alanddauthor's reviews
1425 reviews

Cheat(er) Code by S.A. Foxe, Daz

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

It's a beautiful story, full of humor and self-discovery, but with a ridiculously high (and effective) amount of sex. It goes against everything you'd expect from a graphic novel that relies heavily on smut, and that's precisely why it's so good: because it shows a more realistic side despite being fantasy, a more emotional side despite being porn, and a development you don't expect at any point but that feels so fresh that it's impossible not to appreciate it. We. Need. More. Books. Like. This!

Popo the Xolo by Paloma Angelina Lopez

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a gorgeous book. Not only is the writing style beautiful, but the art is also high-quality. I don’t think I can say anything negative about it, so please allow me to praise it for a few more words.

First, the theme is addressed in a sensible, humanitarian manner. There is nothing morbid, dark, or uncomfortable about the way the story evolves. Family unity and peace are perhaps the most relevant topics besides the central themes of grief and death, maybe even more on some pages. Lopez delivers a story that celebrates life and reminds us there is always a light at the end.

There are times when I forgot this is a story about a grandma dying because it looks more like a fantasy adventure, proving Lopez’s mastery of her craft. Something so dreadful is portrayed in a simple, celebratory manner: we are not happy that Grandma died, we’re happy that she is free from illness, pain, and discomfort.

Full review published in The Wild Hunt: https://wildhunt.org/2025/03/review-popo-the-xolo.html

The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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

4.0

El nuevo capítulo de la historia de Clara y Axel está mucho más desarrollado y pulido que el anterior, con un estilo que encanta desde la primera página. Hay varios detalles que te llaman la atención, cada uno un misterio más pequeño relacionado con la pregunta millonaria de qué pasó realmente en Grimm's Hollow para que cayera la maldición.

The new chapter in Clara and Axel's story is much more developed and polished than the previous one, with a style that captivates from the first page. Several details catch your attention, each a smaller mystery related to the millionaire question of what really happened in Grimm's Hollow to cause the curse.

Full review published in my blog on Monday, March 31: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-deathly-grimm.html

Muted: Volume 1 by Miranda Mundt

adventurous dark funny lighthearted relaxing medium-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

4.0

La historia comienza un poco lenta, y tiene sus altibajos, pero el guión está tan bien trabajado que se te pasan las páginas volando sin que te des cuenta. Es de esas tramas que te sorprenden sin parar hasta el punto de que pierdes la noción del tiempo, porque los personajes se vuelven tan familiares, tan cercanos, y en tan poco tiempo, que simplemente te sumerges en su mundo sin dificultad.

The story starts off a bit slow, and has its ups and downs, but the script is so well crafted that the pages fly by without you even realizing it. It's one of those plots that surprises you non-stop to the point that you lose track of time, because the characters become so familiar, so close, and in such a short time, that you simply immerse yourself in their world without difficulty.

Full review March 10: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2025/03/muted-volume-1.html

Disabled Witchcraft: 90 Rituals for Limited-Spoon Practitioners by Kandi Zeller

informative slow-paced

2.0

As a disabled witch myself, it's hard to give this book this rating. However, it was highly repetitive, with a heavy writing style that felt mechanic at times, with the same few ideas just slightly changed. I am disabled, I know how hard it is to do this and that, and I have interacted with disabled people, and we don't talk over and over again about how hard this and that is. If anything, it was a discouraging reading instead of empowering.

Evil-ish by Kennedy Tarrell

adventurous dark funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Although the premise was attractive, the execution wasn't what I expected. This is more of a middle-grade story than young-adult, which doesn't make it bad automatically, but not what I expected. Therefore, there is not enough character development, backstory,  The art is nice, the best part of the story, and the page layout is also attractive, with interesting dialogues and a simple world-building, but with a script and development that didn't live up to my expectations.

Book Curses by Eleanor Baker

funny informative fast-paced

4.0

I really liked the chronological order of this book. There was a lot of creativity in the curses, although some of them were repetitive. I also enjoyed the descriptions which added context and background into why this or that was relevant at that time. A curious reading that will be perfect for those who like history and books as reading subjects.

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

ace poco terminé de leer un libro que me encantó desde el primer capítulo. The Forest Grimm, por Kathryn Purdie, es una de esas lecturas que se vuelven cada vez más adictivas a medida que avanzas hasta que resulta imposible dejar de leerlo. Tuve que obligarme a cerrar el libro porque resulta que la universidad es importante.

...

I recently finished a book that I fell in love with from the first chapter. The Forest Grimm, by Kathryn Purdie, is one of those reads that becomes increasingly addictive as you go along until it becomes impossible to put down. I had to force myself to close the book because it turns out college is important.

...

https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-forest-grimm.html 

Lethal Dose of Love by Yosumi

dark emotional inspiring tense medium-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

As always, the script got me into it, and I found a story that only got better with time. Yuu seems like a cliché at first, but then you spend more time with him, his past, and his baggage, until you find out what made him the way he is. I won't spoil anything, just say there's a great exploration of trauma and healing.

Me and My Dysphoria Monster: An Empowering Story to Help Children Cope with Gender Dysphoria by Laura Kate Dale

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

Otra historia preciosa que ayuda a entender los retos de los niños trans. Es fácil de seguir, con una historia básica, y que muestra la importancia de la representación.

Another lovely story that helps understand the challenges of trans kids. It's easy to follow, with a basic story, and shows the importance of representation.