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Courtney Crumrin #3
Courtney Crumrin in the Twilight Kingdom
Courtney has changed schools yet again, but this time she's in the Coven's special class for magical studies. But when a student spell goes wrong and leaves one of her classmates cursed, can Courtney lead the kids into Goblin Town and find a cure or will misfortune follow the group straight to the Twilight Kingdom? Ted Naifeh's grim girl is back in this new collection of troll tales and suspenseful stories! Take a whirlwind tour of Courtney's old 'hood, the ghastly Goblin Town, and the mystical Twilight Kingdom!
128 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2004
About the author
Ted Naifeh
202 books258 followersTed Naifeh is an American comic book writer and artist who gained notoriety for his illustrations in the goth romance comic Gloomcookie. Naifeh has since become most known as the creator of the Eisner-Award-nominated series Courtney Crumrin, published by Oni Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
September 24, 2015
This is a book essentially about being an outsider and being misunderstood by everyone. That's the story of Courtney Crumrin's life. Her parents don't understand her at all. She's considered the weird kid at school. When she goes back to visit her parents, she reconnects with her former best friend, and they have grown apart. He's fallen in with a bad crowd, and though Courtney tries to save him, she can't save their friendship.
I could intensely identify with Courtney in the sense I was not a popular kid. I was picked on a lot growing up. One thing that I feel was a real blessing about it, was I learned to embrace the fact that you are your own person and you can make decisions for yourself and do your own thing. Like Courtney, it made me feel lonely at time, but there were consolations.
When Courtney gets back to her Uncle Aloyisus' house, she has to deal with the popular kids of the warlock families. They take bullying to a new level when they cast a spell of one of them's younger brothers. While Courtney would rather not get involved, she knows that she has to do something to help the kid, who was turned into a Night Thing. As since she has personal experience with the Twilight Kingdom, of course she has to lead the expedition to get him back.
This book is also about making good choices. Doing the right thing even when it's hard and the rewards seem nebulous. Courtney is not what I'd call a girl scout, and she did something really bad to get revenge (or in her mind, so see justice done), she hasn't completely lost her moral compass. I liked that about this book. And of course, the Faerie elements.
I like the way Courtney is drawn. She's sassy, with her little bat barrette and Gothesque outfits. She's kind of like Daria in the way she expresses herself.
I'm really starting to like this series more. It's not an upbeat read, mind you, but it's atmospheric, and you can't help but like Courtney.
This is all in black and white, but it shows how much you can really do with chiaroscuro (light and dark shading). I'm sort of lazy when it comes to it, but it challenges me to work on this technique.
I would exercise caution if I was a parent of a prospective child reader. You might want to read this first. Some subject matter and themes are not appropriate for younger readers. I would say this is 11 and older.
I could intensely identify with Courtney in the sense I was not a popular kid. I was picked on a lot growing up. One thing that I feel was a real blessing about it, was I learned to embrace the fact that you are your own person and you can make decisions for yourself and do your own thing. Like Courtney, it made me feel lonely at time, but there were consolations.
When Courtney gets back to her Uncle Aloyisus' house, she has to deal with the popular kids of the warlock families. They take bullying to a new level when they cast a spell of one of them's younger brothers. While Courtney would rather not get involved, she knows that she has to do something to help the kid, who was turned into a Night Thing. As since she has personal experience with the Twilight Kingdom, of course she has to lead the expedition to get him back.
This book is also about making good choices. Doing the right thing even when it's hard and the rewards seem nebulous. Courtney is not what I'd call a girl scout, and she did something really bad to get revenge (or in her mind, so see justice done), she hasn't completely lost her moral compass. I liked that about this book. And of course, the Faerie elements.
I like the way Courtney is drawn. She's sassy, with her little bat barrette and Gothesque outfits. She's kind of like Daria in the way she expresses herself.
I'm really starting to like this series more. It's not an upbeat read, mind you, but it's atmospheric, and you can't help but like Courtney.
This is all in black and white, but it shows how much you can really do with chiaroscuro (light and dark shading). I'm sort of lazy when it comes to it, but it challenges me to work on this technique.
I would exercise caution if I was a parent of a prospective child reader. You might want to read this first. Some subject matter and themes are not appropriate for younger readers. I would say this is 11 and older.
September 4, 2015
Zabavne price se nastavljaju lai mi malo smeta sto je svaki chapter prica za sebe nema neke velike zaednicke price koja bi me vukla da je citam dalje. Detalje koje saznajemo su idalje vrlo interesantni ali fali mi neki overarching plot. Mada nij e da ga nema u nekim sitnim tragovima (bas sitnim).
January 25, 2020
Courtney Crumrin is back (hurrah!) in this third installment of her graphic novel adventures, once again embroiled in the dark magical doings of her new town, the wealthy suburb of Hillsborough, and its secret coven of witches and warlocks. Like the previous two installments -
Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things
and
Courtney Crumrin and the Coven of Mystics
- this trade edition contains the four individual comics that make up the third part of the wider Courtney Crumrin story-arc. Also like the first two, Courtney Crumrin and the Twilight Kingdom is immensely engaging, by turns humorous and frightening, heart-warming and cynical - like its heroine! - and will have readers glued to the pages until the end.
Visiting an old friend, in the first chapter, Courtney discovers that, like it or not, you can never really go back, and that she now belongs in Hillsborough. This "lesson," if you will, is reinforced by the events of the subsequent three chapters, in which Courtney meets her new classmates, at the Coven's special Saturday magic classes, and finds herself leading them down into the Twilight Kingdom, when a prank gone wrong leaves one of them stuck as a Night Thing. I enjoyed learning a little more about the world of the Night Things in this installment, and hope to see more of the Twilight King in future stories. It was good to see Courtney finally making some friends, without really abandoning her curmudgeonly persona. All in all, just another fabulous Courtney Crumrin story - I can't wait to pick up the next!
Visiting an old friend, in the first chapter, Courtney discovers that, like it or not, you can never really go back, and that she now belongs in Hillsborough. This "lesson," if you will, is reinforced by the events of the subsequent three chapters, in which Courtney meets her new classmates, at the Coven's special Saturday magic classes, and finds herself leading them down into the Twilight Kingdom, when a prank gone wrong leaves one of them stuck as a Night Thing. I enjoyed learning a little more about the world of the Night Things in this installment, and hope to see more of the Twilight King in future stories. It was good to see Courtney finally making some friends, without really abandoning her curmudgeonly persona. All in all, just another fabulous Courtney Crumrin story - I can't wait to pick up the next!
March 7, 2026
These books just get better and better!!!!! I love Courtney and ms. Crisp!!! I look forward to the next one!!!!!!
June 8, 2016
The Crumrins certainly have no problem with killing people! Brilliant.
September 9, 2021
Courtney's misanthropy gets challenged in this chapter. Nothing but a collection of cliches really, but... it does it for me. I really like it. Its emotional moments are not bad at all, and it all has this GDT vibe I'm in love with. It does feel like the type of comic he would write, doesn't it?
Where it not for the sass of course, Courtney is build different.
Where it not for the sass of course, Courtney is build different.
February 17, 2023
4.5/5
Immensely engaging.
Immensely engaging.
April 1, 2013
Courtney Crumrin's certainly one of my favorite graphic novel series for younger readers. I love the dark, twisted fairy-tale air about it, and I wasn't disappointed with the third installment of the series: "The Twilight Kingdom". In this particular story, Courtney's reeling from events of the last volume, and reunites with an old friend named Malcolm following her family's sudden move, though she notes how much he's changed and feels isolated from his group of friends. She also happens upon several kids who, upon one of them being cursed, she decides to help regardless of their sentiments against them, even going so far as to descent into a mysterious kingdom where they face certain danger and death.
Beautifully drawn artwork and compelling story, as is typical of this series. I really like following Courtney along - she's funny in spurts and her emotions are palpable to both the strain she feels in her social relationships as well as with her family troubles. I also love how darkly humored this series is in general, with numerous pop culture references that perhaps younger readers may not readily pick up on, but generations a bit beyond that can (I'm pretty sure I saw one or two references including but not limited to Mork & Mindy, CSI: Miami, and Supernatural.)
Overall, I really hope to look into more installments of this series.
Overall score: 4/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Oni Press.
Beautifully drawn artwork and compelling story, as is typical of this series. I really like following Courtney along - she's funny in spurts and her emotions are palpable to both the strain she feels in her social relationships as well as with her family troubles. I also love how darkly humored this series is in general, with numerous pop culture references that perhaps younger readers may not readily pick up on, but generations a bit beyond that can (I'm pretty sure I saw one or two references including but not limited to Mork & Mindy, CSI: Miami, and Supernatural.)
Overall, I really hope to look into more installments of this series.
Overall score: 4/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Oni Press.
November 27, 2009
We're given one brief page to refresh our memory of the big picture from the last volume then Courtney's ambivalent parents are back in play as they go back to the city to finally sell their old condo. Courtney tries to reconnect with an old friend and finds they've both changed. When she returns she has to spend summer vacation at a summer school for other children of witches/warlocks and she doesn't get along with those kids any better than the ones at school, but when one of them, a show off, turns his little brother into a night thing they come to Courtney for help and off they go to Goblin Town in search of the Orchards of the Twilight King for a reverse spell. But all along Courtney has a stalker on her trail. The excitement level is high in this volume. A whole new cast of characters are put into play with the summer school group and a few people/creatures from previous books make an appearance as well, while Uncle Aloysius stays in the background this volume. The story lines are intricate and detailed, plenty of mini story arcs with a plethora of eccentric characters. I love Courtney's attitude and loyalty and am anxious to read Vol. four.
April 9, 2009
The level of quality established in the previous Courtney Crumrin volume continues unabated here, and if Courtney Crumrin in the Twilight Kingdom never quite reaches the heights of greatness that The Coven of Mystics managed to scale, it's not for lack of trying.
A quick aside to touch on one of the many things I love about this series: The darkness and danger of childhood, as touched upon in the introduction to the first volume, are never shied away from in Courtney Crumrin, but they're also never made too much of. They seem a natural part of the world, something that happens and sometimes must happen, rather than an easy route to drama.
A quick aside to touch on one of the many things I love about this series: The darkness and danger of childhood, as touched upon in the introduction to the first volume, are never shied away from in Courtney Crumrin, but they're also never made too much of. They seem a natural part of the world, something that happens and sometimes must happen, rather than an easy route to drama.
December 30, 2015
Volume 3 in the Courtney Crumrin series is as good as the previous two. This one has a bit of growth for Courtney, as she starts to learn about friendship and stuff. She's willing to put herself at risk for people that she doesn't particularly like, but that she feels a certain sense of responsibility for, and in the process, she forges bonds with them. Of course, the writing and art remain cute and dark. Another great book in a great series.
April 4, 2022
Avevamo lasciato COURTNEY con una grande ferita al cuore, dopo la morte del suo più caro amico, lo zio così decide di portarla con sé in vacanza.
Purtroppo questa nuova avventura non farà altro che incrementare il suo astio verso il genere umano.
Infatti in vacanza con lo zio si troverà dinnanzi una storia di amore inusuale, tra una donna e un licantropo,
(No no non parlo di Jacob e Bella), il ostacolato dal padre e dal buon partito del paese, Courtney mossa dai suoi ideali di giustizia e libertà, cercherà di aiutare i due innamorati.
La cosa più triste per Lei sarà scoprire che non tutti per amore sono disposti a lasciare gli agi e le ricchezze;
Nella seconda avventura contenuta in questo volume, vulnerabile COURTNEY diventerà preda di un Vampiro, che tutto fuorché buono come il nostro caro Edward Cullen.
Abbandonatasi allo sconforto, sarà lo stesso zio a dovere intervenire per salvare la sua vita e combattere la madre di tutti i mali.
Riuscirà lo zio a ridarle la forza per lottare?
Purtroppo questa nuova avventura non farà altro che incrementare il suo astio verso il genere umano.
Infatti in vacanza con lo zio si troverà dinnanzi una storia di amore inusuale, tra una donna e un licantropo,
(No no non parlo di Jacob e Bella), il ostacolato dal padre e dal buon partito del paese, Courtney mossa dai suoi ideali di giustizia e libertà, cercherà di aiutare i due innamorati.
La cosa più triste per Lei sarà scoprire che non tutti per amore sono disposti a lasciare gli agi e le ricchezze;
Nella seconda avventura contenuta in questo volume, vulnerabile COURTNEY diventerà preda di un Vampiro, che tutto fuorché buono come il nostro caro Edward Cullen.
Abbandonatasi allo sconforto, sarà lo stesso zio a dovere intervenire per salvare la sua vita e combattere la madre di tutti i mali.
Riuscirà lo zio a ridarle la forza per lottare?
May 13, 2021
It’s been years since I read the second volume and couldn’t remember much, but thankfully this volume only includes a couple of tidbits that continue where the story left off previously.
This volume feeds Courtney’s cynicism even more, showcasing her loneliness due to strained relationships with foolish and mischievous children her own age. She and her grand uncle are still the only two characters with any sense.
The plot of The Twilight Kingdom was pretty straightforward and we didn’t learn much more about this world. While Courtney's confidence and ability to smell BS is empowering, it wasn't so satisfying to continuously watch her walk headfirst into danger for others whilst not receiving the smallest bit of kindness in return.
I wonder what the overarching result of this will be, as it would be quite sad if she ended up as lonely, cynical and isolated as her uncle.
This volume feeds Courtney’s cynicism even more, showcasing her loneliness due to strained relationships with foolish and mischievous children her own age. She and her grand uncle are still the only two characters with any sense.
The plot of The Twilight Kingdom was pretty straightforward and we didn’t learn much more about this world. While Courtney's confidence and ability to smell BS is empowering, it wasn't so satisfying to continuously watch her walk headfirst into danger for others whilst not receiving the smallest bit of kindness in return.
I wonder what the overarching result of this will be, as it would be quite sad if she ended up as lonely, cynical and isolated as her uncle.
July 3, 2021
I really like what the author is aiming for here: further developing the world and characters; showing consequences for past actions; developing the dual theme of human society as a source of help and safety when compared to bitter isolation, but also as a source of terrible harm when people's worst impulses are allowed free rein.
The main problem seems to be one of pacing: there's a lot of tell-don't-show going on here, and a lot of character motivations and actions that seem to jump around abruptly, and I can't help but feel that it's because the story the author wanted to tell would have been best served by several times the page count and a more character interaction somewhere in between blunt exposition and prickly banter, which is a lot of what we get.
Not a bad storyline per se, but not the author's best work either.
The main problem seems to be one of pacing: there's a lot of tell-don't-show going on here, and a lot of character motivations and actions that seem to jump around abruptly, and I can't help but feel that it's because the story the author wanted to tell would have been best served by several times the page count and a more character interaction somewhere in between blunt exposition and prickly banter, which is a lot of what we get.
Not a bad storyline per se, but not the author's best work either.
March 13, 2021
Another superb entry in the Courtney Crumrin series that finds her entering magical school while a law keeper in Templeton suspects she is more powerful than she appears. Naifeh continues to weave and expand the world of Crumrin as shows them the realm of night things, to their delight and detriment (its a beautiful mix of fairy tales and modern history). Crumrin remains a fun character, someone who fully embraces the world of magic even if she finds some of the rules stupid, though that starts to catch up to her. Naifeh's art is equally magically, with a nice gothic look, especially in depicting demons and their world. All and all, one of the better fantasy series on the stands.
March 17, 2025
I’m once again grappling with the Courtney Crumrin character. She’s learning sorcery and settling into the brittleness that will harden into a bitter carapace as she grows older.
The author/illustrator has given us a saucy, sarcastic girl who genuinely cares for people but has a weight settling over her. (The novel gives tantalizing hints about what Courtney may have done: her actions have led to the death of at least one person.) Courtney has a helpful spirit and, believe it or not, a generous heart. But she has little tolerance for fools and a caustic tongue. In spite of wanting to help others, she’s thwarted by her own inability to calm or cajole and her obvious impatience with those she considers incompetent or lunatic. She spares no one, not adults or children, from her critique and her attitude is garnering her enemies.
This novel paints Courtney as a reluctant savior but we see that her heroism comes with a price. There’s a sadness to her as she witnesses the unjustness and terror of the world. We see that life spares no one, not adults nor children, and that even magical ability doesn’t protect people from its inherent cruelty.
Mr. Naifeh has set his gothic characters within a setting that continues to delight and disturb. I look forward to filling in the backstory of Courtney and the rest of the Crumrin family.
The author/illustrator has given us a saucy, sarcastic girl who genuinely cares for people but has a weight settling over her. (The novel gives tantalizing hints about what Courtney may have done: her actions have led to the death of at least one person.) Courtney has a helpful spirit and, believe it or not, a generous heart. But she has little tolerance for fools and a caustic tongue. In spite of wanting to help others, she’s thwarted by her own inability to calm or cajole and her obvious impatience with those she considers incompetent or lunatic. She spares no one, not adults or children, from her critique and her attitude is garnering her enemies.
This novel paints Courtney as a reluctant savior but we see that her heroism comes with a price. There’s a sadness to her as she witnesses the unjustness and terror of the world. We see that life spares no one, not adults nor children, and that even magical ability doesn’t protect people from its inherent cruelty.
Mr. Naifeh has set his gothic characters within a setting that continues to delight and disturb. I look forward to filling in the backstory of Courtney and the rest of the Crumrin family.
February 11, 2018
This one was just as good as the first one! There was action and an actual plot. Yay for plot-driven stories. I am really starting to enjoy Courtney more as a character. She’s spunky and sassy and a little mean, but I think she’s a solid character to have a series about. I’m so excited that she finally has a group of friends because now I don’t think she’s going to be so sad...
Read more here!
https://pointextaken.com/2018/02/13/r...
Aubrey Joy
Read more here!
https://pointextaken.com/2018/02/13/r...
Aubrey Joy
June 2, 2018
Courtney Crumrin, the toughest kid you'll ever meet. She may not be great at making friends, but when it comes to sorcery and stand up for what's right she's hard to beat, at least for mere mortals. Yet when she needs to venture to the twilight kingdom to find the cure for a classmate she meets forces she can't compete with and needs to find alternative ways out of the mess.
An amazing storyline with beautiful art.
An amazing storyline with beautiful art.
June 15, 2020
I just re-read the three first books of Courtney Crumrin and what a lovely soft horror comics. the atmosphere is dark and compelling but with a strong endearing charm and a lot of morality. the tales of night monsters are eerie, sometimes sad, sometimes scary.
i really love the diversity of monsters that cross Courtney’s path and the comparison between the night world and ours in this one particularly.
i really love the diversity of monsters that cross Courtney’s path and the comparison between the night world and ours in this one particularly.
August 9, 2024
After finding an old friend hanging with the wrong crowd, Courtney feels out of sorts as she begins classes with other magical children - but when they mess around and end up trapped in the realm of Fae, she'll need to use all her wits to get them out alive...if she feels like it. Naifeh offers fans another hook of an entry to this intriguingly ominous series, an enjoyable blend of sardonic yet hearty as its shadowy art flows across every panel. Can Courtney handle being responsible for so many amateurs long enough to save a classmate?
April 5, 2025
Courtney finds herself in an afterschool program for other witches and warlocks. Of course she shows all the usual anti-social behaviors we've seen from her so far. One of the students performs a spell on one the the boys just to be mean. The spell can not be easily reversed and hence Courtney guides everyone to the Twilight Kingdom to undo the mess. A new bad guy is introduced and her Uncle helps her from being arrested as a magic user. I'm sure we have not seen the last of this bad guy.
April 25, 2019
Another amazing addition to the series. 11/10. We read more into Courtney's life at school. Since most of the series started off at home it's cool to see her at her school. Just being a kid. We see her with her classmates at the beginning but watch their bond grow and watch them become closer as friends. Something Courtney has a bit of trouble with. Amazing novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2020
The story was ok in this one. I think the others so far have been better. The part that felt like it was part of the story was really short. Felt like this story was a quick I need to put something out.
September 27, 2022
I’m loving these! Can’t get enough!
Instead of fighting and killing the night things, Courtney develops an interesting relationship with them and seems to have an affinity with them and shockingly, they listen to her and obey her.
Instead of fighting and killing the night things, Courtney develops an interesting relationship with them and seems to have an affinity with them and shockingly, they listen to her and obey her.
December 29, 2023
Best one yet. Good balance of story and character development. Some good intrigue. The new clueless classmates aspect made the story fun. There were some good emotional parts as well that were done very successfully.
October 10, 2017
Courtney was still an awesome character in this book, but her "friends" we're, gah, so annoying.
February 19, 2018
Good story, creepy.
July 11, 2018
My favorite volume so far!
August 29, 2018
Cute continuation of the series.
September 7, 2018
Me encanta este Hogwarts!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews