The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When it came to The Fireborne Blade, I had no idea what to expect. I’ve never read anything by Charlotte Bond previously, and it’s very hit-or-miss with me when it comes to dragon books. However, The Fireborne Blade manages to pack a hell of a punch in such a small package, it’s safe to say Bond is now on my list of writers to follow going forward.
The Fireborne Blade follows a Knight named Maddileh. Eager to right herself as a Knight, following a regretful personal relationship, Maddileh goes out in search of the Fireborne Blade. The legendary weapon is a tale among her people, and she believes if she manages to successfully find it, she’ll be hailed a hero, and her name will be restored once again. Simple enough, except securing the blade will set Maddileh on a journey full of danger and secrecy, one that seems all but certain to end in death.
The book itself is merely one-hundred and sixty-four pages. As far as fantasies go, that’s on the shorter end. And yet, what Bond manages to achieve within such a short page count is incredibly impressive. Not only does Bond craft an intriguing story with characters such as Maddileh, Petros and Saralene; Bond also manages to create fascinating backstories that help to push their journey along. Not exactly an easy task to do with a novella, and yet, The Fireborne Blade proves it is possible.
Yes, the book is about dragons. Yes, there’s plenty of dragon lore. And yet, The Fireborne Blade is far from just another dragon book. The amount of character development that Maddileh goes through over the course of the book is top-notch. The character initially comes off as very standoffish; unwilling to confide in anyone. Then, by the end of the book, we see Maddileh showcase a softer side, one that perhaps isn’t as cold-hearted as she tries to let on.
All in all, The Fireborne Blade is the perfect little bite of fantasy for those looking for an introduction to the genre. It’s short. It’s action-packed. But more importantly, along with impressive fantasy work, The Fireborne Blade is a wonderful character-driven story. Give it a read when it releases in May.
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Tag: Book Review
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Book Review: ‘The Fireborne Blade’ by Charlotte Bond
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Mini Book Review: ‘Super Boba Cafe’ by Nidhi Chanani
Super Boba Café by Nidhi Chanani
Thank you to Amulet Books for a free review copy of this one.
SUPER BOBA CAFE is a cute middle-grade graphic novel. It’s a strange little book with a great message at its core. The story follows 13-year-old Aria as she spends the summer in San Francisco visiting her grandmother, Jing Li. She runs a boba cafe that is home to a cat named Bao and fails to bring in many customers, until Aria sets out to fix her grandmother’s marketing issues. When Bao unexpectedly gives birth to eight kitties, Aria finds the perfect solution – or so she thinks – by turning the boba cafe into a kitten cafe. But what she doesn’t know is that her grandmother is harboring a secret that can impact the entire city.
The strongest aspect of SUPER BOBA CAFE is admittedly its artwork. The characters are drawn well, and the scenery is wonderfully constructed. Unfortunately, the story isn’t nearly as strong. That, of course, isn’t to say it’s not enjoyable – it is. The book is out there, but Aria’s storyline is one that is something many young adults experience daily. It’s an important lesson about trust, using the internet, and understanding how cruel others can be.
SUPER BOBA CAFE is an enjoyable book that is a must-read for young adults. At the center of its chaotic storyline is a story with plenty of heart and a lesson all kids should learn.
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Mini Book Review: ‘Billie Blaster and the Robot Army from Outer Space’
Billie Blaster and the Robot Army from Outer Space by Laini Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is an adorable middle-grade graphic novel. That’s the easiest way to describe this book. Billie Blaster and the Robot Army from Outer Space is an out-there, ridiculous story that has just as much wit as it does heart. It did take me a bit to read this one, but that wasn’t due to the book. Once I was able to dedicate enough time to dive back into the book, I found myself wondering why it had taken me so long.
Billie Blaster is about a young girl named Billie Blaster who is incredibly smart and enjoys creating over-the-top science experiments; this, of course, isn’t entirely surprising given her parents are both renown scientists. Unfortunately, though, Hector, a student in her class, doesn’t think Billie is worthy of the praise and success she’s had over the years. He’s grown tired of coming in second-place at the science fair every year and sets out to take her down.
What ensues is a story that is otherworldly, hilarious, and wonderfully strange. While the book focuses on the weird – toilet weasels, fart guns, and evil pigeons – it also takes the time to show the differences between Billie and Hector. As Billie comes to learn, Hector might have a legitimate reason to be upset. Unlike her, he doesn’t have a lab at his hands to develop any and everything he’d like to create. He’s forced to work out of his parents’ house in the same room they do laundry. He works harder than her, because he has to, and Billie is understanding about his desire to be better than her – although, despite her best attempts, Hector is unwilling to reason with Billie.
Billie Blaster is the perfect book for middle-grade students to read. At that age, it’s all about developing an identity and trying to be the best version of themselves. Billie Blaster is the perfect read for that – and the artwork is pretty great to look at.
View all my reviewsEditor’s Note: This very is very delayed due to personal tragedies that I’ve had over the past few months. I would like to apologize to Amulet Books for the late review.
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Book Review: ‘The Infinity Particle’
The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu tells the tale of a young girl named Clementine, aka Clem, as she makes her way from Earth to Mars to work under the great Dr. Lin – an Artificial Intelligence pioneer. Clem has been following Lin’s work since she lived on Earth and is thrilled to finally get the chance to meet her, but her interest soon veers once she meets Lin’s personal AI, Kye.It’s not abnormal for folks in Mars to have AIs. In fact, everyone seems to have one, including Clem. However, it is odd for someone to have a humanoid AI. But as Clem begins to learn more about both Dr. Lin and Kye, she’ll soon learn that not everything is what it appears to be.
The Infinity Particle is a stunning book. Not only is the artwork beautiful, but the story itself is also rather captivating. I’ve always been interested in the concept of what makes us human. (I wrote an entire book series based on Programs and humanity.) So, I was immediately hooked once I began reading The Infinity Particle. But what kept me reading through to the end was the way Xu handled both Clem’s story and Kye’s. This isn’t merely a story about Kye and his humanity. It’s far more complex than that. There are so many layers. So many twists. It’s a thrilling ride with a heck of a conclusion.
With that said, The Infinity Particle won’t necessarily be for everyone. Those that take issue with Marvel’s Scarlet Witch and Vision entering into a relationship will more than likely not enjoy the romantic aspect of The Infinity Particle. Which is entirely understandable, of course. But readers that are able to look beyond that will find a story that has no issue asking its readers just what it is that makes us human.
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Book Review: ‘Hungry Ghost’
Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When I requested Hungry Ghost off of NetGalley, I did so with quite a bit of hesitation. I knew what the subject matter was and how heavy of a topic it was, but I also appreciated that the graphic novel tackled such an important topic.
Hungry Ghost tells the story of a high school student named Valerie who suffers from an eating disorder. She suffers in silence, desperately trying to please her mother who constantly reminds her of what will happen should she ever become fat, while also trying to live life as a normal teenager. Val hates having to live a lie and wants nothing more than to be happy like her best friend, Jordan, who is overweight but doesn’t let it stop her from being happy. It all comes to a head when a tragedy occurs in Val’s life that forces her to take another look at everything — including herself. It’s a very, very hard read, however, Victoria Ying does a great job of tackling such an important topic with both her words and artwork.
Eating disorders are so common and yet not talked about nearly enough. There are so many others like Val that need to read a story like this to know they are not alone. And Ying tells this story, one she herself has lived, with such care. It doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities those suffering face. It doesn’t shy away from the pain or the toll such a disorder can take on one’s mental health.
Overall: Hungry Ghost is a hauntingly beautiful, but painful read. More importantly, though, it’s such an important read.
View all my reviewsNote: This book is already out. Our review is just late.
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BOOK REVIEW: ‘Zhara: Guardians of Dawn’
Goodreads Link: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
Rating: 4 of 5 starsRelease Date: August 1st, 2023
When I received Zhara in the mail, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. The cover is absolutely stunning, of course, but I hadn’t read anything by S. Jae-Jones previously and knew next to nothing about this book beforehand. The back cover calls Zhara “Sailor Moon meets Cinder” and I have to say that is a decent comparison. (Side note: If you haven’t read Marissa Meyer‘s Cinder, get on that.) There’s magic. There are monsters. There’s romance. At times it can feel like too much, but for the most part, it’s an enjoyable, action-packed read.
Zhara focuses on a teenage girl named Jin Zhara. She lives in a world where magic is forbidden and those found to be magicians are brought to their deaths for being “abominations.” Having lost her father because of his magical abilities, Zhara has learned to survive in a world where she doesn’t really fit in. She lives with her stepmother, the Second Wife, and her younger sister, and she’s forced to take care of them for the sake of her own survival, but that doesn’t mean the Second Wife makes her life easy. The Second Wife is the typical evil-stepmother in this tale, forcing her step-daughter to take care of the household. While Zhara understands how poorly she’s treated by the Second Wife, she continues pushing through because of her younger sister, having harbored a secret for years relating to her sister’s blindness. But things change when Zhara meets a mysterious young man named Han one day. Together, the two will have to work together to restore harmony to the world alongside the Guardians of Dawn.
Here’s the thing, Zhara is very much a Young Adult book. The romance is cute. It can often be predictable. But it’s utterly delightful. The chosen one trope is used in this book, yes, but it’s used wisely. This isn’t a case of our hero suddenly figuring everything out without issue. No, the kids struggle and they fail. They make mistakes and they learn from them. That’s important to note because this is very much a story about self-growth and acceptance.
It’s hard not to love Zhara, even if she is often naive and her “giggle” fits can become a bit frustrating at times… but when you remember that she’s meant to be a teenage girl, one that hasn’t really had a chance to be a proper teenager, it’s easy to overlook her annoying traits. She’s a well-written character, and seeing her grow over the course of the book is exciting because by the end, it’s hard not to consider what she’ll be capable of in future installments. The Zhara readers meet at the beginning of the book is a far cry from the Zhara readers get to know by the book’s end. She’s more confident. She’s happy. And more importantly, she’s ready for whatever the world throws her way.
Han, on the other hand, doesn’t really get much character growth throughout the book. He’s very much presented as handsome with muscles and not all that bright. Thankfully, despite this, the secondary characters (Xu and Yuli) tend to help make him more bearable.
Zhara is a book full of magic, wonder and thrills. The magical aspect is well-crafted, as are the battle scenes, and there’s so much more that the author can do with future installments. With such an expansive world and a truly unique tale, the Guardians of Dawn series is surely one to watch.
Disclaimer: I received a physical copy for review – this had no impact on my rating/review. -
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Thornhedge’ by T. Kingfisher
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 starsThornhedge is my first book by T. Kingfisher, and my goodness, it’s a delight.
Thornhedge is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty that turns the classic tale on its head. The story focuses on Toadling, a young woman who is forced to confront her past as she learns to navigate a world incredibly foreign to her. With just 120 pages, it’s hard to truly explain what Thornhedge is about without spoiling the story. It’s magical. It’s outlandish. It’s strange. And yet, it’s utterly delightful.
I don’t recall requesting Thornhedge, although, I’m sure I requested it based on the cover (the ARC cover) alone having not read the description… and I’m kind of glad I went into this book blindly. I had no expectations, and that only made my reading experience all the more enjoyable. Toadling – yes, her name is ridiculously great – was stolen from her family at birth and was raised in the waters of faerieland. She’s a strange being that doesn’t seem to truly fit in anywhere outside of the muddy waters. She knows very little of the human world, or humans for that matter, but soon enough, she’s forced to return to a world she was stolen from – a world that doesn’t care for her. During her time within the human world, Toadling encounters a mysterious stranger named Hamlin who she soon builds an unconventional friendship with as he promises to help her explore the world.
While that may sound like a simple premise, there’s so much more to Toadling’s story. Readers that enjoy stories about changelings, the fae and fairy tales will easily devour Thornhedge. Despite its short length, Thornhedge manages to successfully tell a compelling story that feels complete by the end. Sure, there’s room to revisit this world – should Kingfisher decide to – but it doesn’t feel as though it’s ever rushed or incomplete.
Overall: Thornhedge is a delight. Don’t allow the short length to dissuade you. Give this unique and unusual tale a read, you won’t regret it.
Disclaimer: I received a physical ARC copy for review. This in no way influenced my review. -
Book Review: ‘Codex Black: A Fire Among Clouds’ by Camilo Moncada Lozano & Angel De Santiago
A Fire Among Clouds, the first in the Codex Black series, is a fascinating tale of two young individuals that both embark on a journey and are forced to come to terms with who they are. The graphic novel, which hails from Camilo Moncada Lozano and colorist Michi Desantiago, is a story that takes place in fifteenth-century Mesoamerica. It tells the story of 15-year-old Donaji, and 17-year-old Itzcacalotl. Donaji is on a mission to search for her father who left eleven years ago. She knows next to nothing as to where he went or why he left, but she’s determined to find him. Along the way, she runs into the eccentric Itzcacalotl who has wings and doesn’t really belong. The two teens couldn’t be more different from one another, but together, they make a dynamite team.
The artwork in A Fire Among Clouds is absolutely stunning. The expressions, the designs and the details are captivating, and they’re made all the better by Desantiago’s excellent colorwork. There are moments where the text can be frustrating, with a few “info-dump” moments sprinkled throughout, but the artwork helps to keep readers enticed. While it isn’t perfect, and there are some panels that feel like there’s just too much going on, the overall artwork does a phenomenal job at helping to elevate the story.
As for the story itself, while interesting and unique, the story does have some issues. The biggest issue is that the story itself doesn’t really have a satisfying conclusion. Somehow, the adventure the main characters are on at the very beginning does not an actual conclusion. It feels like nothing really happens. There is a ton of great character development, but in the end, our characters are seemingly back where they started. We get no real answers to our questions, and it is pretty frustrating. Thankfully, the story itself is intriguing enough to want to push through.
A Fire Among the Clouds is the perfect graphic novel for teenagers. It’s a story about self-growth, acceptance, and family that is worthy of a read.
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to receive a physical ARC from IDW Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
The book is available now wherever books are sold! -
Book Review: ‘Everything is Fine: Volume 1’
Every now and again you’ll stumble upon a book that pleasantly surprises you. This is Everything is Fine. I admittedly requested to review the book simply because of the cover, not even bothering to read the description. I had no clue what I was about to read when I sat down to read it, and I’m grateful I knew nothing going in. This book will take readers on a strange trip and leave them eagerly awaiting the next volume with the final page.
To keep it simple without spoiling anything, Everything is Fine takes place in an idealistic world where everything is, well, fine. Until it isn’t. While the concept of Everything is Fine isn’t necessarily anything new, author Mike Birchall manages to create a wonderfully confusing and disturbing world in such few pages… it’s hard not to be eager to see how it’ll all end. Especially as the ending is a huge cliffhanger.
There will be plenty of questions to be asked by the end of the story and very, very few answers provided. And while that may be frustrating with most stories, when it comes to Everything is Fine, the lack of answers actually works in its favor. It helps to keep the mystery alive and allow Birchall to craft a truly disturbing story that readers are definitely not prepared for.
As delightful as this book is, the artwork can be distracting. It’s incredibly plain. In fact, it kind of reminds me of Minecraft at times. While the simplistic art style does sometimes help to sell this world crafted by Birchall, it may be hard for the readers to truly appreciate the story being told — to make them want to keep turning the pages. It’s the only true drawback with this book.
EVERYTHING IS FINE is a book you’ll want to go into blindly. Don’t read the description. Avoid spoilers as much as possible. Just dive right into this strangely intriguing story of this “perfect” world and enjoy the ride.
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BOOK REVIEW: ‘Batcat’ by Meggie Ramm
I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of BATCAT. Between the cover and the title, though, I was sure this would be a story I’d enjoy… and I was right. BATCAT is a story for all-ages. It follows Batcat, who as the name would suggest, is part bat and part cat. Batcat is happy to stay home, play video games and eat junk food… but when a mysterious ghost shows up and ruins Batcat’s day-to-day routine, they set out on a journey to try and get rid of the pesty ghost. But along the way, Batcat will learn that there is more to life – and the people and beings that we meet along the way – that will leave a lasting impression on them when all is said and done.
BATCAT might seem like a silly book upon first glance. A huge marshmallow-type creature that is part cat and part cat? Sure, it can seem ridiculous. But it’s really more than a silly little story. Throughout the story, Batcat has plenty to learn. Eager to be gone of his new ghost friend, Batcat is quick to jump to conclusions about this new character that they haven’t bothered to really get to know. And rather than take the time to do just that, Batcat immediately seeks to get rid of their problem guest. But as Batcat will quickly learn, we can’t just make presumptions about people. While it is easy to do so, it’s vital to remember everyone is more than just one thing – we are all more than meets the eye. For Batcat, it’s a lesson they only learn after realizing they’re not all cat nor are they all bat.
BATCAT is the type of book that should be stored in classrooms. Readers of all ages will devour this cute little graphic novel. Not only does it teach readers compassion, but it also includes plenty of humor with plenty of cute drawings.
Note: The ARC I received for review was in black and white, which did make it hard to really read at times. However! The final copy of BATCAT will be in full color, and the sneak-peek at the coloration for BATCAT only seems to improve on this adorable story.
BATCAT will be released on March 28th through Amulet Books.
