arealswellfellow's reviews
172 reviews

Fire Punch, Vol. 4 by Tatsuki Fujimoto

adventurous dark 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

3.0

Fire Punch, Vol. 3 by Tatsuki Fujimoto

adventurous dark 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

3.5

Not as strong of a start as the other volumes. But things are getting into a groove so I think it could get exciting.

Fire Punch, Vol. 2 by Tatsuki Fujimoto

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened by Bill McKibben

funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

This book really changed my perspective on the boomer generation. I dont think every boomer is a radical environmentalist like Bill but this book still puts the American Exceptionalism mindset that boomers grew up with into perspective. Really introspective look at changing climate and life in America.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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 think this sequel is even better than the first!

Panga is such a wholesome sci-fi world. Kind of an Annares type planet but if the anarchy could happen in a lush plentiful world instead of a desert. 

It delves into some existential and somewhat dark topics, but it always does so in such a hopeful, optimistic, and not overly preachy way.

Just really good sci-fi. May become a modern classic of the genre.

Fire Punch, Vol. 1 by Tatsuki Fujimoto

adventurous dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I am reading this to gain more context on the author and any influence there may be on Chainsawman.

I think some of my enjoyment of this came from having read csm before. This is a lot darker than CSM. Kind of has some vibes of Snowpiercer, mostly just because of the dystopian snowy world. Also feels a little bit like the edgy parts of early Berserk. Also some of the bad cliches of manga. I am hoping the edginess wears off in later volumes because some panels in this book were very uncomfy to read. Thematically may have been appropriate though so I could get through it. 

If you are interested in something between Snow Piercer, Berserk, and Chainsaw man this manga may be worth checking out.

I found it intriguing enough I’ll probably read the rest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, and Violence

Moderate: Incest and Sexual violence

Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better by Jennifer Pahlka

challenging hopeful informative medium-paced

3.5

This is more of a policy and people book than a technology book, but I think that’s the point. It’s a great glimpse into the inner workings and challenges of implementing government policy that affects people everyday. Some parts are a little dry, but that lines up with covering the technology for what should be mundane government operations. 

Kind of makes me want to work for the government and use my coding skills to actually help people…

Berserk Volume 41 by Kentaro Miura

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The end of an era. Individually, I don’t think any Berserk volume is 5 stars. But as a saga it is fantastic. Truly an amazing journey. Some of the best character growth over time.

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.5

This was my first Brandon Sanderson book, and it was a lot of fun! I’ll probably read some others.

Lots of twist and turns. A fun thrilling time!

Berserk, Vol. 40 by Kentaro Miura

adventurous dark hopeful tense 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

4.5

“Our whole journey has been about this from the start”

On the sun dappled ground is one of the best chapters of Berserk so far. Honestly could have been an ending right there.