I read a bind-up of this series that collected volume 1–8 all in one book. As soon as I saw the cover, I knew I needed it. Fall-themed body horror? Yes!

The Autumnal follows Kat Somerville, a single mom who moves herself and her daughter, Sybil, back to her hometown if Comfort Notch after leaning that her estranged mother died. Kat inherited her childhood home, and thinks it’s the perfect place for her and Sybil to finally settle down. And why not, especially when Comfort Notch is known as the “home of America’s prettiest autumn.”

Kat doesn’t remember much of growing up there, because her mother sent her away when she was young. But after being home for even a short amount of time, her repressed memories start to surface, and old nursery rhymes and local legends seem to be real, and not the spooky fairy tales she once thought they were. Soon, she’s fighting to save herself and Sybil, even if everyone else thinks she’s overreacting.

I’ll admit, I liked the artwork in this series more than the plot. The folklore horror aspects were intriguing, but the beautiful autumn colors and atmosphere were what sucked me in—I’d be dead for sure if I was a character in this story!

Overall, The Autumnal was good. It takes a beautiful setting and twists it into a macabre tale of survival. It’s a great read if you’re looking for something spooky and seasonal.

Thank you to the publisher Vault Comics for a digital ARC via NetGalley. The Autumnal: The Complete Series by Daniel Kraus, illustrated by Chris Shehan, Jason Wordie, and Jim Campbell came out on September 1, 2021, and can be purchased wherever books are sold.