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A review by mxhermit
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
4.0
Representation: Representation: Chinese-American MCs (both queer), MC who is hard-of-hearing, MC who is non-binary, plus size SC, Jewish SC
CW/TW: Scary imagery, misgendering of MC (corrected ASAP)
The story of Nova and Tam, two childhood friends, facing feelings from the past, a demon in the woods, and a mysterious cult, Mooncakes is a fascinating tale of family, magic, danger, and more.
What I Enjoyed
The first glance at the Employees Only room at Black Cat Bookseller & Cafe. It's crammed with books (both stationary and flying), witchy imagery, and the linework is very good. It's homey and attractive and I remain sore that I can't visit it myself.
Seriously, the detail Wendy included in the various scenes. When Nova is talking to her friend Tatyana in the Cafe, not only can you see the tea bag in the teapot, but the covers of the books in the foreground are tributes to other Young Adult books such as The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan.
Nova's Nanas. Not only do they run a bookstore/cafe that caters to witchcraft, but they're super supportive in general and of Nova and Tam specifically. They're also funny when they needle Nova and Tam about their budding relationship and badass when they take on a possessed horse.
Tatyana, a friend of Nova who knows about magic but is a scientist so is sometimes O_O about the things that pop up in relation to magic. My favorite reaction was when she found out that Tam was the white wolf she'd seen in the woods and she tried to reconcile that werewolves were a thing in her brain.
The variety of creatures at Witchwood State Park. They're so darling, it made even homebody me want to go out for a hike in hopes of meeting them. :)
The conveyance of information between the Nanas and the creatures of the forest with imagery, not words. It was easy enough to understand not only what each party meant, but how they felt about the situation.
Tam's fangs appearing in a panel here or there. It was so cute. <3
Cousin Terry. Coo... lol
The mid-autumn festival/Sukkot celebration. From the feast to the family reunion (living & deceased)...there was so much feeling of family, both the good and the sometimes not-so-good.
The frank discussion and inclusion of Nova's hearing aids.
What I Didn't Enjoy
While I enjoyed the scenes in Witchwood State Park, I thought that there were parts that were overcrowded with magical creatures that didn't mesh well. They felt like they were placed there rather than they were meant to be there, conveying movement or what-have-you.
I was confused by an abrupt scene end concerning Tam & Nova doing a soul connection sort of thing. Going by the script, it felt like there was a path it story was following, but then it ended and was insinuated to be left off for a later time. It didn't make sense to me in the context of the moment.
I don't think there was any clarity regarding the origin of werewolves (bite, hereditary, etc.) and that didn't sit quite right with me. Tam's family history is complicated say the least and gives no answers. Their mother was not a werewolf & doesn't understand the "wolf thing." Their stepfather is also not a wolf and there was no mention of other parents. So, what gives? Nova's family answers the witch facet.
To Sum It Up
Mooncakes is a richly illustrated, well told story about trying to find oneself, about the different kinds of magic in life, about love and family in different forms. A definite recommendation.
CW/TW: Scary imagery, misgendering of MC (corrected ASAP)
The story of Nova and Tam, two childhood friends, facing feelings from the past, a demon in the woods, and a mysterious cult, Mooncakes is a fascinating tale of family, magic, danger, and more.
What I Enjoyed
The first glance at the Employees Only room at Black Cat Bookseller & Cafe. It's crammed with books (both stationary and flying), witchy imagery, and the linework is very good. It's homey and attractive and I remain sore that I can't visit it myself.
Seriously, the detail Wendy included in the various scenes. When Nova is talking to her friend Tatyana in the Cafe, not only can you see the tea bag in the teapot, but the covers of the books in the foreground are tributes to other Young Adult books such as The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan.
Nova's Nanas. Not only do they run a bookstore/cafe that caters to witchcraft, but they're super supportive in general and of Nova and Tam specifically. They're also funny when they needle Nova and Tam about their budding relationship and badass when they take on a possessed horse.
Tatyana, a friend of Nova who knows about magic but is a scientist so is sometimes O_O about the things that pop up in relation to magic. My favorite reaction was when she found out that Tam was the white wolf she'd seen in the woods and she tried to reconcile that werewolves were a thing in her brain.
The variety of creatures at Witchwood State Park. They're so darling, it made even homebody me want to go out for a hike in hopes of meeting them. :)
The conveyance of information between the Nanas and the creatures of the forest with imagery, not words. It was easy enough to understand not only what each party meant, but how they felt about the situation.
Tam's fangs appearing in a panel here or there. It was so cute. <3
Cousin Terry. Coo... lol
The mid-autumn festival/Sukkot celebration. From the feast to the family reunion (living & deceased)...there was so much feeling of family, both the good and the sometimes not-so-good.
The frank discussion and inclusion of Nova's hearing aids.
What I Didn't Enjoy
While I enjoyed the scenes in Witchwood State Park, I thought that there were parts that were overcrowded with magical creatures that didn't mesh well. They felt like they were placed there rather than they were meant to be there, conveying movement or what-have-you.
I was confused by an abrupt scene end concerning Tam & Nova doing a soul connection sort of thing. Going by the script, it felt like there was a path it story was following, but then it ended and was insinuated to be left off for a later time. It didn't make sense to me in the context of the moment.
I don't think there was any clarity regarding the origin of werewolves (bite, hereditary, etc.) and that didn't sit quite right with me. Tam's family history is complicated say the least and gives no answers. Their mother was not a werewolf & doesn't understand the "wolf thing." Their stepfather is also not a wolf and there was no mention of other parents. So, what gives? Nova's family answers the witch facet.
To Sum It Up
Mooncakes is a richly illustrated, well told story about trying to find oneself, about the different kinds of magic in life, about love and family in different forms. A definite recommendation.