Path of Deceit by Tessa GrattonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Monday, December 19, 2022
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Monday, October 24, 2022
Review: The City Beneath the Hidden Stars
The City Beneath the Hidden Stars by Sonya KudeiMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
**le sigh**
I really wanted to like this book. I honestly did. It had so much potential: it takes place in the Croatian city of Zagreb; there’s a Black Queen who may or may not be lost to legend; magical trams; witches, myths, and legends; celestial beings and multi dimensions. At the end of the day, tho, it just becomes too much and the front of the book is bogged down in introducing the reader to all of these aspects of the story. The whimsical nature of the storytelling also felt forced. By the time to plot finally started moving at the end of the book, I found I just wasn’t that engaged with the story anymore. Personally, I feel the book would have benefited from some tighter editing, but that’s just me. I have no doubt that this book will do well, I’ve just read better books that elevate an already magical city into something greater (Gaiman’s Neverwhere did this perfectly for London, and Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone series did this for Prague).
Thanks to NetGalley and BHC Press for an advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Thursday, September 8, 2022
Thursday, August 25, 2022
The Unbalancing by R. B. Lemberg
The Unbalancing: A Birdverse Novel
by R. B. LembergPublished by Tachyon Publications • September 20, 2022
ISBN 978-1616963804 • Paperback • 256 Pages
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Book description:
In this first full-length novel from the acclaimed Birdverse, new love blossoms between an impatient starkeeper and a reclusive poet as they try together to save their island home. Nebula, Locus, and Ignyte finalist R. B. Lemberg (The Four Profound Weaves) has crafted a gorgeous tale of the inevitable transformations of communities and their worlds. The Unbalancing is rooted in the mystical cosmology, neurodiversity, and queerness that infuses Lemberg’s lyrical prose, which has invited glowing comparisons to N. K. Jemisin, Patricia A. McKillip, and Ursula K. Le Guin.
“An enchanting world of star lore, magic and gender identity with a roster of heartfelt characters.” ―Tlotlo Tsamaase, The Silence of the Wilting Skin
Beneath the waters by the islands of Gelle-Geu, a star sleeps restlessly. The celebrated new starkeeper Ranra Kekeri, who is preoccupied by the increasing tremors, confronts the problems left behind by her predecessor.
Meanwhile, the poet ErÃgra Lilún, who merely wants to be left alone, is repeatedly asked by their ancestor Semberà to take over the starkeeping helm. Semberà insists upon telling Lilún mysterious tales of the deliverance of the stars by the goddess Bird.
When Ranra and Lilún meet, sparks begin to fly. An unforeseen configuration of their magical deepnames illuminates the trouble under the tides. For Ranra and Lilún, their story is just beginning; for the people of Gelle-Geu, it may well be too late to save their home.
About the Birdverse: The Birdverse is the creation of fantasy author R. B. Lemberg. It is a complex, culturally diverse world, with a range of LGBTQIA characters and different family configurations. Named after its deity, Bird, Birdverse shorter works have been nominated for the Nebula, Hugo, Tiptree award, and Rhysling awards. The Four Profound Weaves is the first full-length work set in the Birdverse.
One of the many reasons I find R. B. Lemberg’s writing so captivating is that they don’t weigh the reader down in details, be it their stark, to-the-point writing style, or their lack of handholding in explaining how the magic of Birdverse works. Rooted in deepname magic, the mythology of the people of this world and their deity Bird remain mostly unexplained, but Lemberg tells their stories in such a way that you feel you understand the complexities regardless.
The Birdverse is a world where queerness is the only way of life, and neurodivergency is understood and accepted. Frankly, it’s beautiful. When we are faced daily with hatred and anger, with politicians trying so hard to strip us of our rights, it’s so unbelievably refreshing to find characters and a world like this, where what makes us special and unique is celebrated instead of vilified.
With The Unbalancing, Lemberg tells a story of love, struggle, and sacrifice, but ultimately also of community, about how we are at our strongest when we can put our differences aside and work together. If you’re looking for a happily ever after, you won’t find it here. What you will find is a story of hope, even when things seem to be at their darkest. I won’t lie, I struggled through the beginning of the book; why, I’m not sure, but I didn’t find it as immediately engaging as The Four Profound Weaves, Lemberg’s previous Birdverse novella. However, I’m so glad I stuck with it, as the finale of the story, while heart wrenching, did leave me with that feeling of hope.
Can we also take a moment to appreciate the cover design and interior layout work of Elizabeth Story, because it is fantastic. I was blown away by the cover design for The Four Profound Weaves when I first saw it, and I'm so pleased to see that creativity being carried forward with The Unbalancing. I hope Story does the design work like this on all future Birdverse books!
Someday, I’d like to read more of the Birdverse. Originally told in short stories and poems published in various magazines online (The Four Profound Weaves was the first novella length story, and this is the first novel), I’d love for a collection to be published collecting all the previous works (I’m looking at you Tachyon Publications!). It is a rich and vibrant world that I hope to read more of far into the future.
The Unbalancing will be available September 20, 2022. I’d like to thank Tachyon Publications for the digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Saturday, July 2, 2022
The Bone Orchard Mythos: The Passageway by Jeff Lemire, illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino
The Passageway by Jeff LemireMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
THE BONE ORCHARD MYTHOS: THE PASSAGEWAY is the start of @jefflemire and @andreasorrentinoart’s new shared horror universe being published through @imagecomics. Technically, this is the second release following a FCBD 2022 issue, titled PRELUDE: SHADOW EATER, but this is the first major release in the series.
John Reed, a geologist, is called to a remote island to investigate a mysterious, seemingly endless hole that has developed there. Once there he meets Sal, the caretaker of the lighthouse on the island. It’s pretty clear early on that something is not quite right with Sal, who has lived alone on the island for twenty-five years. John’s first night on the island is haunted by nightmares of his past, and the next day takes a turn for the worst when Sal’s true nature comes to light.
Much like PRELUDE: SHADOW EATER, the reader is not given much to go on with the story, having to fill in pieces of the story ourselves, which works to a degree. Everything happens so fast here, we aren’t given time to develop a connection to any of the characters, so it’s hard to feel concern for John, or really question what’s going on with Sal. I think if this OGN had been a little longer and we were given time to connect with these characters, the story would have resonated better.
Sorrentino’s art carries most of the story here, and is appropriately creepy AF. You really get a sense of the remote feeling being on this island would give you, and the horror imagery is really well done.
Overall, a good start to this concept. THE BONE ORCHARD MYTHOS will be continued later this year with a 5-issue miniseries called TEN THOUSAND BLACK FEATHERS, followed by another OGN, TENEMENT, in early 2023.
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Tuesday, June 28, 2022
The Dog and the Sailor by Pete Jordi Wood
The Dog and the Sailor by Pete Jordi WoodMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Happy #pridemonth, y’all! I’ve got a treat for you! Pete Jordi Wood, who was studying folklore for a Masters degree in Illustration, discovered a long lost fairy tale that had a queer protagonist at its center. It turns out that Stith Thompson, part of the duo that created the Aarne Thompson Uther Tale Type Index, made a point of deleting any fairy tales that had positive queer characters, as he felt that queer people were a “perversion”, akin to bestiality and incest. Basically, one guy was unfortunately able to erase who knows how many queer fairy tales because of his bigotry.
So, when Wood discovered this long lost tale, about a young sailor who is able to able to resist the evil Sea Witch’s beauty, and therefore her magic, and save the kingdom, he jumped at the chance to translate and illustrate this fairy tale for a new generation to discover. It’s charming, the illustrations are fantastic, and it really is a true gem of a story.
#queerbookstagram #queer #lgbtqia #alphabetmafia #books #bookstagram #book #booklover #reading #bookworm #bookstagrammer #bookish #read #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #instabook #readingtime #bookaholic #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #booklove #instabooks #fairytale #queerbooks #frommybookshelfblog #frommybookshelf #happyreading
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Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Taxes and TARDIS by N.R. Walker
Taxes and TARDIS by N.R. WalkerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Happy #pridemonth, y’all! Next up on my #pride readathon is TAXES AND TARDIS by N. R. Walker. Brent, a laidback jock of an electrician, finds in his new accountant, Logan, an unlikely attraction. Logan is nothing like the other men Brent usually finds himself attracted to: he’s a slim, glasses-wearing, Doctor Who-loving geek. But there’s something about Logan that Brent can’t help but find irresistible, and as the two men get to know each other more, they find neither can help themselves or their list and love for the other.
🌶 💙💙🌶
#queerbookstagram #queer #lgbtqia #alphabetmafia #books #bookstagram #book #booklover #reading #bookstagrammer #read #booknerd #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #instabook #readingtime #bookaholic #bookshelf #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #booklove #instabooks #queerbooks #gay #romance #erotica #frommybookshelfblog #frommybookshelf
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Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Killer Queens by David M. Booher, illustrated by Claudia Balboni
Killer Queens by David M. BooherMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Happy #pridemonth, y’all! My next #queer read is KILLER ASSASSINS by @davidmbooher with art by @claudiabalboni, from @darkhorsecomics. Max and Alex, super queer reformed assassins, are just trying to make their way in the galaxy (and hide from their former, fluffy-monkey employer). When Alex’s old flame hands them what should be a simple rescue job, they jump at the chance for the money. You know these things are never that simple though. When the truth comes out about the nature of the job, Max and Alex need to decide between getting paid or helping take down a fascist, xenophobic dictatorship. What’s a queer to do?
It’s a fun, quick read full of one-liners and plenty of sass. The retro sci-fi pulp vibe is great. The entire creative team is #queer, too, which is a nice touch. I’d definitely pick up more volumes in the future, if they were to release any more.
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Saturday, June 4, 2022
Only on the Weekends by Dean Atta
Only on the Weekends by Dean AttaMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Happy #pridemonth, y’all! My next #queer read is ONLY ON THE WEEKENDS by @deanatta, from @balzerandbray & @epicreads. Told in verse, OOTW follows Mack, a hopeless romantic, as he navigates between the boyfriend he loves, K, who must be kept mostly secret because K is not out yet to his fellow basketball team, and his newfound romantic feelings for Finlay, the very out and trans actor in Mack’s father’s new movie. This is a charming coming of age story that deftly portrays the awkwardness and sometimes tumultuous emotions of young love. Woven through this is the idea of what it means to be masculine, something I think a lot of young queers can struggle with, but is an important conversation that needs to be discussed.
Like THE BLACK FLAMINGO, Atta is able to create a fully realized story using an almost minimalist approach by telling the story in verse, and like TBF, it works beautifully here. I’ll be honest, books told in verse don’t usually work for me, yet Atta’s storytelling keeps me engaged and I read this through in two sittings.
An excellent read if you’re looking for a coming of age queer love story this #pridemonth.
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Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro
Ordinary Monsters by J.M. MiroMy rating: 0 of 5 stars
Y’all, I’ve tried. I’ve tried so hard to get into this book, but I just can’t. It’s been a couple of months and I’m only ~200 pages in and it’s just not working for me. I *really* want to like this book, but I think the biggest problem is I feel like I’ve already read this story before. It reads so much like The Nevers on HBO, along with characters who feel like they were pulled from other stories. I know I’m in the minority on this one, and I’m not DNF-ing it quite yet, I’m just putting it aside for right now. I’ll revisit it later in the year and see if it works better for me then.
Thanks to Flatiron Books for providing the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Gender Queer by Maia KobabeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Happy #pridemonth, y’all! I’m starting off my month long queer reading celebration with Maia Kobabe’s GENDER QUEER, from @onipress. In this intimate graphic memoir, Kobabe illustrates eir struggles, both personally and societally, with coming to terms with being both nonbinary and asexual. Kobabe is very frank in eir depiction of what ey went through during eir journey, and I greatly appreciated this frankness. As someone who struggles with their own gender identity, I found this book both enlightening and cathartic. It helps to know that I’m not alone in these struggles.
Unfortunately, GENDER QUEER has come under fire from multiple conservative fronts recently, with some government officials in Virginia going so far as to not only trying to ban it from schools and libraries, but to make it illegal for bookstores to sell the book, and to make it illegal for residents to even own the book. Why? Because this book speaks openly and beautifully about the possibility of being different from the “norm” and showing that the gender binary is an absurd notion. It’s frightening to me to see this level of hatred for those of us who are different, which makes it even more important for us to raise up books like this and pioneers like Maia Kobabe, so that our younger generations of queers know that they are not alone and that they have a place in this world.
Absolutely recommended.
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Thursday, May 26, 2022
Star Wars: The High Republic: The Edge of Balance, Vol 2 by Shima Shinya & Daniel José Older, illustrated by Mizuki Sakakibara
Star Wars: The High Republic - The Edge of Balance, Vol. 2 by Shima ShinyaMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC: THE EDGE OF BALANCE, VOL 2 by Shima Shinya and Daniel José Older and illustrated by Mizuki Sakakibara, is, I believe, the last official release in the first phase of High Republic books. Picking up shortly after the events of volume 1, Jedi Knight Lily and her Padawan, Keerin, are doing their best to fortify the farms and temple on Banchii following the Dengir and Nihil attacks. When it becomes clear the Nihil still have a presence on Banchii and have disabled communication there, Lily travels to Starlight to inform the Jedi there of what is happening on Banchii, and to seek the council of her former master, Arkoff. As the events of FALLEN STAR are taking place in the background of this story, Lily finds herself forging a new path to protect the people of Banchii.
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Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Beers & Queer History by Eric Cervini
Beers & Queer History by Eric CerviniMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Happy #pridemonth, y’all! My next #queer read is BEERS & QUEER HISTORY, a collaboration between @ericcervini and @millerlite. Cervini takes us on a tour of some of the more important gay and lesbian bars in the country, with short essays about each, accompanied by an illustration of the bar. Cervini also discusses the decline of the queer bar over the last couple of decades.
After reading this, it put me in mind of the local gay bars that we had here in Lansing and the sense of home and community they offered. I miss those days, hanging out, dancing, the drag shows, the mingling, and I’m happy that I’ve kept in touch with so many of those friends over the years.
A very quick read (the book is only 27 pages, illustrations included), it’s still a fun journey through a part of queer history that may never be the same again.
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Saturday, May 21, 2022
Trying by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Elise Hurst
Trying
by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Elise HurstPublished by Compendium • December 15, 2020
ISBN 978-1970147285 • Hardcover • 48 Pages
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Book description:
How will you know what's possible if you don't try?
This is a story for anyone who has ever felt like a beginner, or had doubts, or worried they weren't good enough. It's a story for those who have experienced the pain of trying something new and not having it turn out as they had hoped.
Written by New York Times best-selling author Kobi Yamada, this captivating book celebrates the way failure is the just the beginning of the journey. With alluring black-and-white illustrations and a powerful message, this beautiful tale is about how failure has so much to offer--lessons that help us learn, grow, and discover all the amazing things we can do.
Trying, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Elise Hurst, is a beautifully told and gorgeously illustrated story celebrating the power of failure. A young sculptor is frustrated by their apparent lack of talent as they look on to an experienced sculptor’s work and almost gives up on their dream. The experienced sculptor convinced them to keep trying, that each perceived failure is actually taking them one step closer to achieving their dream, as they learn something new from each failure.
As someone who suffers terribly from imposter syndrome, this story spoke volumes to me. Just like the young sculptor in the story, I often want to give up on learning something if I’m not perfect at it from the beginning, whether or not I’ve ever tried it before. Needless to say, this is one of those “children’s” books that can teach adults something too.
Elise Hurst’s illustrations are *stunning* and I found myself pouring over each, taking in the detail. Cover to cover, this is a spectacular book for anyone to read who struggles with trying something new.
As someone who suffers terribly from imposter syndrome, this story spoke volumes to me. Just like the young sculptor in the story, I often want to give up on learning something if I’m not perfect at it from the beginning, whether or not I’ve ever tried it before. Needless to say, this is one of those “children’s” books that can teach adults something too.
Elise Hurst’s illustrations are *stunning* and I found myself pouring over each, taking in the detail. Cover to cover, this is a spectacular book for anyone to read who struggles with trying something new.
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Friday, May 20, 2022
Thursday, May 19, 2022
History Comics: The Stonewall Riots: Making a Stand for LGBTQ Rights by Archie Bongiovanni, illustrated by A. Andrews
History Comics: The Stonewall Riots: Making a Stand for LGBTQ Rights by Archie BongiovanniMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Natalia and her friends are transported back in time with her abuela to experience the Stonewall Riots first hand in this middle grade graphic novel from the History Comics series, published by First Second Books. The teens meet activists such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, and begin to understand that there all different sorts of ways to protest and stand up for your rights.
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Friday, May 13, 2022
Devil's Reign by Chip Zdarsky, illustrated by Marco Checcetto
Devil's Reign by Chip ZdarskyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Having not read any of Zdarsky’s work on Daredevil, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this. Even though it’s basically a Civil War redux, I still found it engaging. Zdarsky has a clear vision of these characters and Checcetto’s art is top notch throughout.
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Thursday, May 12, 2022
Molly on the Moon by Mary Robinette Kowel, illustrated by Diana Mayo
Molly on the Moon
by Mary Robinette Kowal, illustrated by Diana MayoPublished by Roaring Brook Press • April 12, 2022
ISBN 978-1250259615 • Hardcover • 40 Pages
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Book description:
Award-winning science fiction author Mary Robinette Kowal consulted with a NASA astronaut to craft her first picture book story, accurately describing how living on the moon differs from life on Earth. Beautifully illustrated by Diana Mayo, Molly on the Moon is the tale of two siblings adjusting to their new home.
When Molly and her family move to the moon, they can only pack the essentials―just one toy each for Molly and her baby brother, Luke.
Luckily, Molly has a big imagination. A packing crate becomes a fort, a tarp becomes a witch’s cape, and some cans become a tea set. Baby Luke, on the other hand . . . has blocks.
Molly doesn’t want to share. At first. But then she realizes that when you’re on the moon―or anywhere else―a big imagination and being with someone you love can be infinitely better than all the toys in the universe.
Inspiring and imaginative, Molly on the Moon also includes fascinating facts about the moon’s environment, revealing how the differences in gravity, temperature, and time would affect our lives.
Molly on the Moon, written by Mary Robinette Kowell and illustrated by Diana Mayo, from Roaring Brook Press, is a beautiful story about the power of creativity, sharing, sibling love, and science. This is Mary Robinette Kowal’s first children’s book and it’s just a brilliant as any of her other books. I had not experienced Diana Mayo’s art before, but it is charming and captures Mary Robinette’s story perfectly. I appreciated the afterword from MRK discussing some of the science behind living on the moon in terms that young readers will understand. Yay science!!
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Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Dark Stars: New Tales of Darkest Horror edited by John F.D. Taff
Dark Stars: New Tales of Darkest Horror
edited by John F.D. TaffPublished by Tor Nightfire • May 10, 2022
ISBN 978-1250817327 • Hardcover • 368 Pages
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Book description:
Dark Stars, edited by John F.D. Taff, is a tribute to horror's longstanding short fiction legacy, featuring 12 terrifying original stories from today's most noteworthy authors.
Within these pages you'll find tales of dead men walking, an insidious secret summer fling, an island harboring unspeakable power, and a dark hallway that beckons. You'll encounter terrible monsters--both human and supernatural--and be forever changed. The stories in Dark Stars run the gamut from traditional to modern, from dark fantasy to neo-noir, from explorations of beloved horror tropes to the unknown--possibly unknowable--threats.
It's all in here because it's all out there, now, in horror.
Dark Stars features all-new stories from the following award-winning authors and up-and-coming voices: Chesya Burke, Ramsey Campbell, Gemma Files, Stephen Graham Jones, Alma Katsu, Caroline Kepnes, John Langan, Livia Llewellyn, Josh Malerman, Usman T. Malik, Priya Sharma, and John F.D. Taff.
Created as an homage to the 1980 classic horror anthology Dark Forces, edited by Kirby McCauley, Dark Stars also features an introduction by Josh Malerman and an afterword from original contributor Ramsey Campbell--a poignant finale to this bone-chilling collection.
This delicious book of tasty horror morsels dropped this week from @tornightfire and it’s another fantastic addition to their growing library of releases. Josh Malerman says it best in his foreword, about how we are currently in the midst of a horror renaissance, and I couldn’t be happier. What I’m loving most about this new wave of horror is that so much of it reaches beyond the typical horror tropes and creatures, delving more into a psychological horror that plays with the reader's emotions and challenges what we have typically seen as horror. With an anthology like this, there are obviously some stories that resonated more strongly with me than others, but as a whole, this collection is a solid piece of creeptastic reading fun.
“The Attenionist” by Caroline Kepnes read more as a psychological piece than horror, but the impending sense of doom that pervades the story definitely left me feeling sufficiently creeped out.
In “A Life in Nightmares” by Ramsey Campbell, we witness the life of Maurice as it jumps from event to event through the lens of a fever dream made possibly real.
“Papa Eye” by Priya Sharma is not necessarily something I would consider as horror, but more of a folk tale about the burdens and joys of eternal life. I think.
“Volcano” by Alicia Llewelyn is a tale of cosmic horror that left me feeling a bit lost on where the story went, and while this is intentional, I always feel like I missed something obvious in these types of stories.
“All the Things He Called Memories” is classic Stephen Graham Jones and his genius in building an excellent tale, but this being my first COVID-related horror story, it may have hit a little too close to home.
“Trinity River Blues” by Chesya Burke is another story that I wouldn’t necessarily label as horror but more along the lines of urban fantasy about a woman who can see ghosts and is cursed by one. I think I would enjoy this one even more if it was fleshed out into a full length novel.
“The Familiar’s Assistant” by Alma Katsu - suicide by vampires. That is all.
“Swim in the Blood of a Curious Dream” by John FD Taff follows and creepy AF journey by a father and son after the mother’s death.
“The Sanguinstalist" by Gemma Files is another that doesn't necessarily feel like horror to me, but I would definitely be down for this to be adapted into a longer novel, or a series based in this world. Also, nothing is explained, which doesn't always work for me, but here it definitely does.
“Mrs. Addison’s Nest" by Josh Malerman reminded me of Stephen King in a way, as it deals with childhood friends facing their fears, which is something King does very well. Of course, Malerman handles this same idea perfectly, but in his own way, making something that feels familiar but is ultimately unique to him.
“Challawa" by Usman T. Mallik follows a Pakastani woman as she visits her small hometown with her husband, and things get... weird. Much like "Papa Eye", perhaps it's the folk horror that doesn't really resonate all that well with me.
“Enough for Hunger and Enough for Hate" by John Langan, where a woman confronts her brother's potential killer, is a great way to close out this collection. The suspense is great, and the tension that builds throughout is palpable.
Overall, a solid piece of reading. Tor Nightfire has continued to impress with with their releases so far, and with their first anthology, they did not disappoint!
A huge thanks to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for supplying a digital eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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Saturday, May 7, 2022
X-Men Legends, Vol 2 by Larry Hama, et al
X-Men Legends, Vol. 2 by Larry HamaMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
X-Men Legends, Vol 2, collecting X-Men Legends (2021) #7-12. Seeing some old-school writers and artists get to bring some ideas from their original runs to life is cool, but I feel like this series will really only be appreciated by those of us who have been reading for the last 40 years or so. Still, a fun collection. The definite highlight for me is seeing Walter Simonson back on the X-characters. He was always a favorite of mine back in the day.
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Thursday, May 5, 2022
The World of Yaxin: Day of the Unicorn by Man Arenas
The World of Yaxin: Day of the Unicorn by Man ArenasMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
@magneticpress is at it again, releasing another gorgeous volume! THE WORLD OF YAXIN: DAY OF THE UNICORN by @man_arenas is a beautiful dream of a book, both in story and art. On a magical island, a young fawn marvels at the birth of a unicorn and wonders at what their place will be in this magical land. Both lyrical and poetic, this book is a work of art and one of those books that seems to transcend the page into something marvelous. Highly recommended!
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Sunday, May 1, 2022
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
Knight Owl by Christopher DeniseMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
In this adorable picture book, young Owl, who dreams of someday becoming a knight, learns that with strength and confidence you can be brave in the scariest of circumstances, and maybe even find some friends along the way.
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Thursday, April 28, 2022
A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow
A Mirror Mended
by Alix E. HarrowPublished by Tor.com Publishing • June 14, 2022
ISBN 978-1250766649 • Hardcover • 144 Pages
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Book description:
A Mirror Mended is the next installment in USA Today bestselling author Alix E. Harrow's Fractured Fables series.
Zinnia Gray, professional fairy-tale fixer and lapsed Sleeping Beauty is over rescuing snoring princesses. Once you’ve rescued a dozen damsels and burned fifty spindles, once you’ve gotten drunk with twenty good fairies and made out with one too many members of the royal family, you start to wish some of these girls would just get a grip and try solving their own narrative issues.
Just when Zinnia’s beginning to think she can't handle one more princess, she glances into a mirror and sees another face looking back at her: the shockingly gorgeous face of evil, asking for her help. Because there’s more than one person trapped in a story they didn’t choose. Snow White's Evil Queen has found out how her story ends and she's desperate for a better ending. She wants Zinnia to help her before it’s too late for everyone.
Will Zinnia accept the Queen's poisonous request, and save them both from the hot iron shoes that wait for them, or will she try another path?
The follow-up to A Spindle Splintered, Alix E. Harrow's A Mirror Mended
finds that Zinnia Gray has possibly come to the end of her crusade to
save Sleeping Beauties from their preordained fates. However, that
doesn't mean her adventure has come to an end, as she is pulled into a
story not hers and comes face to face with the Evil Queen of Snow
White's story. As in A Spindle Splintered, though, we learn that
possibly the tale we thought we all knew about the Queen and Snow White
may not be the full story, and in this Fractured Fable, the villain may
not be as recognizable as we think.
Harrow's books are fantastic - she takes a story we're all familiar with and completely turns it on its beautiful, queer head and creates something still familiar, but oh so brilliantly fresh out it. I hope we'll be seeing more of her Fractured Fables throughout the years.
Harrow's books are fantastic - she takes a story we're all familiar with and completely turns it on its beautiful, queer head and creates something still familiar, but oh so brilliantly fresh out it. I hope we'll be seeing more of her Fractured Fables throughout the years.
A huge thanks to Tor.com Publishing and Goodreads for supplying a digital eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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Monday, April 25, 2022
Sunday, April 17, 2022
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: The Monster of Temple Peak by Cavan Scott, illustrated by Rachael Stott
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures—The Monster of Temple Peak #1 by Cavan ScottMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I actually read the entire thing, but because there isn't a collected edition in the works since IDW is losing their Star Wars license to Dark Horse, I'm just using the first issue as a place holder for my review for the time being (it's almost funny, that this was originally supposed to be an original graphic novel that was then split into a 4 issue limited series, now possibly not to be recollected into it's original, intended format). This was an OK story, like most of the IDW offerings. They've all just been OK.
This volume centers on Ty Yorrick, a former Padawan now mercenary and monster hunter for hire. She's been one of the characters that I've found most interesting, as I'm always intrigued by the characters who are disillusioned with the Jedi and the Force. I'm glad that we were able to get a little more of her backstory here (we get to see some of her time as a Padawan, and a definitive event in what made her leave the order), and I'm hoping that we'll be able to see more of her in the future. The rest of the story here is fairly straight forward - Yorrick is hired to hunt down a mysterious monster that is terrorizing a settlement, but of course, nothing is as it seems, and the Monster of Temple Peak may not be who they think it is. I thoroughly enjoyed Rachael Stott's art in the series; I'd definitely like to see more of her work on Star Wars series in the future.
Unless you are a completist like me with Star Wars, you won't be missing anything from the main, overall story arc of the High Republic, but this was still a fun little side adventure.
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Sunday, April 3, 2022
Friday, April 1, 2022
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. SchwabMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A GATHERING OF SHADOWS, the second book in @veschwab’s Shades of Magic series, picks up four months after the events of ADSOM. Delilah Bard has disappeared, Rhy is becoming accustomed to his new attachment to Kell, and Kell is trying hard to carry on a normal life after being barred from traveling between Londons. With the approach of the Element Games, where the best magicians from the neighboring lands come to compete, Rhy convinces Kell to secretly enter the games under an alias, just to break his monotony. When Delilah makes a surprise return, Kell must start to deal with his feelings for her, while still trying to come to terms with the repercussions of his actions that led to the closing off of the other Londons.
And didn’t Holland die…?
While this volume does suffer slightly from the “middle book of a trilogy syndrome” - existing for the sole purpose of making sure all the characters are where they need to be for the final book - it’s still a damn fine story. Schwab continues to develop her characters, sometimes in unexpected ways, and the result is superb.
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Sunday, March 27, 2022
Radiant Black Vol 2: Team-Up by Kyle Higgins, et al
Radiant Black Vol. 2: Team-Up by Kyle HigginsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
RADIANT BLACK continues to be excellent. This second volume delves a little into some mind bending backstory of what the Radiants are, and we get some history on Pink and how she came into possession of her Radiant. The writing is solid and the art is quite impressive - especially with the inter dimensional/intergalactic aspects. This will be a series I’ll be continuing to look forward to. Collecting issues #7-12 of the series from @imagecomics
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Saturday, March 26, 2022
Friday, March 25, 2022
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. SchwabMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC by @veschwab is easily one of my favorite books/series from the last several years. The idea of multiple Londons; magic users who can travel between these Londons, as well as use different forms or elemental magic; sassy, gender-bending thieves; many sided coats!; and some of the best character development and world building you’ll find in a book, all create fully engaged reading experience you won’t soon forget.
Kell, one of the last Antari - a magic user able to traverse between the parallel Gray, Red, and White Londons - and a member of the Maresh Empire royal house of Red London, normally just delivers correspondence between the rulers of the Londons. However, he has a penchant for smuggling goods between the Londons, something that has been forbidden since the fall of the fourth London, Black London.
Delilah Bard, a rough and tumble thief from Gray London (the London with no magic) who longs to be a pirate, finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up saving Kell’s life when one of Kell’s smuggling ventures goes wrong. The item that Kell is tricked into smuggling gives the sadistic rulers of White London the opportunity to conquer Red London, and it’s up to Delilah and Kell to turn the tide and defeat the Dane twins and take back Red London.
This book cemented VE Schwab as one of my favorite go-to authors. The story is original, the characters are compelling, the world building is thorough, and you will be left definitely wanting more of these characters and their world.
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Thursday, March 24, 2022
Star Wars: The High Republic: Midnight Horizon by Daneil José Older
Star Wars: The High Republic: Midnight Horizon
by Daniel José OlderPublished by Del Rey • February 1, 2022
ISBN 978-1368060677 • Hardcover • 496 Pages
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Book description:
Centuries before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, in the era of the glorious High Republic, the Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy!
After a series of staggering losses, the Republic seems to finally have the villainous Nihil marauders on the run, and it looks like there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Until word comes of a suspected Nihil attack on the industrial cosmopolitan world of Corellia, right in the Galactic Core.
Sent to investigate are Jedi Masters Cohmac Vitus and Kantam Sy, along with Padawans Reath Silas and Ram Jomaram, all fighting their own private battles after months of unrelenting danger. On Corellia, Reath and Ram encounter a brazen young security specialist named Crash, whose friend was one of the victims of the Nihil attack, and they team up with her to infiltrate Corellia’s elite while the Masters pursue more diplomatic avenues. But going undercover with Crash is more dangerous than anyone expected, even as Ram pulls in his friend Zeen to help with an elaborate ruse involving a galactic pop star.
But what they uncover on Corellia turns out to be just one part of a greater plan, one that could lead the Jedi to their most stunning defeat yet....
Still not a fan of Daniel José Older's take on Star Wars. Midnight Horizon is full of plots that don't really seem to have much to do with
the overreaching arc of the other High Republic books. There is an
abundance of characters that are carryovers from his High Republic
Adventures comic from IDW, so I feel if you haven't read that series,
you're going to be confused about who these new characters are (I was -
I've only read the first 6 or so issues, so didn't know who some of the
characters even were in this book, which has not been an issue with the
other High Republic books). While the book is YA, Older writes these
characters in a far more juvenile fashion than they've been written by
the other High Republic authors who have written the YA books. The
shoehorned mention of the Halcyon seems so unnecessry (not necessarily Older's doing, but
more Disney making sure the new hotel is name-dropped yet again in canon
here).
The first 2/3 of the book is some convoluted story dealing with the Nihil possibly getting a foothold on Corelia, with Padawans Ram Jomaram & Reath Silas getting wrapped up with a security detail on Corelia, and something to do with Zeen portraying a pop star at a party to try to flush out the potential Corelian traitor? It all got overly complicated and none of it seemed to make much sense to me, quite frankly. It wasn't until the other Jedi showed up and the Nihil make their actual appearance that things begin to happen in the book and against the backdrop of what is happening at Starlight Beacon at the end of Fallen Star, events in the book finally begin to feel that they are going to have consequences to the main story line.
I hate to say it, but I feel like the biggest fan of Daniel José Older's writing is Older himself. He doesn't write other creator's characters well, and he overemphasizes his own characters. This is one of the few High Republic books that I feel could be skipped, and readers wouldn't necessarily feel like they've missed something in the grand scope of the story.
The first 2/3 of the book is some convoluted story dealing with the Nihil possibly getting a foothold on Corelia, with Padawans Ram Jomaram & Reath Silas getting wrapped up with a security detail on Corelia, and something to do with Zeen portraying a pop star at a party to try to flush out the potential Corelian traitor? It all got overly complicated and none of it seemed to make much sense to me, quite frankly. It wasn't until the other Jedi showed up and the Nihil make their actual appearance that things begin to happen in the book and against the backdrop of what is happening at Starlight Beacon at the end of Fallen Star, events in the book finally begin to feel that they are going to have consequences to the main story line.
I hate to say it, but I feel like the biggest fan of Daniel José Older's writing is Older himself. He doesn't write other creator's characters well, and he overemphasizes his own characters. This is one of the few High Republic books that I feel could be skipped, and readers wouldn't necessarily feel like they've missed something in the grand scope of the story.
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