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Book Review: One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

I'm always on the lookout for cute LGBTQIAP+ books to read. I heard about One Man Guy a couple of years back but never got around to reading it. When my partner read it and told me that it was a cute read, I went looking for it at my library. I found it, read it, and agree. It is a cute book. However, I do have my problems with it.

The first being the writing. I am not in love with this writing style. It's almost too simplistic. To the point where I feel some sentences don't make sense. One sentence in chapter four reads, "He cheated his eyes open a sliver." Reading that is awkward. It doesn't flow well and you feel you need to reread it to make sure you didn't read it wrong. Barakiva did a great job in telling a coming-of-age story about an Armenian teenager discovering himself and his sexuality and I loved learning more about Armenian culture, but his writing style is something I just could not get behind.

Another thing I had a problem with are the characters. Not so much the main character, Alek. He was sweet, kind, moral, and understanding. I liked him. But the object of his affection, Ethan, is another matter entirely. I didn't see the appeal to him. Seeing as how Alek liked him so much, I wanted to like him, too. And there were some things he did that I just was not a fan of. The way he talked about gay culture was a part of it. His use of the F-word rubbed me the wrong way. He said that if you're a part of that culture, it's okay to use such a word. And, yeah, okay, I get it, but I haven't met many people in the gay community who uses that word as if it were nothing. So it bothered me a bit.

Another thing that upset me about Ethan was how he explained how it's quite common for gay men to experiment with more than one person, even when they are already in a committed relationship. No. Just no. That's a harmful stereotype that's been perpetuated by our society. To say that gay men CHEAT on their partners is not only wrong but harmful. There are many gay couples who are in committed relationships and DON'T CHEAT ON EACH OTHER. As I've said in other reviews before, if you're in a polyamorous relationship, then it's fine if both partners involved are okay with having other partners. It's NOT okay to lump in every gay couple into being "experimental" with other partners without the other's consent! I did not like that Ethan was teaching Alek this terrible stigma about the gay community. And the last problem I had with Ethan was how misogynistic he was. He made comments when Alek didn't want to do something by saying he was acting like a girl. I didn't like how he treated Becky, Alek's best friend who is pretty awesome by the way, and thought of her immediately as "lesser" because she was a girl. It took her having to "prove herself" in order for him to show her respect. Just everything about his character was disgusting and I just didn't understand why Alek liked him so much.

An aspect that I did like about the book was getting to learn so much about Armenian culture. Especially the food! The food in this book sounds delicious. I've never had Armenian food before but I want to have some now! It was also interesting learning about the Armenian Genocide that happened in Turkey. That is a part of history I am not aware of. It was never taught to us in school, but I'm glad I know about it now. I love learning about history. Especially history that is different from my own culture.

Another aspect that bothered me, though, were how Alek's parents were. Oh, the hypocrisy with those two. And the fact that they complained about any little thing to the point where they didn't even want to drink water out of a plastic bottle, I was about to flip. Good thing they eased a tiny bit up towards the end. People like them upset me. DX

In short, I thought this book was good. I would recommend it to people who want to learn more about Armenian culture and food, who want to read a cute coming out story, and want a pretty quick read. Keep in mind that there are some homophobic slurs and racism towards Turkish people. These things are questioned and rebuked within the text and shows how it's not okay to do those things. The only thing not ever questioned is the sexism, which is a shame. Other than that, it's a good read so give it a shot if you're curious.

My rating: Get it from the library.

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Comic Review: Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu (Writer) and Sana Takeda (Artist)

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

So many people have been talking and raving about Monstress. I've heard so many good things about this comic that I immediately placed an order at my library so I could read it ASAP! ...only to wait for months and still not have them contact me to let me know when the comic will be in... only to find it on the shelves as if no one placed a hold on it at all! Ugh... no. No. It's fine. I'm not bitter. (I'm a little bitter.) Well, I finally was able to read it and I must say it is well worth the hype.

I almost don't want to tell you anything about it. I went in blind and I think that's the best way to go into it. By going in blind, you will appreciate the world more and the characters more. In this world there are humans, monsters, and half-breeds. Throughout the entire comic, you're able to see the mistreatment monsters receive for being "other" and how they're a people being oppressed. I love that this comic touches on inequality, racism, sexism, etc. I love that it's so expressive in the art and story! I will not tell you any more of the story because you HAVE to read it for yourself to fully enjoy it.

The artwork, however, I will talk about. Sana Takeda is incredibly talented. The art in this comic is one of the best artwork styles I have ever seen in any given comic. I am blown away by how stunning it is! It's detailed down to the very last leaf on the trees in the forest. The colors are breathtaking! It's such a beautiful color palette with browns and greens and golds to match the "earthy" feeling to the story. I could go on and on about the art in this comic. It's just so beautiful!

And the characters are great. The main character is Maika Halfwolf. She is bold, strong, a bit sassy, and loyal. She is not without flaws. She tends to be a loner and can be a bit stand-offish but, considering her circumstances, I don't blame her. She is a wonderful character that I cannot wait to get to know better in future volumes. There's also my favorite character, Ren. He's an intelligent, magical, smart-mouth, talking cat. Yes, a talking cat, and I love him. He serves as a guide for Maika and what she can do in order to save herself and her world. I adore him so much as well as many of the ladies in this comic. There are so many strong female-characters and they are strong not because they are cruel, but because they have their own goals and ideas and they will fight until they see those goals become a reality. I really enjoyed seeing these women shown to be in leadership roles without falling into the "cruel woman" trope.

I highly, highly recommend this comic. If you like strong female leads, action, adventure, magic, and talking cats, then you should definitely read this comic. There is swearing, violence, gore, and talk of sexual abuse so keep that in mind when picking this up. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy reading this comic. I had quite a fun time being in this world for a while~

My rating: Buy it!

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Short Story Review: The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere by John Chu

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

This year I wanted to change a few thing about my reading habits. I have always read a ton of books but not much else. If you've been following me for some time now, you may have noticed I started reading more graphic novels, manga, and non-fiction books. Along with them, I've also wanted to read a few more short stories and I've read a couple that were part of a series I was reading, but never a stand-alone short story. Well, today I've decided to change that! I decided to read The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere by John Chu. It's a short story that got a lot of buzz a few years back during the 2014 Hugo Awards and I wanted to see what the story was all about.

The story follows Matt, a Chinese biotech engineer, who lives in a world where if you lie, copious amounts of water rains down upon you. In this rain-filled world, Matt must spend a Christmas celebration with his family and work up the nerve to tell them he and his lover, Gus, plan on getting married. However, things become more complicated when his sister gets involved and refuses to let Matt have the chance to come out to his family. It's a hard-hitting tale most queer people must overcome with sci-fi elements thrown in.

I really enjoyed this story. John Chu has a very straightforward writing style. What I enjoyed most about it is how he incorporates his own language into the story. I don't read or understand Chinese, be it Mandarin or Cantonese, but I loved seeing Chu's language throughout the story. And he uses the language unapologetically. Mind you, he doesn't leave the reader hanging. You can figure out what the characters are saying either by the author giving you the translation right after the Chinese, or with enough context clues. I'm glad he decided to write his story in such a way. We need more stories where the author writes in a different language and for it to be normal.

The characters are all beautifully developed, complex characters! Matt is struggling with who he is as a person and not wanting to disappoint his family. He also is having a hard time admitting what he feels because of years of shame and guilt. His lover, Gus, is so loving and supportive but he, too, has his limits. He loves Matt and will do anything for him but also knows when he needs to give space to the one he loves. Matt's entire family have many layers to them. I love Matt's mother so much for reasons I cannot describe because it's a HUGE spoiler to the short story but she is amazing! Michele, Matt's sister, is the only one that seems to have a problem with Matt being gay. It's mentioned multiple times throughout the story that she treats him poorly because she loves him and only wants what's best for him. But from the reader's point of view, she is selfish, cruel, and close-minded. One message that I took away from this short story is that, yes, you can love your family but if they are causing you harm, then a bit of separation is healthy for everyone involved. I love this short story.

If you love reading short stories about coming-of-age LGBTQIAP+/racially diverse characters with a sci-fi twist, then I highly recommend you give this one a read. The only downside to this story is that I, ironically, found it to be too short. If there were about five to six more paragraphs showing what happened after the last event, then I think it would have been a solid short story. As it is, it's a good story with a bit of an abrupt end. Still, I do recommend this short story. It's such a beautifully told tale about two men in love and the obstacles they must face just to be together.

My rating: Read it! It’s available for free from Tor.com!

You can read it here.

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Book Review: Foxheart (Foxheart #1) by Claire Legrand

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

I will start off by saying I did not finish this book. I read up to page 139 and decided this book was not for me. I was not enjoying it one bit and I don't believe you should continue reading a book if you're not fully immersed in the story. That being said, you might like this book so if you're interested in reading Foxheart then go ahead and read it! I truly hope you enjoy it.

Foxheart is about a girl who is shunned by everyone around her because of how different she looks. She decides that the only way to survive this world is to make it her own. That's when she becomes a thief... until she witnesses the Wolf King destroying the convent where she is staying. When she escapes and realizes that she has powers of her own, she must learn to control them and collect the bones of the ancient race of witches so that she might one day destroy the Wolf King and bring peace to her land.

From the beginning of the book, I did not like the writing style. It's extremely juvenile. Whilst I understand this is a middle-grade novel, I don't feel you should ever write in a way where you're talking down to your readers no matter how young they are. Children are intelligent individuals and will be able to sense when they are being treated as if they are dumb. The way Legrand approaches a subject, explaining it to death as if the reader couldn't figure out what was happening in the scene, is demeaning.

Also, the characters acted foolishly every single time. Yes, they're children, but a few of the actions taken were just stupid because "they're children." For example, one of the characters, Anastazia, warns both children, Quicksilver and Sly Boots, that they mustn't tell other witches what they are up to because witches like to hurt and kill one another. Then the boy, Sly Boots, runs off and tells the first pack of witches he see, putting his group in danger. Now that was stupid enough. And it could be explained "Oh, he's a child. He didn't know any better." Fair enough. But what about the scene immediately following that? Where Quicksilver cloaks them to hide from the witches and then Anastazia, an elder woman might I add, laughs at a comment one of the other witches make, alerting the witches that they were indeed in the area hiding. And that's not the only time she messes up either! Later, when talking with the witches, she nearly let slip that she can travel through time which is a type of forbidden magic! She's the oldest of the group and she was making stupid decisions left and right! I was never one to fall in love with stories where the characters made dumb decisions in order to "further" the plot. It's lazy writing.

In fact, throughout reading these 139 pages, I was just bored. I was bored with the writing. I was bored with the plot. I was bored with the characters. I was not enjoying it at all. Every aspect of this book was mediocre to me. And it's a shame because I saw the potential. I was looking forward to seeing how these characters were going to stop the villain, The Wolf King... until I saw how much of a caricature he was and how dumb the "heroes" acted. It was just a disappointment.

That being said, if you're still intrigued by the premise then, by all means, read this book. Just because I didn't like it doesn't mean you won't. I do think it's a very easy read so you could read it in one sitting despite its size. So give it a try. As for me, I was not a fan and will not be reading the rest of this series.

My rating: Meh.

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Comic Review: Saga, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

I am fully aware that this comic is loved by many, many people. I know that it has the appeal to reach wide audiences. I also know that it's not the worst comic to ever have been created. This review is here to point out the reasons why I, myself, did not connect with it as a reader. However, I am in the minority here. Loads of people love this comic and if you love it, too, that's great! I just, personally, found some problems with it that kept me from fully enjoying the comic.

I'm sure I don't have to talk about what the story of Saga is about. So many people have talked about it enough that, at this point, it's redundant to say its plot. Put briefly, it's a Romeo and Juliet type story where two different, warring alien species fall in love, have a baby together, and must flee their home worlds since their love is forbidden. That premise sounds pretty good. It's a classic tale of forbidden love with aliens and space thrown in! I really like the idea of that. However, I was not a fan of the execution.

The dialogue felt forced. As if they were written to be in some poorly made sitcom for "edgy" people. There's a part where Alana, female lead, says "I was stupid to think we could ever outrun this retarded fucking war!" That doesn't sound like something a military official, an adult, would say. Yeah, I understand she's supposed to be your non-typical military official. She's supposed to be tough and a "badass," but I didn't get that by the way she talked. Neither did I see the "charm" to her lover, Marko. He's supposed to be the softer side to Alana’s rough and, yes, he is. But what bothered me the most is that he's still written as a "typical" man. Alana is capable of defending herself, or at least the narrative wants the reader to believe that, yet he still has to come to her rescue multiple times. But you can excuse it because Alana has just given birth. She is not in her top form. Fair enough. However, what I cannot forgive (and we're going to go into spoiler territory so skip the rest of this paragraph if you don't want to know what happens in this comic) is the fact that he's apparently engaged with another woman, even though he's married to Alana, and he never told Alana about this other woman, even though he's madly in love with Alana. Look, that is just shit you DO NOT DO! If you're not in a polyamorous relationship, you don't keep a relationship that's still ongoing a secret from your significant other. That's wrong! And Alana just forgave him! She questioned him a little bit about it, but she just let it go. What? Why? This is the father of your baby! Shouldn't you have a few more questions than that? Ugh... I don't know. The comic is fast-paced so I suppose you can't dwell on topics like borderline CHEATING for long. Still, it pissed me off to read about.

Not to mention I felt a lot of what they said was crude for no actual purpose. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind crude jokes or sex in the media I consume. But it felt like in Saga there was no purpose to it. I don't understand why, in an advanced society, we are reduced to slut-shaming, pedophilia, and misogyny--yet no one seemed to put a stop to it. It's all seen as very normal in this advanced, futuristic society. How is it that there has been no progress in that front? Yeah, this also goes for how they treat inter-species/inter-racial relationships, too. But it just irks me to read how the women are treated so poorly in this comic. And seeing a six-year-old girl being sold into being a sex slave really left a sour taste in my mouth. Yeah, it's somewhat "handled" but that doesn't mean I don't have problems with how this is apparently "normal" in this world.

Really the only good thing about this comic is the art. Fiona Staples did an incredible job bringing this world to life! I love how in some panels the colors are just so vibrant! And the character designs are amazing! I also loved seeing the different designs to various alien species. The backgrounds are fully detailed and really help you to visualize the type of universe these characters are in. Incredible art all around. I wouldn't mind buying a print from Staples, her art is that amazing!

As I've said before, these are just some of the things that bugged me about this comic. I know not everyone is going to feel the same way. If you really enjoyed this comic, I think that's awesome! I can see why it's gotten as much praise as it did. But for me, it left a lot to be desired. The premise was good but the execution was lacking. I am not opposed to reading other works by Brain K. Vaughan, but I think I'll be skipping the rest of Saga for now.

My rating: Don’t waste your time on it.

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Comic Review: Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

And now I am going back to comics. I am really having a lot of fun reading comics lately. I didn't read many last year so getting back into comics this year has been a real treat. I heard about Descender on BookTube. I heard it was a pretty good sci-fi graphic novel so I thought I'd give it a try. And I'm so glad I did.

The story follows a boy named TIM-21. He's a robot who has been put to sleep for ten years during an attack by The Harvesters, a group of alien robots sent to destroy everything! And the story takes off from there. I'll admit that it's not an original story. We have all seen stories about alien lifeforms threatening to destroy the world and one person being the key to prevent that from happening. However, I love the pacing of this story. It's taking a concept we are all very well familiar with and spinning it to fit this expansive world that Jeff Lemire is creating. The beginning of this volume introduces this world and its characters and sucks the reader in. By the end of it, you just want to keep reading to find out where this ancient technology came from. I wish I had the second volume to read because I am super intrigued by what's happening so far!

The artwork is phenomenal! Dustin Nguyen mixes a realistic, soft style with watercolor and it just blows me away! I love how bright some panels are, with light blues and reds, but then it gets dark when the mood is right for it. He is able to balance the serious tone of the book without making it seem dreary. Well, there is a bit of gore... but it's not all bad! In fact, I think it's pretty cool! I am in love with his art and I cannot wait to see more of it in the future.

The characters are incredible! Especially the robots! I love the main character, TIM-21. He is sweet, caring, and empathetic towards his human counterparts. He has a dog-bot called Bandit and it's a DOG ROBOT! Need I say more? Then there's Driller who joins the team after he helps protect TIM from Scrappers, beings who try to get their hands on old parts to sell to the highest bidder. Driller is also loving and charismatic. He doesn't like humans very much, seeking to kill them since he is Driller the Killer, but TIM holds him back by teaching Driller to understand that some humans are there to help them. Still, Driller prefers not to put his faith in humans as much as he can, which isn't really a bad thing considering how humans react towards any sentient being.

Speaking of humans, they are the ones who I didn't really connect with. There's Dr. Quon, the so-call "inventor" of the TIM series. He's a coward, a jerk, and plain compared to the robots. There's Telsa (although she is not really human), who is the captain of the UGC, an organization sworn to protect the universe from the Harvesters. She's tough, intelligent, and gets things done. My one complaint with her is that she keeps the reader at a distance. She does seem to have more to her than she lets on but as of right now, she's not letting anyone know who she truly is. My hope is that in future volumes she allows for those around her to see into her heart. And the final character is Tullis, Telsa's second in command. We don't know much about him yet. Except that he's very loyal to Telsa and follows her every command without question. I'm sure we'll see more of him, too.

All-in-all, I really enjoyed this comic. I liked the premise, the atmosphere, the setting, the plot, and some of the characters. In fact, I would have loved this comic if some of the characters I mentioned above were a bit more fleshed out. Other than that, I highly recommend this comic. If you love sci-fi, alien races, fast-paced action, and a story we've seen time and time again done differently, then you should read Descender. Just keep in mind that there's a bit of gore towards then end, if that's something you prefer to avoid in your comics.

I really like this comic and I cannot wait to read more of it soon!

My rating: Buy it!

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Book Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

This has been a book I've been meaning to read since its publication date. So many people have talked about how it's such an amazing book about LGBTQIAP+ characters and their struggles being in a high school environment. And I've wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Well, I finally read it and I have to say that it is a very good book indeed!

The writing is so refreshing. Albertalli writes in a way that most teens write/talk. I enjoyed her writing style quite a bit. It's a fun style. It's easy to read through. In fact, I read this book in one sitting. I don't think it's anything mind-blowing, but that's not what Albertalli was aiming for. She was trying to capture the essence of what it is to be a teenager and I think she succeeded fairly well. My one complaint about her writing was whenever she talked about Tumblr. If you have a Tumblr, you know that its main focus/use is for people to connect with their fandoms. However, within the story, Albertalli uses it more as a tool for gossip... which is an aspect that is used on FaceBook, not Tumblr. Also, Tumblr users don't tend to say "I saw it on the Tumblr." We just say Tumblr. It came off as someone who has heard of Tumblr but never really used it. You know "trying to be hip with the kids" and all that. It was not necessary and felt completely forced.

The story itself is quite entertaining. Simon, the main character, is closeted and talks to this other boy, nicknamed Blue, about what he's feeling and going through as a gay teen. However, another boy, Martin, finds out about Simon being gay and uses it to blackmail Simon into helping him woo Simon's friend, Abby, and the story goes on from there. It's filled with drama, rivalries, angst, and the like. It's a great contemporary novel about high school life and struggling with sexuality. I also love this novel for not being completely bleak either. That's not to say Simon doesn't deal with some turmoil; there's a bit of that, too. But I like that it's not all tragic. I am sick and tired of reading LGBTQIAP+ fiction and it always ending in tragedies. Queer people are not tragedies waiting to happen for heterosexuals’ entertainment. And I feel that this book understood that and actually gave hope and happiness for the characters, which is something I appreciate tremendously.

Now let's talk about the characters! Simon is our lead and he's trying to figure out who he is whilst trying not to change in a constantly changing world. I like him. He's fun and energetic, if a bit stupid. No, seriously... he's dumb. Throughout the entire novel, he was trying to figure out the true identity of Blue and it took him until the end of the book to figure it out. The reader is able to figure it out before the half-way mark of the novel so it was just his own stupidity, really, that he couldn't figure it out. Also, there's a thing that happens in the end that involves a T-shirt that I couldn't help but roll my eyes at. I mean, really, Simon? You didn't check the bloody shirt for two weeks? If you read the book, you know what I mean. Anyway, he's a good kid. He's just a little dumb.

Martin is a douche. He does so many unspeakable things for no other reason than jealousy. He's a very shallow character who is self-entitled and annoys the crap out of me. Abby is cool. She's a character that was very sweet and loving and I adore how she doesn't judge anyone. She is my favorite character by far. Leah is Simon's other friend and I love that she likes anime/manga. The one thing about her character that I don't like was how she was always treating Abby so coldly because, you guessed it, of jealously. Why is it that female characters can't be friends with each other? And yeah, there are other female characters in the book that are awesome, too, but the main ones are Abby and Leah, and Leah spends the entire book hating on Abby. This trend where females are always at each other's throats because of some GUY really needs to end. Women are more than bratty, bitchy characters fighting over men. Please write better female characters! DX

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I had problems with how Simon acted and how the women were sometimes portrayed, but other than that, it was a fun book. I love how Albertalli called out how wrong it is for people to consider being white and straight as the default to all. She did have interracial couples within the book and she had more than two gay characters. So it's a pretty solid read despite what I stated previously. I do see potential for this author to grow and be even more inclusive. So if you're looking for a fun, light read about teenagers in high school, then give this a shot. I think you might like it.

My rating: Get it from a library.

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Book Review: Bleeding Earth by Kaitlin Ward

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

I love horror. I love seeing horror movies, listening to horror podcasts, and reading horror novels. Every Halloween, I binge-read the complete works of Edgar Allan Poe because I just find his work so fascinating. So when my partner and I went to the library and saw Bleeding Earth, a horror apocalyptic novel, on the shelves, we just had to check it out. And I'm glad we did!

The story follow Lea as she struggles to survive a world covered in blood, bones, and hair. Sounds interesting, no? The premise is so intriguing! I've never read a book where the end of the world is happening as the characters were living their normal lives. Usually books take place after the apocalypse has happened. So this was an interesting take on the genre.

I'll be honest, the writing is nothing special. Not that it's bad in any way. It's just very simplistic. I didn't fall in love with the way Ward writes descriptions of scenery nor did I fall in love with her character portrayals. Yet I did fall in love with her ideas and the way she executed them. I loved how she wrote about the world being nothing but an ocean of blood. I love how she described the gore and horror of what this world became. The writing may be simple but it helps the reader envision the dire situations these characters are in throughout the entire novel without making it overly complicated.

My one complaint about the story as a whole was how desperately the characters wanted to hang out outside because "there's nothing to do at home." Are you kidding me? With the world ending, there's no way anyone in their right mind would want to be outside. And I know there's the whole "psychosis" disease that comes with the blood if you come in contact with it, but the characters were talking about being outside in the blood before that disease took place. And there's plenty of things you can do at home! You can read a book, watch YouTube videos, binge-watch a show on Netflix, play video games, exercise, etc. There's a million things to do at home. Why the hell did these characters only care about going outside and partying?

Speaking of characters, I feel they are the weakest aspect of the book. Lea, the main character, falls into a lot of "teenage drama" tropes. In fact, a lot of the time, she was bratty with her parents just to be bratty. Not to mention that she acted really stupid throughout parts of the novel. Who the hell wants to go to a party in the forest when the world is being swallowed up in blood? Who would even want to party at a time like that!? But I digress. Lea is definitely not the most annoying character I've ever read about but she certainly did a lot of moronic things for no other reason than just because she could do them.

Then there's Aracely, Lea's girlfriend. She's actually not a bad character. I found her the most intriguing out of all the characters in the book. She starts off shy and reserved. She really likes Lea but wants to keep it a secret since she is not out yet and that's fine. You should only come out if you're ready and safe to do so. And I love that throughout the novel we see her grow and become more comfortable with who she is. Hell, she even becomes a badass! I do like her, I just wish we got to explore her more. Aside from seeing her grow into a more determined person, we literally know nothing else about her. Not her past nor where she came from. Very little is known about her and I wish she was explored more than what we got to see.

The side characters are really nothing too special. Hillary, Lea's best friend, is kind and always willing to be there for her friend, but she literally contradicts herself when she believes her boyfriend (who's a jerk) over her friends. It made no sense why she would be upset with Lea for treating her boyfriend harshly when he was literally taking advantage of a drunk girl. Speaking of that drunk girl, Mikayla was forgettable. She was only in the book just to have that scene in the park and served no other purpose. Cadence, another friend, couldn't even remember her friends long enough to invite them to said party. Felix is nice but apparently has a big mouth. And they are all just kinda... there. None of them, aside from Hillary, served any point to the plot other than to be a nuisance. All these side characters were just so shallow that I did not connect to a single one.

Another thing that bothered me about this novel was how it ended. No spoilers but... it left a lot to be desired. I was hoping for a bit more closure and I did not get that.

But with all my critiques, you might be wondering why I am recommending this book then. Well, because of how engaging it was! I couldn't put the book down. I HAD to know what was going on. I HAD to see where it was going to end. I needed to know why the Earth was like this and how they were going to resolve it all. I liked this book because of its diversity. We have two queer girls in a relationship and one is a WoC. I liked this book for the world it presents. I liked the anticipation it builds and intrigue it instills. Basically, I just had a lot of fun reading this book.

Do I recommend this book? Yes. But to only those who are looking for a horror/gore-filled diverse adventure. It's not without flaws but it is an entertaining book. Keep in mind that this book has descriptions of blood, gore, violence, murder, and suicide. So if any of that might be triggering for you, then do not read this book. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy reading this despite the flaws. It really is quite the fast read.

My rating: Get it only if you’re curious.

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Comic Review: Young Avengers, Volume 1: Style > Substance by Kieron Gillen

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

The way I stumbled upon this comic is interesting. I first heard about it on BookTube. I heard that it was a great comic so I always kept my eyes open for it. I saw it at the library the other day and decided to bring it home. Then, earlier today, I saw a post about Young Avengers on Tumblr and it piqued my interest. I decided to pick it up right there and then to read. And I did. And I absolutely LOVE everything about this comic.

The story follows America, Loki, Wiccan, Hulkling, Hawkeye, and Noh-Varr in trying to set time and space right. I know that doesn't make much sense but I literally can't tell you anything about the story without giving away major plot points. I can say that the story starts off with Wiccan trying to help his boyfriend, Hulkling, feel at ease with their current situation and Loki trying to prevent the worst from happening. It's such an engaging story! I read it a lot faster than I normally read comics because I just HAD to find out what was going on!

The artwork is beautiful! I have no complaints about it whatsoever. The colors are vibrant, the character designs are amazing, and the background is breathtaking! I love the art so much!

The characters are incredible! This is the first time I've read anything that had America Chavez in it and she is one of my newest favorite heroes. She's badass and sassy. I still don't know much about her but I'm definitely looking forward to learning more about her. Loki is so precious. He's a bit of a butt but I love him anyway. He's the perfect blend of hero and villain that I can't help but be drawn to. Hawkeye and Noh-Varr are not in this much, but what we do get to see of them is good. They are in a relationship and it's a happy and healthy one, and that's always a plus in my book!

Speaking of characters being in a happy and healthy relationship, Wiccan and Hulkling are just absolutely lovely. This volume focused on their relationship quite a bit and I loved that it's a positive portrayal of a homosexual relationship. I felt the entire story was done respectfully towards them. They are two people in love trying to help each other out when the world is crashing before them. I adore how loving, caring, and supportive they are to each other. It's such a good relationship that my feels just cannot handle! Ah~

In fact, I love this comic a lot for its diversity. As I've said, there's a positive homosexual relationship and America is a queer Latina who kicks ass! Reading about her in this comic has me quite excited for the current run of America that's being written by Gabby Rivera. I have the first two issues and I cannot wait to read them next! I need more badass queer ladies in my life!

Another thing I want to mention before I wrap up this review/gush-fest is how mental illness is portrayed. Billy, (a.k.a. Wiccan) suffers from anxiety and depression. Within the comic, we see a bit of that being touched on. I know from that post on Tumblr that it's something he has struggled with for a long time. I don't know how it's going to be handled in later issues, but in this one, I feel that they handled it well. Obviously, there needs to be more conversations on the topic of mental health, but as an introduction to who Billy is and what he is going through, I think the writers did a good job.

In all, I love this comic. It's engaging, fun, interesting, inclusive, diverse, positive, and informative. It's bringing positive awareness for the Queer community and for anyone suffering from a mental illness. I really like what this comic is doing for its characters and audience. I also love that they are adding an extra layer to who Loki is as a character (people are so hard on him). The love between Wiccan and Hulkling is adorable. And America Chavez is awesome. Seriously, if you love Marvel comics then you should definitely pick this one up! It's a great read! However, this does come with a slight trigger warning for attempted suicide. Please keep that in mind before picking this up.

Other than that, I hope you end up enjoying this comic. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series the moment I get the chance to!

My rating: Buy it!

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Comic Review: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Volume 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North & Erica Henderson

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

I am in such a comic kick right now. All I want to do is read ALL of the comics! And so I decided to pick up a comic all about Squirrel Girl. I'll admit, I don't know much about the character. I know she has a huge following but I had never heard about her until the release of this comic. And I have to say, I'm intrigued.

Squirrel Girl is quirky, fun, and slightly bizarre, but that just adds to her charm. It took a bit of getting used to, to be honest. The first issue in this volume was just not for me. I felt like the creators were trying too hard to reach new fans, trying to mix them in with the old. I didn't find it funny and the artwork is not my favorite. I understand why you'd want to draw Doreen with the pursed lips and buck teeth (she is supposed to be part squirrel), but when I saw every other character drawn in that style as well, it didn't seem unique at all. Just the way Henderson illustrates, I guess. Anyway, the art style is just not my cup of tea and the whole tone of the first issue left me feeling rather disappointed. I had heard that Squirrel Girl was an amazing character that goes on fun adventures and I just did not see that from the first issue.

The second issue started off in much the same way. By this point, I was wondering whether I was going to enjoy this super hero comic at all. However, by the end of the second issue, much to my contentment, the tone and the pace improved dramatically! The plot picked up and became interesting, the characters were authentically funny, and I felt the creators were able to figure out what story they wanted to tell. It became a fun story about Squirrel Girl saving the world from Galactus, who wanted to eat Earth for its life energy. The comic became a story that I found quite entertaining and I am so glad it did.

By the end of this first volume, Doreen Green (Squirrel Girl) was an interesting character with her own quirks and way of handling "villains" that I wanted to see more of. I want to see more of Squirrel Girl and Galactus just chilling and talking about life. (Trust me. It's quite a hilarious sight to see.) And speaking of Galactus, he's my new best friend! His entire presence in this comic made it that much more enjoyable for me. I love his nonchalant way of speaking and his laid back attitude. Seriously, he's a great character and I hope to see more of him in future installments.

In this particular volume, the first comic ever where Squirrel Girl makes an appearance is included in the back of the book. It was so interesting seeing where she got her origins from. Seeing the difference in character designs was the most fascinating part to me. And, although I don't really like the artwork for this comic, I much more prefer the current rendition of Squirrel Girl than her previous one. X3

In all, this was a pretty good intro to who Squirrel Girl is as a super hero. This comic takes a while to get going but once it does, it's a fun ride up into space! If you like fun, silly, and bizarre comics, then give this one a read. I'm glad I was finally able to see who Doreen Green a.k.a Squirrel Girl is!

My rating: Find it at a library! Read it first to see if it’s your cup of tea.

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Comic Review: Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

A couple of years back, it seemed everyone was talking about Nimona and how amazing this graphic novel was. Fast forward to today and people still seem to be talking about it. That, to me, is a sign to how brilliant a work of art is. So when I went to the library and saw it on the shelf, I snatched it up! I just couldn't believe I was FINALLY going to read this comic! And, let me tell you, it's just as amazing as everyone says it is.

I literally have no complaints about this comic whatsoever! The art, the story, the characters, the setting. Everything! It's all so amazing! Noelle Stevenson did a fantastic job in creating a story where the reader becomes invested in the characters and their struggles. The artwork matches the tone of the plot perfectly. It's light and cartoon-y when it needs to be and gets dark and grittier when the tone of the story shifts. The setting is a mixture of medieval and futuristic at the same time. A beautiful blend between fantasy and sci-fi. And the character designs are unique and diverse with each individual. I love the art so much!

The story is just as incredible as the artwork! It follows Nimona, a shapeshifter, who is a fan of well-known "villain" Ballister Blackheart and joins him in his pursuit of "evil." I will not tell you any more than that because it's best to go into this story knowing very little. But if you love adventure and a bit of mystery with characters who develop gradually and beautifully, then you will enjoy this graphic novel.

As for the characters, they are all so beautiful and amazing and intriguing and I just can't get enough of them! Nimona is a shapeshifter who is spunky, headstrong, funny, and cares so much for the "boss." Ballister Blackheart, the "boss," is a scientist who is a bit on the serious side but learns to care for Nimona throughout the book. Their friendship is one of the sweetest I've read about in any form of fiction. I love how they are willing to risk their lives for each other to see each other succeed. We also have Ambrosius Goldenloin. He works for the "government" and is a type of rival to Blackheart.  But, the more you read the story, the more you'll understand why they bump heads so much. The reasoning just melts the heart.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough! Please go out and read this book. It's funny, beautiful, magical, diverse, and a treat to experience. I love how positive it is for girls and boys alike. It teaches that it's okay to be who you are and that being a "monster" is not as bad as some would make it out to be. Such a fantastic message and a good read all around!

My rating: Buy it!

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Comic Review: Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

There have been so many people talking and raving about Lumberjanes. So much so that when I went to the library, I snatched it up so fast! The only thing I knew about this comic was that it was about a bunch of girls who were at a summer camp and how it showed such a positive light on friendship. And, yes, it is about that. But there's also so much more to it!

The story is how they are at this camp and there's some bizarre events happening. Events that cannot be explained. The campers, being inquisitive and curious, set out to try and solve the mysteries surrounding Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. It is such a fun and quirky little story about female friendships and the positivity therein! I really loved reading this story. In fact, when I got to the end, I was shocked because it ended so fast and I just wanted more!

Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis did a fantastic job writing this comic. They managed to capture what it's like being a young teen, exploring different perspectives and friendships, and how diverse each and every single one of these characters felt was truly a breath of fresh air. Their characters are all different. Different race, skin, sexualities, body types, etc., and it's done respectfully. These traits just happen to be a part of who that character is. It does not define them. It's just who they are and I think it's such a well-done aspect of the comic. Props to the writers!

The artwork is so cute! Brooke Allen is the illustrator and she did such an amazing job in capturing the feel and tone of the story through the art. It's a bit cartoon-y and that art style brings out the humor of the book perfectly! I love how each character looks so different from one another and since there are quite a few characters in the comic, it's important for each one to have a very distinct look. The colors are bright and light, the art is smooth, it just fits so well with everything this comic has set out to do.

The characters themselves are so fantastic. I love Jo. She's a calm and intelligent individual. April is spunky and tough. Mal and Molly have a beautiful relationship blossoming that I cannot wait to see more of. Ripley is a ball of energy and made me laugh more than once. And Jen, their camp counselor, is so awesome and humorous in her own right. Actually, I feel a bit bad for Jen. She has to deal with so much of the shenanigans that are happening around her. Poor woman can't catch a break. X3 But all the characters, every single one of them, is just unique and beautiful and lovely and I just can't!

Seriously, if you have not yet read Lumberjanes then I highly recommend you do. It's fun, sweet, light, and an all-around good time. If you're looking for a quick fun comic about friendships and mystery then I think this is a good comic to try out! I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. I know I am going to love it~

My rating: Buy it!

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“Where have you been!?”

Well, let me tell you, dear inquisitive mind~

2017 was a dumpster fire that both N.T. and I were thrown into. It was a lot of pain, a lot of heartache, and a lot of “WHEN WILL THIS YEAR BE OVER!? DX”

Needless to say, we have had one of the worst years of our lives. But it was also a year that opened our eyes. It helped us to better understand ourselves as people and it helped us understand that if we want to prosper in this ludicrously horrible world, we’re going to have to depend on ourselves more than anything. We are not proud of the situations we were placed in during 2017. We’re not even proud of the “work” we got done in 2017.

However, 2018 will be the opposite of that.

We’re going to fight harder than we have ever done before. We’re going to work on ourselves, to improve our way of life, to increase our knowledge about the world, to become more creatively involved. We have many plans for the future and it’s going to be difficult, but after the shit year we’ve just experienced, it can only go up from here.

So I’m here to remind you, and myself, that it’s not over yet. Things aren’t great but it’s not over. We’ve been through hell but it’s not over. We’ll continue to fight for ourselves and others because it’s not over. 

My partner and I will be posting much more frequently on this blog, bringing some much needed content which explores many diverse backgrounds. I will start by bringing over some reviews I did last year. But I will save some of them for future themes we will be hosting. I’ve got ideas for Black History Month, author spotlights, and much more so stay tuned!

Again, apologies for not being as consistent as we’ve promised in the past. We will be trying much harder from now on.

Hope you’re all doing well and have a Happy New Year!

-Rain

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Book Review: Audition by Ryū Murakami; Translated by Ralph McCarthy

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

I am not having good luck with Japanese literature this year.

Let me backtrack. At the beginning of this year, I said that I was going to read more Japanese literature. I love Japan. Its culture, language, history, and literature have fascinated me since I was five years-old. But even though I've studied the culture, language, and history, I've fallen behind on its literature. So I wanted to rectify that this year. I want to read through all of Haruki Murakami's works, some classics, and even modern novels that come from Japan. If you recall, at the beginning of January, I picked up Haruki Murakami's first novel and was completely underwhelmed by it. Now with Audition by Ryu Murakami, my second Japanese literature book for this year, I am left disgusted and annoyed that, so far, my reading project has been a bit of a let down.

Warning: The review below goes into a bit of graphic detail in order to accurately portray my disgust so be careful if you choose to continue onward.

The writing itself is not bad. I read an English edition so I can't comment on Murakami's own writing. But Ralph McCarthy did an excellent job in translating the novel. It never felt like he was trying to make it into a flowery writing style. It's raw and to the point. I was never confused as to what was going on within the story because of how fluid the writing is. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.

Everything else I did not like. Throughout most of the book you have the main character, Aoyama, being a complete sexist asshole. He and his friend, Yoshikawa, talked horribly about women. That they're not good for much except sex. That if a woman wants to be an actress, she will mostly likely end up sleeping her way to the top. Ugh. They even talked about wanting to sleep with a lot of women but won't have it if a woman decided to have sex with more than one man. It's a double-standard that's been passed along in our misogynistic society forever now and it really pisses me off. The main character even goes as far to say that any man who doesn't want to be surrounded by a whole bunch of women is either a homosexual or mentally ill. I don't need to tell you how harmful and backwards thinking that statement is.

But, wait, it gets worse!

Yoshikawa, best friend of Aoyama, is just as horrendous as Aoyama is! Yoshikawa says that no woman would want to date anyone who uses the internet because only "geeks" use it, and that people who have jobs at radio stations are all idiots and would do anything to get their name out there. As if DJs and radio hosts are empty-minded individuals for working on the radio instead of TV. And that jab about people using the internet? Yeah, how's that going for ya, Yoshikawa? I'm aware that this book was written in the 90s but even then saying something like THAT about anyone who uses the internet is downright offensive.

And I wish the problems would just end there but there's still more I need to talk about. Like how Murakami decided to describe the sex scenes in his book. Not that I mind have descriptions of sex in the books I read. I'm okay with that. What I'm not okay with is how Murakami chose to describe it. The descriptions were solely focused on Asami's, the main female character, body. He described the "folds" and the "white liquid" without ever touching upon Aoyama whatsoever. After all, he was there... you know. Just writing those scenes the way Murakami did diminished the act all together. It resulted in only objectifying Asami into a sex doll. Not that it's that surprising seeing as how all the other women in the book are written to be shallow, money-hungry, "sluts" who are only looking out for themselves.

One more thing I want to add before wrapping up this review and it's one of the biggest reasons why I HATE this book. At the beginning of the book, Aoyama mentions to Asami that he's surprised she is so normal and demure because usually people who suffer from abuse as a child end up with trauma that leave them mentally unstable. And then that statement is solidified by Asami later on trying to kill him. Because ALL rape/abuse victims are crazy and want to kill all the people they have a relationship with, right? Ugh... These types of comments that force abuse victims into one group are harmful. It sends the wrong message out to people. With how bad the stigma is around mental illness and rape victims, just saying that anyone who is abused as a child will grow up to be mass murderers is wrong! We don't need anymore of that type of representation in books or in any form of media. Rape victims do suffer trauma, yes, but they do not decide to become killers later on in life to "get back" at their rapists. And I won't sit here, claiming to know everything a rape victim goes through. However, I will also not sit here and let this toxic perception of victims go unchallenged either. They've already been through enough. We don't need to add on to their grief by labeling them as "psychopaths" as well.

Also, making said abuse victim dismember animals in a book just to add more "shock" value does not make the book better. It just makes the writer seem desperate and unimaginative in the story. There was no point in dismembering the dog. It did not go with the narrative Murakami was trying to "sell." He said that Asami wanted to "saw off the feet" of the men she was with to resemble her abuser and to "get back" at the men who wronged her. So why go after the dog? It did not fit her "criteria." Clearly, Murakami only added that part in to "disturb" the reader. There was no point to it and it was sloppy.

I know I gave away some points to the story but I felt like I had to so I could properly discuss why I hate this book. It's sloppy, misogynistic, harmful, and disgusting. I do not recommend you read this book. I won't say DON'T read it. I am of the belief people can read whatever they want. However, if anything I said disturbs you in any way, then you might want to steer clear. It's a shame that Ryu Murakami wrote a story in this manner. He is clearly not a writer for me and I will not be picking up anymore of his books.

My rating: Don’t waste your time on it.

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Short Story Review: The Summer Palace by C.S. Pacat

Short Story synopsis here. Original review here.

And, finally, the last short story that's currently out for fans to read and devour! The Summer Palace is an epilogue of sorts to Kings Rising and I am LIVING for it! It follows Damen and Laurent after the events that happened in Ios. They both travel to the Summer Palace to rest, talk, and discuss what the future may hold for them.

I'm going to say this: If you love the trilogy, then read this short story right now! In my Kings Rising review, I said I felt the book ended abruptly. I felt there should have been more story to wrap things up a bit more smoothly. Well, this short story did that! It gave Damen and Laurent a proper ending and I implore you to read this so you can see what became of them after the "final battle."

The writing in this short story is a lot better than it was in the first short story. Where the first story felt rushed and choppy, this one felt like Pacat took her time to flesh out what she wanted Damen and Laurent to feel, to act. There were a couple of typos here and there but nothing too noticeable. I enjoyed the slower pace to this story because I felt it suited the atmosphere of the setting. I love that we got to see a much more domestic side to both of these characters and I love that we got to see Laurent open up and "thank" Damen for everything he's done.

I really love this conclusion. A lot. This short story is an excellent addition to the Captive Prince universe and if you're a fan, then you will DEFINITELY enjoy this as well. Give it a read!

Now to wait for the other short stories to be released... I hate waiting! X3

My rating: Buy It!

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Short Story Review: Green but for a Season by C.S. Pacat

Short Story synopsis here. Original review here.

And we continue on with the short stories from the Captive Prince trilogy! This short story takes place during book two and follows Jord. It explains how he came to be a part of the Prince's Guard and what he did whilst being Captain. It also touches a tiny bit on his relationship with Aimeric.

In short (no pun intended), I liked this story. I liked getting to know Jord a bit more. I also liked seeing him develop further than he was in the books. I enjoyed seeing his history and how he interacted with Laurent as a young boy. I will say, however, that I feel that this short story was a bit rushed. I know it's a short story and it's not going to have as much depth as a full length novel. But it just felt choppy in some parts. There was a moment I had to check to make sure that I didn't skip a part because we went from one scene to the next without proper transition. I would have also liked to see Jord and Aimeric's relationship fleshed out more than was in this story, which is what I initially thought this short story was going to be about. I wanted to see their relationship be explored because in the novels, I felt their relationship was hinted to be complex and I just... didn't get that in this story. And that’s all I’ll say about it. Being a short story, if I say anymore, the whole story is ruined.

Still, it's a pretty good read for anyone who is a fan of the trilogy. I think you'd enjoy it even if it's a bit on the shorter side.

My Rating: Buy It!

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Book Review: Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat

Book synopsis here. Original review here.

Last year, I read the first two books in C.S. Pacat's Captive Prince trilogy and absolutely loved them! I loved them so much, my partner and I bought them as soon as we finished reading them to add to our collections! And it's only now that I am getting around to the third and final book to the trilogy. (I know there are short stories that come after the series so I will get to them soon.) I have to say I LOVED this book!

If you're familiar with the series, then this continues off where the second book ended. It continues Damen and Laurent's struggles of fighting a war with the Regent of Vere. I won't say anything of the plot because this IS wrapping up the story. However, I will say if you loved the first two books then you will love this one immensely.

The writing is breathtaking! Pacat's depictions are lovely. I adore the way she describes scenery the most. The characters are just as engaging as they were in the first two books. And, yes, Damen is still dumb. I can't believe he wasn't able to figure out Laurent was raped and abused by his uncle. And, no, I don't consider that a spoiler because the hints were HEAVILY implied throughout the ENTIRE trilogy. So anyone with a brain could figure out the abuse Laurent had to endure from his uncle when he was a child. And then there's Damen... man, is he dumb. He really didn't know this entire time... and then he does something ELSE stupid later on that I can't say because that IS a spoiler but... it was just as stupid as not figuring out Laurent's rape. Still, Damen is dumb in a harmless way. In what I mean that he has his heart in the right place... even if he can't use his brain to save his life... LITERALLY!

Laurent really made my heart ache in this book. Knowing what we know about his childhood and how much he misses his brother, it pains me to see him trying to protect himself by pushing those away. He's also protecting Damen because he knows what kind of man his uncle is and he doesn't want Damen to have to deal with that. So Laurent does the one thing he knows how to do: Keep him at a distance by being a total ass to him! I swear, I love Laurent. I do. But he can be such a jerk sometimes. Actually, I find it quite hilarious the way he acts and responds with snarky/sassy comments. Laurent and Damen's relationship is such an interesting, wild, sometimes bizarre ride that I can't help but LOVE!

In short, I love this book. It's fast-paced, fun, steamy, and incredible! My one complaint was how it seemed to just end. The ending, I felt, needed to be dragged out a bit more. BUT! The short story, The Summer Palace, is an epilogue of the trilogy which is why I'm not too upset by Kings Rising stopping almost abruptly. Just keep in mind that you might want to have The Summer Palace nearby if you want to have a full conclusion to the story.

The same warnings apply as to the first two books. So if you've read the first two, you know what you'll be getting in this one. There's sex, violence, adult language, mentions of rape, and murder. If you're okay with reading that then I highly recommend you read this book. These are fun books that you can read in one sitting if you're looking for a steamy mlm politically-run romp.

My Rating: Buy it!