Review by Frank Plowright
Lead character Julie is referred to in the smart series title. She’s the largely sympathetic point of view for assessing the remainder of the cast, and a werewolf capable of fearsome ferocity, but would rather not be that way. In Magic to Brew, though, she met the similarly afflicted Selena, and while it’s been a rocky road, things are now cool again.
As with the first volume Grace Ellis pays considerable attention to the cast and their interactions, making for viable domestic comedy, if occasionally exaggerating conflict, but any plot is largely a secondary concern, which is a shame as there are good ideas here. The first chapter features a party in a frat house with interesting inhabitants able to magically ensure summer conditions inside while winter prevails outside. The crux of the plot concerns fairies within the frat house trapping visitors there, which is connected to the ongoing fractious relationship between former band members.
Moonstruck sparkles visually thanks to Shae Beagle, whose fine cartooning pairs seamlessly with Caitlin Quirk’s colouring to provide page after page of attractive characters in attractive locations. The combination is so good it effectively conceals the frustrating elements of Moonstruck. Beagle’s star turn is in the final chapter, with a perfectly constructed spread showing a futile chase through a repeating location.
Each chapter also has a page of ‘Pleasant Mountain Sisters’, this time drawn by Kat Fajardo. These are the stars of adventure books Julie loved as a child. She’s been working on her fan fiction graphic novel about them, and Ellis uses them to reflect other situations. You’ll either find these charming interludes broadening the world of Moonstruck or pointless one-note jokes that outlived their purpose in the previous volume.
Moonstruck has the sympathetic characters, but should either dispense with the idea of being anything other than comedic romance and ongoing friendship bumps, or beef up the plots and ensure greater coherence. Troubled Waters is next.
