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onamoonbeam's reviews
193 reviews
The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag
5.0
immediately after reading review: a masterclass in every technique it uses and everything that it is. amazing. daunting to look at the sheer size of the thing (470 pages!) but oh so worth it. hurting someone is always a possibility but sacrificing yourself to that part is not the solution.
oh gods the use of paneling and coloring. everything in greys except for the notable: phones, blood, memories. and then after all that happens, the sun rises. fucking enchanting.
found out that ostertag also wrote the witch boy and enchanting grom fright and another comic about a monster. you're really a monster-in-the-dark-as-a-part-of-the-self writer huh (i am NOT complaining but i like finding author motifs lol)
oh gods the use of paneling and coloring. everything in greys except for the notable: phones, blood, memories. and then after all that happens, the sun rises. fucking enchanting.
found out that ostertag also wrote the witch boy and enchanting grom fright and another comic about a monster. you're really a monster-in-the-dark-as-a-part-of-the-self writer huh (i am NOT complaining but i like finding author motifs lol)
Thief of the Heights by Robin Yao, Son M
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
gorgeous gorgeous art and characters, a world rich with environmental and character storytelling. there's so much to love here... if only the narrative wasn't baby's first radicalization. from the moment aarfa started questioning why basem and mustafa weren't involved with the plan, i knew exactly how the plot was going to end up.
too bad, though: the colors of each level are already worth writing home about, the note of building prosthetics as a prodigious necessity in the lowest level and an accessory in the highest is great, you rarely see characters with amputations and the residual limb on full display. aarfah even talks about how this makes her feel and the contextual stigma that comes with it!
wish there could be a spinoff about the revolutionaries with the plan, that's the story i want to see more. the world and the art and so much is already here, and the ending is Fast
too bad, though: the colors of each level are already worth writing home about, the note of building prosthetics as a prodigious necessity in the lowest level and an accessory in the highest is great, you rarely see characters with amputations and the residual limb on full display. aarfah even talks about how this makes her feel and the contextual stigma that comes with it!
wish there could be a spinoff about the revolutionaries with the plan, that's the story i want to see more. the world and the art and so much is already here, and the ending is Fast
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Terminal illness, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Ableism and Confinement
Navigating With You by Jeremy Whitley
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
THIS WAS SO CUTE IM GONNA CRY
okay. i am normally not a slice-of-life romance kind of person but this got me. maybe it's the bonding over fandom specifically yuri or how well gabby and neesha work together or all the different facets of their life we get to see or the art style but i sat down and read this for 2-3 hours straight and i loved it.
i will say it's a bit fast-paced, emotional rollercoasters over the course of single days, or sometimes i could not tell a significant amount of time had passed, but overall gabby and neesha just bounce off each other so well, and their search to find the navigator books immediately spirals into this bigger supportive partnership because of it. and all the little details: exes bleeding into future relationship fears, the painted overalls at the yard sale, the competition of who can get the most books and gabby using that as a way to get closer to neesha because she sees neesha is hesitant to open up so a competition is easier, commissions paying for neesha's car and its accommodations... god it's just so cute. yknow the autism/adhd creatures? they are kind of that to me. a really cool rock and the crashing waves. do not think that because i am comparing neesha to a rock i am discounting her. have you ever saved a cool rock at the beach
overall epic yuri win somehow written by a man (although looking at whitley's history he seems to be really good about diversity, good for him. has written a ton of mlp comics so yknow i'll consider that precedent)
okay. i am normally not a slice-of-life romance kind of person but this got me. maybe it's the bonding over fandom specifically yuri or how well gabby and neesha work together or all the different facets of their life we get to see or the art style but i sat down and read this for 2-3 hours straight and i loved it.
i will say it's a bit fast-paced, emotional rollercoasters over the course of single days, or sometimes i could not tell a significant amount of time had passed, but overall gabby and neesha just bounce off each other so well, and their search to find the navigator books immediately spirals into this bigger supportive partnership because of it. and all the little details:
overall epic yuri win somehow written by a man (although looking at whitley's history he seems to be really good about diversity, good for him. has written a ton of mlp comics so yknow i'll consider that precedent)
Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia
dark
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this is. very heavy. if you are considering reading this please look at the content warnings. that being said. it is somewhat hopeful. a testament to a bond between brothers. i'm conflicted whether or not to dislike the language for its simplicity. on one hand, it reads as overly childish on occasion (works well in earlier chapters when the brothers are young, but over time it seems more telling than showing). on the other, who am i to fault a man for looking back at incredibly painful childhood experiences, and laying the facts of his life out?
an english major, i guess.
loved the dichos as testament to daniel's mind and behavior and also just unique
rounded up to 3.5, was debating btwn that and 3.25.
NOTE: i own the uncorrected proof, no idea what's changed between this and published copies.
an english major, i guess.
loved the dichos as testament to daniel's mind and behavior and also just unique
rounded up to 3.5, was debating btwn that and 3.25.
NOTE: i own the uncorrected proof, no idea what's changed between this and published copies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Blood
Minor: Child death
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
dark
mysterious
3.25
so i may be stupid (guy who did not read the "and other stories" on the cover of his copy and finished the main story, then wondered how the next story would connect to the first) but hmmm. idk. not the amazing queer horror masterpiece i expected from booktok and one college writing prof being like 'hey i used to mentor this author' but certainly fun. when the couple started talking about the parasite i was internally cheering bc ooh. this is fun last story barely made any sense.
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
raina telgemeier sweep once again. you know, i don't think i really understood different sexualities in elementary school when i first read this book, but i still liked it a lot. funny how that works. shoutout to my copy that loudly crinkles when you bend it bc i got caught in the rain w it once.
actually now older these are NOT middle school theater activities this is high school stuff why was it not set in high school. what middle school has this kind of theater expertise and budget.
still very fun very adolescent gay theater nerd shit
rating higher than i normally would bc it's really good for what it is. also nostalgia
actually now older these are NOT middle school theater activities this is high school stuff why was it not set in high school. what middle school has this kind of theater expertise and budget.
still very fun very adolescent gay theater nerd shit
rating higher than i normally would bc it's really good for what it is. also nostalgia
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
so i read this in spanish today and as someone who read it years ago? it holds up pretty well! raina telgemeier my goat look at all her expressions and distinctive art style and themes and Teeth and the social awkwardness of adolescence. deliberating over whether to rate this 3.75 or 4 bc like. it's really good for what it is. it is a middle grade graphic novel
The Sand Warrior by Alexis Siegel, Mark Siegel
hopeful
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
sweet kids graphic novel lovely color palettes and world designs but little else memorable
The Body by Stephen King by Stephen King, Stephen King
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
the deaths of childhood and you are still here, i guess
yeah i've read a few of stephen king's short stories but the prose in this one is insane. the fear of a kid running down a railway, the hail shroud of a body, all the similes you could ever ask for, jumping back and forth in time with such fluidity, esp the moment when young gordie sees the body and suddenly starts talking about his present family finding him lucky for having such an imagination, but no, he can see the train hitting the kid and knocking him out of his shoes
yeah i've read a few of stephen king's short stories but the prose in this one is insane. the fear of a kid running down a railway, the hail shroud of a body, all the similes you could ever ask for, jumping back and forth in time with such fluidity, esp the moment when
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
reflective
1.5
????? i dont get it.... and even so, some books i don't quite get i like because of some seeming meaning. what is this. it must be some sort of talent to keep writing sex like that, murakami why do you keep on only writing sex w characters in questionable circumstance. also the prose was simple in a way i did not like at many times
notes from highlights:
still don't know what to make of kakfa/nakata parallels, names and circumstance, lack of shadow
the sakura sex scenes haunt me why the fuck did i write a paper about them. i know why but. oh god having to reread them even for a second makes me hiss in discomfort
DID NOT EXPECT CAT GORE. symbolism for the death of companionship? who knowss
shoutout midnight's children! read that and this for a class which. hoo boy. non-blood-related sister sex scenes sure have been processed!
koichi tomura name of kafka's father, komura name of library and last name of saeki's dead bf
notes from highlights:
still don't know what to make of kakfa/nakata parallels, names and circumstance, lack of shadow
the sakura sex scenes haunt me why the fuck did i write a paper about them. i know why but. oh god having to reread them even for a second makes me hiss in discomfort
DID NOT EXPECT CAT GORE. symbolism for the death of companionship? who knowss
shoutout midnight's children! read that and this for a class which. hoo boy. non-blood-related sister sex scenes sure have been processed!
koichi tomura name of kafka's father, komura name of library and last name of saeki's dead bf
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol