emmaprew's reviews
544 reviews

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

emotional informative inspiring 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

3.75

Very thought provoking read. I can’t really put into words how this book made me think and feel. I can’t say that I relate to Keiko’s life a great deal, aside from the obvious of being a 30 something year old woman, but it certainly made me think about all the expectations that are put on us as humans.

Dark Age by Pierce Brown

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-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

4.0

For me, and like Iron Gold, the best part of this book was Ephraim. I didn’t really get on so well with Darrow and Lysander’s chapters (although the latter’s chapters certainly made me hate him). Lyria, Volga, Virginia and Victra were great. I loved Pax and I hope there is more of him in the future books, there has to be – also, I kept forgetting he’s only 11. Also, need more Sevro.

Spoiler thoughts:

I was so upset and angry when Ephraim was killed. Maybe if he’d managed to defeat more of his enemies whilst getting caught in his own explosion it would have felt more worthwhile, but then getting his heart eaten… well, I certainly feel like I’ve had my heart ripped out! At least he gets to go and see Trigg now. 😭

Assassin's Apprentice Volume 2 (Graphic Novel) by Ryan Kelly, Jody Houser, Robin Hobb

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

Ahhh I love this story so much. I don’t love the comic as much as the original book but it’s still wonderfully delivered. Great to see more of The Fool in this book. Love them.

Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 3 by Ryoko Kui

adventurous funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

Another very fun instalment. I love Chilchuck.

Punk Rock Karaoke by Bianca Xunise

funny hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

An excellent and important read for any DIY punk fan – well, any underground art and music fan of any kind really. A great cast of female and non-binary characters, most of whom were also POC, paving the way for more diversity in the punk scene. The artwork was a lot of fun, the layout was varied and the colours in particular were beautiful. I loved the inclusion of songs to soundtrack particular moments in the book – I didn’t actually listen to them as I went but could imagine most of them (that I was familiar with) playing in my head.

Vagabond, Vol. 2 (VIZBIG Edition) by Takehiko Inoue

adventurous dark 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

3.5

Pretty enjoyable but definitely even more slow paced than the previous volume. Nice to see Musashi suffer defeat and develop his character as a result.

Dark One, Book 1 (1) by Jackson Lanzing, Brandon Sanderson, Brandon Sanderson, Collin Kelly

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

Ugh. I picked this up because it had Brandon Sanderson’s name on it but I should have known better than to assume one of his lesser known works, and a graphic novel at that, would be any good. I don’t really know what was going on in this story. Sanderson’s excellent world-building and details just don’t carry across to comic book form very well. The artwork wasn’t bad though, the chapter/interlude full pages in particular were nice.

Space Team by Barry J. Hutchison

adventurous 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

4.0

My partner has been telling me I should read this Space Team for years. I always put it off in favour of more serious books but eventually decided it was worth a shot. And it was indeed a lot of fun. Guardians of the Galaxy / Firefly vibes. I love Splurt.

Iron Gold by Pierce Brown

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Having only recently finished Morning Star, I was more than happy to return to the world of Red Rising ten years in the future. I didn’t expect to embrace the new viewpoint characters so quickly as I did – I loved Ephraim and Lyria especially. I almost feel like it would have been good to have other POVs in the first three books now. Darrow himself was, well, not very likeable in this book but I don’t think he was supposed to be. His actions, and that of most of the characters in this series, have always been morally grey and he definitely got darker and darker here. Anyway, a really great book and I’ll be going to the library to pick up the next two books asap!

The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina by Meredith Kecskemety

funny informative inspiring

4.0

Some beautiful artwork, interesting concept art and loads of character portraits from an excellent animated series! What more could you want… well, it to include season three as well, maybe.