themselves in the story too.
March 23, 2026
To Dance The Moon and Stars is a YA fantasy graphic novel that follows Myra, who trains to be the future high priestess while battling her urge to dance in a kingdom where dancing is forbidden. Myra has been training her whole life to take over high priestess duties from her grandma, where she will receive prophecies from their god Alrun to help aid their kingdom. She wants to fulfill her duties, but also cannot help but feel a passion for dance despite knowing it is prohibited. Myra eventually encounters her childhood friend Eyden again, who is in line to take over his father’s position and become the ruler of the kingdom. However, Eyden does not want those responsibilities. The two characters have such a weight on their shoulders, but are able to find comfort in each other. Eyden has witnessed Myra’s amazing dancing and actively encourage it despite the rules. Myra slowly discovers that dancing might be the solution to a problem that is occurring in the kingdom, but is torn whether to pursue it or honor her grandma’s wishes for her to never dance again.
This graphic novel was a cute fantasy, and it was easy to get through. The art is amazing and beautiful! The world-building and the relationship development between Myra and Eyden are some of my favorite parts of the graphic novel. I also found the relationship dynamic between Myra and her grandma interesting. Her grandma is portrayed as someone so traditional and always adhering to the rules, while Myra is a more of a free-spirit. Even though her grandma has well-intentions, it was heartbreaking to see her tell Myra to stop dancing for good and never truly understanding Myra and her love for dance. The fight scene at the end felt anticlimactic, which was a shame. It reminded of the scene in game of thrones with Arya and the Night King. Overall, it was a fun read, and I loved the art! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the arc ✨
Read more reviews on my blog! https://christinaschapterblog.com
This graphic novel was a cute fantasy, and it was easy to get through. The art is amazing and beautiful! The world-building and the relationship development between Myra and Eyden are some of my favorite parts of the graphic novel. I also found the relationship dynamic between Myra and her grandma interesting. Her grandma is portrayed as someone so traditional and always adhering to the rules, while Myra is a more of a free-spirit. Even though her grandma has well-intentions, it was heartbreaking to see her tell Myra to stop dancing for good and never truly understanding Myra and her love for dance. The fight scene at the end felt anticlimactic, which was a shame. It reminded of the scene in game of thrones with Arya and the Night King. Overall, it was a fun read, and I loved the art! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the arc ✨
Read more reviews on my blog! https://christinaschapterblog.com
July 16, 2026
So dreamy and whimsical!! I love the story and how the characters are drawn, and I love how dancing is such a big part of the story (as a dancer myself)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews