Archival Quality (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Oni Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Archival Quality
Author: Ivy Noelle Weir
Illustrator: Steenz
Upcoming Release Date: March 6, 2018

Synopsis: After losing her job at the library, Celeste "Cel" Walden starts working at the haunting Logan Museum as an archivist. But the job may not be the second chance she was hoping for, and she finds herself confronting her mental health, her relationships, and before long, her grasp on reality as she begins to dream of a young woman she's never met, but feels strangely drawn to. Especially after she asks Cel for help…

As Cel attempts to learn more about the woman, she begins losing time, misplacing things, passing out—the job is becoming dangerous, but she can't let go of this mysterious woman. Who is she? Why is she so fixated on Cel? And does Cel have the power to save her when she's still trying to save herself? 

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Review: This beautifully drawn graphic novel brings representation to mental illness while also being a fun, haunted library/museum ghost story. I love how more and more comics have diverse casts. The character designs for each of the characters are wonderful. 

I also really enjoyed the afterword and Weir's own personal story. This story was very close to her and that is evident in the detail put into it. 

I give this graphic novel a 4/5. If you like ghost stories, creepy old asylums, and libraries, but also want a story with heart, you'll love this book. 


--PAUL

The Altered History of Willow Sparks (comic) by Tara O'Connor - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Oni Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Altered History of Willow Sparks
Author: Tara O'Connor
Upcoming Release Date: March 6, 2018

Synopsis: What happens when you can finally get everything you ever wanted?

Willow Sparks and her best friend Georgia Pratt are at the bottom of the social ladder at Twin Pines High School, just trying to get through each day relatively unscathed. But when Willow finds a mysterious book that allows her to literally change her life, it feels like her luck is finally turning. Becoming more and more popular with each entry into the book, her old life, including her friendship with Georgia, seems miles away. Yet as Willow will discover, every action has a reaction, and the future has unusual—even dangerous—ways of protecting itself.

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Review: What if you could change parts of your life by simply writing in a book. Willow Sparks comes across a mysterious book that can do just that. Of course, her life is changed forever. Great responsibilities come with such powers. It's not easy to climb to the top of the social ladder at your high school without leaving some people behind. 

This book has high school drama, bullying, and all those classic teen tropes. I would absolutely classify this as a Young Adult graphic novel. There are some great paranormal concepts added to the regular high school dynamic. I enjoyed that Willow works at a library and the library (as well as books) are heavily featured. 

I give this graphic novel a 4/5. It has all the classic high school teen drama aspects with an added supernatural twist. Plus the artwork is beautiful.


--PAUL

Bingo Love (comic) by Tee Franklin - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Image Comics in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Bingo Love
Writer: Tee Franklin
Artist: Jenn St. Onge and Joy San
Upcoming Release Date: February 20, 2018

Synopsis: Bingo Love is a story of a same-sex romance that spans over 60 years. A chance meeting at church bingo in 1963 brings Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray together. Through their formative years, these two women develop feelings for each other and finally profess their love for one another.

Forced apart by their families and society, Hazel and Mari both married young men and had families. Decades later, now in their mid 60’s, Hazel and Mari are reunited again at a bingo hall. Realizing their love for each other is still alive, what these grandmothers do next takes absolute strength and courage.

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Review: This is a beautiful story. It's the story of two black grandmas in love. And how they became in love. And the challenges their love faced. I don't have many words for this comic other than to tell you to go buy it immediately. The world needs more stories like this. Especially stories told in such beautiful colorful artwork as this is. I highly recommend this to everyone. A well deserved 5/5. 


--PAUL

Scales & Scoundrels Volume 1: Into the Dragon's Maw (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Image Comics in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Scales & Scoundrels Volume 1: Into the Dragon's Maw 
Writer: Sebastian Girner
Artist: Galaad
Recent Release Date: February 13, 2018

Synopsis: It's hard to make an honest living in a land brimming with magic and mystery, and treasure hunter Luvander is tired of being a penniless adventurer. Ever in search of gold and glory, she sets off for a fabled dungeon "the Dragon's Maw," an ancient labyrinth at the bottom of which slumber endless wealth...or certain doom!

A loner by trade, Luvander is forced to team up with a team of scraggly adventurers, each hoping to find a treasure of their own in the forbidden tomb.: there is Prince Aki, of the Scarlet Sands Empire, anxious for first taste of adventure yet blind to the consequences. His royal Shadow and bodyguard, Koro, whose very honor hangs in the balance of her prince's success. And Dorma Iron, a stocky young dwarf whose journey will take her deeper into the darkness than she ever wished to tread.

For these scruffy heroes, what starts out as a road to riches becomes the first step on an epic journey to destiny, for Luvander holds a secret in her heart that will shatter the chains of fate, and bring light to a world encroached upon by an ancient darkness.

Writer SEBASTIAN GIRNER (SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER!) and artist GALAAD are proud to present SCALES & SCOUNDRELS, an exciting new fantasy adventure from Image Comics, for scoundrels of all ages!

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Review: This comic has many fantasy tropes, but it finds a way to show them in a new light. The story is female led and the main group of characters is diverse. I'd say this story is a modern D&D group. There's humor and fun. A fantasy world. Royals. Dragons. Dwarves. Hidden cities. Treasure. And, of course, an unresolved ending.

I give this graphic novel a 4.5/5. I really like the diversity for a typical D&D style fantasy world. I look forward to the next volume in this series. 


--PAUL

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Vol. 2: The Enormous Profit (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Vol. 2: The Enormous Profit
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artists: Marc Laming with Will Sliney, Kev Walker, & Marc Deering
Recent Release Date: February 6, 2018

Doctor Aphra Volume 1
Screaming Citadel

Synopsis: Aphra's back with a brand-new plan that's guaranteed to pay! There's just one teensy problem... it involves surrounding herself with some of the galaxy's biggest baddies. And they don't like the not-so-good doctor's tricks! Her mission to make quick credits by auctioning off an ancient Jedi artifact will start well... and end badly. And that's just when a dark figure from Aphra's past decides to make an appearance! Plus, a solo focus on Aphra's Wookiee shadow, Black Krrsantan! Find out why this beastly bounty hunter is as frightening as they say... and then some! 

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Review: I am very much enjoying the Doctor Aphra character. She's not on the good side, she's not on the bad side, and she has a scientific and dark mind. This volume starts out with Black Krrsantan's backstory. I like how he's obviously a Chewbacca counterpart as well as the murder droids are mirrors to the original droid duo, but they all have really come into their own. The murder droids are excellent in this volume and I'm super excited to see where they go next. I could see them having their own ongoing series. There are plenty of fun black market characters in this story. Just like Doctor Aphra herself, this volume is fun and dark. By the end of this volume, the dynamic has changed and I can't wait to see where it goes next. 

I give this volume a 5/5. I want more original characters like Doctor Aphra!


--PAUL

Star Wars Vol. 6: Out Among The Stars (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Star Wars Vol. 6: Out Among The Stars
Writers: Jason Aaron, Dash Aaron, & Jason Latour
Artists: Salvador Larroca, Andrea Sorrentino, & Michael Walsh
Recent Release Date: December 6, 2017

Synopsis: Collects Star Wars (2015) #33-37, Annual #3.

Your favorite rebel rabble-rousers run riot across the galaxy! Luke Skywalker finally gets the alone time he's been after with Princess Leia - unfortunately, it comes while they're stranded on a desert island! In tales of the Star Wars underworld, Sana and Lando join forces on Coruscant to swindle some credits, and Han and Chewie go back to smuggling...for a Hutt?! Then, when the Alliance starts the search for a new secret base, Han leads Leia to scope out a hideout only he knows...only to find a group of killers who want him dead! But what about the droids? The Empire has held Threepio captive for far too long - and now his faithful friend is taking action. That's right - it's Artoo to the rescue!

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Review: This volume of the ongoing Marvel Star Wars series is a little different than the past ones in that each issue follows a different group of protagonists. There's first a Luke and Leia story. It features a really col AT-AT scene. Then there's a Sana and Lando story. I like seeing Lando in the main series before our main protagonists meet him. This story also shows more of Sana's background and her sweet skills. I'm all about learning more about the original characters. There's a Han story of him working with the Rebel Alliance. There's a story featuring R2 rescuing 3PO. The last regular issue in this collection is a feature for the Scar Squadron. Then there's an interesting story about the sand people of Tatooine. And finally, the third Annual finishes off this volume, showing Han and Leia searching for a new base. 

I liked that there were multiple perspectives, but I'm starting to get bored of this ongoing series. Stuff needs to happen. This is the problem with featuring main series characters between two films. They can't grow and change as much as original characters. I definitely am enjoying the original characters' stories more right now. 

I give this volume a 4/5. I hope this series surprises me with its next volume. It's supposed to feature the aftermath of Jedha, so that at least will be interesting.   


--PAUL

Sightwitch (A Tale of the Witchlands) by Susan Dennard - Preview Excerpt Review - PRE-ORDER!!!

*I received this preview excerpt from Macmillan-Tor/Forge via NetGalley as an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Sightwitch (The Witchlands #0.5)
Author: Susan Dennard
Upcoming Release Date: February 13, 2018

Call-To-Arms website with GIVEAWAY RAFFLE

My REVIEW of Truthwitch
My REVIEW of Windwitch

Synopsis: Before Safi and Iseult battled a Bloodwitch...

Before Merik returned from the dead…

Ryber Fortiza was a Sightwitch Sister at a secluded convent, waiting to be called by her goddess into the depths of the mountain. There she would receive the gift of foretelling. But when that call never comes, Ryber finds herself the only Sister without the Sight.

Years pass and Ryber’s misfit pain becomes a dull ache, until one day, Sisters who already possess the Sight are summoned into the mountain, never to return. Soon enough, Ryber is the only Sister left. Now, it is up to her to save her Sisters, though she does not have the Sight—and though she does not know what might await her inside the mountain.

On her journey underground, she encounters a young captain named Kullen Ikray, who has no memory of who he is or how he got there. Together, the two journey ever deeper in search of answers, their road filled with horrors, and what they find at the end of that road will alter the fate of the Witchlands forever.

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Review: I absolutely love the world of the Witchlands. Susan Dennard does such a good job creating a rich world that feels so expansive. I have already pre-ordered Sightwitch so when I saw a preview excerpt available on NetGalley I jumped at it. The preview only gave me a glimpse into the story, but I love where it's going. Not all of the graphics and formatting were completed, but the graphics that were there were amazing. I love the concept behind this book. It's a story told non-linearly using mixed media. 

I give this excerpt a 5/5. I am very excited to see the full novella arrive on my kindle on FEBRUARY  13th!!! You should pre-order now! You should also help promote the book on social media. Here's that LINK.


--PAUL