Saga is still going strong with this new volume that feels a bit more focused than the last. Our favorite make-shift family is stuck on a war-torn plaSaga is still going strong with this new volume that feels a bit more focused than the last. Our favorite make-shift family is stuck on a war-torn planet without their tree-house, living in a tent and working at Amazon.
I’m loving seeing Hazel and Squire Brobot come of age and their growing agency makes the story even more interesting as they start to take decisions into their own hands. The supporting cast here continues to be stellar, although I hope we get to see The Will regain some of his previous vitality....more
One of my favorite novels, this book truly earns the overused label of EPIC. The premise, of a deadly superflu that wipes out more than 90% of the worOne of my favorite novels, this book truly earns the overused label of EPIC. The premise, of a deadly superflu that wipes out more than 90% of the world's population, and the survivors fighting a battle between good and evil for the remaining civilization, is enough to warrant a reading.
The novel has the best and most well-drawn ensemble of characters in any novel I've read, great prose, and more memorable scenes than you can count. It has a great mix of action, drama, romance, science fiction, and fantasy. At first, I held off on reading this because of the hefty page count, but after I picked it up, I flew through it, and it never felt like a page was wasted.
Like many others, I was a little disappointed in the climax, even though I understood the meaning and reasoning behind it. But there are so many other positives that this book still continues to be one of my favorites! You know you've got a great book that will last forever when you still can name most of the characters by first and last name years after reading it....more
I’ve always been a big Star Wars fan but it has been a while since I have read any books in the universe. I was an avid Star Wars book reader as★★★1/2
I’ve always been a big Star Wars fan but it has been a while since I have read any books in the universe. I was an avid Star Wars book reader as a kid but fell off on that hobby. I’ve been impressed and fascinated with Disney’s new in-canon publishing initiative called the High Republic that tackles interconnecting stories from a previously unexplored era in Star Wars history along a wide variety of mediums including adult novels, young adult novels, audio dramas, comic books, and upcoming live action television. So I though what better way to jump back into Star Wars reading than this!
Light of the Jedi is the first novel that introduces the High Republic, set over 200 years before the events of the first film, A New Hope, when the Republic and the Jedi Order were at their grandest, and starting to fully expand into the Outer Rim of the Galaxy. It opens on the cusp of the unveiling of the new Outer Rim outreach space station Starlight Beacon when a massive hyperspace disaster threatens to destroy multiple solar systems.
As expected, the book is crazy readable and sucks you in to this new world, introducing you to the new Jedi characters as well as the Nihil, the new big bads of the High Republic initiative. The book suffers a little from tackling a bit too much, which is of course due to having the responsibility of introducing so many ideas and characters. I wish that the book had a bit more focus and I hope that the later books don’t suffer the same introductory burden. The other issue is that the characters (particularly the Jedi) aren’t very interesting so far, with everyone feeling pretty stoic and untouched in regards to relatable nuance and emotional complexity. Every Jedi seems to be a stalwart knight without problems beyond the cliché (like Padawans not being sure of themselves) and they’re just not that interesting. Except for maybe Elzar Mann, who shows a little more potential for being actually singular and complex.
But the creative ideas here are really compelling and build onto the already vast Star Wars mythos in fascinating ways, especially with the exploration of the way hyperspace works. Also the audiobook version is one of the coolest books I’ve listened to, with sound effects and score that really suck you in! But the character of Marchion Ro is what really saves the book, presenting a mysterious antagonist that is riveting, becomes a real threat, and seems to have layers that I can’t wait to see peeled away.
So this is a decent start to this initiative and at the very least, I’m excited to explore more!...more
I always tell people that the most creative and original storytelling is being done in comic books. It seems like the most innovative ideas are being I always tell people that the most creative and original storytelling is being done in comic books. It seems like the most innovative ideas are being explored in this medium. Eight Billion Genies is the latest thing I've read that reminded me of that. Starting on the fateful day when 8 billion cute tiny genies pop out of nowhere and latch themselves to each living person on Earth, granting each person one single wish, it then proceeds to tell the story of the craziness that transpires after that.
It's the type of captivating tale that I love to read, one that uses a speculative high concept to comment on human nature, morality, and society's destructive tendencies. The ideas here are always interesting and I love the direction the story takes.
But, I can't help but wish that the story was fleshed out more to really maximize its potential. I can imagine how powerful this would really be if it were a longer series, and we had time to really live in this world, witness the characters change, really sit with the consequences of decisions, and see these ideas evolve. The effect with such a short book is that it feels a bit rushed at times, like we're just jumping from idea to idea, skipping all the juicy bits, and ultimately feels like an awesome bullet-pointed outline.
But the art here is beautiful and it's still a pretty enjoyable read. I can only hope that someone takes the idea and really runs with it!...more
I was not sure what to expect with this series but it hit me like a runaway train as it pulled me away on it's adventure.Bold. Imaginative. Visionary.
I was not sure what to expect with this series but it hit me like a runaway train as it pulled me away on it's adventure. I don't want to go into too much detail about the plot as it might be best to go in almost completely fresh the way I did, and jump headfirst into the trip down the rabbit hole and into the onion as this flawed crew of travelers try to survive their dangerous trip through countless dimensions.
[image]
The biggest thing that struck me was how fast the story moves. It drops the reader right into the middle of the action from the beginning and NEVER stops. There is no exposition to get you acquainted with the world at the start, and there is no time to take a breather during the entirety of its 400+ pages.
I've seen reviews talk about the speed of its storytelling was a problem with it being too confusing but I totally disagree. I really appreciated that the creators didn't treat the readers with kid gloves and trusted us to keep pace with the story. And learning more about the rules, the background of the expedition, and info about the characters while the story was moving forward really added to the experience. So buckle your seatbelt before jumping into this one, and keep up!
The artwork here, especially the inking and the color work, was a real standout here, providing a singular atmosphere that's really memorable. Whenever I think about this story in the future, I'll visualize those sharp lines and bold neon-ish colors. It's awesome to look at in this large hardcover format too. [image] There are a few reasons why my grade for this was dropped a couple points though. The constantly shifting POV narration became a little obnoxious and sometimes distracted from the flow of the story, I wish that there was a bit more variety in the nature of the different dimensions, and I wish some of the action was easier to follow. This story also seems like it might benefit from it being read in big chunks like this premiere volume, which collects the first three trade paperback. I seemed to have responded to this better than other friends who started reading it in the shorter paperback volumes.
For me, this was a wild ride and I can't wait to continue.
[image]
Merged review:
Bold. Imaginative. Visionary.
I was not sure what to expect with this series but it hit me like a runaway train as it pulled me away on it's adventure. I don't want to go into too much detail about the plot as it might be best to go in almost completely fresh the way I did, and jump headfirst into the trip down the rabbit hole and into the onion as this flawed crew of travelers try to survive their dangerous trip through countless dimensions.
[image]
The biggest thing that struck me was how fast the story moves. It drops the reader right into the middle of the action from the beginning and NEVER stops. There is no exposition to get you acquainted with the world at the start, and there is no time to take a breather during the entirety of its 400+ pages.
I've seen reviews talk about the speed of its storytelling was a problem with it being too confusing but I totally disagree. I really appreciated that the creators didn't treat the readers with kid gloves and trusted us to keep pace with the story. And learning more about the rules, the background of the expedition, and info about the characters while the story was moving forward really added to the experience. So buckle your seatbelt before jumping into this one, and keep up!
The artwork here, especially the inking and the color work, was a real standout here, providing a singular atmosphere that's really memorable. Whenever I think about this story in the future, I'll visualize those sharp lines and bold neon-ish colors. It's awesome to look at in this large hardcover format too. [image] There are a few reasons why my grade for this was dropped a couple points though. The constantly shifting POV narration became a little obnoxious and sometimes distracted from the flow of the story, I wish that there was a bit more variety in the nature of the different dimensions, and I wish some of the action was easier to follow. This story also seems like it might benefit from it being read in big chunks like this premiere volume, which collects the first three trade paperback. I seemed to have responded to this better than other friends who started reading it in the shorter paperback volumes.
For me, this was a wild ride and I can't wait to continue.
So it seems like this isn’t the end of The Nice House On the Lake after all, but just the end of its first cycle. I’m excited to see more! This volumeSo it seems like this isn’t the end of The Nice House On the Lake after all, but just the end of its first cycle. I’m excited to see more! This volume is pretty well-written with solid twists and big ideas. But like with the first volume, I wish that it took its time a little more. I normally don’t want things to be longer but this deserves a bit more exploration of the ideas it raises about human nature and survival instinct. And a deeper look at the characters would help us to feel for them much more. Can’t wait to re-read this again in a deluxe edition to look at this great art in premium format....more
It feels great being able to cuddle up close to another volume of Saga after its long hiatus! This installment, taking place three years after the souIt feels great being able to cuddle up close to another volume of Saga after its long hiatus! This installment, taking place three years after the soul-crushing cliffhanger in the last book, follows a now pre-teen Hazel as she's determined to move on after personal tragedy. The creators here haven't missed a beat. The writing is just as funny and just as subversive; the story and world is just as mature and creative as it used to be, and the new characters were just as exciting as seeing the return of old favorites. Now that the series is back, I can't wait to see where this goes. I'll be here sitting in the front row!
Some time ago, the Lazarus series switched to a quarterly release strategy and its a bit of a bummer. While each issue is oversized and now contains mSome time ago, the Lazarus series switched to a quarterly release strategy and its a bit of a bummer. While each issue is oversized and now contains more material, it feels like we’re waiting eons between each installment. I had to do an internet refresher before jumping into this book because of how rich the world is, it’s hard to get lost.
This volume is probably the weakest, with not much happening past general set-up, as Forever is fully-allied with Johanna and Johanna is proving to do a great job running the family. Also, with Forever’s hair now cut short, it’s really hard to tell her and Marisol apart in the art. Is this a mistake or does it mean something deeper??
Still, as one of the best comic book series in a very long time, a weak Lazarus book is still better than most of the stuff out there. There’s still amazingly detailed action and a shit-ton of intrigue....more