ALA Booklist (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Brooding heirs, a castle, a ghost, and a whole lot of rain make for a silly Gothic adventure in Garrity and Baldwin's new graphic novel. Haley, a plucky Black teen who reads nothing but Gothic romances, winds up in a place called Willowweep Manor (and a new universe) when she attempts to save a drowning man. Willowweep Manor could be something out of Jane Eyre, except for the fissures tearing apart the multiverse. Haley was hoping for something less complicated, like a lost heir or a hidden relation in the attic, but maybe she's not the true heroine of this Gothic tale after all! Baldwin's dark color scheme and wide shots of the castle and landscape give it a conventional feel, while tumbling frames and quirky page layouts create movement amid the fast-paced story. The wide-eyed and expressive characters bring out the tongue-in-cheek visual humor and laugh-out-loud dialogue, and the combination of Gothic romance and sf multiverse plot is charming. Hand to readers who appreciate the cheeky anachronism of Noelle Stevenson' Nimona (2015).

Kirkus Reviews (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

A girl gets sucked into a doomed, gothic-themed universe.Obsessed with gothic romances like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, bookworm Haley sees her moment to shine when, while on her way home from school, she spots a mysterious man drowning. Her heroic efforts to rescue him transport her to a gothic manor straight out of the novels she holds dear. She awakens in Willowweep Manor, where she meets foreboding housekeeper Wilhelmina, young lords Laurence and Cuthbert, and resident ghost Cecily. It emerges that middle brother Montague, whom she saved earlier, is missing. The brothers recruit Haley to help them save their gasket universe-a small universe that acts as a safeguard to protect the larger ones in the multiverse-from the Bile, manifested here as a sinister friar, that threatens to take over. She must repair the Infernal Device that keeps their universe safe. Though each individual has prescribed roles according to various literary conventions, they must decide to act differently if they wish to save their worlds from evil. The dark color palette fits perfectly with the mystery and many gothic tropes; Baldwin effectively uses varied perspectives to create dramatic visuals. This well-paced and humorous graphic novel will appeal to readers looking for a triumphant story about being in charge of your own narrative. Haley is Black; the inhabitants of Willowweep read as White.A delightfully spirited adventure. (Graphic fantasy. 12-16)

School Library Journal (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Gr 9 Up A teen is caught in a "gasket universe" in this blend of science fiction and period drama. Haley is obsessed with gothic romanceher classmates refer to her as "extra-nerdy goth," and she's written countless essays on Wuthering Heights . One day, as she walks home in the rain with a stack of books, she sees a cute guy floundering in the river below and dives off a bridge to save him. She drags him toward a manor in the distance. Unbeknownst to Haley, her travels have taken her to another universe. At first, she feels as though she's living out her gothic fantasies. But cracks in this world reveal that things aren't what they seem, exposing an existential threat not only to the manor's universe but also to the one Haley calls home. Can she be the gothic heroine the story needs? Webcomics creators Garrity ( Skin Horse ) and Baldwin ( Little Dee ) team up for their first original graphic novel. Baldwin's moody, full-color cartoon art is cinematic in its layout, including a few inventive panel overlays. While the majority of characters are light-skinned, Haley is Black. Garrity's witty writing is loving, genre-bending parody, and Haley's commentary about gothic tropes, fashion, and architecture will amuse readers regardless of their background knowledge. VERDICT Brontë lovers and sci-fi fans alike will find common ground in this delightfully bizarre romp into the multiverse.Alec Chunn, Eugene P.L., OR