emmaprew's reviews
544 reviews

ORCS! The Curse by Christine Larsen

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

4.0

I remembered why I enjoyed the first Orcs book so much when reading this – it was funny, as well as a great fantasy setting with great characters. Feels like a different spin on what you’d expect an orc, elf or other fantasy race (crow people?) to be. Would read more.

Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1 by Ryoko Kui

adventurous funny fast-paced

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

4.5

I am reading this having already watched the first season of the anime but, even so, I loved this. Such a fun concept for a manga/comic. I will definitely be reading more.

The Dance of Shadows by Rogba Payne

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

I’m not really sure why but I didn’t enjoy this book as much as other books I’ve read of a similar vein. It wasn’t bad at all, just never really grabbed me. Also, I felt like there were a lot of words/terms that were never fully explained. Sure there’s a glossary at the back but some explanation in the story would have been helpful.

Ronin by Frank Miller

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

I bought/read this as it came up on my search for graphic novels with samurai themes – makes sense for a book called ‘Ronin’ – but it was not at all what I was looking for. It was weird. I didn’t like the racist and other derogatory language. I didn’t much like the art style. I thought the futuristic sci-fi elements mixed with samurai stuff I love would be cool but it wasn’t for me. I’d definitely rather read some Usagi Yojimbo.

Wynd Book Three: The Throne in the Sky by Michael Dialynas, James Tynion IV

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.25

I love this series. My only faults with it is that it’s not long enough and Book 4 doesn’t exist yet.

The Doors of Midnight by R.R. Virdi

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-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

4.25

After loving The First Binding, I was really looking forward to this book. I don’t think it was quite up there with the first book but I still really enjoyed it. Loved the ‘past’ storyline for the most-part, especially at the beginning towards the middle of the book. And I enjoyed the ‘present’ storyline too. Maybe there could have been more of that.

Maybe it could have a been a bit shorter, or had slightly less elaborate, flowery language that meant the point was made a bit quicker… but I think that’s just what the series is going to be like. I look forward to consuming more of it.

One particularly spoilery thought:

It feels pretty ironic to say that the part I didn’t like the most was the whole going through the Doors of Midnight and spending time with Enshae. I was happy when that bit was over.

Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco

challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.75

The majority of this is about a particularly horrific day in 1956 but it’s not like horrific things have stopped happening to Palestinians since then. If anything, it’s worse now than ever. This was, understandably, a difficult read.

Wynd Book Two: Secret of the Wings by James Tynion IV

adventurous dark emotional 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

Ahhhh, loved that so much. I really enjoyed the first book but I think I liked this one more. Loved the new characters that were introduced and the more magical settings outside of Pipetown. I’m going to buy book three asap.

A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I. Lin

adventurous mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.25

I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it. Still didn’t really fully understand the magic or all of the plot but I’m glad I completed the series anyway.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

What a lovely, unique book. Each chapter effectively tells a different person’s story but they all have the restaurant-come-detective-agency in common. Really good.