Will I read any book, graphic novel or comic simply because it has witches in it, no matter what the actual plot is? Indeed, I will. Over My Dead Body follows Abby at the Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft, who’s looking forward to a year of finally buckling down and taking her studies seriously. All her plans are thrown off course, though, when her mentee Noreen goes missing. Abby’s classmates are quick to put Noreen’s disappearance behind them—they’re sure the Coven will find her soon. But Abby can’t let Noreen’s absence go and decides to search for answers, which lead her down a rabbit hole that threatens to uncover old secrets others will do anything to keep her from exposing. As Abby begins to connect the dots between Noreen’s disappearance and a similar one years and years ago, the mounting evidence draws Abby to the off-limits woods outside the academy…and what she’ll find there might just blow up everything.
This is undoubtedly one of those perfect reads for fall, y’all! Now, I’m absolutely no connoisseur of artwork or illustration, but Boo’s art style just really worked for the depiction of this magical school. Many of the panels are set wide so you actually get to see a lot of the setting beyond where the characters are at any given time. There were so many details to The Younwity Hidden School of Witchcraft and the Untamed Woods that I could almost picture walking through the halls or stumbling across the grass and the characters’ emotions were drawn so clear as well! Sometimes, you could almost tell what they’d say based on their expression before you read the actual text which I actually really love in graphic novels?
While the story might be a bit predictable, it didn’t take away any of my enjoyment because Boo manages to put their own twist on it all. We have fun mystery elements going on as Abby uncovers evidence that might help her locate Noreen, we have fierce friendships that are thrown into turmoil when Abby wants to take matters into her own hands to find Noreen who’s more like a sister than a classmate to her and we have a ticking time bomb since Samhaim, a time “when the veil between the world of the dead and the living is at its thinnest”, is right around the corner. All these elements combined with some very interesting relationship dynamics (picture enemies-to-reluctant-allies) make for a quick-paced and atmospheric read that will have you itching to try out spells yourself!
With vibrant characters, gorgeous illustrations, a mystery and all the spooky vibes, Over My Dead Body is the perfect witchy read for anyone who’s ever wanted to attend a school for witches—or just can’t get enough of fall!
Over My Dead Body is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 30th 2022.
Will you be picking up Over My Dead Body? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Fans of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will love diving into the mysterious and witchy world of award-nominated creator Sweeney Boo. Enchanting full-color illustrations will be sure to charm readers as they explore the halls of Younwity’s Institute of Magic and the forbidden forest that lies beyond.
In the days leading up to Samhain, the veil between the world of the dead and the living is at its thinnest.
One day, everything was exactly as it was supposed to be. And the next, the closest thing Abby ever had to a sister, Noreen, was just… gone.
Distracted by the annual preparations for the Samhain festival, Abby’s classmates are quick to put Noreen’s disappearance aside. The Coven will find her, Abby’s friends say. They have it under control.
But Abby can’t let it go. Soon a search for answers leads her down a rabbit hole that uncovers more secrets than Abby can handle. As mounting evidence steers her toward the off-limits woods that surround the academy, she begins to see that Noreen’s disappearance mysteriously has a lot in common with another girl who went missing all those years ago…
