The Night Eaters is the first volume in a graphic novel horror trilogy by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takada, best known for their work on graphic novel fantasy/horror series Monstress.
The story follows Chinese American twins, Milly and Billy, as they struggle to keep their restaurant afloat and their personal lives from falling apart. Their parents, Ipo and Keon, have recently arrived for their annual visit. Ipo, their tough and thoroughly grumpy mother, has decided that it’s time for Milly and Billy to learn more about who they really are. The best way to do this is to drag the twins into the incredibly creepy and potentially haunted house next door. The house has been on the market for ages and Ipo has decided her children are the perfect ones to deal with the supernatural elements keeping it from selling. Because what says love more than locking your children in a haunted house with a couch full of creepy dolls?
The story begins with a brief glimpse of Ipo in Hong Kong back in 1956, before jumping forward to the present day in New York where Milly and Billy live. Each chapter in the book opens with a flashback spanning 1956-1993 that trace Ipo and Keon’s relationship and then switches to Milly and Billy’s story in the second portion of the chapter. The glimpses into Ipo and Keon’s past helps provide context for the interesting parenting styles they’ve chosen.
The Night Eaters is a great choice for anyone who enjoys a mix of horror, mystery, and dark humor. Part mystery, part horror, and part family drama, Takada’s illustrations bring Liu’s bold and atmospheric story to life. Anyone who enjoys tales of eldritch horror is sure to find something to like in this trilogy. The final volume of which will be published in October 2024.
A good choice for folks who enjoyed Locke & Key by Joe Hill, Hungry Ghosts by Anthony Bourdain, Bitter Root by David Walker, or Through the Woods by Emily Carroll.
Looking for more horror stories? Check out The Keeper by Tananarive Drive, A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher, The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw, The Nice House on the Lake by James Tynion, or Carmilla: The First Vampire by Amy Chu.
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