Review by C.J. Bunce
In Miranda Mundt’s Muted, teen and young adult readers meet Camille, a witch whose mother and twin sister were killed in a fire, who now faces her first major right of passage. It all sounds simple, and her ancestors all pulled it off without a hitch. She must re-create a sigil symbol drawing in blood. Only something beyond interferes when the moment is at hand. Is it something she did? Or is it something about her she doesn’t even know about? Not the typical fiery redhead of fantasy stories, Camille is conscientious and contemplative. But what will she do when separated from the cousin she has been raised with for the past 13 years, left to return to a home she barely remembers?
Mundt has double duty as writer and illustrator of Camille’s journey. Her style is more of the witchcraft of old-time Archie Comics Sabrina vs. the Sabrina of this century or the Netflix streaming series.
Part of Camille’s struggles include a vile aunt who prevents her from binding with her familiar, a spunky redheaded woodpecker named Toben.
Like other webcomics reviewed here at borg (including Suitor Armor, Castle Swimmer, and Nothing Special), the book is leisurely paced, a coming of age story light on the heavy drama, but still packing an emotional punch.
Without a few bits of profanity including an F bomb, the book would be appropriate for an even younger audience. The book is marketed as LGBTQ romance but it’s merely suggestive, barely a part of a single scene in this first volume. The second volume is available for pre-order now here at Amazon.
For older teen and young adult readers who are fans of witch tales and coming of age stories, check out Muted, just published by Ten Speed Graphic, available now here at Amazon.
