variansinterests

[variansinterests]

Compound Fracture

by Andrew Joseph White

a review - note I don't do star ratings.

As always, Andrew Joseph White has delivered a book better than the last. I’ll admit, if this wasn’t written by AJW I probably wouldn’t have bought it, the blurb didn’t really speak to me. That said, I loved it and totally recommend it, I’m glad I did read it. This book is brutal, it is a bit fucked up. Not necessarily because of the gore, but because of the circumstances. This is a book about what lengths you’ll go to so you can survive and protect those you love. It’s also a pretty socialist book (explicitly), and that was awesome. I also loved Miles trying to work through what was happening, how they were responding to it all; that its not to hurt the people who hurt them, but to protect themselves and their family. The tension was great, I blew through the last ~100 pages in a day. The fact it was teenagers being killed was a bit hard and questionable, but I think it was handled well enough. The ending was a bit sudden and unexpected, but it didn’t ruin the rest of it. The representation is great and natural. The characters are intriguing, played with my feelings (both in positive and negative) a lot. I especially love Dallas, but Miles is a close second. I loved the development of Miles parents, and (view spoiler) The relationships were compelling. All and all, this was a great read to get me out of a reading slump, and I will definitely recommend you giving it a read.

[variansinterests]

forgot to post this here! i recently got into coloring, here's my first attempt at light and shadows

(coloring book is cozy cuties by cocowyo)

[variansinterests]

there is no disappointment greater than seeing a piece of media with a title that implies it'll be about time travel when it has nothing to do with it

[variansinterests]

time loop where you dont notice after the first 10, 100, 1000 loops, that you are still aging. The people around you note you look tired, you look older, do you have laugh lines, when did those happen? The panic of knowing you only have so long to undo what's been done before your lifespan is spent in a day. The worry and increasing distress from your friends and family as your mother notices a gray hair on what should be her young adult child, the decay of teeth unbrushed because what's the point, nothing changes but you anyways. How did your hair get so long overnight, this shirt just fit you yesterday, what do you mean you can't stand your favorite cereal anymore? What happened to you?

good lord.

[variansinterests]

The Girl from the Sea

by Molly Knox Ostertag

a review - note I don’t do star ratings.

Another short (took about an hour) graphic novel read! The art is absolutely beautiful, I found myself pausing to admire it a few times.

The story starts quickly, and I’m immediately engaged. The two main characters are both compelling, and while I feel the romance is a bit quick, it’s still compelling and I enjoyed it. I’d happily read more.

The themes of this books were wonderful - which I won’t spoil. The ending is a little bittersweet, but not overly.

I am used to novels, so I’ll say the different medium of graphic novels does make it harder for me to separate issues with a books vs just how the genre is; that is quick pacing and time skips, which mean I wasn’t with the characters or plot for long or in much detailed manner compared to novels. Ive noticed this in all 3 GNs I’ve read recently, so I’m going with that it’s a genre thing. It was still enjoyable either way.

If you’re into graphic novels, lesbians, and selkies, this would be good for you!

[variansinterests]

Becoming Who We Are: Real Stories About Growing Up Trans

edited by Sammy Lisel and Hazel Newlevant

a short review - note that I don’t do star ratings.

This is a graphic novel anthology, showcasing the stories of 9 real people realizing they’re transgender and who they grew up to be. Each portion is drawn by a different artist.

It’s short - I finished it in 50 minutes - and sweet. I loved each story, and found pieces of myself in them all. They’re definitely the big picture, not very detailed, however they don’t need to be.

It is definitely inspiring and comforting as a young trans person. You can tell a lot of thought went into making the book. I don’t really have much else to say, other than I recommend reading it!

[variansinterests]

In time travel movies, when the time traveler asks 'What year is this?!?' they're always treated like they're being weird for asking.

When in reality, if you go 'What year is this?!?' people will just say '2024. Crazy huh.' and you go 'Wtf where has my youth gone.'

And if you ask 'And what month??' people won't judge you, they'll just go like 'SEPTEMBER!!! Can you believe it?!?!' and you go 'WHAT?!? Last time I checked we were in May?!?'

[variansinterests]

This Fatal Kiss

by Alicia Jasinska

A review - note I don’t use star ratings.

This was so close to easily being one of my favorite reads. The issue was that it ended on a huge cliffhanger. Aleksey's arc wasn't finished yet, and as such we didn't see much from his perspective. While I'm definitely interested in a sequel and will read it, I need to see Aleksey's arc and the polycule together, it is a bit frustrating that it's not out yet, I feel like I can't properly judge it completely as it's not finished. If the sequel was already released, I'd have no issue! It doesn't knock down the rating, it's still among my faves, just has a question mark after it as it's not concluded yet.

What is here I loved. The romance was cute (though part in a slightly dark way, which I won’t spoil), the backstories were compelling, the world was intriguing, the found family was lovely (in a slightly darkish way because of Wojciech's moral grayness). The character arcs that were completed were lovely and satisfying. A few times I didn't care for the details (like about what food was being eaten) but that may just be a preference thing, and it didn't affect my enjoyment at all. This book felt simultaneously cozy and dark. I cared deeply for the characters and the story, I'd say the most I've been emotionally invested since I started reading again last October.

Again, this is easily among my favorites - I just need to read the sequel before I can judge it fully. I definitely recommend reading it. (As of a week ago from writing this review, the author needs a green light from her publisher for a sequel. I'd love one, but I do feel I loved this book enough anyways that I'd still read it for the first time if I knew there wouldn't be one.) I read the last 140 pages in 3 hours, if that tells you anything. I read this as a library book but plan to buy my own copy.