So I read The Cask of Amontillado when I was younger and decided Poe was a genius! So when I saw a full length book based on the concept I was thrilleSo I read The Cask of Amontillado when I was younger and decided Poe was a genius! So when I saw a full length book based on the concept I was thrilled. And I mostly enjoyed it too!! But... Poe really had it right the first time. It was made to be a short story.
This was super interesting even amidst the stupid teens doing extremely stupid things. I even liked the unlikeable characters, but the the ending came and smashed me in the face and, honestly, I didn’t appreciate it. There are going to be lots of people who enjoy this, but I was hoping there would be a couple major changes from the short story to the book. When I realized the changes made weren’t the ones I thought would make the story translate into a full length book, I was disappointed.
While I can’t recommend this book, like I said, there will be plenty of people who will really enjoy it!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Katherine Tegen Books for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion. ...more
So here's my issue, I read for pleasure and manga is a particular favorite of mine due to the frivolity, outrageousness, and fun. This should have beeSo here's my issue, I read for pleasure and manga is a particular favorite of mine due to the frivolity, outrageousness, and fun. This should have been labeled as mainly an educational book rather than manga. I’m sure I would have enjoyed it a lot more. In the description there was just one mention that you could also learn something. That is an incorrect statement as it seems the main focus is educating people about animals.
The characters are not developed, there is no plot other than make new creatures in some sort of contest with no consequences. Nothing comes of the any of the activity other than an excuse to go into detail about an animal. This is literally a manga styled encyclopedia. Which would be fine if I had known that going in. I was waiting for the hilarity to unfold, but that never happened.
The art was good and there were a couple zingers in there, but I was still irritated. I feel like I did when my parents tried to hide veggies in other foods to try and trick me into eating it. Don’t hide that it’s entirely educational with a little humor thrown in. This would have been better for me had I known what I was getting into. It would be more aptly named Heaven’s Design Encyclopedia. I’m sure many other people will dig this, I just couldn’t get into it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kondasha Comics for allowing me to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
I’ll premise my review with the fact that I love post apocalyptic stories, and/or zombie books, and/or kill or be killed series. So I might be a littlI’ll premise my review with the fact that I love post apocalyptic stories, and/or zombie books, and/or kill or be killed series. So I might be a little biased when I say, this was totally awesome!! The art drew me in from the start and I’m so psyched it did!!!! The art throughout the whole volume was just as great as the cover. The details and vibrancy kept me hooked enough that it might have been enough to carry the volume without any words!!! And I feel like that’s saying something.
The content was also great though!! We don’t know the characters very well yet, which is expected this early on, but I’m already totally interested in these kids, this world!! I’m also pretty happy because this was also super funny. Like in a sarcastic, kinda vulgar and crude, but hilarious anyway type of thing.
I totally recommend this to post apocalyptic graphic novel lovers and those who enjoy a good zombie type story. Not that these are zombies, but same premise. Don’t let them get you!!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for allowing me to reading this for my honest and unbiased opinion!!
So I should mention, I have never listened to a romance novel with more explicit scenes being read aloud. And for some reason, it really struck me as So I should mention, I have never listened to a romance novel with more explicit scenes being read aloud. And for some reason, it really struck me as funny. But I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was just interesting to listen to them talk about what they were doing, trying to sound sultry I suppose. I'll just say, listening to it was humorous, watching it would probably be much less so...
I did have one tiny issue, I wasn't a huge fan of the voice of Lillian. In the book, she was described to have a soft southern accent, but the narrator actually had a, kinda, southern accent that seemed to cut in and out. Not a huge deal, but still a little eyebrow raising at times.
The story jumps right in and I was hooked. Did not realize there was a decent amount of violence and action, but was pleasantly surprised. More so by the action and not the violence. Ya know. But then it just keeps on popping from one exciting thing to the next. One of my favorite, if not the favorite, part was when (view spoiler)[ Gabe has just killed multiple people to rescue Lillian and he stands up and says something to the effect of, I want you so bad that as soon as we aren't surrounded by a bunch of dead bodies and carnage, I am going to ravage you. (hide spoiler)] It just cracks me up!!!
The romance was fun and interesting. There was never a dull moment and it was so short that I couldn't help but really like it. I recommend this to romance lovers who love a good alpha male.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Spectrum Audio for allowing me to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion!
When I decided to read this graphic novel, I didn’t really know what to expect. But!!! I’m sooo sooo glad I did pick this up because it was sooo greatWhen I decided to read this graphic novel, I didn’t really know what to expect. But!!! I’m sooo sooo glad I did pick this up because it was sooo great. Also, the art!!!! It was absolutely gorgeous and vivid and just awesome. And the amount of heart in this just turns me to mush!!!
While it is very short, there’s just more bang for your buck! The story is very well done and I fell in love with the sisters so quickly!! They were just too cute not to adore!! The mystery really grabs you and won’t let go until you find out what’s going to happen.
I also love that this doesn’t have a huge cliffhanger at the end. It can definitely be read as a stand-alone, but I’m obviously waiting on the edge of my seat for the next installment!!
Just watch out for that ending. Probably should have tissues nearby... at least I needed tissues... I recommend this one to those who adore heartfelt family stories. And beautiful pictures!! All color!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Europe Comics for allowing me to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion!!!
I had high hopes for this one because I thought the plot seemed intriguing and the cover is just too fun!!! But... there were parts of this that tickeI had high hopes for this one because I thought the plot seemed intriguing and the cover is just too fun!!! But... there were parts of this that ticked me off so much that I had to stop and do something else to calm down. I’d say up to about 70%, give or take, it was a five star read for me!! I love quirky Kira, her nicknames are awesome, definitely stealing a couple of those!! But then that last 30% tanked for me and I was super irritated about what was going on.
(view spoiler)[ Kira and Barclay were super adorbs together at first and I just loved his serious badgerness against her quirky craziness. Don’t get me wrong, I think this chick is nuts. But I totally started to dig it and was just bursting laughing constantly. Then Barclay started to cut Kira down, control her, and verbally and mentally abuse her.
There is unfortunately no other word for his behavior. He, and his old codger of a dad abused Kira and then said, oh sorry, guess we’re wrong about you, forgive us for what we would believe to be totally okay behavior had you turned out to be as flighty as we accused you of being... His dad at least only did it once. Barclay did it almost constantly. The most terrifying abusers are the ones who don’t even consider what they’ve done to be abuse. I don’t forgive him and I’m irritated that Kira does. After he’s already had to ask her to forgive him for doing the exact same thing.
I’m going to ignore the end even happened and imagine her perfectly lovely life with someone who really won’t judge her and when she tell him she’ll try to behave for the camera, he says, baby, you be you because that’s who I’m in love with. Not think, yeah right. (hide spoiler)] I know I should just get over it because everything seems fine in the end but,... that’s how situations like this usually look like from the outside. Just saying.
I’m probably in the minority, but I don’t recommend this one. I love the writing and this definitely had some great humor, but I can’t get past the chauvinistic behavior. I would, however, be interested in see what else Tate has written.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.
This was really great!! It was such an awesome premise that I was entertained from the first page. While Signal was not my favorite character by any mThis was really great!! It was such an awesome premise that I was entertained from the first page. While Signal was not my favorite character by any means, I was still into her story. I also was a little annoyed with her name for some reason and kept hearing Sigil in my mind instead of Signal. ...more
I rarely, I mean rarely rate something one star. But this was just awful. It was crude, obscene, violent just to be violent, and I’m a bit irritated tI rarely, I mean rarely rate something one star. But this was just awful. It was crude, obscene, violent just to be violent, and I’m a bit irritated that it compares itself to Tales from the Crypt and other amazing stories. Those stories all had something in common that they had a lesson to learn, even when the evildoers didn’t get “punished” for their actions. But there didn’t seem to be any point to this.
This just seemed like an excuse to throw together a bunch of gross stories under the same cover. The only story that was worthwhile was the last one, but by that point, I was already completely over the whole disgusting thing. I’m talking, intimate scenes with animals, this dude eating aliens, and all kinds of stuff that I don’t really want to get into. I can take a good amount of violence and grossness, but hot dang, this was just uggghhhh!!!!
Sometimes the art can save even a bad story from being a one star read, but this isn’t one of them!! I was sorely disappointed in most of the art save for a few parts, including the last story, however, as I mentioned, I was so disgusted with the rest of it that the one story didn’t save the book. So as much as I hate to do this, it’s a one star read. I cannot recommend this and in fact recommend you stay away.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
This was such a good book!! I’ll admit, I had to take a star off because Astra was driving me nuts for a minute there. I mean it’s one of those thingsThis was such a good book!! I’ll admit, I had to take a star off because Astra was driving me nuts for a minute there. I mean it’s one of those things where you’re yelling at the book because the main character doesn’t see the blatantly obvious truths before her. She is even told the truth multiple times but it just isn’t clicking. ...more
I knew this was going to be creepy cause I kept getting freaked out by the cover. And it was, but dang, it was also gory, gross, super violent, and a I knew this was going to be creepy cause I kept getting freaked out by the cover. And it was, but dang, it was also gory, gross, super violent, and a bit weird. Not a bad thing! I took a star off because it was slow for a hot second there when I started wondering where things were going.
The story itself was really more of a three star read, but the art was super good! Especially the pictures between each chapter. Stuff of nightmares really. The blood and violence was super intense at times and had me cringing and hissing through my teeth.
So I enjoyed it a lot, but I’m also into dark reads. I would only recommend this to those who don’t shy away from the darkest of books and pictures. There are no happy moments here. And some of these pictures are intense and scary. Don’t stare for too long or a bloody hand might reach out and grab you!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Hill House Comics for allowing me to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
Let’s face it, the cover pulled me in because... well, old ladies and a huge monster?!?! Sign me up!!! And I do not regret reading this one bit!! In fLet’s face it, the cover pulled me in because... well, old ladies and a huge monster?!?! Sign me up!!! And I do not regret reading this one bit!! In fact, I loved it! The characters were hilarious, the bad guy was gross, and the storyline was just too entertaining!
Our main character, Lottie, is honestly just the shit. She’s old, but that doesn’t stop her from having the most awesome hair and from being totally badass. Her personality is just the best though. She’s snarky, independent, smart, and funny as hell. Actually, I burst out laughing frequently. The side characters are also fun and include a pain in the butt fae who likes to point out everything that’s going wrong. He just cracks me up!!
I cannot wait for there to be more volumes of Ash and Thorn. There was lots of action and fun in this and I hope we can expect more to come!! This is definitely a graphic novel that I recommend to those who are interested in hilarious stories about saving the world. Or also Golden Girls, cause Lottie is like a Golden Girl who can kick some serious butt. And I totally support that!!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ahoy Comics for allowing me to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion. ...more
This was a really good haunted house story!! And I don’t know about you, but I really love a haunted house story that is well done. And for being so sThis was a really good haunted house story!! And I don’t know about you, but I really love a haunted house story that is well done. And for being so short, James and Beatrix are fairly well developed. I also adored Amanda, she was most likely my favorite character of all. Haz also added a bit of fun even though he wasn’t very developed.
To be honest, I don’t get very scared by ghost stories because I just don’t believe in ghosts. But I still enjoy a book that can make them seem real enough to give me chills up my spine. This was definitely enough to give me those chills and make me imagine that ghosts could possibly be real. I should probably note that I didn’t just read Episode 1. I read the whole book and I’m pretty sure if you start this one, you won’t be able to stop at just Episode 1.
It drew me in very quickly and was very intrigued by Beatrix and her firm belief that ghosts don’t exist even though her profession is firmly based on the assumption that they do. Either way, if ghosts are real or not, this book was very good. Short enough to devour quickly and if you like ghost stories, especially ones about haunted houses, then this is for you!!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Serial Box for letting me read this for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
I read this and then immediately turned around and shared it with my four year old son and he adored it!!! The illustrations were super fun and cute. I read this and then immediately turned around and shared it with my four year old son and he adored it!!! The illustrations were super fun and cute. There was so much activity for him to look at while I read him the story/rhymes.
He has a fuzzy idea of what Thanksgiving is like, but he doesn’t really remember much so I thought it’d be fun to read him a book about it. This shared all the highlights of the preparation, the food, the festivities, and the friends and family you surround yourself with. He and I especially enjoyed reading what everyone was thankful for. He is thankful for dinosaurs in case you are wondering. ...more
I should premise this by saying, I adore The Phantom of the Opera. The book, the musical, the music, and the storyline. So when I saw this, I had to sI should premise this by saying, I adore The Phantom of the Opera. The book, the musical, the music, and the storyline. So when I saw this, I had to start reading it immediately. And then devoured it as fast as I could. The art is so gothic and amazing that it really brought a different feeling to the story. And that feeling was even darker and more morose than the book/musical, but I loved it!!
The Phantom/Ghost is especially a wonderful character and I so felt for him. I also felt like Christine had a new level of humanity and feeling, which added to her character. It’s extremely concise but still holds the story quite well. But seriously, I’ve got to compliment the drawings again because they were just so vivid and the Phantom looked so amazing. I very much liked this version of him although he is not usually so grotesque.
If you like The Phantom of the Opera at all or if you were ever interested in reading it, but worried it was too long or too much, do yourself a favor and pick up this graphic novel. It does well to uphold the feel and story of the book, but also brings its own characteristics to be admired.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and A Wave Blue World Inc for allowing me to read this graphic novel for my honest and unbiased opinion. ...more
I cannot believe I’m rating a Maggie Stiefvater book two and a half stars. I just excepted more. The Art was really good, the plant life especially. TI cannot believe I’m rating a Maggie Stiefvater book two and a half stars. I just excepted more. The Art was really good, the plant life especially. The details were great. The story wasn’t terrible either, but I was expecting so much more. I was actually bored for almost the entire first half of the. Nothing exciting happened, well ever, but I was only mildly interested in the last half. .
I even liked the love interest and the dogs were pretty creepy, but I felt like that could have been condensed into 100 pages and been more concise and interesting. Ugh!!!!
I guess what I’m saying is that it wasn’t for me. It just fell flat when I really, really wanted this to be the best graphic novel. While I can’t recommend this myself, my advice is, if you’re going to read it, don’t expect it to be awesomeness.
Thank you to NetGalley and DC Comics for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion. ...more
Omg!!!!! The next in the series is going to be released soon!!!! If you haven’t read this, you need to stat!!!
This deserves all the stars in the galaOmg!!!!! The next in the series is going to be released soon!!!! If you haven’t read this, you need to stat!!!
This deserves all the stars in the galaxy! All!!!!! I started reading it and couldn’t stop. Every moment between work, children, and the few hours of sleep (that I was forced to take because my kindle died!!!!) I was devouring this book. It is by far, the most magical book I’ve read this year. That’s saying a lot because I’ve read a couple others that were really wonderful.
I fell immediately in love with Mathilda and Agnes and their friendship. The rest of the story tumbled out so gracefully that it was easy to lose track of time. The world they live in is reminiscent that the Grimm brothers and so many lovely fairytales built; which took me straight back to my childhood. The North woods especially was my favorite. How can you not adore a forest filled with magic, witches, and fairy rings?! I mean, besides the lost children and whatnot... ...more
Oh my loveliness!!!! I have read many books regarding the Holocaust, but never a children’s book. A handful of middle and young adult books, but neverOh my loveliness!!!! I have read many books regarding the Holocaust, but never a children’s book. A handful of middle and young adult books, but never one for small children. This was based on a true story and I was unsure what to expect. This audiobook has, by far, surpassed my wildest expectations!! It was so heartfelt, yet gentle while still remaining very knowledgeable and true.
Having two small children myself, I believe you have to be careful when you discuss tragedies with them. They understand more than you think, but you also don’t want to terrify them into thinking humanity is a lost cause. This story gracefully glides along that line and provides a wonderful story that a child of any age will adore! I love it and I am well into adulthood, I think…
I recommend this, honestly, to everyone. Having listened to the audiobook rather than look at the picture book, I cannot attest to the pictures, but if they’re even a fraction as good as the cover, I would still recommend this to all. It spans the ages between pregnancy to the grave. If you’ve read all about the Holocaust, this is a good book to read as a spot of hope in the darkness of those tragic times. If you’ve never read anything about the Holocaust, this is a good place to start. What are you waiting for? Go read this book! It’ll be good for your soul!!!
Thank you so so very much to NetGalley, Lerner Audiobooks, and the publisher for providing with a copy of this magical audiobook for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
I chose this book because I’m always fascinated when I get to read other accounts of first generation Asians in the US. I feel that many things were aI chose this book because I’m always fascinated when I get to read other accounts of first generation Asians in the US. I feel that many things were awkward and definitely socially difficult growing up because my mom couldn’t teach me certain things and reading of others makes me feel a little less alone. But I digress, because this ain’t that story.
Ivy started off as this pitifully lonely child that I could totally relate to, but then she basically became a cold and unfeeling thing and never looked back. Reading her story was like watching a car accident. I wanted to look away because it was just terrible, but I couldn’t bring myself to look away because I just had to know… what was going to happen.
(view spoiler)[ I kept thinking that as Ivy grew older and found out who she wanted to be, she would also decide to be a good person. That never happened and honestly, I’m glad it didn’t. This was absolutely fascinating and I can’t imagine it would be quite so entertaining had Ivy not been the ice queen that she is. (hide spoiler)]
I can’t say that this is my favorite book, but it sure was entertaining and hard to put down. The writing was mesmerizing and kept me interested the whole time. This book is still haunting me a week after I finished it. I just keep shaking my head and saying, I did not see that coming. I recommend this book as something interesting that was unexpected.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion....more
I didn’t have to debate too long on how many stars I want to give this read. It’s actually 2 1/2 stars rounded up. I just didn’t get into this one forI didn’t have to debate too long on how many stars I want to give this read. It’s actually 2 1/2 stars rounded up. I just didn’t get into this one for some reason. I didn’t care about the characters at all. And when the one interesting moment started happening, it stopped short and never resumed. The whole thing felt pretty meh to me.
I also wasn’t fond of Soraya. She was too pliable and bent easily to think what others thought. So she didn’t have like a solid personality. And when her moment came to be the heroine, it was just really flat. I didn’t even hate those who were supposed to be enemies. Parvaneh was interesting, but Soraya seemed to suck up all her good energy and then meh.
The emotions were just lacking in this one, which is pretty disappointing considering it’s got such a beautiful cover!!! I know, don’t just a book by its cover and all... but it’s so pretty. ...more
This overall was a really good group of short stories. Of course with every book of short stories you’re bound to like some and also to dislike some. This overall was a really good group of short stories. Of course with every book of short stories you’re bound to like some and also to dislike some. For the purposes of this book, I have the following rating system: Hate (1), Dislike (3), Meh (7), Like (6), and Love (7).
I’m not going to go into detail for each story, but I will mention that the one I hate it’s News First and while I’m up for some good ole fashioned gore and nastiness, but damn. This story went there and beyond. It hit a little too close to home with the shooting then it took it too far. I hated it so much that I almost couldn’t take it.
The stories I absolutely love are The Hole, The Fine Print, Left Behind, Counting on It, No Service, The Feeling is Back, and Left Unfinished. Each one of these had a quality that was either creepy, scary, or had harsh justice that I can really get behind. Sometimes I didn’t see the ending coming and other times I was giggling with joy at the karma of it all. So while I really, really, REALLY hated the one story, there were too many that I liked or loved to say it was anything below four stars.
So while I totally do recommend this, watch out, when the description says violence, they mean it!! If you’re not into the blood and gore, definitely skip News First and be cautious when reading the rest. But enjoy!!!!
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Vincere Press, and Mark Tullius for a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion. ...more
Loading...
