Twins Alec and Walker Holland have a reputation around town. One is quiet and the other is the life of any party, but they are inseparable. For their last summer before college, the two leave the city to live with their rural cousins, where they find that the swamp holds far darker depths than they could have imagined.
While Walker carves their names into the new social scene, Alec recedes into a summer school laboratory, because he brought something from home on their trip—it’s an experiment that will soon consume him. This season, both brothers must confront truths, ancient and familial, and as their lives diverge, tensions increase and dormant memories claw to the surface.
Thank you very much to DC Entertainment for providing a review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Swamp Thing: Twin Branches is out now!
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When I heard Maggie Stiefvater was creating a graphic novel, I knew I had to read it. This is a new avenue for Stiefvater and I wanted to see how she worked with this new, different medium. And I enjoyed the result!
Swamp Thing: Twin Branches is an incredibly eerie graphic novel about two brothers who are sent to live with their cousins in a rural town. Walker is the more popular twin, who is able to make friends automatically wherever he goes. While Alec is the more introverted twins, who prefers the company of plants to humans. On their way to town, one of Alec’s plant experiments fall of the truck and begins infecting the local flora, fauna and animals …
I really enjoyed the relationship between the twins and how tense it has become. Walker and Alec used to do everything together, were basically inseparable, but as they get older they start to drift. Alec takes this on the chin, but Walker really struggles with this change — even though he draws people to him in a way that Alec can’t and doesn’t want to.
The worldbuilding was really fascinating, especially the magical element of the plants and how they’re able to come to life and influence people. The illustrations were absolutely stunning and really brought the botanics alive. The artwork was both terrifying and beautiful, and you couldn’t look away.
My only issue was with the ending, which disappointed me a bit! I didn’t find it as strong as it could have been if Stiefvater had gone in a different direction. I’m not really a fan of sad endings for the sake of it when a happier ending — one that actually makes sense — works so much better.
But if you’re a lifelong fan of Maggie Stiefvater, you will undoubtedly enjoy this graphic novel! It’s also the perfect read for October.
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