School Library Journal Review
Gr 5--9--Iris dreams of visiting her town's Harvest Festival, but there are two catches. One, her caretaker doesn't let anyone leave their home, and two, Iris and her fellow housemates are horrors: "ghosts, monsters, three-headed dragons, you name it." (Iris's own horror pedigree is a secret even to her.) Mr. Halloway swears he wants what is best for the young horrors, but Iris wonders if he's keeping them out of the world instead of keeping them safe. When Mr. Halloway leaves for a trip, one of the kids from town breaks the spell on the home's door, which opens the path for Iris and her friends to check out the Harvest Festival. Agnes, the older sister figure of the group, disapproves, but Kel, a plant-loving kelpie, is immediately intrigued by the vegetable stand at the festival. Mathias, the kid from town, and his monster-hunting aunt, have their own history with the creatures. The questions remain as to what is Iris's true background and who is the horror that is haunting her dreams. Many of the characters have layered development, and even Mr. Halloway gets a chance to redeem his questionable choices. The story and art will appeal to fans of the animated show Steven Universe. The Harvest Festival is ultra cozy, and the monster interactions are just spooky enough for the age group. This graphic novel has clear themes of acceptance and trying to understand people who are different from you. VERDICT Would make a strong fit for most juvenile graphic novel collections, especially those where gently spooky stories circulate well.--Gretchen Hardin
Publisher's Weekly Review
On the outskirts of Dead End Springs is an enchanted foster home for supernatural creatures rescued by their brown-skinned human guardian Mr. Halloway. But the magic that keeps the creatures safe also keeps them locked inside the mansion, and blue-skinned Iris longs to visit the places she sees in comics and on TV. Moreover, she yearns to connect with humans, believing they will be more accepting of her than Mr. Halloway, whose anxious nature convinces Iris he's afraid of her. While Mr. Halloway is on an excursion rounding up more horrors in need, a young paranormal hunter manages to break the magic seal before being scared off by a resident. Emboldened, Iris seizes the opportunity to attend the town's Harvest Festival, a Halloween-like event that encourages costumes, providing ideal cover for Iris and her friends. As Iris interacts with the townsfolk, she considers where she truly fits in, even as a mysterious voice in her head portends trouble. A cartoonishly adorable monster cast populate the brightly colored pages of this uplifting tale. Through earnest and optimistic depictions of found family dynamics, Davault (Star Knight) presents the ups and downs of relationships while emphasizing openness, communication, and acceptance. Ages 8--up. Agent: Britt Siess, Britt Siess Creative. (July)
Kirkus Review
A sheltered young monster discovers that the world isn't as hostile to her kind as she had been led to believe. Readers who like their monsters cute as well as scary are in for a treat, as Davault fills her panels and montages with the (mostly) humanoid but variously horned, clawed, fanged, and multiheaded inhabitants of Mr. Halloway's Home for Horrors. They possess expressive faces, stylishly disarranged bangs (or, as the case may be, tentacles), and distinctly childlike ways. Blue-skinned, tufty-tailed Iris has always been told by (human) Mr. Halloway that he is protecting her and her fellow creatures in his isolated manor house from being hunted down. But when she takes advantage of a rare chance to venture into nearby Dead End Springs, she gets a warm welcome--from everyone except Mathias, an orphan raised by his traumatized aunt to believe that monsters are dangerous. Some actually are, it turns out…but after the frightening dolls one horror creates sell like hotcakes to the delighted locals and Iris' companions help to save the town from an escaped dreamon who has turned into a nightmare, even Mathias comes around. Better yet, Iris emerges with her yearning to belong to a family fulfilled by the discovery that she has really been living with one all along, and she joins her housemates in turning the mansion into a monster hotel. A warm play on the theme of inclusivity, with horrors more huggable than otherwise. (author's note, concept art) (Graphic fantasy. 8-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Misfit Mansion is a literal House of Horrors, but in the sense of a place of refuge for monsters threatened by humans. Mr. Halloway spends his time looking after the horrors in between traveling to locations where he might find more to rescue. Among his charges is Iris, a curious horror who longs to be part of a family. A break-in at their home while Mr. Halloway is out gives Iris the perfect opportunity for an adventure, and she leads all her housemates out to a harvest festival where they just might blend in with the humans. The charming, stylized art is set in pleasingly muted colors and dynamic layouts that keep the eyes moving from scene to scene. Cute character designs make the story less scary considering most of the characters are monsters, and various folklores and myths are blended by having kelpies, gorgons, kappa, and even a unicorn living under the same roof. It's fun to imagine a world where humans and fantasy creatures exist in harmony, and Davault has done just that.
