Bright World continues to be an amazing but frightening place to be for Fawn, and the hope of escape is dwindling. We also learn about the Doctor’s tragic background, and some other side characters are necessarily fleshed out.

**Review: *The Hazards of Love, Book 2***
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)

I *devoured* this book — just like I did the first one. I finished *The Hazards of Love, Book 2* in a single day (not in one sitting, but close!), and I can’t stop thinking about it. This volume picks up the momentum from the first and runs with it at full speed — fast-paced, emotionally layered, and packed with a mysterious, atmospheric fantasy element that keeps you hooked.

The world-building? Absolutely stunning. The artwork? Gorgeous and evocative, with every panel helping shape the immersive experience. It’s one of those graphic novels where you find yourself pausing just to soak in the details of each page. The mystery isn’t your typical crime twist — it’s the quiet, magical kind. There’s this air of enchantment and unspoken tension that makes everything feel like a puzzle you’re eager to solve.

But what really stands out are the characters. The representation is beautifully done — from queer and straight identities to non-human entities, it’s inclusive in ways that feel thoughtful and organic. Every character is fleshed out with unique motivations and histories, and those layers come through in their actions and dialogue. You get a sense that their backstories matter — not just for plot, but for the emotional depth they bring to the story.

There *is* a trigger warning for self-harm, rooted in trauma and PTSD, so sensitive readers should be aware. But it’s handled with empathy, and it plays an important role in the story’s emotional narrative.

There’s so much more happening beneath the surface — identity, name, otherworldly connections, mediums, and the undead — all woven into a story that’s rich, strange, and compelling. It’s best to go in with minimal spoilers, because discovering these layers is part of the magic.

In short: This book is *everything*. The art, the storytelling, the character work, the emotional weight — it all hits just right. If you’re into inclusive fantasy with depth and mystery, *The Hazards of Love, Book 2* is a must-read.

In a Nutshell: An inclusive urban fantasy in graphic novel format. Continues Amparo’s story from Volume 1. As mesmerising as the first book in every way. But a cliffhanger ending yet again – Aargh!

No plot preview this time, as any reveal about the story will be a major spoiler. Just know that this begins right where Volume 1: Bright World ends, so it is not to be read as a standalone.
This book is the print version of the online webcomic ‘The Hazards of Love’
https://www.thehazardsoflove.com/archive
The first graphic novel collected the first twelve episodes (from 0 to 11). This new book, which is coming out 4.5 years after the first volume (What a lengthy wait!), brings to us episodes 12 to 24.
Book One: Bright World
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3657543817
https://roshreviews.blogspot.com/2025/05/bright-world-stan-stanley.html
delivered in plot development, creativity, inclusivity, writing smarts and twisty thrills. It merged fantasy, horror and (Mexican) mythology in such a thrilling way that the whole experience was a wild ride. Both the times I read the book (once when it was first released in November 2020 and once as a refresher just prior to reading this book), I couldn’t keep it aside. In short, I had super-high expectations from Volume Two.
Every single expectation was met. Easily. Even surpassed.
This book has several new characters, every single one of whom is fascinating in myriad ways. It also offers a couple of back stories for the earlier characters, one of which made my jaw drop. The illustrations are also just as scintillating, with the three worlds (Yup, there’s yet another land in this one!) distinct in appearance and yet in hues suited to their vibe. I love that the pages have a black background, making the colours feel even more vivid.
The only complaint? The ending! Though brilliant in every way, it has an even bigger cliffhanger than the finale of the first book. I was somewhat prepared for an incomplete ending because the table of contents showed that this volume ended after episode 24. On the official site, the webcomic is still not complete, with the ongoing issue (as of May 2025) being #27. With no idea about how many more issues are planned, I can just keep my fingers crossed that the next book will bring us the completed version. Long way to go, though. (My patience isn't that strong this time around, so I have already started reading the subsequent issues online.)
This was again a buddy read with my daughter, who was equally captivated by the plot and writing. So a big thumbs-up from both of us to this series.
Strongly recommended to all graphic novel enthusiasts who enjoy urban fantasy-horror. Do note that this book is a lot more disturbing than the first one (which is saying a lot because the first was no mental cakewalk!) Pick it up when in a strong headspace.
4.5 stars, delighted to roundup despite my heart being broken over yet another cliffhanger.
My thanks to Oni Press for providing the DRC of “The Hazards of Love Vol.2: As Above, So Below” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

It took me some time to get into this story, mostly because I hadn’t read book one. The world building and artwork is phenomenal and the story is about someone who goes to an alternate dimension which is beautiful but dangerous with creatures and beings that will maim or eat you. Meanwhile their friend is working with a medium to find them and bring them home. This book has excellent artwork and characters but please do start from book 1.

Great read though.

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I didn't love this quite as much as I adored the first arc, but I also read it digitally and I think the reread of the full color print version will give that extra oomph that I felt from the first one.
This was dark and spooky like the first and brings in an added cast of characters (both alive and dead and even Bright Worldian) that I really enjoyed. While I wish we got to see more from them, I think the author does a great job of making me care about characters that don't get a ton of page time. I worry that some of this won't land super well with its intended audience, but I was such a fan of book one that I can overlook that for my personal taste. The nice thing about a sequel is that I can solidly recommend book 1 and if a teen likes that, I can gauge whether they'd like this based on what they enjoyed about it (atmosphere/vibe/art are all consistent across both books). Super stoked that this series is back!

*The Hazards of Love: Book Two* by Stan Stanley is an exciting and heartfelt continuation of the series, blending romance, adventure, and self-discovery. The story deepens the relationships between characters while exploring themes of love and identity. Stanley's vibrant art and engaging narrative make it a captivating read, offering both charm and emotional depth. Fans of the first book will find this sequel equally compelling and full of surprises.

This was the second arc in this story. I like the path of the story and feel like there was a lot of plot and character development across the board. I'm excited to read the next installment. This is a creative and unique story and art style.

The Hazards of Love book 2 by Stan Stanley is such a good book. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.