Review: the mermaid’s voice returns in this one by Amanda Lovelace

March 4, 2019 DeAnneLeave a comment

I’ve read the previous installments in the Women Are Some Kind of Magic series and while I enjoyed them, they weren’t favorites. Lovelace was definitely one of my favored voices in modern poetry and I was willing to give anything she put out a chance. This installment in the trilogy blew me away.

One thing I love about Lovelace’s collections is that she always includes trigger warnings in the beginning. This is so appreciated and valuable when it comes to the type of content being discussed. Her language is beautiful while the emotions and subject matter are very raw and real. The way she phrases and formats her poems lend to the style and the expert use of language.

Perhaps it is my own experiences, but this collection just spoke to me. The progression of the story felt like a real progression of healing and learning. The guest poems from other poets perfectly melded into the collection. While they were different voices being added in, they fit in and belonged there. It was wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time.

I definitely recommend this collection for anyone who enjoys her writing or anyone looking for modern poetry that touches hard hitting and difficult subjects. The mermaid’s voice returns in this one comes out on March 5th from Andrews McMeel Publishing.

Happy Reading!

Review: Haphaven by Norm Harper

February 26, 2019 DeAnneLeave a comment

When I initially read the description of Haphaven I was intrigued. Haphaven is a graphic novel by Norm Harper and illustrated by Louie Joyce that follows a young teen named Alex as she goes on a quest to save her mother. She has to use all of the superstitions she has learned throughout her life to aid her in a magical world called Haphaven.

I really enjoyed the story in this graphic novel and was surprised by it. It had depth to it that was well developed. The layers to the story lined up beautifully and you find yourself going on this journey with Alex, understanding her hurts and her thoughts. The backstory that was created explained her motivation as well as her character and why she believes the things she does.

Overall this was a really fun story that was full of laughs as well as a daring adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think anyone who likes stories with fantastical elements would also enjoy it.

Haphaven comes out on March 19th from Lion Forge. Be sure to check it out if it sounds like something you would like.

Happy Reading!

Review: Fierce Fairytales by Nikita Gill

February 24, 2019 DeAnne1 Comment

Okay – first and foremost something that has no bearing on my rating at all but must be mentioned – this cover! It is so breathtaking in person and was done excellently. The detail when you really look at it is exquisite.

Now that I have that out of the way, I will be the first person to admit that modern poetry is typically not my thing. A six word sentence broken up into three lines does not a poem make in my opinion. I know a lot of people enjoy that style, but I don’t, so I was a little hesitant heading into this. I was pleasantly surprised that this book of poetry and short stories was a more traditional style while still being modern and I LOVED it.

The way Gill twists the common fairytale themes and looks at them in a different way was so refreshing and beautiful. Her writing at times is so lyrical and descriptive that there were times I literally stopped, had to take a breath, and then re-read. I was often swept away by the imagery that she was portraying and building within these passages.

It was great looking at these stories from a different angle and while the poems and stories definitely lean towards feminism, it’s feminism that speaks of strength and resilience, belief in oneself. I was not expecting to love this collection as much as I did, I thought I would probably enjoy it and have a few that really spoke to me, but I truly fell in love with it. i’m definitely looking forward to picking up other collections and works by Nikita Gill in the future and would definitely recommend checking our Fierce Fairytales.

Happy reading!

Review: Pilu of the Woods by Mai Nguyen

February 23, 2019 DeAnneLeave a comment

Pilu of the Woods follows Willow, a little girl who obviously has been going through some emotional turmoil and at some point has had some trauma in her life. This story explores grief, loneliness anger and a number of other strong emotions that many people must learn to handle at a young age. Throughout her journey she meets Pilu and the girls bond while they learn how to handle their emotions and exactly what those emotions cause within them.

I was not prepared for the emotions I experienced while reading this. The emotions were so heartfelt and real with both little girls having to learn things about themselves and how they feel about different situations. I was prepared for this to be a sweet story, but it was so much more than that. At times what both Pilu and Willow were feeling were very raw, real emotions that are hard to deal with and accept, but they find a way. The girls have clear personalities that make them relatable to the reader and when they struggle the reader can certainly feel it.

I absolutely loved the art style of this story. Muted earth tones along with the style itself gave the story a beautiful, whimsical look. It was easy to follow and so easily draws one in with clear details. Everything from the characters to the backgrounds was well thought out and so enjoyable to experience.

Pilu of the Woods comes out on April 16, 2019 from Oni Press. I definitely recommend pre-ordering or picking up this one when it comes out. It was an absolutely enjoyable read and would be a great addition to any library.

Happy reading!

Review: Witchcraft and Monsters

January 8, 2019 DeAnneLeave a comment

I’m not always the biggest fan of modern poetry collections, but I could resist checking out this title when I saw the cover and description and I’m so glad I did. Though this book is very short, the author’s writing is lyrical and descriptive. There were phrases that literally made me suck in a breath because they were so impactful. I can’t say that there were any poems within this collection that I disliked and found myself identifying with so many of them.

This collection is broken up into different sections that feel like a natural progression. Not only do the themes evolve and change as you make your way through it, but as you make your way through the poems become more reality and less fantasy. It’s obvious that the author has poured herself into this work and truly laid out many of her emotions and thoughts for the reader. That kind of vulnerability is not an easy thing to do and all the more beautiful for it.

I definitely recommend picking this collection up and giving it a read and hope to see more from this author in the future. Witchcraft and Monsters by Kala Godin is coming out on January 21st by Patchwork press.

Happy reading!

Review: Cogheart by Peter Bunzl

January 4, 2019January 4, 2019 DeAnneLeave a comment

There are a number of words or topics that I would consider buzzwords for me, one of them being steampunk. Any books that include steampunk elements can peak my interest, so I was very excited to receive a copy of Cogheart by Peter Bunzl from NetGalley. Though I had never heard of this book, the synopsis was enough to draw me in. This middle grade steampunk adventure was full of twists and turns and interesting characters.

Cogheart follows Lily Hartman, the daughter of a famous inventor who has gone missing in an airship crash. Very quickly the reader is made aware of nefarious characters having ulterior motives towards Lily and her father. Lily is a feisty girl who pines for adventure and to be the heroine of her story. Throughout the book she is accompanied by her new friend Robert and her mechanical fox, Malkin, whose quick wit and sharp tongue made me laugh more than once.

The story itself was a tad predictable regarding the final outcome, but the journey to get there was worth it and full of character building and depth. Bunzl’s descriptions of settings, vehicles, different people and mechanicals were rich and full of the whimsy that I love to associate with steampunk in general. With such vivid details it was easy to see the story play out in one’s mind and made the read even more enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a fun middle grade adventure that is sure to suck the reader into a unique and whimsical world I would definitely recommend picking this up. I greatly look forward to getting the opportunity to read the following stories as well.

Cogheart is being released by Jolly Fish Press on February 12, 2019, be sure to check it out!

Happy reading!

Review: Hidden Heartbreak

January 2, 2019January 2, 2019 DeAnneLeave a comment

I used to follow @HiddenHeartbreak’s posts on Instagram as the art and story intrigued me, so when I found out that much of that story had been compiled into a book I was excited to take a look.

I was a little disappointed that it didn’t seem to include much art that was new, though it was nice to see the entire story, or healing process, in one continuous stream.

Hidden Heartbreak is a graphic representation of the author’s relationship and where it went wrong. It does take a look at insecurities some people may have, as well as glimpses of a toxic relationship and how the author worked her way back from it.

I probably would have gotten much more out of this book if I wasn’t already familiar with the art, of if there had been more that was brand new, but I felt that this was a great collection of the art from the instagram account.

Hidden Heartbreak comes out January 8, 2019 from Andrews McMeel Publishing. If it’s something that interests you, check it out!

Happy reading!

Review: Book Love by Debbie Tung

December 2, 2018 DeAnneLeave a comment

Oh my god, if ever I thought an author was watching my life and using it for inspiration, this would be it. Book Love is a graphic novel by Debbie Tung coming out in January. This is the perfect portrayal of book lovers in so many different ways. I loved seeing all the different quirks, emotions and habits of book lovers which I can definitely identify with. The flow of the book was quick and fun, often interchanging from humorous to meaningful. The art style was a beautiful sketch style that inserted just enough detail to make each character unique and each setting recognizable.

If you are a book lover or know someone who is a book lover this is a wonderful book to enjoy and share. It captures so much that is true about those of us who enjoy immersing ourselves in reading and books.

Book Love comes out on January 1st, 2019 through Andrews McMeel publishing. Be sure to check it out or get the book lover in your life a copy! You can also find Debbie Tung on Twitter at @WheresMyBubble.

Happy Reading!

Review: Loading Penguin Hugs

November 25, 2018 DeAnneLeave a comment

Pretty much anyone who knows me knows that I love penguins, so when I saw Loading Penguin Hugs available on NetGalley I had to pick it up and see what it was about.

This was quite possibly the most adorable and uplifting book I’ve read all year. This is definitely the type of book you would want to keep on your desk or nearby and pick it up from time to time to flip to random pages. The artwork is bright and colorful and each graphic suits the simple message on each page. Any page in this book could be a poster or inspirational message. It’s a very quick book, but will give anyone who reads it a quick smile and could completely change their mood if they need a pick me up.

I know I’ve seen Chibird’s (Jacqueline Chen) art before here and there but never connected who the artist actually was. I loved the experience of seeing each of the pages in this books and her simplistic but fun art style, it’s a perfect example of how so much can be said with so little.

Loading Penguin Hugs was published by Andrews McMeel Publishing on November 13th, so be sure to pick up a copy for yourself! Also, be sure to check out more of Chibird’s art by following her at @chibirdart on twitter, instagram or facebook.

Happy reading!

Review: Haunted Hearts

November 16, 2018 DeAnneLeave a comment

I originally requested this book from Netgalley purely because the subject seemed interesting and I usually like most things with a paranormal spin. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was a very fun and enjoyable read. This story follows Callie who has recently inherited a house and decided a change of scene is just what she needs. Turns out, that house comes with a history that’s known to everyone but her. Watching her discover the secrets of the house and her ancestors was wonderful, though part of me wished for more.

The chemistry between Callie and Carter was great and it was always fun to watch them spar. There were certainly parts of the book that were predictable, and once I got to 80% I had figured out what the climax/twist was going to be, but I was pleasantly surprised it took that long for me to see all the clues fall into place. I felt that supporting characters were well defined enough to be individuals, though I would have loved to have more details about the town and locations. Though this appears to be set up as a stand alone, I would definitely enjoy getting more books set in the town and reappearances by many of the side characters.

The scenes where we see the point of view of Callie’s ancestor were well written and there was no mistaking the personality and individuality of this person. In fact, the different personalities of all of the characters were some of my favorite parts of the book, I found myself falling in love with some of the characters and secretly wanting more.

The writing and pacing seemed to fluctuate a little, but not to the point that it was off putting and the read itself was well paced on average. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it would be great for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance. If you want to pick up your own copy of Haunted Hearts, it is out now and clicking on the cover image will take you to the Amazon page for it. Check it out if you like ghost stories, romance or just a fun and dynamic story. If you want to find out more about Kimberly Dean, check out her website at https://kimberlydean.com/ – I know I will definitely be checking out more of her books.

Happy Reading!