Book Review: Lore Olympus Vol. 4

Title: Lore Olympus: Vol. 4

Author: Rachel Smythe

Series/Standalone: Lore Olympus (Volume 4)

Genre: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Mythology

Pages: 416

Publisher: Random House Worlds

Year Published: 2023

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"The rumor mill of Olympus is constantly churning, but Persephone and Hades are all anyone can talk about. With the constant gossip creating intense pressure on the pair, they decided to slow down their budding romance and focus on sorting out their own issues first.

But that's easier said than done.

Hades struggles to find support in his personal life, with Zeus trivializing his feelings and Minthe resorting to abusive patterns in their relationship. And while Hades tries to create healthier boundaries where he can-- likely finally putting a stop to his sporadic, revenge-fueled hookups with Hera- he still feels lonely and adrift.

Persephone feels equally ostracized as her classmates shut her for her connection to Hades, and she can find no refuge at home, with Apollo constantly dropping by unannounced and pushing his unwelcome advances. And on top of it all, the wrathful god of war, Ares, has returned to Olympus to dredge up his sordid history with the goddess of spring, threatening to surface Persephone's dark and mysterious past and ruin her tenuous position in the land of the gods.

Despite agreeing to take it slow, Persephone and Hades find themselves inextricably drawn toward each other once more amid the chaos. The pull of fate cannot be denied."

My Rating: 5/5

I have loved reading these physical copies of the Webtoon original comics. The art, the way the story is told, the setting of Olympus as a modern space while the mortal realm is still in traditional god-themed times. I can't wait to continue the series. 

Thanks for reading

Sidny

Review: The Moth Keeper by Kay O'Neill

Title: The Moth Keeper

Author: Kay O'Neill

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Fantasy

Pages: 265

Publisher: Random House Graphic

Year Published: 2023

Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)

"Being a Moth Keeper is a huge responsibility and a great honor, but what happens when the new Moth Keeper decides to take a break from the moon and see the sun for the first time? A middle-grade fantasy graphic novel about passion, duty, and found family.

Anya is finally a Moth Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year. her village needs the flower to continue thriving and Anya is excited to prove her worth and show her thanks to her friends with her actions, but what happens when being a Moth Keeper isn't exactly what Anya thought it would be?

The nights are cold in the desert and the lunar moths live far from the village. Anya finds herself isolated and lonely. Despite Anya's dedication, she wonders what it would be like to live in the sun. Her thoughts turn into an obsession, and when Anya takes a chance to stay up during the day to feel the sun's warmth, her village and the lunar moths are left to deal with the consequences..."

My Rating: 4/5

When I put a hold on this via the library I thought that it was just a picture book and so I thought it would be perfect for the kids I work with who are obsessed with catching bugs. Imagine my surprise when I got this sweet little graphic novel with just the most adorable art style. For who it's aimed for and what it is it is such a sweet little read. I would recommend to someone in the middle-grade age range. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny 

Review: Witchlight by Jessi Zabarsky

Title: Witchlight

Author: Jessi Zabarsky

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Middle-grade, Graphic Novel, LGBT

Pages: 208

Publisher: Random House Graphic

Year Published: 2016

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Jessi Zabarsky's lushly illustrated shoujo-adventure comic that introduces Lelek the witch as she blows through town one day, kidnapping the peasant girl Sanja. The unlikely pair grow more entangled as they travel together, looking for the missing half of Lelek's soul- the source of her true magical abilities. Both women are seeking to learn, in their own ways, how to be whole again. This book collects the serialized story all into a single-volume, including the heart-griping conclusion and other all-new material."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This graphic novel was so sweet, and a quick cute read to enjoy. That being said, it was in the Young Adult section of my library and I would argue that this book could be considered middle grade, there is no real violence, or anything romantic that a 12-year-old couldn't have handled. It also just wasn't too fleshed out or complex to follow. Not that it's a bad thing, but for me, this book was just ok. I would recommend it to younger teens or middle-grade teens who are into graphic novels that include a romantic interest.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny