This book has been collecting dust on my bookshelves since the great vampire/werewolf YA fiction boom of the early 2010s. Really the only thing that's been keeping me from reading it has been circumstance and a deluge of other things I'd rather be reading. Big note to self, if the synopsis describes one of the teenage lead characters as "sexy," there's a good chance that I, an almost thirty year old adult, will get one of those ick feelings along my spine. It's one thing if it's coming through the perspective of a teenaged character, and another when you know it's more than likely coming from some middle-aged editor in a publishing office cubicle. 

Now if I had read this over a decade ago, odds are I would have loved it. Awesome werewolf mythology that seemed very unique, a badass lead character that's not here for your girly dresses or makeup, sarcasm galore, oh yeah teen me would've eaten it up. While I can still appreciate the lore aspect, there are some qualities of the book that just tire me out.

Love triangles are always going to be some dodgy ground, particularly when you don't care for them or either of the love interests. Shay seemed so irresponsible and okay with constantly putting Calla in danger, even if it had the intention of trying to get her to see the truth behind the Keepers. Rey, though slightly better, made some comments here and there that set my teeth grinding, but at least it felt like he actually respected Calla at times. Pretty sure with how the story is going that Shay is ultimately going to win out in the end, which doesn't really encourage me to read any of the sequels.

At least pour one out for the gay werewolf representation in a time where queer characters, even queer side characters, were in short supply. 

While I really liked the werewolf lore, the book also reinforces my least favorite werewolf trope, which is reinforcing incorrect "facts" about actual wolf pack dynamics to explain the weird sexism of the werewolf packs. I know it's all to make the term "alpha wolf" look cool and intimidating, but they literally do not exist. Wolf packs are made up of a mated pair and their kids/extended family. There's very little dominance involved. I know bringing actual reality to this werewolf book means absolutely nothing, but they they did it first. 

There's also an absurd amount of sexism, misogyny, and slut-shaming going on here and yes, I know it's all for us to realize that werewolf society is corrupt and has this weird propaganda thing going on to keeps the wolves in line, but god it's overbearing at times. It's really just a me thing, but I had to visibly cringe when one of the adults told Calla to "keep her legs shut." I don't know, maybe it was too much just because all the characters are like 15-17 years old and I'm entering my "old person yells at YA for being YA" era. God help me. 

So yeah, lots of emotions with this one and I'm not sure if I want to continue the series just to get closure or not. 

Seeing as I was a giant scaredy cat as a kid, I didn't really grow up with Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. I tried once, but Stephen Gammell's haunting illustrations proved to be too much for little me who already had an overactive imagination. Now that I have a little more stamina when it comes to horror and spooky pictures, I figured to give this collection a try to find some worthwhile middle grade horror. There are definitely strong contenders in this collection, some that'll even unnerve some adults. Others, well, they're there to give a little variety when it comes to the type and tone of the stories.

My favorites would have to be:

"The Carved Bear"
"The Golden Peacock"
"The Neighbor"
"The Bottle Tree"
"The Tall Ones"

I don't know if the collection decently balanced between the light spooky stories that were more humorous and the more traumatizing tales. There are two that sort of stick out like sore thumbs, those being R.L. Stine's and Sherrilyn Kenyon's contributions. Stine is known for his off the wall twists, but this one being a little bit more silly, yet typical for his kind of work, doesn't really make it mesh well with the majority of other stories that want to leave you with a shiver down your spine. Kenyon's poem has the same effect, having more of an innocent, playful tone that sets it apart from the other stories, but not in a memorable way. I think if the collection offered a few more stories like these it wouldn't be so noticeable. Each are completely fine on their own, but not when integrated into a collection that aims to leave lasting scares.

Also, it's REALLY noticeable that some of the writers are writing stories centered around certain cultures that aren't their own or that they have done very little research on. I may be as white as winter snow, but even I know that the Devil has nothing to do with Dia de los Muertos. 

This manga has such a unique, charming style that gives each character a lot of personality. I've seen the first season of the anime and have basically just been dragging my feet getting to the manga, so I have an idea of where the story is eventually going to go. It's an intriguing concept, a world of anthropomorphized animals trying to live in harmony despite the ever looming threat of instincts taking over. It's introduced well in this first volume, the danger immediately established at the beginning when a herbivore student is killed by a carnivore on school grounds. I'm interested to see what sort of nuances will appear in this society and ultimately where the allegory will end up. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! 

What I expected to be a funny, nostalgic coming of age romp about being a goth/mall rat in the early 2000s surprisingly evolved into a mature, realistic take on grooming and predatory behavior. Don't get me wrong, that is in no way a complaint on my end, because the story perfectly balances its shifting tones. 

Liv deals with all the normal teen problems: longing to find acceptance, working an embarrassing job to get some extra cash, getting wrapped up in all the teenage hormones that come with having a crush, She faces some additional struggles, such as past bullying due to her bisexuality and an absent father, but is still hesitantly open enough to start some new friendships. Building a sturdy support network is a large part of her character journey and I'm so glad that the author included a mix of her friends as well as some trusted adults into that group. It does away with the tired YA cliche of adults being fairly useless and showcases positive teen/adult interactions alongside a more harmful one to denote the differences. 

Though I wasn't a teen yet by the time this story takes place, I definitely could feel the nostalgia sinking in when seeing some of the clothes and the general vibe of the mall. Also, noticing all the movie/music posters on Liv's wall (I peeped Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, and of course who could leave out good old Siouxsie?) really did warm my aspiring Goth heart. 

A very sweet, emotional story of a closeted trans boy sending letters to Mothman as he processes his grief from losing his best friend. Queer people have always seen themselves in monsters, a connection from one "other" to another and this aspect is definitely a core element of the story. Any book that tries to combine a coming-of-age queer story with any sort of cryptid involvement is already a winner in my book so I may just be a little biased. There were some slower moments that were a little hard for me to get through, which I think is mostly due to the format making me think the book is longer than it really is. But really this is going to be such an important book to trans kids looking to find themselves in fiction. 

I can see why this book is such a divisive title when it comes to classic fiction. It's a work that has been dissected in many a high school classroom, which doesn't do any favors when it comes to appreciating classic fiction. When you spend hours in school brushing a fine tooth comb over something that you are forced to analyze and have some kind of deep opinion about, it's easy to start resenting the title solely because of the amount of work you have to put into it. Luckily, this wasn't something I had to read in school so I didn't go into it with any sort of negative feeling.

And of course, Holden Caulfield has become synonymous for edgy try hard male teens that feel like society has some sort of hidden beef with them and that they are tragically misunderstood to the point of constant woeful lamentation. That gives the book a bit of a disservice as, while Holden is a privileged upper class white boy living in New York City that definitely spends most of his time complaining and being terrible to women, his unlikability is kind of the point. Holden is not the model teen one should aspire to be. He's a hypocrite, displays multiple incidents of bigoted and misogynistic behavior, and generally hates and complains about everything. Absolutely no one in his life wants to be around him because of his attitude and overall personality. He's the result of what happens when someone goes through a great deal of grief and trauma and has had no support system or coping skills whatsoever. 

Holden is haunted by his brother's death, experienced numerous implied sexual harassments/assaults, and has no positive relationships other than with his other, distant brother and younger sister. He's maturing in a world that does nothing for him, populated with artificiality and a constant squashing of innocence. He's aimless, floating around New York City not knowing what the hell to do or where the hell to go. When he wants something, he goes and gets it, only to realize he never really wanted it. He's so lost in this path to adulthood and it's easy to see the fear and resentment he has towards the process. I think everyone who has ever been a teen can relate to that, feeling so adrift in a world that doesn't really care for them and desperately clinging to things that haven't been warped by its malice.

Ultimately, I think I enjoyed this book. I liked finally being able to dissect a character that is practically infamous for his teen angst and I can't really say that I'm surprised when I found out that all of that unlikability is coming from a sad place. The writing style feels exactly how a teen would write, which isn't going to appeal to everyone. Honestly, it's a hard book to like, and it's not for everyone, but for those willing to put up with a lot of angst and read a little bit beyond the surface level, you make get a little something out of it. 

I don't think this is a story that's going to be sticking with me for much longer after I'm done. While visually distinct, with a cool color palette and creative designs, its story and world building is too vague and underdeveloped for me to keep any interest in it. Are the Jujus an important part of this society or do they have the same significance as any technological companion? What ARE junkwraiths? Are they ghosts? Manifestations of misplaced energy? Why are they so dangerous? 

It felt so long, but it didn't really use its length to its advantage in fleshing out the world. There are plot points that are engaging places to start, but they sort of fizzle rather than go anywhere. I had gotten about halfway through the comic in one sitting and could have really stopped there, but I always feel bad about DNFing a graphic novel when it wouldn't take much just to finish it.

Sooo, is it fair to label this graphic novel as Our Flag Meets Death with Adventure Zone humor or am I saying that just because there are gay pirates in it? Either way, if you're a fan of either of these you're definitely going to love this one. The art style reminded me a lot of Carey Pietsch's work on the Adventure Zone graphic novel, so that's probably where I got those vibes from. There's a great message not changing everything you are just to accommodate the people you love. 

It's a cute love story nonetheless, with a hilarious supporting cast and a thrilling, expansive world. 

I have to say, this is one of the most immersive sci-fi worlds I've been introduced to. There's so much creativity in the setting and designs of the various robots that it always made the pages interesting and engaging. It reads like a classic CLAMP manga, giving it a sense of nostalgia for us older manga readers. I know the comparisons to Chobits are everywhere across various reviews, but it at least gives you a small idea of the setup. I will say, it's a little more tasteful in certain ways with more emphasis on the characters as individual people with their own traumas and development without going into objectifying territory.

I like how Clem and Kye's experiences, while different, perfectly mirror each other, so their empathy and concern for the other feels natural. The questioning of AI ethics was also very well integrated into the story, adding more of a domestic drama element rather than something more thrilling or high stakes. 

A big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

This has been my second Rachel Harrison book, right after Such Sharp Teeth, and I think I have found a new favorite horror author. Harrison has such a way of getting right under the skin of her characters to display all their pain, fear, and insecurity while also having them sufficiently face down the true horror of their situations. Vesper, our lead, is someone who carries an immense weight of religious trauma, which only becomes more complicated and messy due to the specifics of her upbringing and family life. It's a situation so many can relate to, though, of course, not nearly to the same degree. The themes of reluctantly inheriting legacies, of fearing the traits and aspects we carry due to a few blood ties are especially resonant. The terror of this book comes from domestic and infernal sources, giving it a layer of relatability on top of some truly horrific moments. 

I absolutely flew through this book, marveling at how naturally the narrative flowed. Everything starts at a slower, steadier pace, then gets absolutely bonkers towards the second half. I will say that this is a title where readers should be aware of trigger warnings such as religious trauma, cult activity, and abusive/neglectful parents. Other than that, this is definitely a book that you want to know as little as possible going in.