Hex Vet: The Flying Surgery

Hex Vet #2

by Sam Davies

It’s time for the monthly “Winged Creature Clinic” at Willows Whisper Veterinary Practice, where flying creatures from all over come to get treated. But when Glenn the Wildlife Warlock brings in an injured flying pig that looks like it may have been mistreated, panic strikes and a greater mystery unfolds.
It’s up to everyone’s favorite witches-in-training, Nan and Clarion, to keep everything under control at the chaotic clinic while Dr. Talon is away. Will Nan and Clarion save the day and keep their jobs? Or are their days at Willows Whisper numbered?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Middle Grade, Childrens, Magic, Graphic Novels Comics

Unknown Binding

First published December 24, 2019

About the author

Comic artist and illustrator in Oxford, UK. I enjoy monsters, ocean dwellers, soft creatures and sad ghosts. author of the Hexvet series for boom and the long running silent webcomic Stutterhug~

Reviews

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5/5 stars. This is the second instalment in the Hex Vet graphic novel series.

I don't know which I love more - the diverse and inclusive cast of characters, the moralistic story-line, or the gorgeous pastel colour palette. This was slightly longer than the first series instalment and that also meant I enjoyed the story-line a little more. The witches in training have more mystical mishaps to deal with but, yet again, the trajectory of these pulled on the heart-strings and concluded with messages more far-reaching than just within the confines of this magical veterinary practise.

[Lost in Book Land · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello!!


About a week ago, I reviewed another graphic novel called Hex Vet: Witches in Training. It's the first graphic novel in this series and the first book I had read for Februwitchy (a readathon I participated in during the month of February). This is the second graphic novel in that series (I do not think there are any others out yet, but I will definitely check them out when and if there are) and the last book I was able to read for Februwitchy! As I talked about in my other post, last month was the first time I really joined readathons or bookclubs and I really loved it! So be on the lookout for more content from readathons and bookclubs and such in the near future!


SPOILERS AHEAD


In this second issue, Nan and Clarion are working in the monthly flying vet clinic when a very injured flying pig is brought in (he is super cute)! The vet knows these creatures are super rare and may also be involved in some crimes that are taking place recently. So with the local authorities, the vet goes off to help seek further information about this pig and the crimes. While Nan and Clarion are left to care for the pig and help run the flying clinic!


I absolutely love this graphic novel series. It's super cute, the art style is so adorable and I love looking at it, and the story is interesting. In this issue, we got more of a mystery plotline, which was awesome (because I love a good mystery). I feel like we also got more character development and back story with both Nan and Clarion which was great! I am definitely looking forward to more of these in the future. I am giving this issue five stars on Goodreads!

[A Fan of Comics · Rating 5 out of 5]

For such soft colors, this book has some really hard situations!

Everyone says the first book is better, and I would say it’s definitely sweeter, but this second Hexvet volume gets a little intense. This book deals with interns taking the helm, coworkers having different opinions and a wizard smuggler looking for his lost flying piggy. Really, the depth they go into the magic smuggling world was kind of surprising! Lol I feel like adults might like this more. I don’t think kids would appreciate the solutions to these situations or understand some of the references. So yes, the first vol has its charm, but this one has a full story.

[Mehsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book, this time we are going in the sky! Also flying pigs are real~


Sadly, while I am still rating this book 3 stars.. I have to say I enjoyed this way less than the first book. That was mostly because of Nurse Ariel who had small parts in the first one and there he (or they) annoyed me to no ends, but in this one they get a big big role and boy I just wanted to yeet him off that airballoon/house thingie. More on that later. First let me talk about the good things.

I just love that in this one we are going in the sky to have a few moments with witches who have flying pets or who find it easier to go to a place that is flying in the sky. I was curious about what animals/critters we would meet given we have seen some colourful ones in the previous book. I was definitely delighted to see the various animals and wished there were more.

I loved seeing Nan and Clarion. Nan is really starting to become a character I really like, I just have to get over her scary facial expression (I know, you would think years of watching anime with misunderstood male MCs would have fixed that, but apparently not). I love how she works hard and tries her best to show people that she is a good witch, despite her family. I am definitely rooting for this girl. Then there is Clarion and she is my favourite, been like that from the first book. I just love how sweet, kind, and soft she is. How well she treats both animals and their owners. She stands her ground, though at times I just wanted to give her a big big hug in this one.

There is also a quite exciting plot about smugglers, a flying pig, and a strange man with too much arm strength (if you see what he does you will get it). It was quite exciting and while I did enjoy reading it… I wouldn’t have minded just a whole 112 pages about animals and their witches and their ailments. Haha. The flying pig was just so adorable, and really? Can I get one? Please? Look how cute it is!

Now to the less parts. There was quite a bit of dialogue at times, sometimes just a bit too much. But the biggest part that made me -1 star this book is Nurse Ariel and his/their horrible attitude towards everyone. I mean, they are a total bitch towards our two trainees. He even bitched about an older grandpa who is very good with plants and the likes and just wants to volunteer and is more than able to help. They were mean towards our two trainees while they were doing what they were told to be doing. And so on, my lord. Even later they are even rude towards two customers. WTF? I don’t get why this person is still part of this practice. I do hope in later books this person becomes a bit better. That excuse near the end was so unbelievable especially given how they ended the conversation.

The art was still fabulous, though at times I question the design choice of going for black eyes, it just looked off/weird. I also had that feeling in the first book but it was stronger in this one.

All in all, despite that Nurse Ariel ruined things for me, I had fun reading this book and I do hope that more Hex Vet books will appear in the future.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Positively improves on the first volume in every way - just a delight to read! The plot and background situations of the characters really got the spotlight here and it paid off. Things got very real very quickly, and I thought some more serious topics were handled incredibly well. The diversity is also on point, and I will never not appreciate that.

No spoilers here, but I'm ready to wring the neck of Nurse Ariel; god, he must wake up in the morning and pledge sincerely to whatever deity he believes in to be as massive and obtuse a prick as possible. Loved to see Clarion and Nan doing their thing again though. Their friendship is blossoming and it's lovely to watch. They're growing in confidence as apprentices and as people, and I can't wait to see them in another volume. Bonus points for Glenn's characters because he was capable and intelligent with a heart of gold while also casually being in a wheelchair, and I love me some disability rep with a fleshed out character. Dr. Talon continues to be a very interesting mystery and I want to know more!

The magical creatures were as adorable and creative as I'd hoped. I got to see Buggy the Bugbear again, and let me tell you that I 100% coo-ed at him on the page like a 6 year old getting to pat a puppy for the first time. Zero shame. All I want for Christmas is my own Bugbear - Sing it, people!

The art, as in the first volume, was whimsical, colourful and generally just fantastic. I love Sam Davies' style.

I love this series - the characters, the plotline, the writing, everything mysterious hovering in the background with Dr. Talon and magic - and I'll absolutely be picking up the next volume when it's published.

[Lauren Schnoebelen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Expanding upon the world and its creatures, we are once again at the vet’s office but this time we are are high in the sky to help treat our flying friends. Things are going routinely until a Wildlife Warlock brings in a very hurt creature. It’s up to the apprentices to take care of it while the Doctor goes out to examine the place it was found.

The more I reflect on this, the more I appreciate the diversity that’s present in this. It provides great representation for women in leadership roles, people of color and those with disabilities, and even addresses topics like illegal animal possession and smuggling. I really enjoyed the overall story and it’s really something I could connect with but for some reason it just didn’t hit me as hard as the first.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like a flying pig. I would scratch behind their ears and give them extra oats in their breakfast. This is an awesome series of wonderful stories. The author is able to merge serious subjects with magical beings and animals... Seamlessly. Hex Vet makes me very happy!

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hex Vet: The Flying Surgery" had a more intriguing storyline than the first book in this series and gave more depth to the characters, so I ended up enjoying it a lot more. I still enjoy the art style and color scheme a lot.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute continuation of the series. I’m still hoping for more of a focus on the characters rather than the magical clinic. Not that the creatures aren’t adorable, but it does seem a bit imbalanced.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This second volume did not charm me as much as the first. The storylines about the abused flying pig and the grumpy, introverted nurse were pretty ho-hum, with little action and too many talking heads.

I'd still try a third volume if I come across it at the library.

[Fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving these cute witch vet stories. The artwork is super cute and the story has so much to give!

[Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, still some grammar/wording issues but otherwise it was a fun story. I am still loving the creatures in each edition.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read April 2020

[Key West Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute! :)

[erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

enjoyed the first one a lot more whoops

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read- March 2021
- I am very much enjoying this series so far.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

omg stop, so dang cute

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also very very cuteeeee

[Andrea Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this even more than the first one and I’m getting use to the artwork. Excited to see what happens next!

[♡ kitty *:･ﾟ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this!! it was so sweet and wholesome and i’m obsessed with the art style and colour palette !

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was an interesting volume with more world building and character development. I liked it. A shame that there don't seem to be more volumes to the story.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flying Chaos

A brilliant expansion of the previous book. The characters are growing and becoming more real. It was amazing to see real characters with real problems, even in a magical setting. I can’t wait to see how the story grows in the future and what the creature in the woods is.

[Susan]

Reviewed for Lady Business! I am baffled by the management of this vet practice, but it's a pretty solid all-ages comic about a magical vet sugery.

[Benjamin]

How? He liked the last book we read in this series (which was #3), so we got this one.

What? Our apprentice vet witches are still at it, this time in a special situation where the clinic has their flying surgery -- a small building that flies so that flying creatures can be seen without landing. But the main vet has to go away when a Wilderness Warlock (or Wildlife Warlock) finds a flying pig and they go to investigate the woods. That leads the brittle nurse and the two apprentices to deal with the patients, including one guy who wants that flying pig at any cost.

Yeah, so? Another charming and mostly cozy mystery. The big drama isn't "how will this hostage situation end" but how will these two friends deal with the pressures of their family (quite nicely shown in the opening when we see Clarion's pink puffy house and sweet grandpa who doesn't want to put anyone out vs. Nan's spooky, falling-apart Gothic house and her family's bad reputation).

[Mrs. Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second volume of the series, trainee vet witches Nan and Clarion once again need to help run the vet practice while Dr. Talon is away. This time, complications include a stressed-out Nurse Ariel, an abused flying pig, and a mysterious stranger who may have something to do with the poor piglet. Overall theme was not to judge others based on initial appearances.

This was a great improvement over the first volume! Hints about the girls' family members were dropped, and Ariel's anxiety made his brusque behavior more understandable. The artwork was a cartoony delight, with purples, pinks, teals, greens, and blues. I am still bugged by the italic-style word-balloon text, but I didn't notice any spelling or grammar errors. Highly recommended to anyone in medical fields and anyone who likes animals.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, another wonderful little volume! Slightly longer than the previous, volume two of Hex Vet is still just as gorgeous as ever, still has fantastic characters, but this time we get more of a story as well.

I really enjoyed how things developed in this - Clarion especially felt like she really came into her own and you could really get a feel of her family values. Nan remained a bit of a mystery, but it definitely feels like she’s more of a slow-burn character who will reveal more on future volumes. There were more tensions in this and the story really did pick up, so I’m really excited to see where things will go.

Hex Vet is a beautiful little fantasy series that is the perfect pick me up, and I really want to read more soon.

[Medusa :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute! One of the characters uses they/them and he/him pronouns, which is really cool to see. And the magical creatures are just SO ADORABLE! Like I had to stop reading a couple times cause I was smiling so much and I couldn’t see what I was reading lol. There’s a mystery that began in this volume and I’m excited to see where it goes into the next volume! This series is fun and colorful :)

[Aja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was absolutely adorable. Not the outcome I was expecting, in a very good way. I wish Ariel would have made an actu heartfelt apology, because it's important to realize that he shouldn't treat people the way he has been, even if he has social anxiety. But otherwise, every bit of this was delightful, from the artwork to the creative animals to the storyline and character development. And we got to see Buggy again! *heart eyes*

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one even better. Still simple and cute, but adds in a little more complex storyline. Someone has been abusing a magical flying pig and the folks at the Willows Whisper Veterinary Practice are having a hard time finding the culprit. More mistakes are made, awkward apologies follow, support is offered to those who need it. I found this heartwarming without being overly sweet or condescending.

I wish there were more in the series.

[TTreadsYA · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a lot more wordy then the first one and again its building to something big going on with the familys and the dpctor but we didnt get anything in this book for either other then a wink wink read the next book...

Kinda bothersome in that sense, but i like the piggy and the way it subverted expectations with the bandits. But it has also been done before and in ways better before.

Not a love, not a hate, just a flat 3 star decent enough read.