My Rating: 4 Stars A great reading and a beautiful manga version to look at! The Jungle Book is a collection of stories about Mowgli, the boy raised by animals in the Indian jungle and the stories of several animals in their own unique adventures. I’ve read the original stories many years ago and it was refreshing to go through them again in such a light way. The drawings are magical and the original stories didn’t lose any of their charms or sense. Being a fan of the Disney version of the novel, I could almost hear the songs in my head as the respective characters came to play, such as Mowgli and the elephants. On the contrary of the other manga classics published so far, this graphic novel can also be read to children. The language is easy to understand and the illustrations are very appealing and pleasant to look at. A delight to read, this manga version is a treat! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book.
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My Rating: 5 Stars I’m fully aware that I’m reading this collection backwards, but I honestly say that it doesn’t make a difference to me. These tiny books are a treasure and it’s a true pleasure to read them no matter in which order I receive them. Beauty Within is just as good as Poor Unfortunately Souls and I would give it more stars if I could. You think you know the story of the selfish, arrogant and proud prince that got cursed to live as a beast until he found true love and has loved in return? Think again. In this novel, you will have a glimpse at the past of a prince that is the fruit of privilege, richness but also loneliness and superficiality. I fell completely in love with this perspective of the story of the Beast. The story-line is very well-developed and the style of writing is as beautiful as always. I really felt like I got to know Beast a bit better and to understand him in a level that the Disney version didn’t allow me to. It’s different, powerful and a bit scary. I couldn’t imagine that Miss Valentino could come up with such a version of the punishment that Prince Adam goes through before the curse is complete. I will not give any spoilers, but I can tell you the punishment is slow, painful and has a psychological side to it that is both perfect and a bit cruel. Don’t get me wrong: I think it’s very efficient. Like I wrote on my previous review of “Poor Unfortunate Souls”, villains aren’t born evil; there are circumstances outside their control, the environment they spend their childhoods in that shape who they become in the future. In the real world, we do bad choices and chose wrong paths but in the end we learn from our mistakes and just like the Beast, the thing we fear the most is unjust and cruel judgement. A great book that I highly recommend to all the fairytale-fans out there! My Rating: 4 Stars I am a big fan of the dystopian genre. For me it’s both interesting and scary to think of which realities might actually happen and how humans deal with the changes. This is one of the reasons I really enjoyed Aftermath, since it’s more focused on the re-building phase than the actual moment of the apocalypse. Aftermath takes place in a near-future where the world is broken and people are divided. After the fall of several bombs in the different areas of the US territory, people must adapt to a new environment and fight for a new order in society and government. Through the eyes of seven characters, you will be taken on a journey through human nature and instinct of survival in a world where the person to trust is oneself. I really got into this novel and after I started I finished it quite quickly. The setting is brutal: it really brings out human nature and what we are willing to do to survive, instincts that only manifest in extreme cases. I think this setting really got to me since I believe it’s very possible to happen in the future, taking in consideration the daily news and ongoing wars. The style of writing is very good and the story-line is very clear and easy to follow. I could see and feel the dedication and the passion of the author on the novel. I got a bit lost in the beginning while reading the past of the characters but in the end I think it was a very good way of showing not only the story of each character, giving them depth; but also to have a better idea of what happened before the bombings. The organisation of the factions was very cleverly thought and described but at the same time a bit brutal, since the people captured by a fraction have absolutely no choice but to submit and obey. The characters are all unique in their one way and they all contribute to the story, which proves the good technique of the author when it comes to not leaving loose ends. I didn’t feel like a character was more important than others at all. The ending was shocking and the cliffhanger was painful to deal with! I want more! I am hoping that the author continues to write in this style and that a second volume is on its way. I recommend this book to fans of dystopian literature that goes more in depth to the characters than the actual apocalypse. I want to thank the author Joe Reyes for reaching out to me and sending me a free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. My Rating: 5 Stars Engaging, addictive and amazingly written, Reckless had me glued to its pages! I’ve read Inkheart a few times and I can’t help but simply fall in love all over again with the writings of Cornelia Funke. Once upon a time, a young boy named Jacob discovers this alternative world where he may escape his troubled past. For years he jumps back and forth between worlds becoming a master in finding lost enchanted objects until that faithful day, the day his little brother Will follows him into this magic world. But appearances are deceiving: this world is a very dark and dangerous place where happy endings aren’t waiting in the end of the story. When Will is viciously attacked, Jacob races to save his brother life before he becomes a blood-thirsty monster with skin made of stone. I can’t get enough of the dark-fairytale world, Mirrorworld. It’s scary, creepy and it is really the worse that can happen in the stories that are supposed to end with “and they lived happily ever after”. It reveals the true meaning of the stories that we all know so well, in my opinion. There are new characters, new monsters but at the same time there are also those beloved characters from Grimm Fairytales, so it creates some familiarity. The style of writing is amazing. I would have read it in German if I knew the language better, but with the English translation I still got to understand and really feel the story. About the characters, Jacob is definitely the type of character that I enjoy reading about. He demonstrates his love and worry through actions and not words and although sometimes it seems like he doesn’t care at all, his actions show the bravery one needs to have while facing adversity. He is a great anti-hero with all the qualities and flaws that come with the title. However, Will is the opposite of his brother, and I think the intention was to have on one side the boy that suffered through hard times and tries not to grow attached to people, whereas on the other side, the young, innocent, untainted boy that just wants his brother’s attention. They complete each other perfectly and together they have this amazing brotherly bond that I couldn’t get enough of. An amazing book that I will definitely re-read soon and that I recommend to all the fans of a dark world of tales! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Breathing Books, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars I thought it was impossible to like the second volume more than I did the first one, but apparently it is possible! Terrific art combined with a great adventure story and a lot of old fashioned codes and riddles. Absolutely perfect! Lady Mechanika’s journey starts when a stranger knocks at her door. A daring adventure: to find an old weapon in the heart of Africa while trying to be one step ahead of the secret societies that would love to get their hands on the artefact. But things never run smoothly for the Lady and when she is confronted with a life threatening choice, what will she choose? First of all, the artwork is breathtaking. Even though the story takes place outside the city designed in the first volume, Steampunk is still very much present and still as beautiful as before. Furthermore, the supernatural is also still present and for me it was even more detailed than in the first volume The storyline was very nice to read even though I was a bit disappointed not to see a direct connection to the first graphic novel. I would have enjoyed seeing the development of Lady Mechanika’s search for her maker. Even so, I loved every minute of this reading and I was addicted to it until the very end. I can’t wait to see what surprises the next volume will bring! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Aspen, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 4 Stars Another great novel! I’ve read another novel from this author and just like the first one, it was a delight to read. Thibault's life is running smoothly: he has been accepted into Oxford University and he’s going on a road trip through Europe with his strange uncle Henry. Until life takes a turn that is starting with the introduction of Venus, Thibault’s American cousin with the mind of a poet and a unique character. Right after arriving to London, the young teenager gets more than he bargained for when he gets involved in a plot to bring down capitalism which includes the kidnapping and the blackmail of the CEO of a powerful mining company. Follow the journey of Thibault in his adventure through politics, tax evasion and love. The style of writing is great and it really pulled me into the story and the characters. The story is seen through Thibault’s eyes and most of it is dialogue, which makes the novel both interactive and easy to follow. The countries in the novel are also very interesting to read about. What I appreciated the most was the clear connection and reasoning between the story-line and the countries through which the characters travel to. Very well thought and organised. For me, I would have liked to see a bit more description of these wonderful places, but I know that wasn’t the point since the story is more focused on the characters and “the plan”. Now to my favourite part: the characters. Thibault is a great main character and narrator: he’s a teenager in search of his path in life and in the process stumbles on love. He’s a sweet boy with a passion for art, not afraid to follow his dreams. At the same time he is a bit at loss when it comes to his feelings for Venus and his lack of literary knowledge is hilarious. Even after being pulled into an insane plan to bring down capitalism, Thibault always remains faithful to himself and his decisions. He is genuine and pure at heart even if he is a bit clueless at times. Venus is someone else entirely. As a poet and a writer, Venus is a know-it-all when it comes to literature, authors and their correspondent works. She is a great female lead: a very head-strong woman with an iron determination and fiery passion and I really enjoyed seeing how her relationship with Thibault develops throughout the story. I think they influence each other is the best way possible while realising that life isn’t all black and white and that the path of self-discovering of who they are and who they’re meant to be doesn’t come easy, but it’s worth it. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good adventure with a bit of comedy, fun and literature references! Thank you James Leader for sending me a free copy of your novel in exchange for an honest review. My Rating: 4 Stars The first Rebirth comic that I actually loved! Wow, Harley Quint is definitely my favourite anti-hero and in this comic makes her justice! For the story arcs I just have one phrase for you: Harley Quint, aliens, zombies and her own personal gang. Craziness, humour, action! What’s not to love? The art of the comic is amazing. The colours, the drawings of the characters together with the witty and humours dialogues create the perfect combination for an addictive read. I took my time to appreciate the art though, even in the parts where it gets really bloody. Harley’s character is very well drawn, specially her crazy expressions in particular moments, like in life-risking situations and when she’s hungry (it’s actually pretty funny too). I really like the gang Harley put together. They all get along perfectly and it was surprising to see that they actually get along even if they’re all crazy I their own way. The loyalty amongst them was a pleasure to see and read, specially the seen where Harley gets herself in a pickle and they’re there to back her up even when they stare at death right in the face. The only thing I didn’t like very much is the sexual vibe between Harley and Poison Ivy. Their friendship and bond is unique and powerful but let’s not exaggerate either. I did like to see Harley with Deadwood. I was surprised with the chemistry they have and thinking about, they would make one hell of a couple! Loved every page and I can’t wait for the next volume! Definitely recommend it! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher DC Comics and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 2 Stars This was a peculiar reading, but I will admit that it was a challenge to stay engaged with the plot and the characters. I think the world we live in is already violent enough and to have to read about this amount of physical abuse and verbal attacks is not what I want after a day of work and sad news. Natalie is a young girl of 16 years that struggles with her role in society and family responsibilities in an unnamed medieval world where men are divided from women. As she works to sustain her family, Natalie hates being a woman and the treatment they are victims of in the hands of men. Things take a radical turn when there is an announcement for a new Quest from the Kings, an adventure that if it ends in victory will bring glory, influence and gold. When Natalie gets on the bad side of a male adventurer and gets violently beaten, she has to flee to another city in search of Sir Edris for protection and help in the Quest. I really don’t like giving bad reviews, but this one just didn’t cut it for me. Starting with the plot and the setting where the adventure takes place. I was completely at lost about this fantasy reality: there is description of this world, how many countries, continents, cities there are, the distance between them, their political structure. I would have felt the adventure more if I could really feel this new world, and I couldn’t do that with the lack of descriptions. The writing style was a bit disappointing in a sense. It’s very easy to read and to keep up with the plot and the characters but there’s amiss. Since we’re talking about a story that takes place in medieval times, I was expecting the old English type of language and vocabulary that I’m a big fan of in historical novels. But here, the language is modern, the phrases are the same as we use now-a-days and for me it took the colour out of the story. The violence towards women and the sexism of this reality didn’t work out for me either. I understand that this the universe that the author created, but this is based on a reality. Tough to hear but it does exist. I would just expect a rise up of women power with a powerful character or a demonstration of something that would balance this oppressive environment and that didn’t happen at all. In the end, it just gets worse, and I struggled to keep reading when I only saw the mistreatment and abuse of women. The characters were also a bit of a disappointment. I couldn’t understand Natalie at all and I honestly didn’t like her as a main character. For me she’s like an over-emotional teenager that always says she hates man and the freedom they have to do what they want without worrying about consequences but then she expects and counts on the guy to have her from trouble. I really couldn’t feel any strength in her at all, not in her personality or influence in the story. I also felt like she doesn’t learn anything from the events taking place around her; she doesn’t grow as a character. All the other characters, like her friends Hadley and Ida, Brago, Sir Edris and Red are not well developed at all, they don’t have depth and I didn’t feel their connection to the story. I think there is room for improvement, both when it comes to plot details and the character development. Hopefully there will be changes in the next novel. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Diversion Publishing and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars It seems I started in the middle with this series, but I regret nothing. Little Mermaid is one of all-time favourite Disney film and Ursula definitely one of the best villains, so of course this book is a must-have! The best part? It wasn’t disappointing, quite the opposite: unpredictable, heartfelt and very addictive! This novel tells the story of Ursula, the most feared sea witch of all time and her journey to becoming the villain so known and terrifying in the sea world. Haunted by her past, fuelled by hatred you’ll take a ride to the depths of the witch's' heart and beware, it’s a wild ride. I loved this novel! It was amazing to see her story from the beginning and how it intertwines with the story of Ariel and scenes from the film; To read “Poor Unfortunate Souls” while reading Ursula’s line of thought gave me goosebumps! This story gives depth to the villain and proves that no one is born evil. Being left in a state of fear, loneliness and rejection, turned Ursula to the path of hatred; so strong that she has no chance at redemption. I couldn’t help but feel for her and understand why she is the way she is. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but she has one or two good reasons to be the way she is and to seek revenge, even if I know that it isn’t the answer to the problem. I also could help but wish that the story ended differently and that her fate wasn’t the one we’re all familiar with. My first read by Ms Serena Valentino and it’s my pleasure to highly recommend this book to any Disney villain fans out there! Can’t wait for the next volumes to arrive! My Rating: 5 Stars This book was awesome. No other way to put it. I don’t even know how I only heard about these series now and I will definitely get my hands on a paperback version of both instalments. The story starts with the main character Evelyn and her search for gifted people who are struggling with their powers or simply hiding them out of fear. At the same time, she needs to make sure that she gets to them before the Society of Aberrations does. It’s not a group one should trust… right? With her parents back, Evelyn has to protect herself in two fronts, from the Society and her parent’s intent to marry her off. I fell in love with this book even though I didn’t have the fortune of reading the first volume These Vicious Masks. It is fast-paced, pack with action, not a dull moment in sight. Intrigue at every corner, I was sitting at the edge of my seat in anticipation. I really couldn’t guess who to trust or to be suspensions of, even though most of the characters are simply amazing. Twists and unexpected events would make anyone hold their breaths. The time-period is simply perfect and definitely one of my all-time favourites. The colours, the dash of steampunk, the language and the manners are so beautifully described I got goosebumps. The style of writing is perfect, words feel like silk when I read them in my mind, it’s breathtaking and hypnotic. Oh, and did I mention highly-addictive? Evelyn is an amazing character and she definitely became one of my all-time favourites. She is one badass lady, with a strong character, spirit and smart mind. She is the picture of independence, the complete opposite of what society requires of a woman in that period. She is the proof that we can break free of society’s rules and how we can break them in style and with grace. Despite everything though, she still feels the need to make her parents proud, and does her best to please them even if she doesn’t agree with their traditional views and beliefs. That’s another thing this character is great: even coming from a family with high social status, Evelyn is kind and treats everybody equally and she truly wants to make a difference in the world, no matter the cost. Her powers are incredible, so, another reason I like her, of course. Utterly brilliant is the only way to describe this amazing novel. I will be ordering the first volume and the second one for good measure because this is definitely a series worth following and having in the bookshelf! I want to thank Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to participate in this book tours in exchange for an honest review. |
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