Firstly, this is not a graphic novel that can be picked up and read with half of your attention. It takes a good deal of concentration to tell what all is happening and who is who. That said, the attention is worth the payoff. If you read this book and have trouble following it, this review will be helpful.

goodreads.com/review/show/2315559715?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1

The beauty of this book comes from the setting. In this story the house is just as much a character as the children, parents, and servants who sequester inside it for a deadly winter expected to be three years long. The story follows Lars, a sickly boy, who can no longer walk the halls of the palace, so he has a giant cat named Nemo to help him continue to experience life as much as he can. Can anyone facing impending doom move past the reckoning with their own mortality to enjoy what time is left? It's a harrowing question for anyone, especially for a child.

The story is dark and haunting. I won't get into all of the details of the plot here. I will say there are some significant content warnings with this story, so if you have recently experienced a significant loss, I might wait to read this one. The story isn't particularly hopeful, but I feel the point is to explore moments when we can't find hope - and that is not a journey to be ignored.