Title: Outer Aspects of Inner Attitudes
Author: Rick Remender
Artists: Greg Tocchini, Dave McCaig
Series/Standalone: Low Series (Volume #4)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction
Pages: 136
Publisher: Image Comics
Year Published: 2017
Format: Paperback (Library Copy)
"War is brewing in the deepest oceans, as the last two aquatic civilizations on earth gear up for a final, apocalyptic conflict. The surviving members of the Caine family must band together what few brave souls still carry hope for a better future in their hearts, and fight to preserve what's left of their own humanity before all is washed away in a torrent of fire and blood."
My Rating: 2.5/5
I found that this instalment was rushed and disappointing. It is definitely the last instalment in the series. It wasn't good overall. I think that the ideas presented in the series were interesting (the idea of hope as a religion), thinking about whether it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. I also really appreciated how the story is a little open-ended so you yourself can have hope.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: On the Come Up
Author: Angie Thomas
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Pages: 447
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Year Published: 2019
Format: Audiobook
"Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighbourhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri's got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri's life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer wants to make it- she has to make it.
On the Come Up is Angie Thomas's homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and now who everyone expects you to be, and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families."
My Rating: 4/5
I think that Angie Thomas has this amazing talent for making relatable characters. Characters that you can't help but love. This is a story that is important for everyone to read and to understand. So many people who haven't been in these situations don't understand. You can't just stop being in these situations, there are things that happen in life that keep people where they are, it's a system that holds onto people. I can't fully understand either as I never lived these situations but I do think that this book helped me better see other perspectives of life. The only reason that this standalone got 4/5 and not 5/5 is that the writing style just wasn't my favourite, that being said I will continue to read works by Angie Thomas.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Two Boys, Five Girls, and Three Love Stories
Author: Jeremy Whitley
Artists: Rosy Higgins, Ted Brandt, Sorah Sungh, Nicki Andrews, Bill Blankenship
Series/Standalone: Raven the Pirate Princess
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, Pirates
Pages: 128
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment
Year Published: 2017
Format: Paperback (Library Copy)
"After the confrontation at The Island of the Free Woman, Raven's crew is worse for wear and one their number is on the edge of death. But somewhere nearby is an island where a legendary woman can heal any ills. Can Raven and her crew get there in time and will this woman even help a crew of pirates?"
My Rating: 4.5/5
This instalment helped us to better understand the world and what is capable within it. I also enjoyed the developing relationship and hearing backstories of some of our main characters. I loved that we got to know more especially about Sunshine. I'm curious to see where the plot will go now that we know some of the other characters true feelings for each other. I'm excited to read the next instalment.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: One Dark Throne
Author: Kendare Blake
Series/Standalone: Three Dark Crowns Series (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2017
Format: Audiobook
"The battle for the Crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?
With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before- ones that put those around her in danger she can't seem to prevent.
In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake's New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fernbirn's deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other."
My Rating: 4.5/5
This book was the sequel we deserve. This series is so well done. The world-building is phenomenal and it seems that in the third book we get to explore the neighbouring mainland. I can hardly wait to see how different characters are viewed there versus how they are viewed on the island. The character development was also amazing. The relationships between the sisters and their respected houses are ever-changing. There were some hard-hitting changes of alliances which were unexpected. I will warn anyone interested in this series there is some action but overall this is a political drama.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 306
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2015
Format: Audiobook
"My disease is as rare as it is famous. It's a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but basically, I'm allergic to the world. I don't leave my house, have not left my house in fifteen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives. New next door neighbors. I look out the window, and I see him. He's tall, lean and wearing all black- black t-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. I want to learn everything about him, and I do. I learn that he is funny and fierce. I learn that his eyes are Atlantic Ocean- blue and that his vice is stealing silverware. I learn that when I talk to him, my whole world opens up, and I feel myself start to change- starting to want things. To want out of my bubble. To want everything, everything the world has to offer.
Maybe we can't predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It's almost certainly going to be a disaster."
My Rating: 2.5/5
Again, I'm behind the curve. When I started to watch booktube, everyone was raving about Nicola Yoon's romances and her stories. I'd love to say that I was on board with everything that happened in this novel, but I just wasn't. I assumed how it was going to end about a quarter of the way through. I also found that the characters were lack luster and at some points different just to be different. I'm just not a fan of the writing style either. I just found that it was over the top in every romantic scene.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Three Dark Crowns
Author: Kendare Blake
Series/Standalone: Three Dark Crowns (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 403
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2016
Format: Audiobook
"When kingdom come, there will be one.
In every generation on the island of Fernbirn, a set of triplets is born- three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.
But becoming the Queen Crowned isn't solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it's not just a game of win or lose... it's life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown."
My Rating: 5/5
I was unsure of whether this book would truly draw my interest. I had heard some people say that the plotline and the action were slow. That being said this book is filled with political intrigue and world-building. It's done in a way that is interesting and entertaining for the reader without dumping things on them all at once. I will say that I'm very interested in the world and what will happen to the queens. I'm deeply invested in the characters. and the world at this point. I'm extremely curious about the past of the islands and the mainland.
I would also recommend the audiobook. It helps to keep track of the different perspectives and different areas in which the story takes place.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Free Women
Author: Jeremy Whitley
Artists: Rosy Higgins, and Ted Brandt
Series/Standalone: Raven the Pirate Princess (Vol. 2)
Genre: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT
Pages: 128
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment
Year Published: 2016
Format: Paperback (Library Copy)
"Raven and her crew cast off to the high seas and the adventure of their lives. But before they can take on Raven's brothers they'll have to learn where they are and what's happened since Raven was locked away. So they're headed back to Raven's ancestral home island, The Island of Free Women. It's swamped with every kind of thief, assassin, and despot. Can Raven's crew face their first challenge? Can they even handle being cooped up in the same ship together?"
My Rating: 4.5/5
I'm loving that this series is doing so many things for women. It talks about sexuality and the need for equal rights in all employment but in a way that's ridiculously fun. I also think that there is just a wonderful cast of characters that I can't wait to read more about. Slowly but surely we are learning about each person's strengths and weaknesses. It's been interesting and fun. The references to our time period have been given the grateful nod and I can't wait to continue laughing with the characters in the next instalment. That being said this volume contained some really intense drama, so maybe the next one will rattle other emotions as I read it.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Finale
Author: Stephanie Garber
Series/Standalone: Caraval Trilogy (Book #3)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 478
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Year Published: 2019
Format: Audiobook
"A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.
It's been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne of his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn't really exist.
With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she's going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.
Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time- only those who will win, and those who will lose everything."
My Rating: 2/5
This instalment just isn't what I hoped at all from the series. I found myself bored at some points and rolling my eyes at others. I know that the author was trying to set up love triangles and set out different options for both main characters, but this story did nothing for me. It was long and drawn out. The fates were not as present as I had hoped and other villains were just ok. Overall I would say to just stick with Caraval and that would likely be enough for some people interested in the storyline.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Captain Raven and the All-Girl Pirate Crew
Author: Jeremy Whitley
Illustrators: Rosy Higgins and Ted Brandt
Series/Standalone: Raven: the Pirate Princess (Book #1)
Genre: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT
Pages: 128
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment
Year Published: 2016
Format: Paperback Copy (Library)
"Raven is ready to set out on her quest for revenge against her brothers. They've stolen everything that should be hers and now she's going to get it back. But first, she needs a crew. Share the laughs, action and adventures as Raven assembles the fearless crew of awesome ladies who will help her get her revenge."
My Rating: 5/5
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a perfect mix of nerd references and girl power. Everything that I really loved about Lumberjanes at the start of the series. I also really enjoyed the aspect of LGBT that might be present later on in the series. I think it is interesting to see the flashbacks of Raven's memories and see how things changed. I also wonder about what the brothers said to the father about the need to lock her up. I'm curious to see where the stories go and how the stories intertwine.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
