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readingrobin · 8 months

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Well, this month started out strong, but man I'm gonna need one hell of a break from reading, at least from the pace I've been going. This month saw the end of my summer reading challenge at work and I also participated in the Magical Readathon hosted by Book Roast. Fortunately, I was able to finish my TBR in time on the very last day, but it was close. I have to say, this month had some strong reads, particularly towards the end. It was most likely because I was starting to get into more spooky/horror reads with fall starting to creep closer and I'm all in for the vibes right now.

Total Books Read: 16

Total Pages Read: 4,698

Books Read:

Sing No Evil by J.P. Ahonen and K.P. Alare (3/5) - Sing No Evil's commitment to the metal aesthetic is what makes this comic stand out among other musically influenced graphic novels. I was already familiar with J.P. Ahonen, being a fan of his Belzebubs series, so I knew going in that I would love the art style. The characters are wonderfully expressive and the humor really comes out in their reactions, though my favorite bits are when the band really "gets into the zone" during their performances. There is a polished quality to the art, very clean and neat linework with a down to earth color palette. The colors get you into the mood for a fall read, perfect for the darker undertones of the story.

Speaking of, it almost seems like there are two plots constantly conflicting in the narrative, one about a band that is struggling to find their audience while dealing with issues from their interpersonal relationships, and the other about nefarious cannibalistic monsters brainwashing music lovers through possibly satanic jams. The two rarely meet harmoniously in the middle, with the latter plot only really taking hold until the last third of the comic, which is in desperate need for a weighty climax. I would have loved some more hints of the antagonists spread out throughout the story, just to make it more even.

Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo (3.5/5) - While coated in a constant state of melancholy and near hopelessness, Lee Mandelo's novella is a fascinating take on parasocial relationships and the emotionless nature of scientific study. Sean is a complicated, desperate, and at times unlikable lead, the whole story fueled by her selfish actions and lack of taking accountability. There was never a time where I outright disliked her, though, as I found it easier to pity her as she spirals more and more into loneliness and an odd sense of isolation, despite her connection with the wolf Kate. From the beginning, we see that her relationships are already on the verge of collapsing, as she doesn't have any friendships beyond her work life and her marriage is falling apart at a rapid pace. The link that she has with Kate is the only one she has any semblance of control over and only because she chooses so.

At several points in the story, characters remind Sean that she is neglecting other methods of connection, that everything else in her life is falling by the wayside without any kind of acknowledgment of how others' feel. Riya, her wife, said it best when she says "Sometimes I'm not sure you see anyone else besides yourself as a person." Every action Sean makes is to satisfy an immediate emotional need, even in actions meant to benefit Kate, as her possessiveness of the wolf comes from a false sense of ownership due to their one-sided connection. I enjoy watching messy characters be messy, so Sean's journey was especially interesting to me.

Grounded for All Eternity by Darcy Marks (3/5) - Who knew a ragtag group of kids from Hell could be so dang endearing? The book gives a whole new meaning to "suburban hell," which funny enough ends up looking not too dissimilar from those on Earth.

Mal and his friends are destined for big things. What those things are exactly is a bit cryptic at first, as we don't really get the technicalities until the last third of the book, despite it being written in Mal's voice. It doesn't feel like a grand reveal or like a mystery solved, just information that wasn't given to us earlier. The plotting of events in the story seems chaotic at times, retreading story beats and going down certain paths that don't really circle back to anything. It could have used maybe just one more round of editing to chop off the excess to help with pacing, but it gets back on track fairly quickly.

I'm always down for different interpretations of hellish beings or give a little shake up to any religious mythos. Here we have angels that reside in Hell to secure the evil forces within and protect the balance of reality. They're not demonic, devilish, or evil in any way, they just happen to live where the work is. It's a very middle-grade friendly version of Hell, detailing the various rings and which sins belong to which ring. We only ever see the more residential side, complete with diners, comic book shops, and movie theaters, so no need to worry about kiddies bearing witness to eternal torment before they can crack open some Alighieri.

The story itself is a very fun ride, full of magic and Halloween-type shenanigans as the kids find themselves on Earth, trying to thwart an escapee from the Pit looking to manipulate the people of Salem. It's spooky enough to satisfy anyone looking for an exciting fall read that may not scare their socks off, but will definitely get them in the mood for the season. The cover alone should snatch any passer-by's attention, and really, who can resist a bright red cover with three mischief makers on it?

Twisted Wonderland the Manga Vol. 1: Book of Heartslabyul by Wakuna Hazuki and Sumire Kowono (4/5) - For a manga based on a mobile game, I think the transition between formats has worked incredibly well here. The story is condensed in a way that makes sense for the plot, pacing, and newcomers and the incorporation of a proper main character with his own backstory and personality is actually an improvement on the source material. As someone who loves the game, one of its downsides is how you, the player, interact with the story and the characters. Even though your presence initially is what gets the story going, you almost feel sort of needless as it goes on and everyone talks around you more than to you. Instead, the manga gives Yu more weight and tangibility, which is necessary when going from an interactive game to a physical book that hinges on having personable, engaging leads.

The art is absolutely spot on, to the point where I had to double check whether Yana Toboso was doing it. Sumire Kowono does a wonderful job of matching Toboso's style, while also giving the world a new sort of dimension. It allows us to see these characters be more expressive and dynamic in comparison to their limited character models in the game. I'm really looking forward to seeing certain story beats played out in manga form, now that we can truly see the magic and power of the characters in action.

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta (4/5) - I tend to rush through books in verse, but this is one I really wanted to settle with. Atta has such a rich voice that shines through Michael. You can feel every emotion, each heartbreak, each shining moment of confidence or pride. Even with so little words, every moment leaves an impact. Though I wasn't able to personally relate with the material through its exploration of racial issues or identity, I still found those moments and discussions incredibly valuable and enlightening.

However, what I was able to latch onto was the book's take on a queer experience. Atta portrays Michael's queerness through such a wide spectrum, whether going from being incredibly comfortable to navigating his gender expression and sexuality to fearing coming out to people he's known for years. Atta also captures other aspects of queer identity formation through the supporting characters, like internalized homophobia. I found it refreshing that Michael didn't go through a period of self hatred, but that Atta still approached those feelings through the other characters. It allowed for multiple queer experiences to be shown and validated and illustrated that everyone's journey to understanding themselves often takes different paths.

What word I would ultimately use to describe this book is powerful. Not only in its words and effects, but also what it gives the reader. It instills in them that they are the ones with the power over who they are and how they choose to express it. You have the power to live in a way that's best for you, not for anyone else. There is no power or freedom in compromising who you are for other's acceptance.

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger (4/5) - Darcie Little Badger's writing style has really grown since Elatsoe, going from a simple, but effective structure to something that feels more lyrical, more set into itself. I think I was a little more swept away by this one, as the world building felt more defined. The Reflecting World is such an interesting setting, filled with animal people, monsters, and spirits, some good, some bad, some ambiguous. I think Oli's chapters stood out the most to me because I've always been fascinated by indigenous animal tales. It was neat to see a world inspired by those stories, as well as how it interweaves with the modern world. Nina and Oli's perspectives are balanced quite well, even if it takes quite some time for the two to overlap.

The book gives a great example of the precarious domino effect that climate change sets off, how it only starts with a fluctuation in temperature, then leading to an increase in dangerous storms and the destruction of habitats, which in turn effects the species living therein. It goes to great lengths to show how delicate that cycle is and how disastrous the outcomes can be. Little Badger makes the topic incredibly accessible to readers unfamiliar with the specifics of the issue, as well as ensuring that it doesn't come off too heavy handed.

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson (3/5) - Paranormal girl gangs in fiction have always hit a certain sweet spot with me. It might be the camaraderie, it could be the tendency to use supernatural powers for sweet revenge on those that had wronged them, either way this element made the book all the more entertaining. There were points where I still didn't really buy the friendships between the girls, there were still too many moments of the bullies hanging onto their old ways even after some empathizing character development, but hey, that's just teenagers for you.

The witchy aspects take more of a precedence than the living dead ones as there is some focus on the specifics of rituals, their consequences, all giving off a vibe similar to The Craft. We even have a biker gang full of older witches and really it can't get much better than that. I don't know enough about the Wiccan religion to say if it was an accurate or flattering portrayal, since not all Wiccans define themselves as witches or vice versa, so just take that as you will.

If you've seen a good amount of murder mysteries, you'll probably get the twist right away. At some point it just becomes a process of elimination to figure out who the killer is, and that becomes very simple when the cast itself isn't too large. Still, it didn't detract from the intensity of the reveal or the follow up. In fact, the spiral we see the killer go down was very much 0-60 in nothing flat. At least that does something for the creep factor.

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee (3/5) - I'm not sure if this title hit as hard as some of the other Rick Riordan Presents books. That's to be expected of course, as there are different writers and genres at play here and they're all going to have their own style. This one does something interesting, tying together Korean culture and mythology with a sci-fi setting. Very rarely do I think I see fantastical elements in space, such as ghosts and shapeshifters, but I think it's done well here. It's evenly balanced so you don't have too much of one or too little of another. It's also nice to see a mythology represented that I don't see too often, which is really what this imprint is here for.

Min is an…interesting lead. She goes through the story with few repercussions or consequences, saying that it's unfair for foxes to be treated as liars and manipulators, but has no qualms about using her powers to Charm people. I think these contradictions make sense for a thirteen year old, one that's prone to being somewhat impulsive. But I think things just came a little too easily for her. There were a few too many conveniences that sort of pulled me out of the story and I think the gaining and using the magical macguffin was a little too clean.

Selected Poems of Gwendolyn Brooks by Gwendolyn Brooks (4/5) - I was drawn to this book after reading Brook's memorable, moving piece "To the Young Who Want to Die." It was one that really resonated with me and I wanted to see if he had any more writing that was just as striking. Fortunately, this book contains multitudes.

Brooks' work, at least in this collection, touches on a variety of themes, such as war fatigue, class struggles, racial tensions, womanhood, maturity, etc. I'm not going to lie and say that I understood each poem right off the cuff. Her voice is rich, emotional, and lyrical, something the ear has to be trained for to listen and understand. Some had clear, overt messages and stances, where others deserve a bit more time to study. There is nothing cryptic in what Brooks wants to achieve with her writing, so once you're used to the language you can catch on pretty easily.

I have favorites from all over this collection, like "And if Sun Comes," "The Lovers of the Poor," "Men of Careful Turns, Haters of the Forks in the Road," "The Crazy Woman," "In Emanuel's Nightmare," etc. There is such profound emotion here that each poem feels like a release or a catharsis, a way to unleash pent up feelings while also informing the reader of very real issues and sentiments. Her writing has a down to earth quality, her words not sending you to this heightened plane of beauty and wafting poetics, but simply revealing what has been in front of you the entire time.

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree (3/5) - (Review)

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (4/5)- Listened to the audiobook as a way to remember what happened in the series before I start on the final book. I think I enjoyed it about as much as I did the first time around and that final gut punch at the end was still so effective. There is so much creativity in this series, especially in the world building and characterization of the seraphim and chimera. Taylor's worlds always feel so expansive, even if we remain more on Earth at this point in the series than the more fantastical ones. If anything, I think the romance aspect didn't really do much for me, since it comes on a little too quick, or maybe it was just a case of me zoning out while listening. Either way, still a solid start to an immersive, engaging series.

How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino (4/5) - I have such a range of feelings for this book. While written in a way that might not be so accessible for the modern tween, it's insightful, profound, meaningful, reflective, and ultimately believes the truth of its message. It reads like The Little Prince in so many ways, albeit more domestically, displaying some deep truths in life in a way that resonates with young and old readers. Sure, there are several points where it feels like the characters are just a mouthpiece for the author, especially the uncle, but to read this book knowing the context of the time in which it was written makes it feel a little less overbearing.

Copper's internal journey throughout the book was such a poignant one, reflecting on his place in the world, his connections with others, and how he will ultimately contribute to the world. The benefits of selfless thinking, of being aware of all that we're tied to, and how our actions affect everyone around us are natural themes in coming of age stories, but there's something here that makes them truly resonating. I think it may be the added history of this story being released at a time where free thought in Japan was criminalized, where the military was gaining more and more power. Its intent to inform youth on ethics, philosophy, and self reflection seems innocent and earnest without being patronizing or condescending. It's a book that treats its readers seriously, which feels like a hard to come by quality at times in youth fiction.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson (4.5/5) - This novella was the kind of post climax, settling down sort of fluff that I always love reading, an extended epilogue that sends the main characters beyond what we thought was the final page. It was nice to see the characters reacting to a more personal, domestic sort of conflict, Elisabeth facing it sword first, Nathaniel with his playful wit, and Silas' calm, but sometimes scary dutifulness. There is a more laid back quality to the story, but Rogerson still makes some room for emotion and tugging on some heartstrings. I was a big fan of Silas in Sorcery of Thorns so I was glad to see some more focus on his character, glimpsing into his history with Nathaniel's family and a sort of tragic aspect to his being. He also gets a lot of big laughs, what with his slight snobbery and high butler standards.

At this point, I feel pretty confident that I will eat up anything Margaret Rogerson writes. Her characters are just a joy to read and I can't get enough of them. I think this series so far has ended on a pretty sweet note, so it feels like a continuation it's needed, but I sure as hell would want one if it were in the cards.

Hellaween by Moss Lawton (5/5) -

Mid-2000s Hot Topic core mixed with Halloween goodness is really all I've ever wanted in a graphic novel. Everything about this comic, from the Invader Zim-esque character designs, which are fitting given that the creator has worked on the Zim comics, to the characters that are 50% snark, 50% feral gremlin energy. I love me a trio that all share a collective brain cell that is oftentimes misplaced. Really, I don't think I've been this satisfied by graphic novel in a while in terms of a story just having absolute fun.

If I were to have one critique, I would say that the beginning starts on a somewhat shaky note. Gwen seems to have met her monster friends before this story takes place and each time they reference their first meeting I felt a little lost, wondering if there was a piece of the story I was missing out on there. Fortunately that feeling doesn't stick around too long as shenanigans ensue immediately.

Also, having a nonbinary werewolf main character is definitely a good way to get me to put an instant five stars on anything.

Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman (5/5) -

I had such a unique experience while reading this book. I felt totally engrossed within the mind of Sol Katz, a trans vampire archivist in their 40s constantly finding himself at odds with the world around him. Whether it's through the transphobic remarks made by his coworker or the lack of accommodation he faces at work, society has a way of making him feel out of place. I loved the framing of vampirism as a chronic illness, something that Sol didn't choose to happen to him yet it's something he has to plan his entire life around. It grounds the book from being an overt monster fantasy, leaning more towards focusing on someone just trying to make living work for them.

It's definitely more of a character-driven story, as the plot slowly unfurls in the background until maybe the last fifty pages. Going into the direction of a haunted archive seems like a natural route to go down, but the way in which Fellman does it feels so creative and emotionally investing.

I don't think it's a book that's going to work for everyone. It goes into topics like the process of archiving, fanfiction culture, gender journeys, all topics that can be so personal. I was able to relate to so much of it, so that's probably why I'm giving it such a high rating. There's a sort of lugubrious, cerebral tone throughout the book that makes it seem slower than it really is, but that's another quality that really endears me to it. The book makes you feel like you're just watching someone's life, it's not spectacular or particularly revolutionary, but it's their's. Though it has its differences, Sol's life shares the same goals as most of ours: find purpose, sense of self, love, fulfillment, belonging, etc.

Lockwood and Co.: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud (4/5) -

Jonathan Stroud built such a robust, engaging world with Lockwood and Co. It can be eerie, unsettling, and dangerous, where the dead stalk the night and range from being just an uncomfortable nuisance to full on murderous. Having only children being able to see ghosts gives our main characters a good amount of power and agency in the story, though Stroud is good about not painting all adults as pathetically useless. I was a bit confused a bit as to when this story takes place, as it has a sort of timeless quality, but does mention a few modern things here and there. It kind of falls in the same place as A Series of Unfortunate Events at times, where the time period is generally whatever it wants to be.

The writing is effectively creepy at points, giving a good introduction to horror to younger readers looking for a bit of chill. I don't think it's too much for a middle schooler, but that's coming from an adult that was watching things at that time that they probably shouldn't have. Still, it's a great ghost story that leads our characters into pretty precarious situations.

As always, what would a middle grade fantasy series be without a core trio. I liked Lucy's clear, empathetic voice as she narrates the story, with the charismatic Lockwood and persnickety George at her side. There's a bit of casual fatphobia with the way George is described at times, which is a bit of a downside. They bounce off another fairly well, though, and at least have a entertaining dynamic.

Average Rating: 3.81/5

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