Review – Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files Welcome to the Jungle

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files Welcome to the Jungle
By: Jim Butcher
Illustrator: Ardian Syaf
Release Date: October 21, 2008
Publisher: Del Rey/Dabel Brothers
Series: The Dresden Files Graphic Novels
Award: Hugo Award Nominee for Best Graphic Story (2009)
Rating:


I’ve been a fan of the Dresden Files since the series early days. I have all the novels lovingly sitting right next to my Harry Potter collection. (Look, having all the fantasy books with protagonists named Harry together just makes sense to me). What I don’t have are any of the assorted graphic novels. Recently, I picked up a copy of The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher and Ardian Syaf.

Review – Again!! Vol. 1 by Mitsuro Kubo

Again!! Vol. 1
By: Mitsuro Kubo
Translator: Adrienne Beck
Release Date: February 27, 2018
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Series: Again!!
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Does the name Mitsuro Kubo sound familiar? If you like anime it probably does. This week sees the English release of a high school sports manga from the creator of the anime Yuri on Ice.  Again!! Vol. 1 by Mitsuro Kubo is a high school slice of life sports manga that focuses on the characters and their interactions.

Review – Embers of War by Gareth L. Powell

Embers of War
By: Gareth L. Powell
Release Date: February 20, 2018
Publisher: Titan Books
Series: Embers of War #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Sometimes it’s the book’s synopsis that catches you. Sometimes it’s the author. Other times it’s the beautiful cover. This time it was a single concept that was introduced within the original synopsis that I read. The space ships are not run by an AI; they are fully sentient. Embers of War by Gareth L. Powell is a fantastic space opera with tight prose, fast pacing, and unforgettable characters.

Throwback Thursday: Academ’s Fury (Codex Alera #2)

Academ's Fury (Codex Alera #2)
By: Jim Butcher
Website: http://www.jim-butcher.com/
Release Date: July 5th, 2005
Publisher: Ace Books
Series: Codex Alera
Rating:


Back to the world of Alera we go! For anyone following along, book two doesn’t disappoint and only continues to build the series. We see character development and an increase in the danger for the characters as well as small, subtle budding romances that don’t take over the books but add to them. I’m sold!

Review – The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

The Best We Could Do
By: Thi Bui
Release Date: March 7, 2017
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Award: National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for Autobiography (2017), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Graphic Novels & Comics (2017); Reading Women Award Nominee for Nonfiction (2017)
Rating:


Memoirs are not a genre I often read, even when they do happen to fall into the graphic novel genre as well. Honestly, this may have been the first memoir – not a story based off of someone’s life, or a biography – I’ve read that wasn’t assigned reading. But graphic novels! Those I most definitely read, and it was only a matter of time before I picked up this beautiful graphic novel that has been nominated for multiple awards. The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui is as heartbreaking as it is beautiful. It is a story of family, war, refugee life, and starting over again, no matter how many times it takes.

Review – Giant Spider & Me: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale Vol. 1 by Kikori Morino

Giant Spider & Me: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale Vol. 1
By: Kikori Morino
Translator: Adrienne Beck
Release Date: February 20, 2018
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Giant Spider & Me: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


You know, I’m really beginning to love the ‘end of the world slice of life’ manga and anime that have been released recently. The latest in this wonderful vein is a manga called Giant Spider & Me: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale Vol. 1 by Kikori Morino, released in English for the first time on February 20, 2018.

Review – Universal Harvester by John Darnelle

Universal Harvester
By: John Darnelle
Release Date: February 7, 2017
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Rating:


I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book, despite hearing some mixed opinions. Universal Harvester by John Darnelle is a mysterious tale, one that evokes a sense of horror in early chapters, but ultimately winds up pittering out with too many characters and an ever shifting point of view.

Throwback Thursday: Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera #1)

Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera #1)
By: Jim Butcher
Website: http://www.jim-butcher.com/
Release Date: October 5th, 2004
Publisher: Ace Books
Series: Codex Alera
Rating:


First of all, apologies to anyone who might have wondered where I’ve been. Between commuting and health issues (migraines) I’ve found myself unable to do much reading and even less work on the computer when I’m home because my brain simply would not allow it. The way around this-audio books! I swear, as time goes on this medium has kept me going and enjoying my time without straining my eyes and brain which is a great relief. Now, onto the reason we’re all here – THE BOOKS. 

Review – Scales & Scoundrels Vol. 1: Into the Dragon’s Maw

Scales & Scoundrels Vol. 1: Into the Dragon's Maw
By: Sebastian Girner
Illustrator: Galaad
Release Date: February 13, 2018
Publisher: Image Comics
Series: Scales & Scoundrels
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


I love fantasy stories. So it isn’t any surprise that I picked up the latest fantasy graphic novel, which hit shelves today, February 13, 2018. Scales & Scoundrels Vol. 1: Into the Dragon’s Maw by Sebastian Girner and Galaad is a delightful fantasy perfect for people of any age.