Burnouts Volume 1 (graphic novel) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Image Comics 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: Burnouts Volume 1
Author: Dennis Culver
Artists: Geoffo & Chris Burnham
Upcoming Release Date: February 26, 2019


Synopsis: A group of teenagers must fight off an attack on their town by a secret alien invasion to save their friends and families...but they can only see the aliens if they're completely wasted!

The BURNOUTS are saving the world one puff at a time!

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Review: This is a fun book. A group of teenagers realize they can see aliens inhabiting other people's bodies when they're inebriated, either high or drunk. They take it unto themselves to take care of this unusual alien invasion. It turns out being hit really hard knocks the alien out of you and once the alien is on its own, it can be bopped out of existence easily. You can imagine what this looks like to those not in the know: drunk and high teenagers beating up strangers and shouting about aliens.

This is a colorful book that is intense and hilarious. The cow tipping is great! I'm looking forward to seeing where this series will go with the next volume. I give this first volume a 4/5.    


--PAUL

Bloodwitch (The Witchlands #3) by Susan Dennard - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*


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Title: Bloodwitch (The Witchlands #3)
Author: Susan Dennard
Recent Release Date: February 12, 2019

My REVIEW of Truthwitch
My REVIEW of Windwitch
My REVIEW of Sightwitch

Synopsis: Fans of Susan Dennard's New York Times bestselling Witchlands series have fallen in love with the Bloodwitch Aeduan. And now, finally, comes his story.

High in a snowy mountain range, a monastery that holds more than just faith clings to the side of a cliff. Below, thwarted by a lake, a bloodthirsty horde of raiders await the coming of winter and the frozen path to destroy the sanctuary and its secrets.

The Bloodwitch Aeduan has teamed up with the Threadwitch Iseult and the magical girl Owl to stop the destruction. But to do so, he must confront his own father, and his past.

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Review: This series is fantastic. This is the fourth book in the series, but the third full length novel. The writing in all of these books is amazing! The world building is excellent! The characters are wonderful! If you haven't read Truthwitch, stop reading this and go get it and read it NOW!

Aeduan gets the lead arc in this installment. The fans have labeled him Baeduan and this book might actually give light to that name, really delving into Aeduan's backstory. He addresses some inner demons of his own and makes some great revelations. While looking pretty badass the whole time, I may add.   

This is an ensemble series so all of the main characters are back, scattered across the Witchlands. Iseult is with Aeduan and Owl. Safi is with Vaness in a gorgeously described throne room. Merik, Cam, and Ryber are being chased by the Fury towards the Sightwitch Sisters Convent! (This chapter got me so excited since Sightwitch was the most fresh in my mind) Vivia and Stix are learning more about the underground city. Throughout the book, these characters all make progress, switch adventuring partners, cross paths in amazing ways, and learn more about what's really going on in the Witchlands. 

There are so many great emotional moments in this book. Dennard excellently roots this series in complex characters and sprinkles in the immersive world in such a wonderfully palatable way. The chapters featuring Aeduan's youth especially hit me in the feels. BOOTS!!! I loved getting to learn more about the magical system and mythology. Sightwitch is absolutely a MUST-READ before this book.

I obviously give this novel a 5/5! I can't recommend this series enough. It has everything that I like in a book series. If you like Fantasy and you haven't read this, you better get on it! And if you've read some of the series and aren't sure whether you want to pick up Bloodwitch, it is absolutely worth it! 


--PAUL

The New World (graphic novel) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Image Comics 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: The New World
Author: Ales Kot 
Artists: Tradd Moore, Tom Muller, & Heather Moore
Recent Release Date: January 22, 2019

Synopsis: The United States of America -- after the Second Civil War.

Two people meet and fall in love. One, a very orderly vegan hacker ready to make some mess. The other, a chaotic cop with a reality tv show that never stops.

Head. Over. Heels. With the entire Republic of New California after them, they run.

A ballistic SF action romance mini-series in the vein of MAD MAX and ROMEO AND JULIET by ALES KOT, TRADD MOORE and HEATHER MOORE.

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Review: This comic takes place in the near future after a Second American Civil War. A nuclear event has destroyed most of the United States. This story takes place in the New Los Angeles, within the New California. The Guardians is an entertainment franchise that streams cops taking down perps and involves the audience voting on the outcome. One of the protagonists is a reality star cop, the other is a hacker that ends up a perp. And somehow, they connect.

I really liked the modernity included in this future world. Often future worlds in media look like our own past's idea of the future instead of moving forward from now. I was a little confused by the "Millennial" lingo being used by the Millennial aged characters considering that they would be a few generations ahead. The middle-aged characters were shown not familiar with terms like "poly" and making an effort to show how open they were with the gender of other's potential partners. Another middle-aged character was reprimanded by a youth for using the term "Internet of things" which made me laugh. Maybe the Second Civil War threw the country back a few decades, though.

The art is beautifully vibrant. The colors are great and the design of the characters and the world are wonderful.

I give this graphic novel a 4/5. I really enjoyed this modern story. And thankfully there's a whole story in this volume. Often times I read a first volume of a series and I feel like I've only read a prologue. This wasn't like that, but I do hope for more stories that take place in this world with these characters.   


--PAUL