Sexuality: A Graphic Guide - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Icon Books via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Sexuality: A Graphic Guide
Author: Meg-John Barker
Artists: Jules Scheele
Upcoming Release Date: June 15, 2021


Synopsis: From the dream team creators of Queer: A Graphic History and Gender: A Graphic Guide

Sex can seem like a house of horrors – full of monsters and potential pitfalls. We often live with fear, shame and frustration when it comes to our own sexuality, and with judgement when it comes to others’. Sex advice manuals, debates over sex work and stories of sexual ‘dysfunction’ add to our anxiety.

With compassion, humour, erudition and a touch of the erotic, Meg-John Barker and Jules Scheele shine a light through the darkness and unmask the monsters in this illustrated guide. From sexual identities to having sex, to desire, consent and relationships, we’ll explore the invention of sex as we know it and imagine sex as it could be. Along the way, we’ll move past thinking of sex as meaning just one thing, defined by the genders of those doing it, instead making space for lots of different types of attraction, desire, relationship and act.

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Review: This book definitely is more textbook than comic book. There's multiple paragraphs of information on most pages. It's a lot of reading. This is a book that will most likely take you some time to get through and fully digest. Not a breeze-through type of book.

This book covers so much material. There's the history of sex and societal expectations and cultural norms surrounding sex. There's historical context given for so many different subjects. This book is very informative with plenty of references in case you want to dive deeper into these subjects in other books or papers. 

I give this book a 4/5. There's a lot to take in. I've enjoyed these type of nonfiction informative graphic novels before that have more story and that are primarily illustration. This is different than that. This is 176 pages of information.


--PAUL

Aster of Pan (graphic novel) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Magnetic Press via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Title: Aster of Pan Vol.1

Author & Artist: Merwan

Release Date: February 16, 2021

Synopsis: The year is 2068. The place, Fontainebleau forest, ancient home of some of France’s mightiest monarchs on the outskirts of what was once Paris. The post-apocalyptic society of Pan survives by growing rice and scavenging among the ruins of a destroyed civilization. Their precarious existence comes under threat when the powerful, technologically advanced Federation of Fortuna forces them into a dangerous choice—submit to Fortuna’s rule, or try to best them in a barbaric, ritualized game known as Celestial Mechanics. Pan’s only hope? A hot-headed outcast they’d rejected for being “un-Pan”: a girl named Aster.

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Review: It's 2068 and the world is very different. It's a post-apocalyptical world where a certain sport has become a ritual ceremony. I'd say this story is The Hunger Games meets dodgeball. The artwork is great with plenty of fun colors. This is a wacky cool concept, but I found myself bored while reading. The combination of military and sports just don't vibe with me well. 

I could absolutely see this graphic novel adapted into an action packed film. I give this book a 3/5.


--PAUL

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Be Dazzled
Author: Ryan La Sala
Release Date: January 5, 2021


Synopsis: Raffy has a passion for bedazzling. Not just bedazzling, but sewing, stitching, draping, pattern making—for creation. He's always chosen his art over everything—and everyone—else and is determined to make his mark at this year's biggest cosplay competition. If he can wow there, it could lead to sponsorship, then art school, and finally earning real respect for his work. There's only one small problem... Raffy's ex-boyfriend, Luca, is his main competition.

Raffy tried to make it work with Luca. They almost made the perfect team last year after serendipitously meeting in the rhinestone aisle at the local craft store—or at least Raffy thought they did. But Luca's insecurities and Raffy's insistence on crafting perfection caused their relationship to crash and burn. Now, Raffy is after the perfect comeback, one that Luca can't ruin.

But when Raffy is forced to partner with Luca on his most ambitious build yet, he'll have to juggle unresolved feelings for the boy who broke his heart, and his own intense self-doubt, to get everything he's ever wanted: choosing his art, his way.

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Review: This book is wonderful. If you're looking for a feel-good contemporary YA with a gay protagonist, go no further. Or rather start with this one and then move on to the other wonderfully queer books because there are more and more coming out every week!

This story is told through two different timelines, before and after the break-up. The way the chapters intertwine is done so well. At the end of every chapter I didn't want to put down the book. This is a fun and quick read. 

There are so many relatable queer moments in this book. I wish this book had been around for me as a teen. I highly recommend this book to queer teens into cosplay and other nerdy things. There's a lot of fun geeky references. I give this book a 5/5. Ryan La Sala is quickly becoming an automatic pre-order.

--PAUL