Hollow Magic is a highly anticipated young adult fantasy graphic novel from creator Mars Lauderbaugh (illustrator of the Cemetery Boys cover) about found family, magic, and the power of deciding for yourself who you truly are.

Raised in the world of fey, seventeen-year-old Rosefinch has the ability to lift curses with nothing but a twist of her fingers. But when a witch’s magic is left long enough in the fey realm, it becomes supercharged, painful to use, and potentially even dangerous.

Following a rumor that the village of Harp is home to a witch who might be able to help control her magic, Rosefinch discovers an ancient ruined castle with the inhabitants long gone; the only remaining soul a knight cursed to stand a frozen guard at the entrance. The magic she uses to free them melts more than just the ice, and soon, Rosefinch is falling for this charming stranger. But Thierry has secrets of their own, as do other members of the Harp family still hidden within the castle walls. The Harp witch’s wicked magic ripped this family apart for a reason, and Rosefinch must find a way to stop the curse or she’ll lose Thierry—and chance to learn the truth about her magic—forever.

With mesmerizing art and a sweeping queer romance, this spellbinding fairy tale shows the power of found family and love where we least expect it.

I’m familiar with Lauderbaugh’s art from their book covers for Aiden Thomas: Cemetery Boys and The Sunbearer Trials. Their art is vibrant, distinctive, and feature diverse characters of color, gender, and sexuality. So, I wasn’t surprised to find this same diversity in Hollow Magic, their fantastic and fantastical graphic novel.

I’ve always been a fan of the fae (in the graphic novel spelled as fey) and Lauderbaugh’s take on it is really unique, having these beings gaining powers from either the stars (dusk fey) or the natural world around them (dawn fey)…and then, in addition to fey beings, toss in witches for good measure! Witches may seem similar to fey, but they don’t possess natural magic and need a conduit for it, coming from the earth and sky. But witches can be quite powerful, as fey can be powerful.

This is a really unique take on magic, but Lauderbaugh also grounds it in the familiar with traditional fey rules–don’t accept gifts; don’t give them your true name. It’s an interesting combination of the new and the old when it comes to the realm of faerie.

Anyway, when it comes to the magic, there are a lot of cool ideas and imagery: the frozen knight Thierry (they/them); the magical vines overtaking the palace; the way Rosefinch’s magic is depicted as threads being unwound, broken, or binding. There’s a lot to enjoy here that makes this world visually exciting and unique.

I enjoyed the story quite a bit, too. The pacing is fast and the exposition is delivered in chunks in relevant time. I also liked the budding romance and friendships between the characters. This book is an absolute delight.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.

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Hollow Magic will be available in hardcover and paperback from Macmillan on August 11, 2026. You can preorder or purchase (when available) directly from the publisher or preorder/purchase from a wide variety of booksellers and retailers online.