Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Book Reviews

  • Book Review: ‘The Infinity Particle’

    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.

    View all my reviews

  • BOOK REVIEW: ‘Zhara: Guardians of Dawn’

    BOOK REVIEW: ‘Zhara: Guardians of Dawn’

    Goodreads Link: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones

    Rating: 4 of 5 stars

    Release 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: ‘Codex Black: A Fire Among Clouds’ by Camilo Moncada Lozano & Angel De Santiago

    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’

    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.

  • BOOK REVIEW: ‘Batcat’ by Meggie Ramm

    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.

  • REVIEW: ‘Cowboy Bebop: Supernova Swing’ is a Great Read

    Fans — or at least, some of them –were disappointed when Netflix decided to cancel its live-action Cowboy Bebop series starring John Cho. However, those eager for more Cowboy Bebop will find solace in an accompanying side story coming this November titled Cowboy Bebop: Supernova Swing. Set in the year 2171, this story brings together the Bebop crew to hunt down an ex-gang member who has stolen a vest that gives its wearer unparallel powers. This isn’t an altruistic hunt, mind you: Spike, Faye, and Jet are down on their luck and need both a win and a way to be financially stable for a while, and the original owner of the vest has put a bounty on it that would give them both. However, they are not the only ones after the vest, as the Syndicate is also looking for it. 

    Think of the story as a play on Jason & The Argonauts, and the hunt for the almighty fleece in that story and you have the proverbial skeleton. However, this story is told with that classic Bebop flair. There is a casino heist that does not go the way the group hopes it will, and leads them to a planet that intoxicated the whole crew. This setting gives us more of an opportunity to see how drunken thoughts reveal sober truths for Jet and Faye, and how these three ultimately need each other for more than just good times. The artwork is what you have come to expect from Cowboy Bebop, but it is really the story that brings you in and hooks you from the beginning. Dan Watters, in a way that maybe the Netflix series didn’t get a chance to, captures the tone of the Bebop universe and its need to be multi-layered perfectly. This story goes from emotional (these are three characters thrown together not because they wanted to, but almost out of necessity) to funny (there’s a ramen exchange that works really well) to philosophical (the three characters often find themselves asking each other about the meaning of life in ways that are not often found in these mediums). The humor allows us to breathe during the more emotional beats, and the art helps but does not overwhelm this story.

    Speaking of the art, Lamar Mathurin deserves a shout-out because Cowboy Bebop is not Gumbo (Mathurin’s graphic novel). As such, he is the one tasked with adapting his style to an already existing world, and he knocks it out of the park. Having to juggle so many different settings, stylistically, could have been a challenge for any other artist, but not here. The action itself, had it not been curated properly, could have looked awful on the page, but Mathurin displays both reverence for these characters and a desire to showcase them with his own style.

    If you loved the Netflix series, then you will absolutely love this and the other standalone novels that have been released. If you have been on the fence about giving Cowboy Bebop a shot, this is a quick read that could be a good springboard for you because it doesn’t require past knowledge of the characters. It, also, gives you everything the series gave you in a much more consumable medium, which may whet your appetite to try the series. Watters and Mathurin deserve so much credit for their great work here and for their love of this universe.