Reviews tagging 'Death'

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker

24 reviews

ashylibrarian's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted 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? No
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THIS BOOK. 10/10, 100% recommend.

Bookstores, witches, magical creatures, and more! Mooncakes is an amazing graphic novel that tells a fun, fantastical story while integrating so much representation. This book did nothing but make my heart happy. There is diversity rep, body rep, LGBTQ+ rep. Nova and Tam make the most perfect duo alongside the Nanas as they discover the mysteries and dark forces fighting against them in their town.

Mooncakes is a book I will be rereading for sure and definitely recommending to readers in the future!

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letiross's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted 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? No

3.0


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cemeterygay's review against another edition

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  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Just a really fun, quick graphic novel read. The main relationship is really adorable and the witchy elements are really fun and cool. I love the relationship between Nova and her parents and I would die for the grandmas. While pretty low stakes, I still was really rooting for Nova and Tam. I also adored the casual nonbinary, deaf, and queer rep. The art is also just so nice to look at. Honestly this book has cozy Scooby Doo vibes in the best way possible

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ednam0dewannabe's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This graphic novel has been a light read that I needed: lovable and well-developed characters, interesting and original story, and good representation. Although I couldn't give it more than 3.5 stars because the narrative is too fast and doesn't give the reader time to digest anything
(besides the insta-love)
. Despite that, I liked it a lot and will surely read it again soon.

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thelibraryofanolive's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

This book was sweet but pretty boring lolz but the inclusivity and gay grandmas were a slay fr

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thanmayi's review against another edition

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dark emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This is probably the best fantasy graphic novel I have ever read, the art and writing are absolutely stunning and the amount of diversity this novel had. We have a deaf MC and a NB love interest.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well developed some of the side characters were and their main reason to exist wasn't just to push the plot along. 

Some parts of the plot felt slightly rushed but apart from that this was a fantastic and fast paces read that was definitely worth it.

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emily_mh's review against another edition

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hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

Let's start with the positives! The art style was incredible. The four main characters had such wonderful relationships with one another and were all super sweet in their own rights. I also loved how central the witchiness and paranormal elements were in the story, which was unexpected yet welcome, as I thought it would be more romance-focussed. I ended up really loving the plot and the magic system. 

I did, however, have some gripes. The first two are spoilery, and the other ones are about the disability rep.
First of all, I felt like Tan's block was so important to the progression of the story, yet it appeared to have been resolved off-page. Secondly, the ending decision of Nova seeking her apprenticeship elsewhere seemed out-of-character, and also at odds with the rest of the book, where the focus was more on her parents accepting her decision (one that suited her better, too). I don't think every coming-of-age style story needs to end with the MC leaving their hometown.


Now, about the hearing disability rep. I also have a hearing disability and, like Nova, wear hearing aids for it, which is why I'm commenting about it. I know that Suzanne Walker has a hearing disability, so this is own-voices rep, yet  I have very mixed feelings about the way in which it was done. First of all, I loved that in most illustrations of Nova her hearing aids were visible. I also liked that her disability was referenced throughout the book, so that while being disabled wasn't who Nova was as a person, it was never glossed over as part of her life. But some of the references were just... ??? It felt like certain situations were engineered to show that Nova was disabled - for example, Nova has to dial down her aids when the shop phone rings, but it turns out the caller is her best friend who (as stated in the book) would usually text, or if they would call, would call Nova's personal phone, which presumably would ring at her preferred volume. Also, I hated the comparisons that were drawn between being a werewolf and having a hearing disability. It felt kind of degrading to have my disability compared with something that doesn't actually exist. Sure, in a world where werewolves were real, it would make more sense to compare the two, but this book is written for readers who live in a world where it doesn't, so that felt pretty gross to read.

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foreverinastory's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

5.0

I loved this so much! This was the cutest graphic novel ever and I've read Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey. Now I kind of want to reread it.

Mooncakes follows a witch and a nonbinary werewolf who used to be childhood best friends and they meet again when Tam comes to track down a demon. Together, the two will have to figure out Tam's werewolf magic and stop the demon before it can hurt anyone.

I love Nova and Tam so much. They're both so precious. This story is precious. I need it to be a series. I loved every single second of this graphic novel and I want more of everything in it. Queer nonbinary werewolf? Yes! Queer sapphics witches? Yes! magic and mayhem? Extra YES! I wish I read this sooner.

Rep: Jewish Sapphic female MC who uses hearing aids, queer nonbinary BIPOC love interest, WLW side couple.

CWs: Kidnapping, violence, confinement, emotional abuse. Moderate: death, death of parents, blood, animal cruelty, grief.
 

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lavalaempchen's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Just reread it and it is as fun as the first time. The drawings use lots of earth towns and don’t overwhelm, just add to the cuteness, the story is well written and has ups and downs but never loses its cuteness. 
It’s a nice book to just have a quick read and be happy and feel more welcomed and wholesome after that. 

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morganperks's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0


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