Thank you for the small preview of this book! I have already preordered it! My goodness, there are no words for how much I adore blake's writing! Retellings (one for my enemy), dark academia (atlas six), serious discussion (alone with you in the ether), etc, she never disappoints! I would read her groceries list, if she would publish it! Her partnership with little chmura is simply legendary and I hope it lasts decades more!

WOW. Just… wow. I read the first 50 or so pages of Olivie Blake’s Clara & the Devil sampler, and I am completely, utterly obsessed! This graphic novel is already hitting all the right notes: Blake’s signature writing, layered and gripping, now paired with stunning, haunting artwork, and it is an absolute dream.

The watercolour-style illustrations are mesmerizing—the slightly eerie characters and moody colour palette perfectly capture the strange, devilish energy of this sleepy seaside town. Every page pulled me in, and I found myself staring at the artwork for way longer than I intended, completely enchanted by every detail.

We follow high schooler Clara, spending her summer working at the library in her small coastal town. Her life seems perfectly ordinary—she has a steady boyfriend, a future house, and a routine she’s comfortable with. Until the devil shows up. At first, it’s just a library card. But it quickly becomes clear that the devil’s visit is only the beginning… and things are about to get delightfully chaotic.

Even from just this sampler, I am completely hooked. The devil is charming, seductive, and gentlemanly—totally reminding me of Lucifer—and yes, I gave him a British accent in my head because why not? The story is brimming with tension, humour, and possibilities, and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here.

The combination of Blake’s storytelling and the dark, enchanting watercolours is magical. The sampler left me breathless—I need the full book yesterday. Seriously, if you love stories that are mysterious, a little spooky, and beautifully illustrated, this one is a must-read.

Do I want to continue? ABSOLUTELY. 100%. Without a doubt. I am completely hooked.

Thank you so much for the sample of Clara & the Devil Pan Macmillan | Tor!

I read the first 53 pages of Olivie Blake’s upcoming graphic novel and I’m obsessed! Blake’s unique writing style is even more highlighted by the absolutely stunning artwork. Especially for readers who sometimes feel overwhelmed by her writing, the combination with the visual elements of the story could be a great alternative.
The watercolor-style artwork and the slightly eerie looking characters and color scheme work perfectly with the seaside town setting, where some devilish things happen.
I absolutely can’t wait to continue the story!

What the story is about:
In the first part of the book we follow high school student Clara, who works in the library during the summer holidays. It’s a small seaside town and her life seems pretty much planned. She will marry her longtime boyfriend, they will move into a small house together and she will work in the library. Clara seems content with her decisions until one day the devil arrives, wanting a library card. Of course, the library is not the only place where he shows up …

I AM DIEING FOR THE REST OF THIS!

I can already tell this is going to be a masterpiece, it’s now my most highly anticipated book of 2026.
The narration is so intriguing you really feel inside Clara’s mind. The illustration is beautiful and fit the theme and feel perfectly.