This was a quick read, and usually I don't mind novels that are in verse. However, the fact that this one rhymed bothered me a bit? It just kind of took me out of the story a bit. But if you like fantasy retellings and novels in verse, this one would definitely be for you!

Ever since I read a review for this in Kirkus (I think?), it's been one of my most-anticipated graphic novels for the end of the year. Because it absolutely got rave reviews, and I am so happy that it lived up to my expectations. Not only is it beauitfully illustrated, but I loved the way that Becker incorporated Japanese, Korean, and other Asian languages into this book. It flowed seamlessly together and really brought something special to this story.

At the heart, this is a graphic novel about finding where you belong, trying to figure out your path in life. Each of the girls' stories hit strong emotional elements, and you'll quickly be drawn into their little home they find in Japan. I don't think I could find anything I didn't like about this book, and it's worth all of the buzz that it's been getting!

A story about a group of girls who team up to take revenge on the vampire that turned them? Such a great premise for a story. At times, I wish the world and the relationship would have been a bit more fleshed out. The pacing also felt a bit off at times, which kind of pulled me out of the story.

But the references to traditional vampire stories throughout will really make it fun for vampire fans. Holly is a great narrator, and her snide comments about vampires and people's views of vampires just make the story more fun to read.

All in all, if you're looking for a quick, entertaining vampire story, this one would fit the bill!

The stakes are risen in this one in the best way possible! Cassidy keeps finding herself in more and more dangerous situations, continually building on the world that Schwab created in the first book. We get more of Lara in this one, and I'm loving the friendship between her and Cassidy. If there are more books, I definitely hope that she keeps popping in just at the right moment.

If you're looking for a great, spooky middle grade read, I'd definitely recommend this series!

From the beginning, you can just tell the care and the passion that the author used to convey this story. Not only is the art gorgeous, but the way taht Shing Yin Khor weaves storytelling telling into this historical fiction graphic novel is masterful. I can see why it was nominated for the National Book Award!

Outside of the factual aspects of the story, the characters are also extremely well developed. I loved Mei and her father, and the way their relationship with Bee's family fluctuated felt realistic and authentic. There are also hints of Mei's queerness, but it's never really said outright (which also feels realistic for that time period). Everything about this graphic novel just works so well together. Plus, I am a sucker for that watercolor graphic novel style.

I feel like this volume packed a bit more emotional punch than the first two. That's not saying there weren't emotional moments in either of those volumes, at this point, you just know the characters better and it hits harder. Maybe it's because I'm also watching the 2019 anime simultaneously? For me, that's been helping in keeping the characters straight (because there are so many!)

100%, I will admit that I was intimidated by this at first. Adult high fantasy of this lenght is definitely intimidating. I prefer audiobooks in this format generally, don't ask me why. I just find them easier to digest, I guess?

Anyway, once I got into this and into the world, it was difficult to put down! The magic system was one of my favorite aspects of this book; it was fascinating. The way Sanderson built the world was also well done, with strong characters that show us the world along with them. Even though the book is long, the pacing is pretty well done, too. All in all, I am glad that I finally read it!

The art is absolutely gorgeous in this book. The watercolor like style, with pops of color throughout, work really well for the folklore aspect of the story. As for the story itself, I think it would be more effective if you knew the folklore that it's based on. On its own, the story seems a bit sporadic. It's interesting, but now I'm definitely going to go look at Finnish folklore to better understand what was going on.

I would 100% recommend this for the artwork, though. Each page is a work of art on its own.

I might have liked this one better than the first one! At least for me, it was a bit more on the spooky side. The whole catacomb thing definitely creeped me out more than the first book. Schwab also builds on the world she created in the first one, all in great ways. Jacob and Cass's relationship is also evolving and I can't wait to see where it goes next.

One of the things I also like about this series is that Schwab has a knack for changing tone between audiences. It doesn't feel like she's talking down to middle grade readers, but instead getting on their level. It's really effective, and you can tell that Schwab has a real talent for writing.

I loved the premise for this, the execution just quite didn't make it there for me. Stay tuned for a full review to come early next week!