The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story by Thao Lam
4 stars
This was a quick illustrated reading experience. There is no dialogue, but I loved the author's comparison of refugees to ants. I thought it was a beautiful and harrowing comparison and expertly crafted. I saw that a few people didn't catch on to that until the author's note, but I immediately put two and two when I saw the ants in the paper boat traveling. I thought this was a brilliant idea. However, I'm not sure it translates for a children, which is the targeted audience because the comparison is more adult. I think if you are willing to have in depth discussions about the connections then a kid could get something from this. Thinking back, if you handed this to me as a young reader I wouldn't have cared about or reread it. There has to something intentional with the book and conversations for this one to work and be effective.
Art Scale: 4Plotastic Scale: 4
Cover Thoughts: I really like the cover, but it doesn't stand out.
Thank you, Netgalley and Owlkids Books, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
First book in the Between Earth and Sky series
5 stars
Black Sun centers around four characters (three who are central for the first 100 and one who pops in and becomes a key player) who are all connected to a central historical event that has been prophesied and long waited for in Tova. Serapio has been mutilated as is fashion for the Carrion Crow people by his mother, but her blinding him has led him into the journey of being marked as the vessel for the Crow God to return. Serapio will be his vessel. Xiala is a Teek (think like a siren) who is a pirate and is transporting a mysterious figure (Serapio) to Tova in time for the solstice. Naranpa is a Sun Priest and is unlikely candidate in the Priesthood for her station. She has to protect her life at all costs now that it looks like someone wants her out of the way. Okoa, is the prince of Carrion Crow and he becomes a integral part of the story about a 100 pages in. I loved this book. I loved the world building and I adored the characters with every fiber of being. Serapio was my absolute favorite and his journey throughout this book leaves me weeping and wanting a different ending for him because he deserves so much more than what the prophecy forces him to become. The writing in this book was exquisite and absolutely enthralling. I loved the narrative of the four characters and the interweaving of these storylines. Roanhorse does an amazing job at setting up a high fantasy story set against the backdrop of cultures similar to the Aztecs and Incas. Which was so much fun to read and see a fantasy world that is different from the usual Eruo-centric lens of fantasy. It was fun, but it also leads to great discussions on a number of topics that often can't be explored outside of the typical white lens that fantasy has been stuck into until probably the last ten years. Roanhorse is an innovative writer who loves her world and wants to tell this story well. I knew that I would love this book and it was one of my most anticipated books in the last half of 2020, but I didn't know I would love it this much because I've been on a bit of a fantasy hiatus. This book reminded me how much I love fantasy and how much fun it is for me. This book is gruesome, bloody, tension filled, full of political intrigue, and magic it checks off so many boxes. It was also really cool to read about several LGBTQ characters who existed in this world. While some faced persecution- Xiala, for her bisexuality in a place where it is banned and thrown in prison- others in the priesthood seem quite open and accepting of people who identified on the queer spectrum. There was also great discussions on colonialism and erasure of religion. I am so impressed with this book (and I knew I would be, but I gotta GUSH ABOUT IT).
Whimsical Writing Scale: 5
SERAPIO!!!!!!!!!!! Serapio is my man and the best thing about this book. He is scary, tortured, but he is also so sweet and has the kindest spirit. When he exacts revenge on a group of people more than once in this book I WAS SCREAMING AND FLAILING. Yes, Serapio, show them your power. You are not be messed with. I loved Xiala's character as a Teek pirate. The Teek are similar to sirens, but she can live on land and it was so much fun to be on her pirate ship. Female pirates commander ships in such a fun way and I haven't read a good pirate book in so long, but this was a blast. Naranpa was kind of like ASMR- some people are obsessed and need it to fall asleep and some people cringe at- I am not sure where I fall on the spectrum with her because sometimes I like her and other times I question her choices. She's just so prideful that I'm like, "GIRL, open your eyes and see the people around you are betraying you. You can't be that dumb." She is that dumb though, but I was still rooting for her to survive. Okoa randomly comes in after a huge plot development, but I was totally here for it. Once Okoa establishes himself as part of this narrative and bigger story, I was a huge fan of him and I want him to be more fleshed out. Since he played such a huge role at the end, I have hopes for the sequel and his development.
Character Scale: 5
The Villain- There isn't really a set in stone villain in this book. There are circumstances and a society of people who should probably not be allowed to be in so much power, but they aren't all horrible people. This book is morally gray and I love it. Some may see Serapio as the villain, but that's my man and he is fulfilling the prophecy and doing what he has to for the Crow God to ascend. Will he be a villain in the upcoming books? Probably so, but he isn't in this book and I will build a strong case for him.
Villain Scale: 5
This book is everything I could want in a fantasy novel. The characters are amazing. I wasn't bored at any point in time in any of the narratives (WHAT A WIN!) and the writing fleshed out many worlds and cultures that I was able to follow and understand the operations of. This book is a national treasure and everyone should read it in 2021 if you didn't in 2020. Thanks for coming to my Black Sun gush party. Go read and then come gush with me because this book was perfect for me.
Plotastic Scale: 5
Cover Thoughts: I LOVE THIS COVER. It is ten times more amazing in person. Breathtaking. STUNNING. I can only imagine what the next cover will look like.
Thank you, Netgalley and Saga Press, for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I read the finished copy that I purchased because I needed to hold this beauty.
The Last Halloween: Children by Abby Howard
5 stars
The monster apocalypse has arrived and on Halloween no less. Ten-year-old, Mona, finds herself the new savior of the end of the world with her random band of monsters (a ghoul, a vampire, and a voodoo doll). In this world, each human has a monster that is trapped in the shadows, but when the guy who keeps them in check dies the monsters come out of hiding and if they eat their human, they are granted immortality. This graphic novel is pretty dark and I don't know why they are marketing it to kids because this is definitely not for most kids. I can see teens digging this, but some of the storyline is pretty advanced and for higher level thinking and I don't think a lot of kids will appreciate it. However, I LOVED this story. It's heartwarming, full of giggles, and absolutely gory scenes. There was even a callback to Courage the Cowardly Dog, which is my all-time favorite cartoon and thinking about that show in connection to this mythos actually makes sense and makes me happy. I loved the art and the characters were all a delight. Mona was adorable and spunky while being realistic that she definitely cannot save the world. Her monster friends were a joy and I loved her parent- they were awesome and that little romance with the vampire dad was something I was starting to ship because I needed some light giggles amidst all the blood and gore. I recommend this to any horror fan or graphic novel fan. I think even though the main character is 10, this is a story that will resonate with readers from all ages. I LOVED IT. The Last Halloween was a delight even though some of the images were not.
Art Scale: 5
Whimsical Writing Scale: 5
Character Scale: 5
Plotastic Scale: 5
Cover Thoughts: I love that monster. It protects Mona so well *tears*. This cover honestly doesn't draw me into the story, but it captures the essence of what you can expect going on.
Thank you, Netgalley and Iron Circus Comics, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU RELEASE VOLUME 2. PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
Moriarty the Patriot Volume 1 by Ryōsuke Takeuchi and Hikaru Miyoshi (Inspo from Arthur Conan Doyle with Sherlock and Moriarty)
2.5 stars
Moriarty finds himself trapped into a family that treats him and his brother horribly. They hate the wealthy and want to tear down the caste system in Britain. They will do anything to do so. Murder, revenge, and plots of intrigue commence. This should have been a wild romp that I loved, but it was pretty boring. I hated my time reading it and if it wasn't for the very beginning concept with the first moment Moriarty takes revenge on the rich I would have DNFed it. I didn't and I kind of wish that I had because this manga didn't do anything for me. I didn't hate it and the concept was interesting, but the storyline did not invest me or keep me interested in the characters. I will not be continuing on with this series. I recommend this for hardcore Sherlock fans or people who love "eat the rich" concepts. Take a bite!
Whimsical Writing Scale: 2
Character Scale: 3
Art Scale: 3
Plotastic Scale: 2.5
Cover Thoughts: Feels like a trigger warning instead of tongue in cheek.
Thank you, Netgalley and Viz Media, for providing me with a copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review.
Mermaid Saga Collector's Edition Volume 1 by Rumiko Takahashi
5 stars
Before I even tell you what this book is about, I ordered my own copy and per-ordered volume 2. The second that bad boy comes I am rereading this national treasure that is being released in these stunning editions by VIZ because volume 1 was PERFECT. Literally, these storylines were perfect. These chapters were beautiful, heart-wrenching, filled with longing and disappointment. They evoked the essence of humanity while showing the horrors immortality and it was a journey of beauty that I want to revisit again. This edition follows nine chapters and some are connected while others are not of a man named Yuta who is 500-years-old and ate the flesh of a mermaid. Eating the flesh of a mermaid will keep you alive forever and he has been trying to change his fate, but is unsuccessful. He happens upon a girl named Mana who has to rescue from a village of old women who aren't keeping Mana around for anything other than something sinister. I did not realize that this was by the same woman who wrote Inuyasha until after I read the second chapter and this is apparently her foray into horror. Y'all, she does horror fantasy SO WELL. The last storyline in this collection- Mermaid's Promise- is the most beautiful story I've read in a manga ever. That story HIT. I will be crying about Nae forever because that story was filled with longing and despair and SO MUCH HURT. It was beautiful and so well done. This manga is a new favorite. I haven't fell in love with a manga series like this since I was obsessed with manga when I was twelve. This series is doing something to me. It is hitting me in all the right ways and just absolutely tearing me up. I finished this manga a sobbing mess and immediately ordered my own physical copy, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL. I can't wait for volume 2 to get here because I am ready to binge read the series.
Whimscial Writing Scale: 5 (I'm deceased- this is storytelling)
Character Scale: 5
Villain Scale: 5 we love a rotating line up over centuries
Plotastic Scale: 5
Cover Thoughts: GORGEOUS. Wonderful and the reason I requested this book before I saw it was a horror manga. Not disappointed.
Thank you, Netgalley and Viz Media, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
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