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wolfiegrrrl's reviews
236 reviews
A Man and His Cat, Vol. 5 by Umi Sakurai
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
If the author hadn't said this volume came from personal experience, it still would have been very obvious that they know what it feels like to lose a beloved cat. The emotions are so raw. I loved seeing the humans come together to help find Fukumaru and I'm also really glad that the cats got to learn just how treasured they are.
My favorite moment is without a doubt the roly-poly pillbug bio.
My favorite moment is without a doubt the roly-poly pillbug bio.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Grief
The Hidden Kingdom by Tui T. Sutherland
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Based on the setup of the first two books, it has been made very clear that RainWings are an allegory for racism in the Wings of Fire universe; so The Hidden Kingdom started out promising, considering how racism plays a punishing hand in the atrocities of war. Through the course of this book, Glory (and the readers through her) learn that the truth about RainWings and their society is a lot more complicated than the rest of Pyrrhia is willing to believe and, from there, the book laid down the groundwork for a tricky subject to navigate for a middle-grade audience. With the introduction to the concepts of genocide and colonialism brewing on the horizon, the handling of this allegory begins to get shaky and fall apart the deeper into the rainforest our dragonets of destiny go, but if you squint you can maybe pick out a lesson this book is attempting to teach about the complexities of racism.
I sure hope Tui T. Sutherland is trying to say that, even if a group of people look or act one way on the surface and the bigotry seems to be based in something observably present (like RainWing "laziness"), it doesn't mean that's all there is to them or that they should be treated as lesser beings just because they live different lives than you do. After all, it's counterproductive misrepresentation to boil down an entire community to a few shallow features. But the explanation given for how racism against RainWings became so widespread disappointingly lends itself to a much more insidious reading of this book that unfortunately feeds more into racism than attempts to discourage it, so I'm personally torn. It's obvious we don't yet have the full story and sympathy is definitely on the side of the RainWings (for the most part), so my fingers are crossed for some improvement on the treatment of this subject as the series continues.
Otherwise, Glory gets a nice character arc where she finally carves out a place for herself in her own destiny. Her personal journey runs parallel to and branches off Tsunami's, likely due to the fact that they were always butting heads on the topic of leadership, so it was nice to see her come to terms with the idea that depending on others for help is okay.
I sure hope Tui T. Sutherland is trying to say that, even if a group of people look or act one way on the surface and the bigotry seems to be based in something observably present (like RainWing "laziness"), it doesn't mean that's all there is to them or that they should be treated as lesser beings just because they live different lives than you do. After all, it's counterproductive misrepresentation to boil down an entire community to a few shallow features. But the explanation given for how racism against RainWings became so widespread disappointingly lends itself to a much more insidious reading of this book that unfortunately feeds more into racism than attempts to discourage it, so I'm personally torn. It's obvious we don't yet have the full story and sympathy is definitely on the side of the RainWings (for the most part), so my fingers are crossed for some improvement on the treatment of this subject as the series continues.
Otherwise, Glory gets a nice character arc where she finally carves out a place for herself in her own destiny. Her personal journey runs parallel to and branches off Tsunami's, likely due to the fact that they were always butting heads on the topic of leadership, so it was nice to see her come to terms with the idea that depending on others for help is okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Blood, Grief, Violence, Confinement, Body horror, Xenophobia, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, and Torture
Moderate: Vomit, Animal death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, War, Child abuse, Child death, Animal cruelty, and Colonisation
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Abandonment
Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah Howe, James Howe
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The age of this book quickly makes itself known by the language it uses, particularly the page where Chester the cat casually lets rip the g-slur in rapid succession. I was already struggling pretty hard to feel engaged with the text due to the children who talk like adults trying to imitate children - sometimes I don't mind it, but it was particularly hard to read here because there is so little variation between how each character is written that they don't really have distinct voices of their own - so that page felt like a slap to the face when I got there.
Otherwise, the story is cute and I love the message of tolerance and acceptance that Harold teaches the readers through his journey with Bunnicula. Besides, the concept of a vampire bunny who drinks vegetable juice instead of blood is too adorable to find much fault in.
Otherwise, the story is cute and I love the message of tolerance and acceptance that Harold teaches the readers through his journey with Bunnicula. Besides, the concept of a vampire bunny who drinks vegetable juice instead of blood is too adorable to find much fault in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Violence
There is also a brief mention of starvation.
The Power of Friendship by Elisabetta Gnone, Parke Godwin
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This first volume is a cute and snappy introduction to the series, its characters, and the worlds they inhabit. The girls are still a bit of a mess as they try to get a grip on this new situation, but it's fun watching them try out their powers in ways that feel pretty realistic to what kids would likely use them for. W.I.T.C.H. is a magical girl fantasy about magic and friendship, so the first book being called The Power of Friendship really sets the stage for what's to come.
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexual harassment, and Fire/Fire injury
There is also a brief mention of one of the girls having issues with body image, but the story doesn't dwell on it for very long.
Always Human by Ari North
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.75
You can tell this is a WebToon printed in a book format. It's a slice of sci-fi life where queer people can live out a fantasy we can currently only dream of. The ability to essentially shapeshift on a whim without surgery?! Sign me up! But the implication that people can use body mods to race-fake goes disconcertingly unaddressed outside of one line where Sunati says she wants to keep her facial structure and promised her mom she wouldn't change her skin color.
This first volume is a collection of short episodes about Sunati and Austen getting to know each other and learning that first impressions can be misleading, and it introduces us to a colorful supporting cast of diverse characters. They're all interesting and fun in their own ways, but they come across as a little flat at this early stage of the series.
Austen, however, is the main focus of the story. It's wild to see a character we would consider able-bodied get labeled disabled because her immune system is too strong for her to use technological enhancements to download information directly into her brain or change her physical appearance whenever it suits her. She gets sick, has to study, and would need to use hair dye and makeup and colored contacts like the rest of us. Much like how people in our world treat people with disabilities, Austen is either turned into inspiration porn by the modded characters in the story or they think of her as someone who can do no wrong because "she can't help it" and "life is so hard for her."
To directly counter this, Ari North attempts to show us that Austen is a flawed character by having her repeatedly take out her emotions on the people around her by yelling and sometimes physically assaulting them. In a romance story, this is more than a little concerning. Flawed characters are great and flawed characters in flawed relationships are even better as long as there is an effort to show conscious character growth as the story continues, but the way it stands now Austen's abusive behavior is excused by everyone close to her as something "normal" that she always does. This is most likely an attempt to hammer home the point that even the people who have known her for longer than a month (including her own family) still refuse to acknowledge her flaws because of her perceived disability, but it's unsettling that she can go so far as to attack her sibling while they're sleeping and everyone brushes it off as just a quirky thing she did to get her way. It's hard to find her character charming, but I do sincerely hope she gets the chance to properly reflect and make an effort to put her best foot forward as the series develops.
This first volume is a collection of short episodes about Sunati and Austen getting to know each other and learning that first impressions can be misleading, and it introduces us to a colorful supporting cast of diverse characters. They're all interesting and fun in their own ways, but they come across as a little flat at this early stage of the series.
Austen, however, is the main focus of the story. It's wild to see a character we would consider able-bodied get labeled disabled because her immune system is too strong for her to use technological enhancements to download information directly into her brain or change her physical appearance whenever it suits her. She gets sick, has to study, and would need to use hair dye and makeup and colored contacts like the rest of us. Much like how people in our world treat people with disabilities, Austen is either turned into inspiration porn by the modded characters in the story or they think of her as someone who can do no wrong because "she can't help it" and "life is so hard for her."
To directly counter this, Ari North attempts to show us that Austen is a flawed character by having her repeatedly take out her emotions on the people around her by yelling and sometimes physically assaulting them. In a romance story, this is more than a little concerning. Flawed characters are great and flawed characters in flawed relationships are even better as long as there is an effort to show conscious character growth as the story continues, but the way it stands now Austen's abusive behavior is excused by everyone close to her as something "normal" that she always does. This is most likely an attempt to hammer home the point that even the people who have known her for longer than a month (including her own family) still refuse to acknowledge her flaws because of her perceived disability, but it's unsettling that she can go so far as to attack her sibling while they're sleeping and everyone brushes it off as just a quirky thing she did to get her way. It's hard to find her character charming, but I do sincerely hope she gets the chance to properly reflect and make an effort to put her best foot forward as the series develops.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Cancer
Spy x Family, Vol. 7 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The main mission finally progresses as Loid makes first contact with his target! As a result, volume 7 reveals a deeper glimpse into Damian's school life and the distant relationship he has with his father. And on the subject of family, Yor starts to wonder if her job is really necessary now that her brother can take care of himself just as she gets called to meet with the mysterious Shopkeeper face to face for another debriefing on what may be her final mission.
Yuri gets a (much overdue) small bit of character development, however slim it is. Despite just beginning to acknowledge that he can't cling to his sister the same way anymore, he has a long way to go before he gets over his weird sister complex. Throughout his chapter, he is also forced to realize that there are multiple sides to this silent war. The people he condemns for "killing countless people in their own pursuit of justice" are doing it for the same reason that he himself is "killing countless people in his pursuit of justice" - to protect their families. This opens up the story to the teeniest glimmer of criticism of Ostania's police state, but since Yuri fully leans into his job as The Only Way to achieve peace, it doesn't go very far.
Yuri gets a (much overdue) small bit of character development, however slim it is. Despite just beginning to acknowledge that he can't cling to his sister the same way anymore, he has a long way to go before he gets over his weird sister complex. Throughout his chapter, he is also forced to realize that there are multiple sides to this silent war. The people he condemns for "killing countless people in their own pursuit of justice" are doing it for the same reason that he himself is "killing countless people in his pursuit of justice" - to protect their families. This opens up the story to the teeniest glimmer of criticism of Ostania's police state, but since Yuri fully leans into his job as The Only Way to achieve peace, it doesn't go very far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: War, Bullying, Stalking, Misogyny, Blood, Animal cruelty, Sexism, and Animal death
Minor: Deportation, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Spy x Family, Vol. 6 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Nightfall/Fiona gets to put her skills to the test during a wish fulfillment mission with Twilight and, while she is no match for Yor, her obsessive personality is enough to drive a wedge into Yor's heart anyway. Loid's rocky attempt to diagnose and resolve this situation shows us that, despite his extensive training, Yor still manages to catch him off guard.
On the one hand, Fiona's close observation of the developing relationship between Loid and Yor is a valuable insight for the reader about how Loid is truly feeling at this point in the mission. On the other hand, she brings an uncomfortable and frustrating element to the "love triangle" trope that feels both unnecessary and annoying. She is painfully obvious about her ulterior motives and it feels like at any minute she could snap and fall into yandere territory. This may not be every reader's cup of tea.
The second half of volume 6 focuses more on Anya's relationships with Becky and Damian as she tries very hard to get closer to them for the sake of world peace and an easier school life. She may have scored high points with Becky, but her attempts to relate to Damian's feelings about his father seem to be hit or miss. And yet, is it just her imagination that Damian is showing slightly less resistance to her presence?
On the one hand, Fiona's close observation of the developing relationship between Loid and Yor is a valuable insight for the reader about how Loid is truly feeling at this point in the mission. On the other hand, she brings an uncomfortable and frustrating element to the "love triangle" trope that feels both unnecessary and annoying. She is painfully obvious about her ulterior motives and it feels like at any minute she could snap and fall into yandere territory. This may not be every reader's cup of tea.
The second half of volume 6 focuses more on Anya's relationships with Becky and Damian as she tries very hard to get closer to them for the sake of world peace and an easier school life. She may have scored high points with Becky, but her attempts to relate to Damian's feelings about his father seem to be hit or miss. And yet, is it just her imagination that Damian is showing slightly less resistance to her presence?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Gaslighting, Classism, Misogyny, Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Blood, Bullying, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Minor: War
Spy x Family, Vol. 5 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When Yor's position as wife and mother of the Forger family is called into question yet again, the family is quick to reassure her of her place... but unfortunately a new contender for the role steps into frame and intends to go toe to toe with her to stake a claim on it.
Although we have only just met her, she would make a fantastic match for Yuri, who has gotten disgustingly intense - not only about his unhealthy obsession with his sister, but in the unnecessary amount of gross out humor featuring vomit. So far, he has only featured in a few chapters and not for any long stretch of time, but he pushes boundaries with every appearance. In all fairness, the "siscon" trope is played for "comedy" - it's very exaggerated and you're supposed to laugh at how ridiculously over the top his obsession is - which is certainly preferable to how a lot of weird incest tropes are written to be perv-pandering, but it's just very much not my thing either way.
Fortunately, Volume 5 is mostly about Eden Academy shenanigans as Anya navigates the rocky waters between her and Desmond. Now that she is aware of the heavy pressure to be elite that weighs heavily on his shoulders, she feels compelled to help him, but every time she manages to reach him an unexpected wave pushes her right back to where she started. The very different home lives they lead have begun to make them interesting foils for each other.
Once again, when Anya interviews Loid about his psychiatrist job for an assignment, Loid really sings the praises of therapy and the profession as a whole. As a consistent theme in the series, it's such a refreshing take and I'm glad to see it plainly stated here.
Although we have only just met her, she would make a fantastic match for Yuri, who has gotten disgustingly intense - not only about his unhealthy obsession with his sister, but in the unnecessary amount of gross out humor featuring vomit. So far, he has only featured in a few chapters and not for any long stretch of time, but he pushes boundaries with every appearance. In all fairness, the "siscon" trope is played for "comedy" - it's very exaggerated and you're supposed to laugh at how ridiculously over the top his obsession is - which is certainly preferable to how a lot of weird incest tropes are written to be perv-pandering, but it's just very much not my thing either way.
Fortunately, Volume 5 is mostly about Eden Academy shenanigans as Anya navigates the rocky waters between her and Desmond. Now that she is aware of the heavy pressure to be elite that weighs heavily on his shoulders, she feels compelled to help him, but every time she manages to reach him an unexpected wave pushes her right back to where she started. The very different home lives they lead have begun to make them interesting foils for each other.
Once again, when Anya interviews Loid about his psychiatrist job for an assignment, Loid really sings the praises of therapy and the profession as a whole. As a consistent theme in the series, it's such a refreshing take and I'm glad to see it plainly stated here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Stalking, Vomit, Bullying, Gun violence, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Gore
Minor: War
Spy x Family, Vol. 4 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Volume 4 introduces Bond, the best superpowered dog the Forger family could ever ask for, in an exciting mission to thwart a terrorist attack! Each member of the family gets to shine in their own uniquely qualified ways, but Anya and Bond are truly the star players here. Their instant connection is so sweet and heartwarming as they race against time to save the family Bond never knew he had the right to ask for. Meanwhile, despite the fact that their family is growing, Loid still struggles to balance the reality of his job and the family life that he is clearly starting to want more than he's supposed to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, War, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Blood, and Police brutality
Moderate: Confinement, Xenophobia, Sexism, Car accident, Death, Torture, Murder, Kidnapping, Gore, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Death of parent, Child death, Stalking, and Bullying
Spy x Family, Vol. 3 by Tatsuya Endo
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
With the introduction of SSS officer Yuri into the family, doubts creep to the forefront of Loid's mind as his relationship with Yor is tested, meanwhile Yor contends with her own doubts about her status in the family as a wife and mother. While they work on resolving these tensions in their own ways, the awkward flirting between Yor and Loid is a very cute part of the family dynamic. But how much is just an act and how much may be a product of developing feelings? Loid in particular has to grapple with his own emotions in a way he isn't used to. At the very least, they are united in their love and protectiveness over Anya for now, so we are treated to many touching family moments, especially in the bonus mission where we see what a date night would look like!
Anya really gets to shine in all her wide-eyed charm and adorably awkward social skills on her own mission to acquire a stella star for the sake of world peace... and a shot at getting closer to Desmond so Loid can continue his mission. Her real standout moment occurs in the bonus mission where she takes the safety of her found family into her own tiny hands, featuring more fun shenanigans from the chaotic duo of her and Franky. They really are such a treat when they get together.
As usual, the supporting cast has so much personality and charm that not a single one falls flat. They all help round out the interesting world these characters are living in and bring it to life in ways that are highly entertaining. Yor's brother is my only exception so far, only because I'm not a fan of the "siscon" trope. Up to this point, he has not been rewarded for this behavior, but it is still pretty uncomfortable to watch play out. Your mileage may vary.
On a side note, I personally appreciate how Loid's (cover) job as a psychiatrist is treated with respect and talked about as something legitimate that helps people who are struggling in their day to day lives. The topic has come up many times in these first three volumes and there are still characters (mostly children) who brush it off as something unimportant, but the main takeaway has been that this career is comparable to the importance and nobility of Loid's mission to build a world where everyone can be safe, happy, and exist in peace. Given the stigma of mental health, I think that's pretty significant.
Anya really gets to shine in all her wide-eyed charm and adorably awkward social skills on her own mission to acquire a stella star for the sake of world peace... and a shot at getting closer to Desmond so Loid can continue his mission. Her real standout moment occurs in the bonus mission where she takes the safety of her found family into her own tiny hands, featuring more fun shenanigans from the chaotic duo of her and Franky. They really are such a treat when they get together.
As usual, the supporting cast has so much personality and charm that not a single one falls flat. They all help round out the interesting world these characters are living in and bring it to life in ways that are highly entertaining. Yor's brother is my only exception so far, only because I'm not a fan of the "siscon" trope. Up to this point, he has not been rewarded for this behavior, but it is still pretty uncomfortable to watch play out. Your mileage may vary.
On a side note, I personally appreciate how Loid's (cover) job as a psychiatrist is treated with respect and talked about as something legitimate that helps people who are struggling in their day to day lives. The topic has come up many times in these first three volumes and there are still characters (mostly children) who brush it off as something unimportant, but the main takeaway has been that this career is comparable to the importance and nobility of Loid's mission to build a world where everyone can be safe, happy, and exist in peace. Given the stigma of mental health, I think that's pretty significant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Torture, Alcohol, Murder, Gun violence, Incest, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Gore, Sexism, Death, Stalking, Bullying, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent, Classism, Abandonment, and War