willowtree7's reviews
252 reviews

Here Lies Olive by Kate Anderson

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious medium-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

It took me a while to get into this book, but once it sunk its hooks into me, I couldn’t put it down! I love the imagery surrounded with the elements in this story, I could really visualise Olive and what her friends were experience. I like the depth of Olives experience with death and how that impacted how she continued to view life going forward. I reckon this will be one I’ll read again in the future. If you like dark supernatural stories with a minor queer subplots, this is the one I recommend giving a go.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Invasive by Cullen Bunn

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Thanks to NetGalley and OniPress for an advanced copy of this!

I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel as I read through it. I liked the break down of chapters across the book and how it got from the start to the end. However, the ending did feel a bit unfinished. The ending happened, but didn’t give any reason to why it came about that way. I feel like this could’ve had an extra issue or two at the end to fully explain what happened there. Overall I did enjoy this and would happily read it again! 

Legends & Lattes (Large Print) by Travis Baldree

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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

When I first saw the cover of this book, I was ready to give it a read. Unfortunately it would still be about 7 months later before I’d get to pick it up and truly fall in love with it. The cast of characters in this book are all wonderfully suited to find each other and get each other. The coffee shop fills the same experience coffee shops in the real world offers - a place for people to come together. Travis’ writing is captivating and easily brings you into this world of Thune he has created. I highly recommend this book if you’ve been debating giving it a read! (Also shout out to large print books??? Why didn’t I try one earlier? This was an incredible way to enjoy this book!)

Total Suplex of the Heart by Joanne Starer

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was easily sucked into this graphic novel. The writing and art is really captivating. Georgie is a fundamentally flawed person whose character arc showcases what childhood trauma can bring into adulthood. The various relationships shown are a good mix of fantastic friendships, toxic friendships, and toxic romances. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and felt it did a great job showing complex themes of eating disorders, emotional abuse, and physical abuse, both on the visible side and the underlying subconscious thoughts and actions. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

Key & Zan: Stolen Introductions by D.T. Henderson

adventurous 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

5.0

Cute little comic! Highly recommend. The art style is gorgeous, and the connection between Key and Zan is quick and sweet. Can’t wait to read more of these two!

Gender Is Really Strange by Teddy G. Goetz

adventurous informative inspiring medium-paced

4.25

I really like how Teddy breaks down the different aspects of gender and how it all comes together in a weird soup. Teddy does a great job explaining and describing all the different aspects, backed by science and research, and explaining it in relatively simple terms. 

As a gender diverse individual myself, there was plenty I already knew, but still heaps I did learn through this book. If you are wanting to learn more about gender or even start to learn about it, this book has you covered! Highly recommend.

Coven by Da Coffee Time, Taous Merakchi

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious medium-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

Taous Merakchi has created a wonderfully illustrated story of 4 young witches finding their way into the world of witchcraft. I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and character building involved in creating this story. I found myself sucked into their world, hoping for their safety, and their friendship being solidified amongst the group. Such a captivating story, and I wish it wasn’t over so soon! Highly recommend this one if you are into witchy stories and women friendships. 

Creepy Stories: Ghosts, Mysteries, and Other Spooky Tales by Kelly Anne McLellan

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

I liked that this book was a collection of different spooky stories that all stood alone. They were all quite short too for ease of telling to young people. The only thing that really brought the rating down is sometimes the stories came to a positive conclusion which took the spook out. Some also ended too unfinished in a non-creepy fashion. The majority of the stories were great and had lots of creepy elements. Some came to a sad ending, while others were left in the right amount of uncertainty that it could happen again. 

Overall this is a good pick for a first time collection of spooky stories for young people to read where the spook level isn’t too high, and some have good endings, but for a seasoned spooky reader, you may be left feeling a bit disappointed by some of the stories.

Lost in the Future: Volume 1: The Storm by Damian

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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 really enjoyed this first instalment of this story. I felt the cast of characters on this journey really work well together including the bully. I was drawn in right away and wanted to know more. I’ll have to keep this series in mind as the next ones come out! I’m hooked and can’t wait for more. Highly recommend! 

Love Me: A Romance Story by Francesca Perillo

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This story had a cute romance arc, and a cute cat, but I found it hard to enjoy overall. Some parts felt very slow and others felt very fast. Aside from pacing, the main storyline was quite predictable and gave very little to hold interest. While I’m glad I got a chance to enjoy this story, I don’t think it’s one I’d pick up again. Worth checking out once if you like romance and robots!