michaelgreenreads's reviews
406 reviews

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

4.0

Book one! ✅ (Tay tells me this is the worst book in this faerie-sex high-intrigue series, but it was fun! 🧚✨) 

I loved being introduced to various monsters, Feyre being a painter at heart was a nice touch, and Lucien?!?!? Great third wheel character. 👨‍🍳👌

I am still laughing over the weirdness of the scenes where she drinks evil wine that makes her dance for the (redacted) (for like five chapters!).

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 5 by Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe

5.0

Another excellent volume, I loved the first round of the exam! 🥺♥️ I love so many moments, but especially the dome breaking. 

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 4 by Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe

5.0

Himmel holding her hand in the past when she is sick?!? 🥺♥️🥺♥️🥺♥️ I LOVED Frieren rehabilitating the priest's motivation to live. The book ends on a great note. Another perfect little manga volume!

Neighborhood Story, Vol. 1 by Ai Yazawa

5.0

Oh my god I loved this shojo manga reprint from the 1990s. The emotions are so sweetly drawn out. Mikako is a fun protagonist, so willful and yet so shy! It reminded me that I really need to read Nana. 

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

5.0

This was my first James Baldwin book! I had a vague sense that Baldwin is known for writing long sentences, but I am so surprised by how well he holds his structure and energy, the lines are long, but it is never winding!

Baldwin gives a view of reality as clear as he can see it: critical, loving, biting, angry, hopeful, religious, sacrilegious all at once. It feels like truly great non-fiction writing. He helped me see the world, especially 1940 - 1960, more clearly. I am fascinated by his honest views on Christianity and the Nation of Islam in America.

Blue Lock, Vol. 2 by Muneyuki Kaneshiro

4.5

Omg what a second volume!!!! Better than the first in almost every way. The book is starting to lay the stakes and drive home how the series is going to change all 300 boys forever. Amazing. 

Blue Lock, Vol. 1 by Muneyuki Kaneshiro

3.0

Omg LOL this is one of the top manga in Japan right now! A cultural force! Blue Lock is the story of a deranged man hired by the Japanese government to break the cooperative spirits of 300 high school soccer forwards to find the one true striker with an ego strong enough to win the world cup. Everyone looks demonic LOL, their eyes do wild things! I feel the ENERGY though - this story is intense. BACHIRA ESPECIALLY. What a weird, devil of a child??? And yet so fascinating in the story?? 

Are You Willing to Die for the Cause? by Chris Oliveros

3.5

Part 1 of 2 books on the FLQ and Revolution in Quebec! The research is incredible. It presents such a wide picture of history! Yes, the art stinks in a lot of ways, but it brings the research to life. So! *clap clap clap* 

The first section on George Schoeters and his wife made me particularly sad. His betrayal of his wife???????? The parts I am going to remember most are the motalv cocktails and the way Oliveros draws his little explosions.

My Hero Academia, Vol. 13 by Kōhei Horikoshi

4.0

The finale of the provincial license exam was handled well! Nothing astonishing but the orca gang vs the first years was intense, the message about rivalry slowly people down works. Not sure I really care about Deku vs Bakugo angst fest about who was the rightful fan of All Might, but hey, that's what is on offer. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Excuse Me as I Kiss the Sky by Rudy Francisco

hopeful reflective

5.0

Yay!!! This poetry is finally in my hands again. This is a poetic game of horse - Rudy calls each shot at the start of each section (naming a form of poetry he is going to take on) and then proceeds to make shot after shot after shot. The contrapuntals section was all fantastic; three poems in one! 🫨❤️ and omg the poem titled Hide and Seek BROKE ME. Love him ending on love.