The Good Neighbors

The Good Neighbors #1-3

by Holly Black, Ted Naifeh (Illustrations)

From the bestselling author of The Cruel Prince, an astonishing graphic trilogy set in a faerie world, full of mystery, intrigue, and romance.

From the amazing imagination of bestselling author Holly Black and acclaimed illustrator Ted Naifeh, a mysterious and wonderful faerie saga, for the first time in one volume.

Rue Silver's mother has disappeared... and her father has been arrested, suspected of killing her. But it's not as straightforward as that. Because Rue is a faerie, like her mother was. And her father didn't kill her mother -- instead, he broke a promise to Rue's faerie king grandfather, which caused Rue's mother to be flung back to the faerie world. Now Rue must go to save her -- and defeat a dark faerie that threatens our very mortal world.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Young Adult, Comics, Adult, Fae, Fairies

368 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over thirty fantasy novels for kids and teens. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newbery Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret library.

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely iconic. the art and the story are classic holly black, and it's always a treat to return to the realm of faerie.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Sometimes there are not good choices. But that doesn’t get you out of making one.”

I truly enjoyed this graphic novel, it’s fast paced and fun. But how I wish this was a traditional novel. The story has a lot of potential, and I feel like it could’ve been so much better.

[Chrysavgi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nahhhhh! I love Holly Black but what the fuck was that..... the story had no flow and I didn't care about any of the characters. The only good thing is that I really liked the overall art style of the novel

[Nikakioy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein guter Comic, der sich schnell und einfach weglesen lässt. Man möchte wissen wie es weiter geht, allerdings ist die Handlung oft einfach viel zu schnell und es fehl an Details. Wer es düsterer und dreckiger mag, der kommt hier aber auf seine Kosten.

5/10⭐

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had the most bittersweet ending. But at least she got to be with her true love. I would have wished for more build up between them but….I mean I guess this works? I was hella confused for most of this. Maybe I’m tweaking out and this is my fever dream read 😭😭

[Ieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 zvaigznes. Fejas un mūsdienu cilvēki - tāda laba, ātra izklaide. Bet nekas vairāk.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Good Neighbors by Holly Black is a graphic novel containing the 3 Chapters of this interesting fantasy trilogy; Kin, Kith & Kind. It tells the story of Rue Silver, a young lady whose mother has disappeared and whose father has been accused of murdering one of his students. Rue is in for a shock as she realizes that her mother was actually a faerie and that her faerie grandfather now wants her to live with them.

Grandfather has a plot afoot to seal off the city in which Rue resides to turn it into a faerie stronghold, with the humans their prisoners. Rue is conflicted; wanting to help her human friends and also wanting to follow her mother's footsteps into the faerie world.

It's a wandering sort of story, somewhat confusing at times but always interesting. Ted Naifeh provides stark, black and white drawings, clear and distinct, peopled with fascinating characters. I can't say it was my favorite graphic novel of the year but it was a page turner and as it raced to the end, ultimately provided a satisfying conclusion. (3.5 stars)

[Megan Klingler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got the graphic novel set for my birthday because I love Holly Black's Folk of the Air series. I was pretty disappointed in this series, especially in comparison to her other books.

My main complaint is it was too fast-paced. The plot zips by so fast that it kills any tension and suspense around the main mysteries of the book. It also made it hard to sympathize or understand any of the characters other than the mc because we spent so little time with them. There is a romance in this book but because of the lack of character development and the fact that they have about 5 scenes total together over the course of three books, I was confused why it was even here. One of the supposed conflicts was this love triangle, which I usually enjoy but it was so random here because I cared zero about either of the romantic interests.

I also didn't like that it was in black and white. I didn't really see a purpose to the style and it just made the novel kinda hard to read because the foreground and background blended together. There's a way to do it well - I loved Maus - but it didn't work here. What would've been cool is putting the humans in black and white and the fairies in color but that isn't what she did for some reason. But otherwise, I liked the drawing style and realistic faces.

The ending felt a bit half-finished. The idea was cool but quite unexpected. I love a tragic twist but just ending on it and cutting to black is strange. If she had explored the reasoning and the consequences a little more the finale could've been compelling but with the way it was written I was kinda just like - huh? Is that really the best solution?

It's especially disappointing because I think the plot and worldbuilding had a lot of potential. Maybe she's more comfortable with traditional books and just didn't really know how to write a graphic novel, but I feel like it could've been a traditional novel if necessary. I could totally see myself loving a different, slower-paced, more in-depth version of this book. There were moments that were funny, sweet, scary, and surprising; they just weren't consistent. It might be the publishing industries' fault and they rushed her to finish the novel but I just wasn't impressed.

[Kaitlin Lorelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the artwork in this one, and I thought it really suited the story. I found my mind wandering a bit with the plot, and some of the characters were kind of boring, but overall this was a fun, fast read. I love the world Holly Black has created with her Faerie Realm, so I'd read just about anything set there.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Same face syndrome fr

[Odo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5.0

[audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Nicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rue finds out she's not what she seems and gets drawn into the faerie world and its politics after her mom leaves her dad over infidelity.

I think I'm not a graphic novel person.

I'm glad I read it just to say I did, and for context and references.

[Emily D · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to explore a new faerie world created by Black and brought to life by Naifeh. The art was lovely and the story kept me engaged.

[Raenor Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was absolutely obsessed with these graphic novels when I was in middle school. I’m so happy it’s been republished all together. It’s still such a classic Holly Black story & the art is phenomenal. Fans of The Cruel Prince should definitely check it out! ✨🧚🏻

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rue Silver's mother has gone missing and her father is arrested for the murder of her and one of his student.
The lines between the real and fake blurs as she starts to see things that couldn't exist and learn more about her family's background.
----------------------------
Wow, I'm so shocked I haven't read this series before?? I had a mild Holly Black obsession in middle school and read all of her Faerie work but this one I never read!
This book definitely reads as a 2000s book, it has that emo gritty angst from that era.

Overall, it's a quick and relatively interesting read.
The art was gorgeous and definitely suited the story.

Rue's characterization remained constant throughout but there wasn't a lot of development with the side characters? I didn't get the romance side plot because there just wasn't a lot of time spent between them.

The plot and the worldbuilding was well-done but I wasn't a fan of the end. It makes sense but it felt too abrupt and felt too cliffhanging? It made sense but I think an epilogue would've helped the end feel more final?

it's good but it's not her best work set in this world.

[itzi lvs books · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3,5⭐️

otra historia del mundo de holly, es que amo la vd
llevaba un tiempo buscándolo porque estaba descatalogado y en cuanto lo he encontrado lo he leído 🫶🏻

si te gusta este mundo posiblemente te guste la historia, es rápida, autoconclusiva y oscura.

[Annika Ballestro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally a graphic novel that felt long enough, but also tell me why I never had any idea what was going on.

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those books that I was on the fence about at first, but wow did I get sucked in by the end!

I love graphic novels wholeheartedly, but they're not always easy for me to read. If I can't follow the art style, or if things are explained vaguely, then it takes me awhile to get used to it. That's how Good Neighbors was for me- the art style is gorgeous, but because it was in black/white/grey and not color, it was a little difficult for me to follow. That being said, once I got used to it, it was fine. And I love how Ted Naifeh interpreted Holly Black's faerie characters- now when I read her books I'll have a visual reference to how I imagine the Folk (HB needs to make an illustrated guide to the Folk fr).

The story across the 3 books was very interesting- lots of intrigue and drama, as is typical of Holly Black's books. I wish I knew where this took place, though, because I'm left wondering if these Folk are in any way affiliated with the Folk in her other series? Or are they in a different part of the world? The end, with the isle being cut off and surrounded by mist makes me think of the Isles of Elfhame, but Aubrey also said that there were no courts/rulers on "this coast", which makes me think that they're wholly separate from Elfhame. And the timeline doesn't make sense either- Elfhame has been around long enough to go through 2 extremely long-lived rulers (Mab and Eldred), and the people in these books already have cars, phones, etc. So they're probably separate. But my red-string-addled brain desperately wants to connect them 😂 Another connection- I wonder if Tam in the story is named after Tam Lin, the ancient story about a man who's kidnapped by faeries (I think)? Hm.


CW: death, murder, blood, gore, consumption of humans, images of creatures that might be frightening, sex, alcohol consumption, funeral, disappearance of a parent, murder investigation

[Dragonness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since her mother disappeared, Rue has been seeing things. Strange things. Things that no one else has been able to see. When Rue encounters a birch dryad in her school locker, the dryad suggests that maybe Rue has second sight--or might not even be human. Just as Rue is reeling from this possibility, her father, a professor of mythology, is accused of murdering one of his students, as well as his wife, and is taken into custody. As Rue’s neighbor and friend of the family comes to take her home, Rue’s grandfather, a strange and ageless man tries to take custody of her. Amanda, Rue’s neighbor, confesses everything to Rue that night, explaining how she and Rue’s father obtained second sight, and then Rue’s father won her mother in a faerie game, losing her only after he cheated on her with Amanda. Things only become more complicated when Rue’s mother returns, driving holes into the case against her father and forcing the police to release him. But Rue has been doing her research, and she begins to suspect that her mother isn’t truly her mother.

I absolutely adore Holly Black’s faeries. They’re always dark and beautiful and cruel and clever and frightening---! The art style pairs perfectly with this dark story of when faerie and mortals collide, and what happens when mortals face creatures with a separate moral compass. I loved Rue’s friends and how complicated they were, and how supportive they were--even if they didn’t truly believe that Rue was half faerie. Then Tam’s weird self appeared, and he was wonderful to behold! I enjoyed the arcs of the three stories, and I love to imagine how they might have continued after the story ended--and whether or not they encounter my favorite faerie king.

[Rocio Bustamante · Rating 5 out of 5]

No voy a mentir, este libro me fascinó de principio a fin.
Tenemos a Rue que es una chica común y promedio que un día en su casa su mamá se toma el palo. Ella se lo toma bien, ni se preocupa, aunque nunca explica porque. Rue es desinteresada en muchas cosas, presta atención a su novio, amigos y a sus fotos.
Mientras ella trata de fingir que todo está bien BUM su padre es acusado de homicidio, su madre tiene familiares raros que se la quieren llevar y una "amiga" de su papa la cuida.
La historia tiene una narrativa adictiva e interesante. El diseño de los lugares y personajes es cautivante.
El mundo de las hadas tiene diseños exóticos, exagerados, algunos trazos lúgubres y otros delicados. Todo eso en su conjunto se ve precioso.
La lucha de Rue por definir quien es, que mitad es más confiable, que tan humana puede ser si es mitad hada. Que tan mágica puede ser si la ata humanidad que la rodea. Una lucha que no se basa en lo correcto e incorrecto, sino de una lucha de identidad y descubrimiento de aquel lado que a veces queremos ignorar.
Me gusto muchísimo.
Detalle no menor Tam se me hizo del principio bien lindo y su historia es muy triste cuando la entiendes. A pesar de su poco desarrollo es entrañable y es lo que cuenta.

[blue.iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far this book is a good read! The pictures go with what is written well and even reveal more information than the words themselves. After the end of the first book, it is clear Rue wants revenge and that she is extremely pressed to fight for those she loves. I still want to know what's going on with Dale and predict something else will happen with Tam, although I am not positive what yet. (Update: both have happened, and I DEFINITELY see a trend of the topic of "love" in this text). In fact, after finishing it, it is extremely interesting to look at each of the characters and their very clear views on love. It seems like these views also have a lot to do with which kind they are (human, faerie, etc.). Regardless, everyone has a pretty sensical character arch, with love somehow included, and the end is tied up nicely (an actual ending).

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a HUGE Holly Black fan. Nobody does YA books centered around the fae like she does. The story in this graphic novel was great but sometimes it felt like the pace was a little too fast and we were racing through plot points. But that might also be because of the format. It probably feels a little different to me because obviously a regular novel and a graphic novel weave their stories in different ways. As far as the art goes, I didn't really like it. He's obviously a talented artist but it just wasn't my style I guess. A character could look like a different person one panel to the next with the shape of their head and their features changing drastically. And, yet, many of the characters had similar looking faces. But, overall, definitely worth a read!

[torrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) This was a very fascinating story. But fascinating in an odd way. I felt that while there was a lot there, the story couldn't build itself up to the level it needed. The characters were beginning to seem interesting, but then the book was over. There just wasn't enough time to develop much of anything. I did enjoy the story (though I got lost a few times) and Rue is an interesting protagonist, but I feel that this story would have benefited from being written as a novel, rather than a comic. Either way, it's a pretty unique story, and not really like anything I've read by Holly Black, or like any faery story I've read so far.

Also, the art was so gorgeous in this book. Might be the best part about it- loved the funky faery designs.

[Wylde-reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this 2.75 / 5 ⭐️

I really wanted to love this book. I love Holly Black’s other works and I was really excited when I came across this graphic novel but it really just didn’t hit for me.

The story felt really rushed and as such I didn’t connect with or relate to any of the characters. It came across as a full length novel that has been condensed down to fit into a graphic novel format. That being said the personality that the main character does have meant that the ending felt entirely disingenuous.

The artwork was so well done but I would have liked it more if it was in colour. This story was disappointing and would lend itself better to a full length novel.

[Myrna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very dark and challenging tale of the clash between Faerie and the Human world, all centered around Rue, a young woman who learns that she is half-fae. I quite enjoyed this, even though there are some strange jumps in the text, as if lines/frames were deleted. I do think that a reader would benefit from having read one or more of Holly Black's other Faerie works, however, to get a sense of the "rules of engagement." The art by Ted Naifeh was on point—so evocative of the various kinds of creatures, human and otherwise.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would! I read the first installment some time ago, so I was excited to see all three of the stories together. I remembered my first go at the first book was kind of meh, but upon rereading and then jumping to the next parts of the story, I really had fun with it.

The art style wasn’t exactly my favorite but I feel like it did fit the story and the narrative that Holly was telling. It was very reminiscent of her early fae days (ie. tithe) which was and always will be one of my favorites.

[Aliyah Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this last night and I really enjoyed it!! The story is fun and captivating, one of the first reads I’ve finished in a while lol. My only critic is that it felt like so much was happening in such a short number of pages, which makes it hard to keep up with the characters developing arcs and relationships. I do get though how that can be hard to fully flesh out in a graphic novel.

I really liked how it was funny and realistic to how they’re literally high school students. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an easy, quick, and interesting fantasy read!!

[Hobie Doh · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a distinct vibe that it is almost unfinished, I feel as if pages were missing or as if it was actively just a collection of art that was meant to go alongside a full novel. Names are learned off screen, jumps in logic are made with no explanation and all together it feels too short.

All that said, Holly Black's incredible writing lead me to picking up the Air of the Folk series, which I have been devouring and are an absolute joy, so I cannot be that harsh on what was used as a gateway for me

[Ashley Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art in here for the most part is pretty great (i felt like sometimes it was hard to distinguish characters apart from one another). I feel like nowadays, this definitely would have been full-color, but I didn’t mind it just being b&w. The story is an interesting one, very classic Holly Black, and if you enjoy her earlier work like Tithe, this is really going to be your thing.