Blog Tour: SALT MAGIC Review & Giveaway

I am so excited to be sharing this book as a spot on the SALT MAGIC by Hope Larson, illustrated by Rebecca Mock Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. I love graphic novels and this one was just absolutely amazing. Make sure to check out my review and enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: SALT MAGIC

Author: Hope Larson, illustrated by Rebecca Mock

Pub. Date: October 12, 2021

Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books

Pages: 240

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

     

When a jealous witch curses her family's well, it's up to Vonceil to set things right in an epic journey that will leave her changed forever.

When Vonceil's older brother, Elber, comes home to their family's Oklahoma farm after serving on the front lines of World War I, things aren't what she expects. His experiences have changed him into a serious and responsible man who doesn't have time for Vonceil anymore. He even marries the girl he had left behind.

Then a mysterious and captivating woman shows up at the farm and confronts Elber for leaving her in France. When he refuses to leave his wife, she puts a curse on the family well, turning the entire town's water supply into saltwater. Who is this lady dressed all in white, what has she done to the farm, and what does Vonceil's old uncle Dell know about her?

To find out, Vonceil will have to strike out on her own and delve deep into the world of witchcraft, confronting dangerous relatives, shapeshifting animals, a capricious Sugar Witch, and the Lady in White herself--the foreboding Salt Witch. The journey will change Vonceil, but along the way she'll learn a lot about love and what it means to grow up.

Hope Larson is the author and illustrator of the Eisner Award nominated All Summer Long and the illustrator of the Eisner Award winning A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel. Salt Magic is an utterly unique graphic fairy tale complete with striking illustrations by Rebecca Mock. 

Praise For SALT MAGIC:

"The best comics reading experience I've had in a long time." —Ben Hatke, author-illustrator of #1 New York Times Bestselling Zita the Spacegirl series
 
"Sumptuously detailed in all aspects, readers of all ages will be whisked away by this unique and modern fairy tale. Hope Larson and Rebecca Mock take a story filled with fantasy and imagination and ground it with great humanity and depth. A book to return to over and over again."—Jen Wang, author-illustrator of the Eisner award-winning The Prince and the Dressmaker
 
"The perfect alchemy of gorgeous illustration and richly imagined story." —Victoria Ying, author-illustrator of City of Secrets
 
"Salt Magic is an epic coming-of-age adventure. Rebecca’s artwork is some of the most gorgeous cartooning I have ever seen, bringing Hope’s incredible storytelling to vibrant life. With witches, magic, and cowboys, you’ve never read a Western like this before!" —Cathy G. Johnson, author-illustrator of The Breakaways


"This story by the previous collaborators (Compass South) unfolds skillfully, taking time to develop memorable heroine Vonceil and her quotidian world . . . before setting her on an adventure that echoes fantasy classics yet feels entirely distinct."—Publishers Weekly

"Unusual and excellent, containing wonder within."—Kirkus Reviews

 

My Rating: 5/5 stars

My Review:

The cover of this graphic novel was all I needed to know about this book. It is beyond gorgeous, and it drew my attention like a moth to flame. The summary of the book was just icing on top of the cake. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book as part of a blog tour. Thank you to the publishers and everyone who allowed me early access.

I first want to talk about the art in this book. That’s always the first thing that gets my attention in graphic novels. The art was gorgeous. It was beautiful and helped create a very intriguing world. The character art was different enough where I never struggled to place characters, even without having full color. I’m sure that the book will look even better in full color.

Now the story here was something else. I was expecting a nice adventure story with a kid at the helm. I got that and even more. I feel like it says something about the art and story if I ended where I could completely understand the Salt Witch’s motivation and why she acted the way that she did. The story was just as great when it didn’t directly involve her. No character felt forced into this story and no character felt like they had a plot thread that was hanging loose.

The cast was full of likeable characters and Vonceil was an amazing main character. I loved her so much, especially since it was very clear what her motivation was throughout the story. I will admit – I have a soft spot for Dee. Something about her just made me want to know more.

This book was something else! I found it to be a relatively quick and very engaging read. I loved the story and the characters. I can only imagine what it will look like in color.

 

About Hope Larson:

Hope Larson has written and illustrated many graphic novels including All Summer Long, which was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2018 and an Eisner Award nominee, as well as its recently published sequel, All Together Now. She adapted and illustrated A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel, which spent forty-four weeks on the New York Times graphic novel bestseller list and for which she won an Eisner Award. She is also the author of Compass South (A New York Times Bestseller), and its companion volume, Knife's Edge, both illustrated by Rebecca Mock. She lives in North Carolina.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

About Rebecca Mock:

Rebecca Mock is an illustrator and comics artist. They illustrated the graphic novels Compass South and Knife's Edge, both written by Hope Larson. Their work has also appeared in various publications, including the New York Times and The New Yorker. They are the co-organizer of the Hana Doki Kira anthology. They live in Brooklyn, New York. Visit their website at https://rebeccamock.com

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway Details: 

3 winners will receive a finished copy of SALT MAGIC, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/4/2021	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
10/4/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
10/5/2021	YA Books Central	Excerpt
10/5/2021	Little Red Reads	Review
10/6/2021	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
10/6/2021	Pick a good book	Excerpt
10/7/2021	Celiamcmahonreads	Review
10/7/2021	History From A Women's Perspective	Review
10/8/2021	Nerdophiles	Review
10/8/2021	The Momma Spot	Review

Week Two:

10/11/2021	Books Are Magic Too	Review
10/11/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
10/12/2021	two points of interedt	Review
10/12/2021	@coffeebooksandmascara	Review
10/13/2021	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review
10/13/2021	@abackwardsstory	Review
10/14/2021	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review
10/14/2021	Midnightbooklover	Review
10/15/2021	@bookisheclectic	Review
10/15/2021	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review