grey_jayne's reviews
753 reviews

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I really wanted to love this book but it first directly references American Psycho and Fight Club before riffing on their styles and I found this jarring. Also, this is a book much more about relationships than slashing. It was okay, it was fine, but I wasn't wowed.

Content Warnings

At 30, I Realized I Had No Gender: Life Lessons from a 50-Year-Old After Two Decades of Self-Discovery by Shou Arai

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funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

This manga memoir is pretty great. The pacing is a little stilted and disjointed so I found it hard to find a reading rhythm but the information and humor is highly appreciated in the discussion of nonbinary, trans and intersex topics. It's a very honest account of how life is different for us and how talking with each other is the best way to learn more at this point.

I read this for the Trans Rights Readthon but didn't finish it until now.

Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson

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challenging emotional mysterious sad slow-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

3.5

Having seen the Trickster show before this, I thought I would learn more from the book. However, the narrative is so mind-numbingly slow and little happens until 75% of the way in. The ultra-dimensional beings and ghosts are fun but this story doesn't focus on them until much later.

No idea if I will pick up the next in the series, but it's not going to be for a while. This may be the first time where I recommend the adaptation over the original.

Content Warnings

Ice Cream Man, Volume 9: Heavy Narration by W. Maxwell Prince

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Another solid entry in the Ice Cream Man series. More lore and overarching details that fully flesh out the dangerous darkness that lurks in this story world. I love all the interconnections throughout. This series is bananas and each issue pushes the boundaries of narrative and the comic medium. Never a dull moment.

Content Warnings

Ice Cream Man, Volume 8: Subjects & Objects by Chris O'Halloran, W. Maxwell Prince, Martin Morazzo

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The anthology series that keeps on giving. The artful use of storytelling is amazing and pretty damn consistent.

Content Warnings

Ice Cream Man, Volume 7: Certain Descents by Chris O'Halloran, W. Maxwell Prince

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The Ice Cream Man series continues to be weird and wild. I honestly feel like I can't look away while reading, as the horror unfolds in consistently tense ways from story to story.

Content Warnings

Rust Belt Femme by Raechel Anne Jolie

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.

My DNF is not because of the memoir's quality. I enjoy how it was written. It's been a tough time lately and I can't get myself to focus on this book, so taking a pause for now.

Sad Girl Space Lizard (v. 1.1) by Iggy Craig

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adventurous emotional funny 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

3.5

Sad Girl Space Lizard is lo-fi Sapphic mech queerness and it's quite unique. This is the second comic I've read this year to feature lesbian mech sex and I'm not complaining. Worth checking out.

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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

4.0

I read this book for the Trans Rights Readathon and was barreling through it for the first 2/3. Granted, my life got busy so it's hard to know if I fell out of pacing or if the story slowed down but I definitely enjoyed things a little less as it was ending.

Holy Body Horror tho! The creature and mutation sequences are excellent. I think I honestly wanted more monsters than I got, but I am not sad about the abundance of body horror description.

I do want to warn people that the hinge romantic edge of this story includes an abuser. This book is targeting messy emotions so I get why this is included but anyone looking for the romance may be appalled by this.

Content Warnings

Us by Sara Soler

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

I read Us as part of the Trans Rights Readathon. It's so sweet and honest and informative in the best ways. I love both people through their comic selves and that's beautiful. I could not recommend this memoir of two women in love enough if I tried. Everyone should read it. So much care and love (and laughs) are given to this story. Such a treat.

Content Warnings

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grey_jayne's reviews 753 reviews

grey_jayne's reviews
753 reviews