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jess_mango's review against another edition
3.0
Coming off the high of Daisy Jones & the Six, the cover of Queen of Kenosha immediately caught my eye. I was in the mood for more musical reads.
Set in 1963, this graphic novel focuses on Nina Overstreet, a folk musician from Kenosha, WI who moves to NYC to pursue her music career. She's working in a bar in Greenwich village when she meets a man who pulls her into a secret organization that hunts for Nazis in America.
The Good: As previously stated, I really like the cover. I also liked the first page in each chapter where their were several songs listed. Some of the songs were from that era but others were more recent (Pearl Jam, U2). I love have music to go with what I am reading.
Otherwise: I never really connected with any of the characters. The storyline also never truly drew me in and was a bit too dry for me. This is the first book in a 3 part series and I am not sure if I would pick up the follow-up reads.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Animal Media Group.
Set in 1963, this graphic novel focuses on Nina Overstreet, a folk musician from Kenosha, WI who moves to NYC to pursue her music career. She's working in a bar in Greenwich village when she meets a man who pulls her into a secret organization that hunts for Nazis in America.
The Good: As previously stated, I really like the cover. I also liked the first page in each chapter where their were several songs listed. Some of the songs were from that era but others were more recent (Pearl Jam, U2). I love have music to go with what I am reading.
Otherwise: I never really connected with any of the characters. The storyline also never truly drew me in and was a bit too dry for me. This is the first book in a 3 part series and I am not sure if I would pick up the follow-up reads.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Animal Media Group.
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'Queen of Kenosha' by Howard Shapiro with art by Erica Chan is a graphic novel about an up and coming singer recruited for a covert operation.
Nina Overstreet is hoping to make the big time, but playing in small clubs may not get her there. When she is recruited by Nick Ladd and a group of ex-FBI operatives to hunt down Nazi operatives in the states, she takes it.
I liked this story of a young woman who wants to do right and gets caught in a world where things are not clearly black and white. I liked Nina's independence and willingness to think for herself. The art is also pretty good. This book is part of a trilogy, and I'd like to hunt down the rest of the books in this series now.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Animal Media Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Nina Overstreet is hoping to make the big time, but playing in small clubs may not get her there. When she is recruited by Nick Ladd and a group of ex-FBI operatives to hunt down Nazi operatives in the states, she takes it.
I liked this story of a young woman who wants to do right and gets caught in a world where things are not clearly black and white. I liked Nina's independence and willingness to think for herself. The art is also pretty good. This book is part of a trilogy, and I'd like to hunt down the rest of the books in this series now.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Animal Media Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
bethtabler's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
First, let us talk about how cool a cover this book has. Before even reading one word, the reader is already feeling a noir vibe. Getting into the story, which is very well written, we meet Nina Overstreet. She is a talented and very strong female character. Who also has a sympathetic vibe. It is so cool that she takes martial arts in the 1950's and is a musician. We already know that she is a character who bucks tradition. The writing for the story is concise and fast moving. Which I appreciate. The art is not cartoonish and it gets the point across without being overly minimalistic. I won't go into the plot, so as not to spoil but think Nazis. music, spies, and secret societies. Read it. It is a very fun journey.
First, let us talk about how cool a cover this book has. Before even reading one word, the reader is already feeling a noir vibe. Getting into the story, which is very well written, we meet Nina Overstreet. She is a talented and very strong female character. Who also has a sympathetic vibe. It is so cool that she takes martial arts in the 1950's and is a musician. We already know that she is a character who bucks tradition. The writing for the story is concise and fast moving. Which I appreciate. The art is not cartoonish and it gets the point across without being overly minimalistic. I won't go into the plot, so as not to spoil but think Nazis. music, spies, and secret societies. Read it. It is a very fun journey.
hannahwoycik's review against another edition
4.0
Queen of Kenosha by Howard Shapiro review
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
“A coming of age tale, this is the first installment of the Thin Thinline Trilogy, the fiercely independent Nina Overstreet has an axe to grind. A talented singer-songwriter slogging her way through the burgeoning Greenwich Village folk music scene of 1963, the Queen of Kenosha, Wisconsin, realizes that standing on the cusp of stardom gets her little respect and barely a cup of coffee in New York City…”
Queen of Kenosha is about Nina Overstreet and Nick Ladd, and Nazis. This graphic novel is set in 1963 in Post-War America. The cover is beautiful, and the artwork is stunning. I’ve enjoyed other works by Howard Shapiro, but this one is by far my favourite and I’m really looking forward to the next ones in the trilogy.
The story progressed at a good pace. Decent length for a graphic novel, and I’d even read a full novel about Nina and Nick. I loved their dynamic and their slow-burn relationship, from friendship to budding romance.
I know what time this is set in, but the sexism and racism were a bit hard to swallow; a bit infuriating to be honest. I loved how Nina stood up for herself though and how she didn’t take any shit from anyone.
“…ex-FBI operatives in a clandestine agency to stop the establishment of the Fourth Reich by undercover Nazis…” How cool does that sound? The coolest. And Howard Shapiro delivers with butt-kicking agents and witty dialogue.
THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGHHHH. Oh mah god. I’d had suspicions but that blew me out of the water. It definitely left me psyched for the next volume.
Queen of Kenosha releases October 9th, and I’d recommend pre-ordering it because it’s sure to be a big hit.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
“A coming of age tale, this is the first installment of the Thin Thinline Trilogy, the fiercely independent Nina Overstreet has an axe to grind. A talented singer-songwriter slogging her way through the burgeoning Greenwich Village folk music scene of 1963, the Queen of Kenosha, Wisconsin, realizes that standing on the cusp of stardom gets her little respect and barely a cup of coffee in New York City…”
Queen of Kenosha is about Nina Overstreet and Nick Ladd, and Nazis. This graphic novel is set in 1963 in Post-War America. The cover is beautiful, and the artwork is stunning. I’ve enjoyed other works by Howard Shapiro, but this one is by far my favourite and I’m really looking forward to the next ones in the trilogy.
The story progressed at a good pace. Decent length for a graphic novel, and I’d even read a full novel about Nina and Nick. I loved their dynamic and their slow-burn relationship, from friendship to budding romance.
I know what time this is set in, but the sexism and racism were a bit hard to swallow; a bit infuriating to be honest. I loved how Nina stood up for herself though and how she didn’t take any shit from anyone.
“…ex-FBI operatives in a clandestine agency to stop the establishment of the Fourth Reich by undercover Nazis…” How cool does that sound? The coolest. And Howard Shapiro delivers with butt-kicking agents and witty dialogue.
THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGHHHH. Oh mah god. I’d had suspicions but that blew me out of the water. It definitely left me psyched for the next volume.
Queen of Kenosha releases October 9th, and I’d recommend pre-ordering it because it’s sure to be a big hit.
zimnotutaj's review against another edition
The best part? Music. Nice character development.
What didn't work out for me: the war/nazi fighting theme. Not interesting enough but that's just me.
What didn't work out for me: the war/nazi fighting theme. Not interesting enough but that's just me.
jugglingpup's review against another edition
5.0
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
The story moves quickly and it stays quick. I’m not a big fan of action or war stuff, but this one enthralled me. I need to know more. I would very easily read multiple volumes of the series in one sitting if they all were paced like this and had this much in them. It is pretty rare when I am able to have my interest held in a story that is so focused on espionage and secrets.
I was sucked in so hard. I loved this. I have so many questions, but be warned that there are spoilers in the questions: Was Christina doing Nazi stuff at night or was she really going to law school? How did she get involved with them? I can’t wait for a sequel especially if there is more back story to that and the organization that Nina works for now.
The moral questions and points that Nina raises are so valid and necessary. They fit with recent events. The book could even be set in the more modern time instead of 1934 with how things are going (it is pretty sad when the current political and social climate allows a Nazi story to continue or be set much later than it should). So the author can very easily play with time lines without running into AU territory. The points focus around women’s rights and abilities. There is also a great deal of race politics as well because well Nazis.
As the story stands, I think it is pretty amazing. I’m not seeing many glaring plot holes or loose ends that aren’t based around the cliffhanger ending. My one concern is with Nina and Christina/Agent Quinn’s characters. How common was it that a woman was allowed to and encouraged by people to take martial arts in 1963? The time period wasn’t the most open towards women and having a woman do something so unladylike wouldn’t have been easy, especially since Nina is said to have taught martial arts as a part time job. From what I am aware of the Nazi party and white supremacist movements, women are not held in a high regard. So Christina/Agent Quinn would not be holding a very high position, so that might need to be addressed. I am hoping that the author is able to bring my disbelief back into check for the next book because I will be reading the next book. This would not be the first Nazi focused story that has women in high ranking positions, but usually they are more spoofs and satire, so it will be interesting to see how a more serious story will be able to get me there.
The art is not overly realistic, but is isn’t cartoony either. Instead it straddles a minimalist line that allows the focus to stay on the intense story line instead of on the pretty art. It is an impressive feat considering the skill of the artist really shows through. The characters are easily told apart, even when they are clearly supposed to look similar. Well done book overall!
I got an ARC of this book.
The story moves quickly and it stays quick. I’m not a big fan of action or war stuff, but this one enthralled me. I need to know more. I would very easily read multiple volumes of the series in one sitting if they all were paced like this and had this much in them. It is pretty rare when I am able to have my interest held in a story that is so focused on espionage and secrets.
I was sucked in so hard. I loved this. I have so many questions, but be warned that there are spoilers in the questions: Was Christina doing Nazi stuff at night or was she really going to law school? How did she get involved with them? I can’t wait for a sequel especially if there is more back story to that and the organization that Nina works for now.
The moral questions and points that Nina raises are so valid and necessary. They fit with recent events. The book could even be set in the more modern time instead of 1934 with how things are going (it is pretty sad when the current political and social climate allows a Nazi story to continue or be set much later than it should). So the author can very easily play with time lines without running into AU territory. The points focus around women’s rights and abilities. There is also a great deal of race politics as well because well Nazis.
As the story stands, I think it is pretty amazing. I’m not seeing many glaring plot holes or loose ends that aren’t based around the cliffhanger ending. My one concern is with Nina and Christina/Agent Quinn’s characters. How common was it that a woman was allowed to and encouraged by people to take martial arts in 1963? The time period wasn’t the most open towards women and having a woman do something so unladylike wouldn’t have been easy, especially since Nina is said to have taught martial arts as a part time job. From what I am aware of the Nazi party and white supremacist movements, women are not held in a high regard. So Christina/Agent Quinn would not be holding a very high position, so that might need to be addressed. I am hoping that the author is able to bring my disbelief back into check for the next book because I will be reading the next book. This would not be the first Nazi focused story that has women in high ranking positions, but usually they are more spoofs and satire, so it will be interesting to see how a more serious story will be able to get me there.
The art is not overly realistic, but is isn’t cartoony either. Instead it straddles a minimalist line that allows the focus to stay on the intense story line instead of on the pretty art. It is an impressive feat considering the skill of the artist really shows through. The characters are easily told apart, even when they are clearly supposed to look similar. Well done book overall!
driedfrogpills's review against another edition
3.0
I really thought I was going to like this a lot more than I do. While I really enjoyed the art, and thought it very fitting for the story, the story itself was a little too predictable for me. It just didn't quite grab my interest.
jentidders's review against another edition
3.0
Nina Overstreet is a struggling folk singer in 1960s NYC, desperate to get a record deal and make it big. Instead, a random encounter leads to her being invited to join an agency of ex-FBI operatives whose mission is prevent a network of undercover Nazis establishing the Fourth Reich in the USA. Carrying out missions, Nina has to consider her own personal morals - what depths is it acceptable to sink to, if it's for the greater good?
There's a lot to like here; the 1960s/NYC/post-war/cold-war setting, a female lead, the music references and the suggested playlist for each section. However, I couldn't suspend my disbelief that NIna would be recruited into such a unit with no prior experience. Also, some of the illustration felt a bit flat, and it was hard to tell some of the male characters apart, meaning I was a bit confused in places. And even though there was meant to be some will-they/won't-they tension between characters, I didn't feel any romantic chemistry.
Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable enough read, but there are better graphic novels out there.
Thanks to NetGalley and Animal Media Group for the digital copy in return for an honest review.
There's a lot to like here; the 1960s/NYC/post-war/cold-war setting, a female lead, the music references and the suggested playlist for each section. However, I couldn't suspend my disbelief that NIna would be recruited into such a unit with no prior experience. Also, some of the illustration felt a bit flat, and it was hard to tell some of the male characters apart, meaning I was a bit confused in places. And even though there was meant to be some will-they/won't-they tension between characters, I didn't feel any romantic chemistry.
Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable enough read, but there are better graphic novels out there.
Thanks to NetGalley and Animal Media Group for the digital copy in return for an honest review.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
3.0
Take a little bit of the Greenwich village folk scene of the 1960s, and the Nazis that escaped to America after WWII, and a folk singer who wants to be as big as Bob Dylan, and you get Queen of Kenosha.
This graphic novel, the first of a trilogy, follows Nina, as she is recruited to join undercover agents who are trying to catch all the Nazis that threaten to destroy the United States. In between missions, she is still playing her music and trying to get ahead with the rest of her career.
This touches on the troubles of the 1960s, as well as today, as Nina feels that you don't become a bad guy to to defeat the bad guys. Good discussion and reactions.
Not sure where this is going, but as usual, the author is spinning an interesting story.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This graphic novel, the first of a trilogy, follows Nina, as she is recruited to join undercover agents who are trying to catch all the Nazis that threaten to destroy the United States. In between missions, she is still playing her music and trying to get ahead with the rest of her career.
This touches on the troubles of the 1960s, as well as today, as Nina feels that you don't become a bad guy to to defeat the bad guys. Good discussion and reactions.
Not sure where this is going, but as usual, the author is spinning an interesting story.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
aliciaceasar's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars. I went into this not knowing much about the plot other than the main character being involved in music. Nina is a musician that grew quite famous in her small town of Kenosha. Her band even had a song that played on the radio. But Nina learned that life is different in NYC. She struggles constantly to make ends meet, depending on her cousin/agent to keep her afloat. When Nina meets Nick, her entire world is turned upside down. Nick wants to recruit her to join the hunt for Nazis in a post WWII world.
I don't want to go deeper into the story because I don't want to ruin it. I will say that I liked Nina as a character and I thought this book being a graphic novel was the perfect formatting. I did receive my copy on my kindle so I didn't get the full experience of a physical graphic novel but nonetheless, it was enjoyable. I did find the plot to be fairly predictable and some of the dialogue to be cheesy. I also didn't really like any of the characters outside of Nina and Nick. The events that happened in the last few pages have me excited about the next installment. I think this is supposed to be a trilogy so this is really just the start of a bigger story. I'm sure I will read the next one when it comes out.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for something that is fast-paced, spy/action packed, with a great set of recommended songs at the beginning of each chapter.
I don't want to go deeper into the story because I don't want to ruin it. I will say that I liked Nina as a character and I thought this book being a graphic novel was the perfect formatting. I did receive my copy on my kindle so I didn't get the full experience of a physical graphic novel but nonetheless, it was enjoyable. I did find the plot to be fairly predictable and some of the dialogue to be cheesy. I also didn't really like any of the characters outside of Nina and Nick. The events that happened in the last few pages have me excited about the next installment. I think this is supposed to be a trilogy so this is really just the start of a bigger story. I'm sure I will read the next one when it comes out.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for something that is fast-paced, spy/action packed, with a great set of recommended songs at the beginning of each chapter.