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stormywolf's reviews
814 reviews
The Rift by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Gene Luen Yang
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Since the last story focused almost exclusively on Zuko and his family's baggage, it was nice to see the series return to some of the topics introduced in The Promise. Obviously I can't fault the series for wanting to explore the dangling threads of Zuko's family, but I also appreciate the series moving forward from where it set up in its first installment. Not only do we have Toph back in the spotlight, after being sidelined in The Search, but we also see more of fire/earth alliances, the newly-established Air Acolytes, and Toph's metalbending students.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, The Rift was more of what Avatar fans love, expanded into a heartfelt and nuanced story about the conflict of tradition and progress. Today's society may not be in the midst of an industrial revolution, but it never hurts to show the importance of compromise between opposing ideologies, especially with the overarching theme of hope towards a better future. And with this stellar story in the books, I'm excited to see what the next installment has in store!
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, The Rift was more of what Avatar fans love, expanded into a heartfelt and nuanced story about the conflict of tradition and progress. Today's society may not be in the midst of an industrial revolution, but it never hurts to show the importance of compromise between opposing ideologies, especially with the overarching theme of hope towards a better future. And with this stellar story in the books, I'm excited to see what the next installment has in store!
Spy x Family, Vol. 3 by Tatsuya Endo
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-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 first heard about this story from my go-to AniTuber, Geoff Thew @ Mother's Basement when the anime was set to air this spring. It sounded cute and funny, with the chance of maybe some heartfelt moments? Who am I kidding‐it was promised to have heartfelt moments, plus some neat spy and assassin action, so I jumped straight in. And I'm glad I did.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, Spy x Family is an absolute treat. If you're looking for something that combines espionage, found family, assassins, humor, Cold-War tensions, super-powers, and eccentric characters all into one story, you'll be hard-pressed to find better than this. So far, I think this manga is appropriate for middle-grade and up, but it's probably safer to recommend it for high school and older, since I don't know if violence or language ramps up later. In case I haven't made it clear, I'm completely hooked and will be continuing to the next few volumes shortly, as well as eagerly anticipating the next installments of the anime in the fall.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, Spy x Family is an absolute treat. If you're looking for something that combines espionage, found family, assassins, humor, Cold-War tensions, super-powers, and eccentric characters all into one story, you'll be hard-pressed to find better than this. So far, I think this manga is appropriate for middle-grade and up, but it's probably safer to recommend it for high school and older, since I don't know if violence or language ramps up later. In case I haven't made it clear, I'm completely hooked and will be continuing to the next few volumes shortly, as well as eagerly anticipating the next installments of the anime in the fall.
Spy x Family, Vol. 2 by Tatsuya Endo
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-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 first heard about this story from my go-to AniTuber, Geoff Thew @ Mother's Basement when the anime was set to air this spring. It sounded cute and funny, with the chance of maybe some heartfelt moments? Who am I kidding‐it was promised to have heartfelt moments, plus some neat spy and assassin action, so I jumped straight in. And I'm glad I did.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, Spy x Family is an absolute treat. If you're looking for something that combines espionage, found family, assassins, humor, Cold-War tensions, super-powers, and eccentric characters all into one story, you'll be hard-pressed to find better than this. So far, I think this manga is appropriate for middle-grade and up, but it's probably safer to recommend it for high school and older, since I don't know if violence or language ramps up later. In case I haven't made it clear, I'm completely hooked and will be continuing to the next few volumes shortly, as well as eagerly anticipating the next installments of the anime in the fall.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, Spy x Family is an absolute treat. If you're looking for something that combines espionage, found family, assassins, humor, Cold-War tensions, super-powers, and eccentric characters all into one story, you'll be hard-pressed to find better than this. So far, I think this manga is appropriate for middle-grade and up, but it's probably safer to recommend it for high school and older, since I don't know if violence or language ramps up later. In case I haven't made it clear, I'm completely hooked and will be continuing to the next few volumes shortly, as well as eagerly anticipating the next installments of the anime in the fall.
Spy x Family, Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-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 first heard about this story from my go-to AniTuber, Geoff Thew @ Mother's Basement when the anime was set to air this spring. It sounded cute and funny, with the chance of maybe some heartfelt moments? Who am I kidding‐it was promised to have heartfelt moments, plus some neat spy and assassin action, so I jumped straight in. And I'm glad I did.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, Spy x Family is an absolute treat. If you're looking for something that combines espionage, found family, assassins, humor, Cold-War tensions, super-powers, and eccentric characters all into one story, you'll be hard-pressed to find better than this. So far, I think this manga is appropriate for middle-grade and up, but it's probably safer to recommend it for high school and older, since I don't know if violence or language ramps up later. In case I haven't made it clear, I'm completely hooked and will be continuing to the next few volumes shortly, as well as eagerly anticipating the next installments of the anime in the fall.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, Spy x Family is an absolute treat. If you're looking for something that combines espionage, found family, assassins, humor, Cold-War tensions, super-powers, and eccentric characters all into one story, you'll be hard-pressed to find better than this. So far, I think this manga is appropriate for middle-grade and up, but it's probably safer to recommend it for high school and older, since I don't know if violence or language ramps up later. In case I haven't made it clear, I'm completely hooked and will be continuing to the next few volumes shortly, as well as eagerly anticipating the next installments of the anime in the fall.
Blue Exorcist, Vol. 1 by Kazue Kato
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.5
I watched this story's anime way back when it was on Toonami and fell in love. A plucky teenage protagonist discovering a hidden magical world in which the forces of good and evil are locked in battle, deciding to join the fight, and slowly peeling back the misconceptions and corruption of this new world in his journey through school? What's not to love? I even found the manga online and read the unofficial translations for a while. When the anime came back in 2017, effectively erasing the last half of the non-canon first season in favor of the next arc from the manga, I was excited to see the gang back in action. But it took my recent forays into reading the medium to finally get me to revisit the manga proper.
Read my full review of the story thru Vol 4 at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I have a lot of love for this story. From its quirky yet heartfelt characters, its fascinating world that blends old superstitions and modern sensibilities, and its overall message of acceptance and looking past what divides us to what unites us, there's a lot to love. Even if you're not big on manga or comics, I'd recommend at least picking up the first volume if you enjoy YA supernatural stories, action-packed adventures, or even sibling rivalry melodramas. An engaging story that allows for more intricacies and details to get introduced as it goes on, I have no doubt it'll hook some of you in no time. As for me, I'll be slowly but surely making my way through the 29 volumes my library has available.
Read my full review of the story thru Vol 4 at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I have a lot of love for this story. From its quirky yet heartfelt characters, its fascinating world that blends old superstitions and modern sensibilities, and its overall message of acceptance and looking past what divides us to what unites us, there's a lot to love. Even if you're not big on manga or comics, I'd recommend at least picking up the first volume if you enjoy YA supernatural stories, action-packed adventures, or even sibling rivalry melodramas. An engaging story that allows for more intricacies and details to get introduced as it goes on, I have no doubt it'll hook some of you in no time. As for me, I'll be slowly but surely making my way through the 29 volumes my library has available.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The theme for this month's Vampire Book Club was start-to-a-series. I actually have owned this book for ages but haven't had a good excuse to start a new series (hence this year's reading goal), so I welcomed this chance to finally pick it up. Straddling the line between YA and NA, would this be the start to a compelling series I'd be chomping at the bit to continue, or would these vamps leave me feeling stale?
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I think this is the start to a fun and fast popcorn series. If you're wanting something a little melodramatic, action-packed, and twisty, with a sprinkling of teen romance, snarky banter, and bloody fangs, then you might want to check out this series. It may come off a tad dated with its reliance on the I'm-not-like-other-girls protagonist and cartoonish-bully tropes, and a noticeable lack of smart phones, but that also just feeds into its nostalgic charm. I don't know when I'll get the chance to come back to this series, but its a safe bet that it won't be too long from now.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I think this is the start to a fun and fast popcorn series. If you're wanting something a little melodramatic, action-packed, and twisty, with a sprinkling of teen romance, snarky banter, and bloody fangs, then you might want to check out this series. It may come off a tad dated with its reliance on the I'm-not-like-other-girls protagonist and cartoonish-bully tropes, and a noticeable lack of smart phones, but that also just feeds into its nostalgic charm. I don't know when I'll get the chance to come back to this series, but its a safe bet that it won't be too long from now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Violence, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Gun violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Audiobook Read by Cynthia Holloway
Unabridged Length: 8.7 Hours
Listened at 2.25x Speed
I don't know if it's due to the age of the production, or simply the quality of audiobooks I've been listening to recently, but I wasn't too impressed with this one.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this audiobook is serviceable to get you through the story, but it's definitely not the best I've heard. The tweaks to the text are mostly benign but pervasive, and it seemed like the editing or direction of the production wasn't as invisible as I've come to expect. I'd still recommend it to those who regularly use audiobooks as their reading preference, but it's perhaps not the best sample to woo new prospective listeners. When I inevitably pick up the next story in the series, I hope to see some improvement in these aspects.
Unabridged Length: 8.7 Hours
Listened at 2.25x Speed
I don't know if it's due to the age of the production, or simply the quality of audiobooks I've been listening to recently, but I wasn't too impressed with this one.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this audiobook is serviceable to get you through the story, but it's definitely not the best I've heard. The tweaks to the text are mostly benign but pervasive, and it seemed like the editing or direction of the production wasn't as invisible as I've come to expect. I'd still recommend it to those who regularly use audiobooks as their reading preference, but it's perhaps not the best sample to woo new prospective listeners. When I inevitably pick up the next story in the series, I hope to see some improvement in these aspects.
The Fowl Twins Get What They Deserve by Eoin Colfer
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Being a long-time fan of Colfer and his Fowl series, it was a no-brainer to see this was coming out and immediately know I had to read it. Actually, the only reason I didn't read this book sooner was that the release of the book was a bit...off. For some reason, the book was scheduled for release in October 2021, but all that became available was the audiobook. Then, when the text versions released a month later, my library got the physical book but not the ebook. Well, I finally decided I was through with waiting, picked up the previous books for recollection's sake, and was ready to see just what Lord Teddy had in store for our favorite twins.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this was a welcome addition to the Fowl legacy. Filled to bursting with wacky hijinks, witty banter, magical spectacle, and dramatic schemes, with a sprinkling of logic, heartfelt moments, and laughter of both evil and joyous varieties, I have no misgivings recommending this to readers both young and young-at-heart. After all, we all need a fun pick-me-up now and again, and there's plenty of wit and cleverness woven into these Fowl tales. And though there's still a little confusion as to whether this series will continue forward, I know I'll definitely be returning to the world of the Fowls in the future—one way or another!
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, this was a welcome addition to the Fowl legacy. Filled to bursting with wacky hijinks, witty banter, magical spectacle, and dramatic schemes, with a sprinkling of logic, heartfelt moments, and laughter of both evil and joyous varieties, I have no misgivings recommending this to readers both young and young-at-heart. After all, we all need a fun pick-me-up now and again, and there's plenty of wit and cleverness woven into these Fowl tales. And though there's still a little confusion as to whether this series will continue forward, I know I'll definitely be returning to the world of the Fowls in the future—one way or another!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
The Fowl Twins, Book Two: Deny All Charges by Eoin Colfer
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-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
Read by Nathaniel Parker
Unabridged Length: 8.1 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Not much more to add from the first audio's review.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, another greatly entertaining production by Mr. Parker and the Listening Library crew. With just as high quality as the first story, fans are good to go in continuing the series. Which I will be doing myself as I continue to the 3rd book!
Unabridged Length: 8.1 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
Not much more to add from the first audio's review.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, another greatly entertaining production by Mr. Parker and the Listening Library crew. With just as high quality as the first story, fans are good to go in continuing the series. Which I will be doing myself as I continue to the 3rd book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Death, Gun violence, and Blood
The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Read by Nathaniel Parker
Unabridged Length: 8.9 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
I'll admit that I don't listen to nearly as many Middle Grade level books as I probably should, and this one makes the case for it. Mr. Parker provides one of the most entertaining performances I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. More than the huge variety of voices he provides, all with distinct accents and easily distinguished personalities attached, he also exudes an unmistakable feeling that he's having fun in everything he's doing.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a fantastic and memorable production through and through. Though it's hard to say whether the production's overall tone was tweaked for the age of reader, or if the story itself simply lent itself more readily toward that joy-filled reading, I'd highly recommend this audiobook for listeners young and young-at-heart regardless.
Unabridged Length: 8.9 Hours
Listened at 2x Speed
I'll admit that I don't listen to nearly as many Middle Grade level books as I probably should, and this one makes the case for it. Mr. Parker provides one of the most entertaining performances I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. More than the huge variety of voices he provides, all with distinct accents and easily distinguished personalities attached, he also exudes an unmistakable feeling that he's having fun in everything he's doing.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a fantastic and memorable production through and through. Though it's hard to say whether the production's overall tone was tweaked for the age of reader, or if the story itself simply lent itself more readily toward that joy-filled reading, I'd highly recommend this audiobook for listeners young and young-at-heart regardless.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Gun violence, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail