Coven by Jennifer Dugan

Coven Reviews

• 
  s.penkevich

  I can’t get enough of all the witchy graphic novels that have been coming out and Coven from author Jennifer Dugan and artist Kit Seaton is a spooky and sapphic good time. Emsy is ripped from her California teenage dream of surfing and loving girlfriend when a grisly murder forced her parents to return to the New York coven they abandoned years ago. Devastated and plunged into a new world, new friends and old demons will forge a new future for her…or kill them all. Fun and full of mystery, Coven has a cinematic energy and angst that recalls teen Halloween tv specials and is a spooky good time.
  
  
  Emsy rocking some witch stuff
  
  Coven drops you directly into the action, and while the story shifts rather abruptly at times and has some pacing issues, there’s enough story and length to smooth it out and feel big and epic. This is a dynamic story with lots of characters and tons of world building to pull you from the everyday world and into a long, rich history of witch wars and coven dynamics. You learn along with Emsy, and the fast paced plot keeps the story moving without feeling bogged down by all the background.
  
  
  Lots of history here
  
  The characters are fun, and while we don’t get enough of some of the minor ones, you’ll come to feel like part of the primary friend group. There is a lot of inclusivity in this story, which I really enjoyed, and the main characters have realistic flaws and feelings. Ben is annoying, but written well for that effect, and Emsy is a great main character you’ll enjoy even when frustrated with her (I did feel bad for her girlfriend at times).
  
  The murderous mystery that is central to the story has some great twists and turns, all culminating into a pretty epic ending. There’s necromancy and witch fights and some of it is truly creepy. Seaton’s colorful and expressive artwork makes this a gorgeous read and I really enjoy their character design. I like a creepy graphic novel that can deliver frights, and Coven satisfies.
  
  
  Spooky
  
  Witchy, weird and wild, Coven is a wonderful ride. I love the characters and all the dynamics of this world, and I would quite enjoy seeing a sequel set within this group. There is so much history to explore and I’d love to check back in on all the relationships, especially with Ash because they are so charming. I’ve been eager to read this one and it was certainly worth the wait.
  4/5
  
  
  
• 
  Rachel L

  3 stars
  
  Teenage witch Emsy’s world is thrown askew when her parents abruptly move her from the west coast to upstate New York. There they rejoin with their coven of witches, of which three members were recently killed and Emsy’s parents are there to protect the coven and figure out what happened.
  
  This one started out strong and then fizzled out quickly. The storyline went all over the place and it felt very rushed; this book could have a series instead of a standalone (and I rarely say that). I really liked the characters and their dynamics, only for some plot points introduced to be shoved aside in the last fourth of the book. I loved the artwork in this though, I thought it was brilliant and would love to see more by this illustrator.
• 
  booksandzoe

  TY to penguin teen for the ARC‼️ The art in this is absolutely STUNNINGGGG but I didn’t find the story to be super interesting and wished for more character set-up.
• 
  Kalena W

  4/5 stars, the perfect october read
  
  Thank you Penguin Teen for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
  
  I must say the cover had me interested immediately, it's a stunning art piece and the art style was the same. It was one of the prettiest or at least well-drawn graphic novels I have ever read, not to mention the great little story within it. I'm glad that I got to read this in October as it was the perfect spooky read, a little bit of joy and family along with ghosts, murder, and witches.
  
  The plot was easy to follow and for the most part really entertaining, I wish there had been a little bit more expansion on a few aspects but I understand we were seeing everything from the main character's point of view. I feel like this is going to be a sequel, but I'm not entirely sure, but the end was left pretty open. As I got further and further into the book I did guess the plot twist(s) before the end, as it was predictable, and I wish they had done something just a bit different with it. Though it felt like the ending from a bunch of old Halloween movies, and the plot gave off that vibe, so if you like that you will definitely love this book.
  
  All of the characters had their own special aspects that I loved, but some of them got more attention than others. The main character was delightfully written, especially as she progressively tried to find more of herself and her past. There were other witches that I really enjoyed but we really only got attention on some of them. Hopefully, this book does have a sequel or something and we can see more of them.
  
  [TW: death of loved ones and family, possession themes, burning and injury, body horror, violence, depiction of grief]
• 
  bri (hobbitslibrary)

  Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
  
  A fun, spooky read with a diverse ensemble cast! I really enjoyed the art style, and this this will be a great pick for anyone looking for an easy sapphic witchy story this spooky season.
  
  CW/TW: grief, parental death (both, past), death, fire injury, medical content, demonization of witchcraft, insects, forced kiss
• 
  Monte Price

  A lot of what I enjoyed about this experience was the art, it was definitely one of the key reasons that I kept reading even when I wasn't sure what the story was trying to do or where it was going; and it's probably also why I enjoyed the book as much as I did. I felt that the story was definitely lacking. It took a long time for the plot to really get going and for the reader to have an idea as to what the actual conflict was going to be. Then when we finally did reach the climax it was over in approximately two panels and then the story was wrapping up and it just didn't feel as smooth or as well executed as it could have.
  
  It was definitely a story though... things happened... just can't say it was for me.
  
  
  More thoughts found in my reading vlog.
• 
  Jan Agaton

  Love the art style & the LGBTQIA+ rep more than anything else, but there were definitely parts of the story that kept me wanting to keep reading. It's a simple withcy story, but I feel like everything was resolved a little too quickly at the end.
• 
  Mallory

  This is a cute witchy graphic novel. I really loved the art and it definitely kept my interest even when the story dragged. I think it had some good potential, but the main character, Emse, is really hard to connect to since literally half of this monster graphic novel is her whining about leaving her friends in California. I get the teenage angst thing but it felt like it went way too far and it stood in the way from plot progress. Emse and her parents lef their coven to live a normal human life but when something supernatural killed off most of a coven family her parents decide it’s time to leave Califnornia and head back to their coven home on the other side of the county. Emse is certain the coven isn’t her family, her human girlfriend and friends back in California are. I did really love the imagry. I also really liked the representation in the story, particularly the LGBTQA+.
• 
  Marti (Letstalkaboutbooksbaybee)

  Thanks @putnambooks for this book! Comes out in September.
  
  This was a cute little YA LGBTQ read that is gonna be so perfect for spooky season this fall.
  
  It follows teenage Emsy as she is forced back to her hometown coven instead of living her best Cali life, as some mysterious murders have happened and her family is not safe any more.
  
  At times, I felt like Emsy was a little bit too annoying but then again, teenagers can definitely be that way IRL too so not too bad.
  
  Since I read an ARC, the pictures were in black and white but they were still gorgeous and I can’t wait to see them in color!
  
  If you like the These Witches Don’t Burn series, I think you’ll like this too!
• 
  Sans Reyes

  Está SUPER BUENO. Si o si necesito la segunda parte y la representación LGBTIQ+ es increíble 🫶🫶
• 
  Rod Brown

  There are sooo many YA graphic novels about teenage witches nowadays it is hard to stand out, but this one does a pretty good job with it's angsty but likable and diverse cast. It does stumble in the closing stretch though as the climax has to be tied to a homecoming dance (of course) and adult intervention undercuts the empowerment the teen characters were working toward.
• 
  laurel [the suspected bibliophile]

  I liked the artwork and I enjoyed the storyline, but it was only okay, I guess.
  
  I think it's because I'm used to middle grade graphic novels, where the emotions and relationships are at the forefront and everything is so raw and new. Here...despite the high emotions and the magic, I just felt like everything was kept at a distance and unfinished, and Esmy herself was...I dunno.
  
  There were a lot of things left unresolved, and I felt myself siding with her old friends from California more and more in the whole thing.
• 
  mads

  TW: animal death, blood, cursing, death, death of a loved one, fire/fire injury, medical content.
  
  It's like if Riverdale was an early 2000s horse movie but it was a witch murder mystery with the most insufferable characters and most predictable plot you've ever seen in your entire life.
• 
  Estíbaliz Montero Iniesta

  
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  Una historia paranormal para un público bastante juvenil.
  
  La trama es sencilla y bastante habitual en este tipo de historias sobrenaturales, pero creo eso es justo lo que busca alguien que se adentra en una historia así. Al fin y al cabo, tenemos brujas con poderes elementales (desde algunos que controlan el fuego hasta otras que controlan la muerte), posesiones, aquelarres, found family, desarrollo personal, representación LGBTQ+... Un montón de buenos elementos aderezados con un estilo de ilustración agradable y un estupendo uso del color, bastante intenso.
  
  A pesar de no contar con una trama novedosa o demasiado complicada, es una historia que, para mí, cumple su función. Es entretenida y, por una vez, no me ha dado la sensación de que se anda por las ramas solo para rellenar páginas. Sí, algunas cosas se podían haber resuelto un pelín más deprisa, pero no me ha parecido que diera excesivas vueltas.
  
  La historia tiene un montón de potencial y creo que se disfrutaría más si la prota no se comportara tanto como una adolescente, porque están pasando un montón de cosas a su alrededor y solo se queja por haber dejado su antigua vida, su ciudad, su novia y a sus amigos. Entiendo que a esa edad es un cambio muy impactante y que afecta mucho pero a ver, que hay gente muriendo. No sé, me parece que eso tiene prioridad😅. No obstante, me gusta cómo acaba evolucionando respecto a este tema y el viaje que hace hasta aceptarse completamente a sí misma, a su familia y a su nueva situación.
  
  En resumen: una lectura entretenida, autoconclusiva y con muchos elementos paranormales, ideal para fans de la nueva serie de Sabrina.
• 
  Sammie V

  This one is for fans of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina:
  
  Emsy is forced to relocate with her family back to New York after they find out members of their coven have died in an incident , only their son Ben making it out alive. Leaving behind her loving girlfriend and not understanding why her parents are dragging her back into the coven after years of living without them to have a “normal life”. Emsy is sucked into Coven life. Making new friends, learning about how she is an elementals witch specializing in fire and Emsy soon learns there are other types of witches too, Death witches. The death witches had perviously caused a Civil war between all the covens, getting them to fight each other so inevitably they could take over and rule all witches.
  
  The coven is dying out, there are only so many children left to carry on their legacy. So Emsy, Ben Ash and his little brother and sister are set to train, to protect themselves from the battle to come. Neither Emsy nor Ben want to be a part of the coven, so the two of them come up with a scheme to bring back Ben’s family, which would fix both Ben’s issue and send Emsy and her family back to California. But dealing in necromancy is far harder than a healer and an elemental fire witch are set to deal with. And that’s when things go very very wrong.
  
  The characters are all very easy to love. I thought the plot was we developed, and loved the twist at the end too. The illustrations are beautiful and fit the story so well.
  
  Joss is a spitfire and I love her. So sassy and I love how normal the sapphic relationship is in this 😍
  
  I’m glad that we are getting sapphic witchy books it makes me so happy.
  SAPPHIC WITCHES ARE ALWAYS A MUST READ
  
  
  
  Rep
  Sapphic
  Bipoc
  Gay
  
  Cw
  Blood
  Death
  animal death
  Murder
• 
  Ember

  A fun, magical, queer romp with a mystery element and just enough unfinished business to warrant a potential sequel or expand on the world.
  
  Coven was a fairly straightforward witchy story, though the found family aspect was by far my favorite part. The worldbuilding could have been expanded on, but what we're given of the small New York town and its' close-knit coven of witches is heartfelt and fun.
  
  The art style was particularly enjoyable, from the facial expressions to the use of magic. Graphic novels aren't always my cup of tea because I'm much more of a detail-oriented reader, but the subtext and tiny things included in each page's illustrations that fill in the detail that the main dialogue lacks definitely made this read more like a traditional novel, which I greatly appreciated.
• 
  Avery (readbyfin)

  3.5
• 
  TL

  Artwork: 5 stars 🌟 🤩
  Story: 3 stars 🌟
  ---
  
  Wish there had been more story and world building but overall I had fun.
  
  The idea of the witches and powers I loved but it wasn't explored very much.
  
  The ending felt rushed.. but I was glad one part of it turned out okay.
  
  The artwork was gorgeous! Major points to the 🎨 artist:)
  
  A decent read for spooky season 👌
  
• 
  Star

  This was good - full thoughts to come.
  
  
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• 
  Drew's ambitious reading

  Coven by Jennifer Dugan was/is my mot anticpaited reads of the year and it didn't disapointed me! It was so good and since it was a graphic novel I read it in one sitting. It follows our main character name Emily (who also goes by esmy) and we follow her in this small town setting as she is forced to moved back to where her parents grew up because their coven is under attack... It was so good and there's a love triangle and a mysterious boy that we have to figure out and of course even though this was a contemporary/fantasy graphic novel from Dugan there were still LGBT+ characters and one of my favorite thing Dugan does really well is texting/email format but it was mostly texting for this one! Well done Jennifer Dugan another new favorite of mine! Five out of five stars!
  Ps. Thank you penguin teen for sending me this e-arc my way to read and review but all opions are my own!(:
• 
  Johnee

  This was fantastic! I loved the artwork and because I read a galley, it was in black and white, which means it will probably look even more gorgeous in colour.
  
  The story was pretty fleshed out and didn’t feel rushed. I think many of the themes were introduced at a pace that I enjoyed. I must say around the 75% mark, it did drag a little where nothing was really happening except for this one theme that could’ve been cut a little shorter or perhaps broken up with another perspective even. However it doesn’t devalue the overall story and I was quite entertained!
  
  Also.. Queer teen witches who can be overly dramatic and I was ok with that. A 4.5 rounded down for dragging.
• 
  Shante

  The fact that I didn't predict that twist, immediately gained this book extra points. This book was so much fun. I love the magic, the diversity, the queerness (wlw/mlm), the found family and there's some pretty decent character arcs. This story is well-paced and gets right to the point. For some reason, I didn't expect so much emotion from a graphic novel, but there was a wide range. Grief, excitement, longing, betrayal, happiness...and I enjoyed every minute of it. Fantastic!
• 
  kelly {BookCrushin}

  Perfect queer witchy read!!
• 
  BookishStitcher

  This was a fun, witchy graphic novel for October. I thought the illustration was gorgeous, and it really brought the autumn feels that I really have been craving.
• 
  Jaleesa

  Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. As a fan of this format, it had beautiful artwork that was engaging, and realistic but still had a flare of fun and youthfulness to it that anyone could enjoy viewing. the story itself was also really entertaining. It was fun watching Emsy, a young witch, step into her powers and learn more about who she is and where she comes from. A witch who knew of her powers but didn't really know how to use them, we get to briefly see her gain a bit more control over them. The cast was really diverse, which was great to see, though I believe a few stereotypes were played into that definitely didn't have to be there. The only Black teenager had no biological family because his mother left and...that could be an entire review in and of itself but I don't feel like getting into why that didn't need to be a part of his storyline at all. Though Ben's family is also not around, it wasn't by choice like Ashley's. But anyway, I got passed that and of course, continued reading. I think my favorite part of the story truly was the found family aspect between 3 young witches in the coven, Emsy, Ben, and Ashley. They were a fun trio to get to know. There were a few gaps in this story that I think could've benefited from more dialogue. There were moments that I felt could've had more explanation given to me as a reader, that would've helped me understand the background of a few characters. All-in-all, I enjoyed the book for what it was.
  
• 
  Kaley

  3.75 stars
  
  Thank you Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an eARC of this book!
  
  While not the best graphic novel I’ve read, this was still tons of fun. The artwork was beyond gorgeous. It reminded me of something, but I couldn’t figure out what! It made me really want to check out other works by this illustrator.
  The story itself was a little typical, a little cliche, but it was fast-paced and engaging. I was swept up pretty quickly. Towards the end it dragged, and the who-dunnit was very obvious, however it was still fun and I wasn’t left unsatisfied.
  I liked Emsy and Ash a lot. Ben was a little too much, I just couldn’t connect to him. I loved Emsy and Joss at first. They were adorable together, but when it started getting strained between them their conversations just felt tedious and annoying. I feel like the scenes with her California friends after she’d left didn’t add anything to the story and they just ended up either boring or annoying me.
  Also—who the hell says Cali? I’m pretty sure no one who has ever actually lived in “Cali” calls it that.
  That got a little off topic. Anywayyyyy…
  This was a fun, quick read. Perfect for a casual graphic novel reader and anyone looking for something witchy.
• 
  Andy

  Thank you to Penguin Teen for an eARC and a physical ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
  
  Coven is the story of a witchy family that is being attacked and they need to regroup to protect everyone. Emsy is forced to move back with her parents during her summer vacation and she is not pleased. But when one of her parents is hurt, Emsy is determined to find out what happened and stop the culprit before anyone else is hurt or worse.
  
  I sat down to read some of this one night, and before I knew it, I had finished the whole thing! When will I learn? Never! This book was so readable and the illustrations were amazing! I loved the art style and mixed with the storyline it captivated me immediately. I think this one could totally become a series and I would read more in this world. I'd love to see Emsy and her friends again!
• 
  Renata

  First of all, the art is gorgeous. But I kind of think if this had been a prose novel, the magical worldbuilding might have been a little more structured? I was a little irritated by the ongoing lack of communication with the characters + how obvious some of the plot points were. Also the ending left me wondering if this was meant to be Vol 1? If it's a standalone volume I was disappointed about the lack of closure between Emsy and Joss, especially since the queer romance is often mentioned strongly in the pitch for this. And yes there's also Ben and Ash but feels like Joss really got the short end of the stick here.
  
  Anyway, I liked looking at this and it will probably appeal more to younger teens looking for witchy reads.
• 
  Dr CG

  This graphic novel artwork was beautiful! Enjoyed the story, but the illustrations were the star.
• 
  Laura Fantasyliterature

  Entretenido. Poco novedoso pero curioso. Un aquelarre, brujos elementales, brujos de la muerte, poderes ocultos...
  Los dibujos son preciosos, estilo Sabrina. Es rápido, simple y autoconclusivo.
  
  Diría que a partir de los 12 años.