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lauren_miller's reviews
754 reviews
Housekeeping Mage from Another World: Making Your Adventures Feel Like Home! Volume 3 by You Fuguruma
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Housekeeping Mage from Another World: Making Your Adventures Feel Like Home! Volume 2 by You Fuguruma
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
Housekeeping Mage from Another World: Making Your Adventures Feel Like Home! (Manga) Vol 1 by You Fuguruma
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is basically my review for the 3 books so far:
This is such a magical story, pun intended, and absolutely one of my new favorite manga series! The premise (woman accidentally crossing from reality [in this case, Japan] into a fantasy world) is by no means new, but the realistic nature with which the author wrote the situation, especially the elements of racism, sexism, abuse, and language barrier, and the delicacy with which everything was handled was just... lovely. stunning. heartwarming. The friendships were strong and true, and the romantic arc was much more deep and emotionally charged than I expected. The unique nature of Shiori's magic use was fascinating—like, hedge/kitchen witch meets Avatar, so. cool. In particular, the descriptions and images of food were so tantalizing!! And most importantly, despite the heavy subject material at times, this series was fun to read! The perfect combination of substance and fancy.
5 out of 5 stars, ★★★★★
This is such a magical story, pun intended, and absolutely one of my new favorite manga series! The premise (woman accidentally crossing from reality [in this case, Japan] into a fantasy world) is by no means new, but the realistic nature with which the author wrote the situation, especially the elements of racism, sexism, abuse, and language barrier, and the delicacy with which everything was handled was just... lovely. stunning. heartwarming. The friendships were strong and true, and the romantic arc was much more deep and emotionally charged than I expected. The unique nature of Shiori's magic use was fascinating—like, hedge/kitchen witch meets Avatar, so. cool. In particular, the descriptions and images of food were so tantalizing!! And most importantly, despite the heavy subject material at times, this series was fun to read! The perfect combination of substance and fancy.
5 out of 5 stars, ★★★★★
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I did ultimately enjoy this book, but I was torn; I loved the middle bits—the acquiring of acquaintances, becoming a bizarre band of companions that humorously and amicably suit each other, and also the wicked but so fascinating tomb labyrinth—but was put off by the dystopian, miserable feelings of beginning and end. That said, I really like the author's writing style, so I think that while this wasn't my cup of tea, there may be a T. Kingfisher book out there for me...
3.5 out of 5 stars, ★★★☆☆
3.5 out of 5 stars, ★★★☆☆
The Sprite and the Gardener by Rii Abrego, Joe Whitt
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I've been meaning to read this for such a long time, so thank you to Oni Press for the advanced copy prior to the paperback release! This was fun read because not only is the story simple and the art beautiful, but it felt so nostalgic—anyone else who as read the Rose Petal Place books will totally understand!! And, for the younger crowd, I guess I should say if you've seen/read the modern-day Tinkerbell series, you will probably enjoy this too! Each little sprite with their own flora qualities was so sweet, the plant magic wholesome, and the interactions with humans funny and endearing.
The only downside for me is the color palette; I wouldn't consider myself sensitive, but there was something about the color scheme of this book that my eyes did not vibe with. It gives it a vintage feel though, so I completely understand the choice, and hopefully it won't phase most people. Definitely still a book I enjoy and would recommend.
I've been meaning to read this for such a long time, so thank you to Oni Press for the advanced copy prior to the paperback release! This was fun read because not only is the story simple and the art beautiful, but it felt so nostalgic—anyone else who as read the Rose Petal Place books will totally understand!! And, for the younger crowd, I guess I should say if you've seen/read the modern-day Tinkerbell series, you will probably enjoy this too! Each little sprite with their own flora qualities was so sweet, the plant magic wholesome, and the interactions with humans funny and endearing.
The only downside for me is the color palette; I wouldn't consider myself sensitive, but there was something about the color scheme of this book that my eyes did not vibe with. It gives it a vintage feel though, so I completely understand the choice, and hopefully it won't phase most people. Definitely still a book I enjoy and would recommend.
Seeking the Truth by Carbone
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
this is super fast paced and the premise is interesting, but it's so short I feel like I didn't have enough time to even form an opinion; the only concrete thing I can walk away with is that I like the art style. And while I do want to know the "who done it," in terms of storytelling, I'm kind of put off? I don't know...
Lost Legends of Nothing by Fanny Rodriguez, Alejandra Green
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.75
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was such a lovely sequel in the Nothing series. The characters were just as endearing, the plot was just as gripping, and the exploration of more ancient magic was so cool! Plus, it was sweet to finally see the trio of Lerina, Akio, and Alba reunite; they deserve some real rest now!! Corny jokes aside, I hope we get something more out of this series in the future because it truly has it all—beautiful artwork, flawed but good characters, intricate plotlines, magic, and best of all, true friendship.
This was such a lovely sequel in the Nothing series. The characters were just as endearing, the plot was just as gripping, and the exploration of more ancient magic was so cool! Plus, it was sweet to finally see the trio of Lerina, Akio, and Alba reunite; they deserve some real rest now!! Corny jokes aside, I hope we get something more out of this series in the future because it truly has it all—beautiful artwork, flawed but good characters, intricate plotlines, magic, and best of all, true friendship.
A Good Day to Pie by Misha Popp
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It goes without saying, but if you're someone who both who-done-its and cooking competition shows, be it Chopped or Cupcake Wars, this will be right up your alley! Believe it or not, I don't fall into either of those categories, but I was intrigued by the serial killer premise and I'm a sucker for a good isolated setting, so I had to give it a go and I wasn't disappointed.
There were some iffy parts, including a) the magic system [it's veryyy simple and ambiguous], b) the amount of characters you have to get to know, c) the pathetic attempt at a police investigation, d) the pretty obvious culprit, and e) the amount of distinctly British turns of phrase(?), but there were also some really good parts too—the author's descriptions of baked goods made me HUNGRY, omg.
The real pièce de résistance of this book, though, is the pacing. It reads so. fast. it's like I was watching a real cooking show—which I imagine was the intention—and it came off so well.
Overall, despite not being a huge fan most of the themes and subjects in this book, I had fun and I couldn't put it down, so I guess that says a lot. Solid 3.75-leaning out of 5 stars, ★★★☆☆
It goes without saying, but if you're someone who both who-done-its and cooking competition shows, be it Chopped or Cupcake Wars, this will be right up your alley! Believe it or not, I don't fall into either of those categories, but I was intrigued by the serial killer premise and I'm a sucker for a good isolated setting, so I had to give it a go and I wasn't disappointed.
There were some iffy parts, including a) the magic system [it's veryyy simple and ambiguous], b) the amount of characters you have to get to know, c) the pathetic attempt at a police investigation, d) the pretty obvious culprit, and e) the amount of distinctly British turns of phrase(?), but there were also some really good parts too—the author's descriptions of baked goods made me HUNGRY, omg.
The real pièce de résistance of this book, though, is the pacing. It reads so. fast. it's like I was watching a real cooking show—which I imagine was the intention—and it came off so well.
Overall, despite not being a huge fan most of the themes and subjects in this book, I had fun and I couldn't put it down, so I guess that says a lot. Solid 3.75-leaning out of 5 stars, ★★★☆☆
Beehive by Jorey Hurley
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
a sweet, minimalist picture book. perfect for the "just starting to talk" time.
Giantess by J.C. Deveney, Núria Tamarit
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I picked this up because I loved the soft, whimsical design of the cover, and the interior did not disappoint. The art is well-drawn and tastefully colored, the latter of which really enhanced parts of the story—the deepest blues for a night sky full of stars and the most miserable grey for convent tucked away in the mountains... There was such a wonderful connection between the visuals and the atmosphere while reading the book..
The story is where things get a bit less lovely.
In truth, while I enjoyed the narrative, I found it to be a little all over the place. In only 200 pages, there are endless villages and towns and marshes and islands—Celeste is always on the move, never staying too long, and it's almost never HER decision to move on, either. Despite the feminist under- (sometimes extreme over-) tones, Celeste is a very passive character. In the beginning, she wanted to leave not because of her own curiosity, but because her brothers but she was forbidden to. Then she goes from town to town, individual/group to individual/group, accepting whatever befalls her; she willingly goes to jail and does not advocate for herself, she accepts almost all of the romantic affections given to her, and she moves on from one place to another when others signal it's time (e.g., too much damage, too big a mouth to feed, too many unladylike mistakes, etc.). Most of the story, she allows others to dictate her life in some way and that really frustrated me.
And after finishing the book, I found myself very dissatisfied with the ending. She and her friends end up creating a town of their own, but A) it wasn't her idea, B) it wasn't her land, and C) there's no real resolution with her husband. It felt like the stepping stone to a true denouement, which was disappointing.
Anyway, to wrap it all up, I think this is a beautiful graphic novel, but the story was a bit lacking for me. 3 out of 5 stars, ★★★☆☆
I picked this up because I loved the soft, whimsical design of the cover, and the interior did not disappoint. The art is well-drawn and tastefully colored, the latter of which really enhanced parts of the story—the deepest blues for a night sky full of stars and the most miserable grey for convent tucked away in the mountains... There was such a wonderful connection between the visuals and the atmosphere while reading the book..
The story is where things get a bit less lovely.
In truth, while I enjoyed the narrative, I found it to be a little all over the place. In only 200 pages, there are endless villages and towns and marshes and islands—Celeste is always on the move, never staying too long, and it's almost never HER decision to move on, either. Despite the feminist under- (sometimes extreme over-) tones, Celeste is a very passive character. In the beginning, she wanted to leave not because of her own curiosity, but because her brothers but she was forbidden to. Then she goes from town to town, individual/group to individual/group, accepting whatever befalls her; she willingly goes to jail and does not advocate for herself, she accepts almost all of the romantic affections given to her, and she moves on from one place to another when others signal it's time (e.g., too much damage, too big a mouth to feed, too many unladylike mistakes, etc.). Most of the story, she allows others to dictate her life in some way and that really frustrated me.
And after finishing the book, I found myself very dissatisfied with the ending. She and her friends end up creating a town of their own, but A) it wasn't her idea, B) it wasn't her land, and C) there's no real resolution with her husband. It felt like the stepping stone to a true denouement, which was disappointing.
Anyway, to wrap it all up, I think this is a beautiful graphic novel, but the story was a bit lacking for me. 3 out of 5 stars, ★★★☆☆