Early Reader Review: Brume, Volume 1 by Jérôme Pélissier

Source: From the Publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Brume: The Dragon Awakens by Jérôme Pélissier
Series: Brume, Volume 1
Publisher: Astra Publishing House | Hippo Park
Publication Date:  September 30, 2025

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Brume, a feisty wannabe witch, is on a quest to learn magic in the first volume of this enchanting graphic novel series for kids ages 7–11—perfect for fans of the Hicotea, Hilda, and Sorceline series.

Brume is a tiny but mighty heroine with plenty to prove to the people of her small village. With her newly discovered spellbook and two sidekicks in tow, she'll try her hand at spells, mess up sometimes, and discover magical adventures along the way.

The great witch Naïa has always protected the village—but where has Naïa gone? Enter Brume, a plucky and spirited witch-to-be, who dreams of being able to cast spells. When Brume's father hands her a secret spellbook, she tries out her wand and cauldron--and manages only to cover the whole village in fog! But is the fog a result of Brume's first spell, or is it smoke from a fire breathing dragon who has awakened?

Accompanied by her pig, Hubert, and her best friend, Hugo, Brume sets off to find out what happened—and to save the village one step at a time. Here is a funny, charming, and accessible graphic novel—the first in a series—that is just as heart-warming as it is hilarious.

Review: 

Brume is a young girl obsessed with Naïa a witch known for her greatness from the past. So, she is determined to be a witch as well, even though she is often told that witches don't exist anymore. 

Brume is brave, determined and very stubborn - so she accidently puts a fog over the town in an attempt to be a witch. Now she has to slay a dragon for the items needed to create the solution. 

Our little witch is hilarious. She is so sure of herself in the best way that you are rooting for her even after things get messy and on her adventure to possibly slay a dragon she is still so excited and chill about the situation. The plot is cute and funny as it is mostly Brume making mistakes and her friends -- Hugo and a pig cleaning up after her. 

The artwork was great, cozy and charming with a lovely sense of Autumn and spooky-season vibes. I think that middle grade readers will enjoy it, it is pretty short and I appreciate the show versus dialogue telling that some graphic novels have fallen into. 

Overall, a cute read for this Halloween season... or year round.