graphic novel

Quick Reviews: Graphic Novels

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This last month or so I’ve been trying to both catch up on some of my graphic novel backlog and also working towards reaching my goal of reading 100 books in 2021 for the GoodReads challenge. To that end I’ve read a number of fun graphic novels that I’d like to briefly share with you today.

Sleepless Domain - Book One: The Price of Magic
Paperback, 132 pages
Published October 26th 2021 by Seven Seas

This was a fun twist on the magical girl genre and seems to draw both from Sailor Moon and Madoka Magica. It starts off light and cheery but quickly discusses darker themes that I hope will be explored further in later volumes.

Continue reading →

Book Review: Be Wary of the Silent Woods by Svetlana Chmakova

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The Weirn Books, Vol. 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods
Paperback, 240 pages
Published June 16th 2020 by JY

Having enjoyed the original Nightschool series from Svetlana, I was excited to see the author/artist return to that magical world with a middle grade companion series. This first book even came with color illustrations to enhance the overall appeal, which I liked very much and hope continues going forward. This book’s art didn’t feel quite as refined as the original, but I think that’s due to the change in audience and not the talent and work that the author put forth.

Overall, I enjoyed the story as well as the art. I think my personal issue was that I was hung up trying to remember the original story, which I haven’t read in years and am not sure if I was able to read the final volume or not. So I was looking for familiar pieces with no luck because it’s been too long and I should have just made a point to read the original. I think if I wasn’t so focused on that I would have better enjoyed the story as presented because it was both creepy and well told.

I’m looking forward to future books in this series and will try to hunt down the original series as well 🙂

Summary:

In the Night Realm, vampires, shifters, weirns, and other night things passing for human prowl the streets… but they still have to go to school! Ailis and Na’ya are pretty average students (NOT losers), but when a shadow starts looming and a classmate gets all weird, they are the first to notice. It gets personal, though, when Na’ya’s little brother D’esh disappears-It’s time to confront the secrets of the forbidden mansion in the Silent Woods!

Join the acclaimed author of Awkward, Svetlana Chmakova, for an outing into her favorite fantastical world full of magic and adventure!

Book Review: Fantastic Tales of Nothing by Alejandra Green

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Fantastic Tales of Nothing
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: November 17th 2020 by Katherine Tegen Books

This was a delightful graphic novel full of tension and diversity and gorgeous color! The author did an excellent job balancing world building and plot movement while also developing character relationships and giving us some backstory.

I did find it a bit weird that one of the minor characters appeared to break the fourth wall randomly. I enjoy stories that make use of this structure but the character isn’t introduced until around the half way point, I think, and it doesn’t match anything else in the narrative, so it was more confusing than anything.

I enjoyed how the main character, Nathan, reacts to Haven in both mannerism and using they/them pronouns once he gets used to the idea. The magic is explained in little bits here and there when the story requires and lends itself well to action sequences. Overall, a very enjoyable read that can be shared with younger readers who like a thicker graphic novel and older readers who enjoy great art and story.

Thanks to the publisher, Katherine Tegen Books for approving my Edelweiss request to read the earc in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

In the first book of this full-color fantasy graphic novel series filled with humor and hijinks, the fate of the land of Nothing hinges on Nathan and an unlikely team of magical beings to save the day—perfect for fans of Amulet and Estranged.

Welcome to Nothing! Despite its name, this is a fantastic land where humans and magical volken coexist peacefully—at least they try . . .

This is the tale of Nathan, an ordinary human (or so he thinks) living an ordinary life (or so he wishes). Everything changes when he meets Haven, a mysterious creature who is neither human nor volken. Oh, and the two of them are being chased by volken mercenaries—a grumpy wolf named Bardou and a delightful crow named Sina.

Nathan soon learns he has mysterious powers, even though humans aren’t supposed to have magic. But there’s no time to dwell on that because this discovery sets the group on a perilous quest across windswept terrain, through haunted forests, and in ancient tombs. Nathan and his unlikely friends must prevent an impending war and defeat a dark evil to save their land.

No pressure, of course. If they fail, everything will turn into, well . . . nothing.

Book Review: Odessa by Jonathan Hill

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Odessa
Paperback, 328 pages
Expected publication: November 10th 2020 by Oni Press

I have mixed feelings about this story. This is clearly a volume one and is To Be Continued… but I also feel like I didn’t get enough clues/hints/payoffs on the mother, who instigated this whole adventure. I like the world building with the post-apocalypse California and hints at other things, which we didn’t learn much about in this book. The characters were also interesting even if the main trio felt flat and very black and white. I think it might have helped to see a bit more of them in daily life before they left home. To see the changes better. A lot happened and the pacing was good, but this volume is a little over 300 pages and it felt like we didn’t get very far plotwise.

As for the art. I think the art style worked well with the story and setting; however, the pink color really through me off. It is the only color used, and I think it would be more effective if a bit more orange in hue. To simulate the sky and sun after the apocalypse. But maybe the pink is in reference to something else entirely. I’m not sure.

I wouldn’t give this book to children to read. Teenagers would be fine and maybe even junior high age, but it gets dark as post-apocalypse fiction does and is a bit graphic in places with violence on page. Overall, not a bad read, but I don’t think I’m the right audience for this one.

A big thank you to Oni Press for letting my read this early on NetGalley!

Summary:

Three siblings search for their missing mother across a ruined America in this original graphic novel perfect for fans of Scott Westerfeld and Neal Shusterman. 

Eight years ago an earthquake—the Big One—hit along the Cascadia fault line, toppling cities and changing landscapes all up and down the west coast of the United States. Life as we know it changed forever. But for Vietnamese-American Virginia Crane, life changed shortly after the earthquake, when her mother left and never came back.

Ginny has gotten used to a life without her mother, helping her father take care of her two younger brothers, Wes and Harry. But when a mysterious package arrives for her eighteenth birthday, her life is shaken up yet again. For the first time, Ginny wants something more than to survive. And it might be a selfish desire, but she’s determined to find out what happened to her mother—even if it means leaving her family behind.

ARC Review: Song of the Court by Katy Farina

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Song of the Court
Paperback, 128 pages
Expected publication: August 25th 2020 by Sterling Children’s Books

I received an earc of this wonderful title from the publisher through Edelweiss. I had quite the time trying to read and understand the story as the formatting was way out of wack. However, once I kind of figured it out, the art and story were just magnificent.

This is a story that examines what it means to have multiple hobbies and how to find and balance the passion each one requires. The author handled this beautifully through a variety of characters portrayed through art that perfectly matches the tone used to tell the story.

I think this would be an excellent resource for young readers who are unsure of their talents. If read together with a parent or other adult, the discussion could prove quite illuminating for both parties. This is a graphic novel that belongs in classrooms, libraries, and personal libraries.

Summary:

A charming fairy tale—told in graphic novel style—about two unlikely friends who encourage each other to pursue their dreams.

“Katy’s work is so expressive and fun! The way she seamlessly blends high drama, big laughs, and tender family moments blows me away . . .” Gale Galligan, New York Times bestselling author of The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels

In order to buy seeds for her beautiful garden, Arietta plans to sell her treasured family violin. Then music-loving Princess Cassia spots Arietta with the instrument and excitedly asks her to perform at her upcoming birthday party. What the Princess doesn’t realize is, Arietta can’t play! Too ashamed to tell Cassia the truth, Arietta sets out to learn a special song for the occasion. But as Arietta’s musical passion blossoms, her devotion to her garden fades . . . and her trees and flowers begin to die. Will she be able to master the tune in time for Cassia’s celebration—and save the garden, too?

Partial Book Review: Nils: The Tree of Life by Jerome Hamon

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Nils: The Tree of Life

Hardcover, 184 pages
Expected publication: February 11th 2020 by Magnetic Press

I enjoyed this graphic novel but think I need to read it again with a physical copy. I gave up about half way through this digital download due to being unable to read the small text while also enjoying the two-page spreads that are included and occasionally very important to the visual storytelling. I am looking forward to reading this one in its entirety as I liked the art and color choices. It seems to be based on Norse mythology, and I have just enough knowledge to follow those references.

I like the introduction of technology and how that affects the land. The author put a lot of thought into carefully crafting characters who care and who make me care about them. This should already be on your list to read! What are you waiting for?  I’m also interested in seeing what other titles this publisher has.

Summary:

A dystopic Nordic fantasy world, where spirits of light are the key to life, but seemingly have abandoned the world. Young Nils and his father set out to discover why the ground has grown infertile, heading north where the drought seems worse to find the cause. Far along the way, they find signs of fresh and vibrant life, caretaken by these little light spirits. But before they know it, a large metal creature arrives and attacks the creatures, apparently hunting and gathering them. From out of the woods, a woman attacks the creature, bringing it to its knees… apparently the plant was bait for the spirits, which in turn were bait for the metal creature, which serves the high-tech Cyan Nation.

This huntress, named Alba, takes Nils and his father into their tribe, where the battle between the shamanistic people and the Cyan Nation is paramount, a battle over the protection vs exploitation of the light spirits power… Meanwhile, three goddesses watch these events, lamenting the fact that man had abandoned all belief in their power long ago. They watch but do not intervene, despite the fact that the spirits are being harvested en masse by the Cyan Nation, wreaking ruin on the world outside their city. Realizing that this conflict will in one way or another change the very fabric of this world, they slowly begin to intervene…

As they continue their travels, Nils has a dream (seeded by one of the goddesses) about the World Tree, Yggdrasil, which is being consumed by a metal plague. He knows he must now find and save the tree, and in the process, save the world. But the high council of the Cyan Nation would have otherwise… Having been separated in their quest, Nils’s father finds himself a guest of the Cyan Prince, where he learns that they do indeed understand the power of the spirits, which they call Ethernum, serving as the power source for their technological advancement.

High fantasy adventure combining science-fiction with pseudo-spiritual magic, posing dramatic examinations of man vs nature, life vs death, fact vs faith, and man’s desire to play god.

Book Review: Field Trip by Molly Brooks

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Field Trip (Sanity & Tallulah, Book 2)

Hardcover, 240 pages
Published October 22nd 2019 by Disney-Hyperion

I’m going to start by saying that I didn’t love this one quite as much as the first volume.  I think it was the distinct lack of three-headed kitten though.  The replacement “bees” were absolutely amazing though.  The friendship and characterization of Sanity and Tallulah were just as fun as the previous and shows a bit more the difference between the not-quite-evil genius and the spacy creative one.  It works and I love it!

The science in this one was spectacular.  I don’t know how true the science was, but it made logical sense within the story, and that’s all that matters to me.  It introduced some concepts that made you think about the consequences.  And what might happen if it were a reality.

I’m hoping that this series continues because it is adorable and presents several wonderful things that I think are lacking in the middle grade graphic novel category (POC main character, smart/science engaged girls, etc.).  I look forward to seeing what else the author comes up with after this.

PS It kinda reminds me of the DCOM Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century.

Summary:

Sanity and Tallulah are going on a field trip-to a real live planet! Some of their classmates are nervous (none of them have been on a planet before, and they’ve heard terrible things), but Tallulah is beside herself with excitement. Sanity would be more excited if her grumpy older sister, Prudence, wasn’t coming along to supervise the trip. Things get off to a rocky start (asteroid-y start, to be specific) and Sanity and Tallulah find themselves separated from their school group, pursued by a pirate, and stranded on a planet that’s about to explode, with nothing but the wreckage of a crashed space shuttle and the contents of Tallulah’s overloaded backpack to work with. These best friends will have to stretch their problem-solving skills to the limit in order to get everyone home safe, and it’s going to take their whole class-plus an accountant, a math hermit, a group of mysterious beekeepers, and even the murderous pirate-to make it happen.
This second adventure in the Sanity & Tallulah series by Molly Brooks is out of this world!