jackphoenix's reviews
573 reviews

Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives by Adam Cesare

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

overflowing with action, more-than-capable teen characters, and some social commentary to boot, this offers exactly what slasher and YA fiction fans want.

Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

dark tense 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? Yes

3.0

Not all readers will respond well to this meta tale and its pop culture references mashed with literary style, but those that do are in for a bloody good time.

Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt by Justina Ireland

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.0

There are great character moments here, though this unfortunately does not function as a solid story and more a one-off of a larger event.

Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed

emotional funny reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Emotional, thoughtful, yet breezy, this is simply one of the finest specimens of comic storytelling ever put to paper.

Superman vs. Aliens by Kevin Nowlan, Dan Jurgens

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

4.0

What should be a bonkers, nonsensical crossover results in a fast-paced story with a firm emotional core.

Fishflies by Jeff Lemire

dark tense fast-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

5.0

Read my full review for this book in an upcoming, major library publication. 

Paper: Paging Through History by Mark Kurlansky

informative reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.0

Wrapped in historical insights, penciled with tech philosophy, and stamped with an admirable pursuit of global perspectives, paper has never been so fascinating. 

Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory by Ben Dewey, Evan Dorkin

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.0

This standalone BEASTS OF BURDEN story benefits from a change in setting and opens new possibilities for the series.

Universal Monsters: Frankenstein by Michael Walsh

dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

This is a truly inspired take on one of the most retold stories of all time, and by focusing on the parts that make the monster, Walsh has assembles a story with emotional resonance.

The Lifted Veil and Brother Jacob by George Eliot

reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Eliot's dip into horror is worth agreeably finds itself in the company of other Victorian horror fiction, as it is just as thought-provoking.