Book Review: Rock Jaw Master of the Eastern Border by Jeff Smith

Title: Rock Jaw Master of the Easter Border

Author: Jeff Smith

Series/Standalone: Bone Series (Volume 5)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 116

Publisher: Graphix

Year Published: 1998

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Trying to return a rat creature cub to the mountains, Fone & Smiley Bone encounter yet another adversary: the sly and mighty mountain lion, Rock Jaw.

In this fifth volume of the BONE saga, Fone and Smiley Bone strike out into the wilderness to return a lost rat creature cub to the mountains. It doesn't take long before they run smack into Rock Jaw, "Master of the Eastern Border," an enormous mountain lion with a none-too-friendly disposition. Life gets even more complicated when they befriend a group of baby animals who are being orphaned by rat creature attacks. Everything comes to a head in an earth-shattering clash between Rock Jaw and Kingdok, the leader of the rat creatures."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This was not what I expected to read in this next installment. It wasn't what I was hoping for, and while the plot was interesting and we gained some intrigue, I look forward to reading the next volume in the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Heartstopper Vol. 5

Title: Heartstopper Vol. 5

Author: Alice Oseman

Series/Standalone: Heartstopper (Volume 5)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Romance, LGBT, YA

Pages: 336

Publisher: Graphix

Year Published: 2023

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love and everything that happens in between: this is the fifth volume of the much-loved HEARTSTOPPER series.

Nick and Charlie are very much in love. They've finally said those three little words, and Charlie has almost persuaded his mum to let him sleep over at Nick's house.. But with Nick going off to university next year, is everything about to change?"

My Rating: 5/5

Each volume of this series is better than the last. These graphic novels are beautiful coming-of-age stories with a variety of LGBTQ+ characters all on their journey to adulthood. I think that the way the author handles difficult topics (sexual orientation, mental health, and sexual health) is done in a natural and informative way without feeling like a lecture. Looking forward to the finale.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Blood on the Tracks Vol. 5

Title: Blood on the Tracks Volume 5

Author: Shuzo Oshimi

Series/Standalone: Blood on the Tracks (Volume 5)

Genre: Manga, Adult, Horror

Pages: 232

Publisher: Vertical Comics

Year Published: 2019

Format: Paperback (Library)

"Encouraged by Fukiishi to stand up for himself, Seiichi exploded in a moment of rage, telling his mother Seiko, "I don't need you"- the first rebellious act of his young life. Now Fukiishi has offered him sanctuary in her room, hidden from her father and away from the watchful eyes of his own parents. But as Seiichi fumbles towards sexual awakening, his mother's spectre is never far from his mind...

Shuzo Oshimi's masterwork of psychological terror continues, as Seiichi struggles to navigate the tangled web of his competing emotions.

Meanwhile, Seiko's desperate search for her son brings her to Fukiishi's doorstep...."

My Rating: 3/5

This volume was just ok. Still unsettling and uncomfortable... obviously but not in the same way as previous volumes. I will continue on with the series but it just wasn't as good as some of the previous ones that I had read.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Attack on Titan Vol. 5

 

Title: Attack on Titan Vol. 5

Author/Artist(s): Haijime Isayama

Series/Standalone: Attack on Titan (Volume 5)

Genre: Manga, Young Adult, Dystopian

Pages: 192

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Year Published: 2011

Format: Paperback Copy (Library)

"CAN YOU GO HOME AGAIN?

Thanks to Eren, humanity has taken the town of Trost back from the Titans. Exhausted, Eren falls into a coma for three days- and wakes in shackles, staring at Erwin Smith, leader of the Survey Corps. Certain that Eren's father's research holds the key to the mystery of the Titan's rise, Smith wants an expedition to retrieve it from the house where Eren grew up. But that's deep in Titan territory and to get there Eren will need to master a power he still doesn't fully understand."

My Rating: 2.5/5

This one once again seemed to slow down the plot and the storyline. I feel like maybe this manga was put out for so long that I'm going to start to feel a drag with it. I'm considering taking a break if the next few volumes do not pick up the pace. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 5

Title: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 5

Author: James Tynion IV

Artist(s); Werther Dell-Edera

Series/Standalone: Something is Killing the Children Series (Vol. 5)

Genre: Horror, Graphic Novel, Adult

Pages: 144

Publisher: BOOM! Studios

Year Published: 2022 

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Erica Slaughter strikes out on her own in the bestselling, award-winning series!

After a year since we last saw her in Archer's Peak, Erica Slaughter resurfaces to take on the case of a girl who's seen a new kind of monster, one with terrifying implications. But Erica's broken ties with the House of Slaughter and that can have deadly consequences. The Order of St. George does not forget nor do they forgive. Even as Erica goes on the hunt, she must keep an eye out for the mysterious figure on her trail in order to survive the coming storm. Erica Slaughter returns after the ARcher's Peak Saga in this volume of Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated series from GLAAD Award-winning author James Tynion IV, artist Werther Dell'Edera, colorist Miquel Muerto, and the letter AndWorld Design."

My Rating: 5/5

This is my favourite volume so far in this story. I think that the change of setting and the change of characters helped me delve back into the series. I love that we are getting an expansion on what the Order of St. George looks like. How far they are willing to go and how many connections they have. The cliff hanger was what I didn't know I needed. Can't wait to read the next volume!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Imperial Phase, Part 1 by Kieron Gillen

Title: Imperial Phase, Part 1

Author: Kieron Gillen

Artist(s): Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson, Kevin Wada

Series/Standalone: The Wicked + The Divine (Vol. 5) 

Genre: Graphic Novels, Adult

Pages: 200

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"The gods are free to do whatever they want. Inevitably, they do. Collects issues 23- 28 of the series, including the critically lauded Kevin Wada magazine issue."

My Rating: 3.5/5

I thought that after the last volume it would be so quick and easy to jump into this one, but the story in this one just didn't grab my attention the way I wanted it to. And while there were a few twists, they weren't unexpected. I still enjoy the art style and the plot, just hoping the next one is a bit faster-paced.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: The Colossal Magic Nothing by Kurtis J. Wiebe

 Title: The Colossal Magic Nothing

Author(s): Kurtis J. Wiebe

Artist: Owen Gieni

Series/Standalone: Rat Queens Series (Volume 5)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 152

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2018

Format: Paperback Copy (Library Copy)

" Palisade has a new resident: a strange wizard who wants to end the suffering of others. As the Queens disappear one by one, Betty uncovers a terrifying truth that finally reveals the events following Hannah's imprisonment in a magical void."

My Rating: 4/5

This was so much better than the fourth instalment in the series. I found that it touched far more on things that happened in the third volume, so if you're wondering where that storyline goes it does get picked up a bit. That being said, I'm not 100% sure I know what just happened. I think I understand most of the plot points and I enjoyed them, but I don't understand where we are going to go from here. I look forward to finding out and continuing the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny