Do you like:
• Witches.
• Werewolves.
• Romances that are queer and involve a nonbinary character.
• Romances that are queer and involve a nonbinary character, AND it's between a witch and a werewolf.
• Romances that are queer and involve a nonbinary character, AND it's between a witch WHO IS HARD OF HEARING AND WEARS AN HEARING AID, and a werewolf.
• Queer grandma couples.
• Nearly all-Asian casts.
• Family bonding akin to 'The Tea Dragon Festival'.
• 'The Tea Dragon Society' and Kay O'Neill's work in general.
• Queer, nonbinary characters coming to terms with their identity, their past, and overcoming the shadow of their abusive stepfather, and learning that home is where the heart is.
• Supernatural families featuring witches, ghosts and a literal bird head.
• Female plus-size science-inclined characters who are in on the whole magical family life and coven, and who're sceptics who learn.
• Witchcraft and bookseller cafés in the same place.
• Spiritual forest creatures reminiscent of Studio Ghibli.
• Autumn and Halloween.
• Spiritual and mental connections between queer couples which reveal their inner feelings and struggles, told to their beloved.
• Cookies, cakes, and other baked goods, as well as potions and wands.
• Tea. Lots of Tea.
• Cats.
• Sweet, warm and wholesome stories about family, home, queer love, magic, and witchcraft in a positive light.
• Comics with the cutest damn artwork ever.
If you've warmed up to any or all of these points, these magical ingredients - heck, a lot of them are probably unheard of in any other story - then there's a chance you might just love 'Mooncakes'.
It truly is a lovely treat. The romance between Nova Huang the witch with an hearing aid and Tam Lang the nonbinary werewolf is the sweetest thing. I adore Nova's equally sapphic nanas as well - they are always there for her and are so supportive, and they are freaking badass.
But my favourite character has to be Nova - she is incredibly sweet, friendly, helpful, brave, determined, and is very competent at spell casting and listening to people, but she isn't perfect, as the reader will learn. I also really like her long scraggy hair and comfy, frumpy clothes - I don't know, I guess I gravitate towards Nova more than others because I relate to her the most. She's close to her family and understands the importance of family bonds, plus she's a witch, yay! And she works in a bookseller café that sells books on witchcraft material too - I want her job!
Then there's this moment, this line, highlighting further why Nova Huang is amazing. She says this right after performing a great combating spell, using her wand and her hearing aid, and will now rush to save Tam's life:
"I will! And I'm going to make out with them while I'm at it!"
I rest my case.
'Mooncakes' is absolutely endearing and enjoyable. Even for fantasy, I recognise in the characters people I know or knew in my own life - they are very real and relatable. It's so effortlessly diverse in a genre that needs it in terms of inclusive representation. Comfortable and fluffy, even when plot points and elements get dangerous, it's like a solid and more focused version of 'Moonstruck', a similar comic.
There isn't enough baking and food consumption in it as I'd expected - which is odd considering its title - but oh well, 'Mooncakes' is nonetheless a sweet, fantastical, café standalone sapphic graphic novel. The artwork is soft, lovable and gorgeous - more than fitting the content.
Additionally, nice 'Sailor Moon' poster in a room in a flashback panel - I noticed that!
What else can I say? 'Mooncakes' is hyped for a reason. It's a spellbinder all right.
Final Score: 4.5/5
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