Very cute, and has me wishing it were already fall.

Full review to come.

Received this for free from Netgalley.

This story is so sweet! I had such a fun time reading it. I loved that the journey of self-discovery and the angst that Nova and Tam go through isn’t centered on their being queer. I loved that Tam was nonbinary and used they/them pronouns and when they corrected people on their pronouns it wasn’t a big deal, it was immediately accepted. I loved that Nova has hearing aids and it’s never something to remark on and she’s not treated any differently because of it. I loved all of the friendships, between Tam and Nova, between Nova and Tatyana (best skeptic and wing woman ever), between the grandmothers, the family relationships. Most of the characters in Mooncakes care about each other and everyone is so kind and understanding and willing to help. The art was so wonderful, and I especially liked the coloring, which I found really comforting, if that makes sense. This was the queer magical graphic novel of my dreams tbh.

A really cute, diverse graphic novel with lovely art and a lovelier message about home and not doing things alone. It's adorable, and I'd happily read more about these characters!

This is the story of Nova, a young witch, and Tam, her childhood friend and werewolf who returns home on the hunt for a demon.
It's nice to see gender nonconforming characters represented in Tam, as well as Nova's hearing aids. Representation is important and it's also important that those characteristics aren't the focus of their stories.
There's a lot packed into this story, so the plot moves really fast. There are story elements that are often drawn out in other graphic novels/mangas over multiple volumes that are resolved in a few pages or panels here. It kind of gives the reader whiplash at times, but it's a fun quick-read.
Recommend for fans of: witches, werewolves, fantasy, diverse characters, YA fantasy, middle-grade

Mooncakes was SUCH a cute book! Living in Texas, I've been craving fall and cooler weather lately. Mooncakes was exactly what I needed! The illustrations are beautiful, the story line was very entertaining, and I loved the characters. I really appreciate the diversity throughout. I tore through Mooncakes in one sitting! I can't wait to check out a copy when it is published. I feel like the ending leaves the story open for a sequel, so fingers crossed. 😊

4.5⭐️

Wow this was such a wholesome and magical story.

The dear readers letter at the start shares so much of the the magic within - two Chinese American characters and queer. Nova - hard of hearing and wears hearing aids with two of the best grandmas. Tam non binary and from a troubled parental background. Tatyana a larger sized character with children.

Tam returns to her childhood town and is quickly found by an old friend Nova. There are some mysterious things going on and a potential demon on the loose, so Tam and Nova reconnect and also try to figure out how to combat this evil.

The things I loved the most were the interactions at the bookshop, Tat and Nova have a beautiful friendship. Tat being a larger character made me feel seen and I also appreciated the fact she was a single mother, something we seldom see in graphic novels. The grandmas are fantastic, their relationship and the bond and respect they have for Nova ... everything and again something we don’t always see. One of the grandmas slips and misgenders Tam upon their return and it’s handled in such an open way. Tam is such an interesting character with a back story that shows how family aren’t always loving and supportive. The way the grandmas respect Tam as well is fantastic. As you might expect Nova and Tam reconnect in a way that is so beautiful and the f/f romance was so well written. The moments sat around the dining table with tea and cookies, were some of the most wholesome moments. Along with some family members appearing for a special meal. I loved the magic in this story and felt it enhanced everything. The colouring for the graphics was brilliant and the graphics were something I really enjoyed.

I did fear that the representation might have been highlighted in the dear reader letter to show representation. That it could potentially mean the story would be impacted but I could not have been more wrong. The disability rep I feel is handled well, I think the moment Tam and Nova use the stones to connect and Nova shares how “it makes me wish people could handle things better in the real world” really resonated. All in all such a good read and I’d recommend to everyone.

Received an arc via NetGalley for an honest review.

Mooncakes was one of the most adorable, wonderful graphic novels I have ever read.

At the center of it are Nova, a female witch who is hard-of-hearing, and Tam, a non-binary werewolf. Both characters are also Chinese-American. I loved both characters so much, they are really strong, well-written characters with great character development.
There is such an absolutely adorable friends-to-lovers romance between the two that ended up making me feel super emotional. There was such a great development of both their feelings for each other but also the relationship itself and how it progressed with time and the things they go through.
And we have Nova's two grandmas which were such a lovely addition to the storyline!

Even though I can't speak for the marginalizations in this book, to me it seemed like they were done very respectfully. It is constantly shown that Nova wears hearing aids and I think it is so important to so very prominently feature this kind of diversity in YA, without ever making it a big deal.
It was also great to see everyone respect Tam's pronouns. One of Nova's grandmas uses she in the beginning of the story, and after Tam corrects her, she immediately apologizes and switches to they. IT'S THAT EASY! I also think it's really important to mention that the villains use the correct pronouns as well, cause that sadly isn't always the case.

The art and colours are absolutely beautiful and fit the story so very well. I cannot wait to hold an actual fully-coloured, physical copy of this in my hands.

Overall I highly recommend this if you love queer supernatural stories that seamlessly include diversity. This is just such a fun graphic novel, with its super heartwarming moments as well.

I was provided a complimentary copy from netgalley to read and review.
Although it wasn’t as good as I anticipated, the story was still enjoyable and the illustrations were super cute

I’ve only recently started to appreciate graphic novels and saw this one come highly recommended by people I trust. To say it is magical and oh so sweet would be to do it an injustice. The story is quite a straightforward one of Nova, a young Witch setting out to discover what is happening in nearby woods and what she finds there is an old school friend and she’s determined to find out just why they’ve been hiding out. Tam might not be a Witch but Tam is a Werewolf imbued with magic that someone wants to use to set free a Demon. Nova and Tam might have lost touch but together they are formidable and if it takes some help from loved ones to finally get answers then bring it on because both Nova and Tam have been through enough.
Ok this was quickly over and yes more than a tad predictable but I truly enjoyed this book. For a start it’s my first read containing what I suppose is a non binary person plus Nova needs hearing aids so it was fabulous to see someone with a disability taking the lead. Tam doesn’t want to identify as female or male so it took me a while to get used to the pronouns but hey it’s fine because Tam is a person and just as worthy of respect and love as anyone else. That right there is were this story shines as the young couple accept each other and rekindle their friendship which of course leads to love. I particularly enjoyed the artwork in this as when they share their first kiss I defy anyone not to be utterly charmed by the sneaky voyeur but no spoiler ! Add in two ‘Grandmothers ‘ who reminded me so much of the Aunts from Practical Magic , along with a BFF , surprising relatives , ghosts and a host of magical creatures and trust me the bad guys never stand a chance. This is a book for all ages and leaves me with a warm feeling so yes I recommend it.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

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A super cute witchy graphic novel filled with so much representation - our main character is queer with a hearing impairment and we have a non binary queer side character and gay guardians. Our characters also celebrate the Jewish holiday Sukkot and eat traditional Chinese mooncakes.

I loved the magic black cat (which multiplies under a spell!) and the woodland spirits who come to help and play. These, along with cousin Terry with the pigeon head, really helped to provide comic relief.

I raced through this graphic novel, smiling at the cute moments and laughing at the bad jokes. The story was interesting and I loved reading about childhood best friends rekindling their relationship and finding themselves.

The illustrations were just as lovely as the story itself and I NEED a room full of magical books too!

What did we do to deserve this amazing book? It was so perfect I fell a little in love with everything, the characters, the art, the colours, the story, the relationships, everything. I just want to hug it forever. This is the kind of story that makes you feel warm all over and I think I'm gonna reread it a lot of time.

From the beginning I was intrigued by the story and I couldn't stop reading till I finished it was so fascinating? A universe with magic, witches, werewolves, spirits, it was all very magical from the beginning to the end. And the main characters were adorable! Both Chinese American Nova is hard-of-hearing and wears hearing aids and Tam is nonbinary and they were both completely adorable and cute and I want to protect them. Their relationship was the greatest, they were here for the other and supporting each other and it was all fluffy.

Basically the entire thing was amazing and the best and I'm gonna lie on the floor thinking about it for days.

A very well-done and conceptualized idea about a fledgling relationship between a non-binary and hard of hearing character. I was completely immersed in this simple and lovely tale from beginning to end.

If there is is one thing that I can say with absolute certainty, it's this: this graphic novel helped change my definition of what a graphic novel could be. Not only is this amazing for identity, both for Asian and LGBTQ+ rep, but it allows for a story where those facets don't become the central plot point. Nowadays, as much as I love stories that explore and enrich these identities, I think that it's just as important to have stories about Asian witches and non binary werewolves living their lives. All gushing aside, the thing that took me the longest to come around on was the art style. It really took a handful of pages to grow on me, but once I was sold, I was sold!

This graphic novel is just fantastic. It is fantastically diverse with both MC’s being Chinese-American, Tam is non-binary with clear use of they/them pronouns, Nova is hard of hearing with her hearing aids being referred to many times (including doing some kick ass magic with them), and she lives with her grandmas who are in a relationship with each other. The diversity is effortlessly clear and natural which makes it beautiful. It just exists on the page without discussion or explanation.

All of this is packaged up in a fantastic daemon fighting, witchy tale with werewolves, science loving (yet accepting of the withciness) friends, sweet reuniting romance, family focus and daemon fighting!

The artwork is also GORGEOUS! It suits the storyline so much with a lovely whimsy to it. It just draws out beautiful subtle moments of the story with little details in the background (look out for the cats they are fantastic). Overall this is just a fantastic graphic novel and I can’t wait to get a copy and re-read it in full colour.

A cute, and somewhat sugary LGBT+ inclusive graphic novel about a witch and a werewolf.

The story focuses on a witch named Nova and her non-binary childhood friend named Tam who just so happens to be a werewolf. After moving away Tam found themselves back in Nova's neck of the woods trying to defeat a horse demon that their wolf magic had woken up. After hearing about some magical commotion in the woods, Nova investigates and finds Tam in their wolf form.

I personally found it to be a quick and lighthearted read. It was really refreshing in many ways, but being a quick read I felt the plot was a bit thin and some of the subjects weren't explored as much as they could be. Still, I did enjoy the art style and the characters, I just wish there was a little bit more to it.

I just got this eARC via Netgalley from the Publishers in return of an honest review. I was curious to see what this story was about.

The main characters are two teenage girls who meet again after they have been separated during childhood, by Tam's family moving away from the town.

Now Tam is back in town and she is on a mission. She has something to set right. But before she can do so, Nova, finds her. Nova lives with her Grannas as her parents died and currently learns more about being a witch.

Together they set out to deal with the demon that hunts the woods around the town. And as they do so, they discover more about themselves, find new strengths and start to move on.

I loved the artwork in this book, and the main story line including a witch and werewolf with special magical powers provides lots of twists and turns. I also loved how the two teenagers grew back into a nurturing relationship with each other. What felt somewhat forced is the romance, it felt very rushed and not very believable specially with the hurts that happened in the past.

The representation of growing up with a hearing impairment on the other hand is very well done.

Oh friends, this was truly the graphic novel I’ve been waiting forever for. From witchy magic, to unconditional family and found family love, to being the person you want to be on your own time, to the cutest F/NB relationship ever, I am so in love with Mooncakes!

One night, in a sleepy and paranormal New England town, a witch follows a white wolf into the woods. She doesn’t know what to expect, but it most certainly isn’t a horse demon fighting with her childhood crush! With the help of one another (and some cute grandmas) they unfold a story about a cult and people wanting to harness werewolf magic for their own.

And the two main characters of this graphic novel are everything! One, being Nova, who is Chinese-American, and still coping with the loss of her parents, while living with her two grandmothers (be still, my heart). All of these women are witches and collect rare spell books! And Tam, who is also Chinese-American, and a nonbinary werewolf who grew up with Nova, but recently left their family who wasn’t very kind to them.

And if I haven’t already sold you with the plot and the five star rating, this is also just a story about two young adults learning who they want to be, both separately and together. Nova and Tam are both dealing with hurt from their parents, and even though it is a different kind of hurt, they are there for one another, and unconditionally support one another. It’s beautiful, and powerful, and I had the biggest smile on my face while reading from the first to last page.

Overall, this really was the queer, magical story that I’ve always wanted. I loved the rep, I loved the story, I loved the illustrations, I love the banter, and I truly love both of these main characters so very much. I can’t wait to see what Wendy and Suzanne do next! Also, I’m totally buying mooncakes on the way home tomorrow, because your girl has such a craving.

Mooncakes is the queer, witchy tale that we're all looking forward to in October 2019--and it definitely delivers on its cute vibes.

Art: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★

I was so excited to read this ARC that the minute I was able to read it on NetGalley, I started it. The hype for this sweet graphic novel has been so real. It (mostly) lived up to its expectations.

Nova Huang is a hearing-impaired witch living with her two grandmothers and helping them run their local bookstore. Hidden in plain sight, these witches make a cute living as booksellers and overall peacekeepers for the town. One day, Nova finds a white wolf in the woods battling a demon--in a surprising turn of events, the wolf turns out to be Nova's childhood best friend, Tam.

Tam Long is a non-binary werewolf who ran away from their mom and stepdad due to some family troubles and has found themselves in a spot of trouble, i.e. a demon that seems intent on tracking them down. Tam comes to Nova for help, and soon the grandmas, Nova, and Tam are embroiled in a drama to find out who is behind the demon and to stop them before they get to Tam.

Oh, and there may or may not be some adorable feelings between Nova and Tam along the way.

Can this magical duo save their town from the demon?

I found Mooncakes to be both everything I wanted it to be and...a little slow. I wish we had gotten to some plot drivers sooner, and spent less time on certain dialogue-heavy scenes that almost repeated themselves a few times throughout the story.

However, that being said, I still loved this cute story. I can't wait to get my hands on a finished copy this October so that I can relive the gorgeous artwork while in the proper season.

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Lion Forge for giving me an arc of this gr novel to read. Mooncakes had the possibility to be such a cute and wholesome story with some great representation. The art also matches the tone of the story perfectly and gives off this perfect autumn vibe.

The art of this graphic novel was so fitting for the story being tools with its soft colors and clean lines. Xu did ai really good job at illustrating the world of Mooncakes . from the color of with outside scenery, the outfits, the old books, and crystals; Xu did a wonderful job at making this graphic novel relay feel like a modern fantasy set in fall.

The characters were also favorites of mine in Mooncakes. I love the diverse and represented character and that’s exactly what you get in the graphic novel. Nova being partially deaf, being raised by a non-nuclear family, Tam being nonbinary, and every one treating as something normal. No one in the book bats an eye or gets confused when Tam wants to be called by “Them” or “They “. I love seeing stuff like this normalized in any book so seeing makes it all the more likable to me.

The one that this graphic novel is lacking in is storytelling. The story seemed rushed near the end making the climax just seem not that very climatic to me. There was also a lot of things that were never delved into, just mentioned most of the time. This made the story and the world of Mooncakes feel as though it didn’t have very much depth.

Such a beautiful and fantastical book with great LGBT+ representation! I really liked the story and the fantasy elements - it broaches the witchcraft story line differently than I've seen before. The illustrations are also beautifully done. This will definitely be on my recommendation list!