kwichris's reviews
100 reviews

Star Trek: Countdown by Mike Johnson, Roberto Orci, David Messina, Tim Jones, Alex Kurtzman, Giovanna Niro

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

As a long-time Star Trek fan that's seen every series, every episode, it was so fun to revisit the origins of the Kelvin universe and learn more about Nero, Ambassador Spock, and the events that led to the 2000s reboot movies. Well thought out and illustrated, had a great time reading this lore entry!
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Silver Spoon, Vol. 1 by Hiromu Arakawa

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emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted medium-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 found this at the library and decided to pick it up on a whim. For the first entry in this series, it was a very emotional, funny, and educational read. The writer actually took the time to research and bring in as much practical knowledge as possible to make this agricultural school believable. The characters are built up slowly, but in a way that is believable to the reader and to how an outsider would likely react in a group of people more attuned to each other. If I can find the other volumes, I look forward to reading more about Hachiken and his journey of discovering what he truly wants and how this new world will shape him.
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Teen Titans: Robin by Kami Garcia

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.25

I'm so glad that each installment of this series gets consistently better. The flow of story is more organic, the interactions between characters are meaningful, new and old characters alike get time to shine, difficult topics of found family/adoption/personal trauma are all dealt with in relatable ways, and the artwork continues to be stellar. I can't wait for the next installment, but I definitely will say in order of which characters I like most, it would be Beast Boy (Gar), Raven, Maxine (Max), with Damian/D Grayson tying for last. I would also like to mention Natalia (Max/Ravens mom) is also wonderful! All around, great characters, can't wait to see Starfire in the next issue.
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Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.25

Wow, this installment really brought it all! Suspense, romance, character development galore... This is how you build on what you've already established as a base for your main characters. I love the introduction of Robin here in a way that seems very organic, Max really gets a time to shine again (her character is so interesting), and, of course, there's our main duo (plus Kong of course). THIS is how you bring Beast Boy and Raven together in an organic way built on mutual trust, experience, and concern for each other. Kudos to this story for not shying away from the emotional aspects of the character's stories and dealing with difficult topics like kidnapping and torture (familiar areas in comics of course). Can't wait to see what happens next!
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Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Beast Boy is one of the few DC characters I really love and connect with. This new origin story brings a lot to the table for a well-established and loved character. While, at times, I wanted to smack Gar for making choices that really seemed so obviously poor, he's always been a bit of a rascal. Now, I do think this book has the same issue as Raven, having times where the time/place/space from one panel to the next or between chapters is a little jumpy, but overall it's not too bad. I look forward to the next installment!
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Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I picked this up because I really enjoy Beast Boy and figured i would start with the first book in the series. This version of Raven really appeals to me as this version of her origin story seems more grounded in a relatable reality than what we usually see in the comics. While some times I think there was a little too many jumps in time/place/space between chapters or panels even, the artwork and story were both solid and really added a lot to an already well-established character.
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Taproot by Keezy Young

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • 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

3.25

I found this by chance at the library and thought the premise seemed interesting. While the artwork is undeniably beautiful, the story is wildly uneven. The pacing is all over the place, the plot gets muddled at times, and some things are never really explained enough to the reader even with visuals to try and back things up. The place the story should have ended isn't where it ends; some last minute tacked on side quest is where it ends. Overall, this was cute and lovely in terms of representation and being unique, but the overall story could've used so revisions.
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Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

4.5

I saw this at a book store and decided to check it out at my local library. This story had it all: beautiful illustrations, well-developed lead characters, relatable struggles, and quite a bit of subtle (and overt) humor that consistently made me chuckle out loud. Anyone looking for something lighthearted, humorous, but with good serious tones sprinkled in, this is a great graphic novel for you!
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I typically don't like reading books that center around romance. This book, however, managed to embed historical context and emotionally complex situations that added more to this story than a simple romance that cannot be. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I found myself relating to or finding understanding in the main character's reactions/feelings/thoughts regarding the situation they find themselves in - a love that they cannot express publicly, a country divided post-war, and uncertainty of their own future. For a first entry, the author has crafted quite a nice story, and I would recommend it to anyone that likes a little historical context and input that shapes the story.
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The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I've not read a novella prior to this one, but I very much appreciate when an author can do in 100 pages what it takes many to do in several times that amount. The characters here are developed through two varied perspectives, which in it of itself makes this a unique read. While I won't ruin the very good twist, the story comes from both first person perspective in the future and the writings in a diary from the past. This was just a refreshing take on a murder mystery, around the holidays no less, that brought up some poignant food for thought by the end. The choices we make, good or bad, we've got to live with them; they can haunt you or you can find a way to use them to begin anew or fix what was broken. The choice is up to you. 
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