Tag: manga

August 2024 Wrap Up

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Ok, so this was a big month and I will not be reviewing all of what I read as that will be too long and too boring. So here are the highlights.

  • I read 34 books this month
  • I DNFd 3 books this month
  • Genre: 23 fantasy, 3 contemporary fiction, 2 historical fiction, 1 romance, 1 murder mystery,1 thriller, 1 literary fiction, 1 horror and 1 sci-fi
  • Gender of authors: 13 women, 7 men and 1 non-binary author
  • Race of authors: 18 asian authors, 4 white authors, 1 Latina author
  • Age range: 23 YA, 8 adult, 2 new adult and 1 middle grade
  • Format: 34 paperback
  • 4.1 stars average rating for the month

Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise – Lin Yi-Han (DNF)

This DNF is purely down to the content in the book being to distressing for me. I wanted to give it a go and read some impactful translated fiction but it just got too much. Check trigger warnings for this book.

Silver Spoon, Vol. 1 – Hiromu Arakawa (DNF)

Not even the mastermind that is Hiromu Arakawa could make me interested in an agricultural slice of life story. Love the art and the comedy but the pacing was super slow and the content was boring.

Claymore, Vol.2 – Norihiro Yagi (3 stars)

I flew through this volume but I wouldn’t say I was super invested in this story. It’s early days so I am going to give it up to volume 4, as that is all I can get hold of, and if I don’t love it I will DNF the series. I do think this is because I know the story due to the anime and the adaptation of that volume was very good.

Young Hag – Isabel Greenberg (3 stars)

This was an interesting take on Arthurian which I enjoyed but I HATED the art-style. I was hoping I would get used to it but I struggled with it the further the novel went on.

Usotoki Rhetoric Vol.2 – Ritsu Miyako (3.5 stars)

Love the characters and 1920s Japan setting but I am getting a bit bored of the short story format. I am hoping that with the next couple of volumes we will get some longer form stories!

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 2-4 – Sorata Akiduki (AVG: 3.5)

Volume 2 ended incredibly strongly but I am not sure how much this story is for me. I love the romance elements but there is something missing for me in this series. I am going to give it one more volume and if I don’t love that volume I will probably DNF this series.

Orange, Vol.6 – Ichigo Tanako (4 stars)

Now before I read this volume, which follows my favourite character Suwa, I had heard that it ruins his character and was a disappointing addition to the series. I personally, loved it, to me it added to Suwa’s character who I felt was reduced a bit to being the gracious friend zoned character. For me, this added so much more depth and nuance.

Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 2-4 – Ryoko Kui (AVG: 4.3)

This is what I am talking about when I call for the end of the short story format and focusing more on a long form story. The plot, the characters, the food. All amazing! The ending of volume 4 literally turned it up a notch and I am so excited to see where the rest of this story goes. Now I just have to convince my boyfriend to watch the anime.

The Hills of Estrella Rosa – Ashley Robin Franklin (4.5 stars)

A perfect queer folklore, horror story set in Texas. I enjoyed the plot line, the mystery, the podcast elements. All so good.

Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 3-5 – Mizuho Kusanagi (4.5 stars)

Probably my favourite series this year. Each year, I have a new fave series and I think it’s between Yona of the Dawn and Children of the Whales. Yona of the Dawn has the perfect balance of emotion, comedy, romance and action. I have been loving the development of this story and especially Yona’s development as a character.

What A Way To Go! – Bella Mackie (5 stars)

What a whirlwind! I had such a fun time reading this book with its unreliable narrators, the most frustrating cast of side characters that you love to hate, and a plot where you think to yourself “this can’t get worse” well it actually can! I loved the use of multiple POVs and mixed media. This was such an exciting, engaging, and fun read that I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read about complicated families, complicated relationships, and wanting to hate on the top 5%!

Lightfall, Vol. 1 – Tim Probert (5 stars)

Such a jaw-dropingly beautiful story. Incredible pieces of art, hilarious characters, heart-rending yet hopeful story. I instantly got the following 2 volumes to keep up with the story I loved it that much.

North Woods – Daniel Mason (5 stars)

Thank you to authors like Daniel Mason who have made me realise I actually am a literary fiction reader. After reading this book I am firmly in Autumn. This book whisked me up in a tornado of apples, golden leaves, and poetic tragedy. Following centuries on one specific piece of land in America we watch various inhabitants and characters live, breathe, and die among the apple trees and ghosts of North Woods. This book is a feat unto itself spanning various years, giving voice to characters vastly different from one that came before them and the one that will succeed them, and giving you a sense of tragedy and beauty in one whole gust of wind. I was lost in this book and lost in these stories, I loved how despite the years between are characters they all have something in common which is curiosity and love for humanity, and how this was their best asset and their undoing. An epic autumnal novel that you will rarely see on the shelves.

June 2024 Wrap Up

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For more information on the books click the title.

  • I read 10 books this month
  • I DNFd 1 books this month
  • Genre: 6 fantasy, 2 non-fiction,1 romance,1 murder mystery and 1 historical fiction
  • Gender of authors: 10 women and 1 man
  • Race of authors: 7 white authors and 4 asian authors
  • Age range:10 adult and 1 middle grade
  • Format: 7 paperback, 3 ebook and 1 hardback
  • 4.3 stars average rating for the month

A Letter to the Luminous Deep – Sylvie Cathrall (DNF)

This was actually super embarrassing as I said that this was going to be MY romantasy of 2024. I had posted it all over TikTok and then I got 50% of the way through the book and the pacing got so slow that I DNFd it. On paper this is my kind of book but as I said the pacing was super slow, the author focused on a lot of extra character lore/backstory but to the detriment of the plot. The writing was also super flowery which didn’t help the pacing issue.

Beyond the Clouds, Vol.1 – Nicke (3 stars)

The illustrations in this volume are absolutely stunning. Genuinely I was blown away by how beautiful this volume is. That being said the story at times felt a bit lacking and I didn’t feel a big pull to continue the series.

Quarterlife – Satya Nicole Byock (4 stars)

I am not always sure on whether self-help books are for me but I did enjoy this book explaining other peoples experiences of Quarterlife crises and what might cause them. I related to a lot of what was in this book and I thought it was a good starting point to handle questioning your life choices.

The Thief and the Wild – Seann Barbour (4 stars)

Review coming on Thursday.

Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1 – Ryoko Kui (4 stars)

This book came at the perfect time for me as I just got back into playing D&D! This was a super fun and inventive series that perfectly sets up the characters and the plot. I am intrigued by the mystery of the dungeon and I am excited to see what new food will get created.

Holy Island – L.J. Ross (4 stars)

This book has everything I want in murder mysteries. Small tight-knit community, cult themes, plot twists I can’t see coming and great setting. I have been wanting to read this series for ages and I was very happy that after years of waiting it did in fact meet the hype. I will say though that the romance element should have been expanded on or just had more development it felt too rushed for me.

The Game of Hearts – Felicity Day (5 stars)

A super accessible and informative book all about real lives and experiences of marriages in Regency Britain. A great book for fans of Bridgerton who was to learn more about the time period and the reality of the lives their favourite characters lead. I was immersed in this book and while there were things I expected, I was amazed by some of the exciting facts and tidbits the author gives us. We really follow these characters from debuting in the ton until after their marriage when kids are involved and war arrives. Sometimes it did feel that I was reading the gossip scandal sheet myself with all the juicy details compiled.

Fangirl Down – Tessa Bailey (5 stars)

This book is probably my favourite Tessa Bailey story to date. I found the plot devices and structure to be super fast-paced and incredibly engaging. I love a good competition/tournament for a foundation of a story. I enjoyed our main characters both together and separately. Josephine’s search for body autonomy and to be scene as capable and independent in a world that reduces her to just her diabetes was incredibly poignant and I loved how Bailey maintained her independence throughout the novel even with the love interest seeking to help. Wells story about letting people in after a series of betrayals was done so well and handled in a way that perfectly fits the character that Bailey had created. All these personal storylines just made them getting together so much for fulfilling and satisfying to read.

Babylonia – Costanza Casati (5 stars)

If you love complicated female characters, complicated male friendship dynamics, and political storylines similar to Game of Thrones and Ancient Civilisations/Mythology this book is for you! I never considered myself a character-focused reader or a reader who enjoys political storylines but Miss Casati had me eating my hat. I loved being nervous every time there was a council meeting or any time Semiramis didn’t honestly literally everything. I was on the edge of my seat for this entire book and despite this book being nearly 500 pages – you don’t feel it. Every word, every paragraph, every page is intentional and time flies by as you get lost in this gory, powerful, and intense world of Assyria. The characters in this story are so dynamic, tortured, and complicated. Not one interaction in this book is without intention, emotion, or poignancy. The power dynamics shift and change on a six pence and when you think you have figured these characters out Casati will through you a massive curveball that has you questioning the last 100 pages you have read. I could not put this book down. I was enveloped in it and had book blues after finishing it.

Other Books I Read:

  • Children of the Whales, Vol. 2 – Abi Umeda
  • Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Vol. 1 – Kanehito Yamada (Re Read)

May 2024 Wrap Up

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  • I read 19 books this month
  • I DNFd 4 books this month
  • Genre: 6 fantasy, 3 romance, 3 thriller, 2 murder mystery, 2 sci-fi, 2 non-fiction and 1 gothic
  • Gender of authors: 14 women and 5 men
  • Race of authors: 11 white authors, 6 asian authors, 1 black author and 1 Egyptian-Canadian author
  • Age range: 14 adult and 5 YA
  • Format: 10 ebook, 8 paperback and 1 hardback
  • 4 stars average rating for the month

DNFS

  • The Stars Too Fondly – Emily Hamilton
  • Rouge – Mona Awad
  • The Mermaid of Black Conch – Monique Roffey
  • The Duke and I – Julia Quinn

Fake Flame – Adele Buck (3 stars)

A super fun and engaging romance that took me not time at all to finish. We had characters that had incredible chemistry off the bat, engaging side plots discussing important topics, brilliant supporting cast, great use of communication. This was just such an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to any contemporary romance fan. And shoutout to the 40 year old FMC. I want to see more characters like Eva in romance fiction!

The Secret Adversary – Agatha Christie (3 stars)

I haven’t read many Christie thrillers apart from 2 many years ago. So I was excited to jump into this story and read about characters I have never met before. This was a good jumping off point for a fresh new series and brand new characters. The characters were engaging, witty and I enjoyed following them around on their escapades. The plot kept me guessing and I enjoyed how intense it was. I wasn’t expecting myself to fear for the life of a Christie protagonist. I had to pure satisfaction of guessing the elusive Secret Adversary which was a fulfilling moment. I will say I prefer her murder mysteries over her thrillers. I can only suspend so much disbelief and I find her murder mysteries to be more structured and therefore more enjoyable for me.

You Must Be This Tall to Propose, Vol. 1 – Fumi Mimifyu (3.5 stars)

A super sweet and funny YA rom com that puts my gorgeous tall girlies on a pedestal. We love to see it. With funny comedy of error moments, this manga is beautiful coming of age tale about a young man trying to grow in order to propose to his childhood crush. I devoured this volume and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series has in store. I am too invested in these characters now.

Good Girl, Bad Blood – Holly Jackson (3.5 stars)

Compared to the previous book in this series, I was underwhelmed. I found the interpersonal relationships and Pip’s character arc to be incredibly engaging and compelling. I am very interested in how Pip’s character is developing especially after the events of this book. But the plot was just not on the same level as the first book and I guessed a lot of key elements. And the elements that I didn’t guess kind of came out of left field too much for me. Hopefully, I will enjoy the last book more.

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Vol. 1 – Osamu Nishi (4 stars)

This volume genuinely had me laughing on my commute home. A perfect comedy of errors story about a boy who gets sold to a demon and has to attend Demon School. I love how the author uses very on-the-nose plot armor and coincidence to allow Iruma to get through this first initial volume. It is done with so much nuance and is incredibly hilarious. I love the message about kindness and avoiding violence. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has to offer.

Covenant – LySandra Vuong (4 stars)

A friend of mine had read this WebToon and for ages was raving about how incredible it was. I knew I had to try the series out for myself. This was an exhilarating, action-packed series about angels and demons and saving humanity. I feel that this volume gave us a really solid look into our key characters and the main plot points we need to understand the series going forward. How the magic system works, the politics surrounding the different churches as well as the interpersonal dynamics between our core characters. I am looking forward to seeing all of this expanded upon in future volumes!

The Devil’s Flute Murders – Seishi Yokomizo (4.5 stars)

Probably my favourite book in this series since the very first book, The Honjin Murders! I really feel that this book is Yokomizo on top form. Eerie atmosphere that builds with each chapter, complex characters that have you guessing even yourself and a plot that is liking walking through a labyrinth it has so many twists and turns. I really enjoyed every second of reading this book and read it in 2 days.

The Worst Ronin – Maggie Tokuda-Hall (4.5 stars)

This graphic novel was a great showcase in balance. Tokuda-Hall did a great job of giving you laughs and moments of sadness. She delivered you moments of outrage and moments of calm. I felt every emotion under the sun reading this story – it was amazing. The characters are complete opposites of each other and therefore balanced each other out. Watching them bicker and fight was hilarious but I did enjoy their more tender moments towards one another. The art-style was amazing. The fights scenes were great and Schaffer knows how to make me laugh with a single illustration. I hope we will see more books from these two and this world!

Before the Fact – Francis Iles (4.5 stars)

This book is such a compelling and thrilling read from start to finish. Diving head first into the intricacies and toxicity of a marriage based on lies and betrayal I found myself enraged for the whole 300 pages towards the main character’s husband. Looking at this book through a modern lens the way that Iles constructs a slowly growing suspenseful and harrowing narrative where each turn of a page makes you feel even more anxiety-induced is astounding. I loved the way you could watch the problem get bigger and bigger when it started off small and you get to the end and you can and cannot believe you have got to this moment.

Other books I read

  • Griz Grobus – Simon Roy (3 stars)
  • Mortal Monarchs – Suzie Edge (4 stars)
  • The Examiner – Janice Hallett (4 stars)
  • Burning Roses – S.L. Huang (4.5 stars)
  • Sorcery of Thorns – Margaret Rogerson (5 stars)
  • Unlikeable Female Characters – Anna Bogutskaya (5 stars)

June 2024 TBR

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I had a really successful May so hoping to bring that energy to June!

New Releases

  • Title: The Little Sparrow Murders
  • Author: Seishi Yokomizo
  • Series: Detective Kosuke Kindaichi
  • Format: Paperback
  • Age Rating: Adult
  • Genre: Murder Mystery
  • Pages: 320
  • Publication Date: 06/06


Plot: An old friend of Kosuke Kindaichi’s invites the scruffy detective to visit the remote mountain village of Onikobe in order to look into a twenty-year-old murder case. But no sooner has Kindaichi arrived than a new series of murders strikes the village – several bodies are discovered staged in bizarre poses, and it soon becomes clear that the victims are being killed using methods that match the lyrics of an old local children’s song…The legendary sleuth investigates, but soon realises must unravel the dark and tangled history of the village, as well as that of its rival families, to get to the truth.

  • Title: The Sky on Fire
  • Author: Jenn Lyons
  • Series: Standalone
  • Format: Paperback
  • Age Rating: Adult
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Pages: 448
  • Publication Date: 09/07


Plot: Anahrod lives only for survival, preferring to thrive in the jungles of the Deep with the titan drake she keeps by her side. When an adventuring party saves her from capture by the local warlord, Sicaryon, she is eager to return to her solitary life, but this is no ordinary rescue. Anahrod’s past has caught up with her. And these cunning misfits intend to spirit her away to the cloud cities, where they need her help to steal from a dragon’s hoard. There’s only one in the cloud cities, dragons rule, and the hoard in question belongs to the current regent, Neveranimas―and she wants Anahrod dead.

  • Title: Babylonia
  • Author: Costanza Casati
  • Series: Standalone
  • Format: Paperback
  • Age Rating: Adult
  • Genre: Historical
  • Pages: 400
  • Publication Date: 04/07


Plot: Nothing about Semiramis’s upbringing could have foretold her legacy or the power she would come to wield. A female ruler, once an orphan raised on the outskirts of an empire – certainly no one in Ancient Assyria would bend to her command willingly. Semiramis was a woman who knew if she wanted power, she would have to claim it. There are whispers of her fame in Mesopotamian myth- Semiramis was a queen, an ambitious warrior, a commander whose reputation reaches the majestic proportions of Alexander the Great. Historical record, on the other hand, falls eerily quiet.

Backlist

  • Title: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
  • Author: Kanehito Yamada
  • Series: Volume 1
  • Format: Paperback
  • Age Rating: YA
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Pages: 188


Plot: Elf mage Frieren and her courageous fellow adventurers have defeated the Demon King and brought peace to the land. But Frieren will long outlive the rest of her former party. How will she come to understand what life means to the people around her? Decades after their victory, the funeral of one her friends confronts Frieren with her own near immortality. Frieren sets out to fulfill the last wishes of her comrades and finds herself beginning a new adventure…

  • Title: Fangirl Down
  • Author: Tessa Bailey
  • Series: Big Shots #1
  • Format: Paperback
  • Age Rating: Adult
  • Genre: Romance
  • Pages: 380


Plot: Wells Whitaker was once golf’s hottest rising star, but lately, all he has to show for his “promising” career is a killer hangover, a collection of broken clubs, and one remaining supporter. No matter how bad he plays, the beautiful, sunny redhead is always on the sidelines. He curses, she cheers. He scowls, she smiles. But when Wells quits in a blaze of glory and his fangirl finally goes home, he knows he made the greatest mistake of his life. Josephine Doyle believed in the gorgeous, grumpy golfer, even when he didn’t believe in himself. Yet after he throws in the towel, she begins to wonder if her faith was misplaced. Then a determined Wells shows up at her door with a wild proposal: be his new caddy, help him turn his game around, and split the prize money. And considering Josephine’s professional and personal life is in shambles, she could really use the cash… As they travel together, spending days on the green and nights in neighboring hotel rooms, sparks fly. Before long, they’re inseparable, Wells starts winning again, and Josephine is surprised to find a sweet, thoughtful guy underneath his gruff, growly exterior. This hot man wants to brush her hair, feed her snacks, and take bubble baths together? Is this real life? But Wells is technically her boss and an athlete falling for his fangirl would be ridiculous… right?

  • Title: What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
  • Author: Michiko Aoyama
  • Series: Standalone
  • Format: Hardback
  • Age Rating: Adult
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
  • Pages: 304


Plot: This is the famous question routinely asked by Tokyo’s most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi. Like most librarians, Komachi has read every book lining her shelves—but she also has the unique ability to read the souls of her library guests. For anyone who walks through her door, Komachi can sense exactly what they’re looking for in life and provide just the book recommendation they never knew they needed to help them find it. Each visitor comes to her library from a different juncture in their careers and dreams, from the restless sales attendant who feels stuck at her job to the struggling working mother who longs to be a magazine editor. The conversation that they have with Sayuri Komachi—and the surprise book she lends each of them—will have life-altering consequences.

  • Title: Tell Me What Really Happened
  • Author: Chelsea Sedoti
  • Series: Standalone
  • Format: Paperback
  • Age Rating: YA
  • Genre: Murder Mystery
  • Pages: 416


Plot: It was all her idea. They would get away from their parents and spend the weekend camping. Down by Salvation Creek, the five of them would make smores, steal kisses, share secrets. But sometime around midnight, she vanished. Now the four friends who came back are under suspicion―and they each have a very different story to tell about what happened in the woods. The clock is ticking. What are they hiding? Who is lying? Dark truths must come to light if their friend is to be found… Told entirely through first-person police interviews, this riveting mystery asks: what really happened that night?

  • Title: A Letter to the Luminous Deep
  • Author: Sylvie Cathrall
  • Series: The Sunken Archive #1
  • Format: Hardback
  • Age Rating: Adult
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Pages: 432


Plot: A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other. Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.’s home, and she and Henerey vanish. A year later, E.’s sister Sophy, and Henerey’s brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery of their siblings’ disappearances with the letters, sketches and field notes left behind. As they uncover the wondrous love their siblings shared, Sophy and Vyerin learn the key to their disappearance – and what it could mean for life as they know it.

April 2024 Wrap Up

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  • I read 14 books this month
  • I DNFd 3 books this month
  • Genre: 3 sci-fi, 3 memoir, 2 fantasy, 2 romance, 2 murder mystery, 1 thriller, 1 non-fiction
  • Gender of authors: 7 women and 4 men, 2 not stated, 1 non-binary author
  • Race of authors: 8 white authors, 4 asian authors, 1 black author and 1 Indo-Caribbean author
  • Age range: 12 adult, 3 new adult and 2 YA
  • Format: 6 paperback, 6 ebook and 2 hardback
  • 4.4 stars average rating for the month

DNFS

  • The Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle – Nick Louth
  • Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea – Rebecca Thorne
  • Eve – Cat Bohannon

The Butcher of the Forest – Preemee Mohamed (3.5 stars)

This is a super short horror fantasy about a haunted forest and the dangerous journey a woman goes on to free children from the forest’s clutches. Loved all the folklore and horror elements but despite this book being under 200 pages I found the pacing to be quite slow.

A-DO, Vol. 1 – Amano Jaku (4 stars)

This was a vibrant, action-packed and tense start to what I think will be a highly praised and exhilarating series. Fans of Akira will love this! The illustrations were so well done and perfectly represented the pace and chaos in this series. The characters are intriguing and I am excited to learn more about them and especially more about their powers. I am excited to see where the rest of the series goes.

My Love Story with Yamada-kun, Vol.1 – Mashiro (4 stars)

This was a super sweet and engaging contemporary romance in the era of modern gaming. The first volumes of manga series I take super seriously as they are make or break. We all know I am a solid DNFer so if I don’t enjoy them straight away it’s a no-go. This was easy reading, with a super engaging main character who I just want to see good things happen to and hilarious illustrations. I am excited to see more development in the romance as it’s very early days in their story but I did want a bit more from our love interest. I loved all the gaming references and all the scenes set in the world of the game. It was probably my favourite part of the volume.

A Magical Girl Retires – Park Seolyeon (4 stars)

For Sailor Moon fans who want a more realistic look at what being a magical girl is like. This book is for you! Satirical, witty, and fast-paced this book just captured me from the first chapter. I loved following our main character’s journey as she learns all about 21st-century magical girls and threats to the world as we know it. Our MC is super relatable and reflects modern issues and I felt like I would honestly react so similarly to her in most of her situations. I loved the illustrations in this book – they just paired so beautifully with the story and the vibe of the novel. That being said I do wish it was longer as I wanted the story to be drawn out and a bit more developed.

The Spook’s Apprentice – Joseph Delaney (4 stars)

This seemed like a book that I thought might just not be for me. This was purely due to the fact that I am not the target age or audience for this book so going into this young YA novel I was expecting to maybe not love it. I WAS WRONG. A perfect balance of fantasy and horror with a protagonist that you just want to see succeed and overcome every obstacle in his way.

Night Shift – Annie Crown (4.5 stars)

I picked this up after a very long and busy day at work looking for an easy and fun read and boy did I get that. I ended up reading over 200 pages in one setting on my day off as I just couldn’t put it down. For all my girlies who love romance novels, and poetry and just love to romanticise their life this book is for you! This was just a super engaging read with two great characters who you just want to see succeed.

The Trees – Percival Everett (4.5 stars)

If you have ever watched the movie Blackkklansman by Spike Lee and loved it, you would love this book. This satirical thriller following the investigation into multiple interconnected deaths in Mississippi was a book I flew through. I literally could not put it down. Percival Everett’s writing style is perfect for me. Too the point, doesn’t waste a single word, incredibly punchy dialogue, exciting plot. Ugh loved it.

Homebody – Theo Parish (5 stars)

This is a vibrant, accepting and reassuring graphic memoir about Theo’s journey into accepting themselves and their non-binary identity and the journey they took to get there and feel at home within their body. The illustrations in this GN are some of the most beautiful and engaging pieces of artwork I have seen in a graphic novel. Not only was I engaged in the story but the imagination that went into visualising this story was phenomenal. My favourite has to be the D&D section. Since this memoir is being published for the younger generation I feel that this book documents the journey so beautifully and clearly for young people who may be navigating a similar path. Even myself, who thought I knew quite bit about what it’s like being trans and non-binary, due my friends, learnt a lot! A book I would highly recommend!

It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth – Zoe Thorogood (5 stars)

Words cannot begin to adequately describe the genius, the heart and the baring of the soul that went into the creation of this graphic memoir. The creativity of the use of multiple forms, the loose time structure, varying art style just puts this above many visual stories I had read over the past couple of years. I have not seen anyone do something so raw and vast both emotionally but creatively. I was completely blown away by the book!

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone – Benjamin Stevenson (5 stars)

This book feels as if The Gentleman and Knives Out had a baby. A meta-narrative, family saga, murder mystery, and criminal dealings all rolled into a snowstorm on a ski resort! I had so much fun reading this book – probably the most fun I have ever had reading a crime book. The writing style in this book is wholly unique, for all my books about books fans you will love this, I loved the narrative voice of Ernest as a character but also as an author. I loved how the story was structured adhering to Ronald Knox’s 10 Commandments for crime writing. The constant referring to the text as a text with jokes about editors and chapter/page numbers. It was just such a refreshing read.

Reading Lessons – Carol Atherton (5 stars)

As someone who had complicated feelings about school and English, I was intrigued to see how I would feel reading a book about all the boring books I read and studied in school. Will this change my thoughts about any of the books? Will it make me appreciate my English classes more? Overall, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed dissecting these stories and learning that we can still learn something from these texts even today many years/decades/centuries later. While in school I hated analysing texts, now as an adult and a bookseller who reviews and promotes books for a living, I love diving in and seeing what I can take away or notice from a story. I liked looking at these texts from different lenses and I enjoyed hearing all the anecdotes that Atherton shared about her time in the classroom both when she was a student and as a teacher. My favourite section had to be the one on A Kestral for a Knave. It nearly had me crying on my commute home!

The Ferryman – Justin Cronin (5 stars)

Now this is my kind of sci-fi. I feel this book has a mass appeal to many audiences. The sci-fi fans, the thriller fans, the character-focused fans, and people who love to focus on the nitty-gritty of interpersonal relationships. This book has it all. I flew through this book at what felt like lightspeed. It’s a great sign that a book is phenomenal if all I can think about is getting back to reading it. Working? Thinking about the book. Food shop? Thinking about this book. Part of this is down to how easily this story flows. We follow two characters in this novel, one in first person and the other POV in 3rd person, and the way Cronin seamlessly weaves his way around these differing POVs and narrative styles is amazing. You just get so lost in the story that so much time has passed and the sun is setting.