Taproot is the story of a ghost and a gardener whose experiences inadvertently teach them more about life and death than either of them could ever have imagined.

I really enjoyed Taproot; it made me feel things while keeping me entertained and invested and the characters were very easy to care about and sympathize with. I do wish that we’d gotten some more backstory though, because by the early parts of the climax I felt like I’d missed out on one of the crucial causes of the central problem.

Taproot is a great standalone (that’s all it is, as far as I am aware), but I think it definitely has series potential and the events of this book are set up perfectly for more installments. I know I say this about most of the graphic novels I read and I mean it every single time: Taproot would make an excellent cartoon. It’s excellent for readers of nearly any age and I would definitely recommend it to fans of Over the Garden Wall and Craig of the Creek.

Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Taproot is now available at your local libraries and for sale at major book retailers.

Taproot is a lovely and "simple" graphic novel to read. Tells about Hamal and Blue - a human gardner that has the ability to perceive ghosts and an actual ghost - and their relationship (friends to lovers). But their daily life is upended when the Reaper came in search of a necromancer.

Sometimes I had the feeling that something wasn't "in the right place". and be "disconnected".

I really liked the colors used in this GN and the art style is really cute.

A must read if you're in the mood for cute queer romance. I've read this on two occasions, once as a gifted eARC and again on Comixology by Kindle because its such a light, breezy read with such a gorgeous palate of colors that brins the illustration to life which is both creepy and vibrant.

The plot and storyline is unique with unique characters (a necromancer! Hello?!) which makes it so interesting to divulge in. Because of how brief it is, you wont get much in terms of the world building. If it were just a little bit more developed in terms fof its world, I think it would be perfect.

Thank you Netgalley and Oni Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

this book is a delight. a little simple and brief (it feels startlingly short) but still so absolutely lovely to read. the art is literally stunning. I could not get over the style and the soft palette, I just adored it. turning a page was rewarding every time.

I am particularly enamored with the reaper character. I thought she was such a clever inclusion and lowkey wish there was a second volume that focused on her story.

nonetheless, the protagonist and his love interest were both very cute! their romance already felt established by the time the reader joins the story, even tho at the beginning neither has admitted to their feelings for one another, so I felt like their queer romance took a backseat to the ghost plot. this was fine, but definitely not what I was anticipating from what I had heard about the book.

I gave this book a four star rating only because I was hoping for more substance. (I totally could've turned that into a dumb ghost pun, you're welcome for sparing you.) I wanted to know more about the protag and his backstory and how the love interest died and where his family was, or how long he'd been dead for, or whatever else. the characters felt a little one-dimensional. (that could've been a second dumb ghost pun.)

that being said, I am always satisfied by a happy ending, and this book did not disappoint. I will definitely rec it to people looking for lighter graphic novels, but that still touch on heavier subjects.

Thanks very much to the publisher for this one. I was very intrigued by the cover and art style, it reminded me of a few other graphic novels that I've loved.

I didn't realise that this was a sequel when I requested it which did impact my experience. I'd be interested to go back and read book one to see how my opinion changed.

I really did like the art style but the story fell a little flat for me.

I'd read more from this author though

Thanks again

Beautiful art and story but the time jump was a bit disjointed. I think it would’ve worked better we had a montage instead of a time jump, but it was lovely nevertheless.

A gorgeously illustrated graphic novel that will tug at your heartstrings. TAPROOT is a tender, queer, paranormal love story that you won't want to miss!

I love anything plant-related and anything that is remotely gay. So Taproot was right up my alley. I loved the dynamic between Hamal and Blue. Taproot is sweet and a must-read for any queer person who is a bit obsessed with plants and death/ghosts, or you know anyone else who wants to read this gem.

Very sweet. i wanted more to the story because I loved the characters. Unfortunately, I will not be able to sell this at the store, despite putting a shelf talker on it, or trying to handsell it. I will tell another location of our store's to sell it though because they will have a better time.

This was such a cute graphic novel the illustrations were amazing and the plot line was cute. I would have liked some expansion on the world and ghosts but overall I loved it

This is such a sweet little story that isn't afraid to go some places. I came for the tender and endearing queer romance between a gardener and his ghost friend, but stayed for the... yeah, for the tender and endearing queer romance between a gardener and his ghost friend.
And also for a certain sassy boss lady that I couldn't get enough of (not spoiling!)

Although the art style isn't really my taste, it is incredibly vibrant and colorful. Even pages that are dark and spooky still manage to convey a lively brightness that serves the mood incredibly well. It says something about the artist when a skull on a black background can feel as dynamic and animated as a flower in a garden.

All in all, a great little read that made me all warm and soft inside. I read this in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down. May or may not have gotten teary eyed at a point or two. Would love to revisit these characters again in the future.

Thanks a ton to Oni Press for a review copy.

This book is sweet. and depicts interaction between ghost and human. Friends to lover arc is done well.

The charming little paranormal romance Taproot by author/illustrator Keezy Young will warm the heart. It is cute, creepy, wholesome, artistically gorgeous, and delightfully queer.

The narrative centers on Blue, a ghost who prefers to hang out with Hamal because he is secretly in love, and on Hamal, a young gardener who has the ability to perceive the spirits of the deceased who have not yet passed on. But their strangely tranquil existence is upended when a Reaper appears, searching for a necromancer who has the ability to see the dead.

Although the story is a little incoherent, Taproot is so endearing and lovely to look at that it won't matter much and makes for a delightful quick read.

Taproot is a speculative graphic novel, dealing with a ghost and a florist who just so happens to be able to see ghosts. The art style is gorgeous and I am really a fan of the color work that went into this. So much of the story, especially on Blue’s end, is colored with shades of blue. Young crafts a heart touching story that deals with death and features a cute ghost x human relationship.

I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel though, if anything, I felt like it could be longer. I just wanted to linger with the characters and marinate in their choices to be fair! There were a couple of times while reading when I thought that the story was over but it continued. The actual ending, I feel, is a bit of a let down in that I wanted to continue seeing Blue and Hamal’s life together!

I think this is a fun, quick read and I would definitely recommend this graphic novel to anyone looking for something both queer and a bit spooky!

This is a story of a gardener who can ser ghosts, but after some time, the ghosts are in danger...

I started this book without knowing anything about it and I liked it! The graphic style is really good and the story is nice!

I didn't feel like the story was complex enough, hence the rating, but it's relaxing and cute.

Super cute! The art style was gorgeous and very vivid. I loved Hamal and Blue as characters, and their relationship was really sweet and wholesome. The plot felt a little disconnected, as we would jump from scene to scene with no clear connections between them. But overall I really liked this and would definitely love a sequel!

"There's nothing evil about death, ghostie. But it's a balance. You can't force life without taking it from somewhere."

Hamal passes his days working at a flower shop and talking to the ghosts that only he seems to be able to see. He's a necromancer—but he doesn't know it.

Blue has been dead for a year. He used to wander around aimlessly, observing the living, until he came across Hamal—the only person who's been able to see him since he passed away. As time passes, he develops feelings for Hamal, though he knows that as a ghost, he can't give him anything—Blue can't even touch him.

This graphic novel filled the void in my soul that Pushing Daisies left years ago. Young's art style is so charming – from the colour palette to the stark contrast between the real world and the Reaper's forest. It's a beautiful visualisation of the threshold between life and death. The story itself was short, sweet, and hopeful – a perfect creepy-cozy read to return to on a gloomy day.

I feel like this book exists just on romance vibes. It's cute, but there isn't much plot, and the necromancer magic system isn't explained at all so I don't even know what the characters are doing or why they're doing it.

Such a nice and lovely story. This was one of those books I wasn't sure on and I am glad I was approved for it as it was amazing and one of my 5 star reads of this year

I just absolutely love this book. It is kind and comforting, not only is the art beautiful but the storyline is compelling. Would highly recommend.