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The Hills of Estrella Roja
In this delightfully creepy and unapologetically queer horror romp of a graphic novel, sometimes dreams do come true. Nightmares are technically dreams, after all....
When college freshman Kat Fields receives a mysterious email urging her to visit a relatively unknown Texas town with a history of witchcraft, strange sightings, and “devil lights”—glowing red stars that appear above the town’s hills every night—she ditches her plans for spring break and takes a solo road trip to Estrella Roja to investigate for her podcast, Paranormal Texas, catchphrase: “Y’all stay spooky!”
Meanwhile, Marisol “Mari” Castillo, is also headed for Estrella Roja to attend the funeral for her abuela whom she hasn’t seen since childhood, when her mom cut ties with the family and left town. Feeling lost and bored, she decides to help Kat after a chance meeting at the local diner—and, okay, it doesn’t hurt that Kat is super cute.
As the two girls grow closer not only to each other, but to uncovering the dark legacy that the town was built on, they discover that something hungry lurks beneath the strange stars and that in the hills of Estrella Roja, some secrets should stay buried.
When college freshman Kat Fields receives a mysterious email urging her to visit a relatively unknown Texas town with a history of witchcraft, strange sightings, and “devil lights”—glowing red stars that appear above the town’s hills every night—she ditches her plans for spring break and takes a solo road trip to Estrella Roja to investigate for her podcast, Paranormal Texas, catchphrase: “Y’all stay spooky!”
Meanwhile, Marisol “Mari” Castillo, is also headed for Estrella Roja to attend the funeral for her abuela whom she hasn’t seen since childhood, when her mom cut ties with the family and left town. Feeling lost and bored, she decides to help Kat after a chance meeting at the local diner—and, okay, it doesn’t hurt that Kat is super cute.
As the two girls grow closer not only to each other, but to uncovering the dark legacy that the town was built on, they discover that something hungry lurks beneath the strange stars and that in the hills of Estrella Roja, some secrets should stay buried.
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2023
About the author
Ashley Robin Franklin
10 books58 followersAshley Robin Franklin is an artist, cartoonist, and illustrator who currently resides in Austin, Texas. She was born in 1990 in the Rio Grande Valley, where she grew up and attended the University of Texas Pan-American. She majored in English literature with an emphasis in Creative writing, and minored in Studio Art.
She writes and illustrates comics, journals, draws, paints, and dabbles with various other artistic projects and mediums (including stamp carving, screen printing, acrylic painting, collage, etc.). Some of her greatest influences include her father, who is an art teacher and painter, manga, anime, films, indie comics, children's books, lowbrow art and tattoo culture, zine/diy culture, the occult, folklore/mythology and literature. She's also very interested in animation, children's book illustration, public art, printmaking and design. Things that make her happy include: travel, dogs, good beer, comics, cartoons, and ghost stories.
She writes and illustrates comics, journals, draws, paints, and dabbles with various other artistic projects and mediums (including stamp carving, screen printing, acrylic painting, collage, etc.). Some of her greatest influences include her father, who is an art teacher and painter, manga, anime, films, indie comics, children's books, lowbrow art and tattoo culture, zine/diy culture, the occult, folklore/mythology and literature. She's also very interested in animation, children's book illustration, public art, printmaking and design. Things that make her happy include: travel, dogs, good beer, comics, cartoons, and ghost stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
August 27, 2023
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THE HILLS OF ESTRELLA ROJA is a queer college-age YA graphic novel set in Texas, with supernatural elements. Marisol is forced to return to the mysterious town she hasn't been in since she was a child after the death of her grandmother. Kat, on the other hand, is a paranormal podcaster who receives a mysterious email urging her to go to the same town to investigate something called "devil lights" and various mysterious disappearances.
Estrella Roja, which means red star in Spanish, is creepy right off the bat. They don't get a lot of outsiders, so there's a lot of ominous staring and whispered conversations that the girls clearly aren't meant to hear. Kat ends up approaching Mari because they lock eyes at a diner and she seems the friendliest out of everyone. They end up hitting it off, as two queer girls in a weird situation. When they go to the library, they find old articles hinting at murder and occult phenomena. Mari finds creepy photographs and journals in her aunt's house. Basically, SHIT GETS REALLY WEIRD.
I don't want to spoil anything, but this was a pretty cute read. Even if you don't like horror, nothing too scary happens. (I'm not a fan of horror or gore-- I will be very quick to nope out if heads start rolling.) My ARC was not full-color, but I liked the art in the few sample pages I had. It's done in that minimal, indie style, which is common in imprints like First Second. I also liked that one of the girls was Latina and a lesbian, and the other girl was bisexual and had a non-binary best friend. The diversity felt super casual, and added to the story-- especially with regard to Latinx folklore. Tonally, it reminded me a lot of the '90s Scooby Doo movies, like Zombie Island and Witch's Curse.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
4 stars
August 28, 2023
This was a fun creepy, debut queer YA horror graphic novel!! A spooky mystery and dark family secrets bring together a bisexual supernatural podcaster on spring break with a Latine teen stuck in her family's hometown for a funeral.
The artwork delivers on all the atmospheric, spooky vibes with strong storytelling to boot. Perfect for fans of books like Northranger by Rey Terciero with a unique focus on the urban myths/legends, monsters (Lechuzas) and witches of New Mexico. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
The artwork delivers on all the atmospheric, spooky vibes with strong storytelling to boot. Perfect for fans of books like Northranger by Rey Terciero with a unique focus on the urban myths/legends, monsters (Lechuzas) and witches of New Mexico. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
August 11, 2023
This sapphic graphic novel has the perfect spooky vibes for autumn, so be sure to add it to your October TBR! This was the perfect kind of spooky for me: mysterious with some scarier moments, but never outright frightening. And the art work is absolutely stunning, I was in awe of more than a few of the panels.
November 9, 2023
3.5 ✨
After receiving a mysterious email, Kat goes to the town of Estrella Roja in hopes of discovering paranormal activity. The only friendly person in town in Mari and the two work together to learn secrets that lead to answers, danger, and romance.
I liked the illustrations and colors. I didn’t really feel attached to the plot or the characters, though. I think the story could have been more fleshed out and the ending felt rushed. It was a fun book, but not amazing.
After receiving a mysterious email, Kat goes to the town of Estrella Roja in hopes of discovering paranormal activity. The only friendly person in town in Mari and the two work together to learn secrets that lead to answers, danger, and romance.
I liked the illustrations and colors. I didn’t really feel attached to the plot or the characters, though. I think the story could have been more fleshed out and the ending felt rushed. It was a fun book, but not amazing.
November 5, 2023
High school senior Mari is woken from a nightmare about voices calling to her from a pit in a cave to learn that her grandmother is dead. Mari, her mom, and her little sister drive back to Estrella Roja, their small mysterious Texas hometown. Meanwhile, Kat, a college freshman who runs a podcast about the paranormal with her best friend, receives an anonymous email tip about the "devil lights" of Estrella Roja and decides to solo road trip to investigate it over her spring break. Kat can't find anyone in town willing to to talk to her... except Mari, who is both sad and bored, and can't seem to connect with any of her close-mouthed relatives. The two stumble across something in the desert that was spooky enough to make me wonder if I should be reading the book before bedtime. This story weaves a queer meet-cute with a dark family history into a very effective YA horror tale. The inking and coloring are absolutely gorgeous. Scary, but not too scary for me, a known scaredy cat!
August 31, 2023
I was so delighted to curl up with this sapphic YA graphic novel where two girls meet while one, a paranormal mystery podcaster, is investigating a reported phenomenon in the other's family hometown. The spookiness doesn't kick into high gear until fairly late in the novel, but I loved main characters Kat and Mari so much that it was worth the wait. Mari's down-to-earth kindness complements Kat's enthusiasm and boldness. Thoroughly enjoyable book - and as a Texan myself, I always love seeing a story set in my home state!
July 1, 2023
out august 29th, 2023!
thank you to harper collins & netgalley for this arc.
--
You like queer, spooky stuff? This is the graphic novel for you.
The Hills of Estrella Roja follows a paranormal podcaster (hello, do I smell a sequel opportunity) called Kat desperately seeking a subject for her next show. When she receives a mysterious email telling her about the lights glowing over the Estrella Roja Hills, she takes off on spring break to unfurl the mystery.
The thing is... no one in town is talking. Not until Kat sees Mari, in town for her abuela's funeral, sitting on a bench reading Fried Green Tomatoes. Mari's got some family secrets to uncover, too.
Scenes in this were beautiful. I loved the art, but the coloring was. Everything. I didn't go into this expecting a queer graphic novel and I was pleasantly surprised, as well as witchy paranormal aspect. The love story was friggin' adorable. I loved this sweet, cozy horror graphic novel.
thank you to harper collins & netgalley for this arc.
--
You like queer, spooky stuff? This is the graphic novel for you.
The Hills of Estrella Roja follows a paranormal podcaster (hello, do I smell a sequel opportunity) called Kat desperately seeking a subject for her next show. When she receives a mysterious email telling her about the lights glowing over the Estrella Roja Hills, she takes off on spring break to unfurl the mystery.
The thing is... no one in town is talking. Not until Kat sees Mari, in town for her abuela's funeral, sitting on a bench reading Fried Green Tomatoes. Mari's got some family secrets to uncover, too.
Scenes in this were beautiful. I loved the art, but the coloring was. Everything. I didn't go into this expecting a queer graphic novel and I was pleasantly surprised, as well as witchy paranormal aspect. The love story was friggin' adorable. I loved this sweet, cozy horror graphic novel.
August 23, 2023
This sapphic, spooky little graphic novel is such a quick and engaging read. The characters were all well written and the romance was nicely developed. I really enjoyed the fast pace plot, and the podcast element was so fun! The spooky vibes and atmosphere were definitely my favourite aspect of the story, and the ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel, which i would love to see!
The artwork for this book is absolutely beautiful! The proof copy only has a few pages in full colour, but i would love to see the finalised version as i KNOW it will really enhance the spooky vibes!
I definitely recommend adding The Hills of Estrella Roja to your tbr, this queer and cozy horror is the perfect halloween read!
Thank you to Harper360YA for sending me an ARC!
The artwork for this book is absolutely beautiful! The proof copy only has a few pages in full colour, but i would love to see the finalised version as i KNOW it will really enhance the spooky vibes!
I definitely recommend adding The Hills of Estrella Roja to your tbr, this queer and cozy horror is the perfect halloween read!
Thank you to Harper360YA for sending me an ARC!
July 2, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for providing me with a digital ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review!
I've been reading more graphic novels this year, and the premise for this one sounded right up my alley! It's a queer, YA horror story following a podcaster, Kat, who receives an email advising her to check out the small Texas town of Estrella Roja, which has a history of disappearances and witchcraft, along with mysterious red lights that appear every night. Kat visits over her college's spring break, and she quickly realizes that no one living in the town is willing to speak with her about the unusual happenings. She finds solace in Mari, who is visiting for her abuela's funeral and is also feeling like an outsider. Together, the two team up to figure out what's really going on (and maybe to fall for one another along the way). It's a surprisingly cozy and sweet horror book (with a solid dash of creepiness, as well). I really enjoyed it!
The art is beautiful in this graphic novel; I loved the color palette. This book features a lot of great diversity (including queer representation, as well as diverse ethnicity, body types, gender identities, and more!), and it's neat to see it included so seamlessly through the imagery. I've never been to Texas, but it also looked like the setting was represented well, with little details illustrated throughout the story. I imagine the physical book will be gorgeous!
The story is strong, too. The mystery pushes the plot forward at a comfortable pace. It's a classic small town mystery, but I was still pulled in - I needed to know what everyone was hiding. The inclusion of Mexican folklore is interesting to read about. I also really liked the dynamic between Kat and Mari, and I was rooting for them to get together. Between the pretty images and the interesting story, reading through The Hills of Estrella Roja is such a fun journey.
The cast of characters are all intriguing. Kat's brave and chaotic personality contrasts nicely with Mari's gentleness. I found both of the main women to be very likable. I was also interested in Mari's family and their backstories. You can tell there is more under the surface with the characters who are cold to Kat, and it's rewarding to see that pay off later. The conclusion wraps everything up nicely.
The reason I can't give this five stars, though, is because I think the horror element of the story was resolved too quickly. There is a really nice build up throughout the first 270 pages or so, only for the mystery to be revealed, some action to happen, and then everything to be wrapped up in way too short of a time frame. I noticed a few good opportunities during the climax where the story could have been expanded more and the horror element could have been further developed. The story and atmosphere are still fine with the current ending... I just wish there had been 100 pages more to flesh everything out.
I did still very much enjoy this graphic novel, though. If you're looking for a quick, spooky read with some heart, then you should definitely pick this up! I'd recommend it to fans of horror, queer romance, supernatural graphic novels, and more. There are a couple of chilling moments, but I would say the horror itself is fairly tame compared to other books I've read. If horror isn't your usual genre, but you're looking for something charming and a little strange, you might still want to give this a try!
4 stars out of 5 stars. I'm not sure how Ashley Robin Franklin was able to strike such a good balance between suspenseful and adorable, but she did a wonderful job with this graphic novel.
I've been reading more graphic novels this year, and the premise for this one sounded right up my alley! It's a queer, YA horror story following a podcaster, Kat, who receives an email advising her to check out the small Texas town of Estrella Roja, which has a history of disappearances and witchcraft, along with mysterious red lights that appear every night. Kat visits over her college's spring break, and she quickly realizes that no one living in the town is willing to speak with her about the unusual happenings. She finds solace in Mari, who is visiting for her abuela's funeral and is also feeling like an outsider. Together, the two team up to figure out what's really going on (and maybe to fall for one another along the way). It's a surprisingly cozy and sweet horror book (with a solid dash of creepiness, as well). I really enjoyed it!
The art is beautiful in this graphic novel; I loved the color palette. This book features a lot of great diversity (including queer representation, as well as diverse ethnicity, body types, gender identities, and more!), and it's neat to see it included so seamlessly through the imagery. I've never been to Texas, but it also looked like the setting was represented well, with little details illustrated throughout the story. I imagine the physical book will be gorgeous!
The story is strong, too. The mystery pushes the plot forward at a comfortable pace. It's a classic small town mystery, but I was still pulled in - I needed to know what everyone was hiding. The inclusion of Mexican folklore is interesting to read about. I also really liked the dynamic between Kat and Mari, and I was rooting for them to get together. Between the pretty images and the interesting story, reading through The Hills of Estrella Roja is such a fun journey.
The cast of characters are all intriguing. Kat's brave and chaotic personality contrasts nicely with Mari's gentleness. I found both of the main women to be very likable. I was also interested in Mari's family and their backstories. You can tell there is more under the surface with the characters who are cold to Kat, and it's rewarding to see that pay off later. The conclusion wraps everything up nicely.
The reason I can't give this five stars, though, is because I think the horror element of the story was resolved too quickly. There is a really nice build up throughout the first 270 pages or so, only for the mystery to be revealed, some action to happen, and then everything to be wrapped up in way too short of a time frame. I noticed a few good opportunities during the climax where the story could have been expanded more and the horror element could have been further developed. The story and atmosphere are still fine with the current ending... I just wish there had been 100 pages more to flesh everything out.
I did still very much enjoy this graphic novel, though. If you're looking for a quick, spooky read with some heart, then you should definitely pick this up! I'd recommend it to fans of horror, queer romance, supernatural graphic novels, and more. There are a couple of chilling moments, but I would say the horror itself is fairly tame compared to other books I've read. If horror isn't your usual genre, but you're looking for something charming and a little strange, you might still want to give this a try!
4 stars out of 5 stars. I'm not sure how Ashley Robin Franklin was able to strike such a good balance between suspenseful and adorable, but she did a wonderful job with this graphic novel.
January 21, 2024
Quick, spooky read.
June 14, 2023
*An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
If you wanted spooky, mythologic Texas with some Latinx land history and lore- plus it's queer- look no further
If you wanted spooky, mythologic Texas with some Latinx land history and lore- plus it's queer- look no further
July 21, 2023
A spooky fun time! I loved the art style and story of this book (also great representation). The characters were well developed and I enjoyed the slow burn romance while trying to solve a paranormal mystery. I'm hoping there will be a continuation of the story with these characters as I would love to learn more about the Castillo's Family power. Recommend picking this up, especially for Halloween season. While the story takes place during Spring Break, the creepy small town and "Devil Lights" give all the spooky vibes.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book!
March 25, 2024
Read for Trans Rights Readathon! 🏳️⚧️
Queer horror is just delightful and this one is no exception!
The Hills of Estrella Roja is atmospheric and fun. Love the art style and the colors of this book. It's a quick read, but it's interesting and mysterious enough.
The two MCs were fun. I think I even saw a bit of myself in Kat—someone who's interested in paranormal stuff, conspiracies, and the unexplained. And Mari's character, on the other hand, felt a little lost to me. But considering her arc in the story, I would say that's fitting. And yeah, the romance was cute too, not going to lie. 😆
Maybe I just wish there was a little more suspense build up? And there were a few plot twists that I managed to see right away. Still, at the end of the book, I thought it was nicely done. It wasn't that scary, but was really entertaining. Definitely recommended!
Exact rating: 3.75 ⭐️
CW: blood, gore, violence, mentions about murder
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
Marking this book as part of my reading challenge: #ReadQueerly2024.
Queer horror is just delightful and this one is no exception!
The Hills of Estrella Roja is atmospheric and fun. Love the art style and the colors of this book. It's a quick read, but it's interesting and mysterious enough.
The two MCs were fun. I think I even saw a bit of myself in Kat—someone who's interested in paranormal stuff, conspiracies, and the unexplained. And Mari's character, on the other hand, felt a little lost to me. But considering her arc in the story, I would say that's fitting. And yeah, the romance was cute too, not going to lie. 😆
Maybe I just wish there was a little more suspense build up? And there were a few plot twists that I managed to see right away. Still, at the end of the book, I thought it was nicely done. It wasn't that scary, but was really entertaining. Definitely recommended!
Exact rating: 3.75 ⭐️
CW: blood, gore, violence, mentions about murder
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
Marking this book as part of my reading challenge: #ReadQueerly2024.
April 20, 2023
4.4
This was spooky and fun! I love the art and the color palette so much, and the vibe of the small desert town. The atmosphere is done so well, and the slow build to romance balances perfectly with the investigation and genuine danger. I'm really excited to get a physical copy of this into my hands!
This was spooky and fun! I love the art and the color palette so much, and the vibe of the small desert town. The atmosphere is done so well, and the slow build to romance balances perfectly with the investigation and genuine danger. I'm really excited to get a physical copy of this into my hands!
November 27, 2023
I really enjoyed the folklore and focus on family history . However, the ambiguity of the dreamscape and the charactered-centered development (individually) unfortunately forced the supernatural aspect into the background.
October 5, 2023
Jo men jag gillade den, lagom läskig för min del och så söt
October 13, 2023
This was a lot of fun. Ultimately a little predictable, but I loved the art and the journey was a good time.
February 9, 2024
This was so much fun, and v cute!! IDK why so many queer books set in Texas have been coming my way lately, but I'm kind of loving it? My love for graphic novels is only growing stronger!
February 29, 2024
This was a very delightful and easy read. I loved the witchy lore and, obviously, the queer and feminist heroines.
July 6, 2024
This is a fun YA graphic novel! For fans of queer romance, family secrets, niche interests, small town mysteries, and the paranormal.
October 4, 2023
stark trea snudd på fyra väl? så gullig och lite spooky och spännande! (❁´◡`❁)
February 11, 2024
3.5?
This YAish graphic novel was quite a fun ride, sort of like listening to your favorite paranormal podcast, if that's your kind of thing (not mine). But I didn't really feel a strong sense of connection with the characters, their predicaments, or actually the whole plot.
The art was a little bit rough at times, especially when it came to the action scenes, and it just felt slightly childish on occasion; though I guess that makes sense considering the main characters are barely out of their teenage years (if even...).
This YAish graphic novel was quite a fun ride, sort of like listening to your favorite paranormal podcast, if that's your kind of thing (not mine). But I didn't really feel a strong sense of connection with the characters, their predicaments, or actually the whole plot.
The art was a little bit rough at times, especially when it came to the action scenes, and it just felt slightly childish on occasion; though I guess that makes sense considering the main characters are barely out of their teenage years (if even...).
May 7, 2024
Enjoyable mystery-thriller/horror graphic novel. Good plot twitst and great illustrations.
June 5, 2023
Having spent a good chunk of time in West Texas, and being a lover of the spooky, picking up this book was a no brainer. And I've got to say... I'm delighted with this book!
The story is solid. There's a lot of genres touched on (mystery, romance, paranormal, horror(?!)) and it all flows together well.
The landscape is gorgeous; you can really tell that the author/illustration has visited West Texas in the Spring. And the color. Wow. Way to set (and change) the mood quickly and effectively.
The story is solid. There's a lot of genres touched on (mystery, romance, paranormal, horror(?!)) and it all flows together well.
The landscape is gorgeous; you can really tell that the author/illustration has visited West Texas in the Spring. And the color. Wow. Way to set (and change) the mood quickly and effectively.
April 23, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books and Clarion Books for the eARC.
When college freshman Kat Fields receives a mysterious email urging her to visit a relatively unknown Texas town with a history of witchcraft and “devil lights”—glowing red stars that appear above the town’s hills every night—she ditches her plans for spring break and takes a solo road trip to Estrella Roja to investigate for her podcast, Meanwhile, Marisol Castillo, is also headed for Estrella Roja to attend the funeral for her abuela whom she hasn’t seen since childhood. Feeling lost and bored, she decides to help Kat uncover the dark legacy that the town was built on.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel a lot. It's creepy, it's funny, the characters are great, the plot is very well developed, it's everything you could want. I loved Kat and her chaotic energy, her excitement was contagious. I also loved Mari, she is a bit skeptical at first, which plays a role in the story and it’s something that helps to develop the relationship between her and Kat, as well as the plot. I liked the dynamic of the small town, the family, the friendships, etc. The plot had me hooked from the beginning and although it is quite a long novel, I never got bored.
The art style is very expressive and dynamic. The colors are vibrant and fit the story quite well. Overall I would say this is now one of my favorite graphic novels and I definitely recommend it.
When college freshman Kat Fields receives a mysterious email urging her to visit a relatively unknown Texas town with a history of witchcraft and “devil lights”—glowing red stars that appear above the town’s hills every night—she ditches her plans for spring break and takes a solo road trip to Estrella Roja to investigate for her podcast, Meanwhile, Marisol Castillo, is also headed for Estrella Roja to attend the funeral for her abuela whom she hasn’t seen since childhood. Feeling lost and bored, she decides to help Kat uncover the dark legacy that the town was built on.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel a lot. It's creepy, it's funny, the characters are great, the plot is very well developed, it's everything you could want. I loved Kat and her chaotic energy, her excitement was contagious. I also loved Mari, she is a bit skeptical at first, which plays a role in the story and it’s something that helps to develop the relationship between her and Kat, as well as the plot. I liked the dynamic of the small town, the family, the friendships, etc. The plot had me hooked from the beginning and although it is quite a long novel, I never got bored.
The art style is very expressive and dynamic. The colors are vibrant and fit the story quite well. Overall I would say this is now one of my favorite graphic novels and I definitely recommend it.
July 18, 2023
The Hills of Estrella Roja is a cute sapphic graphic novel about Mexican paranormal legends and folklore. Kat runs a podcast with her friend, but her friend does not want to join her over a school break to explore mysterious lights above the mountains in a small town called Estrella Roja. The locals are unfriendly and strange, but Kat befriends another girl named Mari who is visiting for a family funeral. They begin to bond over exploring the town's history - and the connection Mari has to it.
I love the diversity and the innocent but adorable love story that develops. My only criticism is that sometimes the pacing felt a bit off, this is a longer story but it felt like intense and deep moments were rushed through, especially the ending climax and resolution. I felt like some of that could have been extended and the numerous scenes about snacking could have been skipped. Without spoilers, I also feel like Mari's connection could have resulted in a much cooler conclusion, it gets glossed over towards the end when it could have made some really cool action or at least could have made the epilogue a bit more intriguing.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
I love the diversity and the innocent but adorable love story that develops. My only criticism is that sometimes the pacing felt a bit off, this is a longer story but it felt like intense and deep moments were rushed through, especially the ending climax and resolution. I felt like some of that could have been extended and the numerous scenes about snacking could have been skipped. Without spoilers, I also feel like Mari's connection could have resulted in a much cooler conclusion, it gets glossed over towards the end when it could have made some really cool action or at least could have made the epilogue a bit more intriguing.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
May 3, 2023
One thing about me is when I hear about a spooky graphic novel, I need to read it. The Hills of Estrella Roja was such a good read. I loved the art and the heart that went into it. It was a good mix of mysterious and sweet! If you love queer graphic novels, this is the book for you!
September 11, 2023
Final copy provided by HarperCollins.
Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of a loved one, blood, talk of murder, mentions witch trial burnings
Friends, I absolutely loved this graphic novel. As a lover of cryptids, paranormal goodness, Scooby-Doo vibes, this graphic novel was checking so many boxes on my enjoyment list. Plus, make it queer? Yes please! I also just want to add this quick note of watching Where Are You Scooby-Doo and the vibes, oh the vibes were so good friends. Despite this book being a chunky graphic novel, I finished it in only an hour because of how invested I was.
I also really enjoyed the art style and the color pallet. In each panel, the colors chosen really fit to the vibes and the intensity of that scene. For example, there's a scene where our main characters discover a creature and they start running away from it. The colors and the way it plays to the intensity of that moment, the uncertainty, and it just reminded me so much of classic/old school horror films with the color pallet. It was really eye pleasing and it just scratched a nostalgia itch I didn't know I had.
I do want to mention our main characters and the diversity we have in the book. We have a plethora of characters of color especially some of Marisol, Mari's family. Speaking of Mari, we don't know the specifics because it's never really mentioned, but we do know Mari is queer due to their attraction to our other character, Kat. Kat is, confirmed on page, bisexual who's obsessed with all things campy and spooky. And I can't tell you how much I was thriving with Kat's character. Kat was just everything! We also get little snippets of Kat's best friend, Clem. They're either bisexual or pansexual. So we have a good chunk of diversity throughout this book.
All of this aside, I really loved the theme of returning to your hometown and your family after such a long time. The way Mari feels so isolated, estranged from their family, feeling like they don't really fit in or don't really belong like how they used to is such a powerful feeling I think many readers are going to connect with. You add that with the small town, with a close knit community, and there's dark secrets that potentially revolve around your family, and it's bound to really hit for so many readers. There were definitely moments in this graphic novel where I was reflecting on my own hometown and all those reminders of "Haha, you could have died in this spot" or "Remember when you did that really dangerous thing as a teenager" kind of moments. It was a whole experience and whole thing, but it also really made connect with the theme and storyline.
If I had to fault this book for anything, it would be the love connection with Mari and Kat. If you're someone who doesn't enjoy insta-love stories or insta-relationships then you might not enjoy this element of the book. And to be honest, I was a little unsure of how I felt about it myself, but for me personally, if didn't hinder my reading experience and I really appreciated the moments of Kat and Mari asking for consent on if something was okay for them to do with the other person. The other thing readers may have issues with is backstory/history. There are very specific things that are key to the storyline and at times it felt like there weren't enough details. You know me, I always emphasize details that can really add that little something something to the book. However, I do understand that this is a graphic novel and sometimes there's details that don't always get put into the graphic novel. I think this could be an issue for readers as well.
Overall, I had a really great time reading this book. For me, everything I had going on while reading this book really like candle lit, watching Scooby-Doo, it was storming outside, everything was just the perfect mood while reading this book. It was such a fun time and I really enjoyed the way this graphic novel concluded and we get to see the whole gang together, trying to track down Chupacabra. It was just a fun time and I highly recommend picking this up if you're a lover of paranormal, and enjoy stories you get sucked into!
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of a loved one, blood, talk of murder, mentions witch trial burnings
Friends, I absolutely loved this graphic novel. As a lover of cryptids, paranormal goodness, Scooby-Doo vibes, this graphic novel was checking so many boxes on my enjoyment list. Plus, make it queer? Yes please! I also just want to add this quick note of watching Where Are You Scooby-Doo and the vibes, oh the vibes were so good friends. Despite this book being a chunky graphic novel, I finished it in only an hour because of how invested I was.
I also really enjoyed the art style and the color pallet. In each panel, the colors chosen really fit to the vibes and the intensity of that scene. For example, there's a scene where our main characters discover a creature and they start running away from it. The colors and the way it plays to the intensity of that moment, the uncertainty, and it just reminded me so much of classic/old school horror films with the color pallet. It was really eye pleasing and it just scratched a nostalgia itch I didn't know I had.
I do want to mention our main characters and the diversity we have in the book. We have a plethora of characters of color especially some of Marisol, Mari's family. Speaking of Mari, we don't know the specifics because it's never really mentioned, but we do know Mari is queer due to their attraction to our other character, Kat. Kat is, confirmed on page, bisexual who's obsessed with all things campy and spooky. And I can't tell you how much I was thriving with Kat's character. Kat was just everything! We also get little snippets of Kat's best friend, Clem. They're either bisexual or pansexual. So we have a good chunk of diversity throughout this book.
All of this aside, I really loved the theme of returning to your hometown and your family after such a long time. The way Mari feels so isolated, estranged from their family, feeling like they don't really fit in or don't really belong like how they used to is such a powerful feeling I think many readers are going to connect with. You add that with the small town, with a close knit community, and there's dark secrets that potentially revolve around your family, and it's bound to really hit for so many readers. There were definitely moments in this graphic novel where I was reflecting on my own hometown and all those reminders of "Haha, you could have died in this spot" or "Remember when you did that really dangerous thing as a teenager" kind of moments. It was a whole experience and whole thing, but it also really made connect with the theme and storyline.
If I had to fault this book for anything, it would be the love connection with Mari and Kat. If you're someone who doesn't enjoy insta-love stories or insta-relationships then you might not enjoy this element of the book. And to be honest, I was a little unsure of how I felt about it myself, but for me personally, if didn't hinder my reading experience and I really appreciated the moments of Kat and Mari asking for consent on if something was okay for them to do with the other person. The other thing readers may have issues with is backstory/history. There are very specific things that are key to the storyline and at times it felt like there weren't enough details. You know me, I always emphasize details that can really add that little something something to the book. However, I do understand that this is a graphic novel and sometimes there's details that don't always get put into the graphic novel. I think this could be an issue for readers as well.
Overall, I had a really great time reading this book. For me, everything I had going on while reading this book really like candle lit, watching Scooby-Doo, it was storming outside, everything was just the perfect mood while reading this book. It was such a fun time and I really enjoyed the way this graphic novel concluded and we get to see the whole gang together, trying to track down Chupacabra. It was just a fun time and I highly recommend picking this up if you're a lover of paranormal, and enjoy stories you get sucked into!
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
July 17, 2023
Hello Again!
Towards the end of last week, things got really busy around my household. But I also really really wanted to read. I started a few new audiobooks but I also wanted something I could read quickly, so I turned to my graphic novels to see what I might be interested in picking up. As I was looking at my collection, I decided to read an ARC! (Thank you so much to the publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions). I was just really drawn in by the summary for this graphic novel so I decided to dive in!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Estrella Roja is a bit of an odd small town. The residents do not want visitors and any outsiders are shunned. But Mari has to go there for her grandmother’s funeral and even she is not super welcome. Mari, her sister, and her mom left Estrella Roja many years ago and they have not come back very often. But now they are here. They will be staying for roughly two weeks. Around that same time that Mari and her family arrive another outsider arrives. This person is here to create a podcast about the mystery surrounding the weird lights that can be seen at night. Despite being not exactly welcome by the town, they are both here. But is there really any mystery to the lights? Why does the entire town hate outsiders?
I had so much fun with this graphic novel. I love when I am unable to guess the mystery and this graphic novel definitely brought those vibes. All of the characters were interesting and unique (I loved the twist with Mari’s family). Also without spoilers, I thought this epilogue was chef’s kiss perfect! This graphic novel comes out on August 29th, I highly recommend grabbing a copy and giving it a try!
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
****Thank you so much again to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
Towards the end of last week, things got really busy around my household. But I also really really wanted to read. I started a few new audiobooks but I also wanted something I could read quickly, so I turned to my graphic novels to see what I might be interested in picking up. As I was looking at my collection, I decided to read an ARC! (Thank you so much to the publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions). I was just really drawn in by the summary for this graphic novel so I decided to dive in!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Estrella Roja is a bit of an odd small town. The residents do not want visitors and any outsiders are shunned. But Mari has to go there for her grandmother’s funeral and even she is not super welcome. Mari, her sister, and her mom left Estrella Roja many years ago and they have not come back very often. But now they are here. They will be staying for roughly two weeks. Around that same time that Mari and her family arrive another outsider arrives. This person is here to create a podcast about the mystery surrounding the weird lights that can be seen at night. Despite being not exactly welcome by the town, they are both here. But is there really any mystery to the lights? Why does the entire town hate outsiders?
I had so much fun with this graphic novel. I love when I am unable to guess the mystery and this graphic novel definitely brought those vibes. All of the characters were interesting and unique (I loved the twist with Mari’s family). Also without spoilers, I thought this epilogue was chef’s kiss perfect! This graphic novel comes out on August 29th, I highly recommend grabbing a copy and giving it a try!
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
****Thank you so much again to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
August 13, 2023
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kat Fields has a podcast on supernatural phenomenon and when she receives a mysterious email about a weird town where weird things happen, she just has to go investigate. Alone. In this small town where everyone is insanely unfriendly.
Marisol "Mari" Castillo has just lost her grandma and so she has to go to Estrella Roja. She hasn't been there in 10 years and her family who she stays with is less than friendly. But she finds a friend in Kat and the two start start investigating together...
This was really really good. I loved the story, the characters, the relationships, the plot, the myths, all of it. I was captivated from beginning to end. Truly could not stop reading. I really liked the whole mystery and how it was told. I was expecting none of it. I also loved the illustrations and the colorization. It all just felt right. I was also there was the weird family dynamics and everyone just being so weird. It really had me guessing from the start.
So yes, I had a great time, I love the gays, good job.
Kat Fields has a podcast on supernatural phenomenon and when she receives a mysterious email about a weird town where weird things happen, she just has to go investigate. Alone. In this small town where everyone is insanely unfriendly.
Marisol "Mari" Castillo has just lost her grandma and so she has to go to Estrella Roja. She hasn't been there in 10 years and her family who she stays with is less than friendly. But she finds a friend in Kat and the two start start investigating together...
This was really really good. I loved the story, the characters, the relationships, the plot, the myths, all of it. I was captivated from beginning to end. Truly could not stop reading. I really liked the whole mystery and how it was told. I was expecting none of it. I also loved the illustrations and the colorization. It all just felt right. I was also there was the weird family dynamics and everyone just being so weird. It really had me guessing from the start.
So yes, I had a great time, I love the gays, good job.
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