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bri_of_the_shire's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The intersectionality of if Mean Girls was a supernatural thriller, and also queer. Explores themes sisterhood, queer identity, and the righteous anger and hunger carried with femininity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Gore, Body horror, and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, and Murder
rachelditty's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
There were a lot of things in this book I wish had been touched on more, most specifically being Becca's relationship with her mom, which seemed troubled throughout the entire story aside from the ending. Becca's mom is constantly putting things on Becca that a teenager shouldn't have to think about or hear come from their parent's mouths, but Becca hears it too often from her mom.
I thought the ending was fitting for the story. Having Arianna die for her mistakes, Amanda joining a different pack, and Becca and Marley being freed from the pack. I feel like there's an analogy in there somewhere about the constraints of what's expected of young girls, especially those in the closet, but I think it would've been portrayed a lot more effectively if there were more members of the pack, and the pack from Stanford, that were queer as well, not just Becca and Marley. Werewolves are historically used as an allegory for the outsiders, for queer people, or those who society has deemed "other" and "infectious." Having both leaders of the packs be (what seem to be) straight white rich girls seems so out of the scope of what werewolves could be.
Marley and Becca were pretty cute toward the end, but I really wasn't hooked on their relationship. It didn't feel like Marley was ever a member of the group that went against Arianna, only Amanda ever really did that. If Marley had had more moments where she grappled with Arianna's way of doing things, I thought her relationship with Becca would have been more interesting.
Also, as much as I didn't like Arianna, I didn't like that she was killed by girls she thought were people who would always have her back, in the same place she was drugged and almost assaulted. The whole point of the story was girls taking back power from boys who saw them as nothing more than a means to their own ends, and the girls were always supposed to take the power back from them. But Arianna dies behind a dumpster where a boy almost sexually assaults her? Yes, I think it was the right call for her to die, but the way it happened just felt wrong.
Becca and Marley were cute in their prom dresses though, so I guess points for that.
The illustrations were the best part of this, to be honest.
I thought the ending was fitting for the story.
Marley and Becca were pretty cute toward the end, but I really wasn't hooked on their relationship. It didn't feel like Marley was ever a member of the group that went against Arianna, only Amanda ever really did that. If Marley had had more moments where she grappled with Arianna's way of doing things, I thought her relationship with Becca would have been more interesting.
Also, as much as I didn't like Arianna, I didn't like that she was killed by girls she thought were people who would always have her back, in the same place she was drugged and almost assaulted. The whole point of the story was girls taking back power from boys who saw them as nothing more than a means to their own ends, and the girls were always supposed to take the power back from them. But Arianna dies behind a dumpster where a boy almost sexually assaults her? Yes, I think it was the right call for her to die, but the way it happened just felt wrong.
Becca and Marley were cute in their prom dresses though, so I guess points for that.
The illustrations were the best part of this, to be honest.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Murder, Sexual violence, Gore, Violence, Blood, Body horror, and Death
emilysreadingbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Sexual violence
onemamareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
rachelfayreads's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Grief, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
sphinxofblackquartz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
megansnextread's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
_forestofpages's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was exactly what I expected, but was too short and the ending felt very abrupt. The characters faced barely any consequences either. However, I did like this a lot. I loved the art style, the conversation on internalized misogyny and the girl power. I also enjoyed that instead of the authors just accepting "that its fine to murder people if they're bad", and instead giving other perspectives and showing how selfish and hypocritical Arianna was. I felt like the mean girl aspect of wanting to belong to a group but choosing to belong with toxic controlling people because you want to be popular, was well done, but also I wanted more of it. Overall, I actually just wanted more. I will be looking forward to more from this duo of authors and artists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
wyldpoetry_'s review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a fairly easy fantasy graphic novel but did have some tidbits I think others might have issues about. With that being said, there is some cursing and discussion of sexual topics, if that’s not your thing, maybe skip this one.
This story is about three high school girls in a werewolf pack who need a fourth when a new girl starts at their school that seems the perfect fit. They get her alone and offer to change her and explain how it works: they’re faster, stronger, and better looking but they have to devour a human body once a month. And they always pick jerks and they can leave zero evidence. Except things go very wrong when the alpha’s boyfriend hits on one of the other girls. The art is reminiscent of 80’s neon, but with a modern twist. I thoroughly enjoyed the title and would read more by these lovely graphic artists: Maggie Tokuda-Hall & Lisa Sterle.
This story is about three high school girls in a werewolf pack who need a fourth when a new girl starts at their school that seems the perfect fit. They get her alone and offer to change her and explain how it works: they’re faster, stronger, and better looking but they have to devour a human body once a month. And they always pick jerks and they can leave zero evidence. Except things go very wrong when the alpha’s boyfriend hits on one of the other girls. The art is reminiscent of 80’s neon, but with a modern twist. I thoroughly enjoyed the title and would read more by these lovely graphic artists: Maggie Tokuda-Hall & Lisa Sterle.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
lil_saddie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Some casual racism and fatphobia that is shown in a negative light but not ever actually addressed
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Murder, Misogyny, and Eating disorder
Was kind of hoping for more nuanced conversations, but overall a fun story. Sapphic payoff was worth it🤷♀️