Siah

So can this series get an animated television show, a la the likes of Avatar: The Last Airbender? Or at least Attack on Titan? Seriously, this series is great from the start. Unique, captivating, with a lovable protagonist in the middle of a major conflict. The series is a fun adventure, combined with a societal and philosophical approach about what it means to be human. Apparently there have been talks about a movie adaptation being made, but I doubt if anything's confirmed as of yet. I just want more. It was really great. Pick it up if you can. You'll love it.

It took me months to finish this book because of school (I haven't even been writing as much because of the semester) but I've finally finished the book. Honestly, this is my favorite Star Wars book in the new canon. Granted, this is the second Star Wars book I've read in both new canon and legends, so I'm a bit biased, but there are obvious reasons as to why I think it's one that people trying to get into Star Wars books should read. Not only does Claudia Gray know the world of Star Wars, but she's literally breathing it as she brings Thane and Ciena to life. Set against the backdrop of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, the novel doesn't blatantly scream Star Wars, like some books and comics can. Instead, it reads like a natural romance story that just happens to be set in the Star Wars universe. The character cameos were great, and I grinned every time I saw a familiar name. The clues that set up The Force Awakens are also great, and it's one that I was not expecting, but when it clicked, my mouth was literally hanging open. If you're stuck on which book to start with in the new canon, start with this one. You won't be disappointed.

INVINCIBLE: ULTIMATE COLLECTION, VOL. 1 by ROBERT KIRKMAN ★★★★½Nowadays, it can be a bit scary to jump into superhero comics. There's Marvel and DC, of course, but with so many titles and crossovers and tie-ins, you'd wonder where you should start. If you'd rather start somewhere that's not heavily loaded in an already-established universe, and if you want to read a comic that doesn't really take itself seriously (and even pokes fun at the superhero genre), then definitely check out Invincible. Robert Kirkman, the creator of The Walking Dead, has created what many consider to be “the best superhero comic out there right now.” And in some sense, I have to agree. Invincible is a superhero title unlike any other superhero story. You don't have to worry about having to find another series to read to fill in gaps or find the latest issue in a crossover series to deepen your knowledge about Invincible. Everything you need to know will be in this book. Full of great characters, a relatable protagonist, and a story that starts off a bit slowly but then grabs hold of you and takes off. The last four issues in this ultimate collection really make you question the characters and story you know, but once you're hooked, you're hooked. I don't want to spoil much. Just go out and read this book!

I was really interested in this book a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. It was recommended by a guy named Hector (@hectorisfunny on Instagram and Twitter, also a host on Superhero News on YouTube) who is a major fan of the series, and since I wanted to dive more into comics without relying heavily on the Marvel and DC standards, I decided to give this one a shot. I've been reading a few indies here and there, and they've been really great. This one doesn't disappoint either. It's a superhero comic book, but then again, it's more than just that. It's really a coming-of-age story about a young guy becoming a hero. Mark Grayson is a great protagonist, and his story is different, but still comic book-y in a sense. I think that's also another strength–that the story doesn't take itself too seriously. It's very self aware, knowing that it's a comic book. That's what makes it great.

I didn't really have any cons. If I did have to say something, I would say that sometimes in the issues, the story would shift scenes rather quickly. I thought I was missing a few pages while I was reading, but I soon realized that the story just jumped around and caught on. This volume was a great introduction. Not the strongest beginning by far, but it'll hook you. I can't wait to get the next volumes.

Amos is one of those characters that has an air of mystery and charisma surrounding him, so much so that you start to wonder what's the story behind the man. The Churn manages to offer a glimpse into his coming-of-age (and coming-of-self, of sorts) story while providing a small window of Baltimore, Amos's home city, which allows for a grounded approach to the Expanse universe as a whole. With the story being straightforward, there is not much downtime from start to finish. Very to the point and focused. Not a necessary read if you'd rather focus on the main story at hand, but a good one throughout.

3.5/5.

I'm conflicted on this series. On the one hand, the worldbuilding and a reliance on the science opera genre are this book's strengths, and some secondary characters stand out in the bloated cast listed at the start of the story. I'll say it's an improvement over its predecessor, as it feels like its own story instead of pulling heavily from what we've seen before.

On the other hand, the book still suffers from a few pitfalls that the first book had. The writing has gotten better, but it has its weak moments still. Darrow, while having an interesting backstory, does not offer the story much in terms of characterization. His motivations are clear but rigid, and the challenges he faces are nonexistent. Most of the obstacles in the book are resolved within a chapter or the next few pages, and then we're on to the next one. With this structure, the story feels disjointed as it's ushering us to the climax, which fizzes out as soon as we reach it.

I really do like the overall concept of the series, but it's taken me so long to get through this one. It had a good start, but sort of lost steam toward part two. Part of me wants to read Morning Star just to see how the story wraps up, and even if I do, I doubt I'd pick up the second ongoing trilogy. Then again, there's a part of me that wants to end my journey here. I hate leaving things unresolved. Here's hoping that it actually does get resolved in the last book?

A surprising story after all...

I'm not the biggest fan when it comes to strictly romance novels. I'm more into stories that incorporate romance but don't make it the biggest focus of the novel. However, picking up Eleanor & Park was a shock to me, even though I did it willingly. I'd heard about Fangirl and Rainbow Rowell and was somewhat interested in her work, so I decided to get a library copy of the novel. Now I wish I had my own copy.

For starters, I loved the fact that the novel took place in 1986. Call me a sucker for eighties teen films, but that aspect of the novel definitely hooked me. It also reminded me of The Perks of Being A Wallflower, which is one of my favorite YA novels (and book-to-film adaptations). I also loved the characterizations of Eleanor and Park. They weren't your typical couple that you find in most romance stories. They were complicated and got in the way of their happiness, but then found ways to work around their problems for the sake of love.

I was definitely shocked by the ending (which I won't spoil if you're reading this as someone who's trying to decide whether to read the book or not). It's something that I didn't expect, and when it happened, I was just hoping that Rowell would do a complete 180. It was a really great ending, I just have feels about it. Now for some pros and cons...

Pros:
1. Eleanor and Park as characters. They kept the story interesting. This is definitely a character-driven novel.
2. How Eleanor and Park bond. Reminds me of Perks, but the way Rowell writes it is just perfect.
3. Their relationship isn't rushed. I'll just leave it there. It feels organic.
4. The friendships and familial relationships in the novel were great. I definitely loved the relationship between Park and his mom.

Cons:
1. I only had one con, being that I didn't know exactly when Eleanor and Park got together. I mean, their relationship was great in the story, I just didn't feel that transition from acquaintances to friends to love interests. I even went back through to see when that exact moment was. I guess you could just use the context clues and connect the pieces. That was really my only con. If someone can pinpoint the exact moment, they could let me know! I know it's all subjective, but if you have an idea, feel free to fill me in.

At the end of it all, I'd give Eleanor & Park a 4/5. Not entirely perfect, due to some slow moments and how the main issue was resolved, but still a great read!

A beautifully careful writing style that drew me in and reminded me of Andre Aciman's style in Call Me By Your Name. The story itself is a close character study of sorts, spanning over the course of years with our protagonist and love interest. A definite recommend for those looking to read historical fiction.

3.5/5

While Fred Johnson isn't a favorite of mine in terms of Expanse characters, it was nice to get a look at his perspective surrounding the events of Anderson Station. I do think the show's handling of the event was a little more impactful, whereas this short story sort of danced around it until the end. The inclusion of Anderson Dawes wasn't as gripping as Corey may have intended it to be; I would've been finding just getting more out of the Anderson event.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, VOL. 1 by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS ★★★★★My first introduction to Spider-Man was Sam Raimi's 2002 film, appropriately named Spider-Man. It was as great as a superhero film could be in the early 2000s, but it hooked me into the webslinger's story and made me a fan. But even with the movies, it never occurred to me that I could be reading the comic books. So I took it as an opportunity to catch up on old times. In this first volume, Bendis takes the classic story and revitalizes it, breathing fresh life into it and presenting it to an audience of a new generation. As a kid just starting out in elementary school, this would've been perfect for me. And the story doesn't disappoint. Peter Parker is still Peter Parker–somewhat nerdy but brainy, not so smooth with the ladies, the butt of a jock's jokes–and his supporting cast is almost the same, minus the subtle differences (the book takes place in the Ultimate universe, a separate continuity for the main Marvel universe...it can get complicated, but that's the basic idea), but the story, while the same at its core, feels new. It's almost as if there's more to Peter's story that we're just now learning; or better yet, the same story with new angles and twists. It's a feel-good story that's sure to win the hearts of fans across the board. Everything you know about Peter's early days as Spider-Man, from the accident, to his relationship with his aunt and uncle, to the famous words, “With great power comes great responsibility,” Ultimate Spider-Man, Vol. 1 is an absolute must-read for diehard fans and newcomers alike.