Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Archaia Entertainment, LLC (2014), Hardcover, 208 pages
Description
"After her parents' accidental death by mushroom poisoning, young Aurora Grimeon is sent to live with her estranged grandfather on Ossuary Isle, deep in the southern swamps. Joined by her grandfather's pet raccoon Missy, Aurora explores the fog-covered island of graves. Along the way she meets its sinister residents who care for the tombstones and mausoleums, living out their lives by the strange rules of Hoodoo magic. When ghostly things start happening out in the swamp and island residents start disappearing, Aurora thrusts herself into the middle of the mystery, uncovering secrets that might be better left buried."--Page 4 of cover.
User reviews
LibraryThing member sszkutak
Will O’ the Wisp is a graphic novel about a girl who looses her parents to mushroom poisoning and is told that she must move into the swamp with her recluse grandfather who studies bones and oddities. While there she learns about her family, the swamp and the graveyard surrounding her, all while
I love the dark and macabre and this definitely fits that description Aurora, the girl we follow, is bored and displeased with her new situation but through the chapters learns more about the superstitions surrounding the swamp isle and wants to be more like the community. At first her grandfather is distant and kind of a jerk but he starts acting more like family as the book drew to a close.
I think the drawings were interesting. I liked the scenery and the characters were weird and quirky, but the plot sometimes seemed to jump from one scene to another without much explanation between them and sometimes I felt myself wondering where Aurora ran off to and how she ended up where she was and how she came to conclusions that the reader seemed to be left out on.
Over I liked this book, but there was some things left to be desired so not one of the best. I do recommend this book of those interested in the strange and unusual, hoodoo as the book called it, and superstitions.
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coming to terms with herself and being part of this new and strange community.I love the dark and macabre and this definitely fits that description Aurora, the girl we follow, is bored and displeased with her new situation but through the chapters learns more about the superstitions surrounding the swamp isle and wants to be more like the community. At first her grandfather is distant and kind of a jerk but he starts acting more like family as the book drew to a close.
I think the drawings were interesting. I liked the scenery and the characters were weird and quirky, but the plot sometimes seemed to jump from one scene to another without much explanation between them and sometimes I felt myself wondering where Aurora ran off to and how she ended up where she was and how she came to conclusions that the reader seemed to be left out on.
Over I liked this book, but there was some things left to be desired so not one of the best. I do recommend this book of those interested in the strange and unusual, hoodoo as the book called it, and superstitions.
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LibraryThing member Lschwarzman
This was my first experience reading a graphic novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The art work is intriguing and definitely adds to the story. Anyone whose grandparent told them stories of old should love this story. I couldn't put it down!
LibraryThing member krau0098
I got a copy of this graphic novel to review through NetGalley(dot)com. It looked like something right up my alley. I enjoyed it but wished that the artwork had been a bit better.
After Aurora’s parents are poisoned by mushrooms, Aurora is sent to live with her grandfather, Silver, on Ossuary
This graphic novel had a lot of things I liked and some things I didn’t. I enjoyed the eerie settings and Aurora’s tragic yet curious nature. Aurora gets deep into trying to solve a mystery as residents of the island start disappearing. The mystery was well done and super creepy.
Aurora lives with her strange uncle Silver. I thought it was endearing how at first Silver is very indifferent to Aurora’s presence, but as the book continues he starts to enjoy her presence and depend on her. The character growth for Aurora and Silver was well done for such a brief story.
I also enjoyed all of the hoodoo that the book goes into detail on. Aurora learns ways to protect herself with hoodoo from the local witch woman. Each chapter starts with a detailed hoodoo recipe for dealing with a problem.
The main thing I did not like about this graphic novel were the illustrations. In some of the illustration Aurora is beautifully illustrated. However in many of the illustrations faces are obscured and lacking detail, making it hard to tell what our characters are thinking. Aurora’s grandfather always looks a bit unfinished and sketchy. Some of the side characters are hard to tell apart. Many of the frames have a very cartoonish look to them which is not my favorite. Lastly I thought that the text-bubbles were not at all in keeping with the style of everything else; they were very jarring and distracting.
Overall I am glad I read this and enjoyed the story. This is a super creepy story with gothic tones to it and a paranormal twist. It was a good read. However the illustration left a lot to be desired and the text bubbles were distracting. I would tentatively recommend to fans of paranormal graphic novels. Make sure to take a look at the artwork before purchasing and determine if it’s something you’d like.
After Aurora’s parents are poisoned by mushrooms, Aurora is sent to live with her grandfather, Silver, on Ossuary
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Isle. Ossuary Isle is an island of graves deep in the Southern Swamps. There Aurora explores the eerie gravesites with her uncle’s raccoon Missy. Aurora is also introduced to hoodoo and stumbles into a great evil on the island.This graphic novel had a lot of things I liked and some things I didn’t. I enjoyed the eerie settings and Aurora’s tragic yet curious nature. Aurora gets deep into trying to solve a mystery as residents of the island start disappearing. The mystery was well done and super creepy.
Aurora lives with her strange uncle Silver. I thought it was endearing how at first Silver is very indifferent to Aurora’s presence, but as the book continues he starts to enjoy her presence and depend on her. The character growth for Aurora and Silver was well done for such a brief story.
I also enjoyed all of the hoodoo that the book goes into detail on. Aurora learns ways to protect herself with hoodoo from the local witch woman. Each chapter starts with a detailed hoodoo recipe for dealing with a problem.
The main thing I did not like about this graphic novel were the illustrations. In some of the illustration Aurora is beautifully illustrated. However in many of the illustrations faces are obscured and lacking detail, making it hard to tell what our characters are thinking. Aurora’s grandfather always looks a bit unfinished and sketchy. Some of the side characters are hard to tell apart. Many of the frames have a very cartoonish look to them which is not my favorite. Lastly I thought that the text-bubbles were not at all in keeping with the style of everything else; they were very jarring and distracting.
Overall I am glad I read this and enjoyed the story. This is a super creepy story with gothic tones to it and a paranormal twist. It was a good read. However the illustration left a lot to be desired and the text bubbles were distracting. I would tentatively recommend to fans of paranormal graphic novels. Make sure to take a look at the artwork before purchasing and determine if it’s something you’d like.
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LibraryThing member AVoraciousReader
*Book source ~ Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Aurora Grimeon’s parents died from eating poisonous mushrooms in their homemade spaghetti sauce and though she was also poisoned from the sauce she didn’t eat the mushrooms.
I really enjoyed Aurora’s story and all the strange characters on the Isle. It’s a creepy place, but Aurora takes it in stride and tries to learn all about her new home. She’s not exactly sure she wants to stay in a creepy place with no other children to play with, but her grandfather is her only relative, so she makes the best of it. Along the way she finds she enjoys working with her grandfather and his pet raccoon Missy as well as spending time with the local Hoodoo mistress. The mystery of the blue light is interesting and creepy keeping my attention as I tried to figure out what it is right along with Aurora as she investigates it.
The illustrations are perfect for this tale. They have a very gothic feel, an almost Nightmare Before Christmas look, but not as ghoulish. All-in-all a very enjoyable read.
Aurora Grimeon’s parents died from eating poisonous mushrooms in their homemade spaghetti sauce and though she was also poisoned from the sauce she didn’t eat the mushrooms.
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Drinking some milk thistle had her recovering and being sent to her only relative, her grandfather Silver, to live on Ossuary Isle in the swamps of the Deep South. Aurora is the only child on the island and is having a bit of a hard time adjusting to the creepy place she now calls home. She’s beginning to like her grandfather and the other inhabitants, but something evil is stirring in the swamp and Aurora might be a target. Instead of cowering though Aurora starts digging to discover what the evil is and how to get rid of it. Will she figure it out in time?I really enjoyed Aurora’s story and all the strange characters on the Isle. It’s a creepy place, but Aurora takes it in stride and tries to learn all about her new home. She’s not exactly sure she wants to stay in a creepy place with no other children to play with, but her grandfather is her only relative, so she makes the best of it. Along the way she finds she enjoys working with her grandfather and his pet raccoon Missy as well as spending time with the local Hoodoo mistress. The mystery of the blue light is interesting and creepy keeping my attention as I tried to figure out what it is right along with Aurora as she investigates it.
The illustrations are perfect for this tale. They have a very gothic feel, an almost Nightmare Before Christmas look, but not as ghoulish. All-in-all a very enjoyable read.
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LibraryThing member catya77
Aurora's parents have died, and now she's been sent to live with the grandfather she's never met. Strange and mysterious disappearances and murders begin happening after her arrival. Hoodoo must be involved.
Fun, detailed, albeit slightly cartoony graphics add depth to an enjoyable and mysterious
Overall, an intriguing read.
Fun, detailed, albeit slightly cartoony graphics add depth to an enjoyable and mysterious
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narrative. The narrative is well written with a multi-leveled mystery and intriguing characters. Authentic, for their reality, caring, yet flawed characters fill the pages adding depth to the story.Overall, an intriguing read.
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LibraryThing member MelanieTid
I liked the art style but some of the pictures were hard for for me to make out and absorb while reading the dialog. On the same token, most of the dialog seemed awkward, forced, and too focused on exposition.
LibraryThing member vonze
I honestly don't consider myself a horror fan. However, Will O' the Wisp struck the right balance of creepy yet suspenseful for me. An orphan, Aurora, is out of her element as she goes to live with her strange grandfather on an eerie, swamp island full of the supernatural. Curiosity gets the better
Will O' the Wisp is very similar to an old-fashioned mystery. I could honestly see Vincent Price playing the role of the estranged grandfather. Also, the art is very beautiful in a dark, macabre sort of way. Overall, a good, graphic novel read!
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of Aurora and she gets caught up in the secrets of the bizarre islanders.Will O' the Wisp is very similar to an old-fashioned mystery. I could honestly see Vincent Price playing the role of the estranged grandfather. Also, the art is very beautiful in a dark, macabre sort of way. Overall, a good, graphic novel read!
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LibraryThing member tldegray
Aurora's parents die when they eat death cap mushrooms. Aurora survives and is sent to live with the grandfather she's never met on Ossuary Island. At first she thinks she doesn't fit in, but gradually she makes friends with her grandfather, his pet raccoon Missy, Mama Nonnie the hoodoo conjurer,
This book was beautiful. I loved, loved, loved the art. The ends of things--hair, beards, tails, clothes--drift off into question mark shaped wisps. It was great how Aurora's gradually wore more black and white stripes--there were times she and Missy were matched striped friends. It was as cute way to show how Aurora began to fit in on the island and in her new family.
I don't know a great deal about hoodoo, so I can't vouch for the accuracy of it in this book. But I did find it to be treated respectfully. Though Aurora and her family are white--Aurora especially so with her pale skin and white hair--you will see a variety of people of color living in this Louisiana town. I worried at first that Mama Nonnie would be a "magical negro" but she was fleshed-out as a character with her own dreams and desires, she didn't exist only to further the plot.
I liked this a lot. It was eerie, sad, and beautiful, all at once.
(Provided by publisher)
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and even a boy she meets in the swamp. But things on Ossuary Island aren't right. People are disappearing. Dying. And the people might need Aurora's help to survive.This book was beautiful. I loved, loved, loved the art. The ends of things--hair, beards, tails, clothes--drift off into question mark shaped wisps. It was great how Aurora's gradually wore more black and white stripes--there were times she and Missy were matched striped friends. It was as cute way to show how Aurora began to fit in on the island and in her new family.
I don't know a great deal about hoodoo, so I can't vouch for the accuracy of it in this book. But I did find it to be treated respectfully. Though Aurora and her family are white--Aurora especially so with her pale skin and white hair--you will see a variety of people of color living in this Louisiana town. I worried at first that Mama Nonnie would be a "magical negro" but she was fleshed-out as a character with her own dreams and desires, she didn't exist only to further the plot.
I liked this a lot. It was eerie, sad, and beautiful, all at once.
(Provided by publisher)
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Language
Original publication date
2014-01-20
Physical description
208 p.; 9.1 inches
ISBN
1936393786 / 9781936393787
Local notes
After her parents' accidental death by mushroom poisoning, young Aurora Grimeon is sent to live with her estranged grandfather on Ossuary Isle, deep in the southern swamps. Joined by her grandfather's pet raccoon Missy, Aurora explores the fog-covered island of graves.