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Marionetta, Volume 1
A mysterious circus. A missing friend. A dangerous deal—the Webtoon sensation with over a million readers comes to print for the first time!
Julia Lazarrett is happy with her honest and predictable life. But when her best friend Kamille convinces her to visit a travelling circus that has come to their hometown, both of their lives are changed forever.
Thrust into a world full of secrets and magic, Julia accepts a horrifying deal that saves her from an untimely death. However, in exchange, this honest girl is forced to discover whether she has what it takes to kill someone.
Julia Lazarrett is happy with her honest and predictable life. But when her best friend Kamille convinces her to visit a travelling circus that has come to their hometown, both of their lives are changed forever.
Thrust into a world full of secrets and magic, Julia accepts a horrifying deal that saves her from an untimely death. However, in exchange, this honest girl is forced to discover whether she has what it takes to kill someone.
336 pages, Paperback
Published October 6, 2026
About the author
Míriam Bonastre Tur
27 books1,156 followersMíriam was born in a small town near Barcelona in '94. It's impossible to specify when she started to draw. She doodled on any smooth surface before even learning to walk. Now, she's a Comic student at Escola Joso Art School. She has drawn many zines and collaborative comics but all in Spanish.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Review of advance copy
this might honestly been one of the best books I have ever read...
the plot was fantastic and the art is exceptional and the characters are amazing
I need the next one rn omg
I want to write a review but I really cant put into words how good this was
note: idk why it says I read an arc but I just read the webtoon haha
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I’m scared to start this, bc I know if I start I wont stop and then it will be over and I dont want it to be over
the plot was fantastic and the art is exceptional and the characters are amazing
I need the next one rn omg
I want to write a review but I really cant put into words how good this was
note: idk why it says I read an arc but I just read the webtoon haha
---
I’m scared to start this, bc I know if I start I wont stop and then it will be over and I dont want it to be over
Want to Read
May 8, 2026Love this webtoon to bits so can't waittt to snag the physical copies...I cannot tell you guys how long I've been waiting for these...YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!
April 27, 2026
Ok, so I received an arc at Yall West book festival, I got so excited! But when I read it, OMG!! Its amazing! But since the second book isn’t available yet, I might have to try to read it on webtoon.
I totally recommend this!
I totally recommend this!
April 22, 2026
I read Hooky by this author as it was still coming out each week on webtoon and I fell in love with it. so when I found out she was writing another story, I knew I had to dive into it. Unfortunately time slipped from me and before I knew it, it also along with Hooky, got its physical volumes!
I found this arc of Marionetta volume one on edelweiss and I nearly jumped for joy as I downloaded it.
And I couldn’t put it down. the artwork is beautiful. the story has me hooked and I cannot wait for the next volume to become available. i’m fully invested in this story and it’s making me want to reread hooky.
I found this arc of Marionetta volume one on edelweiss and I nearly jumped for joy as I downloaded it.
And I couldn’t put it down. the artwork is beautiful. the story has me hooked and I cannot wait for the next volume to become available. i’m fully invested in this story and it’s making me want to reread hooky.
April 27, 2026
ARC Review!!!
First off, I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this at Yallwest! Yay!
Second, THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!
The setting, characters, and the plot is just perfection! 🤌🤌
The entire time I was reading this, I was like “one more chapter…” and instead read the whole thing! And Im so glad I did!
My favorite character would probably be Sahed or Rainah; both are pretty cool!
Now I really need book 2, but since this is an ARC I have to wait even longer😩. Oh well, I guess I can be patient.
This is perfect for fans of Hooky, and I would recommend to ages 12+
This is definitely 5 stars!🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟
First off, I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this at Yallwest! Yay!
Second, THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!
The setting, characters, and the plot is just perfection! 🤌🤌
The entire time I was reading this, I was like “one more chapter…” and instead read the whole thing! And Im so glad I did!
My favorite character would probably be Sahed or Rainah; both are pretty cool!
Now I really need book 2, but since this is an ARC I have to wait even longer😩. Oh well, I guess I can be patient.
This is perfect for fans of Hooky, and I would recommend to ages 12+
This is definitely 5 stars!🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟
Want to Read
April 29, 2026I absolutely LOVE Marionetta! It is the best book that I have read since 2023. It has inspired me to read more of Míriam’s books, such as La princesa y el dragón (2025) and Valentina de Montblanc. She was my first favorite author.
When I first read her books, they really inspired me. They are perfect for anyone who is into fantasy, magic, mystery, and romance. I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up. It is very interesting and fun to read.
It also inspired me to write my own six books at home. Creating characters and scenes in my stories is so much fun, and it all started with this book by Míriam Bonastre Tur!
When I first read her books, they really inspired me. They are perfect for anyone who is into fantasy, magic, mystery, and romance. I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up. It is very interesting and fun to read.
It also inspired me to write my own six books at home. Creating characters and scenes in my stories is so much fun, and it all started with this book by Míriam Bonastre Tur!
September 29, 2026
Thank you to Underlined for sending me a finished copy of this graphic novel from one of my favorite authors! I'm a huge fan of Hooky (Bonastre Tur's first series) and I've been reading Marionetta on Webtoon since it came out (so I'm a bit biased). This series is aimed at an older audience than Hooky; I would recommend it for teen readers. Julia stared off as a devoted citizen of Kalgratt who liked to play by the rules, but her loyalty to her best friend Kamille ended up trapping her in a mysterious circus filled with quirky characters. While she needed some time to adjust to her new life, this strange setting was exactly what she needed in order to shed her old beliefs and prejudices. Volume 1 was visually stunning and I loved Bonastre Tur's use of color, her detailed costumes, and her expressive characters.
I know printing such vibrant drawings costs money and takes a lot of formatting time, but I honestly didn't think this volume was long enough. Although it's technically 314 pages, it feels as though we've just barely started Julia's journey when it concludes. But since I've had the privilege of reading ahead, trust me when I say that the story only gets better from here, and the characters show a lot of growth. Marionetta is just getting started and the other volumes can't be released soon enough!
I know printing such vibrant drawings costs money and takes a lot of formatting time, but I honestly didn't think this volume was long enough. Although it's technically 314 pages, it feels as though we've just barely started Julia's journey when it concludes. But since I've had the privilege of reading ahead, trust me when I say that the story only gets better from here, and the characters show a lot of growth. Marionetta is just getting started and the other volumes can't be released soon enough!
October 12, 2026
Es chulísimo precioso y tiene un dibujo super bonito. La historia esta muy interesante, hay un triángulo amoroso, un malentendido muy cuqui. Los personajes son todos adorables y me encantan. Los paisajes son encantadores, todo es colorido y festivo y hay un misterio inquietante. O varios, vaya. ¿Qué pasa con la magia? ¿Quien ha hecho firmar un contrato a Julia? ¿Cuál es el origen y la razón del contrato en primer lugar? Qué interesante todo, me encanta.
October 15, 2026
❤️
This was surprisingly fun.
It takes a bit to pick up, but has a lot of potential and many interesting ideas.
I especially liked Julia's seamless character development. However, I find it strange how long it took her to realize who the real villains are, given how overtly cruel they act.
The art is wonderful, immersive and detailed.
All in all, a whimsical tale with dark undertones.
❤️
This was surprisingly fun.
It takes a bit to pick up, but has a lot of potential and many interesting ideas.
I especially liked Julia's seamless character development. However, I find it strange how long it took her to realize who the real villains are, given how overtly cruel they act.
The art is wonderful, immersive and detailed.
All in all, a whimsical tale with dark undertones.
❤️
October 12, 2026
This makes me want to go and read the webtoon asap but then again do I want to spoil it for myself uggghh. Truly so beautiful and so gripping I love anything with a carnival. Honestly even better than Hooky!
Read
August 6, 2026I loved it sm cant wait for the next volume!! Julia's chaeacter growth is very interesting and deeply emtional. The art is girgeous. The author is truly talented!!
October 14, 2026
Adoro el estilo de Míriam. He disfrutado más de la historia en esta relectura y ahora me apetece seguir con la segunda temporada del Webtoon.
October 13, 2026
LIGIT MY FAVORITE WEBTOON IVE READ IT 3 TIMES, THE ART IS SO YUMMY AND THE CHARACTERS ARE SO CUTE!!!
Read
June 20, 2026Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Marionetta, Volume 1 by Míriam Bonastre Tur is a YA dark fantasy graphic novel. Julia and Kamille are in their early twenties, employed and the days when they must be married are approaching. Shortly before Kamille’s twenty-third birthday, the two go to the circus and Kamille disappears. When Julia goes back to the circus, she is killed and signs a contract that grants her one more year of life, but keeps her trapped at the circus and if she wants to live past the one year, she needs to kill the troupe’s leader.
For pretty much the entire graphic novel, I thought it was so obvious that Kamille is Sapphic and I am amazed it kept going over Julia’s head, as that does imply to me that Kamille has never actually told her best friend that the main reason she doesn’t want to get married is because she’s not interested in men. It’s not even that Kamille really hides it that much; it’s more that Julia doesn’t pick up on the signs and then doesn’t even notice Kamille’s use of pronouns when she talks about her crush. I think this is also meant to reflect how heteronormative the society they live in is and how, in order for Kamille to be free to express her feelings, she had to leave her home country, whereas Julia is still convinced they’re going back when she finishes her assigned task.
The dark elements will probably only grow more in further volumes of the story as not only are we expecting Julia to at least attempt to murder Tonny, the leader, and there are implications of homophobia in the broader world, but there is fairly overt racism directed at two characters, Sahed and Rainah, who are part of a three-eyed race, Ah’kon, who can use their third eye to see the spirit realm and face a lot of racial discrimination. When Julia is first introduced, she exhibits discriminatory behavior towards an Ah’kon individual on the bus and then expresses it further by using derogatory terminology about Sahed and Rainah. It is obvious that part of Julia’s journey is going to be unlearning prejudice and that the larger story is about racism and xenophobia as well as refusing to understand things that are outside of someone’s understanding.
The art style is on the cuter side and it does help keep the tone lighter versus horror-leaning. The colors are fairly bright and the characters are drawn in a cuter style that almost feels younger YA. There’s a ton of details on the page that really help make everything feel alive and the use of colors makes those details vibrant.
Content warning for depictions of racism and xenophobia
I would recommend this to YA readers who want a dark fantasy that is centered on a found family and fans of fantasies set in circuses
Marionetta, Volume 1 by Míriam Bonastre Tur is a YA dark fantasy graphic novel. Julia and Kamille are in their early twenties, employed and the days when they must be married are approaching. Shortly before Kamille’s twenty-third birthday, the two go to the circus and Kamille disappears. When Julia goes back to the circus, she is killed and signs a contract that grants her one more year of life, but keeps her trapped at the circus and if she wants to live past the one year, she needs to kill the troupe’s leader.
For pretty much the entire graphic novel, I thought it was so obvious that Kamille is Sapphic and I am amazed it kept going over Julia’s head, as that does imply to me that Kamille has never actually told her best friend that the main reason she doesn’t want to get married is because she’s not interested in men. It’s not even that Kamille really hides it that much; it’s more that Julia doesn’t pick up on the signs and then doesn’t even notice Kamille’s use of pronouns when she talks about her crush. I think this is also meant to reflect how heteronormative the society they live in is and how, in order for Kamille to be free to express her feelings, she had to leave her home country, whereas Julia is still convinced they’re going back when she finishes her assigned task.
The dark elements will probably only grow more in further volumes of the story as not only are we expecting Julia to at least attempt to murder Tonny, the leader, and there are implications of homophobia in the broader world, but there is fairly overt racism directed at two characters, Sahed and Rainah, who are part of a three-eyed race, Ah’kon, who can use their third eye to see the spirit realm and face a lot of racial discrimination. When Julia is first introduced, she exhibits discriminatory behavior towards an Ah’kon individual on the bus and then expresses it further by using derogatory terminology about Sahed and Rainah. It is obvious that part of Julia’s journey is going to be unlearning prejudice and that the larger story is about racism and xenophobia as well as refusing to understand things that are outside of someone’s understanding.
The art style is on the cuter side and it does help keep the tone lighter versus horror-leaning. The colors are fairly bright and the characters are drawn in a cuter style that almost feels younger YA. There’s a ton of details on the page that really help make everything feel alive and the use of colors makes those details vibrant.
Content warning for depictions of racism and xenophobia
I would recommend this to YA readers who want a dark fantasy that is centered on a found family and fans of fantasies set in circuses
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have to start off by saying this is one of the best graphic novels I have ever read - and I've read A TON.
I loved every single thing about it.
The blurb and cover really caught my attention and made choosing this on NetGalley so obvious. I was sure I would like this - but it turned out I absolutely LOVED it. The flashforward at the beginning of the book really got me excited to see what was to come. I had to just keep turning the pages and I enjoyed every second of my time reading this.
The plot and world-building are fantastic. I LOVE the concept of the story and how the world is fleshed out, but the story doesn't spend a ton of time with long passages of explanations. You learn about the world and how it works through the characters and their stories and I really love that approach. I'm excited to learn even more of the secrets this world is hiding. The plot is constantly moving but not in a break-neck way. The pacing is perfect. The mystery, suspense and romance have me absolutely hooked (hehe, get it?).
The art is also probably one of my favorite styles I've seen in a graphic novel in a long time. It has this unique characteristic to it that makes this story stand out from other graphic novels I've read. The character designs are 20/10 and I especially love their costumes and overall styling. The use of color is also amazing and I just couldn't be more obsessed.
I've listed a ton of things I love about this graphic novel above, but there is nothing I love more in this story than the characters. Characters are the most important aspect for me in any story and I am obsessed with every single one of them. I am so excited to see how they interact moving forward. I sense a love triangle coming and although they usually aren't my cup of tea anymore - I am SO DOWN.
I plan on continuing the story on Webtoons and continuing to read the print volumes as they come out. I am so glad I picked this up and that it made my favorites list.
I highly recommend this story to literally anyone. I think people who love graphic novels will absolutely love this, but I also think its a good story for people just starting out their graphic novel journey. I'm probably on the older end of the target audience of this but I still loved it. I think tweens to young adults will love this as much as I did - maybe more. I would have been even more obsessed with this when I was a teen.
TLDR; A new favorite - stunning art - amazingly fun and suspenseful plot - fantastic world-building - dynamic and lovable characters - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I have to start off by saying this is one of the best graphic novels I have ever read - and I've read A TON.
I loved every single thing about it.
The blurb and cover really caught my attention and made choosing this on NetGalley so obvious. I was sure I would like this - but it turned out I absolutely LOVED it. The flashforward at the beginning of the book really got me excited to see what was to come. I had to just keep turning the pages and I enjoyed every second of my time reading this.
The plot and world-building are fantastic. I LOVE the concept of the story and how the world is fleshed out, but the story doesn't spend a ton of time with long passages of explanations. You learn about the world and how it works through the characters and their stories and I really love that approach. I'm excited to learn even more of the secrets this world is hiding. The plot is constantly moving but not in a break-neck way. The pacing is perfect. The mystery, suspense and romance have me absolutely hooked (hehe, get it?).
The art is also probably one of my favorite styles I've seen in a graphic novel in a long time. It has this unique characteristic to it that makes this story stand out from other graphic novels I've read. The character designs are 20/10 and I especially love their costumes and overall styling. The use of color is also amazing and I just couldn't be more obsessed.
I've listed a ton of things I love about this graphic novel above, but there is nothing I love more in this story than the characters. Characters are the most important aspect for me in any story and I am obsessed with every single one of them. I am so excited to see how they interact moving forward. I sense a love triangle coming and although they usually aren't my cup of tea anymore - I am SO DOWN.
I plan on continuing the story on Webtoons and continuing to read the print volumes as they come out. I am so glad I picked this up and that it made my favorites list.
I highly recommend this story to literally anyone. I think people who love graphic novels will absolutely love this, but I also think its a good story for people just starting out their graphic novel journey. I'm probably on the older end of the target audience of this but I still loved it. I think tweens to young adults will love this as much as I did - maybe more. I would have been even more obsessed with this when I was a teen.
TLDR; A new favorite - stunning art - amazingly fun and suspenseful plot - fantastic world-building - dynamic and lovable characters - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Marionetta is a fantasy comic in a roughly WW1 syled setting, however the main story revolves around a magical circus. The art is colourful and expressive, some of the facial expressions feel like inspired by manga. I liked the contrast between a dutiful Julia and carefree Kamille. I liked when Julia was looking for Kamille and describing her, she managed to do so without mentioning Kamille's race or skin colour. The introduction of various monsters gave it a dark fantasy / horror vibe. The setup with the "devil's pact" was interesting, and there's a flash forward prologue that piques extra interest.
Even though the story is mostly whimsical and humorous, and includes common struggles like arguments between friends, there are deeper themes to the story. It tackles political / war propaganda, racism (in form of oppression towards Ah'kon who are a group of 3-eyed people), comphet (Kamille ran from home because everyone is forced to marry at 23 into heterosexual pairings, while Kamille is into women) and how people are fine to benefit from something while vilifying it (like magic, fortune telling or circuses).
Even though Kamille is initially presented as somewhat ditzy, over time we discover she's actually more open minded, while Julia seems to be totally brainwashed by the propaganda, likely because her father is a sergeant in the military, and she needs to unlearn a lot of harmful beliefs. This is only 1st volume, so the journey is just beginning, but the story is intriguing, and the whole circus crew full of vivid personalities.
The comic was advertised as YA, even though main characters are 21 and 22 iirc, but the content is teen friendly. While there's some violence and death, it's not gruesome in depiction, a lot of heavier subjects are more implied than shown, similarly any romantic content is mostly alluded to, with several scenes of "almost kissing" but nothing really happened yet. I could see the beginnings of a love triangle between Julia, Sahed and Tonny, and a relationship between Kamille and Rainah, but it's slow burn and nothing is yet confirmed.
I think it could be freely read even by the younger, middle grade audience. The art style is truly charming and upbeat, I had a lot of fun with this title.
Thank you Netgalley, Random House Children's Books and Ink Pop for the ARC!
Even though the story is mostly whimsical and humorous, and includes common struggles like arguments between friends, there are deeper themes to the story. It tackles political / war propaganda, racism (in form of oppression towards Ah'kon who are a group of 3-eyed people), comphet (Kamille ran from home because everyone is forced to marry at 23 into heterosexual pairings, while Kamille is into women) and how people are fine to benefit from something while vilifying it (like magic, fortune telling or circuses).
Even though Kamille is initially presented as somewhat ditzy, over time we discover she's actually more open minded, while Julia seems to be totally brainwashed by the propaganda, likely because her father is a sergeant in the military, and she needs to unlearn a lot of harmful beliefs. This is only 1st volume, so the journey is just beginning, but the story is intriguing, and the whole circus crew full of vivid personalities.
The comic was advertised as YA, even though main characters are 21 and 22 iirc, but the content is teen friendly. While there's some violence and death, it's not gruesome in depiction, a lot of heavier subjects are more implied than shown, similarly any romantic content is mostly alluded to, with several scenes of "almost kissing" but nothing really happened yet. I could see the beginnings of a love triangle between Julia, Sahed and Tonny, and a relationship between Kamille and Rainah, but it's slow burn and nothing is yet confirmed.
I think it could be freely read even by the younger, middle grade audience. The art style is truly charming and upbeat, I had a lot of fun with this title.
Thank you Netgalley, Random House Children's Books and Ink Pop for the ARC!
Review of advance copy
Marionetta is the first printed volume of a popular Webtoon by Míriam Bonastre Tur. She is also the creator of the Hooky series which has been popular with my students. While Hooky was a middle grade series, Marionetta is definitely aimed at a Young Adult audience. This first volume would be appropriate for most readers aged 12+ but the colourful and engaging artwork may attract younger readers.
Volume 1 is mostly introducing the characters and setting up the world. The main character and her best friend are both about to turn 23 as the book opens. This is the age when they are expected to marry and Kamille's parents are already lining up suitors for her. Her best friend Julia has been raised by her military father to be a hardworking, law abiding citizen. They end up in a travelling circus, one of them willingly and one of them not.
There are hints of their country being at war and we are learn of the Ah'Kon people. They have a third eye that can see the spirit realm but are scorned and spurned by other people. There's a suggestion that magic may be real and something is going on with that and the military. Both Kamille and Julia develop crushes on circus members and have to cope with their feelings.
There is a lot to set up but the book is good at drawing attention to key points and making sure you don't miss say an important facial expression. I'm sure the next few volumes will be able to focus more on plot rather than worldbuilding.
I thought this was an interesting graphic novel for teenagers which looks as though it is going to cover some serious issues in an interesting and engaging way. There is a lot to take in with this first volume which may limit appeal to readers not already familiar with it. However, I can see this being a book that gains popularity through peer recommendations so there will be added encouragement for reader to stick with the book past all the exposition.
Thanks to Toppsta for the review copy.
Volume 1 is mostly introducing the characters and setting up the world. The main character and her best friend are both about to turn 23 as the book opens. This is the age when they are expected to marry and Kamille's parents are already lining up suitors for her. Her best friend Julia has been raised by her military father to be a hardworking, law abiding citizen. They end up in a travelling circus, one of them willingly and one of them not.
There are hints of their country being at war and we are learn of the Ah'Kon people. They have a third eye that can see the spirit realm but are scorned and spurned by other people. There's a suggestion that magic may be real and something is going on with that and the military. Both Kamille and Julia develop crushes on circus members and have to cope with their feelings.
There is a lot to set up but the book is good at drawing attention to key points and making sure you don't miss say an important facial expression. I'm sure the next few volumes will be able to focus more on plot rather than worldbuilding.
I thought this was an interesting graphic novel for teenagers which looks as though it is going to cover some serious issues in an interesting and engaging way. There is a lot to take in with this first volume which may limit appeal to readers not already familiar with it. However, I can see this being a book that gains popularity through peer recommendations so there will be added encouragement for reader to stick with the book past all the exposition.
Thanks to Toppsta for the review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for this fun read Miriam Bonastre Tur, Ink Pop, and NetGalley
Julia is a young adult who is just trying to live her day to day with little discourse and spend time with her friends. One day, the circus comes to town. Kamille, Julia's bestie, is over the moon and MUST attend. Julia agrees to go along, and then Kamille goes missing. After a comedy of errors, Julia finds Kamille and finds herself caught up in this mysterious traveling circus. Follow their journey as they all begin unraveling the mysteries and relationships across the country.
I was so excited for this book. I've been reading a lot of graphic novels this year as a way to expand my pallete, and I've learned that I absolutely adore them. Unfortunately, this one fell a bit flat for me. I wanted more whimsy. I wanted Kamille to feel less like a child since they're meant to be in their early 20's. I wanted Julia to be a bit more likable. That said, I was really intrigued in the underlying story. Who is Sahed and how did he end up here? Are any romances going to pan out? I see the potential for a love triangle to form. Who is Tonny really? I love all of the circus characters and find their stories a bit more interesting than Julia's. Overall, I'm still glad I read this book, but I'm not sure I'll continue the series.
#NetGalley #MarionettaVolume1
Julia is a young adult who is just trying to live her day to day with little discourse and spend time with her friends. One day, the circus comes to town. Kamille, Julia's bestie, is over the moon and MUST attend. Julia agrees to go along, and then Kamille goes missing. After a comedy of errors, Julia finds Kamille and finds herself caught up in this mysterious traveling circus. Follow their journey as they all begin unraveling the mysteries and relationships across the country.
I was so excited for this book. I've been reading a lot of graphic novels this year as a way to expand my pallete, and I've learned that I absolutely adore them. Unfortunately, this one fell a bit flat for me. I wanted more whimsy. I wanted Kamille to feel less like a child since they're meant to be in their early 20's. I wanted Julia to be a bit more likable. That said, I was really intrigued in the underlying story. Who is Sahed and how did he end up here? Are any romances going to pan out? I see the potential for a love triangle to form. Who is Tonny really? I love all of the circus characters and find their stories a bit more interesting than Julia's. Overall, I'm still glad I read this book, but I'm not sure I'll continue the series.
#NetGalley #MarionettaVolume1
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars!
Thank you to Random House Children's Books, Miriam Bonastre Tur, and Netgalley for the ARC!
I picked this up randomly because I saw it in my Netgalley Shelf and wanted a break from something heavier, and this was pretty fun! I already loved Miriam's "Hooky," so this was gonna be something I wanted to read! It makes me want to re-read Hooky tbh
The storyline of a circus that ties you to it until you say not to is really intriguing - I'm curious to see where the next book leaves off because this has such a cliffhanger
It's really fun and engaging, and I like most of the characters... except for Julia
I know shes influenced by politics and government and being a good citizen or whatever but sometimes her attitude or the things she would say got a bit frustrating. I liked Kamille, she was so cute. And I honestly love Tonny, despite the blatant plot point for him.
It gives you that slightly eerie, but otherwise fun and chaotic kind of circus. The characters were all well done and all the art is fantastic of course
I hope to catch the next volume soon!
Thank you to Random House Children's Books, Miriam Bonastre Tur, and Netgalley for the ARC!
I picked this up randomly because I saw it in my Netgalley Shelf and wanted a break from something heavier, and this was pretty fun! I already loved Miriam's "Hooky," so this was gonna be something I wanted to read! It makes me want to re-read Hooky tbh
The storyline of a circus that ties you to it until you say not to is really intriguing - I'm curious to see where the next book leaves off because this has such a cliffhanger
It's really fun and engaging, and I like most of the characters... except for Julia
I know shes influenced by politics and government and being a good citizen or whatever but sometimes her attitude or the things she would say got a bit frustrating. I liked Kamille, she was so cute. And I honestly love Tonny, despite the blatant plot point for him.
It gives you that slightly eerie, but otherwise fun and chaotic kind of circus. The characters were all well done and all the art is fantastic of course
I hope to catch the next volume soon!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is only the first volume, so of course there are things that are not wrapped up at the end. The basic story is that Julia has lost her friend. She hasn’t come home, and no one knows where she is. The last place she was seen was at the traveling circus. So Julia goes looking for her there. And dies.
Only she is still alive inside the circus. If she ever leaves she will die for real, but here with Kamille, her best friend, and she tries to fit in, first, so she can be there with her friend, and second,when she was brought back to life, she had to sign a pledge to take the life of the ring master.
It is complicated, as good stories are, and Julia has no idea who she signed the contract with. And in the meantime, she has never been outside her small town, and she is, unbelievably, actually having a little bit of fun being in the circus.
It is an odd little story. But it would be nice to know what happens next.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 6th of October 2026.
Only she is still alive inside the circus. If she ever leaves she will die for real, but here with Kamille, her best friend, and she tries to fit in, first, so she can be there with her friend, and second,when she was brought back to life, she had to sign a pledge to take the life of the ring master.
It is complicated, as good stories are, and Julia has no idea who she signed the contract with. And in the meantime, she has never been outside her small town, and she is, unbelievably, actually having a little bit of fun being in the circus.
It is an odd little story. But it would be nice to know what happens next.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 6th of October 2026.
October 11, 2026
I haven’t read the webtoon, so this was my first time experiencing Julia’s story. The artwork is GORGEOUS, and I love how the cute character designs contrast with the darker, more unsettling elements.
One detail I especially loved was the use of colour. Things start off looking relatively normal, but once Julia enters the circus, the palette gets darker. Towards the end, the colours become almost nauseating, making everything feel wrong. It’s such a cool way to reflect how unsettling this world is!
Julia also gives off major good-girl-who-would-never-break-the-rules energy 😂 But I liked that she remained a good friend through it all. Still, when you’re backed into a corner, sometimes you have to make choices you never imagined you would.
And Kamille bumping into a HOT circus guy? GIRL, I GET YOU. 🤭
With all the secrets, magic and questionable deals, this first volume has definitely left me curious about what happens next. If things are already this unsettling, I can only imagine what the rest of the story has in store!
One detail I especially loved was the use of colour. Things start off looking relatively normal, but once Julia enters the circus, the palette gets darker. Towards the end, the colours become almost nauseating, making everything feel wrong. It’s such a cool way to reflect how unsettling this world is!
Julia also gives off major good-girl-who-would-never-break-the-rules energy 😂 But I liked that she remained a good friend through it all. Still, when you’re backed into a corner, sometimes you have to make choices you never imagined you would.
And Kamille bumping into a HOT circus guy? GIRL, I GET YOU. 🤭
With all the secrets, magic and questionable deals, this first volume has definitely left me curious about what happens next. If things are already this unsettling, I can only imagine what the rest of the story has in store!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have not read the Webtoon version of Marionetta, so the characters, their world and the concept of the story are all new to me. I adore the style of artwork it is rendered in and the overall concept of the story intrigued me. It definitely pulled me in and I finished it in one sitting.
I did have a hard time liking the main character Julia. In the beginning, she comes off as an overbearing, brainwashed bigot who wants to control everything around her. As you learn more about the world the story is set in, it becomes clear that she is a product of her environment and by the end you begin to see some cracks in her beliefs. I am very much hoping that those cracks turn into full brakes and she sees the light before its too late - for her or one of the other characters.
I will be purchasing Marionetta for my high school library. My students enjoy the Hooky series, so I think they will enjoy this one as well.
Thank you #NetGalley for the digital ARC!
I did have a hard time liking the main character Julia. In the beginning, she comes off as an overbearing, brainwashed bigot who wants to control everything around her. As you learn more about the world the story is set in, it becomes clear that she is a product of her environment and by the end you begin to see some cracks in her beliefs. I am very much hoping that those cracks turn into full brakes and she sees the light before its too late - for her or one of the other characters.
I will be purchasing Marionetta for my high school library. My students enjoy the Hooky series, so I think they will enjoy this one as well.
Thank you #NetGalley for the digital ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Random House Childrens Books | Ink Pop and Netgalley for providing me with the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I came to this one knowing almost nothing about it or the author’s other work Hooky and I was amazed by how good it was! It has a dark mysterious plot, excellent world building, a fascinating cast of characters, and beautiful art. The author does an amazing job in laying the groundwork and slowly building the world. Nothing feels forced and it all flows naturally.
I had a hard time liking the main character Julia at the start of the story. She comes very overbearing, very closeminded, and says some very rude and insensitive things to the people around her, but as the story continued I could see her starting to question her beliefs. I really am curious how she will grow as the story continues.
It is among the best graphic novels that I have read and I am looking forward to continuing the series!
I came to this one knowing almost nothing about it or the author’s other work Hooky and I was amazed by how good it was! It has a dark mysterious plot, excellent world building, a fascinating cast of characters, and beautiful art. The author does an amazing job in laying the groundwork and slowly building the world. Nothing feels forced and it all flows naturally.
I had a hard time liking the main character Julia at the start of the story. She comes very overbearing, very closeminded, and says some very rude and insensitive things to the people around her, but as the story continued I could see her starting to question her beliefs. I really am curious how she will grow as the story continues.
It is among the best graphic novels that I have read and I am looking forward to continuing the series!
October 12, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for this arc!
Set in a world where certain magic and magical folks are not allowed and experimented on, Julia, our main character, works hard and follows the rules. But when her best friend runs away with the circus to escape a mandatory marriage, she literally dies trying to find her, and becomes part of the circus herself. From there, the mystery unfolds, as she's tasked to kill the ringleader or she dies.
Feeling like a mix between Howl's Moving Castle and the Night Circus, this book features a fascinating story and a vibrant cast of characters that kept me invested until the last page, and I will certainly be picking up the next volume.
Julia is a bit infuriating, and I hope she improves as we go, with how invested she is in following awful rules, but she is a product of her society. We also have a pretty fun queer side romance with her best friend, I absolutely love to see that. And the underlying magic and mystery are fascinating.
Set in a world where certain magic and magical folks are not allowed and experimented on, Julia, our main character, works hard and follows the rules. But when her best friend runs away with the circus to escape a mandatory marriage, she literally dies trying to find her, and becomes part of the circus herself. From there, the mystery unfolds, as she's tasked to kill the ringleader or she dies.
Feeling like a mix between Howl's Moving Castle and the Night Circus, this book features a fascinating story and a vibrant cast of characters that kept me invested until the last page, and I will certainly be picking up the next volume.
Julia is a bit infuriating, and I hope she improves as we go, with how invested she is in following awful rules, but she is a product of her society. We also have a pretty fun queer side romance with her best friend, I absolutely love to see that. And the underlying magic and mystery are fascinating.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this e-arc!
This was a fun mysterious story about a circus troupe of deceased people signing a contract to live immortally as long as they perform for the circus. Our protagonist Julia was visiting the circus with her friend Kamille for her friend's bday and on that day while she was waiting for her friend to enjoy the circus she gets told that she left first, but she finds out that her friend never got home. Julia returns to the circus, but she gets ran over and offered a contract that is different from the others. She must kill the ringleader in a year or else she goes to the afterlife. A lot of interesting situations unfold and mysteries that makes it a series I'd definitely want to read more of in the future!
This was a fun mysterious story about a circus troupe of deceased people signing a contract to live immortally as long as they perform for the circus. Our protagonist Julia was visiting the circus with her friend Kamille for her friend's bday and on that day while she was waiting for her friend to enjoy the circus she gets told that she left first, but she finds out that her friend never got home. Julia returns to the circus, but she gets ran over and offered a contract that is different from the others. She must kill the ringleader in a year or else she goes to the afterlife. A lot of interesting situations unfold and mysteries that makes it a series I'd definitely want to read more of in the future!
September 29, 2026
Marionetta by Miriam Bonastre Tur seems like a very interesting book with bits of spooky and mystery. I got a sample book that only contains the first three chapters and I'm very intrigued enough to read the rest of the book.
I cannot say much about the story but the way it started and end in this particular sample book, it was more than enough to grab my attention. I read want to find out what happens next to the characters and the deal she stamped to be given a second chance.
I like the illustration, the setting and premise. I just really want to continue reading the rest of the story which should be very soon.
All in all, I think I'd recommend the full book.
I cannot say much about the story but the way it started and end in this particular sample book, it was more than enough to grab my attention. I read want to find out what happens next to the characters and the deal she stamped to be given a second chance.
I like the illustration, the setting and premise. I just really want to continue reading the rest of the story which should be very soon.
All in all, I think I'd recommend the full book.
October 17, 2026
Wow. I plowed through this entire webtoon at lightening speed. That has not happened in quite a long time! I need to sit on it for a bit to truly form my opinion. Regardless, this was such a delightful read. The art is deceiving! Its cute and cozy with adorable character designs but wow there are some dark twists. I like the Tom Sawyer arc Julia goes through. The major themes presented in this story is really evocative and I think the kinda silly circus setting these characters live in amps it up even more.
All of the characters are so loveable! My only complaint is that I must wait until season 3 comes out!!
All of the characters are so loveable! My only complaint is that I must wait until season 3 comes out!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you netgalley for a sample of this book for an honest review.
Picking up this story I was excepting something a little different, yet I loved what I read so far.
Two friends going to a circus, yet one is more curious then she should be leading her into a dangerous situation, the art was beautiful and after reading 40 pages left it on a cliffhanger I really wanna know the rest of the story so will keep my eye s out for the full release.
The main charcter is very head strong from what I read so far and enjoyed her being that way
Picking up this story I was excepting something a little different, yet I loved what I read so far.
Two friends going to a circus, yet one is more curious then she should be leading her into a dangerous situation, the art was beautiful and after reading 40 pages left it on a cliffhanger I really wanna know the rest of the story so will keep my eye s out for the full release.
The main charcter is very head strong from what I read so far and enjoyed her being that way
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After getting a taste of what is quite obviously the beginning to an amazing story with the sampler provided to me, I can't wait to get my hand on a physical copy of Marionetta once it comes out.
I loved the simple yet detailed art style, and the way Marionetta gets introduced. I need to know where her story goes from the quite mean cliffhanger at the end, and will check out the webtoon as soon as possible - the comic really captivated me that much.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
I loved the simple yet detailed art style, and the way Marionetta gets introduced. I need to know where her story goes from the quite mean cliffhanger at the end, and will check out the webtoon as soon as possible - the comic really captivated me that much.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Got an arc from work! 4.5/5
The Hooky series is one of my go to recs at work so I was very excited to see there’s going to be a physical edition of the author’s next comic! This one’s very different, skews older, but still has a lot of the stuff I loved about Hooky, from the character designs to the tender moments amidst the supernatural chaos. I look forward to seeing where the story goes! I figure it’s gonna be about unlearning xenophobia and propaganda, even though it’s a little rocky at times to see a character very much at the beginning of her growth with regard to those things.
The Hooky series is one of my go to recs at work so I was very excited to see there’s going to be a physical edition of the author’s next comic! This one’s very different, skews older, but still has a lot of the stuff I loved about Hooky, from the character designs to the tender moments amidst the supernatural chaos. I look forward to seeing where the story goes! I figure it’s gonna be about unlearning xenophobia and propaganda, even though it’s a little rocky at times to see a character very much at the beginning of her growth with regard to those things.
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