Les Normaux

November 18, 2024
Janssen debuts with a gentle queer romantasy that literalizes the magic of a Parisian romance. The world of the story exists simultaneously in both mundane and magical versions. Sebastién, a 20-something from the banal reality, has just hopped to the supernatural version of Paris to study spellcasting. His parents don’t approve of his talent for magic or his sexuality, but he and his pet bunny move in with a supportive aunt and uncle. Sebastién barely has time to unpack before he meets Elia, a blue bisexual vampire and the scion of a wealthy fashion house. Sparks fly, and as the two dance around the possibility of dating, their diverse crew of friends cheer them on and pursue a series of sweet, steamy relationships of their own. As with many webtoon-to-print series, the art is initially unpolished, with stiffly posed figures. But it improves as the story progresses, and the imaginative settings add a welcome sense of place. This Paris is multicultural and multispecies, peppered with amusing details like Monster Match, a dating app for supernatural beings. With nothing keeping the leads apart except their own mild hang-ups, the story pads along at a casual pace. Still, fans of cozy fantasy will be happy to follow these amiable characters on the winding path to love. Agent: Christabel McKinley, David Higham Associates Limited (for Janssen)