I need more of these in my life, and by these I mean books and graphic novels especially that I could have used when I was growing up I’m so glad so many are growing up with these and them not being hidden they are just out here for the taking

Absolutely loved Taproot, a queer graphic novel by Keezy Young!

This graphic novel was so beautiful and so queer! And I was so worried it would have a sad ending, as this story deals with death and the afterlife, but there's a happy ending!!

This is a book I wish I owned as a little queer kid.

Very sweet graphic novel! The art style was very endearing, as were the characters, even with the ghost story theme. I'd certainly recommend this for middle-grade and young adult readers who enjoy a cute romance story with Gothic elements. The romance itself seemed a little rushed, but this isn't much of a criticism as a slight personal frustration.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely adored this! The characters were all very likeable right from the start and the story was interesting! The art still was also incredibly pretty to look at. I would definitely recommend this!

This sweet, darkly beautiful, queer webcomic is making its print debut this July and for those who find beauty in the imperfect, it is definitely worth grabbing. This story answers the not-so-age-old question, what happens when a ghost falls for an unexpected necromancer who works in a floral shop? Filled with sweet, funny characters (both alive and in their afterlife) this comic is instantly engaging. Add in some truly stunning full page art spreads that are both visually dynamic but also drive the story forward and you have a recipe for success

Wonderful characters This was so utterly wholesome and also full of cute dead ghosts. A dead boy falls in love with a gardener, but when a dark creepy forest starts manifesting, they realise the gardener has a dark power he doesn't want. There is also a sassy reaper…..,,

Pros:
-Beautiful artwork
-Likeable characters

Con:
-Weird pacing
-Short

I loved the artwork, but the story itself is lacking. Mostly because it's too short. There's the original conflict that is resolved rather quickly, then a secondary story that also wraps up too quickly. I think the story would have been stronger without the "one year later" extended epilogue.

I randomly downloaded this off of Netgalley when I saw it was a queer, romance graphic novel that had so many accolades attached to it.
It wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, but I enjoyed it nonetheless!
I felt the pacing and explanations as to how we got from point a to point b could've been better because I found myself tapping back to see if I had missed something. I just wish we'd had some more explanation as to why things happened the way they did.
I also enjoyed the timeskip! But it felt like a completely different story.

The afterword by the creator really helped my perspective on the story, so I highly recommend reading that if you're able! My favorite quote from it: "Life isn't all joy and happy endings, but even in the absence of happiness, there still needs to be hope."

Overall, this is a stunning graphic novel! If you're looking for a quick read on the darker side (while somehow also containing an adorably fluffy romance), this is for you!

Quote is from an early copy and may not reflect the final version.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Oni Press for an ARC of this re-release!

I couldn't download this book, it failed everytime.
I'm so sorry I couldn't read it.. :(

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

this was cute .The art style and illustrations were amazing.The writing felt kinda rushed in few parts

"Taproot" is a cute, abrupt, ghost story. Hamal enjoys his job as an employee at a local plant nursery, but he's frequently sidetracked by his ability to see ghosts and the complexities that entails. I loved the art and the idea - a flower shop employee who chats with ghosts? And then a flower shop employee who's a necromancer??? Perfection! But the idea felt underdeveloped. Where the art would wow me, the plot seemed oddly paced. I feel like Young has multiple opportunities to spend time drawing out mystery, or to further develop the relationships between the main characters, or even show more of Hamal's daily life, but they choose not to, instead cutting to the chase. I got this book as an ebook and couldn't visualize how long it would be - but based off of my understanding of plot structure, I guess I just expected it to be longer than it was. It felt like all conflict was resolved within mere pages of its introduction - and while this can sometimes work for more slice-of-life stories, this didn't feel too slice-of-life to me.

That being said, it's still a sweet read. All of the character designs are beautiful and I love Young's artwork. The pacing of the plot just feels disjointed every now and then throughout the novel.

I enjoyed this a lot!
I have actually been trying to get my hands on this graphic novel for a while now, as it was originally published back in 2017. I was so excited when I saw it on NetGalley. I knew I just had to read it!
I love gay joy, I do believe we need more books that are gay and happy. I would recommend this to all my friends who are LGBTQ+ and are looking for graphic novels.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the digital ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars
This is one of those cozy queer graphic novels that is easy to read in one sitting. It’s also one where the conflicts the characters face have nothing to do with their sexuality, which I always love to see. Sometimes you just want to have a casual queer ghost and his gardener boyfriend represented.

The main problem with this, is that I think it should’ve been much longer. The plot, pacing, and characters all feel very rushed and poorly developed. The premise of the story and the characters have lots of potential. It didn’t help that the dialogue feels very stilted, which is especially a problem in a graphic novel where speech bubbles are vital and frequently used. The plot needed to be slowed down, restructured, and allow for time to develop distinct characters and believable relationships. Honestly, I really think that with several plots which all needed to be slowed down, the author could’ve made several volumes.

Overall, it was a quick and pleasant read, but one with too many problems to make it memorable or immersive. You do have to respect one of our MCs that literally just haunts a guy because he has a crush on him…he was so real for that.

I think I made it to page six before I had to google how to get this book, because I absolutely need it in physical form on my shelf.

Honestly, I was in love by the first page and the rest of the comic didn’t let me down. First of all, the art-style needs to be praised. It’s stunningly beautiful! The creator has managed to create a lovely, vibrant world, where every page and panel is a delight to look at.

The story itself holds up too. Just the premise on its own is so sweet, and the story develops at a calm pace that’s perfect for when you just want to curl up in bed after a long day. Reading this book felt like being wrapped in a blanket and sipping tea; it’s simply leisurely, tranquil and lovely. If you’re a lover of Ghibli movies, this will hit the sweet spot.

Also really enjoyed the little ‘making of’ tidbits at the end

I thought this was cute but it could have used a little bit more plot. Maybe it was reading it on my computer but it was a little bit confusing, and the insta romance wasn't my favorite. Loved the art!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review!

I really loved this graphic novel, it was super cute, sweet, and the art was absolutely stunning. I loved the cast of characters and it was such a joy to see the representation of queer (supernatural) love. The dialogue felt natural, the chemistry was organic, and again, the visual elements were just gorgeous.

My biggest complaint with this story is that it felt quite short and rushed at the end. I really didn't understand how they solved the problem or restored the balance that was caused by Hamal's abilities, and I feel like that took me out of the narrative because I had no idea how we got there and there was no explanation to how what happened worked. I even scrolled back up the page to see if I had missed something the first time.

I feel like maybe Taproot would have been better served by two volumes, one for the set up and then a second for the solution and epilogue. I have no idea if Keezy Young is planning on expanding Taproot into a series, but I would absolutely read the next one because this story just felt like we were only scraping the surface of what these characters and their world had to offer. 3.5 stars!

Thanks to Netgalley and Oni Press for the ARC of this!

This gave me all the feels! A sweet, queer, not too scary ghost story. I hope we get more in this world because the end definitely felt open to the possibility. I really enjoyed the art style and the pacing.

The art is stunning and the story is really sweet. I loved the characters and it was filled with cute and heartwarming moments. I also really enjoyed the setting. The focus on gardening and greenery is really nice.

The plot started off really well and I liked the setting/atmosphere but the last 1/3rd felt a bit underdeveloped. As a result, the resolution was a bit unclear and not as satisfying as it could have been. It made the pacing of the entire story feel a bit off.

Taproot has been on my radar for five years, so it was a joy to finally get around to reading it. It definitely didn't disappoint! Some story elements did at times feel a little rushed and i'd have liked to get to know the characters a bit better for more emotional pay off, but all around this was exactly what i'd hoped for: a cosy gardener x ghost romance with whimsical art, plants galore, humour, and a fun little dose of creep (slight bugs warning though!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing this digital review copy in exchange for an honest review

This was a charming and heartwarming read! The art style was so captivating and made me feel all warm and the characters were all easy to love! I do think that the plot could have been drawn out a little more. Each part of the plot got resolved fast and therefore everything felt very insignificant. The concepts were very interesting but they felt a little rushed and more of a retelling than an event occurring in the moment with stakes and tension.