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    Queens of the Crypt, Vol 1: A Graphic Novel

    Part of Queens of the Crypt

    Author Dom&Ink
    Illustrated by Dom&Ink
    Paperback (Graphic Novel - TR)
    $17.99 US
    Penguin Young Readers | Penguin Workshop
    6"W x 9"H | 28 oz | 24 per carton
    On sale Aug 25, 2026 | 208 Pages | 9780593752234
    Age 14 and up | Grade 9 & Up
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

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    E. M. Carroll meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a dash of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in this debut young adult graphic novel that is a celebration of horror, queerness, and figuring out who you want to be.

    *Features bright neon purple sprayed edges that complement Dom&Ink’s stunning cover art!*

    There is a crypt that sits in the darkness... A crypt that exists across multiple realms, that houses your worst fears... And it's coming to Widow's Creek...

    When seventeen-year-old Barnaby Jones comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they expect that to be the toughest part of their day. But it turns out the toughest part might actually be when their best friend, Fi, is kidnapped by a faceless killer who's been abducting teens all across the small town of Widow's Creek. Or is it when Barnaby unwittingly summons the undead and fabulous Queens of the Crypt through a portal in their bedroom closet?

    Either way, the Queens—the Phantom, the Countess, Lady Invisible, the Creature, and the Bogeywoman—are here to help. As the horrors creep closer, can Barnaby work together with the scream queens to save Widow’s Creek from destruction and unmask the Faceless Frightener?
    "Dom knocks it out of the park with the first installment in this series, building suspense and excitement that leads up to violent action scenes in the resolution. Barnaby’s journey will resonate with readers who feel isolated, while the friendships they form offer a powerful message of belonging. The suspenseful chapters keep the pacing up, and the action will keep readers engaged and at the edge of their seats. The detailed black-and-white line illustrations create a classic comic book feel. Equipped with a visual key and a full-page introduction of each queen, the art in this text is exceptionally horrifying and simultaneously beautiful. VERDICT This standout YA graphic novel will keep readers dying for the next volume."—School Library Journal

    “This story slays, in every sense of the word. Think Katseye meets ’00s Buffy with more than a dash of glamour, and you’ve got the Queens of the Crypt! These icons turn the ashes of the undead into a stunning smoky eye look. Expect thrills, spills, and supernatural chills. They may be undead divas, but I am living for them!”—Tia Kofi, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World

    “A dark, spooky, fabulous treat, with real heart and characters to DIE for.”—Juno Dawson, bestselling author of This Book Is Gay and Her Majesty’s Royal Coven

    “When a nonbinary teen whose fashion sense is matched only by their anxiety-spirals meets a coven of classic horror icons reimagined through a queer lens, a fabulous adventure ensues. A perfect Halloween read!”—Lee Knox Ostertag, bestselling author of The Deep Dark and Eisner Award nominee

    “Queens of the Crypt is scary, funny, wonderfully illustrated, and full of heart. I’m a firm believer that the greatest adult horror fans start as monster kids, and here’s an ‘old-fashioned’ monster mash that’s anything but. . . . Something for the next generation.”—Adam Cesare, USA Today bestselling author of Clown in a Cornfield and Blood Sick
    Dominic Evans (they/them) is a freelance illustrator based in London, from not-so-sunny Bolton, via Narnia. Growing up with a love of Buffy, short shorts, and Starlight Express, Dom, like many others, struggled to fit in at school, in life, and mainly with themself. However, Dom soon found their voice through their passion for illustration and stories. This led them on a path to illustrate for large brands, stores, clients, and agencies. Dom currently live in East London and spends their time immersing themselves in a graphic novel or an amazing book and then creating illustrations that they hope will make your day and make you slay. View titles by Dom&Ink

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    About

    E. M. Carroll meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a dash of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in this debut young adult graphic novel that is a celebration of horror, queerness, and figuring out who you want to be.

    *Features bright neon purple sprayed edges that complement Dom&Ink’s stunning cover art!*

    There is a crypt that sits in the darkness... A crypt that exists across multiple realms, that houses your worst fears... And it's coming to Widow's Creek...

    When seventeen-year-old Barnaby Jones comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they expect that to be the toughest part of their day. But it turns out the toughest part might actually be when their best friend, Fi, is kidnapped by a faceless killer who's been abducting teens all across the small town of Widow's Creek. Or is it when Barnaby unwittingly summons the undead and fabulous Queens of the Crypt through a portal in their bedroom closet?

    Either way, the Queens—the Phantom, the Countess, Lady Invisible, the Creature, and the Bogeywoman—are here to help. As the horrors creep closer, can Barnaby work together with the scream queens to save Widow’s Creek from destruction and unmask the Faceless Frightener?

    Praise

    "Dom knocks it out of the park with the first installment in this series, building suspense and excitement that leads up to violent action scenes in the resolution. Barnaby’s journey will resonate with readers who feel isolated, while the friendships they form offer a powerful message of belonging. The suspenseful chapters keep the pacing up, and the action will keep readers engaged and at the edge of their seats. The detailed black-and-white line illustrations create a classic comic book feel. Equipped with a visual key and a full-page introduction of each queen, the art in this text is exceptionally horrifying and simultaneously beautiful. VERDICT This standout YA graphic novel will keep readers dying for the next volume."—School Library Journal

    “This story slays, in every sense of the word. Think Katseye meets ’00s Buffy with more than a dash of glamour, and you’ve got the Queens of the Crypt! These icons turn the ashes of the undead into a stunning smoky eye look. Expect thrills, spills, and supernatural chills. They may be undead divas, but I am living for them!”—Tia Kofi, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World

    “A dark, spooky, fabulous treat, with real heart and characters to DIE for.”—Juno Dawson, bestselling author of This Book Is Gay and Her Majesty’s Royal Coven

    “When a nonbinary teen whose fashion sense is matched only by their anxiety-spirals meets a coven of classic horror icons reimagined through a queer lens, a fabulous adventure ensues. A perfect Halloween read!”—Lee Knox Ostertag, bestselling author of The Deep Dark and Eisner Award nominee

    “Queens of the Crypt is scary, funny, wonderfully illustrated, and full of heart. I’m a firm believer that the greatest adult horror fans start as monster kids, and here’s an ‘old-fashioned’ monster mash that’s anything but. . . . Something for the next generation.”—Adam Cesare, USA Today bestselling author of Clown in a Cornfield and Blood Sick

    Author

    Dominic Evans (they/them) is a freelance illustrator based in London, from not-so-sunny Bolton, via Narnia. Growing up with a love of Buffy, short shorts, and Starlight Express, Dom, like many others, struggled to fit in at school, in life, and mainly with themself. However, Dom soon found their voice through their passion for illustration and stories. This led them on a path to illustrate for large brands, stores, clients, and agencies. Dom currently live in East London and spends their time immersing themselves in a graphic novel or an amazing book and then creating illustrations that they hope will make your day and make you slay. View titles by Dom&Ink

    Additional formats

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