Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest review! This novel had a very interesting concept: what if you could predetermine that someone was going to commit a violent crime and stop them beforehand? I think that the author and illustrator did an amazing job bringing this concept to life with compelling characters that were beautifully rendered. I typically don't read too much YA as I feel it can sometimes be too repetitive with ideas being reused, but the way this graphic novel was written kept me engaged and wanting more. I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it all in one sitting. The subject matter that was covered was very heavy, but not too much for any young adults to handle because of the way things were portrayed (sex, graphic depictions of murder). If there were more volumes of this story released in the future, I would wholeheartedly want to read more.

I really really loved the art style. It had the prefect amount of detail. You could see the way the art was created with the hatching, and it told the story really well. I was much darker and more gruesome that I anticipated but it was a welcome surprise. Very good! I just wish I got the full color experience so I could comment on that aspect.

This was a really fun and creepy story with a fantastic concept. i was intrigued from the start! The art was really great too, i liked it alot. Would definitely recommend and buy a physical copy.

#NetGalleyARC This was a cool creepy thrilling read. The art work is great and the story is a perfect YA read. A definite buy for my HS library.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a young child, her mother always taught Rowan to wear gloves. One day, her mother was murdered, and the reasons behind the gloves shocked Rowan to her core. As the years pass, and her relationship with Lucas grows into something more, Rowan is suddenly kidnapped and put into Rosewood, a facility for psychic teens. As she gains friends and learns more about her powers, Rowan finally learns the truth behind Rosewood and their actions. Can Rowan save her friends and loved ones from the horrors of Rosewood?
It is delightfully creepy and deeply atmospheric. The Harrowing draws upon the blood and gore of future killings and the teens who are supposed to save the victims. Rosewood seems like your average medical facility until you learn the truth behind the facade. I enjoyed this graphic novel, and the choices Rowan has to make.

this is what i called great concept with great execution. the harrow is a person who can see brutal violence that might or would be done by another person that they touch. kind of like Wednesday Addams's ability but seeing the future instead of the past. the suspense and eerie atmosphere is present, and the plot went really good. I don't know if the finished copy will be thoroughly in grayscale too but even if it does, It's still good and fit's the theme. loved it.

It's been a long time since I read a graphic novel, but the premise of The Harrowing pulled me in right away. The Harrowing follows ordinary teen Rowan as she discovers she has the power to spot killers before they commit their crimes, a power she shares with her deceased mother. As one of the Harrows, Rowan is sent to a special academy where she hones her craft and learns how to wield it to remove "imcrims" from society so their crimes will never happen. Once there, she and her group of friends/fellow Harrows discover a conspiracy about the academy and about the Harrows themselves.

First off, this book felt nostalgic in all the right ways. I grew up in the era of Maximum Ride, and the whole "special academy conspiracy" brings back such specific memories and I love it. Everything about Rosewood Academy had me glued to the page. The art style is gorgeous and evocative. The muted color scheme (more grays than true black/white) felt very fitting for a book dealing primarily in questions of morality. The backstory with Rowan's mom is also intriguing, and I love the hints that were dropped along the way. When the big reveal happens, it had me flipping right back to the start like "how did I miss this?"

So, for those elements 5 GIANT stars.

But, unfortunately, one of the main things the back cover blurb mentions -- the romance between Rowan and childhood bestie Lucas -- falls flat for me. It felt very rushed and almost ruined the book for me. I wish that the author had either taken more time to develop their relationship OR removed that element altogether because, all things considered, the fact that Rowan learns Lucas is an imcrim is really not as compelling as the conspiracy of Rosewood.

That aside though, this feels like a very strong standalone OR start to the series and I am beyond excited to see what else Kristen Kiesling comes up with. I can see this being a huge hit.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Abrams Kids/Amulet, and Kristen Kiesling for granting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 ⭐

Thank you Netgalley, publishers as well as Kristen Kiesling for an arc in exchange for an honest review!!

This was a lot more gruesome than I anticipated which I liked a lot! I liked the concept a lot, I also really liked the art style! I wish the arc would have been in color since a lot of this story is influenced by the colors chosen. Overall it was a great horror graphic novel!

I really appreciate NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this graphic novel. The art style was beautiful and the writing was to the point, easy to follow. The story was very fast paced, so I wished we had a little more story/world building, and got to know the characters a bit more. Although I feel like we were never lacking any information, it just would have felt nice to go more in depth. I do like the plot and theme of the book, regardless of it being a little overused. The graphic novel was enjoyable and definitely a fun read.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel! The overall plot was unique and pretty easy to follow. I also liked the concept of the girls powers and her struggles with them and her emotions. This is definitely going to be a YA graphic novel that so many will enjoy - I know I would have loved this even more had it been around when I was that age. I could see this getting adapted, too!

I’ll start off by saying that the art in this graphic novel is absolutely gorgeous! I loved the imagery a lot.

We follow Rowan in a very X-Men-esque plot of finding out she has powers and being sent to a school to learn how to use them for good. I do think the plot felt rather rushed and things were left unsaid that I would’ve liked to have explained. However, this was a fun story and it kept me entertained throughout.

There were definitely some dark moments and the book touches on grief a good bit which I found moving.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book!

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the storyline of this graphic novel and the art to match, I hope there will be more to this story as I feel like there is a lot left to tell.

3.5 ⭐

What would you do if you could predict that someone was going to commit murder?

The Harrowing falls prey to some predictable 'I've got powers' origin stories, for example, Rowan (our FMC) has a tragic back story and an 'am I going crazy' power reveal. However, it also explores complicated and difficult topics (free will, morality, grief, guilt etc.) through an interesting concept. It is a challenging scenario to be faced with the ability to see murder before it happens but then be faced with what is right (or wrong) to do next if they haven't completed the crime yet and might not (with the right prevention) while balancing the lives of others and how your own experiences might shape your actions.

Although there was an element of predictability (see above), I was genuinely surprised by a few of the plot twists and how different plot elements came together. I wish there was less of a rushed aspect to the eventual romance and conclusion at the end which conflicted with the natural pace of the novel. On the relationship side it felt like there was a lot of no communication and longing and then BAM. I also wanted to see Rowan explore these difficult topics further in her romantic relationship and with her father, not just with her friends and through self-reflection, it felt too quickly resolved in that department. Although I did appreciate how it was all tied up, I expected to be left hanging for a sequel!

The illustrations are beautiful and I'd happily read more Hickman's work and I'd be interested to see what Kiesling comes up with next.

I loved this! So much I shall use exclamations excessively to the point of being annoying!
Great concept, amazing art work, I couldn’t put it down! Explores some excellent moral dilemmas really well, I’m hoping this will be a series or there will be a spin off. The harrows are a fascinating subject I want to see more of.

The Harrowing is a great addition to any graphic novel section for the school library where readers are able to delve into morality through powers that teeter between what is right and what could be wrong. This book is a great conversation starter that can easily lead into a deep philosophical discussion with students and would good for a small book group or book club. I am anxious to revisit this book with students and hear their opinions on the characters and plot. The artwork helps guide the plot as it should in graphic novels and I know that in full color it will aid even more. Best for upper grades with some of the subject matter.

I enjoyed this graphic novel! The plot was easy to follow and I enjoyed the concept of the girls powers. I would have liked more world building around the school because it really feels like everything moves very quickly. Otherwise enjoyable and I know my middle schoolers would enjoy having a copy on my classroom shelf!

When a teen discovers that she has psychic powers she is tasked to hunt down potential killers...until she finds out that her best friend and the boy she is in love with is her next target. Rowan Sterling has always been different and she's wanted nothing more than to be a regular teen and go to college with her best friend, whom she might have a crush on.... yet she's been seeing strange and terrifying things ever time her hand touches someone. Rowan knows something is wrong with her and so her father sends her to a mysterious facility called Rosewood. At Rosewood, they'll train her along with other teens with special abilities, and her mother also went there before she was murdered. Rowan begins to use her ability to stop killers... yet is it ethical to treat these people and capture them if they haven't even done anything yet? She begins to question everything when she touches her best friend's hand and sees him shooting a man in cold blood. She firmly believes that Lucas isn't capable of doing something like that and will do anything to protect him. What is right and what is wrong? Can she save Lucas? This was a really unique and interesting story. The moral questions it brings up is really interesting and the story was so fun to go along with. The artwork is really nice and I loved how everything wrapped up!

*Thanks Netgalley and ABRAMS Kids, Amulet Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

The Harrowing is incredibly intense and beautifully illustrated. It was such a unique story and I found I couldn't put it down until I knew what happened. It dealt with sensitive topics in a very respectful way and I will definitely be recommending it to people when it comes out.