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Teen Titans: Raven
Teen Titans: Raven
Kami Garcia | 2019 | Comics & Graphic Novels
7
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
graphic novel introducing Raven's origin story
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Teen Titans: Raven (Teen Titans #1) by Kami Garcia is a graphic novel with a story written by Kami Garcia and illustrated by Gabriel Picolo. Fans of YA may recognize Kami Garcia as a coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures series. Teen Titans: Raven is Garcia's first graphic novel.

Growing up I was a DC Comic fan but, after the introduction of the Marvel Avengers movies, especially Iron Man, I switched teams. However, you do not need to be a fan of Teen Titans, Raven, or DC Comics to appreciate the way in which Garcia and Picolo present Raven's origin story.

I thought the story was interesting and enjoyed the illustrations. Many reviews mention Raven's snarky attitude is missing from the story. I had not watched or read the Teen Titans and my niece was too young to understand attitude so I do not have a reference in which to compare Raven's story. Although enough reviews mention the lack of snarkiness I felt the need to mention it.

The 2nd book in the series, Teen Titans: Beast Boy (Teen Titans #2) will also be written by Kami Garcia and illustrated by Gabriel Picolo. It is scheduled to be released in 2020.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 10/10/19.
  
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Merissa (11961 KP) rated Beautiful Facade in Books

Feb 2, 2021 (Updated Aug 7, 2023)  
Beautiful Facade
Beautiful Facade
Kathryn S Rose | 2021 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
BEAUTIFUL FACADE is the debut novel from Kathryn S Rose and she pulls no punches (literally) with the subjects she covers in this novel - drink, drugs, sexual assault, and domestic violence.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable novel, told from the first perspective of the main female character. It was pretty clear from the start that Winter wouldn't end up with Liam, and their picture-perfect life wasn't as good as she imagined. I did enjoy the question mark over who was with him and was glad I was wrong. I won't say more as I don't want to ruin it!

The scene-setting was very well done, with a bunch of flawed characters as the supporting cast. If I had to say anything negative about this book, it would be the copious amount of alcohol that was drunk for the majority of the story, plus the number of texts and missed calls Winter had. If I had that many from one person in that amount of time, I'd be worried about their mental health!

On the whole, this was a great, smoothly-paced story that held my attention from beginning to end, that I have no hesitation in recommending.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 2, 2021
  
Dragonfly in Amber
Dragonfly in Amber
Diana Gabaldon | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.2 (17 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wow! Just wow! Talk about a cliffhanger. As I said when I read Outlander, I am by no means a fan of the "romance" novel. That's why I waited so long to dive into the series. But let me tell you, these books are so much more than that. Just like the first installment DiA has its typical romance novel elements but it has much, much more than that too. This book delves much deeper into the history of the time period that Clare falls in to. It took me awhile to really get hooked on this book, but I did. Gabaldon is a wonderful storyteller! She writes with so much detail & passion, not to mention what must be a HUGE amount of painstaking research. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book. Hopefully it won't be as far between the 2nd & 3rd as it was between the 1st & 2nd!!
  
Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal #1)
Sorcerer to the Crown (Sorcerer Royal #1)
Zen Cho | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fabulous Magical Regency Romp
Sorcerer to the Crown is a Regency era fantasy novel packed with romance, mystery, and adventure. Fans of historial fiction and gaslamp fantasy like Jonathan Strange & Mister Norell, the Chrestomanci series, or A Great and Terrible Beauty will enjoy this romantic romp through an alternative London where magic is a gentleman's sport and issues of race, class, and gender are as worrying as the general decline of magic in England.

Zacharias Wythe charms as the stoic Sorcerer Royal and Prunella Gentleman, the snarky orphan with a troubling amount of magical talent, is easily his match. The relationship between the two has a Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet quality that still manages to feel fresh and unique.

Cho has crafted a wonderful fantasy world replete with interesting characters and intriguing mysteries, it's easy to see why this book gained a nomination for 2016's Locus Award for Best First Novel.
  
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QuietlyBookish (65 KP) rated Fangirl in Books

Jul 6, 2017  
Fangirl
Fangirl
Rainbow Rowell | 2014 | Young Adult (YA)
10
8.9 (46 Ratings)
Book Rating
Characters (3 more)
Themes of Mental Illness
Plot
Dialogue
Must Read For Anyone Starting University!
I very much enjoyed this book. I read this book in one day. I loved Cath, I felt that she was easy to like and she was realistic, I think her thoughts, feelings and actions were easy to relate to.
This book is about finding yourself as you transition from teenager to adult and learn to live alone for the first time.
I can't recommend this enough, I think everyone can gain something from this story!

There are a lot of different editions of this book! I'd recommend looking them up if you're interested in fan art or author Q&A's! Also, there are two other books related to Fangirl, there is Carry On which is a full novel about the Simon and Baz fanfiction Cath writes in Fangirl. Also, Cath and Levi make an appearance in the author's adult novel Landline, if you're interested in that!
  
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Samantha (67 KP) rated Heir of Fire in Books

Jul 7, 2017  
Heir of Fire
Heir of Fire
Sarah J. Maas | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.9 (38 Ratings)
Book Rating
Rowan and Manon are new, interesting and valuable characters to this series (2 more)
Celaena's/ Elentiya's/ Aelin's development as a Fae and in trusting those around her
Further insight is provided in relation to Celaena's/ Elentiya's/ Aelin's past and the influence of these occurances
What should we be calling her?
This story was a brilliant addition to the 'Throne of Glass' series, showing immense growth in the main character whilst also introducing new characters and story lines to the mix. I found that it took a while to get into Manon's story line, although once I did it was a valuable addition to the story. The story line surrounding Chaol and Dorian seemed cloudy and trivial for a fair amount of the novel although still had its merits in relation to the story as a whole. Overall, the combination of story lines allowed for a story that provided constant engagement and intrigue throughout the novel.
  
TF
Together Forever (Orphan Train, #2)
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is definitely a book that you will not put down! The author has done her extensive research and has brought fiction and history together in an incredible novel. Jody Hedlund has a knack for developing the characters so that you can truly interact with them and feel the emotions and the empathy, that these agents must have felt. As the reader, I felt that I really bonded with the characters, I felt love for little Jethro and wanted to ease the fear of the other children. The author makes the reader feel as if they are a part of the story. This storyline also has a theme of love, forgiveness, restoration and letting the past go and being free to move on to the future. A truly enjoyable book!


This story was full of laughter, fun, romance, anticipation and mystery. It's a novel that everyone will enjoy.


I rate this one 5 stars.
  
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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Asymmetry in Books

Jan 17, 2018  
Asymmetry
Asymmetry
Lisa Halliday | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Asymmetrical stories
Lisa Halliday's novel of three parts charts the relationship between an eccentric older writer Ezra Blazer, his young lover Alice, and then moves quickly to the story of an American Iraqi attempting to find his roots.

Individually, each story is captivating, Halliday's ability to bring humour with subtle behaviour is remarkable. Similarly, her research into Iraq is interesting - though at one point I did get confused as she mentions the Clinton administration's foreign policy role during the second Gulf War when it should be under George Bush. I'm unsure whether this is a typo or a genuine mistake or I'm wrong altogether.

While each part is well-written, and the first story is completed in the third part when Ezra's character becomes a guest on BBC's Desert Island Discs, it all feels rather disjointed. Perhaps this is why the novel is named Asymmetry as a result? We may never know.
  
The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars
John Green | 2012 | Children
10
8.2 (185 Ratings)
Book Rating
I scoffed at the author's note before the novel started. Of COURSE the characters and events are fictional. DUH. But i had to remind myself of that when i finished because Hazel and Augustus are my dear friends and my heroes. (and it's not because the "fought" cancer "bravely") Even as fictional characters -still don't actually, literally believe that- they left their scars upon me and I'm better for it. That's the whole point of literature, isn't it? That's the whole point of life: notice the universe but don't forget about the simple beauties in front of you. Like a fantastic novel.

SPOILER

I felt like Green put me in the shoes of Hazel in that he created a character that i fell in love with but tragically lost. In an infinite number of dimensions with an infinite number of outcomes, Augustus and Hazel live a long and happy life together. I refuse to believe anything less.