When I originally read Monstress, Vol. 1 a couple of years ago, I gave it 3.5 stars. I loved the artwork and the character designs, but had a hard time getting into the story, world-building, mythos, etc., and also really struggled through the tougher triggers (such as child trafficking, child abuse/torture/murder, assault, etc.). That said, this is the perfect example of why I update my reviews when I reread books: because, sometimes, our opinions can drastically change during rereads, and there's nothing wrong with updating your reviews to reflect that!
All of that aside, I'm pleased to say that I did not hesitate to lift my rating to 5 stars when I reread this beautiful, incredibly in-depth graphic novel. I thought the lore was incredible, I adored the world-building, and the hard-to-stomach aspects of the plot didn't alarm me as much (presumably due to my consuming more "dark" content lately than I did in 2016/17 and becoming less easily bothered, maybe?). I would still caution anyone who is triggered by child abuse/death to think long and hard before picking this one up, but if you can read those topics, this is a really incredible story with a lot of complex characters and nuances to the battling sides. I can't wait to continue the series.
When I originally read Monstress, Vol. 1 a couple of years ago, I gave it 3.5 stars. I loved the artwork and the character designs, but had a hard time getting into the story, world-building, mythos, etc., and also really struggled through the tougher triggers (such as child trafficking, child abuse/torture/murder, assault, etc.). That said, this is the perfect example of why I update my reviews when I reread books: because, sometimes, our opinions can drastically change during rereads, and there's nothing wrong with updating your reviews to reflect that!
All of that aside, I'm pleased to say that I did not hesitate to lift my rating to 5 stars when I reread this beautiful, incredibly in-depth graphic novel. I thought the lore was incredible, I adored the world-building, and the hard-to-stomach aspects of the plot didn't alarm me as much (presumably due to my consuming more "dark" content lately than I did in 2016/17 and becoming less easily bothered, maybe?). I would still caution anyone who is triggered by child abuse/death to think long and hard before picking this one up, but if you can read those topics, this is a really incredible story with a lot of complex characters and nuances to the battling sides. I can't wait to continue the series....more
This was pretty neat! I thought it packed a pleasant, morbid punch in a very short span of pages, but at the same time, I would love to read a full noThis was pretty neat! I thought it packed a pleasant, morbid punch in a very short span of pages, but at the same time, I would love to read a full novella involving this world and these creatures because they sound pretty terrifying. ...more
This was always one of my absolute favorites in the series, so it's one of the ones I was most excited to reread when I started this series reread, anThis was always one of my absolute favorites in the series, so it's one of the ones I was most excited to reread when I started this series reread, and it definitely lived up to my memories! I must have read it a dozen times as a kid but I still had so much fun watching the mystery of the creepy, evil little camera play out. What a clever idea for a story, and it totally reminded me of why R.L. Stine was my absolute favorite author as a kid. ...more
This was pretty damn cute! It definitely has a lot of insta-love elements, but it's done in a sweet way and I still enjoyed it despite usually not beiThis was pretty damn cute! It definitely has a lot of insta-love elements, but it's done in a sweet way and I still enjoyed it despite usually not being a big fan of that trope — I guess in short romance formats like this, it just works better. I loved the holiday elements with the Secret Santa games and all, and despite a brief moment of drama/miscommunication, it's a pretty laid-back little story that focuses mainly on the steam....more
I sadly didn't like anything about this beyond the art, which wasn't cute enough to save it from a 1-star rating. Right off the bat, the representatioI sadly didn't like anything about this beyond the art, which wasn't cute enough to save it from a 1-star rating. Right off the bat, the representation of the side characters feels... really uncomfortable and poorly done to me? I mean, we have a book where a character is learning to observe her white privilege, but many of the side characters — especially the Black characters — feel like over-the-top caricatures of outdated stereotypes. Don't even get me started on the age gap flirting... I skimmed a lot of this because I got so tired of reading it and whew, am I glad this was just a library loan. What a big disappointment. :( ...more
This was honestly one of THE sweetest, best romances I've read in a very long time and probably THE best friends-to-lovers I've ever seen. *swoon* This was honestly one of THE sweetest, best romances I've read in a very long time and probably THE best friends-to-lovers I've ever seen. *swoon* ...more
This was a really sweet, quick read and I dig that all of the characters were Native American or First Nations and the MC is deaf (and the rep felt reThis was a really sweet, quick read and I dig that all of the characters were Native American or First Nations and the MC is deaf (and the rep felt really nice and thoughtful IMO!). ...more
I love The Awkward Yeti, so whenever I see that there's a new collection up on Netgalley, I jump to download it as soon as possible. I think this has I love The Awkward Yeti, so whenever I see that there's a new collection up on Netgalley, I jump to download it as soon as possible. I think this has to be one of my favorite works of Seluk's yet, even though it totally branches out from the usual style! Instead of a collection of short, humorous, silly comics, this is actually a collection of true medical stories that were submitted (mostly by patients, but sometimes by providers) and then dramatized through comics. They're still adorable and hilarious (the gallbladder has my heart forever with its little "you don't wike da stones?" moments), but it's also super informative and morbidly fascinating. Whether you're new to The Awkward Yeti comics or a long-time fan, I strongly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!...more
There were a lot of little things I LOVED about this, but also a lot of big things I... didn't :( Mainly, I struggled with the wishy-washy feelings anThere were a lot of little things I LOVED about this, but also a lot of big things I... didn't :( Mainly, I struggled with the wishy-washy feelings and the total lack of communication, which I'm fully aware is a common trope in romance novels, but it's one that was over-used in this case, in my opinion. That said, I remember this story pretty fondly overall and am really looking forward to reading more of Eva Leigh's work!...more
I first read this a couple of years ago and really liked it at the time, but never got around to reviewing it. Since it's such a short read, and I wanI first read this a couple of years ago and really liked it at the time, but never got around to reviewing it. Since it's such a short read, and I wanted to continue the series, I decided to re-read it and finally give it a proper review. Unfortunately, I liked it less the second time around, but I'd say it's a solid 3.5-star read for me, and since I enjoyed it so much the first time, I'll round that up to a 4 for Goodreads' sake.
First of all, if you're looking for cheesy, unapologetically heavy-handed Christmas themes, look no further (and I'm not saying this as an insult, because that's what I like about this story!). The main character's name is Holly Mistletoe Winters, her sisters' names are Ginger and Noel, the entire story revolves around Christmas and related celebrations... you won't find a more Christmas-y story than this one, I think.
While I like the holiday elements and enjoy the writing and humor, Holly's character is a bit difficult to deal with. The novella relies pretty heavily on miscommunication and Holly being absolutely oblivious, and while she does grow as a character in the end, it's still a bit... annoying, to put it frankly.
That said, it's still a cute story, quick and worth the read, and I'll probably continue the series to see what happens with Holly's sisters.
This was SO cute and 100% needs to be lengthened out into a Netflix original rom-com ASAP, please and thank you. I loved the family dynamics here and This was SO cute and 100% needs to be lengthened out into a Netflix original rom-com ASAP, please and thank you. I loved the family dynamics here and thought the romance itself was super swoon-worthy and sweet, but honestly... I just want all the hilarious, ridiculous family holiday hijinks. I will say this wasn't the most memorable read for me, but I did enjoy it a whole lot and loved the author's narrative voice, so I'm very excited to continue the series at some point soon! (And seriously, Netflix, GET ON IT.)...more
He heard the whispers from the darkness. It sounded like a hundred voices — a hundred ghosts — calling his name.
I've been meaning to check[image]
He heard the whispers from the darkness. It sounded like a hundred voices — a hundred ghosts — calling his name.
I've been meaning to check out Terry M. West's work for years, and own a few of his books on my kindle, but somehow hadn't read anything until Transfer—and I'm only mad at myself for waiting so long, because wow, I am such an instant fan.
Transfer follows a couple of guys who work overnights in a video editing shop, where they pass the time in fairly mundane ways—that is, until they start finding unnatural video clips intermingled with their other files each night, each evening's snippet growing more and more sinister and strange. It begins to completely consume Howie and Nick until they can't possibly walk away, and the two men decide they have to know where these files are coming from.
I was absolutely blown away by how powerful of a punch this tiny novella packed. The characters immediately draw you in, and the fear element is so... primal, for lack of a better word. It felt like the terrors being described in this story were simultaneously incredibly modern, given their relation to technology, and yet so deep-rooted in me that I couldn't imagine having not been chilled to the core by the descriptions Terry offers of this wicked, cruel threat. I'm honestly an incredibly difficult reader to rattle, but for a couple of days after finishing this novella, I kept finding my thoughts drifting back to this awful creature and it unsettled me a little every time.
Whether you love horror novellas or are brand new to the format, Transfer is one you can't afford to miss. It's original, brutal, and downright horrifying — truly, Terry's imagination is twisted in the best way and I can't wait to read more from him.
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!...more
I never get tired of Catana's comics, and this collection was just as adorable as I expected it to be. My spouse and I always love these because we feI never get tired of Catana's comics, and this collection was just as adorable as I expected it to be. My spouse and I always love these because we feel like they're so very us. Honestly, nobody nails "relatable" humor quite as well as Catana does when it comes to cute, casual couple stuff!
[image] (^ literally me)
If it tells you anything about how much I loved this, despite being the sort of person who almost never pre-orders finished copies of comic collections, I ran off to pre-order this the moment I finished my eARC because I needed it for my shelf (just like I did with Catana's last collection, which I reread often, and fondly ♥). I absolutely recommend picking it up, especially if you're in a long-term relationship and can relate to the cute, goofy things comfortable couples do with each other.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!...more
I really, truly appreciate the idea behind this collection: a bisexual Chinese author talking about how hard it was to come out to her mother, stipulaI really, truly appreciate the idea behind this collection: a bisexual Chinese author talking about how hard it was to come out to her mother, stipulations that come with being from an immigrant family, the struggles of a conservative mother, and more. All of that said, unfortunately, the execution didn't work for me. I didn't enjoy the art style, some of the layouts of the comics were a bit hard to follow, and the narrative voice as a whole didn't mesh with me. I really wanted to like this more than I did, sadly.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!...more
Okay, first of all, Lenore is dark. I don't mean it's going to terrify you, I mean it features stuff like kids dying, fluffy little animals being abusOkay, first of all, Lenore is dark. I don't mean it's going to terrify you, I mean it features stuff like kids dying, fluffy little animals being abused/killed, a little girl torturing living creatures with or without meaning to... It's a whole mess and if you're easily bothered, sickened, or upset, you might want to steel yourself (or avoid Dirge's work altogether). That said, I've gotta be honest: I loved this weird, fucked-up little collection of comics.
Lenore is so twisted, and her little companions are just as disturbing, though even they get a little creeped out by her nightmarish tendencies at times. That said, the horror is presented in such an absurd — and, at times, cheerful — way, I couldn't help but laugh my head off. What can I say? I grew up on Invader ZIM and Jhonen's other works, and always loved Roman's writing on the show, so finally reading his most famous comics feels like coming full-circle. If you (like me) grew up an ~edgy~ little goth kid in the 2000s, I'd love to hear if this felt as much like coming home to you as it did to me. ...more
This has a lot of potential, and I think, with a few key changes, could honestly have been flawless. The tongue-in-cheek parallels to real-l3.5 stars
This has a lot of potential, and I think, with a few key changes, could honestly have been flawless. The tongue-in-cheek parallels to real-life sexist comments thrown at people on their periods is very on-the-nose and super amusing (if a little too real, if you think about it too much) and there's a lot of symbolism at play here, plus the art is adorable and colorful and everything I want from a graphic novel's art style.
That said, as some other reviewers have pointed out before me, it's an extremely cis-centered take on things... and the entire 4th issue (so, 1/4 of this volume) is nothing but fake advertisements, which would've been really fun sprinkled throughout here and there, one or two at a time, but quickly became overkill in this instance.
I'll definitely continue the series, but it sadly wasn't a perfect first volume for me....more
This was such a cute read. I picked it up on a whim after a twitter friend (thanks, Danielle!) recommended it and it was really sweet! Poor little AbbThis was such a cute read. I picked it up on a whim after a twitter friend (thanks, Danielle!) recommended it and it was really sweet! Poor little Abbie Wu has a case of the "Middles" — it's her entrance to middle school, and she's absolutely wracked with anxiety and a feeling of not belonging anywhere. It's so relatable, especially to someone like me who also had legitimate anxiety issues as a kid; while Abbie never puts a name on her feelings, they surely stuck out as recognizable.
Abbie's narrative voice is funny, easy to empathize with, and lovable. The illustrations are absolutely adorable; the characters are all drawn in a simplistic chibi style that made me smile more than a few times, especially coupled with how classically melodramatic the little caricatures could be. I'll definitely be recommending this one to kiddos at work and I'll probably pick up more books by this author in the future!...more
I loved Chuck Mullin's little pigeon comics, so when I saw that she was releasing this collection, I jumped at the chance to read it — and I'm so gladI loved Chuck Mullin's little pigeon comics, so when I saw that she was releasing this collection, I jumped at the chance to read it — and I'm so glad I did.
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The comics are spaced out with a couple of pages here and there that tell the author's own story with her mental illness, treatment, and her journey to the self-love she's begun to find for herself, and it's really wonderful and touching. I definitely teared up a few times over how much I related to her thoughts and worries, but it was also so comforting to see that she's found things that work for her, and it gives me hope that I can find things that work for me, too. (I've even opted to steal a few of her ideas, like saying one kind thing to yourself in the mirror every day)
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If you struggle with mental illness at all, especially anxiety and depression, I can't recommend this collection enough. You'll laugh, you'll get all kinds of Feels™, and I can almost guarantee you'll love these little anxious pigeons as much as I did.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!...more
While this definitely wasn't my favorite, I'm glad I picked it up despite my misgivings with volume 1, as this volume was much, much better! There areWhile this definitely wasn't my favorite, I'm glad I picked it up despite my misgivings with volume 1, as this volume was much, much better! There are more stories and many of them are pretty creative — or, at the least, fun. I wouldn't say I'll be recommending this one very highly, but it was a decent way to pass a little time. ...more
Meh. I thought this had a lot of potential to be awesome, especially as someone who has been following the "black-eyed kids" urban legends a loooong tMeh. I thought this had a lot of potential to be awesome, especially as someone who has been following the "black-eyed kids" urban legends a loooong time. It's not something I really ever see depicted in media, so I was pretty excited to learn this graphic novel series existed, but sadly, it was really boring and the art was so dark that I could barely make out any details at all. I won't be continuing the series. The only reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because I was intrigued by the subplot idea of these black-eyed kids having been around on the planet for a long time and having slowly plotted this world takeover sort of ordeal.
