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kwichris's reviews
126 reviews
Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Beast Boy is one of the few DC characters I really love and connect with. This new origin story brings a lot to the table for a well-established and loved character. While, at times, I wanted to smack Gar for making choices that really seemed so obviously poor, he's always been a bit of a rascal. Now, I do think this book has the same issue as Raven, having times where the time/place/space from one panel to the next or between chapters is a little jumpy, but overall it's not too bad. I look forward to the next installment!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, and Bullying
Moderate: Gaslighting and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal cruelty, Terminal illness, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I picked this up because I really enjoy Beast Boy and figured i would start with the first book in the series. This version of Raven really appeals to me as this version of her origin story seems more grounded in a relatable reality than what we usually see in the comics. While some times I think there was a little too many jumps in time/place/space between chapters or panels even, the artwork and story were both solid and really added a lot to an already well-established character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Grief, and Abandonment
Taproot by Keezy Young
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I found this by chance at the library and thought the premise seemed interesting. While the artwork is undeniably beautiful, the story is wildly uneven. The pacing is all over the place, the plot gets muddled at times, and some things are never really explained enough to the reader even with visuals to try and back things up. The place the story should have ended isn't where it ends; some last minute tacked on side quest is where it ends. Overall, this was cute and lovely in terms of representation and being unique, but the overall story could've used so revisions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Blood
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I saw this at a book store and decided to check it out at my local library. This story had it all: beautiful illustrations, well-developed lead characters, relatable struggles, and quite a bit of subtle (and overt) humor that consistently made me chuckle out loud. Anyone looking for something lighthearted, humorous, but with good serious tones sprinkled in, this is a great graphic novel for you!
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I typically don't like reading books that center around romance. This book, however, managed to embed historical context and emotionally complex situations that added more to this story than a simple romance that cannot be. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I found myself relating to or finding understanding in the main character's reactions/feelings/thoughts regarding the situation they find themselves in - a love that they cannot express publicly, a country divided post-war, and uncertainty of their own future. For a first entry, the author has crafted quite a nice story, and I would recommend it to anyone that likes a little historical context and input that shapes the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Grief
Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Outing, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Vomit, Police brutality, and Medical content
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I've not read a novella prior to this one, but I very much appreciate when an author can do in 100 pages what it takes many to do in several times that amount. The characters here are developed through two varied perspectives, which in it of itself makes this a unique read. While I won't ruin the very good twist, the story comes from both first person perspective in the future and the writings in a diary from the past. This was just a refreshing take on a murder mystery, around the holidays no less, that brought up some poignant food for thought by the end. The choices we make, good or bad, we've got to live with them; they can haunt you or you can find a way to use them to begin anew or fix what was broken. The choice is up to you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I've not read the first book from an author in a while that immediately had me hungry for more in some time. Schwab created a very interesting magic system that unfurls more as you and one of the characters (Lila) continue to explore the worlds with Kell. The way in which multiple realities (or worlds as they're referred to here) is tackled is quite unique in that there's a set limit but infinite possibilities in each depending on each world's relationship with magic. Schwab provides plenty of colorful imagery for the reader with plenty of room for imagining your own view of the world's she created. Seeing the worlds from multiple perspectives without feeling forced, helps the reader relate to our main characters and better understand their motivations and growth. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an unique take on magic as a concept and how different people use (or abuse) it, or how it may use them instead. Plus there's some interesting shenanigans with thievery, realm traveling, and tense fight scenes, so what's not to love?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, and Torture
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
For as much as I enjoy older literature, I can't believe it took me this long to read Agatha Christie! She truly is in a class above the rest in making murder mysteries that truly keep you guessing. It's easy to see how later films, shows, and books have used this novel in particular as a framework (i.e. the movie Clue opens and has very similar scenes in the beginning for instance). While I did find the story captivating and thrilling to read through, there were a few things I took issue with. I've always disliked when authors insert obscure or rarely used words despite the rest of their writing being wholly different in tone and style (i.e. Christie uses "verisimilitude" for instance as something a character says, which even an educated person would probably have used other verbiage in this time/setting). I also dislike when an author continuously uses ONE adjective repeatedly for EVERYTHING. Christie does this with the word "queer" (the older version of the word mind you), and she makes every character say or think practically everything is "queer." There are dozens of other words that she could've used to broaden the diction of her characters and world, but, alas, it's the one she stuck with until the very end. Overall, I did quite enjoy the story and the surprise at the end, demonstrating her aptitude for mystery writing that is hard to match, and I do recommend it to anyone considering it. Now, to check out some other Christie novels and see what other mysteries she has in store!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, and Grief
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I've not read much in this genre before, and this was a pleasant read that moved along at a rather quick pace... Once you make it through the first story that is. There are four stories in this book, which eventually are woven together but often subtly, which makes details very important while you read. However, the last three stories are so well-written and connected in comparison to the first, it leaves things a little lopsided and hard to get into given that the first foray isn't nearly as intriguing beyond the initial concepts. Something about the writing gets significantly better for stories two through four, and all four matter, but the initial story pacing, description, and writing just doesn't seem as well thought out as the rest. (Maybe something was lost in translation from Japanese to English possibly.) I still recommend this book as an interesting read with a very well defined time travel system with practical twists and solid character development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Grief
Moderate: Death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Heart of Darkness by Paul O'Prey, Joseph Conrad
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Cannibalism