The Accursed Vampire

by Madeline McGrane, Madeline McGrane (Illustrator)

Overview

*Named a Rainbow Book List Title*

A spooky and funny graphic novel perfect for fans of The Witch Boy and Real Friends

Dragoslava is a vampire kid. It has its perks, but sometimes being stuck as a kid forever can be a pain in the neck. And that’s not even the worst part. A few centuries ago, Drago was cursed by a witch. If they don’t complete every task she sets, they will be turned into worms.

When the witch wants a spellbook from Baneberry Falls, Drago sets off with their immortal friends. But mysteries await in this sleepy Midwestern town, and Drago must figure out if the keepers of the spellbook have a hidden agenda, like everyone else they’ve ever known.

One thing’s for sure: after this accursed mission, Drago’s immortal life will never be the same again!  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062954343
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/27/2021
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	622,594
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Madeline McGrane has done work for Marvel Comics, Disney Publishing, and CollegeHumor. She lives in Minneapolis and makes comics about vampires. The Accursed Vampire is her first graphic novel.

Madeline McGrane has done work for Marvel Comics, Disney Publishing, and CollegeHumor. She lives in Minneapolis and makes comics about vampires. The Accursed Vampire is her first graphic novel.

Editorial Reviews

★ 05/01/2021

Gr 5–8—Dragoslava, Quintus, and Eztli are each centuries old, but they haven't matured beyond childhood. These three vampire children sleep in a coffin by day, complete with a pillow and stuffed animal, and drink "ethically sourced" blood that comes in bags. Dragoslava, who completes odd jobs for a remorseless witch under threat of magical torture, brings their friends along to Baneberry Falls, MI, to retrieve a grimoire. There they meet an adult vampire named Sara, her witch girlfriend Ayesha, and magical obstacles that force Dragoslava to choose between their obligations and friendship. McGrane channels the Kate Beaton school of comic timing, with impish protagonists who skate between delivering hilarious nonsequiturs and displaying vulnerability. One minute they're crying in the street with nowhere to go, the next they're absentmindedly coloring their menus in a diner. Many pages use six- or eight-panel grids of square panels, with double-wide panels to pause for impact. Dragoslava's quest drives the story, with recurring flashbacks from the past few centuries telling the story of how they, Quintus, and Eztli met and bonded. McGrane's humor and cute illustrations disarm readers just in time for deftly handled themes of accepting joy. Bald, pale white Dragoslava sports a cape and evokes a tiny, much more adorable Nosferatu; Quintus is Black; and Eztli is brown-skinned and bird-footed. Sara is white; Ayesha is Black. VERDICT McGrane's silly and spooky tale uses poignant moments about found families to touch readers' hearts between bouts of laughter.—Thomas Maluck, Richland Lib., SC

School Library Journal

"Humor and cute illustrations disarm readers just in time for deftly handled themes of accepting joy.  McGrane’s silly and spooky tale uses poignant moments about found families to touch readers’ hearts between bouts of laughter."
— School Library Journal (starred review)

"Quirky art and [a] satisfying resolution emphasizes the joy of chosen families. A mischievous and treacherous adventure." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2021-05-19
At the command of a cruel witch, a vampire child seeks a stolen grimoire of dangerous power in this graphic paranormal fantasy.

Long ago, Dragoslava, a White, hairless vampire, drank the blood of an old, White woman, a witch in disguise who promised to “rend [their] flesh and sinews to crawling worms” unless Dragoslava agreed to serve her. When the witch demands that Dragoslava hunt down her stolen grimoire and curse the thief, their only two friends, Quintus (a Black vampire prince) and Eztli (a presumed Nahuatl vampire with bird feet), want to help them. However, two unlikely allies, an adult vampire (depicted with pale skin) and her witch girlfriend (depicted with darker skin and curly hair), complicate the three young vampires’ feelings about their quest. In order to fulfill the witch’s task, Dragoslava may have to betray people who matter to them. Underneath the magical conflict, the characters encounter themes of abuse, prejudice, and belonging. Although the evil witch wields frightening power, the real harm she causes comes from manipulation and unkindness toward those who trust her. Her curses are not the only threat to Dragoslava and their friends. Another unexpected enemy hides hatred for vampires behind small-town niceness. Quirky art and characterizations balance the heavier aspects of the narrative. Queer representation within the story is prevalent and casual, and the satisfying resolution emphasizes the joy of chosen families.

A mischievous and treacherous adventure. (Graphic paranormal adventure. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews