★★★★★ 4
The Tale of Salem
Format: Paperback
If you’re not familiar with the history of Salem and its witch trials, this graphic novel is a solid entry point. The author, while not a historian, clearly put in the work—spending time in Salem, connecting with residents, and striving to honor both the historical record and the modern-day sentiments of those who live with that legacy. His goal was to get the facts right while also capturing how the people of Salem view their own history, and I think he succeeded in that respect.
The artwork fits the subject matter well. We often imagine people of that time as living hard, joyless lives, and the art conveys that sense of austerity. The mix of black-and-white and color panels is sometimes striking—there are moments where the color really enhances the impact of a scene—but other times I wasn’t sure what it added. Still, the black-and-white aesthetic ties neatly into the grim tone of the era.
That said, the book is quite long, and if you’re already well-versed in the Salem Witch Trials, you may not learn much new in terms of facts. But if you enjoy studying the trials or want to explore the story through a different medium, this graphic novel is definitely worth picking up.
For me, it landed at a 3.5 stars, which I’ll round up to 4 (since I usually do that when posting on review sites).
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Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2025
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