Review: Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry

4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book. I shipped the two main characters so hard (and was very gratified that they didn't spend too much time fighting their attraction for each other), I liked the mystery they were working together to solve, and I loved how fast a read this was for me. I always seem to forget how quick I get into and devour contemporary YA books and how much I enjoy them. Even though this was the second book in the Thunder Road series, it was easy to jump into mostly because I'm guessing that the other books deal with characters who take a secondary role in this book. I liked the tense family dynamics (Breanna's family in particular broke my heart because of all the responsibility and pressure they put on their kids to take care of their siblings was pretty unfair at times) and the motorcycle club aspect was interesting as I really don't know much about that kind of life. I also liked that there were nuances to a lot of the characters, even the villain of the story. All in all, I really liked this story and now want to dive in to the other books in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Walk the Edge.

Review: The Empty Vol. 1 by Jimmie Robinson

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting graphic novel on the whole. The concept--a little sci-fi, a little post-apocalyptic--was good and made for a compelling read. I was invested in what was going on and wanted to keep reading to find out the mystery to this strange, seemingly alien world. I liked the character design for the different groups, it was just weird enough to make them look non-human but not too weird as to be unbelievable, and the artwork itself was good, just the right amounts of desolation and beauty. The theme of the book was interesting, especially with the twist at the end. With a little more work on the character development of the main characters, I think I would've really loved this book. But it was still an interesting story and I did enjoy it and wouldn't mind checking out a second volume to see where the story might go.

Review: Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio and Will Staehle

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC copy of the book.

A very fun MG book with cool illustrations (though some in my arc copy were unfinished, but even unfinished they were still pretty entertaining) and a sweet, entertaining story about an odd-looking boy and his old family hotel. I enjoyed the twists, the humour, the adventure, and, most importantly, Warren, the plucky hero who suffers through cruel relatives, lots of work as the hotel's only bellhop, and crazy intrigues as he's beset by evil witches and treasure hunters searching for the All-Seeing Eye. Definitely a fun read for young and old alike.

Review: Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Valentine De Landro, Taki Soma, and Robert Wilson

5 Stars Please, Kelly Sue, can I have some more? This was a seriously fun/clever/sad/intriguing/enraging story that ended far too soon for my liking. Even though there wasn't a lot of backstory about the characters, the little that we did get in this first issue was very intriguing (I love Penny! . I enjoyed the world-building and how it was similar to reality but had some little quirks to make it darker and creepier even though on the surface it seems bright and cheery. I especially liked all of the little pop elements with the fake ads at the end of every issue and the retro-esque covers. But my favourite things about this graphic novel were the N.C.'s (Non-Compliants, i.e. the women in prison on Bitch Planet), the whole crazy, flawed, wonderful bunch of them and the feminism that was gritty and real and, most importantly, intersectional. After reading some other reviews and hearing that the individual comics had essays about feminism in the back, I was a little sad that the trade copy I received from NetGalley didn't have them (p.s. thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-ARC because I have been dying to read this and waiting for a copy through the library has been agonizing), but it did have some interesting discussion questions at the back and a notation for an article so that was kinda cool. So if you're looking for a sharp, insightful comic that tackles issues like racism and sexism and exploitation and even the messed up penal system, try this one on for size.

Review: Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

5 out of 5 Stars

This. Book. Was. Excellent!
I had heard great things so I was super excited to get an early review copy (thanks Netgalley and the publisher for that), and I was not disappointed. Westerns aren't usually my thing (book-wise at least. Love western movies and TV-John Wayne, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Blazing Saddles, Firefly, Bonanza-my mom's fave, etc., but I don't tend to read many western genre books), but I really loved this one. The feel of it was so spot on, from the dialect (which can make or break a book and in this case it made it. Seriously just reading this book silently to myself had my accent getting thicker and more country all the time) to the descriptions (so unique and evocative) to the action (nail-bitingly good) to the characters to the plot to EVERYTHING!
I loved the push and pull between Kate and Jesse especially but also between Kate and Will and Jesse and Will. The twist at the end was one I did not really see coming but still felt like it worked overall (the hints, though subtle, were there so that when the reveal happened I, along with Kate, was like "oh and that's why...oh"). Also I cried at a certain scene mostly because of how sudden and unexpected it was (but it is a western so I should have been prepared for more carnage and destruction).
The resolution was good and satisfying, even a little sad, and I enjoyed it. My only complaint was one tiny thing at the end

when Jesse was just like, "Uh peace out" and then came back and kinda explained himself. I don't know, it just felt like he needed a smidge more explanation before Kate would just go with it. I kinda understood his reasoning but I just needed a little more to really sell it. Or I just wish Kate would have been her usual blunt and bullheaded self and asked him point blank why he wanted to split up so suddenly when they left Waltz's but I can understand why she didn't as she was no doubt feeling very vulnerable with what happened just before the big shoot-out. I was happy that they got a happy ending because I shipped them so hard from pretty early on. Love a dislike-to-like relationship. But it's a very minor gripe; his explanation just felt a touch rushed to me in the end

. Otherwise I super loved this book and might just have to buy myself a copy.
Please, writers, bring me more westerns like this because I could be a western book convert easily with material like this to work with.

Review: Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl

Well gee thanks, Margaret Stohl for GOING AND BREAKING MY HEART!
This was a fun, entertaining story that looked into Natasha Romanoff's past as well as into some shady dealings of the Russian baddie who helped make Natasha the agent she is. I liked the new characters (Ava and Alex, I'd like to give you both hugs) and seeing familiar faces (Coulson and Tony Stark, so fun) and all of the action and adventure. My only complaints were that sometimes the action could seem a bit clunky or confusing (which could've been because I was reading the e-book arc and possibly that was due to formatting errors), but on the whole I was able to follow the scenes very well and most of the action read as very practical and believable.
That ending though? Ouch (in the emotional punch-to-the-gut kinda sense). I knew something bad was going to happen thanks to all the end of chapter DOD hearings with Natasha, but it still hurt.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy for an honest review. And thanks, Margaret Stohl for capturing a character I love a lot very well...and also hurting me in the process. Now can we have another please and thank you? :)

The Anatomy of Curiousity by Maggie Stiefvater, Brenna Yovanoff, and Tessa Gratton - 5 Stars

An inside look at three awesome author's writing process? Yes, please, thank you, and can I have seconds? Seriously this was a lot of fun for an aspiring novelist like me to get to see and learn about the process that some of my favourite authors (some old faves and some new faves whose stories in this collection made me want to go out and get my hands on other things they've written because wowee zowee was that some good writing) go through while they're writing their own stories. It definitely helps me to feel not so alone in my own struggles to get things down on paper in a way that makes sense and hopefully entertains readers. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the stories and the authors' little asides on why they did certain things a certain way, how they crafted certain scenes to be the way they are now, how they drop little hints to a twist at the end, etc. The stories themselves, even without the commentary, were amahzing and heart-wrenching and funny and creepy and wonderful but I just really enjoyed the commentary and getting a sort-of inside look at these authors' processes.
So if you're a writing nerd like me or you just love these authors or you just want to know more about how authors craft and hone a story, this could be the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me early access to this phenomenal book!