ghada_mohammed's reviews
513 reviews

Monstress #52 by Marjorie Liu

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adventurous challenging dark tense slow-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

4.0

Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith

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adventurous challenging hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

“I can't live my life scared of maybe getting hurt when giving up and giving in mean definitely getting hurt.”

An exciting coming-of-age story that explores themes of identity, tolerance, and found family.

In Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, nothing is as simple as it seems to be, and grown-ups are not always reliable even when they mean well. When push comes to shove, it is up to Callie and their friends to put things in order: calling out villains, challenging the unfair status quo, and riding out to rescue their own.

I particularly loved how Callie had a rich network of chosen family and friends, but was still allowed to make their own choices and go about their own battles: how having support did not interfere with their independent growth as a person. I also loved how good and evil were not always obvious, as well as how, as the author put it, not all battles are fought with swords in this book. It might have had dragons, adventures, and duels; but it also had complexity and evoked big questions like “Is order worth it when it is holding people back from being their true selves?” and “Would you choose being yourself over being free?”.

All in all, a delightfully diverse and uplifting story full of adventures and valuable life lessons. I highly recommend.

Icarus by K. Ancrum

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dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

“You were made the same way as the angels ... You think I'd know art, and not know this?”

A tender and bittersweet exploration of art, (found) family, intimacy, and the fatality of single-minded obsessions.

With its lyrical prose and falsely relaxing pace, Icarus is humanity in the raw; the best and the worst of people grapple with each other throughout the narrative: friends who are closer than family, family that is only a touch better than strangers, and two unlikely strangers who upend each other's lives for no more than the reckless conviction that other deserved better. It sheds light on how a father's expectations can morph into abuse, how revenge can poison one's life, and how small acts of kindess can bridge the cracks of one boy's battered heart.

All in all, a vivid and bittersweet portrayal of youth, trauma, and relationships. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in art, angst, and or stories about messed-up teenagers doing their best to survive.

The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Three by Michael Dante DiMartino, Irene Koh, Vivian Ng

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adventurous hopeful tense fast-paced