REVIEW || HEARTSTOPPER VOLUME 1

Title: Heartstopper (volume #1)
Author: Alice Oseman
Genre: contemporary, young adult
Summary:
Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn't been too great, but at least he's not being bullied anymore, and he's sort of got a boyfriend, even if he's kind of mean and only wants to meet up in secret.
Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He's heard a little about Charlie - the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months - but he's never had the opportunity to talk to him. That is, until the start of January, in which Nick and Charlie are placed in the same form group and made to sit together.
They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner...

Plot:
After a rough break-up with his kind-of boyfriend Ben, Charlie seems to have a rough time at school. Though he's not being bullied as much anymore for being gay, it's still not easy and Ben keeps bothering him over and over. Then comes in Nick Nelson, rugby player and assumed straight guy. Over some time, the two boys become friends.
Heartstopper is a story about struggling with your identity and sexuality, featuring a bisexual character who never realised they were bisexual and allows for its characters to develop and grow even in such a "short" limit of pages. It may sound like a simple premise, but it's effective.

Characters:
Our main character is Charlie, a fast runner and a bit of an outcast. He was bullied when it became clear to the school that he was gay and still seems to struggle a little. We learn a lot about Charlie through his interactions with other people but also in what he tells us about what happened between him and Ben.

Because Charlie is a very fast runner, we are soon introduced to rugby player Nicholas (Nick) Nelson. They are seated next to each other in class and, after Nick sees Charlie running, he manages to get Charlie into rugby. Nick is a sweet character, something we see in how he interacts with people but also in how he's drawn at times. Despite his stature and the sport he plays, he's allowed to have several softer moments.

There are a few side characters in the story, the amount probably held back because of the graphic novel format of the story. The most important probably being Ben, Charlie's somewhat ex, about whom we learn a lot just from what Charlie tells us and how Charlie reacts to him.

Art:
The art of this book to me resembles the way the story is being told. Again, it may seem simple but it's effective and allows for a lot of showing rather than telling. We see Charlie and Nick get closer, we see how they behave and react and it allows for the art to speak and add to the characters.

Things I like: 

1. The characters are allowed to breathe and grow and just be who they are.
2. The art fits the narrative and characters so very well
3. It made me giggle, it made me sad, it just made me feel

Things I didn't like:

1. Ben. I kind of get what Alice wants to do with Ben, but I wasn't the biggest fan of how he behaved and treated Nick. I know it can be realistic and people can be like that, I just. . . didn't particularly like it.

Who I'd recommend it to:
If you're looking for a soft, LGBT-focused graphic novel, then this will definitely be something for you.

Rating: 

REVIEW || ICE MASSACRE

Title: Ice Massacre (#1)
Author: Tiana Warner
Genre: fantasy
Summary:
A mermaid’s supernatural beauty serves one purpose: to lure a sailor to his death.
The Massacre is supposed to bring peace to Eriana Kwai. Every year, the island sends its warriors to battle these hostile sea demons. Every year, the warriors fail to return. Desperate for survival, the island must decide on a new strategy. Now, the fate of Eriana Kwai lies in the hands of twenty battle-trained girls and their resistance to a mermaid’s allure.
Eighteen-year-old Meela has already lost her brother to the Massacre, and she has lived with a secret that’s haunted her since childhood. For any hope of survival, she must overcome the demons of her past and become a ruthless mermaid killer.
For the first time, Eriana Kwai’s Massacre warriors are female, and Meela must fight for her people’s freedom on the Pacific Ocean’s deadliest battleground.

Plot:
The plot of Ice Massacre seems a straightforward one to understand. In this world that appears based off on our own, set in a place that has many similarities to Hawaii, mermaids are a known creature to exist. Not only that, but mermaids are also infamous murdering people that attack ships and drag men down to eat them. Every year, the island of Eriana Kwai sends a ship to go to the Massacre where the soldiers on the ship try to kill as many mermaids as they can.
This time, they send a ship of young women as every time men are sent out they are pulled into the mermaid's lure and killed. One of those women is Meela, our main character, who has her own history with the mermaids.
Though it is a simple story to follow and understand, it took certain turns that I didn't expect to happen. It was thrilling to read, pacing action with more quiet moments quite well. It's a premise that isn't too overcomplicated, and it works for Ice Massacre very well.

Characters:
Meela is our main character, a young woman who has - as we find out in the book - history with the mermaids. She has never been one for killing and hurting, yet she becomes one of the warriors to go along on the Massacre. Meela is quite the opposite of most of her kin, who are all more than willing to kill mermaids, and though we are given a reason for it, I feel like it was underplayed in the community. Personally, I think the reaction of the people around her should've been stronger, as it seemed to be somewhat common knowledge Meela wasn't much of a killer.

Of course, there were other characters, most importantly Lysi. Lysi is a mermaid and has been Meela's friend for a long time despite the existing hatred between their two species. She plays a vital role in the story, but I can't say much about her for fear of giving away too much.

Besides that, there are Meela's crew members, but honestly, a lot of them were generic and given a few traits but not really fleshed out much. It's an issue I get, a writer has to choose who to focus on as a character and who to leave a little less developed, but there was one girl Dani who just felt like the generic bully. So though I understand the choices that were made, I wish there would've been a little more in them.

Things I liked:

• its pacing
• strong women being sent to fight because the men can't (it was just really well thought out and made a lot of sense)
• its diversity in people of colour but also other things as well
• the story itself
• Meela and Lysi's characters

Things I didn’t like:

• the side characters
• the ending felt a little too weak and deus-ex-machina (which means that suddenly there is a solution for the conflict that wipes all else away and leaves you feeling a little anti-climatic)

Who I’d recommend it to:
anyone who loves stories with mermaids or fantasy stories or is looking for more stories with diversity and strong female characters.

Rating:

REVIEW | ALEX IN WONDERLAND

Title: Alex in Wonderland
Author: Simon James Green
Genre: Contemporary, young adult
Summary:
In the town of Newsands, painfully shy Alex is abandoned by his two best friends for the summer. But he unexpectedly lands a part-time job at Wonderland, a run-down amusement arcade on the seafront, where he gets to know the other teen misfits who work there. Alex starts to come out of his shell, and even starts to develop feelings for co-worker Ben... who, as Alex's bad luck would have it, has a girlfriend.
Then as debtors close in on Wonderland and mysterious, threatening notes start to appear, Alex and his new friends take it on themselves to save their declining employer. But, like everything in Wonderland, nothing is quite what it seems...

Plot:

The story of Alex in Wonderland is quite a simple one, which works for a book that's mostly meant as a quick and sweet summer read. Alex is a shy kid who lives with his father and his father's not-so-nice girlfriend, Kendra. During the summer, after a small altercation in the amusement arcade Wonderland, Alex scores a job there.

As he navigates his feelings towards Ben and gains friends in Efia and Maggie, someone starts to threaten the Wonderland and the new home that Alex has found.

Despite the simplicity of the plot, I hadn't guessed the culprit until the very end of the book when it's finally semi-revealed and it makes a lot of sense and it was definitely a moment where I ended up smiling at the revelation of it.

Other than that, there isn't much to say about the plot of this book.

Characters:

Alex, as our main character, works very well. He's an awkward and shy boy who will tug on readers' heartstrings. However, I couldn't help but feel that at points he was just like Simon Spier or other "awkward, shy gay narrators" that we see in LGBT books. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, it's relatable for many readers, but it also doesn't bring much new to the table. He was a sweet person, you laughed with him and felt for him as you read along. And for a cute summer read, that's fine. It also shows that boys are allowed to be awkward, are allowed to be shy. I just wish he felt a little more like his own character.

Now, there was one character-point that I had a frustration with. I won't go into major details as it's a "spoiler" for the story, but it's an issue I had with Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda as well.

I dislike the miscommunication or misunderstanding leads to a falling out with friends plot-thread. I understand that this can be realistic, but in Alex in Wonderland it was resolved so quickly it felt more like it was a plot-line that needed to be checked off on the To-Do list rather than it serving the story.

The same, partially, went for Kendra's character. There's nothing wrong with using tropes or clichés and I love myself an evil stepmother/girlfriend, but I never felt like there was a warranted or explained reason for Kendra to be the way she is. In the end, I was somewhat pleasantly surprised by the turn she took. And sometimes we don't get an answer to why people are the way they are. However, it felt like it was serving that idea of evil girlfriend too much at times.

Things I like:

• The ending aka the twist of who-done-it
• The characters, despite my issues, were funny and relatable and well written
• The romance was well done and wasn't always the center of the story

Things I don't like:

• The falling out moment between friends
• Kendra's character
• I wish the ending had more of a resolution

Who I'd recommend it to:

If you like Becky Albertalli's books, you will like Alex in Wonderland. If you're looking for a cute, LGBT summer read, you'll like this book as well.


Rating:

REVIEW || RUNEBINDER

Title: Runebinder (#1)
Author: Alex R. Kahler
Genre: young adult, high fantasy
Summary:
Magic is risen.When magic returned to the world, it could have saved humanity, but greed and thirst for power caused mankind's downfall instead. Now once-human monsters called Howls prowl abandoned streets, their hunger guided by corrupt necromancers and the all-powerful Kin. Only Hunters have the power to fight back in the unending war, using the same magic that ended civilization in the first place.
But they are losing.
Tenn is a Hunter, resigned to fight even though hope is nearly lost. When he is singled out by a seductive Kin named Tomás and the enigmatic Hunter Jarrett, Tenn realizes he's become a pawn in a bigger game. One that could turn the tides of war. But if his mutinous magic and wayward heart get in the way, his power might not be used in favor of mankind.
If Tenn fails to play his part, it could cost him his friends, his life…and the entire world.

Plot:
The story for Runebinder had me a bit confused because there are so many questions that are left unanswered even at the end of the book. These, I hope, will be answered in a sequel but as it is; it was a bit weird to have some of these questions left entirely or somewhat open.
The rest of it is, in a way, a Chosen One story. Tenn is a magic-user who opens to Water and Earth. Magic users control their powers, their powers don't control them, but Water has been controlling Tenn at points which shouldn't be possible. Helped out by three people (Dreya, Devon & Jarrett) he has to get to safety. On the other side, there is Tomás; an incubus, who wants something from Tenn and will try to get it.

Characters:
Something about Runebinder's characters struck me. Tomás, immediately, became my favourite along with Devon and Dreya. The moment Tomás showed up, I leaned back in my seat thinking come and bring it. Every interaction he had with Tenn was so well-written, full of tension (if you catch my drift) and I felt as if the author really enjoyed writing this character.

Tenn sometimes came across as a little annoying. I can't quite put my finger on it, because I get that he has no control of his Sphere and that everything is just coming over him, but he came across as whiny at times.

The other character that I didn't entirely like was Jarrett, and I can't really say much about Jarrett because of spoilers, but there was too much left open about Jarrett that I hope the sequel will answer.
The best thing, however, about Runebinder is the diversity in the characters. In an interview, Alex Kahler said:

When I wrote Runebinder, I wanted to code queer—to write a world where the reader is brought to assume everyone is queer unless told differently. The protagonist Tenn never comes out. He never says “I identify as X” in order to make the friends or save the world or get the guy.

Though I felt like it could've been explored even better, there was so much in this book that is taking steps towards more diversity in fantasy novels.

Things I like:

• the diversity
• the magic and how it worked
• Tomás was absolutely amazing, I loved him as a character

Things I don't like:

• the world-building was a bit confusing (It took me a long time to realise it was set in a version of our world)
• the romance between Tenn and one of the other characters felt a bit too soon
• at times I didn't really like Tenn's character

Who I'd recommend it to:
Anyone who is looking for diverse books, especially in the fantasy genre, you should try this book out.

Rating:

SHORT REVIEWS (#1)

As I go about reading, I'm going to try posting long reviews as well as short reviews, depending on how much I have to say about a book and how much time I have. So, without further ado, here is the first of hopefully many short reviews.

AMNESTY

the resolution to the Amberlough Dossier by Lara Elena Donnelly

The revolution has come and gone, with Amberlough City striving to rebuild itself from the ashes. The Ospies have been ousted, and the very face of the nation has been changed in the process.
Now, a rising politician is determined to bring Amberlough’s traitors to justice.
Including double agent Cyril DePaul.
Everyone believes Cyril deserves to suffer for his crimes... except an old lover and an estranged sister. Soon, they become entangled in another web of high-stakes politics, underground crime, and personal deceit. Only the most extreme actions can save them from the iron reach of the law, before it is too late.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

This series is absolutely amazing. It's different and interesting and it takes turns that I didn't expect it to take. Like the last book, the ending leaves a lot open and I wished there was more of an official conclusion, but it was a fitting end for most of the characters in this story. 

OTHER WORDS FOR SMOKE

by Sarah Maria Griffin

The house at the end of the lane burned down, and Rita Frost and her teenage ward, Bevan, were never seen again. The townspeople never learned what happened. Only Mae and her brother Rossa know the truth; they spent two summers with Rita and Bevan, two of the strangest summers of their lives... Because nothing in that house was as it seemed: a cat who was more than a cat, and a dark power called Sweet James that lurked behind the wallpaper, enthralling Bevan with whispers of neon magic and escape. And in the summer heat, Mae became equally as enthralled with Bevan. Desperately in the grips of first love, she'd give the other girl anything. A dangerous offer when all that Sweet James desired was a taste of new flesh...

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

Recommended to me by my amazing friend Ana, I started this book with a lot of expectations and Other Words For Smoke definitely lived up to those. Thrilling, alluring, this book was just beautifully written with an amazing storyline and characters. It drew me in and refused to let go until the very end of the book.

HEARTSTOPPER: VOLUME TWO

the second part of Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. An LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the second volume of HEARTSTOPPER, for fans of The Art of Being Normal, Holly Bourne and Love, Simon. 

Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie's gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn't. 

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family ... and himself. 

Heartstopper is about friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us. 

This is the second volume of Heartstopper, with more to come.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

A sweet, adorable follow-up to the first volume that made me smile and feel warm and really want to continue reading this series of graphic novels so badly. The art is cute and the characters - to me - got better in this volume in comparison to the first one.

THE TRUTH ABOUT KEEPING SECRETS

                                                                             by Savannah Brown

Sydney's dad is the only psychiatrist for miles around their small Ohio town. He is also unexpectedly dead.Is Sydney crazy, or is it kind of weird that her dad-a guy whose entire job revolved around other peoples' secrets-crashed alone, with no explanation?And why is June Copeland, homecoming queen and the town's golden child, at his funeral?As the two girls grow closer in the wake of the accident, it's clear that not everyone is happy about their new friendship.But what is picture perfect June still hiding? And does Sydney even want to know? THE TRUTH ABOUT KEEPING SECRETS is a page-turning, voice led, high school thriller. 

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

Again, a recommendation by my friend Ana that was not generally a book I would normally pick up but I genuinely trust her judgment and this book did not disappoint me. Throwing twists and turns at the reader as you go throw it, this book was both touching and exciting as you try and figure out what's going on. 

REVIEW || RENEGADES

Title: Renegades (#1)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: Science-fiction, young adult
Summary:
Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.
Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

Plot:
Renegades, honestly, isn't the most challenging story to follow. We have our Good and Evil, superheroes vs supervillains, as we usually do in a story that follows these kinds of events. In this book, it's the Renegades vs the Anarchists (not the most original names but honestly, I didn't mind it too much).

We have our two main leads, Nova and Adrian. I'm going to be comparing this storyline to Romeo and Juliet quite a lot because, well, two people from opposite sides end up falling in love and it causes a lot of issues for the both of them as no one can find out.
The entire story, I was waiting for a specific event to happen. We, as readers, know that Nova is bad and Adrian is good. Now, I'm not going to spoil what happens in the end, but what I was expecting never happened, and honestly, I'm glad it didn't. Instead what I got was a twist I didn't really see coming.
However, the story itself didn't lend itself to a lot of new things, and even some of the dialogues felt like a Marvel or DC movie or comic.

"Nightmare," said Smokescreen, with a subtle incline of his head. "It's been a while."
"You're about to wish it had been longer."

"Your days of villainy are over, Nightmare."

It wasn't entirely scene-breaking or frustrating. Sometimes, it actually fits the story. Other times though, I felt as if a comic book had been opened and copied line to line.


Characters:
It's funny that, with a lot of Marissa Meyer's books, I wish there had been a story on some of the side characters rather than the main characters. It's not that I hated Nova or Adrian, but they were generic Young Adult characters and it kind of bugged me.
Nova is our villain with tragic backstory but starts doubting everything she believes in when she infiltrates the Renegades.
Adrian is a charmer, but also a bit of a reckless guy who isn't sure about the way of the Renegades.
I wasn't too crazy about these two, but they carried the story line. Some of the side-characters though? I wanted to know more about Phobia, or Hugh Everhart and his husband, Simon Westwood. Also Ace Anarchy, I loved hearing about him.


Things I like:

• It was full of action
• Quite well-paced
• The side characters
• the ending took me by surprise

Things I don't like:

• it didn't really feel like anything new
• the main character
• It felt very long
• the characters are so oblivious to who the other person's "secret identity" is

Who I'd recommend it to:
If you liked The Lunar Chronicles, you will definitely like this too. If you like superhero stories and don't mind a little trope here and there, you'll enjoy this.


Rating: