"Your silence was a lie. The stories left out the part where you hurt innocent people, civilians. The story left out the part where you trade your peo"Your silence was a lie. The stories left out the part where you hurt innocent people, civilians. The story left out the part where you trade your people for comfort."
I've had this one on my radar ever since Molly Knox Ostertag blurbed it, and I'm sad to finally be reading it under such atrocious circumstances, but I'm also glad to have a reason to finally get around to it. An unbelievably universal and yet hyper-specific tale. One that dissects empire, confronts propaganda, and asks its audience to notice the wheels of history that we've been trapped in and to stand up and tip over the cart.
I do wish this was a bit longer and we had more fleshing out of this world-building, and/or to have a bit more closure with our main character and her family and culture. It felt like it needed more of a button to end on to really show us the importance of standing up against imperialism, to show how much one group of people can make a change. (Especially because one character is worried that their actions won't make enough difference.)
But the work was lovely and I really enjoyed what it accomplished in its pages. I definitely recommend.
CW: war, blood, racism, violence, amputation, fire...more
a gorgeous meditation on growth, and the difference between telling stories and allowing stories to tell us.
it reminded me quite a bit of On A Sunbeaa gorgeous meditation on growth, and the difference between telling stories and allowing stories to tell us.
it reminded me quite a bit of On A Sunbeam but middle grade. it had gorgeous atmospheric artwork, found family, adventure through unknown and reflective fantastical spaces, and a sapphic love story about two people separated across space and time trying to make their way back to each other.
certainly an ambiguous work, but one that can mold and shape itself to bring different meanings and perspectives to curious and pondering readers.
hot take: we need more graphic novel plots based on metaphor ...more
Shakespeare meets Batman in this hilarious comic book featuring blindingly gorgeous art I could stare at for hours, anachronistic bullshit and utter tShakespeare meets Batman in this hilarious comic book featuring blindingly gorgeous art I could stare at for hours, anachronistic bullshit and utter tomfoolery, and Shakespearean banter galore. Not to mention it’s all in iambic pentameter. NO HOLDS BARD is purely the goofiest thing I’ve read in ages (complementary).
A sugar-sweet cozy autumnal story featuring a family I desperately wish I could be a part of, a diverse cast of characters, and a heart-warming childhA sugar-sweet cozy autumnal story featuring a family I desperately wish I could be a part of, a diverse cast of characters, and a heart-warming childhood friends-to-lovers sapphic romance.
the coziest and sweetest little graphic novel i've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time. overflowing with wholesome autumnal vibes and just the coziest and sweetest little graphic novel i've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time. overflowing with wholesome autumnal vibes and just the cutest little guys you ever did see.
"Monsters... That's what I call them. They live in your head and they're louder than your heart."
I absolutely adore stories about learning to face you"Monsters... That's what I call them. They live in your head and they're louder than your heart."
I absolutely adore stories about learning to face your own monsters and confront the parts of yourself that are scary, and this graphic novel approaches this topic so well!
and omg the artwork is so cute and cozy and woodsy!!! This is definitely going to become a comfort read (though I borrowed this from the library, so I'll have to get my own copy) and will serve as a really nice reminder on those days that my thoughts and fears feel all-consuming.
ALSO IT HAS GUIDED ACTIVITIES AND A RECIPE IN THE BACK?
CW/TW: bullying, death of mother (offscreen, past), grief...more
This is my first introduction to the SU graphic novels, and oh boy, this is just gonna be the beginning!
Containing 4 short stories about nonbinary babThis is my first introduction to the SU graphic novels, and oh boy, this is just gonna be the beginning!
Containing 4 short stories about nonbinary baby birds, sapphic prom dates, food trucks, and ren faires (respectively), this lovely little volume delivers perfect little pockets of this lovable world and its characters. Melanie Gillman effortlessly adds more content to the core heart of Steven Universe, with each chapter feeling like little filler episodes of the beloved series.
Each story, just like each episode of Steven Universe, left me feeling a little more mindful upon completion. I've always said that I love Steven Universe because watching it makes me a better person, and I'm happy to say this book is no different.
I will most definitely be picking up more of these....more
I love lesbians. I love swords. and I love lesbians with swords.
This book worked for me on a surface level. The story was fun, there were a substantiI love lesbians. I love swords. and I love lesbians with swords.
This book worked for me on a surface level. The story was fun, there were a substantial amount of twists, and I enjoyed the balance of romance and political intrigue, with a sprinkle of discussion on mental health. Seriously, if you really want to read about some sapphic queens in an anime-inspired romance with sword fighting and court politics and a little bit of fantasy, it's right here.
Critically, I had a few issues with it. Firstly, this book was delayed a year and a half (I hope everyone who worked on it is okay!) so I had higher hopes for the quality of a book that took so long to complete. The writing was... fine, but nothing to write home about, and the pacing was a little off at times. But I was honestly mostly disappointed by the art. This is by no means a dunk on the artist, in fact, directly the opposite. I was SO excited for the art in this book having just read No Holds Bard, also illustrated by Gabrielle Kari. The art in that book BLEW me away, with complex composition, expressive characters and body language, and overall just a really beautiful and detailed style. So it was disappointing to see that most of the panels in this book contained stiff composition, were weirdly simplistic, and lacked movement and dimension (this doesn't apply to the characters' hair, which was stunning always). The art was still good! Very cute! But not up to the caliber I've seen from this artist.
But this was a lovely story, even if the craft was somewhat lackluster for such a prolonged wait. And I'm truly never going to say no to a story about lesbians and swords.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
CW: anxiety attacks, mental illness, blood, violence, war, gun violence, death, imprisonment, character death, homophobia, poison, death of parents (past)...more
A really fascinating retelling of Romeo and Juliet! I loved the coloring of the artwork and I really thought the choice to do the whole work in iambicA really fascinating retelling of Romeo and Juliet! I loved the coloring of the artwork and I really thought the choice to do the whole work in iambic pentameter was brilliant! It was unfortunately quite difficult to follow at times in terms of visual narrative and it just got too violent for me, which is why I decided to put it down....more
I picked this graphic novel because it seemed like it would give me some Steven Universe vibes, and it most definitely delivered!
Filled with gorgeous I picked this graphic novel because it seemed like it would give me some Steven Universe vibes, and it most definitely delivered!
Filled with gorgeous color work and bold, exciting shapes, Ophiuchus tells the story of a guardian's journey from a lonely life of duty to a world of friendship and heroism. Though simple in plot, the message was clear, and the reading experience was truly a joy.
CW/TW: lesbophobia, religious bigotry, death, death of loved one
A cute love story about how it's never too late to live the life you deserve. The paciCW/TW: lesbophobia, religious bigotry, death, death of loved one
A cute love story about how it's never too late to live the life you deserve. The pacing was... a journey for sure and the dialogue had its moments at best, and the story felt very impersonal for something meant to be so touching, but it was a quick and easy read, and one with a sweet message....more
Thank you so much to Random House and GetUnderlined for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Important note: I don't know wThank you so much to Random House and GetUnderlined for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Important note: I don't know who wrote the blurb... but I'm not sure they read the book, because this is DEFINITIVELY not a romance. Very confused. Very concerned.
For fans of Steven Universe, this wholesome yet insightful graphic novel tells the story of two nonbinary teens who live incredibly different lives across a giant space war.
The characters were so lovable and wonderfully diverse; there wasn't a cishet person in sight, and most of the characters were POC as well. The more cartoon-ish style of the graphic novel (again, reminiscent of SU), especially within the figures, kept the content feeling accessible amid some of the darker or more difficult-to-understand moments.
Some incredibly nuanced and deep topics were brought to light amid the war themes, mostly in regards to the way that civilians and indigenous people are treated as props or disposable casualties. One of the characters also struggled with PTSD and was constantly having to live within survival mode, as the product of a war. Epic sci-fi like this, especially in YA, doesn't tend to bring up these more grounded and realistic conversations about war, and I felt this really set this work apart. However, these topics were introduced and set up in such a way that opened a lot of doors for messages and calls-to-action for the audience, yet seemed to fizzle out, and they weren't utilized to their full potential, especially in the more climactic moments of the book. Certain bits of dialogue actually seemed like it was going to bring these themes to a close, but went unacknowledged, which seemed... odd. A wonderful start, but left me hanging.
I also found this graphic novel to struggle within its own format. The author didn't seem to have a great grasp on the idea of using the panel as a camera lens, and the transitions of scenes or moments of dialogue were often clunky at best. Also, there were major inconsistencies with the speech bubbles and the formatting of their tails, which made it confusing as to who was speaking at times or how we were meant to interpret their speech. It seemed like it just needed a final editing round by someone other than the author.
CW/TW: war & war themes, parental death (offscreen), violence, gun violence, colonization, trauma/PTSD, vehicle accident, medical content (minor), blood, dysphoria (mention), emesis, bullying (brief)...more
Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A fun, spooky read with a diverse ensemble cast! I really enjoyed the arThank you so much to Penguin Teen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A fun, spooky read with a diverse ensemble cast! I really enjoyed the art style, and this this will be a great pick for anyone looking for an easy sapphic witchy story this spooky season.
CW/TW: grief, parental death (both, past), death, fire injury, medical content, demonization of witchcraft, insects, forced kiss...more
I feel like a créme brulee and someone just shattered me with a spoon.
Holy cow what an ending. If you're interested in the concept of a sapphic StranI feel like a créme brulee and someone just shattered me with a spoon.
Holy cow what an ending. If you're interested in the concept of a sapphic Stranger Things but with time travel, check this out. The art is stunning, the plot is so complex and just absolutely mind-blowing (my jaw was constantly on the floor), the characters are so diverse both in their representation and their storylines, and I'm truly just in love. Even the color work is astounding. I might edit this for more thoughts later and like a Full Review but... wow.
TW (total series): blood, f-slur, homophobia, internalized lesbophobia, bullying, death of a grandparent (cancer, past, mention), violence, vomit, alcohol consumption, alcoholism (parental), suicidal thoughts/attempt, gun violence, nonconsensual kiss (brief), death, murder, war, bugs, gore, body horror, fatphobia (a non-fat character calls herself “fat”), terminal illness (cancer- death, both offscreen and onscreen), grief of self, anti-semitism, k-slur, drowning (offscreen death mention, onscreen non-lethal), animal death, internalized, misogyny, r-slur, tense police encounter with potential racial profiling, car accident, fire, death by fire, drug us (mention), vomit, addiction to cigarettes (child), medical content, police violence, police brutality...more
TW (total series): blood, f-slur, homophobia, internalized lesbophobia, bullying, death of a grandparent (cancer, past, mention), violence, vomit, alcohol consumption, alcoholism (parental), suicidal thoughts/attempt, gun violence, nonconsensual kiss (brief), death, murder, war, bugs, gore, body horror, fatphobia (a non-fat character calls herself “fat”), terminal illness (cancer- death, both offscreen and onscreen), grief of self, anti-semitism, k-slur, drowning (offscreen death mention, onscreen non-lethal), animal death, internalized, misogyny, r-slur, tense police encounter with potential racial profiling, car accident, fire, death by fire, drug us (mention), vomit, addiction to cigarettes (child), medical content, police violence, police brutality...more
TW (vol 4): war, tense police encounter with potential racial profiling, car accident, violence, fire, internalized lesbophobia, gun violence, blood, TW (vol 4): war, tense police encounter with potential racial profiling, car accident, violence, fire, internalized lesbophobia, gun violence, blood, gore, death, murder, drug use (mention), vomit, addiction to cigarettes (child), death by fire
TW (total series): blood, f-slur, homophobia, internalized lesbophobia, bullying, death of a grandparent (cancer, past, mention), violence, vomit, alcohol consumption, alcoholism (parental), suicidal thoughts/attempt, gun violence, nonconsensual kiss (brief), death, murder, war, bugs, gore, body horror, fatphobia (a non-fat character calls herself “fat”), terminal illness (cancer- death, both offscreen and onscreen), grief of self, anti-semitism, k-slur, drowning (offscreen death mention, onscreen non-lethal), animal death, internalized, misogyny, r-slur, tense police encounter with potential racial profiling, car accident, fire, death by fire, drug us (mention), vomit, addiction to cigarettes (child), medical content, police violence, police brutality...more
TW (vol 3): antisemitism (k-slur), gore, body horror, blood, death, murder, drowning (offscreen death mention, onscreen noI want so much KJ content!!!
TW (vol 3): antisemitism (k-slur), gore, body horror, blood, death, murder, drowning (offscreen death mention, onscreen non-lethal), animal death, internalized misogyny, use of the r-slur, tense police encounter with potential racial profiling
TW (total series): blood, f-slur, homophobia, internalized lesbophobia, bullying, death of a grandparent (cancer, past, mention), violence, vomit, alcohol consumption, alcoholism (parental), suicidal thoughts/attempt, gun violence, nonconsensual kiss (brief), death, murder, war, bugs, gore, body horror, fatphobia (a non-fat character calls herself “fat”), terminal illness (cancer- death, both offscreen and onscreen), grief of self, anti-semitism, k-slur, drowning (offscreen death mention, onscreen non-lethal), animal death, internalized, misogyny, r-slur, tense police encounter with potential racial profiling, car accident, fire, death by fire, drug us (mention), vomit, addiction to cigarettes (child), medical content, police violence, police brutality...more
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