4.5 stars rounded up

This was so very different from the vibes I was seeing from the Netflix show and I am glad I picked it up. It is not perfect, it has some confusing plot inconsistencies and I felt a bit lost while reading some parts, but overall it was a great experience and I can understand the hype behind it. I don't have a lot of experience reading graphic novels, but this definitely made me want to pick up more. Please give me your suggestions.

As for the specifics of this series, there was certainly strong character growth and progression, but there was a lot of plot driven character devices that were unfortunate. The mom is the only one who had a realistic reaction to the ordeal that took place at the beginning of the series. The kids, including the young child who was witness to horrific crimes against him and his family, were able to cope with heavy things with ease. On top of that, they were completely receptive to finding magic keys in their old family house. It wasn't great. Also, they didn't always elaborate or explain where they found the keys and, at times, events occur in the blink of a panel or two with no context and no further explanation. I found this to be annoying.

However, the main storyline and the underlying mystery was intriguing and engrossing. I wanted to keep digging to uncover more truths and ultimately more mysteries. The ending was fitting and I felt like there was a decent bit of closure The series is far from perfect, but it was highly enjoyable and worth the read.

I read all the comics after watching the Netflix show (which I loved!!). The comics are incredibly violent in ways I was not expecting, plus some awful misogyny/racism/homophobia in unnecessary ways that were detracting from the story and had no useful purpose as social commentary. I wish I hadn't read the comics after falling in love with the TV series, honestly. The comics fall flat in comparison, which may also be unfair because they're different media.

So so good. I couldn't put it down and read the whole run in a week. One of the best things I've read in a really long time

I liked what Brian K. Vaughn said in the introduction to Volume 3: “Readers love fantasy, but we need horror. Smart horror. Truthful horror. Horror that helps us make sense of a cruelly senseless world.”

After last year’s election I was drawn to dystopian stories, but lately I’ve been reading more horror. If dystopia helps us consider and plan for what ifs and horror helps us cope with what is, my current reading interests make sense.

This is my foray into the world of Joe Hill. I have heard of his name through several people I follow on Instagram but had yet to read anything he had written. I initially set out to read these awhile back when the Netflix show was on but they ended up on my TBR instead. Needing a quick read to catch up on my reading list, I picked these up and was not disappointed.

The story focuses on three kids whose father has been murdered and they along with their mother move across country to live in his childhood home Keyhouse. Keyhouse is located in Lovecraft, MA and is full of mystery and secrets. As the years have gone by the magic has evolved even going so far as to have a spell that once you turn 18 you forget about the magic and the keys. Trey, Kinsey and Bode soon discover that the house also holds numerous keys that all have magical qualities. The youngest gets sucked in by a demon, named Dodge, who he unwittingly lets out and things start getting pretty crazy once that happens. The demon is looking for the Omega key, the key that allows him to open the door to allow more of his kind out into our world. Can Trey, Kinsey and Bode join forces to defeat Dodge and save the world?

Im not typically a graphic novel reader but when something piques my interest, I will give it a try. Overall, this is a fantastic series. The idea of keys that can do crazy things like make you a giant, open up your mind, literally, so you can add or take stuff out and one that as long as you can envision the door it'll instantly take you there, I was hooked just from those ideas. In this slipcase there are six volumes and they all stand out. Gut wrenching, poignant and a definite page turner, you will not want to put this series down. I was able to read all 6 in two days.

I'm not an expert on art styles but I did enjoy the look of these books overall. Each one with in depth drawing that you will just sit and stare at until you make sure you've seen everything on the page. The characters are strong and well developed with room to grow. You could definitely feel the emotions of the characters coming off the page from the mother's grief at losing her husband to the daughter who wants to take fear and crying out of herself so she never has to feel either again. The villain in this series is relentless and there were times I was sure that he would win. The ending is strong and had me in tears. I believe this is just the beginning of my ride into the world of Joe Hill.

Loved this comic series! Decided to not count each volume as a single book as I read them back to back as a complete set.

Highly recommend!