In The Shadow of the Throne

author: Kate Sheridan
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.28
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2022/08/28
date added: 2022/08/28
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'In The Shadow of the Throne' by Kate Sheridan with art by Gaia Cardinali is a graphic novel about a young man who wishes to be somewhere else and suddenly finds himself there.

Jordan is not happy with his life, and when he suddenly finds himself on another world where magic is real, he thinks he's got his perfect life. He saves the life of Prince Astel and finds himself in the middle of a mystery.

It's a by-the-numbers fantasy that left me with questions like how did Jordan make it to this world? There is also a romance that seemingly goes nowhere, but maybe it's a placeholder for future story.


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Essential Judge Dredd: Necropolis

author: John Wagner
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/28
date added: 2022/08/28
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Essential Judge Dredd: Necropolis' by John Wagner with art by Carlos Ezquerra is a massive graphic novel collecting a Judge Dredd story from the early 1990s.

Mega-City One gets attacked by the Dark Judges, and boy are they a gruesome bunch. With them are the Sisters of Death and their goal is to turn the city into a necropolis and reap all the people. When an errant Judge becomes one of them, who will stand up to them?

At 224 pages, this is a pretty epic story, but it moves along pretty well. The are is heavy in saturated color, and i liked the style. I think the story holds up pretty good for being 20 years old.


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Dramacon

author: Svetlana Chmakova
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2020/10/12
date added: 2022/08/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Dramacon: 15th Anniversary Omnibus Edition' by Svetlana Chmakova collects all three volumes of the Dramacon series in one huge manga edition.

The series takes place over 3 years at an anime convention. In the first volume, Christie is a writer who is new to conventions. Her manga is drawn by her boyfriend who is kind of a jerk. A mysterious stranger who always wears sunglasses. Over the course of three cons, they form a relationship that has it's ups and downs.

I just loved this story and these characters. There is drama and humor and really loveable characters. The art kept drawing me in, and I loved the con setting that felt pretty authentic to me. I gulped down all 600+ pages and loved every minute of it.

I received a review copy of this manga from Tokyopop, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.


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Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend

author: Alys Arden
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/16
date added: 2022/08/16
shelves: graphic-novels, young-adult
review:
'Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend' by Alys Arden with art by Jacquelin De Leon is a graphic novel of the superhero as a teenager.

Zatanna lives in Coney Island in a hotel that looks like a giant elephant. Her parents are magicians, but Zatanna doesn't want anything to do with their act. When she stumbles across a new magician with a mysterious way of writing backwards, it opens up the world for her and reveals secrets of a past she was unaware of.

I liked this story that supposes an origin for a hero I've always liked. I felt like the art and lettering weren't up to the same quality, though. I think it's a good read for teens and anyone, like me, who is a fan of Zatanna.


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If I Were King

author: Chelsea O'Byrne
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/16
date added: 2022/08/16
shelves: childrens
review:
'If I Were King' with story and art by Chelsea O'Byrne is a picture book about a young boy who imagines more for his life and the trouble he finds when he gets it.

Young Thomas leads a perfectly ordinary life, but tires of never getting to choose his meals or clothes. He dreams of a life where he can do what he wants and wakes up in a castle. Now he has it all, but everyone else in the castle is also a king or queen trying to make their own choices.

I liked this story of a young boy who gets exactly what he wants and realizes what he actually had. The story is fun as are the illustrations.


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Apple and Magnolia

author: Laura Gehl
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/16
date added: 2022/08/16
shelves: childrens
review:
'Apple and Magnolia' by Laura Gehl with illustrations by Patricia Metola is a picture book about two trees that live next to each other.

Young Britta likes visiting her favorite trees, Apple and Magnolia. One day, she noticed that Magnolia was not looking so good, but is there anything Britta or Apple can do?

This is a lovely story about the connections we make with the people around us and nature. An author's note talks about how trees communicate, which adds to the story. The illustrations are equally lovely.


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Barbarella, Vol. 2: Hard Labor

author: Mike Carey
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.29
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/10
date added: 2022/08/10
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Barbarella, Vol. 2: Hard Labor' by Mike Carey, Kenan Yarar and Donny Hadiwidjaja is the second graphic novel from Dynamite Entertainment based on the cult classic movie.

Barbarella finds herself on Falladim and gets convinced to grab a grubstake in R.U.S.T.-Radically Unstable Space-Time. She finds herself on the run from a claimjumper, his two sons and his talking gun. The backup story finds Barbarella telling stories ala The Thousand and One Nights.

I enjoyed this volume as much as the first. The stories are a bit loopy, but the characters are interesting and the art is really decent in the main story. I feel like it dropped off a bit for the backup story but still works well enough.


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Mapmakers and the Lost Magic (A Graphic Novel)

author: Cameron Chittock
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.61
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/08
date added: 2022/08/08
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Mapmakers and the Lost Magic' by Cameron Chittock with art by Amanda Castillo is a graphic novel about a young girl who has to make a choice.

Alidade and Blue live in a small community run by the Night Coats, who keep anyone from leaving. Alidade thinks there is more outside her village, but discovering that comes with a cost.

I liked this unusual story and world. The art is a nice style and I think the worldbuilding is pretty great. I look forward to reading more of these characters.


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Hunt the Stars (Starlight's Shadow, #1)

author: Jessie Mihalik
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/07
date added: 2022/08/07
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'Hunt the Stars' by Jessie Mihalik is a novel about former enemies who may end up something completely different.

Octavia 'Tavi' Zarola and her tight-knit crew have survived a war in spite of their leaders. When Torran Fletcher, a leader from the opposition, shows up with a job, Tavi is understandably suspicious, but the money is too good. Understandably things are tense and there are things hidden, but Tavi will find herself attracted to Torran.

Romance is not a usual genre for me, and this falls squarely in that genre. While the underlying story was pretty good, I found the romance tropes repetitive and tedious. I suspect if you like romance novels, you might really like this one.


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Greta Thunberg (My First Little People, Big Dreams): My First Greta Thunberg: 40

author: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/12/02
date added: 2022/08/05
shelves: non-fiction, childrens
review:
'Greta Thunberg: My First Greta Thunberg' by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Anke Weckmann is a board book about a young activist.

In a simpler take on biographies than the Little People, Big Dreams series, we get a board book for toddlers with less words on the page. With bright, simple illustrations and abbreviated content, this is designed for a busy child's attention span.

It certainly works in the format designed. I don't know how much a small child would retain, but it's a nice book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group-Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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