Same disclaimer as before - this review will cover things unique to this volume, not necessarily things that are constant across all trades. For whatever reason I liked this trade more than the others. There were some really touching moments of friendship as well as conflicts that put my heart through the wringer. I also liked that this volume addressed things that were merely side points in previous volumes, and we got some monsters that were beautifully illustrated.

Things I Liked

1. Honest Look at Alcoholism: Nina Locke has been struggling with alcoholism for the past few volumes, but it hasn’t really been addressed with any severity until this volume. I appreciated that the kids all had their own reactions to their mother’s drinking, and I like that it was acknowledged to be a problem that essentially allows the kids to have their shenanigans. There are also these great moments when the kids stand up to their mother, saying how her pain doesn’t give her free reign to be a jerk to everyone else. It makes my heart really break for them.

2. Shadow Key: I really dig shadow monsters, and this volume delivered. The art shines through here (pun intended), and there are a lot of cool shapes and silhouettes that are made interesting because of the monochrome palette.

3. Ghost Fight: Okay, that fight between Dodge and Sam was badass.

4. Kinsey’s Friendships: Kinsey hangs out with some people in this volume that Zach/Dodge judges to be losers and harbingers of social death. Kinsey doesn’t care. She hangs out with them anyway. You go girl.

Things I Didn’t Like

1. Simplicity of the Shadow Key Plot: Dodge raises a shadow army. Okay. A bit simplistic for my tastes, but I guess because of this plot, more focus could be put onto Nina’s emotional state.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in monsters, shadow creatures, grief, emotional pain, trauma, and alcoholism.