I don't cry with books...ever. So I was completely SHOOK when I started crying during the last bit of The Last Olympian. It's almost impossible to put how I feel about this book, about this entire series, into words. This is my first time re-reading it since I was in middle school over a decade ago, and I now know why this series is one of my favorites of all time. The plot, the humor, but also just the sheer heart of this book and all the characters in it. This was an incredible journey to take again, and I definitely won't wait another decade to re-read my favorite series.

This is a solid fantasy that is dubbed a retelling, but is so much more. Yes, our protagonist is named Alice. Yes, she ventures into Wonderland. But our Alice comes many years after the Alice we all know from the picture books; this is an Alice who fights Nightmares while also struggling with her everyday demons. The pacing could have definitely picked up at some points, and I wish we had gotten more from Alice's two bestie characters Court and Chess. Also, the remnants of the original Alice In Wonderland story are cleverly and skillfully woven into the story. I will be continuing on with the series.

*4.5* WOW. A stunning conclusion to a stunning trilogy. Binti's character development throughout this book alone is impeccable, and the characters of Okwu and Mwinyi really grew on me throughout the novella. I definitely want to inhale anything and everything Nnedi Okorafor writes; she has become an auto-buy/read author for me.

*3.5* The first two issues in this collection (written by Vita Ayala and illustrated by Paul Davidson) were bleh -- I didn't like the writing nor the illustration style. Shuri was illustrated to look way older than her actual age and how we meet her in Vol. 1, and all of the wittiness and heart and complexity that we get from Nnedi Okorafor's rendition of her in the first volume was completely gone; she was too technical and impersonal, and it truly felt that Shuri was a visiting side character in her own storyline. The last three issues, however, are *chefs kiss*. Okorafor's fast-paced, complex writing style is back and breathes life back into Shuri and the other characters. Plus, the illustration (done by Rachel Scott) is on point and in line with what we get in Vol. 1. Okorafor truly knows how to tell a story and deliver so much world-building, character development, and wittiness into a short amount of story. I'm sad that we won't be getting more of Okorafor's Shuri for a while, but I will definitely be picking up these volumes to re-read in the future.

This anthology is a must-read! I read this entire thing in one sitting. The short stories, poems, and comic strips are engaging and fast-paced and just make you want to see what the next one has to hold. There is a multitude of rep for different races and ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations and gender identities, and more. I am truly glad that I decided to buy this and add it to my collection, and I'm confident that I will pick it up for a re-read in the near future.

*4.5* This is truly a book full of heart, quality representation, and an important lesson about embracing one's anger in a healthy way instead of shying away from it. Moss is such a lovable character who cares so intensely about the people around him.

Absolutely loved this! The writing, the artwork, that ending! Everything! I've already ordered the next two volumes, and I'm excited to jump straight into them when they arrive!

Super steamy! Great artwork, and I love the characters; they are so cute with one another and with their inner thoughts. At first, I was a bit hesitant with how much on-page text there is for a comic collection, but it reads a lot like a romance novel. Plus, all the text makes sense in the context of Lisa being a writer and retelling her love story with Ally.

*2.5 stars* I wanted to enjoy this more, but I felt like the pacing was VERY quick (in a bad way) and the writing was a bit cheesy. The overall message, however, about love and acceptance and reclaiming your happiness is solid, but it left me wanting more.