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The Cutting Garden: A Graphic Novel
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26A mysterious young girl seeks out a florist to deliver a painful truth that will forever change them both in this tender, gothic drama about our need for love and the creatures we become in its absence.
On a quiet street in early twentieth-century New Orleans, a florist works through the night to craft a floral arrangement for a peculiar customer—a precocious young girl named Adeil who pays the florist in stories. For every new flower the florist adds to the bouquet, Adeil offers another dissonant detail in her narrative: a chance meeting with a disillusioned jazz singer, a dilapidated family home, an idyllic life on the fringes of an imperfect world. As dawn approaches and the arrangement takes shape, the florist is left to piece together the final details of Adeil’s mysterious life and ponder what this means for her own story.
From Eisner Award-winning writer Darcy Van Poelgeest (Little Bird, Precious Metal) and rising-star watercolor artist Erin Connally comes The Cutting Garden, a gorgeously rendered meditation on companionship, family, and sacrifice.
On a quiet street in early twentieth-century New Orleans, a florist works through the night to craft a floral arrangement for a peculiar customer—a precocious young girl named Adeil who pays the florist in stories. For every new flower the florist adds to the bouquet, Adeil offers another dissonant detail in her narrative: a chance meeting with a disillusioned jazz singer, a dilapidated family home, an idyllic life on the fringes of an imperfect world. As dawn approaches and the arrangement takes shape, the florist is left to piece together the final details of Adeil’s mysterious life and ponder what this means for her own story.
From Eisner Award-winning writer Darcy Van Poelgeest (Little Bird, Precious Metal) and rising-star watercolor artist Erin Connally comes The Cutting Garden, a gorgeously rendered meditation on companionship, family, and sacrifice.
128 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Darcy Van Poelgeest
37 books48 followersDarcy is a multi-award winning writer and director living in Vancouver, B.C. His film work has screened internationally at festivals, broadcast on TV, shown in galleries, and become a best seller on iTunes. His debut comic series LITTLE BIRD (2019) is out now from Image Comics & Glènat Editions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What an interesting graphic novel. There was a lot to love, yet unfortunately a few things that didn’t quite work out. Overall, I would say this is worth a read if you find yourself with access to a copy, though I probably wouldn’t recommend to the world that you need to go and seek one out for yourself.
The artwork style was incredible and very well done. This is a beautiful work. The story is interspersed with botanical drawings that were delightful and also worked to help with the overall mood and vibe. The story was interesting and the general atmosphere of the story was enthralling.
On the other hand the story was a little bit light, and there were some parts that were a little too confusing. Leaving some things unsaid and for the reader to piece together is a choice, and it can make a strong story, but it can also leave things feeling somewhat unfinished. This is probably my only main complaint, but its significant.
They also used cursive for the narrator voice which was an interesting choice I haven’t seen before. This led to some readability issues for me as I was reading a digital version and the cursive text isn’t that readable when its small.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
The artwork style was incredible and very well done. This is a beautiful work. The story is interspersed with botanical drawings that were delightful and also worked to help with the overall mood and vibe. The story was interesting and the general atmosphere of the story was enthralling.
On the other hand the story was a little bit light, and there were some parts that were a little too confusing. Leaving some things unsaid and for the reader to piece together is a choice, and it can make a strong story, but it can also leave things feeling somewhat unfinished. This is probably my only main complaint, but its significant.
They also used cursive for the narrator voice which was an interesting choice I haven’t seen before. This led to some readability issues for me as I was reading a digital version and the cursive text isn’t that readable when its small.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have to say, reading this novel felt like a very unique experience. And ofc, extra points because it releases on my birthday :D
First of all, is a graphic novel and the artwork is absolutely beautiful. The illustrations really set the tone and the cover alone already pulled me in immediately. I'm lowkey obsessed.
One detail I really loved was the use of cursive writing. It added such a nice, elegant touch and… I kind of miss seeing cursive like that nowadays.
Now, about the story: The concept itself is unique and a bit eerie, with the whole idea of a girl paying for flowers with pieces of her story. It gives the book a poetic, almost haunting vibe.
That said… I wish there was more.
The story felt a bit too short and I would’ve loved more depth and more time to really explore everything that was going on.
I also would have really enjoyed having a bit more information about the flowers themselves, maybe their meanings or symbolism, especially since they are important to the story.
Overall, a visually stunning and creative graphic novel that left me wanting more.
⭐ 3.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for the ARC.
First of all, is a graphic novel and the artwork is absolutely beautiful. The illustrations really set the tone and the cover alone already pulled me in immediately. I'm lowkey obsessed.
One detail I really loved was the use of cursive writing. It added such a nice, elegant touch and… I kind of miss seeing cursive like that nowadays.
Now, about the story: The concept itself is unique and a bit eerie, with the whole idea of a girl paying for flowers with pieces of her story. It gives the book a poetic, almost haunting vibe.
That said… I wish there was more.
The story felt a bit too short and I would’ve loved more depth and more time to really explore everything that was going on.
I also would have really enjoyed having a bit more information about the flowers themselves, maybe their meanings or symbolism, especially since they are important to the story.
Overall, a visually stunning and creative graphic novel that left me wanting more.
⭐ 3.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for the ARC.
Read
June 24, 2026Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!
First off, I absolutely loved how the book looked. The artwork by Erin Connally is stunning, and it uses a soft watercolor style that makes everything feel like a total dream. The colors do a great job of building this moody, slightly creepy atmosphere that fits the old-school New Orleans setting perfectly. I also really appreciated how they included detailed botanical drawings between the chapters. Visually, it feels like a masterpiece, and the pages are just beautiful to look at.
The actual concept of the story is really clever and eerie. It focuses on a florist and a mysterious young girl who trades stories instead of money to pay for her flowers. The whole setup has a very haunting, dark fairy tale quality to it.
However, I really wished the book was longer. The storytelling is incredibly minimal, which leaves a lot of the plot open to interpretation. While I usually appreciate a good mystery, here it felt a bit sparse. A few more pages would have given the story more room to breathe, and it would have allowed for a lot more depth with the characters and the plot.
First off, I absolutely loved how the book looked. The artwork by Erin Connally is stunning, and it uses a soft watercolor style that makes everything feel like a total dream. The colors do a great job of building this moody, slightly creepy atmosphere that fits the old-school New Orleans setting perfectly. I also really appreciated how they included detailed botanical drawings between the chapters. Visually, it feels like a masterpiece, and the pages are just beautiful to look at.
The actual concept of the story is really clever and eerie. It focuses on a florist and a mysterious young girl who trades stories instead of money to pay for her flowers. The whole setup has a very haunting, dark fairy tale quality to it.
However, I really wished the book was longer. The storytelling is incredibly minimal, which leaves a lot of the plot open to interpretation. While I usually appreciate a good mystery, here it felt a bit sparse. A few more pages would have given the story more room to breathe, and it would have allowed for a lot more depth with the characters and the plot.
February 27, 2026
I loved the blurb for this and was super excited to dive in. I didn’t know where this was going to go and was super interested.
Unfortunately, it just felt a little lacking to me. The characters felt a little flat and lacked depth. I story was interesting but it didn’t pull me in as much as I wished it did.
I was super excited for this but it didn’t feel as flushed out as I hoped for. I think maybe an extra 30 pages would make this amazing.
The art work is incredible though.
💕 Thank you for the arc 💕
Unfortunately, it just felt a little lacking to me. The characters felt a little flat and lacked depth. I story was interesting but it didn’t pull me in as much as I wished it did.
I was super excited for this but it didn’t feel as flushed out as I hoped for. I think maybe an extra 30 pages would make this amazing.
The art work is incredible though.
💕 Thank you for the arc 💕
2026
March 9, 2026📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics
March 4, 2026
Una giovane fiorista sta chiudendo il suo negozio quando una ragazzina, silenziosa e impassibile, le chiede un mazzo di fiori. Sarà troppo tardi l'indomani, dice - e mentre i fiori vengono scelti e composti dalle mani esperte della fioraia, le racconta una storia.
Una storia d'amore? Forse. Una storia di morte? Di sicuro.
Una storia sulla bellezza e la caducità, e su come tutto sia destinato a finire. Ma come solo dalla fine possa nascere altra bellezza.
Una fiaba mostruosa e raffinata, piena di sottintesi, in cui conta più il non detto di quello che viene messo sulla pagina, sia per quanto riguarda l'amore che per quanto riguarda l'orrore; con testi delicati e tavole di struggente, malinconica bellezza, da esplorare continuamente, da gustarsi particolare per particolare.
Unico difetto: il carattere poco leggibile, che costringe a risvegliarsi da quella che è quasi un'ipnosi per decifrare parole e frasi.
Per il resto, impeccabile.
Una storia d'amore? Forse. Una storia di morte? Di sicuro.
Una storia sulla bellezza e la caducità, e su come tutto sia destinato a finire. Ma come solo dalla fine possa nascere altra bellezza.
Una fiaba mostruosa e raffinata, piena di sottintesi, in cui conta più il non detto di quello che viene messo sulla pagina, sia per quanto riguarda l'amore che per quanto riguarda l'orrore; con testi delicati e tavole di struggente, malinconica bellezza, da esplorare continuamente, da gustarsi particolare per particolare.
Unico difetto: il carattere poco leggibile, che costringe a risvegliarsi da quella che è quasi un'ipnosi per decifrare parole e frasi.
Per il resto, impeccabile.
May 10, 2026
I really enjoyed The Cutting Garden, especially the unique art style and the overall story. The atmosphere and visuals worked very well together, and it left a strong impression. I just wish it had been a little longer so there was more time to explore the characters and story in greater depth. At times the writing also felt a bit too poetic and ambiguous for me, but overall it was a memorable and beautifully done graphic novel.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this free arc.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this free arc.
Read
March 8, 2026After a chance encounter, a woman and girl leave the strains of life in New Orleans behind for a house in the country, which they make into a home and where they settle into a sort of idyll, at least until the stasis buckles. The word is never used, but minimal effort is made to conceal that the girl is something already associated with New Orleans, what with her never coming out by day, and remaining a girl. But it's not meant to be a twist; the point is the seductive watercolour dream of it all, more Hanging Rock than Anne Rice, with the pressed flowers that intersperse the chapters not just beautifully rendered, but a metaphor I don't think I've seen before for what's lost by being taken out of the cycle of life, change, and even decay. The script is minimal to a degree some seem to find frustrating, though given the clarity of the art and the dreamlike mood, it worked for me. I particularly liked that when it does get into more detail, it's mostly about plants, such as the difference between "the long bluestem grass bowed to the wind in great waves of reverence" and the very different grass that makes for "fidgety velvet razors".
(Netgalley ARC)
(Netgalley ARC)
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
An understated and, for me, quite novel take on vampires and horror in comics. It's got that very gothic horror feel. Almost nothing is shown or even said of it, everything is in the tension and the imagined. It's a story about shared trauma and chosen family. But it's also a story about the darkness we keep to ourselves. It's a really beautiful tale, honestly, but the way it's told mostly through narration and with very few spoken words, makes it a little hard to latch onto. The artwork is pretty gorgeous and fits the tone of the book. I can definitely see this finding it's audience
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“The cutting garden” di Darcy Van Poelgeest è una delicatissima graphic novel, che richiama nei colori e nelle atmosfere delle tavole una fiaba, ambientata nella New Orleans dei primi anni del Novecento, dove l’aria umida sembra sospendere il tempo stesso.
La trama ruota attorno all’incontro tra una fioraia solitaria e una giovane ragazza misteriosa di nome Adeil, che si presenta nel negozio in circostanze insolite. La fioraia, avvezza alla quiete notturna del proprio mestiere, viene avvicinata da Adeil con una richiesta singolare: desidera una composizione floreale, ma non paga in denaro, bensì offre una storia per ogni fiore aggiunto al bouquet. La fioraia, mossa dalla curiosità, accetta questo scambio, e mentre il bouquet si arricchisce, altrettanto si infittisce la rete di associazioni e implicazioni contenute nel racconto di Adeil – dai ricordi di un incontro casuale con un cantante jazz disilluso, a evocazioni di una dimora familiare in rovina, a scorci di una vita idilliaca ma precaria vissuta ai margini.
La trama si svela lentamente, con l’alba che si avvicina (segno temporale e soglia simbolica), e quando la composizione è quasi ultimata, la fioraia tira le fila delle verità convergenti della vita di Adeil e vede le loro ripercussioni sua stessa esistenza ordinata e silenziosa.
L’architettura narrativa attinge a un ricco repertorio di temi che richiamano in qualche modo la tradizione del southern gothic, come la dimora familiare in decadenza, la bambina precoce e potenzialmente inaffidabile, la lavoratrice notturna vincolata alla propria routine, e la stessa New Orleans. Tuttavia, questi elementi sono ricollocati per rendere la trama più densa emotivamente, più profonda con simboli e richiami.
Lo stesso artificio delle storie in cambio di fiori richiama la fiaba e il folklore, che rivisto in chiave moderna si potrebbe anche interpretare come dare forma alla sofferenza attraverso il racconto, così da conferire significato alla propria esistenza.
La contrapposizione tra le protagoniste è ben studiata. Adeil è giovane ma sorprendentemente composta, la sua voce oscilla tra innocenza e consapevolezza, incarna la vulnerabilità e la resilienza. La fioraia, al contrario, è definita dalla routine, dalla taciturnità e dalla padronanza del lessico simbolico dei fiori, da una compostezza che però viene progressivamente destabilizzata dalle storie della ragazza. L’interazione tra le due fa porre domande profonde: che cosa significa ricevere la storia di un altro? Quale responsabilità comporta l’atto dell’ascolto?
Centrale per l’impatto dell’opera è lo stile visivo. Le illustrazioni ad acquerello creano un’atmosfera di morbidezza e fragilità, avvolgendo le tavole in una foschia onirica, e con la sua tendenza alla diffusione e alla trasparenza, mette in scena visivamente l’instabilità della memoria e della fragilità. I colori si fondono, i contorni si sfumano, le ombre si insinuano senza netta delimitazione: questo approccio pittorico rafforza l’atmosfera di decadenza resa mediante sottili gradazioni tonali, quali vernici scrostate suggerite da palette smorzate, giardini incolti evocati da delicati lavaggi di verde.
Il mondo naturale, e in particolare i fiori, è rappresentato con una cura quasi reverenziale. Ogni fiore porta con sé un valore simbolico, richiamando il linguaggio vittoriano dei fiori, e di conseguenza la realizzazione progressiva del bouquet invita il lettore a decifrare le risonanze emotive inscritte in ciascuna scelta botanica.
“The cutting garden” necessita di una lettura attenta che rispecchia il compito stesso della fioraia, ovvero cogliere i dettagli, le variazioni cromatiche, le rivelazioni graduali nel racconto di Adeil, l’eco simbolico di ciascun fiore per cogliere la pienezza del suo significato.
È una graphic novel delicata, effimera, eppure forte perché parla del coraggio silenzioso necessario per raccontare la propria storia e dell’altrettanto necessario coraggio di ascoltarla. Nel silenzio del negozio, tra petali e confessioni sussurrate, Van Poelgeest compone un inno alla fragile alchimia attraverso cui il dolore si trasforma in bellezza, cosicché anche i ricordi vengano strappati al terreno intricato del passato e disposti in trame che, pur temporanee, offrono la consolazione di una tenera rêverie goticheggiante.
La trama ruota attorno all’incontro tra una fioraia solitaria e una giovane ragazza misteriosa di nome Adeil, che si presenta nel negozio in circostanze insolite. La fioraia, avvezza alla quiete notturna del proprio mestiere, viene avvicinata da Adeil con una richiesta singolare: desidera una composizione floreale, ma non paga in denaro, bensì offre una storia per ogni fiore aggiunto al bouquet. La fioraia, mossa dalla curiosità, accetta questo scambio, e mentre il bouquet si arricchisce, altrettanto si infittisce la rete di associazioni e implicazioni contenute nel racconto di Adeil – dai ricordi di un incontro casuale con un cantante jazz disilluso, a evocazioni di una dimora familiare in rovina, a scorci di una vita idilliaca ma precaria vissuta ai margini.
La trama si svela lentamente, con l’alba che si avvicina (segno temporale e soglia simbolica), e quando la composizione è quasi ultimata, la fioraia tira le fila delle verità convergenti della vita di Adeil e vede le loro ripercussioni sua stessa esistenza ordinata e silenziosa.
L’architettura narrativa attinge a un ricco repertorio di temi che richiamano in qualche modo la tradizione del southern gothic, come la dimora familiare in decadenza, la bambina precoce e potenzialmente inaffidabile, la lavoratrice notturna vincolata alla propria routine, e la stessa New Orleans. Tuttavia, questi elementi sono ricollocati per rendere la trama più densa emotivamente, più profonda con simboli e richiami.
Lo stesso artificio delle storie in cambio di fiori richiama la fiaba e il folklore, che rivisto in chiave moderna si potrebbe anche interpretare come dare forma alla sofferenza attraverso il racconto, così da conferire significato alla propria esistenza.
La contrapposizione tra le protagoniste è ben studiata. Adeil è giovane ma sorprendentemente composta, la sua voce oscilla tra innocenza e consapevolezza, incarna la vulnerabilità e la resilienza. La fioraia, al contrario, è definita dalla routine, dalla taciturnità e dalla padronanza del lessico simbolico dei fiori, da una compostezza che però viene progressivamente destabilizzata dalle storie della ragazza. L’interazione tra le due fa porre domande profonde: che cosa significa ricevere la storia di un altro? Quale responsabilità comporta l’atto dell’ascolto?
Centrale per l’impatto dell’opera è lo stile visivo. Le illustrazioni ad acquerello creano un’atmosfera di morbidezza e fragilità, avvolgendo le tavole in una foschia onirica, e con la sua tendenza alla diffusione e alla trasparenza, mette in scena visivamente l’instabilità della memoria e della fragilità. I colori si fondono, i contorni si sfumano, le ombre si insinuano senza netta delimitazione: questo approccio pittorico rafforza l’atmosfera di decadenza resa mediante sottili gradazioni tonali, quali vernici scrostate suggerite da palette smorzate, giardini incolti evocati da delicati lavaggi di verde.
Il mondo naturale, e in particolare i fiori, è rappresentato con una cura quasi reverenziale. Ogni fiore porta con sé un valore simbolico, richiamando il linguaggio vittoriano dei fiori, e di conseguenza la realizzazione progressiva del bouquet invita il lettore a decifrare le risonanze emotive inscritte in ciascuna scelta botanica.
“The cutting garden” necessita di una lettura attenta che rispecchia il compito stesso della fioraia, ovvero cogliere i dettagli, le variazioni cromatiche, le rivelazioni graduali nel racconto di Adeil, l’eco simbolico di ciascun fiore per cogliere la pienezza del suo significato.
È una graphic novel delicata, effimera, eppure forte perché parla del coraggio silenzioso necessario per raccontare la propria storia e dell’altrettanto necessario coraggio di ascoltarla. Nel silenzio del negozio, tra petali e confessioni sussurrate, Van Poelgeest compone un inno alla fragile alchimia attraverso cui il dolore si trasforma in bellezza, cosicché anche i ricordi vengano strappati al terreno intricato del passato e disposti in trame che, pur temporanee, offrono la consolazione di una tenera rêverie goticheggiante.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 4,5/5 stars
I'm grateful to NetGalley and Image Comics for the ARC of this book.
The Cutting Garden is one of those graphic novels where the art doesn't merely support the story—it elevates it. The story itself is intriguing, mysterious, and thoughtfully constructed, but Erin Connally's artwork is what truly makes this book shine. The watercolor style is absolutely exquisite, and the way color is used throughout the novel is incredibly expressive. Combined with the curious inking and distinctive lettering choices, it creates an atmosphere that feels dreamlike, unsettling, and beautiful all at once.
The story unfolds in a fascinating way. I loved the use of flowers as chapter markers and the gradual layering of mysteries that kept me questioning what exactly I was reading. Is it supernatural? Is it simply strange? The book never rushes to answer those questions, and that uncertainty becomes part of its charm. There are subtle Southern Gothic influences woven throughout the narrative, which I absolutely adored, and the setting feels perfectly suited to the story's themes.
What surprised me most was how thoughtfully the novel explores girlhood, motherhood, memory, and the difficult act of leaving things behind because it is ultimately what's best for you. Both Josette and Adeil are wonderfully characterized. Adeil exists in this unsettling space where you never quite know what to make of her, yet the story still encourages empathy. Meanwhile, Josette's sense of being lost despite trying to stand firmly on her own feet felt incredibly human.
I was also fascinated by the narrative structure, particularly the way the story is filtered through a third party listening to Adeil's account. It adds another layer of uncertainty and makes the eventual reveals all the more satisfying. And those reveals? Perfect. The ending pulled several threads together in a way that felt both surprising and inevitable.
My only small criticism is the lettering in some of the narration sections. I appreciate the stylistic choice—it fits the story beautifully and helps distinguish the narrator's voice—but reading digitally through the NetGalley app, I occasionally wished the cursive text had been slightly larger or spaced out a bit more. This may be less of an issue in print.
Overall, The Cutting Garden is a beautiful, atmospheric graphic novel with an excellent sense of mystery and a haunting emotional core. The story is very good, but the artwork makes it exceptional. It feels like there's one tiny missing piece preventing it from becoming a perfect read for me, but even so, this is a graphic novel I would happily recommend. I can't wait to see more work from Erin Connally in the future.
I'm grateful to NetGalley and Image Comics for the ARC of this book.
The Cutting Garden is one of those graphic novels where the art doesn't merely support the story—it elevates it. The story itself is intriguing, mysterious, and thoughtfully constructed, but Erin Connally's artwork is what truly makes this book shine. The watercolor style is absolutely exquisite, and the way color is used throughout the novel is incredibly expressive. Combined with the curious inking and distinctive lettering choices, it creates an atmosphere that feels dreamlike, unsettling, and beautiful all at once.
The story unfolds in a fascinating way. I loved the use of flowers as chapter markers and the gradual layering of mysteries that kept me questioning what exactly I was reading. Is it supernatural? Is it simply strange? The book never rushes to answer those questions, and that uncertainty becomes part of its charm. There are subtle Southern Gothic influences woven throughout the narrative, which I absolutely adored, and the setting feels perfectly suited to the story's themes.
What surprised me most was how thoughtfully the novel explores girlhood, motherhood, memory, and the difficult act of leaving things behind because it is ultimately what's best for you. Both Josette and Adeil are wonderfully characterized. Adeil exists in this unsettling space where you never quite know what to make of her, yet the story still encourages empathy. Meanwhile, Josette's sense of being lost despite trying to stand firmly on her own feet felt incredibly human.
I was also fascinated by the narrative structure, particularly the way the story is filtered through a third party listening to Adeil's account. It adds another layer of uncertainty and makes the eventual reveals all the more satisfying. And those reveals? Perfect. The ending pulled several threads together in a way that felt both surprising and inevitable.
My only small criticism is the lettering in some of the narration sections. I appreciate the stylistic choice—it fits the story beautifully and helps distinguish the narrator's voice—but reading digitally through the NetGalley app, I occasionally wished the cursive text had been slightly larger or spaced out a bit more. This may be less of an issue in print.
Overall, The Cutting Garden is a beautiful, atmospheric graphic novel with an excellent sense of mystery and a haunting emotional core. The story is very good, but the artwork makes it exceptional. It feels like there's one tiny missing piece preventing it from becoming a perfect read for me, but even so, this is a graphic novel I would happily recommend. I can't wait to see more work from Erin Connally in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿: readers who love literary graphic novels, haunting gothic atmosphere, botanical artwork, and stories that leave room for interpretation.
The Cutting Garden gave me one of the easiest five-star art experiences I've had in a long time... and one of the most frustrating reading experiences.
Every page feels like a painting. The watercolours are breathtaking, the floral details are gorgeous, and so much of the storytelling happens through colour, expressions, and atmosphere rather than words. This is one of those graphic novels where the artwork doesn't simply support the story. It is the story. As an art piece, this is an easy five stars from me.
I also loved that the story trusted me as a reader. Rather than explaining everything outright, it scatters little pieces for you to gather yourself. I adore stories that ask me to think and leave room for interpretation, and this one has a wonderfully dreamy, almost poetic quality.
Unfortunately, the reading experience never quite reached the same height.
Much of the narration is written in a beautiful handwritten cursive that perfectly suits the atmosphere, but I frequently found myself zooming in just to read it. Instead of spending that time piecing together the mystery, I was trying to decipher the words. Eventually, I caught myself skimming sections simply because reading the narration had become hard work.
That left me in a strange place by the end. I don't know whether I would have understood more of the story if the lettering had been easier to read, and I never will. What I do know is that I finished feeling as though I'd missed pieces of a puzzle I would have loved to solve.
That makes this such a bittersweet read for me. I absolutely adore how this book looks. If the narration had simply been easier to read, I honestly think this is a graphic novel I would have happily bought for my shelves just to admire again and again. As someone who loves art and beautiful books, I think it's stunning. I just wish the reading experience had allowed me to enjoy it as much as I admired it.
✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱:
• Absolutely breathtaking artwork that tells as much of the story as the words do.
• A dreamy, poetic narrative that trusts the reader.
• Beautiful botanical imagery and a wonderfully haunting atmosphere.
🌧️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
• The handwritten cursive beautifully suited the artwork but often interrupted the reading experience.
• I occasionally found myself focusing more on deciphering the text than piecing together the story.
• I finished wishing I'd been able to immerse myself more fully in both the story and its mysteries.
⭐⭐⭐ / 5
A little thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this graphic novel. All thoughts, feelings, and bookish ramblings are entirely my own. 🌿📖
The Cutting Garden gave me one of the easiest five-star art experiences I've had in a long time... and one of the most frustrating reading experiences.
Every page feels like a painting. The watercolours are breathtaking, the floral details are gorgeous, and so much of the storytelling happens through colour, expressions, and atmosphere rather than words. This is one of those graphic novels where the artwork doesn't simply support the story. It is the story. As an art piece, this is an easy five stars from me.
I also loved that the story trusted me as a reader. Rather than explaining everything outright, it scatters little pieces for you to gather yourself. I adore stories that ask me to think and leave room for interpretation, and this one has a wonderfully dreamy, almost poetic quality.
Unfortunately, the reading experience never quite reached the same height.
Much of the narration is written in a beautiful handwritten cursive that perfectly suits the atmosphere, but I frequently found myself zooming in just to read it. Instead of spending that time piecing together the mystery, I was trying to decipher the words. Eventually, I caught myself skimming sections simply because reading the narration had become hard work.
That left me in a strange place by the end. I don't know whether I would have understood more of the story if the lettering had been easier to read, and I never will. What I do know is that I finished feeling as though I'd missed pieces of a puzzle I would have loved to solve.
That makes this such a bittersweet read for me. I absolutely adore how this book looks. If the narration had simply been easier to read, I honestly think this is a graphic novel I would have happily bought for my shelves just to admire again and again. As someone who loves art and beautiful books, I think it's stunning. I just wish the reading experience had allowed me to enjoy it as much as I admired it.
✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱:
• Absolutely breathtaking artwork that tells as much of the story as the words do.
• A dreamy, poetic narrative that trusts the reader.
• Beautiful botanical imagery and a wonderfully haunting atmosphere.
🌧️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
• The handwritten cursive beautifully suited the artwork but often interrupted the reading experience.
• I occasionally found myself focusing more on deciphering the text than piecing together the story.
• I finished wishing I'd been able to immerse myself more fully in both the story and its mysteries.
⭐⭐⭐ / 5
A little thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this graphic novel. All thoughts, feelings, and bookish ramblings are entirely my own. 🌿📖
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Image Comics for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was originally drawn to this graphic novel for its cover. You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, I know, but it drew me in. The art, done by Erin Connally, is absolutely gorgeous all throughout the book. The watercolours lend the book this sort of dream-like quality, and the panels are often constructed in very unique and interesting ways. If it hadn't been for the author and illustrator bios at the end, I would have had no idea that this was Connally's first graphic novel.
The art is only half of what makes a graphic novel, with the other obviously being the writing. It was beautiful in a way that complimented the art, and it didn't overexplain anything that we could already see on the page itself. It is, for the most part, a story being retold to us second-hand, meaning that neither we nor our narrator are privy to all of the details - but the art is more than willing to fill in the gaps. It requires your attention.
Adeil and Josette were both interesting characters who I enjoyed piecing together the histories of. While Josette's decision to leave New Orleans seems a bit sudden, it makes sense in retrospect without it being explained outright to the reader. Adeil, by contrast, remains a mystery to us even beyond the very end, but this isn't a complaint. I don't think we were ever supposed to fully know her.
The connection between Adeil and Josette is very strong in a very short amount of time, a consequence of how short this graphic novel is. I would have liked to see more of their relationship as it developed, especially when they feel so strongly about each other during their time together. This element, a rather important one at that, sadly felt somewhat rushed. I would have loved to have spent more time following their life together.
Additionally (and this is really a minor note in the grand scheme of things) I don't think it was a good idea to use cursive for the narration's font. I understand why it's used stylistically, and it does look very pretty and fit in with the vibe of the story as a whole, but some readers may find it difficult to understand. This is more of an accessibility issue than a critique of the story itself, but it's one of the first things I made note of, so I felt it worth mentioning.
Overall, a very strong, well-crafted story. The author and illustrator work together brilliantly, and I'm excited to see what they do next.
4/5
I was originally drawn to this graphic novel for its cover. You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, I know, but it drew me in. The art, done by Erin Connally, is absolutely gorgeous all throughout the book. The watercolours lend the book this sort of dream-like quality, and the panels are often constructed in very unique and interesting ways. If it hadn't been for the author and illustrator bios at the end, I would have had no idea that this was Connally's first graphic novel.
The art is only half of what makes a graphic novel, with the other obviously being the writing. It was beautiful in a way that complimented the art, and it didn't overexplain anything that we could already see on the page itself. It is, for the most part, a story being retold to us second-hand, meaning that neither we nor our narrator are privy to all of the details - but the art is more than willing to fill in the gaps. It requires your attention.
Adeil and Josette were both interesting characters who I enjoyed piecing together the histories of. While Josette's decision to leave New Orleans seems a bit sudden, it makes sense in retrospect without it being explained outright to the reader. Adeil, by contrast, remains a mystery to us even beyond the very end, but this isn't a complaint. I don't think we were ever supposed to fully know her.
The connection between Adeil and Josette is very strong in a very short amount of time, a consequence of how short this graphic novel is. I would have liked to see more of their relationship as it developed, especially when they feel so strongly about each other during their time together. This element, a rather important one at that, sadly felt somewhat rushed. I would have loved to have spent more time following their life together.
Additionally (and this is really a minor note in the grand scheme of things) I don't think it was a good idea to use cursive for the narration's font. I understand why it's used stylistically, and it does look very pretty and fit in with the vibe of the story as a whole, but some readers may find it difficult to understand. This is more of an accessibility issue than a critique of the story itself, but it's one of the first things I made note of, so I felt it worth mentioning.
Overall, a very strong, well-crafted story. The author and illustrator work together brilliantly, and I'm excited to see what they do next.
4/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy of this graphic novel for an honest review
At first when I saw this i was drew in by the cover because it has a botanical gothic beauty to it, as I went into the story i was then also drawn in by the lovely yet delicate looking art work that set the tone for the graphic novel.
This is a gothic story of the beauty of life, death & decay how it shifts and molds whatever life it touches for to see light you have to understand or walk hand in hand with darkness.
We follow the story of a young girl who walks into a flower shop & asks for a flower display to be made for a funeral at sunrise, & as payment thought it being made she shares a part of her story which as you follow it means a great deal to her bevause of the gentleness and way its portrayed.
As you read along with this young girl and woman you get the feeling that the girl is a vampire or something else, this leans into the dark & decaying beauty of the story as well as the woman who goes with her to live in the countryside is the light & the beauty of life & we see these both work side by side in a dance almost with the flow of the story.
We also see a bond between the two the young girl and woman giving off symbolism of a mother daughter dynamic and how delicate & fragile it is, it shows the importance of a parental figure to a child & how life's meanings are more fruitful, the longing we see as a theme throughout as well attaches you to the young girl
Now for me this story was too short but I honestly think that's one of the points to this story, giving u a peak into something showing showing how little or short a time something can have an impact to show that its the little moments that are beautiful & are remembered even in the darkest of times and its the fragile beauty of something so fleeting that when decay comes the memories make it worth while.
A sad poetic story really with quite a bit of hidden symbolism behind it, and reading this I can tell that love went into this story because love is one of the base lines as well.
This is not going to be for everyone and each person will come away with there own intrupitation of what this story says and means which I also think is beautiful.
At first when I saw this i was drew in by the cover because it has a botanical gothic beauty to it, as I went into the story i was then also drawn in by the lovely yet delicate looking art work that set the tone for the graphic novel.
This is a gothic story of the beauty of life, death & decay how it shifts and molds whatever life it touches for to see light you have to understand or walk hand in hand with darkness.
We follow the story of a young girl who walks into a flower shop & asks for a flower display to be made for a funeral at sunrise, & as payment thought it being made she shares a part of her story which as you follow it means a great deal to her bevause of the gentleness and way its portrayed.
As you read along with this young girl and woman you get the feeling that the girl is a vampire or something else, this leans into the dark & decaying beauty of the story as well as the woman who goes with her to live in the countryside is the light & the beauty of life & we see these both work side by side in a dance almost with the flow of the story.
We also see a bond between the two the young girl and woman giving off symbolism of a mother daughter dynamic and how delicate & fragile it is, it shows the importance of a parental figure to a child & how life's meanings are more fruitful, the longing we see as a theme throughout as well attaches you to the young girl
Now for me this story was too short but I honestly think that's one of the points to this story, giving u a peak into something showing showing how little or short a time something can have an impact to show that its the little moments that are beautiful & are remembered even in the darkest of times and its the fragile beauty of something so fleeting that when decay comes the memories make it worth while.
A sad poetic story really with quite a bit of hidden symbolism behind it, and reading this I can tell that love went into this story because love is one of the base lines as well.
This is not going to be for everyone and each person will come away with there own intrupitation of what this story says and means which I also think is beautiful.
June 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, the author, and the artist for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I must admit I wish I liked this better. I don't think it was bad, but I guess it wasn't for me? Idk lol.
The pros: The art is absolutely beautiful. I really love the watercolor, and there are some pages with almost a border of images around the actual panels that I thought was super neat and pretty. And I found the story intruiging, I liked Josette and Adeil a lot, I liked the house. The mystery and suspense was fun, and I liked the ending. Both visually (those last couple pages before the epilogue) and like, thematically (with the epilogue). It was cute, and a fast read. Also, while I think it could've been dug into deeper, I definitely did feel the gothic in this as more than just an aesthetic, which I appreciate.
The cons: You could almost say its too fast a read. What starts as a fun mystery ends in just kind of vague nothingness. I understand not wanting to give away everything, but I think just about everything in this story could've used some more weight. I thought this might be a vampire story, and I don't care so much about not getting that confirmed - I care that I just didn't really feel anything about the story by the end. The mystery element had turned into unnecessary vibe-based vagueness, the suspense was gone as it was clear nothing was really going to happen, and for a story that claims to be about mothers and daughters, I found that theme messy at best. I'm fairly certain Josette and Adeil are meant to have a mother-daughter relationship, but the interactions they have some times feel far more romantic in tone. Also, Josette seems like she both is and isn't a woman of color? I started off pretty sure she was Black, came to think that maybe she wasn't (and ironically didn't realize the man who was fixing their fence was meant to be Black until after it was said some time later), and then at the very end thought she might be again? I wish there was more certainty to that, and similarly, I wish there was more certainty to Josette's backstory/motivations, because honestly, I don't really get why she left with Adeil, and I don't get why she leaves again later. There was just too much that needed clarification.
I must admit I wish I liked this better. I don't think it was bad, but I guess it wasn't for me? Idk lol.
The pros: The art is absolutely beautiful. I really love the watercolor, and there are some pages with almost a border of images around the actual panels that I thought was super neat and pretty. And I found the story intruiging, I liked Josette and Adeil a lot, I liked the house. The mystery and suspense was fun, and I liked the ending. Both visually (those last couple pages before the epilogue) and like, thematically (with the epilogue). It was cute, and a fast read. Also, while I think it could've been dug into deeper, I definitely did feel the gothic in this as more than just an aesthetic, which I appreciate.
The cons: You could almost say its too fast a read. What starts as a fun mystery ends in just kind of vague nothingness. I understand not wanting to give away everything, but I think just about everything in this story could've used some more weight. I thought this might be a vampire story, and I don't care so much about not getting that confirmed - I care that I just didn't really feel anything about the story by the end. The mystery element had turned into unnecessary vibe-based vagueness, the suspense was gone as it was clear nothing was really going to happen, and for a story that claims to be about mothers and daughters, I found that theme messy at best. I'm fairly certain Josette and Adeil are meant to have a mother-daughter relationship, but the interactions they have some times feel far more romantic in tone. Also, Josette seems like she both is and isn't a woman of color? I started off pretty sure she was Black, came to think that maybe she wasn't (and ironically didn't realize the man who was fixing their fence was meant to be Black until after it was said some time later), and then at the very end thought she might be again? I wish there was more certainty to that, and similarly, I wish there was more certainty to Josette's backstory/motivations, because honestly, I don't really get why she left with Adeil, and I don't get why she leaves again later. There was just too much that needed clarification.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have to say, reading this graphic novel felt like a very unique experience.
The first thing that struck me was the artwork. It is absolutely gorgeous and carries much of the story's atmosphere. Every illustration feels intentional, delicate, and dreamlike, creating a tone that is both whimsical and slightly unsettling. Even the cover alone immediately drew me in.
One detail I particularly loved was the use of cursive writing throughout the book. It adds an elegant, almost nostalgic quality that complements the story beautifully. There is something intimate about seeing handwriting woven into a narrative, and it made the reading experience feel all the more personal.
The premise itself is fascinating. The idea of a girl paying for flowers with pieces of her own story is both poetic and eerie, giving the narrative an almost fairy-tale-like quality. There is a haunting undertone to the entire concept, one that lingers even after finishing the book.
What impressed me most was the atmosphere the story manages to create in such a short space. There is a sense of mystery surrounding both the flowers and the transactions taking place, and it gives the world a dreamlike quality that I found incredibly engaging.
That said, my biggest issue was that I wanted more.
The story felt too brief for the ideas it introduced. The concept is compelling enough that I found myself wanting additional depth and exploration, particularly regarding the flowers themselves. Since they play such an important role in the narrative, I would have loved to learn more about their meanings, symbolism, and significance within the world.
As beautiful as the story is, it occasionally felt as though it ended just as it was beginning to unfold. I left with more questions than answers, which can be effective, but in this case I found myself wishing for a little more development and time spent with the story's ideas.
Overall, this is a visually stunning and imaginative graphic novel with a unique premise and a wonderfully atmospheric presentation. While I wished for greater depth and a longer exploration of its concepts, it remains a memorable reading experience that left me wanting more.
The first thing that struck me was the artwork. It is absolutely gorgeous and carries much of the story's atmosphere. Every illustration feels intentional, delicate, and dreamlike, creating a tone that is both whimsical and slightly unsettling. Even the cover alone immediately drew me in.
One detail I particularly loved was the use of cursive writing throughout the book. It adds an elegant, almost nostalgic quality that complements the story beautifully. There is something intimate about seeing handwriting woven into a narrative, and it made the reading experience feel all the more personal.
The premise itself is fascinating. The idea of a girl paying for flowers with pieces of her own story is both poetic and eerie, giving the narrative an almost fairy-tale-like quality. There is a haunting undertone to the entire concept, one that lingers even after finishing the book.
What impressed me most was the atmosphere the story manages to create in such a short space. There is a sense of mystery surrounding both the flowers and the transactions taking place, and it gives the world a dreamlike quality that I found incredibly engaging.
That said, my biggest issue was that I wanted more.
The story felt too brief for the ideas it introduced. The concept is compelling enough that I found myself wanting additional depth and exploration, particularly regarding the flowers themselves. Since they play such an important role in the narrative, I would have loved to learn more about their meanings, symbolism, and significance within the world.
As beautiful as the story is, it occasionally felt as though it ended just as it was beginning to unfold. I left with more questions than answers, which can be effective, but in this case I found myself wishing for a little more development and time spent with the story's ideas.
Overall, this is a visually stunning and imaginative graphic novel with a unique premise and a wonderfully atmospheric presentation. While I wished for greater depth and a longer exploration of its concepts, it remains a memorable reading experience that left me wanting more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I honestly don't know how to feel about this one, I don't really hate nor do I really like it. But I feel it lacks something and I'm fine with it not over explaning who Adeil is. I'll just give some examples. I guess, from the blurb alone:
(1) A tender, brutal love story about mothers and daughters - While both are there throughout the story, the relationship of a "daughter" (Adeil) to her mother (Josette) got a little bit overshadowed by the mystery who Adeil really is.
(2) For every new flower the florist adds to the bouquet, Adeil offers another dissonant detail in her story - I love this trope of exchanging a story for something. But it wasn't really shown this way. There's no interruption of story, whether it's the florist asking question regarding the story or any interruption in general. I honestly thought they're just there because it's a creative way to say it's the next chapter or there's a time jump of some kind.
I think the interruption of the story is one of the things I find lacking in this story. Some of parts of the story deserves some question to say the least, but the story is told interrupted.
Now for some non-blurb related:
I have something regarding narrative bubbles that could lead to spoilers, so I won't be talking about that. I'll say the identity of Adeil still leaves me puzzled, I don't what her motive is, but it seems she's just there for Josette. I think I wanted Adeil to be fleshed out just a little bit more.
I also want to talk a little bit about the art, since this is a graphic novel, But I like it that it's not your usual comic book art - it's not inked, just pencils and watercolor. I love the use of color like the having limited colors when portraying some distance between two characters. Since this one is deals about grief some of the pages feels monochromatic, almost, but with warm colors (red/orange) added in because of the light sources like candles or fireplace or because most of the pages took place in the dark/nighttime. It wasn't until later we see color on the pages again, the greens and the blues and daytime - when there's a feeling of hope again.
(1) A tender, brutal love story about mothers and daughters - While both are there throughout the story, the relationship of a "daughter" (Adeil) to her mother (Josette) got a little bit overshadowed by the mystery who Adeil really is.
(2) For every new flower the florist adds to the bouquet, Adeil offers another dissonant detail in her story - I love this trope of exchanging a story for something. But it wasn't really shown this way. There's no interruption of story, whether it's the florist asking question regarding the story or any interruption in general. I honestly thought they're just there because it's a creative way to say it's the next chapter or there's a time jump of some kind.
I think the interruption of the story is one of the things I find lacking in this story. Some of parts of the story deserves some question to say the least, but the story is told interrupted.
Now for some non-blurb related:
I have something regarding narrative bubbles that could lead to spoilers, so I won't be talking about that. I'll say the identity of Adeil still leaves me puzzled, I don't what her motive is, but it seems she's just there for Josette. I think I wanted Adeil to be fleshed out just a little bit more.
I also want to talk a little bit about the art, since this is a graphic novel, But I like it that it's not your usual comic book art - it's not inked, just pencils and watercolor. I love the use of color like the having limited colors when portraying some distance between two characters. Since this one is deals about grief some of the pages feels monochromatic, almost, but with warm colors (red/orange) added in because of the light sources like candles or fireplace or because most of the pages took place in the dark/nighttime. It wasn't until later we see color on the pages again, the greens and the blues and daytime - when there's a feeling of hope again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Before starting my review, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publishing house who granted me the digital ARC copy of 'The Cutting Garden'.
"But what is beauty, if not threatened by its own mortal brevity?"
I'm not sure I have the words to express how much I loved this graphic novel. I read it in less than an hour after receiving my ARC copy and I feel speechless.
The drawings are amazing. They reminded me of drafts that artists didn't have the chance to complete, some sketches with water paint. Watching those drawing made me feel so nostalgic.
"And so I give you this strange bouquet of words, in the hope that you too can cherish the decay of all things. A gift cursed with the soft, fragrant imperfections of a wayward secret."
Concerning the story itself, I can say that was sadly beautiful. Set in New Orleans, it starts with a story told in a flower shop.
Josette has lost her daughter and while walking in the streets she finds a girl with bloody lips. Adeil is the name of the strange girl and she has a proposal for Josette: leaving town together and go live in a house in the countryside.
Josette and Adeil find themselves in a world that is hurting them and with time they develop a mother-daughter relationship.
It's Adeil who tells the story to the girl in the flower shop after asking for some flowers for a funeral.
The writing style of the author is enchanting. For the whole time I felt like someone was singing a sad but beautiful lullaby. I literally couldn't put the down the graphic novel until the end. The atmosphere during the whole reading makes the reader feel homesick for something that it's not really there.
Not to forget the beautiful intersections with flowers and plants' drawings.
The only negative aspect? I would have loved some pages more.
Definitely recommended if you like graphic novels and also if you want to approach this world with something that still recalls the writing style of a literary novel. In addition, I loved the implication of Adeil's nature so that would also be a plus to readers who are searching for a reading with a hint of supernatural.
"But what is beauty, if not threatened by its own mortal brevity?"
I'm not sure I have the words to express how much I loved this graphic novel. I read it in less than an hour after receiving my ARC copy and I feel speechless.
The drawings are amazing. They reminded me of drafts that artists didn't have the chance to complete, some sketches with water paint. Watching those drawing made me feel so nostalgic.
"And so I give you this strange bouquet of words, in the hope that you too can cherish the decay of all things. A gift cursed with the soft, fragrant imperfections of a wayward secret."
Concerning the story itself, I can say that was sadly beautiful. Set in New Orleans, it starts with a story told in a flower shop.
Josette has lost her daughter and while walking in the streets she finds a girl with bloody lips. Adeil is the name of the strange girl and she has a proposal for Josette: leaving town together and go live in a house in the countryside.
Josette and Adeil find themselves in a world that is hurting them and with time they develop a mother-daughter relationship.
It's Adeil who tells the story to the girl in the flower shop after asking for some flowers for a funeral.
The writing style of the author is enchanting. For the whole time I felt like someone was singing a sad but beautiful lullaby. I literally couldn't put the down the graphic novel until the end. The atmosphere during the whole reading makes the reader feel homesick for something that it's not really there.
Not to forget the beautiful intersections with flowers and plants' drawings.
The only negative aspect? I would have loved some pages more.
Definitely recommended if you like graphic novels and also if you want to approach this world with something that still recalls the writing style of a literary novel. In addition, I loved the implication of Adeil's nature so that would also be a plus to readers who are searching for a reading with a hint of supernatural.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Cutting Garden is a graphic novel with haunting watercolor artwork and eerie undertones, with an exploration of relationships and freedom.
————————————————
The strongest part of this graphic novel, for me, was the artwork. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and create a dreamlike, wispy atmosphere that perfectly complements the story’s eerie undertone. There were also a handful of lines throughout that felt poetic and beautifully written which I usually don’t come across in graphic novels, so I really appreciated those moments.
Even when I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, there was a spooky undercurrent within the novel that kept me curious enough to continue reading. The atmosphere felt bleak and melancholy which I thought worked really well with the art style.
Unfortunately, the story itself never came together for me. The narrative felt extremely vague and ambiguous, to the point that I struggled to understand what was happening or why certain events were unfolding the way they were. By the end, I was still unsure whether the story was meant to be interpreted as supernatural, and I didn’t feel like the book provided enough clarity to feel satisfying.
The formatting also created some challenges. I wasn’t a fan of the cursive font choice, particularly given that I was reading on a device, and found it difficult to see at times. If I hadn’t been able to zoom in I don’t think this would have been at all pleasant or even possible to get through.
This is one of those books where I admired the presentation but the story itself fell flat. The artwork is gorgeous, the atmosphere is great, and there are flashes of beautiful prose throughout, but the narrative left me confused rather than intrigued. By the time I finished, I was mostly left wondering what the point of the story had been, which is never a good feeling.
Thank you to Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy!
————————————————
The strongest part of this graphic novel, for me, was the artwork. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and create a dreamlike, wispy atmosphere that perfectly complements the story’s eerie undertone. There were also a handful of lines throughout that felt poetic and beautifully written which I usually don’t come across in graphic novels, so I really appreciated those moments.
Even when I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, there was a spooky undercurrent within the novel that kept me curious enough to continue reading. The atmosphere felt bleak and melancholy which I thought worked really well with the art style.
Unfortunately, the story itself never came together for me. The narrative felt extremely vague and ambiguous, to the point that I struggled to understand what was happening or why certain events were unfolding the way they were. By the end, I was still unsure whether the story was meant to be interpreted as supernatural, and I didn’t feel like the book provided enough clarity to feel satisfying.
The formatting also created some challenges. I wasn’t a fan of the cursive font choice, particularly given that I was reading on a device, and found it difficult to see at times. If I hadn’t been able to zoom in I don’t think this would have been at all pleasant or even possible to get through.
This is one of those books where I admired the presentation but the story itself fell flat. The artwork is gorgeous, the atmosphere is great, and there are flashes of beautiful prose throughout, but the narrative left me confused rather than intrigued. By the time I finished, I was mostly left wondering what the point of the story had been, which is never a good feeling.
Thank you to Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Absolutely gorgeous visuals. The art throughout this story is stunning, with beautiful use of colour to affect mood.
A mysterious girl, Adeil, tells a mysterious story to a florist who makes an arrangement for her. Chapters are separated by detailed illustrations of flowers and plants, and the whole thing does give a strong appreciation of the natural world, which quite appealed to me - especially when depicted so beautifully.
The story itself is too thin to really engage on a deeper level, but it's interesting enough to keep you hooked throughout. I think unfortunately it asks more questions than it answers, leading to a lack of satisfaction when the end comes around.
There are some really interesting threads to the story, so I would really have liked to know more. I think there's a lot of symbolism and analogy here that's simply lost in its attempts to be subtle. I love the gentle poetry of it, but it just seemed too convoluted to be able to try and tease out all the intricate meanings behind each sentence.
The watercolour art is beautiful, though, and honestly just taking in the pages was such a pleasure. I think if you took a panel from this featuring one of the women, and hung it in your house, it would be something you'd be constantly thinking about. This artwork really provokes thought, and I suppose the scarcity of the story sort of assists that.
So for me, it's a 3-star graphic novel that gets a bonus star simply for the artwork and how engaging I found it. I'll happily recommend this to graphic novel fans looking for something thought-provoking.
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
A mysterious girl, Adeil, tells a mysterious story to a florist who makes an arrangement for her. Chapters are separated by detailed illustrations of flowers and plants, and the whole thing does give a strong appreciation of the natural world, which quite appealed to me - especially when depicted so beautifully.
The story itself is too thin to really engage on a deeper level, but it's interesting enough to keep you hooked throughout. I think unfortunately it asks more questions than it answers, leading to a lack of satisfaction when the end comes around.
There are some really interesting threads to the story, so I would really have liked to know more. I think there's a lot of symbolism and analogy here that's simply lost in its attempts to be subtle. I love the gentle poetry of it, but it just seemed too convoluted to be able to try and tease out all the intricate meanings behind each sentence.
The watercolour art is beautiful, though, and honestly just taking in the pages was such a pleasure. I think if you took a panel from this featuring one of the women, and hung it in your house, it would be something you'd be constantly thinking about. This artwork really provokes thought, and I suppose the scarcity of the story sort of assists that.
So for me, it's a 3-star graphic novel that gets a bonus star simply for the artwork and how engaging I found it. I'll happily recommend this to graphic novel fans looking for something thought-provoking.
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to the e-ARC for review.
The Cutting Garden is an atmospheric story that is artistically written with a plot that feels like a fleeting dream in which you just woke up from and can’t quite decipher. The art is hazy and dream-like, really giving the reader the feeling of a dream they just can’t quite remember. The characters feel like ghosts and are very mysterious and feel like fragments of thought. The story does not have much of a plot and leaves the reader without much context or answers.
This kind of story is usually not my cup of tea, but I enjoyed this as a piece of art. Reading it felt like I had a little daydream and wrote it down, maybe to add onto later, or maybe to leave as a little snippet of a story.
The readability (like mentioned in other reviews) was a bit difficult, but I think reading a print version would probably be better. (Ex: small text, cursive text)
If you are into dreamy and mysterious stories with stunning, unique and visually appealing art with not much of a plot or explanation, this is for you. If you like to interpret stories in your own way and come up with your own theories, this book is for you. If you want a linear plot with an established timeline and well-defined characters, this book is not for you.
Overall, this book is completely up to the readers’ preference. For the reasons listed above I could see this book being an easy hit or miss for a lot of people. For me, it was somewhere in the middle. I can appreciate the art and the flowery words and the symbolism, but also crave more plot and more well-defined characters.
The Cutting Garden is an atmospheric story that is artistically written with a plot that feels like a fleeting dream in which you just woke up from and can’t quite decipher. The art is hazy and dream-like, really giving the reader the feeling of a dream they just can’t quite remember. The characters feel like ghosts and are very mysterious and feel like fragments of thought. The story does not have much of a plot and leaves the reader without much context or answers.
This kind of story is usually not my cup of tea, but I enjoyed this as a piece of art. Reading it felt like I had a little daydream and wrote it down, maybe to add onto later, or maybe to leave as a little snippet of a story.
The readability (like mentioned in other reviews) was a bit difficult, but I think reading a print version would probably be better. (Ex: small text, cursive text)
If you are into dreamy and mysterious stories with stunning, unique and visually appealing art with not much of a plot or explanation, this is for you. If you like to interpret stories in your own way and come up with your own theories, this book is for you. If you want a linear plot with an established timeline and well-defined characters, this book is not for you.
Overall, this book is completely up to the readers’ preference. For the reasons listed above I could see this book being an easy hit or miss for a lot of people. For me, it was somewhere in the middle. I can appreciate the art and the flowery words and the symbolism, but also crave more plot and more well-defined characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
...what use is a house disentangled from time and Earth? when secrets dwell between those that live here. when the road to salvation is paved with deceit.
The Cutting Garden by Darcy van Poelgebest is a graphic novel that opens with a florist who one night gets a visit from a strange girl named Adeil requesting for funeral flowers. While preparing the flowers, the florist listens to a story from Adeil about a time where she was able to enter a kind of maternal relationship with a lady named Josette who just lost her daughter and how they were able to rebuild a life of their own in a house away from the city of New Orleans.
While the plot is simple, it is also purposely vague and it took me two run throughs to understand it. The narration does not reveal much about what's beneath everything and the mysteries surrounding the characters shrouds the story in an eerie, confusing, and unsettling feeling, aided by the moody and pretty watercolor art by Erin Connally. I think the cursive font for the narration works as a stylistic choice but there might be a more readable font that will serve the purpose.
I thought what the plot was building towards failed to make an impact. I found no compelling reason to empathise or root for the three main characters, making the later revelations fall flat. While the mood was intact for the most part through the art, the intentional mystery of the plot also became its weakness, in the end. I might have missed some references with this being set in historical New Orleans. Still, I recommend this to fans of Southern Gothic folklore, haunted houses, watercolor graphic novels, and puzzling stories.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Cutting Garden by Darcy Van Poelgeest, Erin Connally & Aditya Bidikar is a graphic novel that I discovered on NetGalley. The stunning cover and interesting title immediately drew my attention. I requested the eARC without reading the description because sometimes, I like taking risks like that. So far, I’ve only regretted it twice that I can think of in recent times. Lucky for me, I got approved.
So, did the book live up to my expectations?
Stunning Watercolour Artwork
I’ll admit, I didn’t know what exactly to expect from this graphic novel. The cover illustration alone was intriguing enough, promising an aesthetic visual journey into something poetic and moving. And honestly, it was. The illustrations were by far my favourite part of the graphic novel. The minimalist watercolour style with its brilliant use of light and shadows to create contrasts brilliantly set a haunting atmosphere. Each panel is a meditative watercolour painting that you can sit down and admire for a long time.
I especially loved how each chapter is bookended with illustration figures of different flowers, which—in my interpretation—all form part of the bouquet that the florist makes. As the seasons change, so does the colour palette, reflecting both the demanding nature of the characters’ setting, as well as their inner emotional states. Overall, my admiration for the artwork is the primary reason for my rating of this book. From the art perspective, it was absolutely stunning.
Objective, even the story itself is quite moving. The only issue was that it didn’t move me as much as I expected it to.
Continue reading on my blog…
So, did the book live up to my expectations?
Stunning Watercolour Artwork
I’ll admit, I didn’t know what exactly to expect from this graphic novel. The cover illustration alone was intriguing enough, promising an aesthetic visual journey into something poetic and moving. And honestly, it was. The illustrations were by far my favourite part of the graphic novel. The minimalist watercolour style with its brilliant use of light and shadows to create contrasts brilliantly set a haunting atmosphere. Each panel is a meditative watercolour painting that you can sit down and admire for a long time.
I especially loved how each chapter is bookended with illustration figures of different flowers, which—in my interpretation—all form part of the bouquet that the florist makes. As the seasons change, so does the colour palette, reflecting both the demanding nature of the characters’ setting, as well as their inner emotional states. Overall, my admiration for the artwork is the primary reason for my rating of this book. From the art perspective, it was absolutely stunning.
Objective, even the story itself is quite moving. The only issue was that it didn’t move me as much as I expected it to.
Continue reading on my blog…
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was the magnificent cover, with its plant-inspired horror, that immediately drew me in.
In this graphic novel, the illustrations are done in watercolour with beautiful lighting effects. I enjoyed the lovely botanical illustrations interspersed throughout the chapters (I don’t know enough about the language of flowers, but I imagine each one had a meaning). The illuminations that sometimes frame the panels further enhance the aesthetic and create a lovely effect.
The atmosphere is undoubtedly the work’s greatest strength: deeply mysterious and gothic. The text, often poetic, plays a full part in creating this atmosphere. The cursive narration isn’t always very legible in the digital version, but it lends an extra touch of delicacy to the story.
Throughout this collection of stories, the various pieces of the puzzle gradually fall into place, though some answers remain implied rather than explicitly stated.
We follow the relationship that develops between a mysterious young girl and a young woman with troubled pasts, bound by a connection that is as intriguing as it is touching.
Despite all these qualities, there was just something missing for me to be completely swept away. I admired the atmosphere, the visual beauty and the poetry of the story, yet I didn’t manage to become as attached to it as I would have liked. I must also admit that I was expecting a more pronounced horror element; where I had hoped for more horror, I ultimately found a much more contemplative story, centred on loss and grief.
In this graphic novel, the illustrations are done in watercolour with beautiful lighting effects. I enjoyed the lovely botanical illustrations interspersed throughout the chapters (I don’t know enough about the language of flowers, but I imagine each one had a meaning). The illuminations that sometimes frame the panels further enhance the aesthetic and create a lovely effect.
The atmosphere is undoubtedly the work’s greatest strength: deeply mysterious and gothic. The text, often poetic, plays a full part in creating this atmosphere. The cursive narration isn’t always very legible in the digital version, but it lends an extra touch of delicacy to the story.
Throughout this collection of stories, the various pieces of the puzzle gradually fall into place, though some answers remain implied rather than explicitly stated.
We follow the relationship that develops between a mysterious young girl and a young woman with troubled pasts, bound by a connection that is as intriguing as it is touching.
Despite all these qualities, there was just something missing for me to be completely swept away. I admired the atmosphere, the visual beauty and the poetry of the story, yet I didn’t manage to become as attached to it as I would have liked. I must also admit that I was expecting a more pronounced horror element; where I had hoped for more horror, I ultimately found a much more contemplative story, centred on loss and grief.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Perfectly distinctive graphic novel, sparsely telling of a woman and girl and the love they have for each other, but one where I can only wonder the impact it might have had if I'd not worked certain things out straight away. Of course, I might have been intended to all along, but the fact remains I was not surprised here. Charmed, yes, enamoured – but not surprised.
Wonderful watercolour adds to the poise of it all, and the piece has a character I didn't know I'd receive, coming to this in complete ignorance. A final element of the plot did surprise, in a gentle way, and overall this is a marvellous calling card for a new creative partnership. Four and a half stars.
Wonderful watercolour adds to the poise of it all, and the piece has a character I didn't know I'd receive, coming to this in complete ignorance. A final element of the plot did surprise, in a gentle way, and overall this is a marvellous calling card for a new creative partnership. Four and a half stars.
March 13, 2026
The Cutting Garden is a beautiful story about relationships between mothers and daughters and how there is beauty in the fragility of life. As a huge fan of horror stories, I appreciate how subtle this gothic tale is presented. Not everything is spelled out and I must admit it took me two readings to fully understand what was being presented. I appreciated that complexity in a time when some stories are overexplained.
Without going into spoilers, Darcy Van Poelgeest prose is as flowery and beautiful as is the dreamlike artwork by Erin Connally. I've read from others that the cursive writing was a detriment, but I found it to be fitting given the time period, and since it was used to distinguish the narrative. While cursive can be difficult at times to read in this day and age, I felt the letterer, Aditya Bidikar, did an excellent job.
The art is fantastic. With it's clean pencil lines painted with watercolor on top, it reminds of the art from fellow comic book artist Colleen Doran. With this being such a strong female centric story, I'm happy that Darcy paired with a female artist to give it that Feminine touch.
While there is some death involved, there is nothing overly graphic and it's all off screen (off panel?) so this graphic novel is also accessible to a wider audience who may be put off by such things. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Cutting Garden" and highly recommend it to those who like to read dark stories that may require some thought.
Without going into spoilers, Darcy Van Poelgeest prose is as flowery and beautiful as is the dreamlike artwork by Erin Connally. I've read from others that the cursive writing was a detriment, but I found it to be fitting given the time period, and since it was used to distinguish the narrative. While cursive can be difficult at times to read in this day and age, I felt the letterer, Aditya Bidikar, did an excellent job.
The art is fantastic. With it's clean pencil lines painted with watercolor on top, it reminds of the art from fellow comic book artist Colleen Doran. With this being such a strong female centric story, I'm happy that Darcy paired with a female artist to give it that Feminine touch.
While there is some death involved, there is nothing overly graphic and it's all off screen (off panel?) so this graphic novel is also accessible to a wider audience who may be put off by such things. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Cutting Garden" and highly recommend it to those who like to read dark stories that may require some thought.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Reading The Cutting Garden for me is like floating through gothic version of Monet's art. The ephemeral feelings conveyed by the panels, illustrations, and all kinds of text fonts are blanketed with soft, charming colors with eerieness underneath. In terms of plot and conflict, this story doesn't have something explosive and strong, and if any—for example the mystery of who Adeil is actually—it would lead you to loose conclusion rather than neatly tied ending. The characters are limited and sometimes thinly described, like people in impressionist paintings.
I love these kinds of stories. Because sometimes what I need is not always roller coaster and bright-as-sun clarity, but morning haze, calm rivers, flower petals dancing in the mist. And since this is a graphic novel, I couldn't separate the elements to make out the story; it has to be experienced as a whole. The cursive or sans serif font, the transition between warm and cool colors, and the choice of panel placement speak different purposes. But they all fall under the same umbrella of family, grief, mother, and life. It's the tender coolness of raindrops on your cheek, a warm and fragrant floral tea, the hard black steel of ornate gate of an old building and the decaying rust that envelops it. While an addition of depth in the meaning of each flower could be nice, I still enjoyed this as is.
What a hauntingly beautiful piece.
I love these kinds of stories. Because sometimes what I need is not always roller coaster and bright-as-sun clarity, but morning haze, calm rivers, flower petals dancing in the mist. And since this is a graphic novel, I couldn't separate the elements to make out the story; it has to be experienced as a whole. The cursive or sans serif font, the transition between warm and cool colors, and the choice of panel placement speak different purposes. But they all fall under the same umbrella of family, grief, mother, and life. It's the tender coolness of raindrops on your cheek, a warm and fragrant floral tea, the hard black steel of ornate gate of an old building and the decaying rust that envelops it. While an addition of depth in the meaning of each flower could be nice, I still enjoyed this as is.
What a hauntingly beautiful piece.
June 20, 2026
This is so achingly, hauntingly beautiful. Everything from the hand-painted art style to the story itself, down to the font choices and the formatting… truly the prettiest horror graphic novel I’ve ever seen. I adored the “filler” pages between sections where the botanical illustrations were. And the muted tone to everything really added to the atmosphere of the work. I felt like I was transported through time and was there with Josette and Adeil in that dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere with the beautiful cutting garden. There’s a just-slightly-off feeling about Adeil that was easy for Josette to overlook, because she had secrets of her own, and it was really neat how the creators build that sort of dread and wrongness in very subtle ways. It’s not a scary horror, its a melancholy “dark realities of humanity” kind of horror, with a dash of supernatural and a smidge of gore. It almost gave me the vibes of T. Kingfisher’s “What Moves the Dead” at times, which is to say, I enjoyed (both) immensely.
I sat down and inhaled this book very quickly and then kind of sat my tablet down and just marinated in the feelings it evoked. Its one of those read where even if you read it quickly, you need time with it. I know that I’ll be thinking about this one for a while. And that alone warrants a glowing review and high recommendation.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher, Image Comics, for the advanced copy of The Cutting Garden!
I sat down and inhaled this book very quickly and then kind of sat my tablet down and just marinated in the feelings it evoked. Its one of those read where even if you read it quickly, you need time with it. I know that I’ll be thinking about this one for a while. And that alone warrants a glowing review and high recommendation.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher, Image Comics, for the advanced copy of The Cutting Garden!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"I think men decide what's best for themselves, and women have grown accustomed to letting them"
The cutting garden is an absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking comic that I simply couldn't let down. I was first attracted by the splendid cover and was absolutely glad to have been approved for an ARC. And then I opened it, and it felt like releasing a breath I wasn't aware I was holding. And then like, spending the entire reading holding it again.
The atmosphere was gorgeous in this, with dark vibes that leave you a little bit lost and require you to pay lots of attention to the details. The way the plot is constructed works marvellously; it makes us dive deep into the story, intrigued by those characters and the tale that is being told.
My favourite part of this was, however, the art. It is simply breathtaking; that's the only word adapted to it. The watercolour style is magnificent and fits the vibes of the story perfectly, as well as the horror elements.
In the end, this is a splendidly illustrated comic with a splendid story, and I will definitely not forget about it. It was gorgeous and deeply memorable! I am infinitely grateful to Image Comics and Netgalley for sending me an e-ARC. This beautiful book releases on September 29th, but you can already preorder it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 stars TL;DR - I never fully got invested in this, but I can absolutely appreciate the gorgeous art style and the creativity behind the concept. This one just may not have been for me.
My Thoughts:
Okay, let me start by saying that I’ve read a very small handful of graphic novels in my life, so maybe I’m just not going into this with the right expectations. But for me, this felt like it never fully delivered on the potential of its concept.
I think there was a really interesting idea here, but everything stayed so surface level that I never became emotionally invested. I didn’t feel like I got enough depth from the story, the characters, or even the horror elements for any of it to really land. I was never unsettled or chilled by it, though I could see glimpses of where those moments could have come through.
That said, the imagery was stunning. The art style was genuinely beautiful, and I do think there was a lot of creativity behind the concept itself. I can absolutely appreciate the craftsmanship and effort that went into this, even if it ultimately didn’t connect with me personally.
This honestly may just be a case of me not being the right audience for this particular story, and I hope it finds readers who will fully appreciate what it’s trying to do.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book
My Thoughts:
Okay, let me start by saying that I’ve read a very small handful of graphic novels in my life, so maybe I’m just not going into this with the right expectations. But for me, this felt like it never fully delivered on the potential of its concept.
I think there was a really interesting idea here, but everything stayed so surface level that I never became emotionally invested. I didn’t feel like I got enough depth from the story, the characters, or even the horror elements for any of it to really land. I was never unsettled or chilled by it, though I could see glimpses of where those moments could have come through.
That said, the imagery was stunning. The art style was genuinely beautiful, and I do think there was a lot of creativity behind the concept itself. I can absolutely appreciate the craftsmanship and effort that went into this, even if it ultimately didn’t connect with me personally.
This honestly may just be a case of me not being the right audience for this particular story, and I hope it finds readers who will fully appreciate what it’s trying to do.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book
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