I really enjoyed this- nice and creepy, and kinda reminds me of The Craft and other 90s witchy stuff. That does bring up the fact that it's kinda dated, though. I saw the 2012 publication date and so I was thrown off by the references to Powerpuff Girls and Ally McBeal, and general lack of internet. Turns out the first couple of books are a reprint of comics from 2002 before it gets to the new stuff. It definitely works for me since I'm really the right demographic for it, but I think that teen girls into creepiness and/or nonconformity would still really dig it!

I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to picking up the second volume. I believe this was originally published as a four part serial in paperback, and those four serials are collected here in hardcover.

I like the combination of regular everyday world and creepy magical world, particularly the creatures referenced in the title. For children and teens, the real world is as full of monsters as fairy tales and fantasy stories, and this is especially true for those who don't find a good place to fit in at school. Courtney's tales explore that a little bit while she gets introduced to magic and mythical beasts. Her parents are disgustingly shallow and her uncle hints at a mysterious and fascinating past.

The color illustrations are nice, adding depth to the story and setting, though I wonder if my 5 and 7 year old will find some of them a tad too creepy.

4.5/5

Courtney Crumrin is rude, precocious, and she doesn't like people. Her parents are desperate for social advancement and have dragged her to a posh suburb to live with her creepy Great Uncle Aloysius in his spooky old house.

Being a new kid in school is never fun. But luckily, Courtney discovers her uncle has lots of intriguing books. Books about creatures of the night and spells. As you might expect, trouble ensues.

Courtney Crumrin is an excellent middle-grade book. It's quite charming, but also dark(-ish) in places. I a lot of fun reading it and found another feel-good and exciting comic series.

One of the first graphic novels I ever read. Still holds up, goes hard. Poor Axel.

Clever, wonderfully drawn from a similar mythology as the Hellboy series.

I hadn’t read any of the Courtney Crumrin stories previously, but when I saw this new edition I jumped at the chance. Courtney’s parents are so awesome – in that oh-my-god-they-are-clueless-butt-kissing-money-grubbing-idiots kind of way. So basically they are just a lot of fun to watch and read the things that come out of their mouths. However Courtney and her sass steal the show. This new house has its secrets, which are creepy and fantastic to read about, but it’s more than the house that’s got the paranormal aspect working for it. Courtney encounters weirdness in the forest between her new home and school and at another family’s house while she is babysitting. There is more than just one type of paranormal creature in this story, which makes it even more entertaining. The only drawback for me is that I wish there was more character development with Courtney and that more interacting with her Great Uncle Aloysius had taken place.

Reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.

this would be great for people who enjoy creepy. I just don't though.

The beauty in this story is the fact that no punches are held. Courtney has two parents that only care for their own greed and is thus moved into a creepy home with her equally creepy Uncle, or is he her great Uncle, great great Uncle perhaps? She is not one to cry over spilt milk or change for the whims of those around her. She is curious, is truly cares for those she believes deserve it. She will fight your battle for you, if she feels you need it. This book is harsh, beautiful, and so real even with the fantastical story line.

The artwork was passable at best and the storyline was unique, but unbelievable.

Courtney Crumrin seems to accept the world around her with no apprehension. The characters have no dimension or depth and the plot, if there is one, is terribly simplistic. But perhaps this is because it's only the introduction of the series? At any rate, it did not grab my interest enough for me to continue.