Review: Nimona by N.D. Stevenson

On September 11, 2022September 9, 2022 By Beth JonesIn Book Review1 Comment

Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones.
Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, 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 realizes 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.

I’ve been hearing everywhere about Nimona for years now, and I’m so glad I finally decided to purchase a copy of my own at YALC earlier this year. Nimona is a fun, adventurous graphic novel following an unlikely group of companions as they wreak havoc.

My favourite part of this was definitely the unlikely friendship of our main companions, and the interactions between them. I found our characters so entertaining, and the fact Nimona herself could shapeshift made for some really humorous scenes.

Although I wasn’t a massive fan of the art style, I soon got into the story and grew to enjoy it in the context of the book.

The text/dialogue being written in a more hand-drawn font definitely gave the book character, but the printing of the physical book did make some of it hard to read. I found the font very small at times, and was often printed towards the edges of the page, disappearing into the spine and making the physical reading experience not quite as enjoyable as it could have been.

But despite these few small complaints, Nimona is a fun story that has a great found-family component and interactions that I loved!

★★★★
3.5 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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Review: I Hear the Sunspot (#1-#3) by Yuki Fumino

On September 10, 2022September 9, 2022 By Beth JonesIn Book Review1 Comment

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Because of a hearing disability, Kohei is often misunderstood and has trouble integrating into life on campus, so he learns to keep his distance. That is until he meets the outspoken and cheerful Taichi. He tells Kohei that his hearing loss is not his fault. Taichi’s words cut through Kohei’s usual defense mechanisms and open his heart. More than friends, less than lovers, their relationship changes Kohei forever.

This review covers my thoughts about I Hear the Sunspot, I Hear the Sunspot: Theory of Happiness and I Hear the Sunspot: Limit Volume 1.

I’ve heard some great recommendations for I Hear the Sunspot, and although I’m not the biggest manga reader, I decided to finally pick this one up. My friend Courtney had also recommended them to me, and so far, they haven’t let me down.

I Hear the Sunspot is a super sweet, ultra slow-burn LGBT romance between two young men, who notice their close friendship change into something more. The friendship felt honest, emotional and natural, and I loved seeing the ways they interacted. The dialogue felt relatable and the way the pair slowly grow closer over the first few books feels real.

Although I felt the second volume, Theory of Happiness, didn’t quite pack the same punch and became a little convoluted with the introduction of a larger friendship group, it definitely picked up with Limit Volume 1, which became my favourite in the series so far.

In my opinion, the third instalment in this series best encapsulates the tender and difficult journey of Kohei’s hearing disability, and I loved the introduction of this into the workplace. We don’t often see disability portrayed in this way, but the discussions it introduced felt meaningful and honest.

I’m really looking forward to continuing with the series and can’t wait to see how the pair progresses.

I Hear the Sunspot

★★★★★
4.5 out of 5 stars

I Hear the Sunspot: Theory of Happiness

★★★★
4 out of 5 stars

I Hear the Sunspot: Limit Volume 1

★★★★★
5 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

Review: Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas

On September 9, 2022September 9, 2022 By Beth JonesIn Book Review1 Comment

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Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It’s the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program.
It’s not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the “greater good” that Bayt-Sajji’s military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.
Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire.

Squire was a welcome treat of a graphic novel, with beautiful art, a gorgeous colour scheme and a concise, well structured story which I found easy to follow.

This graphic novel tackles a variety of topics, some more in depth and difficult than others. As we follow Aiza through her day-to-day life in the competitive Squire training program, we see her navigate friendships, which felt relatable and really drew me into the story. The art was visually stunning and the colour scheme beautiful too, and the landscapes were definitely a favourite part of the overall story for me.

The pacing really picks up in the second half and the action scenes are really visually engaging, almost feeling like a movie. The ending does feel quite rushed, however, and I do feel like this slightly distracted from the struggles Aiza was facing in regards to her Ornu background.

Overall, this was beautiful and I’d love to re-read it at some point to further explore the story, and I’d definitely read another volume if it was published.

★★★★
4 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

Review: Hooky by Miriam Bonastre Tur

On September 9, 2022September 9, 2022 By Beth JonesIn Book Review1 Comment

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When Dani and Dorian missed the bus to magic school, they never thought they’d wind up declared traitors to their own kind! Now, thanks to a series of mishaps, they are being chased by powerful magic families seeking the prophesied King of Witches and royals searching for missing princes.
But they aren’t alone. With a local troublemaker, a princess, and a teacher who can see the future on their side, they might just be able to clear their names…but can they heal their torn kingdom?
Based on the beloved webcomic from WEBTOON, Hooky is in stunning print format for the first time with exclusive new content sure to please fans new and old.

I’d seen Hooky a couple of times while browsing bookshops before I finally decided to pick it up. The art style really called out to me, and the concept itself sounded similar enough to the adorable Kiki’s Delivery Service that I thought it would be a fun one to pick up.

However, Hooky didn’t impress me quite as much as I was hoping. Although the art style never let me down, and was utterly beautiful and incredibly detailed throughout, the story itself felt kind of disconnected.

This may be due to the fact this was originally published as a Webtoon, but I haven’t felt the same about other Webtoon publications such as Lore Olympus. It also just felt like there was a lot going on. I wanted a sweet story following two kids across a magical land, but it almost felt like there was too much crammed into these pages, and it distracted from what I wanted and hoped for from the book.

This was still really cute, and I did love a lot about it, especially the art style. But it sadly did let me down in places.

★★★
3 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

Review: There’s A Ghost in This House by Oliver Jeffers

On August 26, 2022August 22, 2022 By Beth JonesIn Book Review1 Comment

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Hello, come in.
Maybe you can help me?
A young girl lives in a haunted house, but has never seen a ghost. Are they white with holes for eyes? Are they hard to see? She’d love to know! Step inside and turn the transparent pages to help her on an entertaining ghost hunt, from behind the sofa, right up to the attic. With lots of friendly ghost surprises and incredible mixed media illustrations, this unique and funny book will entertain young readers over and over again.

I don’t often read picture books, but if I had to choose a favourite picture book author, I think it’d have to be Oliver Jeffers. He is definitely a go-to author for me when I purchase picture books for the little ones in my life, and I finally decided to purchase my own copy of one of his books with There’s A Ghost in This House. This beautiful hardback is more of a collectors item than anything – with a stunning transparent dust jacket and pages that overlay onto beautiful drawings of a an old house. We follow a girl, who lives in a haunted house but has never seen a ghost. As you turn each transparent page, the ghosts reveal themselves on the drawings, offering a lovely engaging story.

This book is so beautiful, and will definitely be one I treasure and am happy to add to my collection. There’s also a video from the author about this book, which I’ll insert below for anyone that wants to take a look.

★★★★★
5 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

Review: The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

On August 25, 2022September 9, 2022 By Beth JonesIn Book Review4 Comments

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Romy Silvers is the only surviving crew-member of a spaceship travelling to a new planet, on a mission to establish a second home for humanity amongst the stars. Alone in space, she is the loneliest girl in the universe until she hears about a new ship which has launched from Earth – with a single passenger on board. A boy called J.
Their only communication with each other is via email – and due to the distance between them, their messages take months to transmit across space. And yet Romy finds herself falling in love.
But what does Romy really know about J? And what do the mysterious messages which have started arriving from Earth really mean?
Sometimes, there’s something worse than being alone . . .

It’s been 5 years since I originally picked this book up, and it was so interesting to give this one a re-read. I wasn’t necessarily planning on picking this one back up anytime soon, but I ended up impromptu-ly buddy reading it with a friend. The first time I read this book, I finished it in a day, and I’m not surprised. I didn’t quite read it in a day this time, but I was quickly drawn back into the story and sped through it when I picked it up.

The premise for this book is interesting, and definitely keeps you reading as it becomes darker and develops into more of a thriller. However, there is a lot of plot-holes to do with the setting and situation of Romy, our main character, who has been alone in space for many years following the death of her parents. But if you manage to overlook these and not compare the book to real-life too much, it’s a highly enjoyable read.

I just want someone who holds on.

I was 17 when I read this book for the first time, and I definitely found it much easier to relate to Romy as a main character. Now I’m 22, and I must say Romy could come across as quite annoying and naive (which is natural due to her situation). I did still relate to the discussions of her anxiety, however, and felt like her panic attacks were written well and still made me feel emotionally connected to her as a character.

The setting was interesting and I could picture the spaceship well. This book clocks in at just under 300 pages so is pretty short, but there is still really only one setting throughout the story. Despite this, it kept my interest and never felt small, just right, in fact.

Someone who won’t ever let me go, whatever tries to tear us apart. Is that too much to ask?

If you’re looking for a gripping, fast-paced YA sci-fi romance, this is definitely up there. Although I had a few more pet-peeves now than I did as a teenager, I still found this one highly enjoyable to read and was captivated by the story.

★★★★
4 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

Review: Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado

On August 24, 2022August 21, 2022 By Beth JonesIn Book Review1 Comment

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For over a year, the Bronx has been plagued by sudden disappearances that no one can explain. Sixteen-year-old Raquel does her best to ignore it. After all, the police only look for the white kids. But when her crush Charlize’s cousin goes missing, Raquel starts to pay attention—especially when her own mom comes down with a mysterious illness that seems linked to the disappearances.
Raquel and Charlize team up to investigate, but they soon discover that everything is tied to a terrifying urban legend called the Echo Game. The game is rumored to trap people in a sinister world underneath the city, and the rules are based on a particularly dark chapter in New York’s past. And if the friends want to save their home and everyone they love, they will have to play the game and destroy the evil at its heart—or die trying.

I saw this book around a couple of months ago and immediately pre-ordered it. I loved the concept of this book so much, which slightly reminded me of An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, one of my favourite books. The idea of a city-wide game sounds like such a unique idea and I was super excited to find out more about the concept.

I listened to the audiobook for this one, which I must say I felt quite hard to get into. It might be more me, or the book itself, rather than the audiobook, but I often felt like I wasn’t concentrating enough on the story.

It was in ourselves, and no matter what happened,

There was definitely a horror element to this one which intrigued me, and I liked the atmosphere. This felt like a love letter to the Bronx, which I enjoyed, and I could picture the settings well. But unfortunately, I just didn’t connect to the story as much as I hoped to at all.

I liked the characters enough, but definitely didn’t feel an emotional connection to them, which I realised most when it didn’t get to me when big things happened.

that would always be part of our legacy.

Overall, this book just didn’t quite match up to expectations. I did enjoy it, but the concept was more enthralling for me than the book itself. I would read more from Tirado in the future, though!

★★★
3 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

Review: Lore Olympus (#2) by Rachel Smythe

On August 23, 2022August 21, 2022 By Beth JonesIn Book Review5 Comments

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Persephone was ready to start a new life when she left the mortal realm for Olympus. However, she quickly discovered the dark side of her glamorous new home—from the relatively minor gossip threatening her reputation to a realm-shattering violation of her safety by the conceited Apollo—and she’s struggling to find her footing in the fast-moving realm of the gods. Hades is also off-balance, fighting against his burgeoning feelings for the young goddess of spring while maintaining his lonely rule of the Underworld. As the pair are drawn ever closer, they must untangle the twisted webs of their past and present to build toward a new future.
This full-color edition of Smythe’s original Eisner-nominated webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story, and brings Greek mythology into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

I read the first volume of Lore Olympus after my friend Amy recommended it late last year, and I was very excited to pick up volume 2. I actually preferred Volume 2 to Volume 1, which was just as beautiful but had more focus on the relationship between Persephone and Hades. I once again sped through this volume, which is detailed in drawing but doesn’t have a massive amount of text to read through.

The art is absolutely beautiful, and I loved the colour combinations once again. Each character has their own colour, which I really love as it separates each character clearly and makes it easy to focus on the story without being confused about each character.

I’m loving this series and I definitely preferred this volume to the first one, so I can’t wait to see where it goes in future volumes! Just make sure to check content warnings (which are also listed at the start of the book) if you’d like to pick it up.

★★★★★
4.5 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

Review: Under a Dancing Star by Laura Wood

On August 22, 2022August 16, 2022 By Beth JonesIn Book Review2 Comments

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In grey, 1930s England, Bea has grown up kicking against the conventions of the time, all the while knowing that she will one day have to marry someone her parents choose – someone rich enough to keep the family estate alive. But she longs for so much more – for adventure, excitement, travel, and maybe even romance.
When she gets the chance to spend the summer in Italy with her bohemian uncle and his fiancée, a whole world is opened up to Bea – a world that includes Ben, a cocky young artist who just happens to be infuriatingly handsome too. Sparks fly between the quick-witted pair until one night, under the stars, a challenge is set: can Bea and Ben put aside their teasing and have the perfect summer romance?
With their new friends gleefully setting the rules for their fling, Bea and Ben can agree on one thing at least: they absolutely, positively will not, cannot fall in love…
A long, hot summer of kisses and mischief unfolds – but storm clouds are gathering across Europe, and home is calling. Every summer has to end – but for Bea, this might be just the beginning.

Every time I read a Laura Wood book, I find that I’ve deeply underestimated her writing. I read her debut, A Sky Painted Gold last year, and really enjoyed it, and this one was even better. I did enjoy that A Sky Painted Gold was based on The Great Gatsby, whereas Under a Dancing Star is based on Much Ado About Nothing. I don’t really know the Shakespeare story well, but it definitely didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all.

This book is perfect for summer, and the Italian setting was so beautiful. I could really picture the beautiful house and gardens, and it was so atmospheric. I read this book alongside Courtney and we read it over the course of one summer evening. There couldn’t have been a perfect time or setting (unless we had actually gone to Italy!) to read this book.

The idea is as paper-thin and fragile as the wings of a butterfly,

Bea was such a great main character who felt so relatable despite this book being set almost 100 years ago. I hardly read historical fiction, but Bea jumped off the page and had so much depth to her character. I loved reading about her passion for nature, and the descriptions of plants and wildlife added so much to the reading experience.

The romance was so sweet to read about and I loved Ben and Bea together. Their situation made me chuckle at times but the dates were so swoony to read and I love that they had shared experiences. The banter between them felt quite natural and was entertaining to read.

and as it flutters gently awake I hardly dare to hold it still in my mind.

I honestly loved this book and I definitely will be carrying on with Laura Wood’s books – she is the queen of YA historical romance!

★★★★★
5 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

Review: The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

On August 21, 2022 By Beth JonesIn Book Review1 Comment

When Nishat comes out to her parents, they say she can be anyone she wants—as long as she isn’t herself. Because Muslim girls aren’t lesbians. Nishat doesn’t want to hide who she is, but she also doesn’t want to lose her relationship with her family. And her life only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life.
Flávia is beautiful and charismatic and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat choose to do henna, even though Flávia is appropriating Nishat’s culture. Amidst sabotage and school stress, their lives get more tangled—but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush on Flávia, and realizes there might be more to her than she realized.

I read Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by the same author last year, and I’ve wanted to read The Henna Wars ever since! I picked this up alongside Courtney while we were away, and it was great to read together. We also listened to a big chunk on audio, which we enjoyed too and was easy to follow.

This book discusses a lot of heavy issues, including racism and homophobia. These issues are dealt with well in the contemporary, school setting, but can sometimes be difficult to read (see a list in the front of the book for content warnings).

What I want more than anything else in the world is to feel like being myself isn’t something that should be hidden and a secret.

Nishat and Flávia definitely grew on me as the book went on, but I must say I did feel like there were a few issues glossed over within the book. Although all of my concerns were addressed, I sometimes wanted a bit more of a discussion before we moved on. I’m unsure if it’s just that there was a lack of physical space within the story, but this did lead to me feeling that some situations were slightly glossed over and brushed under the rug.

The concept of this book was unique and added an extra layer to the story with the girls’ businesses. I also found that the dialogue was really funny in places, and made me and Courtney chuckle a few times while reading. The romance was also really sweet, and it was cute to see the initial dates between the two girls and watch them realise they were falling for one another.

What I want is for my parents to be outraged that someone betrayed me, not ashamed of my identity.

Overall, this book had some brilliant discussions about race and homophobia, but could sometimes feel a bit young for me personally and like some of the difficult topics were glossed over.

★★★★
4 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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The Books are Everywhere

Category: Book Review

Review: Nimona by N.D. Stevenson

Review: I Hear the Sunspot (#1-#3) by Yuki Fumino

Review: Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas

Review: Hooky by Miriam Bonastre Tur

Review: There’s A Ghost in This House by Oliver Jeffers

Review: The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

Review: Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado

Review: Lore Olympus (#2) by Rachel Smythe

Review: Under a Dancing Star by Laura Wood

Review: The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar