This short issue largely focuses on a parallel timeline in which Susan, Daisy, and Esther did not befriend each other on theActual rating 3.5/5 stars.
This short issue largely focuses on a parallel timeline in which Susan, Daisy, and Esther did not befriend each other on their first days at university and, instead, belonged to different and more troublesome friendship groups, or none at all. This was a fun and short read, even if the conclusion to the girls' issues was a little predictable.
Once the main focus was over, the final few pages featured a short tale during Esther's Christmas at home with her family and seemed a random addition to what had previously featured. I liked this short anecdote rather less than the story delivered before it.
Merged review:
Actual rating 3.5/5 stars.
This short issue largely focuses on a parallel timeline in which Susan, Daisy, and Esther did not befriend each other on their first days at university and, instead, belonged to different and more troublesome friendship groups, or none at all. This was a fun and short read, even if the conclusion to the girls' issues was a little predictable.
Once the main focus was over, the final few pages featured a short tale during Esther's Christmas at home with her family and seemed a random addition to what had previously featured. I liked this short anecdote rather less than the story delivered before it....more
This yearbook gave information of interest to those both new to the Heartstopper world as well as those already fans of it and who have consumed all oThis yearbook gave information of interest to those both new to the Heartstopper world as well as those already fans of it and who have consumed all of its content.
This covered topics such as the genesis of Heartstopper, talks about the kickstarter that started it all, BTS information about creating the TV adaptation, individual character profile sheets, a discussion on why recognising yourself in the media is so important and why representation matters, a quiz to find out if you are more like Nick or Charlie (I'm Charlie!), how the characters interact, dress, and what they get up to throughout the seasons, and so much more! There was also the inclusion of three mini-comics, titled 'teachers', 'moments', and 'girlfriends' that did not contain spoilers for those new to the series.
My favourite aspect of this yearbook was the scrapbook style of it, with the inclusion of such fun segments as taped in polaroids of Nick and Charlie with captions scribbled on them, as though they had a hand in compiling this, and excerpts from their Instagram pages, featuring photos and captions pertaining to their relationship. Adorable!...more
This is the fifth instalment in the Heartstopper series.
This black and white graphic novel series has my entire heart. It centres around teen couple, This is the fifth instalment in the Heartstopper series.
This black and white graphic novel series has my entire heart. It centres around teen couple, Nick and Charlie, and the challenges they face, both personally and as a young, gay couple.
There were two central issues the pair were confronting in this volume, the latter of which did not conclude at its close and will, I presume, form the forefront of the focus for the FINAL INSTALMENT. I'm not so sure a happy ever after will be granted to us anymore and I am not well!...more
This short rhyming tale took all of three minutes to listen to. I borrowed the audio, read by the author herself, from my library but don't feel I couThis short rhyming tale took all of three minutes to listen to. I borrowed the audio, read by the author herself, from my library but don't feel I could get the full beauty of the story without the accompanying pictures. It was a very sweet little tale and think parents would enjoy reading it just as much as their children would love hearing it....more
The author states that this book's purpose was to get adults and children laughing together. I read this alone, so can't attest to how it would appealThe author states that this book's purpose was to get adults and children laughing together. I read this alone, so can't attest to how it would appeal to a younger audience, but I needed something quick, non-taxing, and to pull me out of my anxious mind, and it definitely achieved that.
The story inside was told in rhyming couplets and with a quirky humour. It followed the story of Jock the Crocodile as he navigated his young life with the very 'in' Scottish name his mother called him, much to his father's despair. It was a quick read but every one of the pages gave me a reason to smile and I thought this a charming story overall, which I will definitely return to.
The full page illustrations were just as adorable and I loved all of the natural and animal imagery. There was something of Quentin Blake, who illustrated the Roald Dahl books, in the style and so I felt nostalgic when viewing the contents and its easy yet fun format.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, S. M. Robert, the illustrator, Evgenia Malina, and the publisher, BooksGoSocial, for this opportunity....more
This was the most adorable and dually heart-breaking and heart-warming middle grade graphic novel and the most perfect way to start off a month of reaThis was the most adorable and dually heart-breaking and heart-warming middle grade graphic novel and the most perfect way to start off a month of reading.
Eleven-year-old Darcy isn't too happy to have moved away from her friends, her school, and her home but her woes pale when confronted with her mother's. Determined to save her mother any more worries, and to distract herself from her new and lonely existence, she takes on a part-time job at The Happy Shop. This is a place where jars line every wall and, for a small price, customers can take home the different happy feelings and memories that reside inside of them.
This had such a beautiful message for younger readers and I think most who are suffering with feelings of displacement will find some of their troubles alleviated here. I had much fun reading it and fell in love with the entire cast of characters the moment they were introduced. Both this, the whimsical storyline, and the magical focus were a joy to read about and I really hope we get more adventures, in the future. There is much scope for new creations with this author's inventions here.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and illustrator, Brittany Long Olsen, and the publisher, Oni Press, for this opportunity....more
This is probably one of the most adorable graphic novels I have ever had the pleasure of reading. If you want to silly smile and forget the world for This is probably one of the most adorable graphic novels I have ever had the pleasure of reading. If you want to silly smile and forget the world for a while then this is what you need.
This is part of the Tales of the Tiny Folk series and features two Tiny Folk at the heart of it. One is optimistic and brave, the other pessimistic and full of worries. The two work together to handle the burdens life places in their way, such as humans working on their garden home and the struggles to rehome during this time.
I loved the focus on emotion that featured here and how these two individuals with their varied outlooks to life weren't devalued or ridiculed for them. Each emotion was given a place and those not conducive to success or happiness were then overcome. Despite the young age range this was aimed at, this focus meant that there was much for adult readers to take away from this without it then taking away from a younger reader's enjoyment.
The bright colour palette was very appealing, as was the abundance of nature and animals that featured throughout. The perfect bad day remedy!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Steve Foxe, the illustrator, Daniela Barros, and the publisher, Stone Arch Books, for this opportunity....more
This was a sweet illustrated reimagining of 'Little Red Riding Hood' that centred the wolf in the tale and altered the roles of hero and villain.
I adoThis was a sweet illustrated reimagining of 'Little Red Riding Hood' that centred the wolf in the tale and altered the roles of hero and villain.
I adored the gorgeous colours and full page natural imagery that accompanied the limited wording. I especially appreciated how the colours darkened and the contents became starker as the tale turned bleaker and more grim.
The contents were suitable for all ages and would make a gorgeous story for little ones to listen to and follow along with in the illustrations, and could also be enjoyed by the reader as well.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Amélie Fléchais, and the publisher, Oni Press, for this opportunity....more
"Once upon a time. . . A princess was cursed to live as a snail, Two sisters were trapped by their father’s wrath, And a mother and daughter faced a hung"Once upon a time. . . A princess was cursed to live as a snail, Two sisters were trapped by their father’s wrath, And a mother and daughter faced a hungry giant.
No one is coming to save them. Will they get their happily ever after?"
Clar Angkasa uses her own words and imagery to reimagine three folk tales from her childhood in Indonesia where the central female characters and provided with autonomy and vitality.
I adored all three equally, as well as the females who centred in them. Each was lightly infused with the fantastic but full of fierce hearts and brave spirits. I flew through the pages and, despite the limited wording, felt I got a good understanding for who each of the female characters were and rooted for them as if I had spent a full-length novel getting to know them and their various personalities.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Clar Angkasa, and the publisher, Holiday House, for this opportunity. ...more
This was both a brief yet well-rounded introduction to some basics of Greek mythology, including the places, the monsters, the Olympic gods, the demi-This was both a brief yet well-rounded introduction to some basics of Greek mythology, including the places, the monsters, the Olympic gods, the demi-gods, and humans who most frequent the ancient Greek tales. It was suitable for young readers but I had much fun with this easily digestible guide and would recommend it any age reader looking to immerse themselves in the Greek myths.
Each individual was provided with a brief biography, a nickname, a food symbol, an associated colour, an icon, and a day or season. This was just enough for me to understand each iconic name without overwhelming me with details about their lives, despite already having read much fiction and non-fiction containing them.
A breakdown of the reams, domains, and territories in the ancient world was also also provided, allowing the reader to better visualise the tales told across it. Following this was an overview of the creatures, beasts, and monsters who were the villains to be defeated in these stories.
Once these basics were covered the book then went on to translate some ancient stories in a simplified language for all age ranges, which I enjoyed reading immensely.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, L. J. Tracosas, and the publisher, Z Kids, for this opportunity....more
This layout made the already tense and dramatic reveals appear all the more emotional and it is now the only format I want to ingest my thriller fictiThis layout made the already tense and dramatic reveals appear all the more emotional and it is now the only format I want to ingest my thriller fiction in....more
This volume compiles issues 1-5 in the Devolution series.
This graphic novel is set in the future but it feels like the past. Prehistoric monstrositiesThis volume compiles issues 1-5 in the Devolution series.
This graphic novel is set in the future but it feels like the past. Prehistoric monstrosities battle against the humans still remaining, after Earth's evolutionary clock had been reversed and everything still surviving devolved. A cure could be found but not all want power returned to the wealthy or for authority to rest in the hands of those it once did.
I loved the genesis of this story just as much as I did the trajectory of it. It was a bloody and brutal tale, in keeping with the existence of those still remaining, but also one full of small moments of joy and hope. The humour was bleak, the scenes often dark, and death marred each page as well as the lives of all individuals. However, the vivid storytelling and depictions kept it, and the central character's fleeting hope, alive until the conclusion....more
Curtis Wiklund begun a 365-day project of creating a new drawing every day for a year. He would craft them at bedtime and present them to his wife in Curtis Wiklund begun a 365-day project of creating a new drawing every day for a year. He would craft them at bedtime and present them to his wife in the morning, like a little 'good morning' and 'I love you' all in one.
I expected to find this a sweet anthology but not to be so moved by its contents. Uncomfortable or tense moments were provided alongside loving and intimate ones, providing the reader with both an insight to this specific relationship and providing emotions that are universal for all....more
The Latah is a figure that bears the burden of suffering for the people who reside in Vietnam, an area of the world torn apart by ethnic and religiousThe Latah is a figure that bears the burden of suffering for the people who reside in Vietnam, an area of the world torn apart by ethnic and religious wars and invasion. For them, it is a protector, a god, reincarnated inside of a human sacrifice. It bears the pain of the people until the burden becomes too heavy and every ounce of fear, aggression, anger, and terror emerges and it kills blindly until another sacrifice is found to replace it.
This story centres around soldiers trekking through the Vietnamese jungles. Tensions between them revolve around an as-of-yet undisclosed event that occurred before the readers were introduced to them but, over the course of the graphic novel, flashback scenes reveal exactly what this is. Learning about their shared history and that of the Latah unfold in tandem, for a horrifying story to emerge.
Everything about this was tragic but by the story's close I could not view the central characters with any of the warmth I felt at its genesis. Shocking reveals ensured that, as did the fantastical inclusions that aided in the showcasing and understanding of the brutalities of war.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and illustrator, Thomas Legrain, and the publisher, Europa Comics, for this opportunity....more
$50,000. That is the sum that could be Mack's if she competes against thirteen other individuals on staying hidden inside anActual rating 4.5/5 stars.
$50,000. That is the sum that could be Mack's if she competes against thirteen other individuals on staying hidden inside an amusement park for seven full days. She excels at staying hidden and has been doing so her entire life, since the time the rest of her family were taken from her, and sees no reason why she should fail at doing so now. When contestants begin to disappear and tragedy strikes those remaining, it is seeking that Mack must learn to be equally good at, if she is to discover what is really occurring and make it out alive.
I'd wanted to read the full-length novel this graphic adaptation is based on since its release but I hadn't yet gotten around to doing so. I'm not sure if I'll return to it as, in my opinion, this media seemed like the perfect way in which to tell this horrifying tale.
The colours were vibrant and each panel gave the feel of an amusement park, despite its disuse and disrepair. This novel felt lively and exciting and as events became distinctly less so, the panels followed suit.
Mack was a wonderful insight to the horrors occurring but other perspectives were also included so the reader had a full picture of events before most of the characters did. I thought this a great choice, as it added tension, but did not sacrifice intrigue, as enough remained unknown to both characters and reader alike until the final quarter.
There were many sweet moments to compensate for the terrifying ones and it showed how closely I had bonded with the varied central characters with just how much I rooted for them all in equal measure. A happy ending could never be guaranteed for all and bittersweet and mixed emotions dogged me for much of this. The ending had me hoping for a little more but was still a satisfactory conclusion to a stellar story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the authors and illustrators, Kiersten White, Veronica Fish, Andy Fish, and Scott Peterson, and the publisher, Ten Speed Press, for this opportunity....more
This is the third and final volume in the Nightbreed series.
"A secret society of monsters and misfits, The Nightbreed have always been with us."
I'm noThis is the third and final volume in the Nightbreed series.
"A secret society of monsters and misfits, The Nightbreed have always been with us."
I'm not ready for my time with these monsters to be at an end! The found family, the love that was featured, and the emotion that exuded from every page made me bond with every entity featured here. The bittersweet ending was apt, even if I yearned for my time with this cast of characters to continue, the tragedies were endured, and villains ended, leading this to be another brilliant and absorbing volume....more
This is the second volume in the Nightbreed series.
"A secret society of monsters and misfits, The Nightbreed have always been with us."
More stories abThis is the second volume in the Nightbreed series.
"A secret society of monsters and misfits, The Nightbreed have always been with us."
More stories about the monsters who dwell in secret are contained here. This was as heart-wrenching an instalment as the initial one was and I am fully bonded with the monsters, who often prove to be far less so than anticipated. This volume was spread across the globe and throughout history, which made it an endlessly entertaining read and with multiple storylines combined inside of it....more
This is the sixth and final instalment in the Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Bestiary series.
I have read every volume in one sitting, which I did not inteThis is the sixth and final instalment in the Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Bestiary series.
I have read every volume in one sitting, which I did not intend to do but my intrigue was immediately piqued, I was immersed in this horrifying world from the very first story, and I desired to learn more about it with each subsequent tale.
Each volume measured in at approximately 30 pages so it is not like this was a massive feat, but I still applaud the creators of this world for crafting endlessly interesting storylines and stunning, if vividly disturbing, artwork to coincide with them....more
This is the fifth instalment in the Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Bestiary series.
I've awarded this entire series a solid four-star rating and this penulThis is the fifth instalment in the Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Bestiary series.
I've awarded this entire series a solid four-star rating and this penultimate volume was no exception. As usual, two stories featured before a continuation of the 'The Hunted' story, that has played out in instalments across each volume. I enjoyed all contents equally and have loved my immersion in the horrors featured. It has provided me with the thrills and chills that I had anticipated but also some added information about Barker's creations that I did not forecast this to also include....more
This is the fourth instalment in the Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Bestiary series.
Following on from the layout of the previous three volumes, this also This is the fourth instalment in the Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Bestiary series.
Following on from the layout of the previous three volumes, this also featured two short stories before delivering a continuation of 'The Hunted', a longer story unfolding over each series volume. For the first time this featured a story that I did not bond with. The first of the three featured here felt a little lacklustre but my overall enjoyment for what followed, as well as my adoration of the illustration style, ensured this a volume I still had a goof time with....more