I hope you all are doing well. As I write this a winter storm is due to hit today. I hope my power stays on. I have a lot of things to do. Schoolwork and D&D are my main tasks, but I have others too. I just wanted to drop in and bring you my review of Witchlight. It’s one of my favorite books so far this year.
Synopsis
Witchlight is a wonderful sapphic fantasy graphic novel. It tells the story of Sanja and Lelek.
When Sanja meets Lelek in the marketplace all that she knows is that Lelek is a witch. But as Sanja and Lelek lives began to come together; Sanja learns Lelek is hiding her own pain. Sanja starts exploring the countryside to escape an oppressive family. She discovers Lelek has taken to stealing. She tries to stop this behavior. She suggests using her powers as a witch to make money.
All the while Lelek and Sanja’s attraction is growing to each other. But Lelek has secrets about her family and her past that make come back to haunt them. Lelek isn’t the only one with family that may cause them problems. As they learn more about Lelek’s past, elements from Sanja’s past start to creep in as well.
Review
I’ll always take more queer graphic novels, but this one was especially good. I love the way family and different dynamics was explored. Lelek’s arc had a great exploration of grief and blaming oneself for things outside your control. Meanwhile Sanja’s arc focuses on changing beliefs that one grew up with and escaping the reach of toxic family.
The story was fairly simple other than their emotional arcs. Just a tale of exploration and finding answers about their various histories. However this didn’t make me like the book any less. I found it charming and a good quick afternoon read.
The graphic novels it reminds me the most of are the works of K. O’Neil for two reasons. One you have a lot of the similar story lines of finding oneself and one’s place in important life relationships. Secondly the art style with its soft colors also reminds me of O’Neil’s work.
I’d have to give Witchlight four starts. I’d definitely read another graphic novel from the author because I like they explore emotional topics with sensitivity and depth. The art also drew me in and made the world more real.
Amazon: Witchlight
About the Author
Jessi Zabarsky is a cartoonist, illustrator, and animator living in Chicago. She was born in 1988 in northern Ohio. Witchlight, he first full-length graphic novel, was created half in Akron, half in Chicago. She has been making comics about food, feelings, and magic since 2006. You can find more of her work at https://cargocollective.com/hugbox.
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