obscurepages's reviews
408 reviews

InuYasha, Vol. 3 by Rumiko Takahashi

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adventurous challenging dark funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

OKAY I love this volume?? Like we get introduced to Onigumo/Naraku lore here, and then what really happened with Kikyo, Inuyasha, and Naraku. And you know what, I gotta hand it to Naraku, what he did was truly evil and manipulative like damn 😭

Also Kikyo??? Yeah I'm still mad about her pinning Kagome to that tree and making her watch her interaction with Inuyasha loooorrddd πŸ’€ if she didn't want Kagome to interfere, she could have killed her or knocked her out. But no she wanted her to watch??? Girl be for real πŸ˜­πŸ˜‚

Anyway. Human Inuyasha makes another appearance in this as well! I love him with all my heart, I'm afraid πŸ₯²πŸ˜‚ Inuyasha's humanity and soul is also discussed, and I don't know, but I just love it. Inuyasha's humanity is a part of him, and contrary to what he may think, it makes him strong than any other full demon out there.

We also get introduced to Sango and Kokahu here! 😭 I always thought their story is one of the saddest in the anime and it just makes my heart hurt. It's no different here in the manga πŸ₯²

Excited to continue to Volume 4!

Exact rating: 4.5
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InuYasha, Vol. 2 by Rumiko Takahashi

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Oohh. We get the introduction to Kikyo and Miroku in this issue! I love that. (I'm still indifferent when it comes to Kikyo, and Miroku is still the sly monk I know from the anime πŸ˜‚) And human Inuyasha?! I still remember having the biggest crush on his human form lol

I also love how Inuyasha mangas are just so funny? Lmao, like how did the creator blend gore, trauma, humor, and romance altogether? πŸ˜‚
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InuYasha, Vol. 1 by Rumiko Takahashi

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adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Listening to the InuYasha OST and having a new ereader led me here πŸ˜‚

Reading this manga is literally an impulse decision, but Inuyasha anime is one of my childhood faves! It's one that I always cherish and go back to. Now, I'm looking forward to reading the entire manga series (I'm gonna need a lot of energy and time for this πŸ˜†) and just immersing in the story.

Love this first one so far. The art is amazing and the storytelling is immersive. Like I love how the panels just draw your attention to the story or the current dialogue, even if a panel is as simple as it can be. Also lmao I almost always forget that some of the scenes here are traumatic for children πŸ˜­πŸ˜‚

Anyway, love Kagome. Inuyasha, you better treat her right 😀
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Steven Universe: Anti-Gravity by Talya Perper

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adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Wanted to read a few short graphic novels to get rid of my book slump and I found this one on Libby!

Love love Steven Universe, and this was really cute πŸ₯Ί I'm not usually the biggest fan of Ronaldo, but I do think he's interesting πŸ˜† His part here was just written well!

I think just some of the art feels inconsistent to me, especially when thinking of the art in the actual series. Other than that, this was such a good short read πŸ₯Ή
The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I FINALLY FINISHED A BOOK AFTER OVER A MONTH? 😭

Okay this was *chef's kiss*. Like, I'm not going to lie, I was giggling and kicking my feet πŸ˜‚

This story capitalizes on its world-building. It's clear that the this fictional world is rich with history and lore. And I think the author succeeded in showing thatβ€”every other chapter alternates between the present storyline, a flashback, and an entry in an archive about dragon lives and deaths. I think this storytelling paints a picture for the readers of how dangerous and magical their world isβ€”and it worked for me.

The plot is easy to follow, although you really have to notice the small details, because trust me they have a part in the story lol. For the most part, it's entertaining. But it wasn't until the last quarter of the book that you get hit on the face with plot twists after plot twists! The level of plot twists reminded me a bit of Harrow the Ninth??? (If you've read Harrow the Ninth, you'll know what I mean πŸ˜‚) It was so damn good.

I also loved the underlying themes of feminism and misogyny. In this world ruled by men, both Maddileh and Saralene face struggles as a knight and a mage adept. They're both in fields where they're not exactly welcome and definitely not respected enough. I guess you could say this book also falls into the "Good For Her" genre? I love Maddileh and Saralene, and I would k!ll for them probably.

My only complain would be the lack of romance maybe??? The chemistry between Maddileh and Saralene was so palpable on the pages. It's a true shame we never really got something more of full romance? I wanted to see more of them and maybe see where their relationship developed. Still, I'm happy with their individual endings, it was just desserts πŸ‘

((Also I want to mention, I believe this has been marketed as "lesbians and dragons"??  So I originally thought the MC was lesbian. But I think there was no explicit lesbian rep πŸ₯² Maddileh could be bi or pan imo. So I think it was sapphic rep instead. Unless of course Saralene was lesbian, but then again it wasn't specifically pointed out in the story and we didn't see much of her relationship with Maddileh.))

Exact rating: 4.5 ⭐️

CW: blood, gore, violence, misogyny, murder, death, a bit of body horror, fatal wounds

Find me elsewhere: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/obscure.pages/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lxndrnae">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://enthralledbookworm.wordpress.com/">Blog</a>

Marking this book as part of my reading challenge: <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/fcf9e7dc-39a5-49e2-9f7d-a243f5073985">#ReadQueerly2024</a>.
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Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I JUST KNOW THIS WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE.

This was just fantastic. I didn't have much expectations now did I know a lot about this book. I just knew it was horror and it features a transfemme MC. But wow, this gave me a lot to think about.

Imagine a mystery/horror story in a vibrant, yet eerie setting, and there's a cult, and there are monsters. You're trying to talk to guys, but all you get is misogyny and transphobia and judgment. And then you're trying to understand and save the people who don't even try to understand you. And at the end, it's just hilarious and creepy and touching.

Sammie as an MC is compelling. You see the story unfold through their eyes, but also, you see how the world functions and treats them unfairly. This book shows a fraction of what it's like to exist as a transfemme, queer person in a capitalist, misogynistic, and patriarchal society. It's hard and it's heartbreaking. And yet, this book also shows that Sammie has a lot of things to be proud of and to look forward to. That we don't have to look at ourselves or our past selves and hate them.

Loved the colors and the art of course! My only complaint? Maybe I would have loved more world-building and action. Apart from that, this was so good. And I would really like to see this as a movie.

Exact rating: 4.25 ⭐️

CW: blood, gore, violence, body horror, dismemberment, misogyny, trans misogyny, transphobia
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The Accursed Vampire by Madeline McGrane

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challenging dark funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This was a cute, fun read! But I also loved the fact that it has some dark, serious moments as well.

Dragoslava is a vampire kid, and for the most part, they're innocent. But they're also a lot lonely and hurt from the things they went through.

I think to me this book showed that it takes a lot to recognize and appreciate the people that you have around you. Your friends and chosen family, these are what matters.

Love the colors and the art here too! Some panels might just be a little confusing since it jumps from present to past. But I also just love the storytelling in here, and how the illustrations show time passing or the characters bonding.

Exact rating: 4.5

CW: blood, gore, injuries, emotional abuse
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The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Read for Trans Rights Readathon! πŸ³οΈβ€βš§οΈ (Buddy read with Sap/citrus_seasalt πŸ’œ)

I'm not going to forget about this book anytime soon 😭 What I thought was a "monstrous duo taking down a cult" story slash "a very twisted Little Mermaid retelling", turned out to be one of the most magnetic love stories I've read. How the author accomplished that in a few pages, I'll never know. But I think I'll always be in awe of it.

The writing style is dark, gritty, and poetic (even when describing gore and body horror). I absolutely loved that. I admit some of the vocabulary can be a little off-putting at times (I had to search the definition of certain words πŸ˜‚). But I think the fact that the story was both unnerving and intriguing is enough for me to overlook the vocabulary. 

That third part was my favorite most of all. I was holding back tears and crying, something I did not expect when I started this book! 😭 It made me see a different kind of love. A love that transcends time and evils in the world. And I was definitely moved.

Exact rating: 4.75 ⭐️

CW: blood, gore, violence, body horror, dismemberment, burning to death
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The Hills of Estrella Roja by Ashley Robin Franklin

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Read for Trans Rights Readathon! πŸ³οΈβ€βš§οΈ

Queer horror is just delightful and this one is no exception!

The Hills of Estrella Roja is atmospheric and fun. Love the art style and the colors of this book. It's a quick read, but it's interesting and mysterious enough. 

The two MCs were fun. I think I even saw a bit of myself in Katβ€”someone who's interested in paranormal stuff, conspiracies, and the unexplained. And Mari's character, on the other hand, felt a little lost to me. But considering her arc in the story, I would say that's fitting. And yeah, the romance was cute too, not going to lie. πŸ˜†

Maybe I just wish there was a little more suspense build up? And there were a few plot twists that I managed to see right away. Still, at the end of the book, I thought it was nicely done. It wasn't that scary, but was really entertaining. Definitely recommended!

Exact rating: 3.75 ⭐️

CW: blood, gore, violence, mentions about murder
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The Prospects by KT Hoffman

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emotional funny inspiring reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Okay I was not prepared for how tender and hopeful this book was going to be 😭 I think this book surprised me, most of all, with the way it showed trans experience, queer love, and optimism among marginalized communities to its readers.

It might just feel dense and slow at times, but I loved the pining and romance. And I cried in one emotional scene, because one line reminded me of Ed and Stede from OFMD, well... there's nothing I can do about that πŸ˜‚

This is all I will say for now! Will be posting a full review on my tour stop (Bookstagram + Blog) with Colored Pages Book Tours!

Exact rating: 4 ⭐️

CW: panic attacks, anxiety, transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, sexual content
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