emmaprew's reviews
544 reviews

Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.0

I’m not sure if it’s been too long since I read the first two books (even though I read the full plot  summaries again before starting this one) or my tastes have just changed since then but I didn’t enjoy this all that much. It wasn’t that bad but just didn’t do much for me and I ended up just wanting it to be over. I remember loving the other books so I don’t know what happened here!

Following the Moon by James Norbury

reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

This is the fourth Jake Norbury book I’ve read and I’m not sure it connected with me as well as the others but there’s no denying there’s some thought-provoking messages within the minimal word count. The artwork is, as always, beautiful. 

InuYasha, Vol. 2 by Rumiko Takahashi

adventurous funny mysterious 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

4.25

I started reading Inuyasha last year and recently signed up to the Viz Manga app so I can continue reading it. Big fan of a the folklore and mythology elements of it. It balances out with the slightly cheesy romance elements. Nothing too lovey-dovey has happened so far though so it’s all good.

The Usagi Yojimbo Saga: Book 3 by Stan Sakai

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.5

The more Usagi Yojimbo I read, the more I love it. Some really great stories and characters in this volume.

Light Bringer by Pierce Brown

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.25

So many feelings. Lyria is the best. Need more Lyria still. I was back on board with Darrow’s POV in this book compared to the last. And it was great to have Sevro there too. And Cassius! I didn’t think I liked Cassius but it turns out I did.

So of course he had to go and have a dramatic death. For real this time.

There were things in this book I didn’t like so much, things I’m feeling about this second part of the series in general, but overall it’s good stuff. Dark, sad, bleak, twisty stuff, so much back stabbing and side switching, but yeah, good stuff.

Alone in Space: A Collection by Tillie Walden

challenging emotional inspiring fast-paced

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

3.75

As my first introduction to Tillie Walden this was pretty good. Definitely a big fan of the Ghibli-vibes, with many of the comics being weird and wonderful. The artwork was wonderful, and quite varied. As this was a collection, I definitely liked some stories more than others. I’ll be interested to read Spinning or On A Sun Beam next.

The Wrath of Vajazzle by Barry J. Hutchison

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

I’m marking this one down from the first basically just for the stupid title / character name. Otherwise, I loved this silly space story.

They must get Splurt back pronto! He’s the best.

Tall Tales by Tom Sniegoski

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

Quite a fun little Bone story. Actually would have liked it to be more of Smiley Bone and Bartleby than the stories they were telling. Or if the main story at the end was told by Smiley as well, with breaks in between. Basically I’m craving the cast from original Bone!

Oksi by Mari Ahokoivu

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Such a beautiful book. The watercolour-style artwork throughout is stunning and so creative in how the story is told – there’s no grid like many graphic novels, simply hundreds and hundreds of individual illustrations. There were long stretches without any words at all and yet the story flowed so well. Ranging from monochrome illustrations – which match the honestly quite dark tale – to more colourful scenes. Not knowing anything much about Finnish mythology, some parts were lost on me but, once again, I cannot express just how beautiful the illustrations are. 

Bone: Rose by Jeff Smith

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Not a bad story by any means but not nearly as impressive as the main Bone series – which I absolutely loved last year. It was kind of weird reading a book in this world in colour. And also there were no bones from Boneville in this one.