Hooky Volume 2 by Miriam Bonastre Tur

What worked:

The plot is much more involved than most graphic novels I’ve read as it comes in with 368 pages of illustrations. Apparently, the first book established a conflict between witches and humans and it carries over into this one. The parents of Dani and Dorian are seeking revenge against humans due to threats toward their mother but the kids and their brother Damien are now in opposition to their parents, the Wyttes. As the oldest, Damien is supposed to become heir to the family, leading the witches, and continue his parents’ vengeance against humanity but he defies his father and flees. The conflict with witches is born from anger and prejudice and simmers throughout.

Most of the plot focuses on the rescue of Prince William from the Whyttes, as he’s the son of a king who seemed to bring tolerance for witches. However, the king almost had Damien’s mother killed so that’s a problem. Damien and Prince William become good friends after Damien leaves his family so this relationship is a bit unexpected and becomes more complicated. It’s unclear if the Wyttes are using Prince William as bait to capture their children so this adds an air of uncertainty and tension as the plot moves along.

Developing relationships and expectations add to the drama in the plot. Princess Monica and Prince William are arranged to be married with the hope that it will unite their two kingdoms. However, the politics associated with royalty are often fickle as the kings and their families may have differing outlooks that cause them to not behave as anticipated. Damien is dealing with conflicting internal feelings that make his character interesting to watch. The fragile position of witches in this society makes their every move a possible fuse that can produce an explosion of public fright and fury. Dani, Dorian, and their friends try to make good decisions but the potential for misunderstandings is ever-present.

What didn’t work as well:

Here’s a hint; page one begins with chapter 33. I must review this book independently but you really need to read the first book before this one. It feels like readers jump into the middle of a story and that’s literally what happens. The characters are already established from page one so there’s little background information to help identify the relationships. Abrupt transitions in time, location, and characters make some scenes harder to follow.

The Final Verdict:

Due to the use of fewer words, graphic novels historically are less descriptive than other novels. The large cast of characters, the complex conflict, and the hazy transitions make this story challenging to read. Young people who’ve already read the first book or watched the webcomic may understand the overall concept better and love the book but it doesn’t work for me.