Saturday 31 August 2019

August Wrap-Up.

Well, I did manage four reads this month so I'm glad about that. Only one was what I originally planned to read, and three of them were graphic novels, but it has been a really tough month reading-wise. I'm definitely going through a bit of a slump!




  1. 'Kriss: The Gift of Wrath' by Ted Naifeh & Warren Wucinich. My first read of the month was a dark, fantastical graphic novel. I loved the art so much, and became quite invested in the plot's potential. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where this series goes. 3/5 Stars.
  2. 'Fence [Vol. 1]' by C.S. Pacat, Johanna The Mad & Shanen Pae. This first instalment of the series I've seen everywhere made me so happy! So much Queer goodness, I learnt a lot about fencing, and I'm super invested in the story. 4.5/5 Stars.
  3. 'Nimona' by Noelle Stevenson. This is another graphic novel that has been on the radar for a while because it is all over the blogosphere. I had so much love for the interesting characters and cool world-building concept (a unique blend of medieval fantasy and sci-fi). 4/5 Stars.
  4. 'Hello Me, It's You' collated by Hannah Todd. This was a really neat idea and definitely had the potential to open up a lot of dialogue about mental health issues. Repetitive at times but very relatable for those that have experience with the subject matter. 3/5 Stars.


This month I read three books for the Beat The Backlist Challenge, making my yearly total twenty.

- Fence [Vol. 1]
- Nimona
- Hello Me, It's You


This month I read one book for the New Release Challenge, making my yearly total nine.


- Kriss: The Gift Of Wrath







This month I read zero books for the Finishing The Series Challenge, making my yearly total four.







This month I read three books for the Diversity Reading Challenge, making my yearly total twenty one.

- Fence [Vol. 1]
- Nimona 
- Hello Me, It's You 
*Mini Challenge: (Mental Health/Addiction)*

Monday 26 August 2019

Last Week's Shenanigans (19th August - 25th August)...

Honestly, this week just gone has been pretty unfulfilling and a little bit on the boring side. Since my niece was born I've been anxiously waiting for today to meet her (which I'll talk more about in next week's post), but I had to get through this week first. I did manage to get some reading done though!

I Read...


I Received...


- 'Dracul' by J.D. Barker: NetGalley (24/08/19)

Sunday 25 August 2019

Book Review: Hello Me, It's You; Hannah Todd.

This book did exactly what it said on the tin - it is a collection of letters from young adults to their teenage selves, about mental health. A necessary book in this day and age!

SOURCE: NetGalley
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Hello Me, It's You
AUTHOR: Hannah Todd
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Hello Me, It's You
PAGES: 109
GENRE: Non-Fiction, Letters, Mental Health

RATING: 3/5 Stars


Blurb:
Hello Me, it’s You is a collection of letters by young adults aged 17-24 about their experiences with mental health issues. The letters are written to their 16-year-old selves, giving beautifully honest advice, insight and encouragement for all that lays ahead of them.

This book was produced by the Hello Me, it’s You charity, set up by the editor, Hannah. Hannah was diagnosed with depression and anxiety whilst at university and found comfort in talking to friends about their experiences, realising she was not alone in her situation. This inspired the idea for the charity and book. Through the creation of materials such as this, the charity aims to provide reassurance for young adults (and their families) who are experiencing mental health issues and give a voice to young adults on such an important topic. The result of that will hopefully be a reduction in the negative stigma surrounding mental health and an increase in awareness of young people’s experiences. All profits go the Hello Me, it’s You charity, for the production of future supportive books.

What I Liked:
  • This book does what you'd expect, and in doing so provides a warm sense of affirmation that you are not alone. As someone who has had her fair share of mental health issues, it was nice to read relatable accounts from others like me.
  • Books like this are necessary in my opinion. We need to open dialogue on mental health issues and start talking more about these things because they can have such an impact on people's lives. This is the kind of book that will contribute to that conversation!
What I Disliked:
  • There was nothing completely groundbreaking about this book. That is not necessarily a bad thing, as the purpose of this book is not to be academic or informative, but to give people with mental health issues a voice and a platform. I will say that a lot of the letters felt repetitive, but again, that just confirms how many people go through the same issues.
Overall Conclusion:
I liked this book for what it represented - a collection of voices given the opportunity to shine light on a topic that has been taboo for a long time. I enjoyed the emotional response and reflection that it inspired within me about my own past experiences too. At times it felt repetitive. At times it lacked content. But the purpose of this book was definitely fulfilled, and it deserves attention for that!

Monday 19 August 2019

Last Week's Shenanigans (12th August - 18th August)...

This week was a super family packed week, because my niece was born! She was about a week late so we've all been waiting with bated breath, but her name is Amora and I love her! I can't wait to meet her soon. We did get to visit Mat's family too, which was lovely!

I Read...

--

I Received...


- 'The Boy On The Bridge' by M.R. Carey: Bought (18/08/19)
- 'Pet Semetary' by Stephen King: Bought (18/08/19)
- 'Boy, Snow, Bird' by Helen Oyeyemi: Bought (18/08/19)

Monday 12 August 2019

Last Week's Shenanigans (5th August - 11th August)...

So I managed to get through a lot more reads this week, partly because they were all Graphic Novels! Other than that, my week was pretty work-filled again. I had a lovely bank holiday off with Mat though!

I Read...


I Received...


- 'Deeplight' by Frances Hardinge: NetGalley (05/08/19)
'Kriss: The Gift Of Wrath' by Ted Naifeh et al.: NetGalley (05/08/19)
- 'The Confession' by Jessie Burton: NetGalley (06/08/19)
- 'The Lost Ones' by Anita Frank: NetGalley (08/08/19)

Saturday 10 August 2019

Book Review: Nimona; Noelle Stevenson.

It seems that it is the month of Graphic Novels/Comics for me, and I'm actually quite happy about that because there are a few I've had my eye on for a while. This one was on my TBR from quite a while ago!

SOURCE: Web-Comic
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Nimona
AUTHOR: Noelle Stevenson
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Harper Collins
PAGES: 272
GENRE: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Young Adult

RATING: 4.5/5 Stars


Blurb:
Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and super-villain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realises that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

What I Liked:
  • I absolutely loved the world that this story was set in. It had modern technology and science, but also a decidedly Medieval setting with some magic thrown in for good measure! It was just so interesting and blended together seamlessly despite the odd combination. 
  • I really loved the banter and relationship between Lord Blackheart and Nimona! I'm a bit of a sucker for a villain-turned-antihero storyline, especially if they kind of become like a father to someone along the way. All. The. Feels.
What I Disliked:
  • The ending was just too ambiguous for me, and not happy enough. I don't like vague endings, and this really disappointed me in that regard. It was okay, but I expected more after the build-up.
Overall Conclusion:
There was so much to love about this comic - unrequited m/m feels, anti-hero goodness, an intriguing plot, amazing dialogue, fun characters and a really cool setting! It's a shame that the ending didn't live up to my high hopes, but this is definitely still worth picking up!

Friday 9 August 2019

Book Review: Fence [Vol. 1]; C.S. Pacat, Johanna The Mad & Shanen Pae.

I've seen this series floating around the blogosphere as a good LGBTQ+ friendly read, and I'm so glad I finally got round to reading the first volume myself!

SOURCE: Web-Comic
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Fence [Vol. 1]
AUTHOR: C.S. Pacat, Johanna The Mad & Shanen Pae
SERIES: Fence (#1 - #4)
PUBLISHER: BOOM! Box
PAGES: 106
GENRE: Graphic Novel, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Young Adult

RATING: 4.5/5 Stars


Blurb:
Nicholas Cox is determined to prove himself in the world of competitive fencing, and earn his place alongside fencing legends like the dad he never knew, but things get more complicated when he’s up against his golden-boy half-brother, as well as sullen fencing prodigy, Seiji Katayama.

Nicholas, the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion, is a scrappy fencing wunderkind, and dreams of getting the chance and the training to actually compete. After getting accepted to the prodigious Kings Row private school, Nicholas is thrust into a cut-throat world, and finds himself facing not only his golden-boy half-brother, but the unbeatable, mysterious Seiji Katayama...

Through clashes, rivalries, and romance between teammates, Nicholas and the boys of Kings Row will discover there’s much more to fencing than just foils and lunges.

What I Liked:
  • I LOVE these characters. Every one. I honestly love slow-building m/m romance so much! Nicholas is the perfect protagonist - hot-headed but loveable, and he contrasts nicely with his rival, the arrogant prodigy Seiji. These two are my fave, but I also adored sweet-natured Bobbi, lazy lothario Aiden and determined leader Harvard. Amazing characters who I know will only grow better as the series goes on.
  • The diversity is really cool - obviously a lot of queer rep (YAAAAASS) and I loved the variety of ethnic and class backgrounds too. It made for a much more interesting story.
What I Disliked:
  • I did find the plot pacing a little on the slow side. I foresee a lot of Fencing matches (duh, the sport this series focuses on is Fencing) but each match takes away from the character development I love and replaces it with Fencing commentary. I enjoy reading it, but it is slow-going.
Overall Conclusion:
This was a really enjoyable read, and I can tell you that I am already hooked on this series. I'm shipping so many couples so hard right now, and I can't wait to watch all of the characters I already love develop, blossom and win some Fencing matches!!

Tuesday 6 August 2019

Book Review: Kriss - The Gift Of Wrath; Ted Naifeh & Warren Wucinich.

It has been such a tiring week at work, and currently I'm struggling to get into novels. Graphic novels have been a great solution for me! This one caught my eye because the cover art is cool, and I liked the look of the plot concept.

SOURCE: NetGalley
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Kriss: The Gift Of Wrath
AUTHOR: Ted Naifeh & Warren Wucinich
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Oni Press
PAGES: 120
GENRE: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Young Adult

RATING: 3.5/5 Stars


Blurb:
Lean, ghostly pale, and permanently grim-faced, Kriss has always been an outsider in his small village. Not even his adoptive parents love him. Only Anja, the blacksmith's daughter, brings kindness and friendship into the life of the sullen teenager. But Kriss is haunted by dim memories of his true father, Erikk Iron Tooth, the king of Darkovia.

When Anja's mother is killed by a wild sabercat from the far north, the young girl's world is shattered, and Kriss determines to avenge her. Armed with only a pitchfork, the skinny teen sets out to kill the beast, only to learn that it's actually a dark spirit from Darkovia, come to bring him his destiny. The spirit grants Kriss the power to vanquish the mightiest foes, and commands him to reclaim his father's kingdom. But his gift of power comes with a price — uncontrollable rage. And leaving the village would mean leaving Anja, the only person who's always been there for him. Kriss must choose between his destiny and Anja, who needs his friendship more than ever. But his growing power, and the fiery anger that comes with it, threatens to make the choice for him, and burn everything he holds dear.

What I Liked:
  • The art style was really cool! I loved the panel work, the colouring and the way that Naifeh & Wucinich brought their character concepts to life! I particularly loved the drawings of the residents of Darkovia - Erikk Iron Tooth and his band of warriors. So cool!
  • The story was pretty cool too and I'm definitely intrigued to see where it will go. It was essentially a series of mini adventures for Kriss as he desperately tried to win the love of Anja, bargain with the spirit that has granted him his newfound powers and find out more about his origins.
What I Disliked:
  • Despite the plot and character concepts being cool, there was a little bit of a repetitive edge to this. Kriss would become embroiled in a situation, make someone angry with him, get angry and use his powers and then isolate himself even further constantly. It felt as if every time someone tried to throw Kriss a bone, he would do something stupidto ruin it. It was normally the right thing, but still super irritating.
  • Anja's character unexplainably irritated me too. I can't put my finger on what it was about her but I found myself rolling her eyes every time she would take the moral high ground. Ugh.
Overall Conclusion:
My interest is definitely piqued with this one! I'm intrigued by the world-building, in love with the artwork, and excited by the idea of Kriss leaving his village to go adventuring in the North. I want to meet the warriors he keeps envisioning in his dreams/hallucinating!

Monday 5 August 2019

Last Week's Shenanigans (29th July - 4th August)...

The week has been pretty uneventful, save for work and relaxing on our days off. I really haven't had much time to myself lately, and have really hit a book reading slump. Hopefully this will change soon!

I Read...

--

I Received...



I Posted...

July Wrap-Up
Planned Reads for August

Thursday 1 August 2019

Planned Reads For August.

I'm enjoying the smaller expectations each month, especially as I'm going through a bit of a slump at the moment. I have six books, mostly pulled over from last month's selections that I didn't get to, that I can hopefully read this month!



That's right. I'm still promising to read 'Reign Of The Fallen' by Sarah Glenn Marsh. In fact, I have actually started now, but it's taken me a long time to get to that point thanks to...the slump. I'm excited for the bisexual MC, necromancy and hopefully some fun, magical, queer shenanigans.

'Hello Me, It's You', a collection of letters compiled by Hannah Todd, caught my eye a while back but I'd like to read something that focuses on mental health this month as my own has been off lately. It has good reviews, with many saying they were bawling while reading, so I have a good feeling about this book!

I'm kind of feeling the non-fiction vibe this month, and I started reading 'They/Them/Their' by Eris Young a couple of days ago in a bid to read more on non-binary, queer and transgender issues. I'm learning so much so far!



So, pulled over from last month is 'Summer Bird Blue' by Akemi Dawn Bowman. I want to read this while it can still be considered summer, and this book focuses on grief which I tend to find are reads that I enjoy.

I have to say, 'The Love Interest' by Cale Dietrich looks like a lot of fun! If spy schools don't immediately catch your attention, how about a love triangle with a twist? Will my gay-loving heart be able to cope when the two boys battling to win the girl's heart fall for each other instead?

I liked 'They Both Die At The End' by Adam Silvera, and Love, Simon, the movie based on Becky Albertalli's 'Simon Vs. The Homosapiens Agenda' was a big hit with me too, so it stands to reason that a collab beetween the two would be right up my street. Enter - 'What If It's Us'. I can't wait to read this book!