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keybladium's reviews
96 reviews
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
3.0
3.5/5
This was a very nice short story that had an interesting narrative structure and a nice yet tropey setting. The way the narrative was told kept the pacing feel steady and have a constant flow which made reading this easy and enjoyable and the descriptions of the actions and setting felt immersive.
There was parts that I felt were a little lacking, which makes sense for a short story but still left me feeling like this had a lot more potential. Some of the elements felt a little generic for a fantasy title which made some things predictable but the execution was very well done i will say but I just wish there was a little more to it.
I still think this is worth a read, it’s short and innovative and a good read!
This was a very nice short story that had an interesting narrative structure and a nice yet tropey setting. The way the narrative was told kept the pacing feel steady and have a constant flow which made reading this easy and enjoyable and the descriptions of the actions and setting felt immersive.
There was parts that I felt were a little lacking, which makes sense for a short story but still left me feeling like this had a lot more potential. Some of the elements felt a little generic for a fantasy title which made some things predictable but the execution was very well done i will say but I just wish there was a little more to it.
I still think this is worth a read, it’s short and innovative and a good read!
Dandadan, Vol. 1 by Yukinobu Tatsu
4.0
Such a great manga series from the story to the characters and especially the art. The story is wacky but really fun and one of those stories that actually make me laugh. The characters are all so quirky and unique whilst being diverse and the interactions are priceless.
The artwork is the biggest highlight for me, the style is very aesthetic and nice and the double spreads are just beautiful.
There’s nothing bad to say about this manga but the only reason it’s not 5 stars is because I’m caught up with the digital chapters so I know the heights this series reached outside of volume 1
The artwork is the biggest highlight for me, the style is very aesthetic and nice and the double spreads are just beautiful.
There’s nothing bad to say about this manga but the only reason it’s not 5 stars is because I’m caught up with the digital chapters so I know the heights this series reached outside of volume 1
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
5.0
This is one of those books that I found myself easily getting hooked to and wanting to read "just another chapter".
The world and plot initially can seem a bit generic for a fantasy setting but it's very well explored with drastic viewpoints that really makes everything feel a lot more real and gives the characters a lot more personality and growth.
The characters are all unique in their own way and all have different conflicts and interests that really contrasts/aligns with each other but for me personally I really loved all the interactions between every character and their relationships and it was very well characterized that it made all the plot twists and cliffhangers that much more tense.
The character development was also a big highlight, it was so natural and there was so much progress made for each character that I'm excited to read the rest of the books.
There's little i can say I didn't like but I did find that whilst it's easy to get immersed, there's often moments a character is suddenly in a different environment/scene in the next sentence or within the same sentence with no or little to any transition which made it feel a little abrupt at times but other than that I really enjoyed this book.
The world and plot initially can seem a bit generic for a fantasy setting but it's very well explored with drastic viewpoints that really makes everything feel a lot more real and gives the characters a lot more personality and growth.
The characters are all unique in their own way and all have different conflicts and interests that really contrasts/aligns with each other but for me personally I really loved all the interactions between every character and their relationships and it was very well characterized that it made all the plot twists and cliffhangers that much more tense.
The character development was also a big highlight, it was so natural and there was so much progress made for each character that I'm excited to read the rest of the books.
There's little i can say I didn't like but I did find that whilst it's easy to get immersed, there's often moments a character is suddenly in a different environment/scene in the next sentence or within the same sentence with no or little to any transition which made it feel a little abrupt at times but other than that I really enjoyed this book.
Gachiakuta, Vol. 01 by Kei Urana
4.0
Another series I’m already caught up with digitally but Gachiakuta is one of the best new ongoing manga. The art in particular is really aesthetic and I love Kei Urana’s art style. The panels are so expressive and beautiful.
This volume mostly sets the vibe of the world of the manga with its over expressive characters blended well with a serious tone when it needs to, and the art helps create the vibe of the series too.
The characters are all very unique and interesting but the majority of cast arrive in later volumes.
The pacing is great and it’s just a really enjoyable read so I can’t recommend this manga enough.
This volume mostly sets the vibe of the world of the manga with its over expressive characters blended well with a serious tone when it needs to, and the art helps create the vibe of the series too.
The characters are all very unique and interesting but the majority of cast arrive in later volumes.
The pacing is great and it’s just a really enjoyable read so I can’t recommend this manga enough.
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
5.0
A perfect sequel to the first book.
This book carries over and builds upon all the highs from the last book whilst improving on the very few minor complaints i had with the first.
This time the pacing was a lot faster and started off instantly with a lot of tension since there wasn’t any need for introduction and the ending of the first book left a great place for this one to pick up on. This made it feel a lot more tense and it was very action packed with so many twists that I never saw coming and it was a great reading experience.
The new perspective of Helene also added a lot more depth into the world and characters as all the viewpoints were all showing a different viewpoint from the different positions of all the characters and their thoughts and choices felt a lot more satisfying when they came together and I feel like the perspectives added a lot more to the narrative this time.
The plot itself was really well done and thought out. Similar with the first book, this book manages to tell a narrative that feels completed enough for the core aspect the book is covering whilst building up the overall plot of the series. It leaves the story in a really good place to transition to the third book whilst closing up the aspect of the prison rescue and chase for Elias.
The only negative, as with the last book, is sometimes characters are in a completely new environment with no scene transition or sense of time explained. Sometimes it can be in the same sentence so I found that a bit abrupt and ruined the immersion in those moments but it happened less frequently this time and it’s only a minor complaint.
Overall a really great sequel and I can’t wait to read the third book!
This book carries over and builds upon all the highs from the last book whilst improving on the very few minor complaints i had with the first.
This time the pacing was a lot faster and started off instantly with a lot of tension since there wasn’t any need for introduction and the ending of the first book left a great place for this one to pick up on. This made it feel a lot more tense and it was very action packed with so many twists that I never saw coming and it was a great reading experience.
The new perspective of Helene also added a lot more depth into the world and characters as all the viewpoints were all showing a different viewpoint from the different positions of all the characters and their thoughts and choices felt a lot more satisfying when they came together and I feel like the perspectives added a lot more to the narrative this time.
The plot itself was really well done and thought out. Similar with the first book, this book manages to tell a narrative that feels completed enough for the core aspect the book is covering whilst building up the overall plot of the series. It leaves the story in a really good place to transition to the third book whilst closing up the aspect of the prison rescue and chase for Elias.
The only negative, as with the last book, is sometimes characters are in a completely new environment with no scene transition or sense of time explained. Sometimes it can be in the same sentence so I found that a bit abrupt and ruined the immersion in those moments but it happened less frequently this time and it’s only a minor complaint.
Overall a really great sequel and I can’t wait to read the third book!
Dandadan, Vol. 2 by Yukinobu Tatsu
4.0
Just as fun as the first volume!
This volume definitely felt more character driven and building up the main cast with their dynamics but the cast itself are all great and unique and they’re all so fun. The interactions are so great and the comedy actually makes me laugh everytime even though I’ve read it before.
Fujimoto’s influence on Yukinobu is clear in this series for just how wild and random but super enjoyable it is.
This volume definitely felt more character driven and building up the main cast with their dynamics but the cast itself are all great and unique and they’re all so fun. The interactions are so great and the comedy actually makes me laugh everytime even though I’ve read it before.
Fujimoto’s influence on Yukinobu is clear in this series for just how wild and random but super enjoyable it is.
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
5.0
Another masterpiece from Sabaa.
This series just gets so much better with each installment and I honestly wasn’t sure if this was going to be better than the previous book considering how much I enjoyed it, but it was so much better.
The amount of development the characters go through in this series has felt very consistent and natural without feeling forced. Seeing the losses and just the grief they’ve all suffered and how they’ve each reacted to it really characterizing them in a really unique and heartfelt way. It all makes the world feel so much more alive and interesting.
The plot twists as well in this one were great and seeing how they were foreshadowed since the beginning, it’s clear how much planning has gone into this series and the effort has really payed off.
I’m really excited to start the final book, the way the final climax has built up and the ending of this book has made me hyped to see how it will all play out in the end.
This series just gets so much better with each installment and I honestly wasn’t sure if this was going to be better than the previous book considering how much I enjoyed it, but it was so much better.
The amount of development the characters go through in this series has felt very consistent and natural without feeling forced. Seeing the losses and just the grief they’ve all suffered and how they’ve each reacted to it really characterizing them in a really unique and heartfelt way. It all makes the world feel so much more alive and interesting.
The plot twists as well in this one were great and seeing how they were foreshadowed since the beginning, it’s clear how much planning has gone into this series and the effort has really payed off.
I’m really excited to start the final book, the way the final climax has built up and the ending of this book has made me hyped to see how it will all play out in the end.
Dandadan, Vol. 3 by Yukinobu Tatsu
4.0
4.5/5
The best volume out of the first 3.
This volume had a great balance between action, comedy and character development with beautiful art to accompany it. The acrobatic silky arc in particaly set a more serious tone that hasn't been in the previous volumes and the following arc has a lot of high octane action mixed with really well timed comedy so it's a great mix of everything I love about this series.
The best volume out of the first 3.
This volume had a great balance between action, comedy and character development with beautiful art to accompany it. The acrobatic silky arc in particaly set a more serious tone that hasn't been in the previous volumes and the following arc has a lot of high octane action mixed with really well timed comedy so it's a great mix of everything I love about this series.
A Sky Beyond The Storm by Sabaa Tahir
5.0
The Ember Quartet has been a really great journey and i’m sad it’s over but glad it didn’t overstay it’s welcome.
As always, this book does a great job of creating immersion and building upon the prior books whilst bringing new elements into the story. I really enjoyed the various twists into the final entry and there was a lot of shocking moments I never expected even if some other were a little predictable.
I really liked how all the characters came together and how the narratives all weaved into one big moment for the ending however my biggest complaint is how the final ending felt way too quick considering it’s tje big final battle built up from 3 books. The events that happened were really great but it felt underwhelming looking back considering how quickly it was all over when I felt like it could’ve done a lot more and expanded so much on the nightbringer or keris than what we had. Regardless, I did really enjoy the ending still but just a little disappointed thinking of how it could’ve been so much more.
As a series, I really loved reading these books and it’s been a very entertaining and immersive read with a lot of twists and lots of development throughout. The romance was also pretty well done, I wouldn’t say it was the main appeal for me, but I did feel the chemistry between the characters and felt like they were all well written.
As always, this book does a great job of creating immersion and building upon the prior books whilst bringing new elements into the story. I really enjoyed the various twists into the final entry and there was a lot of shocking moments I never expected even if some other were a little predictable.
I really liked how all the characters came together and how the narratives all weaved into one big moment for the ending however my biggest complaint is how the final ending felt way too quick considering it’s tje big final battle built up from 3 books. The events that happened were really great but it felt underwhelming looking back considering how quickly it was all over when I felt like it could’ve done a lot more and expanded so much on the nightbringer or keris than what we had. Regardless, I did really enjoy the ending still but just a little disappointed thinking of how it could’ve been so much more.
As a series, I really loved reading these books and it’s been a very entertaining and immersive read with a lot of twists and lots of development throughout. The romance was also pretty well done, I wouldn’t say it was the main appeal for me, but I did feel the chemistry between the characters and felt like they were all well written.
Dandadan, Vol. 4 by Yukinobu Tatsu
3.0
3.5/5
Not as action packed as the last volume but just as comedic with more character introductions and interactions that makes this another fun read. The art is still just as great but this volume has the iconic cow panel that still remains one of my all time favourite manga panels to this day.
Not as action packed as the last volume but just as comedic with more character introductions and interactions that makes this another fun read. The art is still just as great but this volume has the iconic cow panel that still remains one of my all time favourite manga panels to this day.