simonlorden's Reviews (1.38k)

okay, pro tip? if you want me to actually give a shit about a character, do NOT introduce them by having them call someone else a f***tt and an "AIDS patient" as an insult as their first two sentences. not even if it's called out by another character.

also, if you want me to give a shit about a graphic novel, don't do that in the first 20 pages, or better yet, at all.

I mean, I was kind of really unimpressed with the rest of the story as well (it was chaotic, nothing really made sense, and I don't think any of these girls act like they're 12), but that was a bad introduction and kinda ruined the whole thing pretty early.

I'm actually surprised I didn't like this because the concept sounds awesome and I dig time travel stories, but nah.

Everyone in this book is sapphic and I love it

The beginning was very difficult to get through - I understand Mrs Anderson has reasons for her behaviour because of her tragic past and because she feels helpless, but reading her being so abusive to her staff was awful, and I wasn't sure I could get into the romance even later

Thankfully, things improved relatively soon (less than 50% in), and while there was some conflict/drama later, this book ended with THREE happy sapphic couples together and that is all I can ask for tbh

(Note: there is some homophobia due to the time period, but tbh it's pretty minimal because most of the story takes place in a house full of sapphic women
+ The main character lost the use of her legs due to an illness and she is disabled for most of the book, but she recovers by the epilogue)

I loved this! All my knowledge of The Tempest comes from a summary, but even then it was fun to compare the slightly-changed (usually shortened) names in this story with the original ones in the play.

Gale is also just a really fun story on its own, with loveable characters, discussion about the treatment of disabled or sick people that is just way too real, a discussion of propaganda and the government essentially changing the past, and many others. The only thing that surprised me was that while this is categorised as Science Fiction, other than a couple of references to moons and spaceships it felt much more like a fantasy to me.

“Sir, I wouldn’t mind giving up some of my share to help someone who really needed it. If someone is ill, that’s not their fault.”

both the ghost story and the sphinx one at the end was adorable. Ripley is best

WHAT THE HECK YOU CAN'T END IT LIKE THAT

This was a really fun graphic novel about the kids working backstage at a high school theatre. It's an all-boys school, and it has at least four queer guys (+ a really cool girl who doesn't go there but appears in the plays). Also, asshole rich privileged actor kids. Oh, and magic tunnels.

but okay seriously how can you end it like that

This was my favourite kind of space adventure. Badass girls, unlikely friends, complicated sibling relationships, beautiful art, and stealing a damn spaceship because you just really want to see the stars. Please give me the next volume immediately.

AAAAAAH.

This graphic novel was everything I loved about the original trilogy + The Force Awakens. It had all my original favourites: Leia, Luke, Han, Lando, PLUS Poe's parents, so it was the best of both worlds, old and new.

All my old favourites (the original trio + Lando) were beautifully in character, from Han and Lando's playful banter, through Leia being a badass, all the way to Luke being a huge drama queen. While I feel like we didn't really get to know Kes Dameron in this Volume, Shara Bey was pretty much the main character, and she was amazing at it.

There were several fight scenes, and I admit that I sometimes found them annoying or difficult to read, but nothing tops the teamwork between Leia, Shara and the Queen of Naboo. Queen Soruna was a huge badass and I suddenly want to know more about her.

And that ending, man!! The ending!! The compassion and hope and family that we learned to expect and love in this series! I love it.

I got this issue in the Humble Bundle Summer Reading List, but I know nothing about Gotham Academy so I didn't really enjoy it. I'm not going to rate it because I don't think it would really be fair

Rating: 3.5 stars (please Goodreads give me half stars)

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

review to come on the 9th of July

This was a wonderful, magical adventure in Nigeria with a protagonist that I loved, and a friend group that anyone would envy.

Sunny is an albino twelve-year-old whose parents are from Nigeria, but she was born in the United States, but now they live in Nigeria again. In this book, she finds out she's one of the Leopard people (people with magical abilities) - what's more, she is a free agent, which means that neither of her parents have similar abilities.

I loved how imaginative this book was: all the places, creatures and people encountered, and the culture of the Leopard people was great to read about it. The concept of money being earned by knowledge (yes, money literally falls from the sky when you learn something new) was something that I simply adored. I loved the description of the spirit faces, especially Sunny's spirit face, and I can't wait to see how it will become more significant in the second book.

Sunny was a loveable protagonist who stood up for herself against the racism and the sexism and the world, and those who mocked her for her albinism. I loved how she called out all the messed up stuff that was happening. There was only one line that disappointed me where Sunny claimed to be ashamed of being female after she saw some other girls crowd around a boy - it was unnecessarily judgmental and didn't fit in well with Sunny's other comments.

I also loved their friendship group, where Sunny makes friends with two other Nigerian kids, and an African American boy who was sent to Nigeria after he got in trouble at his old school. I loved how they worked together, how protective Sasha in particular was of Sunny at the soccer match, and I loved how the differences between Nigerian and African American people were addressed.

'Akata Witch' also addressed several events from the real world, from the Nigerian prince scam to witch children (which was a concept entirely new to me, so don't tell me this book wasn't educational).

The last thing I expected in this book was a plot about a ritualistic serial killer, but I still got it - and let me tell you, the final showdown between the kids and the antagonist was scary to read, and I feel like the sequel will only get more intense.

All in all, I loved this book, and also: what do you mean the paperback of Akata Warrior isn't out until October?!