Book Review: Wakenhyrst; Michelle Paver.

The last book I read by Michelle Paver was her ghost story, 'Thin Air' and I really enjoyed it! I was super excited to receive this NetGalley copy of her latest book, 'Wakenhyrst' and read it for Halloween!

SOURCE: NetGalley
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Wakenhyrst
AUTHOR: Michelle Paver
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Head Of Zeus
PAGES: 368
GENRE: Horror, Historical, Gothic, Mystery

RATING: 4/5 Stars

Blurb:
In Edwardian Suffolk, a manor house stands alone in a lost corner of the Fens: a glinting wilderness of water whose whispering reeds guard ancient secrets. Maud is a lonely child growing up without a mother, ruled by her repressive father.

When he finds a painted medieval devil in a graveyard, unhallowed forces are awakened.

Maud's battle has begun. She must survive a world haunted by witchcraft, the age-old legends of her beloved fen – and the even more nightmarish demons of her father's past.

What I Liked:

• The setting was so spooky and atmospheric, which is the first part of getting any horror right. I loved the creepy old house that backed onto an even creepier marsh, and watching the wild forces of nature from the fens collide with 'civilised' society was very interesting.
• I also loved the pacing of this book. Paver switched between Maud's account and the diary entries of her father, whose slow descent into madness was fascinating.

What I Disliked:

• I have to say it took me a while to get into the actual plot. There's an epistolary-style back and forth surrounding Maud as an elderly woman before we get into the main story and it didn't immediately grab me.

Overall Conclusion:

The first few chapters of this book were confusing and a little hard to progress through, but once I got to the meat of the story I was totally hooked and see how they played a part in building up the mystery. I definitely want to read more of Paver's work in the future, I've loved it so far!

Book Review: The Phantom Of The Opera; Gaston Leroux.

Having fallen in love with the musical from a very early age, and seen the film a number of times, I couldn't wait to read the classic novel that inspired them both any longer!

SOURCE: Borrowed
TYPE: Paperback

TITLE: The Phantom Of The Opera
AUTHOR: Gaston Leroux
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: HarperPress
PAGES: 305
GENRE: Horror, Classic, Romance

RATING: 3.5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Living secretly beneath the Paris Opera House, 'The Phantom of the Opera', Erik has haunted those who work there with his demands and shrouded the opera house in fear with the legend of his disfigured face. When Christine joins the company, a young woman with a beautiful voice, Erik is instantly smitten and secretly teaches her to become a great singer. 

He soon develops an obsessive love for his beautiful protege, even though she has fallen for her childhood friend, resulting in her disappearance during a performance and sparking a tragic and terrifying chain of events.

What I Liked:

• The way that the story was presented was quite cool - as if Leroux was investigating and uncovering the mysterious disappearances and tales surrounding the Palais Garnier, and presenting his findings as a story. I wasn't expecting that, and it was a pleasant surprise.
• I liked the large amount of context given around Erik too. He felt a little less enigmatic but it also meant that I recognised and understood his life and motivations a bit more. It was nice to see a bit of a nod to some of the key motifs in recent adaptations of this story - the lasso, the monkey, etc.

What I Disliked:

• The story was originally written as a serial and this became evident in the way that very small, unimportant moments became very melodramatic and drawn out. Especially during dialogue.

Overall Conclusion:

It was really cool to read this and I felt a bit bad leaving it for so long considering how much I love this story in other media. It's certainly a classic for a reason - written well enough with an interesting story and layout, and certainly plenty of suspense and drama. Some plot points took a while to get through, which was a shame. But overall I liked it!

Book Review: Fence [Vol. 3]; C.S. Pacat & Johanna The Mad.

I couldn't resist delving into Vol. 3 of this awesome series, it has been so much fun so far!

SOURCE: Web-Comic
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Fence [Vol. 3]
AUTHOR: C.S. Pacat & Johanna The Mad
SERIES: Fence (#9 - #12)
PUBLISHER: BOOM! Box
PAGES: 112
GENRE: Graphic Novel, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Young Adult

RATING: 5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Scrappy fencer Nicholas Cox comes to the end of his path to prove himself worthy of a father he never knew in the face of surly upperclassmen, nearly impossible odds, and the talent of his rival, sullen fencing prodigy, Seiji Katayama.

Sparks fly white-hot on the pitch as Nicholas and Seiji finally face off once again in the halls of King’s Row. It’s a match that will change King’s Row (and both of them!) forever, and set the stage as the team journeys to face their bitter rivals and prove themselves once and for all. 

The third volume of the breakneck series from writer C.S. Pacat (The Captive Prince) and fan-favorite artist Johanna the Mad comes at you as fast as a parry and hits as hard as a strike.

What I Liked:

• If ever a series is my guilty pleasure this is it. The art is superb, the characters a ton of fun, and the story enough to keep me invested. I love the school setting too and it was a lot of fun watching the competition, friendships and tensions develop more.

What I Disliked:

• The fact that I now have to wait for more content? Because there is NO MORE OF THIS SERIES currently out?!

Overall Conclusion:

My previous reviews for Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 pretty much cover everything I love about this series! The characters, for me, are really what keeps this story alive and I'm loving the subtle nuances in their behaviours and attitudes as the plot progresses. I did think that having two subs was a bit of a cop-out but I'm really not that mad about it. I hope that more of this wholesome content exists soon.

Book Review: Pet Semetary; Stephen King.

October has absolutely flown by and it has taken me ages to get into and through a book, but I finally finished this harrowing read by Stephen King. And this is absolutely my favourite read of his so far.

SOURCE: Bought
TYPE: Paperback

TITLE: Pet Semetary
AUTHOR: Stephen King
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Hodder & Stoughton
PAGES: 465
GENRE: Horror, Thriller, Suspense

RATING: 4/5 Stars

Blurb:
The house looked right, felt right to Dr Louis Creed.

Rambling, old, unsmart and comfortable. A place where the family could settle; the children grow and play and explore. The rolling hills and meadows of Maine seemed a world away from the fume-choked dangers of Chicago.

Only the occasional big truck out on the two-lane highway, grinding up through the gears, hammering down the long gradients, growled out an intrusive threat.

But behind the house and far away from the road: that was safe. Just a carefully cleared path up into the woods where generations of local children have processed with the solemn innocence of the young, taking with them their dear departed pets for burial.

A sad place maybe, but safe. Surely a safe place. Not a place to seep into your dreams, to wake you, sweating with fear and foreboding.

What I Liked:

• The build-up was so good. King's ability to create tension has always been something I've admired, but I really felt it in this book. Perhaps because we don't really know what it's building up to here? Only that something sinister is coming.
• This is the perfect example of a very real, relatable horror with a paranormal twist being far superior to a totally supernatural one. There were no killer clowns to be found here. Instead - a highway with dangerous, speeding lorries and the simple truth of having young children and/or a pet that could run into the oncoming traffic at any time.

What I Disliked:

• I appreciate that King's characters are supposed to be flawed, but do they have to be so misogynistic all the time? Reading such outdated, poor attitudes towards women is pretty tiring and makes the main character a little harder to root for.
• I think after such an amazing build-up, I felt a teensy bit let down by the climactic result, which was over in a few chapters. Sure, it was pretty horrifying, but it felt a little too quick. There was so much scope here for a super creepy 'family reunion' and that just didn't happen. Such a shame.

Overall Conclusion:

I've wrestled with the fact that I've not taken to King's books for a while, especially considering that he is considered a master at a genre I love to read. It was a relief to finally read some of his work and actually feel chills. I'll keep trying to find the book for me. The build-up was perfect, I just wish that the ending had matched the pace of the beginning and middle, and that not every book had to be from the POV of a privileged, whiny man who loves women but also hates them, and lives in Maine. 

Book Review: Reign Of The Fallen; Sarah Glenn Marsh.

I was so excited for this pretty pink cover, necromantic fantasy, and the bisexual MC that I was promised in this book and went in with such high expectations. Honestly though, this was a bit of a disappointment.

SOURCE: Bought
TYPE: Hardcover

TITLE: Reign Of The Fallen
AUTHOR: Sarah Glenn Marsh
SERIES: Reign Of The Fallen (#1)
PUBLISHER: Razorbill
PAGES: 375
GENRE: LGBTQ+, Fantasy, Young Adult

RATING: 2/5 Stars

Blurb:

Odessa is one of Karthia's master necromancers, catering to the kingdom's ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it's Odessa's job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised--the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.

A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa's necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead--and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer's magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?

What I Liked:

• I think the overall concept for the world was really cool. Firstly, LGBTQ+ rep is really important to me and so I appreciated that Marsh was not afraid to include it, especially in a fantasy setting. I loved the necromancy idea too, it's something I haven't really seen a whole lot!

What I Disliked:

• I really just felt that while the book had a strong beginning, way too much of the middle was a repetitive period of mourning the loss of a character that we barely got to know. It was interesting to focus on grief and addiction, but it wasn't what I was expecting from the story and having that much of it didn't really add anything.
• Despite adoring the fact that the MC was bisexual, Marsh skirted dangerously close to my least favourite bisexual trope - promiscuity. I just felt that there was a little too much attraction to almost every character in the book and it was unnecessary. I can honestly say that I had no interest in the MC's romantic endeavours, which was a real shame.
• There were some inconsistencies in the way that the world worked (can someone really live their entire life under a shroud and not expose themselves at all?) and a bit of a lack of exploration. Thanks to the middle being too much of the same, it meant that the final fifth of the book felt super rushed.

Overall Conclusion:

There was so much potential for this book to become my new favourite and I felt a bit disappointed that it didn't. I just felt that there was a lack of plot and so I felt no real connection to the characters or the events of the story. A real shame because the concept and promise of LGBTQ+ rep was super cool!

Book Review: Aphrodite Made Me Do It; Trista Mateer.

I really felt like I wanted to read some poetry, and I loved the idea of this collection because there are references to Greek mythology, in particular Aphrodite.

SOURCE: NetGalley
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Aphrodite Made Me Do It
AUTHOR: Trista Mateer
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Central Avenue Publishing
PAGES: 224
GENRE: Poetry, LGBTQ+, Feminism

RATING: 3.5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Bestselling and award-winning author Trista Mateer takes an imaginative approach to self-care in this new poetry and prose collection, Aphrodite Made Me Do It. 

In this empowering retelling, she uses the mythology of the goddess to weave a common thread through the past and present. By the end of this book, Aphrodite will make you believe in the possibility of your own healing.


What I Liked:

• The dialogue between poet and Aphrodite was really cool. It's empowering and quotable, and covers a lot of themes - feminism, abuse, love and hate. I liked watching the two figures interact and the reimagining of the way that Aphrodite's story has been interpreted.

What I Disliked:

• I think the main problem with this collection comes from the fact that I found it a little forgettable. There are some great quotes and yet none of them have really stuck with me. That might change with a re-read or two but I'd have liked to have been a little more blown away.

Overall Conclusion:

This was a really interesting collection and I enjoyed reading it. It opened some really interesting dialogue between Mateer and Aphrodite about the role of women in society throughout the ages, and I definitely appreciated that part of it. I particularly liked Aphrodite's sections. But I wish that I'd loved it enough that I'd been reflecting on it all day afterwards.

Book Review: Fence [Vol. 2]; C.S. Pacat & Johanna The Mad.

I really loved Vol. 1 of this series and couldn't wait to get round to Vol. 2! There is so much goodness in this awesome series, and I was not disappointed by this second instalment!

SOURCE: Web-Comic
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Fence [Vol. 2]
AUTHOR: C.S. Pacat & Johanna The Mad
SERIES: Fence (#5 - #8)
PUBLISHER: BOOM! Box
PAGES: 106
GENRE: Graphic Novel, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Young Adult

RATING: 5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Nicholas Cox is determined to prove himself in the world of competitive fencing, and earn his place on the Kings Row fencing team, alongside sullen fencing prodigy, Seiji Katayama, to win the right to go up against his golden-boy half-brother.

Tryouts are well underway at King’s Row for a spot on the prodigious fencing team, and scrappy fencer Nicholas isn’t sure he’s going to make the grade in the face of surly upperclassmen, nearly impossibly odds, and his seemingly unstoppable roommate, the surly, sullen Seiji Katayama. It’ll take more than sheer determination to overcome a challenge this big!

What I Liked:

• Just like Vol. 1, this was so much fun! I loved reading more of the fencing matches and the developing plot leading up to building a fencing team for the national championship. I'm just totally hooked to be honest!
• The characters are just amazing. I love the rivalry between Nicholas and Seiji, the friendship between Aiden and Harvard, and of course adorable Bobby! Pacat has created an amazing cast here.

What I Disliked:

• Uhhh...the fact that it ended? Graphic novels are often short but I really felt it here.

Overall Conclusion:

You've probably already got this but I thoroughly enjoyed this second volume in the series and plan to read the third one very soon. Great plot and characters, and I love the LGBTQ+ developments that I'm seeing come to fruition! I want more!

Book Review: The Poet X; Elizabeth Acevedo.

It felt so good to be reading a novel again, and especially as this one was on my TBR for some time. I still feel very much like I'm going through a massive blogging/reading slump at the moment. But I'm trying to get out of it!

SOURCE: NetGalley
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: The Poet X
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Acevedo
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Electric Monkey
PAGES: 368
GENRE: Young Adult, Poetry, Contemporary

RATING: 4.5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Xiomara has always kept her words to herself. When it comes to standing her ground in her Harlem neighbourhood, she lets her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But X has secrets – her feelings for a boy in her bio class, and the notebook full of poems that she keeps under her bed. And a slam poetry club that will pull those secrets into the spotlight.

Because in spite of a world that might not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to stay silent.

What I Liked:

• Considering that I've never really read anything in prose before, it blew me away just how much I enjoyed this book! I loved the flow of the writing, mixed with the fact that the plot was still easy to follow and focused on spoken word poetry. The prose also made the book very quotable - there were some great snippets in this one!
• The characters were super interesting. Firstly, twins! I just love twins. Also Xi's fiery personality in contrast with her brother's meek one. They were both so likeable in very different ways, but had a wonderful, complicated relationship. Family is a really big part of this story and I also really liked Xi's mother, even though she was pretty awful at times.

What I Disliked:

• The ending struck me as a little too happy, considering how the story built towards that moment. I liked it actually, but I think that it was a little rushed in terms of the healing process that the family would have to go through.

Overall Conclusion:

This was a really enjoyable read and made me super happy to be reading again. I loved the prose, loved the story and adored the characters (even the 'villainous' ones). I also really liked the #ownvoices inclusion here. Diversity is really important and this book covered race, family, religion, LGBTQ+ issues, and feminism. It was so good.

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!

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!

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!!

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!

Book Review: Mooncakes; Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu.

I stumbled upon this one on NetGalley quite by accident but I'm so glad I did! What a find!

SOURCE: NetGalley
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Mooncakes
AUTHOR: Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Lion Forge
PAGES: 256
GENRE: Graphic Novel, LGBTQ+, Fantasy, Romance

RATING: 4/5 Stars

Blurb:
Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers' bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

What I Liked:

• This story just felt so effortless. I liked the plot because it was heartwarming and felt like a fresh take on a few common tropes! I was intrigued by the world-building and wanted to know more about this world filled with witches, ghosts, demons and people with pigeon heads.
• I really loved the diversity in this one. In this story you'll find a non-traditional family structure, Chinese-American characters, a deaf MC, a F/NB romance, and so much more! If you support diverse books then please give this adorable story a try!

What I Disliked:

• I'd have liked this to be longer? Currently, it seems to be a standalone and I'd love to see this as part of a series because I'm so intrigued by a lot of aspects of this and want some of my questions answered! It did give me that 'snapshot' feeling rather than that of the whole picture, so I'm hoping that this turns into something bigger!

Overall Conclusion:

I really loved this graphic novel, and am so glad that it caught my attention while browsing NetGalley. Not only was it a quick, easy read but it was a great story, and had oodles of great characters and fun supernatural shenanigans. I'd like to see more from this world please!

Book Review: Naturally Tan; Tan France.

Season 4 of Queer Eye is almost here, and so I'm celebrating by reading Tan France's newly released book, 'Naturally Tan'!

SOURCE: NetGalley
TYPE: E-Read

TITLE: Naturally Tan
AUTHOR: Tan France
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Virgin Digital
PAGES: 271
GENRE: Autobiography, Memoir, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ+

RATING: 3.5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Growing up gay in a traditional South Asian family in South Yorkshire, Tan France could never have imagined he’d become part of a worldwide phenomenon. One of the few people of colour at his school, he experienced racist bullies, found solace at his grandad’s denim factory and eventually discovered his true calling at fashion college. Told with his trademark humour, for the first time Tan reveals the experiences that have made him the witty, compassionate man he is today.

From meeting the love of his life Rob (a Mormon cowboy from Salt Lake City) to juggling three demanding businesses, Tan charts the highs and lows on his path to Queer Eye. And of course he can’t help but pepper this book with fashion dos and don’ts. Full of candid observations about US and UK cultural differences, celebrity encounters, and behind-the-scenes revelations about Queer Eye, Naturally Tan gives us Tan’s unique perspective on the happiness to be found in being yourself.

What I Liked:

• I love Queer Eye and so getting to see the production of the show in more depth was really cool. The audition process especially was awesome to read about, it sounds like a lot of fun and a very interesting approach! I think reading more about the show, the fab five and Tan's experiences within Queer Eye was my favourite part of this book.
• I also liked reading about Tan's childhood, and it was interesting to read about the culture that he grew up in and how the fact that he was gay was not the only reason that he ended up feeling isolated in his community.

What I Disliked:

• The writing was not bad and felt very distinctly Tan, but there was a common theme in which Tan would ask a rhetorical question and then answer it a few times in a row repeatedly and that annoyed the heck out of me. I'll give an example: 'Were Tan's rhetorical questions repetitive? Yes. Did I want him to stop? Yes. Did it ruin my life? No.' The good news is that I read it all in his voice in my head, so the writing definitely contained the essence of Tan.
• For someone who is about promoting individuality and staying true to yourself, Tan France is very critical. He gives a variety of top tips on how men and women shouldn't dress, wear their hair, and behave in order to become sexier or more likeable. I'm not 100% surprised as he is the 'style' portion of the show and it is his job. But some of it felt unnecessarily harsh.

Overall Conclusion:

This was an enjoyable read - Tan France originates from England so I totally got his sense of humour, gripes about American culture and language and found a lot of his experiences relatable. Of course, I also learnt a lot about the South Asian community and culture, gay culture (something I have not really immersed myself in), Queer Eye and personal style. It's a shame that the writing was not as edited as I'd have liked and that some of the advice that Tan gave grated on me a little (there is nothing I love more as a women than being told how to dress and look by a man) but I think  everything that Tan wrote was well-intentioned and fit well with the image of the show. I still love him and look forward to watching more Queer Eye when the new season hits!

Book Review: Enchantée; Gita Trelease.

I spent a long time leading up to reading this book but it was so worth the wait! I'm here for historical fiction mixed with a pinch of magic, and I don't read many books set during the French Revolution, so this was great!

SOURCE: ARC Sent By Publisher
TYPE: Paperback

TITLE: Enchantée
AUTHOR: Gita Trelease
SERIES: Enchantée (#1)
PUBLISHER: Macmillan Children's Books
PAGES: 480
GENRE: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

RATING: 5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Paris in 1789 is a labyrinth of twisted streets, filled with beggars, thieves, revolutionaries—and magicians...

When smallpox kills her parents, Camille Durbonne must find a way to provide for her frail, naive sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on petty magic—la magie ordinaire—Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy the food and medicine they need. But when the coins won’t hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family’s savings, Camille must pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

With dark magic forbidden by her mother, Camille transforms herself into the ‘Baroness de la Fontaine’ and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for la magie. There, she gambles at cards, desperate to have enough to keep herself and her sister safe. Yet the longer she stays at court, the more difficult it becomes to reconcile her resentment of the nobles with the enchantments of Versailles. And when she returns to Paris, Camille meets a handsome young balloonist—who dares her to hope that love and liberty may both be possible.

But la magie has its costs. And when Camille loses control of her secrets, the game she's playing turns deadly. Then revolution erupts, and she must choose—love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, freedom or magic—before Paris burns…

What I Liked:

• The world-building was absolutely stunning. I was totally swept away by Trelease's Paris, especially whenever Camille visited the glittering Palace of Versailles to mingle with the aristocracy. She incorporated so much of 18th Century France into the pages - the lifestyle (for both rich and poor), the culture, the politics and the very intricate details. I was totally impressed at both the huge amount of research and knowledge that went into this book, and the way that Trelease wrote everything into it so effortlessly.
• The characters were very likeable and well-crafted rather than falling into archetypes. Camille was a wonderful MC with lots of personality, and I liked that not all of the aristocrats were stereotypically rude and snobbish, nor were all of the poor the 'good guys'. I also really loved the incorporation of diversity into a historical society that would usually be written as through a purely white, straight lens. It added to the story without 'ticking boxes'.

What I Disliked:

• The sub-plots at times felt a little too loosely connected to the overriding story and that confused the pacing for me. I enjoyed them individually but something was a little off with the combination. I did also feel that considering the very impressive build-up, the ending felt rushed and anti-climactic.

Overall Conclusion:

This book really made me smile, and it had pretty much everything I had wanted from the moment I saw this book announced. I loved the characters, adored the setting even more, and enjoyed the plot even though at times it got a little lost. I was originally drawn to this book thinking that it would be a stand-alone, but I'm now pretty glad it will be a series. There is so much potential in this version of France to see and do more! I'd love a little more detail on the intriguing magic system, and the big revelation regarding the Queen should certainly be addressed.

Book Review: Heartstopper (Vol. 2); Alice Oseman.

This was a really quick read for me, but a super enjoyable one! I love Nick and Charlie, and this one covers Chapter 3 of their adorable story!

SOURCE: Internet
TYPE: Web Comic

TITLE: Heartstopper
AUTHOR: Alice Oseman
SERIES: Heartstopper (Vol. #2)
PUBLISHER: --
PAGES: 320
GENRE: LGBT+, Graphic Novel, Web Comic, Contemporary

RATING: 5/5 Stars

Blurb:
Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie's gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn't.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family ... and himself.

Heartstopper is about friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

This is the second volume of Heartstopper, with more to come.

What I Liked:

• Obviously Nick & Charlie's relationship - one of my favourite pairings! I love this relationship and it got some major, squeal-worthy updates in this volume!
• I like where the story is going, and the characters that Oseman writes! All of them are interesting, there are some super cool cameos from other books she has written, and the complexity and art style are just perfection.

What I Disliked:

• Nothing except that it ended I guess! I'm pretty impatient and that's why Webcomics are dangerous for me! They are addictive and also there tends to be long spaces between each page.

Overall Conclusion:

This is an amazing series! The art is phenomenal, the characters so interesting and diverse, the story enjoyable and I really love the setting too as it reminded me of my own childhood. 

Book Review: Shadow Of The Fox; Julie Kagawa.

I had read a lot of mixed reviews for this one going in, but I was excited to read it because many of the reviewers compared it to anime, which I love!

SOURCE: NetGalley
TYPE: E-Books

TITLE: Shadow Of The Fox
AUTHOR: Julie Kagawa
SERIES: Shadow Of The Fox (#1)
PUBLISHER: HQ Young Adult
PAGES: 384
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure

RATING: 4.5/5 Stars

Blurb:
A single wish will spark a new dawn.

Every millennium the missing pieces of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers are hunted, for they hold the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for any one wish.

As a temple burns to the ground Yumeko escapes with its greatest treasure – the first piece of the scroll. And when fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai she knows he seeks what she has. Kage is under order to kill those who stand in his way but will he be able to complete his mission? Will this be the dawn that sees the dragon wake?

What I Liked:

• There is just a wonderful amount of research that has gone into this book. It is rooted in Japanese historical culture and folklore, and I loved all of the yokai, amanjaku and Kami that were introduced in the book. Honestly, there were so many great characters - nobles, peasants, samurai, ronin, monks...this book had it all!
• I really enjoyed the plot! There was an overriding arc that was very intriguing, but plenty of 'side quests' and sub-plots along the way that kept the pace up and my interest.

What I Disliked:

• The reviews weren't wrong - this does read like an anime cartoon. for me, that was awesome! But it meant that for the first few chapters it made for a pretty weird reading style. Also, I feel like this won't be everyone's cup of tea because of it.

Overall Conclusion:

For me, this story had everything I could have wanted from it. The characters were likeable and fitted some fun tropes, the world-building was extraordinarily good, and Kagawa paced the story nicely! The anime style made for some weird reading at first, but I loved that it helped me to envision everything so clearly and I would watch this anime for sure!

Book Review: Trans Power; Juno Roche.

I want to make it clear before starting this review that this book is not aimed at me, a cis white female. So despite a fairly mediocre looking rating, this book isn't really for me to review. I read it to educate myself on trans issues, relationships and queer sex.

SOURCE: NetGalley
TYPE: E-Books

TITLE: Trans Power
AUTHOR: Juno Roche
SERIES: --
PUBLISHER: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
PAGES: 256
GENRE: Non-Fiction, LGBTQ+, Essays

RATING: 3/5 Stars

Blurb:
In the follow-up to Queer Sex, her radical guide to sex, desire and dating in the trans and non-binary community, Juno Roche pushes the boundaries of trans representation even further by moving beyond themes of intimacy, pleasure and relationships and focusing on the mechanics of sex itself. 

A collection of interviews with leading figures from the trans and non-binary community, they talk about the practicalities of sex as a trans person. They discuss how trans bodies can inherently bring a range of practical issues to the bedroom and explore the wonder and potential of sex when the bodies involved are not cis. 

Reframing the discussion of trans sex in terms of empowerment and autonomy, this is a deeply personal, honest and instructive book.

What I Liked:

• There's a lot to learn from a book like this, and I came out feeling very informed. Roche interviews a variety of people, each offering different experiences and perspectives on Trans issues, sex, relationships and genitals.
• The tone of this book is one of raw passion and honesty which I quite liked about it. I felt very much swept up by the desperate emotion that Roche wrote this with.

What I Disliked:

• As I am not Trans myself, elements of this book are uncomfortable. Roche is often very crude with language (lots of swears and frank descriptions of genitals) and also speaks unapologetically about how she thinks allies should support Trans people.
• Roche clearly wrote this book with a great deal of frustration and so there is a real unedited feel about it at times, especially at the beginning. The same point is often made repeatedly, just worded slightly differently, and I found that annoying.

Overall Conclusion:

I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book at all when I started it. There was a real sense of frustration, I was a little lost in the Trans references, and I didn't like that Roche was repetitive and wrote her introduction as an almost unedited stream of consciousness. But the interviews sold this to me as a necessary book - lots of Trans experiences, opinions and voices that need to be heard. Roche did a great job at getting to the nitty gritty in the interviews, but doing so gently and in a comfortable way for the interviewees. I recommend this book certainly for members of the Trans community, and if you are seeking to be a well-educated ally then pick this up too, though prepare to feel uncomfortable.