jshawreads's reviews
578 reviews

Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

Army of One Vol. 1 by Bryan Valenza, Yishan Li, Tony Lee

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

Thankyou to Netgalley and Oni Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

Army of One follows Carrie as her world is turned upside down by alternate versions of herself, the reincarnated "Shards" of an ancient and powerful being; Sister Fortune. A prophecy foretelling the return of Sister Fortune and the defeat of Brother Havoc propels her forward into a conflict where nothing is as simple as it appears.

Army of One is bursting at the seams with great ideas; alternate realities, shards with different abilities, ancient magical beings, reincarnation... But with all these ideas and so much lore trying to squeeze into a single volume, I felt none of the ideas really came to full fruition. The narrative is interesting, but I found myself still struggling to follow who was who, and what their motivations were for joining a particular side of this conflict. And spending so much time in an alternate reality where the Nazis won World War Two felt a little unoriginal, so much media that features alternate history goes down that road.

The art and design was great, and I especially loved the designs of Sister Fortune and Brother Havoc.

Overall, a fun read, but not one I am in a rush to read the next volume of.

Wish You Were Here by Rita Mae Brown

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

Charming Young Man by Eliot Schrefer

challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

adventurous dark funny mysterious 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

4.0

Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

Blood on the Tracks by Guy Hale

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

I Feel Awful, Thanks by Lara Pickle

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley, Lara Pickle, and Oni Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

I Feel Awful, Thanks is the story of Joana, a young witch, moving to a new city to work in a new job, and slowly learning about herself, her boundaries, and the true depth and meaning of her own happiness.

Frank and honest discussions about mental health between characters are always wonderful to read, and Joana's journey of self-discovery and self-love is a beautiful one to be brought along on. Mix all this into a world of fantasy and magic, and you have an emotional, joyous read as Joana seeks help and is assisted in finding and developing the tools and tricks she needs to manage her emotions and anxieties.

Also, one of my favourite things about I Feel Awful, Thanks, is the art. To see the panels splinter, crack, and shatter as Joana tells people "I'm fine" or as she spirals into negative thought patterns was mindblowing. Simple, yet incredibly effective. I loved this graphic novel, so much.

The Dyatlov Pass Mystery by Cédric Mayen

adventurous dark informative mysterious sad fast-paced

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for providing me with a free electronic copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

I've recently gotten into reading more non-fiction graphic novels, and when I saw something about the Dyatlov Pass Incident, I knew I needed to read it. One of the most interesting unsolved mysteries I have ever read about, this graphic novel manages to maintain the suspense and intrigue, whilst following the established facts and not going crazy with the conspiracies. I really enjoyed the sections covering the inspector and his struggles with the beaurocracy and internal politics of the USSR, and there is a large section at the back with interviews and some of the more accepted theories of what actually happened.

A great read, full of new knowledge, even for people like me who have read about Dyatlov Pass before. Great illustration and use of colour to distinguish between time and the inspectors' visualisations of the facts and clues around him. Really enjoyed this!