What do you think?
Rate this book
Morning Star
1956. Kootenai National Forest, Montana. When smokejumper Nathan Garrett perishes in a raging wildfire, his surviving family's hopes and happiness turn to ashes.
One year following her husband Nathan's death, wife, and mother of two, Jolene Garrett, takes her crumbling family to the Morning Star lookout seeking solace through closure--to scatter her husband's remains. But something far beyond the reach of their wildest imaginings awaits the Garrett family in the Montana wilderness--something more powerful than their anguish and torment. Something that transcends space and time. No telephones. No electricity. No transportation. No escape.
One year following her husband Nathan's death, wife, and mother of two, Jolene Garrett, takes her crumbling family to the Morning Star lookout seeking solace through closure--to scatter her husband's remains. But something far beyond the reach of their wildest imaginings awaits the Garrett family in the Montana wilderness--something more powerful than their anguish and torment. Something that transcends space and time. No telephones. No electricity. No transportation. No escape.
128 pages, Paperback
Published October 29, 2024
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 10, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cool Studios for the eARC.
2.5 stars
This is the story of Nathan Garrett and how after a wildfire takes his life his family is left grieving. A year after, they start a journey to spread Nathan's ashes and say goodbye, but strange things start to happen to each of them. Supernatural elements keeps hunting them and the family struggles to find their way to each other.
First, the best thing about this graphic novel? It is gorgeous. The art style, the use of colour, the character design for the supernatural elements. I loved turning every page and see a new beautiful illustration.
Narratively, this had some good ideas. Personally, I'm always going to enjoy a family drama, especially one where they are all close to each other and you can feel the love and admiration between them. I'm always rooting for those stories. However, the execution of the story, of the grief and the haunting, became so messy. I can't say I understood what really happened. If the story was longer maybe it could have been better. But as it is, it missed the mark.
If there's a deeper exploration of grief, I feel like it got lost because there was so much focus on these 'ghosts' or spirits haunting the family that I feel like the plot barely progressed until the last issue that felt quite rushed.
I wanted to love this. The plot interested me and the art style surprised me, but I just couldn't really enjoy it when there was so much vagueness in what was happening. I am interested in following the artist's future works.
2.5 stars
This is the story of Nathan Garrett and how after a wildfire takes his life his family is left grieving. A year after, they start a journey to spread Nathan's ashes and say goodbye, but strange things start to happen to each of them. Supernatural elements keeps hunting them and the family struggles to find their way to each other.
First, the best thing about this graphic novel? It is gorgeous. The art style, the use of colour, the character design for the supernatural elements. I loved turning every page and see a new beautiful illustration.
Narratively, this had some good ideas. Personally, I'm always going to enjoy a family drama, especially one where they are all close to each other and you can feel the love and admiration between them. I'm always rooting for those stories. However, the execution of the story, of the grief and the haunting, became so messy. I can't say I understood what really happened. If the story was longer maybe it could have been better. But as it is, it missed the mark.
If there's a deeper exploration of grief, I feel like it got lost because there was so much focus on these 'ghosts' or spirits haunting the family that I feel like the plot barely progressed until the last issue that felt quite rushed.
I wanted to love this. The plot interested me and the art style surprised me, but I just couldn't really enjoy it when there was so much vagueness in what was happening. I am interested in following the artist's future works.
September 27, 2024
The art was very colorful and well thought out, but they story just didn't hit with me. I feel like maybe I missed some elements or just didn't understand it.
Give this one a shot for yourself.
Give this one a shot for yourself.
October 16, 2024
Interesting but not easy to follow. Nathan Garrett is a forest firefighter who dies with his crew in a rather strange forest fire. His remains are not found. One year later his grieving wife and children return to the forest to scatter his ashes (which are not actually his ashes) and to say goodbye but in the forest they are confronted by something strange. Suddenly they are fighting with the unknown.
I think this started out well with a great build up but it then became a bit chaotic and hard to follow, maybe that’s what it hoped to convey but it was not such a great read for me. A bit too confusing towards the end but will be a good read for people who like ambiguity in their stories. The artwork is creative and just right for this kind of story.
I think this started out well with a great build up but it then became a bit chaotic and hard to follow, maybe that’s what it hoped to convey but it was not such a great read for me. A bit too confusing towards the end but will be a good read for people who like ambiguity in their stories. The artwork is creative and just right for this kind of story.
August 29, 2024
I was never into graphic novels growing up, but suddenly in my 40's I'm getting into horror comics. Lol
Ok, so ... This had really great art! I really enjoyed it. It also had a pretty good story. (Though I do hope there's more to come.)
I sat down intending to just glance at this, and then go back to my current read ... but instead I became kinda hooked on the images and breezed right through it. .
And I had an absolute blast doing so!
My only critique is that I wish the story had ... more.
But, like I said, I hope there's more to come.
3.25 / 5
Ok, so ... This had really great art! I really enjoyed it. It also had a pretty good story. (Though I do hope there's more to come.)
I sat down intending to just glance at this, and then go back to my current read ... but instead I became kinda hooked on the images and breezed right through it. .
And I had an absolute blast doing so!
My only critique is that I wish the story had ... more.
But, like I said, I hope there's more to come.
3.25 / 5
September 18, 2024
A family left grieving after a wildfire claims their father's life. Strange/supernatural things start happening to each of them a year later.
The graphics of this novel were absolutely stunning - felt very old school, which I love, especially the colours used.
The storyline was a tad bit confusing but enjoyed it nonetheless.
Thank you NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The graphics of this novel were absolutely stunning - felt very old school, which I love, especially the colours used.
The storyline was a tad bit confusing but enjoyed it nonetheless.
Thank you NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 31, 2024
I was intrigued by the premise and the setting of this story but the story itself made no sense to me. I know I lack imagination at times but I could not understand what was going on. Jolene’s grief was palpable and the art was fantastic. It wasn’t really scary to me, just weird. Maybe this was just the first in the series and I need to keep going to get it but I don’t think I will continue with the story.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
September 17, 2024
Read in single issues; neither writing nor art hit a high enough level to forgive the downright confusing moments.
One could argue that it’s deliberately vague, one could equally argue that it’s just poor storytelling
One could argue that it’s deliberately vague, one could equally argue that it’s just poor storytelling
August 5, 2024
Art and colours were fine.
Story had a couple of really great human moments but the rest of it was not nearly as well written for my liking.
Worth reading digitally.
Story had a couple of really great human moments but the rest of it was not nearly as well written for my liking.
Worth reading digitally.
August 27, 2024
The artwork in this is stellar and I am absolutely loving all the not-deer deers. Visually I had a great time but I wish there was more plot..
Thank you for the ARC!!
Thank you for the ARC!!
August 29, 2024
ARC from Netgalley
Mad Cave has had an impressive offering of late. I really enjoyed the art, though I thought maybe the story wrapped up a bit prematurely. Is more to come?
Mad Cave has had an impressive offering of late. I really enjoyed the art, though I thought maybe the story wrapped up a bit prematurely. Is more to come?
November 14, 2024
It's an interesting story. Over too quickly, of course. Graphics over story. But it was worth a read.
April 1, 2025
Trippy cosmic horror, in a fantastic setting, with quite a bit of heart
December 8, 2024
Morning Star is strange & gritty tale of loss & the grief of a family trying to move forward in the face of seemingly impossible odds. It’s a quick and interesting read for fans of the weird & unexplainable (like Yellowjackets & Stranger Things) with a haunting art style & retro vibe.
The format of this graphic novel is mostly visual & we’re left to fill in the spaces with our imagination as we follow a family embarking on a camping trip as a final farewell to their beloved husband & father, & to possibly find some answers.
Comprehensively, this is one of the best graphic novels I’ve read this year & I truly wish there was more, but I also appreciate how it ended (no spoilers).
Thank you to Mad Cave Studios & NetGalley for providing a digital advance copy for review. All thoughts & opinions expressed are my own.
The format of this graphic novel is mostly visual & we’re left to fill in the spaces with our imagination as we follow a family embarking on a camping trip as a final farewell to their beloved husband & father, & to possibly find some answers.
Comprehensively, this is one of the best graphic novels I’ve read this year & I truly wish there was more, but I also appreciate how it ended (no spoilers).
Thank you to Mad Cave Studios & NetGalley for providing a digital advance copy for review. All thoughts & opinions expressed are my own.
December 31, 2024
This was a fast read! You follow a grieving family going through the process of saying their last goodbyes to their Father/Husband, and then things go wrong. There is anger, sadness, and a touch of the supernatural all packed in under 300 pages. The art was beautiful and descriptive, and the story was good, but it feels like it could've used more pages to relay it completely. I enjoyed this overall and would like to read more from this specific story or the artist. Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to experience this.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews