aksmith92's reviews
138 reviews

This was cute! I had a great time reading, and it was a cool, modern take on Pride and Prejudice.

The setup: Pemberley Development is a big corporation coming in hot with some fancy new apartments to a DC neighborhood that will likely not be able to afford said apartments. Liza, one of our protagonists, is upset and most certainly gives a jam, as stated regularly in her radio gig. She sees her neighborhood getting wrapped up in a gentrification scheme right away and tries her best to stop it. Through the process of doing her best to protest these new apartments, she meets Dorsey Fitzgerald, the current/interim CEO of Pemberley Development, much to his chagrin. Dorsey, the son of parents who owned Pemberley Development, has to answer to a board that wants this deal done. But he never wanted to be the CEO in the first place and cares a lot more about WCO, his mother's foundation/nonprofit arm. Intentions and thoughts aside, Liza and Dorsey get wrapped up in numerous events focused around these apartments and can't escape each other.

As a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, we can all see where this is going - sparks fly between Liza and Dorsey, yet they have to deal with the immense differences in their upbringings. Liza comes from a pretty eccentric family who is trying to make ends meet in the neighborhood they've lived in for all their lives, almost the exact opposite of Dorsey, who, while adopted from the Philippines, grew up with millions and millions of dollars. We see them battle some intense challenges in different ways and see how differently yet remarkably similar they live.

What I liked: I liked the main protagonists! While I could see where some of this story would be a little cringy for some folks, it wasn't for me. There were great character nuances, layers, and development, and while both main characters could have an open mind and change some of their ways, they were both authentic. I also really enjoyed the family aspect of this story, and getting to know a little bit more than we usually do with NPCs about their backgrounds, grief, joys, and dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Janae, Gigi, and Maurice and their overall involvement in the storylines. A big thing for me was liking the romance - that's what this book is about anyway! I enjoyed the romance between Dorsey and Liza. It took its time, and there was some excellent banter. There were two big spicy scenes in this book (outside of some other sexually explicit thoughts and tension), and I thought they were well done (but definitely a lot - fair warning!). See below for some pacing issues, but generally, I enjoyed them a lot and thought their characters brought out the best in each other, which I love to see in a romance novel.

I also enjoyed some of the cultural integration that Nikki Payne wrote about - such as traditional Filipino dances and even its rap scene. I'm also a sucker for this book because I'm from the DC area and lived and worked in DC for five years. I laughed out loud in some parts about them taking a tour of Alexandria, VA. Lastly, Nikki Payne did an excellent job at writing about bias and preconceptions and having the characters work through their mistakes.

What didn't hit the mark for me: I found some pacing issues that I'm finding hard to articulate. I think this was towards the 75-80% mark when a couple of months went by with some major tension, and then suddenly, it resolved itself in two or so pages. It was peppered throughout the novel, and it was subtle but noticeable. The ending was a bit rushed as well. Additionally, I have personal things here on two accounts: (1) I don't like any romance with "my body is just completely pulled to you even though I'm trying to convince myself I hate you." It's like, oh hey, I literally hate every single one of your values (which is always never the case because it's just that they don't know each other yet), but I'd still bang you because you are so hot, and I can't help my bodily reaction. This bugs me for many reasons, but mostly, it seems to be a scapegoat to build physical tension in the novel without doing some other work to make that happen. This was manageable for me in this novel, unlike in others, but it still felt there. (2) I wouldn't say I like it when the main female character is constantly overthinking that the main male character will end up wanting nothing to do with her, even though every single piece of evidence points otherwise. This fear-based modeling is realistic but a little cringe to read in novels. I totally get Liza's apprehension about the relationship working out because of their vastly different upbringings and her family being a bit on the eccentric side, but saying that he wants nothing to do with you over and over is blatantly false, and I don't like when it's integrated into the narrative too much. 

Lastly, I wish there was just a teensy bit more time on the friendship between Liza and Chicho (Lucia) because I think it generally fell a little flat. But, it was to make some room for the family dynamic, which was done well.

I'm a really picky contemporary romance reader, with many coming in at three stars or lower, but I liked this one and would recommend it as a nice, fun, romantic read! I plan to read some more Nikki Payne when more books are released! 
 

Muse of Nightmares is a typical Young Adult fantasy novel where love saves the day, and I ate it all up!

She's beauty, she's grace, she's Laini Taylor. Her writing is poetic, atmospheric, gorgeous, readable, and accessible. Yes, it's young adult, leading to some dramatics, but nothing over the top, and indeed a piece of art. I loved this so much, and even more than the first one, dare I say.

The setup: We left off on a BIG plot twist in Laini Taylor's first installment of this duology, Strange the Dreamer. With Sarai's fate in question, we are left with confusion and madness in Weep, where most citizens must run out of town because the Citadel is shifting and changing. Lazlo has a pretty big plot twist (although I could see that coming in the first novel). Either way, we are left with many questions about godlings, citizens of Weep, and the infamous dead gods that must've left more of a story than many thought.

Now, the story pivots to those godlings up in the sky in the Citadel, Minya's intense vengeance, and Sarai's adaptability into a new self in more ways than one. Eril-Fane and Azareen are still big components of the story and work to shift mindsets on the ground in Weep. In addition, we still hear from the wonderfully facetious Calixte and the learning and growing Thyon Nero. Lastly, we get an entirely new story about two sisters living in what seems to be a wholly different world made of ice. You know immediately that the stories will connect somehow, but the road to get there is beautiful and intriguing, yet devastating.

Laini Taylor creates an intricate world(s!) and develops the lovely characters from book one.

What I loved: My favorite part was the unique villain arcs - here we are, 15ish years after the fall of some of the more horrible villains I've read about, and we are reading about those impacts, leading to one of the most fantastic character development novels I've read. Because this story takes place years after the deaths of the villains (not a spoiler; it was also the same in the first book!), and we don't get the why for those villains other than the typical power-thirsty monsters, we now see excellent nuances in characters like Minya being stuck in the past constantly feeling like she has to save her family. Or, Nova, whose character was phenomenal, and I won't get into it because of spoiler reasons. It was pure art to have a story embedded in the after-effects of an awful fantastical regime. I loved the characters, even the ones who took a bit of a back burner in this novel, and the world-building was quite interesting. The world aspect may not necessarily be "original," but I found it unique nonetheless. PS: I must admit, the writing around eliliths - the tattoos girls get once their bleeding begins - was actually really cool. I've grown up learning to hate that, and in this fictional world, it seems powerful and beautiful. This part of the book is obviously not big, but I wanted to mention it anyway.

What would've made this a perfect read? I rated this five stars because of how it made me feel, the writing, and the story arcs. However, I will say that if I were being ultra critical, I would mention that I did feel there was a miss in relationship development between Thyon and Lazlo, the friendship that could've been, and just a better and more exciting wrap-up relationship between the godlings and those in Weep. A LOT was going on outside of that, which was critical for the story, so I let it slide. Lastly, Lazlo and Sarai are a little bit instant-love (as a reminder, the majority of this book truly takes place in one to two days!), but I don't think it overtook the story. Oh, as much as this is wonderful writing, Lazlo learned about his mesarthium control a littleeeee bit too quickly to be believable. It's implied their powers are meant to be ingrained, but I still thought it was a bit fast. Again, I let this slide because the other parts were just so good!

I am excited to read other books by Laini Taylor when I'm in a young adult and fantasy world mood. I really enjoyed my experience with Strange the Dreamer, and I'll be sad to see it go (or, as Laini Taylor puts it at the end of this book, Muse of Nightmares, is it really the end?). Bravo to this beautiful story!

 

Oh my....the war kept going and going and going and going annnddd.....

The setup (note: maybe some slight spoilers since this is the final book in the Throne of Glass series; I tried to make it as least spoiler-y as possible): Aelin is MIA and going through it; she's captured by the villain Maeve who I'm still so confused about, but regardless is quite ruthless alongside her weird "pet" named Cairn. Fenrys is there with Aelin, too, and they play an awful blinking game to ensure they know the other is ok [spoiler, they are not!].

The gang is all separated - Rowan, likely bawling every second, is with Lorcan, Gavriel, and Elide, who are all on the hunt to find Aelin. Dorian is traveling with some witches, including Manon, who pretends not to like Dorian at all, which is most certainly a lie. Chaol is still traveling from the southern continent with his new wife, Yrene, whom he married in 2.5 seconds flat; they are on their way to aid Terrasen with warriors. Aedion, Lysandra, and a bunch of others are fighting non-stop in Terrasen, constantly being told by some old dude named Darrow that they are ding dongs.

The connection? Fighting the infamous Vlag, "demons" from another world accidentally left in Erilea because of one of Aelin's ancestors. Oops! There are about 200 (ok, maybe not, but it seemed like it) other sub-plots that somehow connect, which is bananas. Anyway, this nearly 1,000-page novel is about the final battle (um, "final" 100 battles, maybe) between those in Erilea and the Vlag.

Buckle up! I have a lot to say about this novel. Notoriously, I've been relatively pessimistic about SJM's works. Almost everything I've read has been 3 or 3.5 stars (including the books in her ACOTAR series!), and this is the first book I've given below three stars, and it is my LEAST favorite novel I've read by SJM. It's important to me to describe why because this woman gets one million accolades about her work when this, to me, seems like cheap writing. Listen, I speed-read through her books. My brain goes *poof, off*, and if I don't think too hard, they can be somewhat entertaining. That is why none of her works are 1-star reviews for me. Buuuuuuuuut, I must shout to the world that these are not works of art, AND at times can be problematic. Let's jump riiiiiight in.

What I Liked: Hm, it was readable. I was invested this far. I wanted to know how SJM wrapped some things up and how she tied bows around specific plot points. I liked some characters in the previous books, including Lysandra, Elide, Lorcan, Manon, and Dorian; I was ready to see what became of them. I'll share more below, but I was disappointed in the character development. I still enjoyed Manon and Lysandra (outside of the men), and there were not too many blatant plot holes (if you don't think too hard).

What I Didn't Like: My main frustration was that almost every character is the same. Here it goes: has confidence that is closer to arrogance; is always ready to fight in whatever "profession" they've deemed appropriate: warrior, healer, rider, etc.; is always ready to go with absolutely zero hours of sleep; shares some funny sayings once in a while; is beautiful in every possible way; likely has a "thing" that prevents them from being their best selves and holds them back, but not too far back, they're still perfect; is strong; and is somehow touched by a god, destined to be INCREDIBLE, is a descendent from a royal line, or is a queen/king. Who did I describe? Literally every single character. In previous books, I liked Manon and Lorcan because they veered on morally grey. I enjoyed Yrene and Elide because they were more passive in some ways. However, this book's characters seemed to lose their uniqueness in every way, and it bothered me to no end.

On a similar note, SJM seemed to have a stakes problem. I'm not saying I need main characters to die - I think sometimes that works and other times it doesn't! - but every single character was just the BEST! They might have hit some obstacles, but I knew that those obstacles wouldn't be meaningful in any way, and they would overcome them in one second or pull some magic out of their butt (that happened regularly). I wasn't worried about any of the main characters (i.e., those with a POV, AKA like 14 characters, lol) at any point, even when those obstacles surfaced. Honestly, this led to me not caring much about them. 

Lastly, this book should have been shorter. There were so many overdone battle scenes and moments or some POVs we didn't need (I'm looking at you, Evangeline!). I was so over it that my capacity for the final-final battle scene was so low. 

On a random note, I still think that Arobynn Hamel should have been the main villain throughout this whole series. He was layered and interesting, and you truly loved to hate him. The other villains in here seemed distant and I couldn't really understand them. I know it's a personal problem - people will choose how they feel about villains, but I generally need to understand them a bit. 

Below, I bullet out some specific "what the f" moments within this book that contributed to my low rating. Spoilers ahead!

As you can see, I had some sh*t to say! Officially, I am done reading SJM; I don't think I can head into the next series of Crescent City. I need a long break, if not a final departure from SJM. 

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. 

The second installment of Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy was an absolute delight. While it did veer to the Young Adult side of the spectrum, I still very much enjoyed this book and liked it even a bit more than the first one.

The setup: Trying not to spoil anything from the first book ~ Vasilisa, AKA Vasya, is set to travel the world after defeating many challenges in her hometown, the frontier country of Rus', in the last book. Ousted from her community and deemed a witch, she is ready to find solitude in the great outdoors with her beautiful horse, Solovey. That Solitude lasts about a day when she stumbles upon villages that have been burned and their young girls taken. Dressed as a boy, since it is still medieval Russia and the time is not kind to adventurous girls and women, she sets on a quest to find the girls and help the villages outside of Moscow.

During her adventure, she links up with family and soon finds her way to Moscow, where she becomes comfortable in her boyhood. But darker and grimmer things await her. Throw in Morozko, the frost demon straight out of fairy tales, and you also have a sprinkle of a love story without taking too much away from the plot.

What I loved: This was an atmospheric book with beautiful prose. The vocabulary was a bit different, just like in the first one, because Arden did her best to try to stick with the medieval Russia (Rus') theme in a historical context. However, it was pretty poetic yet readable. I had a blast.

Additionally, each character was developed and layered in their own way, especially Vasya and the frost demon. And, I must admit, I couldn't help but love a talking horse (only to Vasya, though). Plus, unlike the first novel, this book had more profound plot points and action scenes, which I thought was a nice touch.

Lastly, there was something quite beautiful about Vasya's development in this book. For context, this book was deeply misogynistic, just like I would imagine medieval anywhere to be. Vasya, as someone who diverts from the typical girl-to-woman tracks, was not regularly rewarded or applauded. Therefore, a lot of this book was saddening and sometimes even uncomfortable to read. Vasya had to deal with choices that focused on being herself or possibly getting herself into real trouble and, worse, getting loved ones in trouble because of her actions. Because of this, I would imagine some people reading this might become frustrated with Vasya and her decision-making, but to me, it was about Vasya trying so hard to be herself in a world that didn't allow it.

Any critique? I gave this book five stars - my first of the year! Therefore, I have minimal criticism. From maybe another reader's perspective, I will say that I'm not sure how much the plot flows from the first to the second one, meaning that the plot didn't seem to be 100% connected other than throwing in fairy tale elements. Some characters were the same, and their stories continued to be connected, but the plot differed slightly from the first book. I loved it anyway because I felt like each book focuses more on one piece of the fairy tale. 

I loved this book and cannot wait to read the trilogy's final installment! 

I binge-read this beauty of a book over a weekend filled with SNOW! It was perfect. Truly. There is nothing like reading Russian folklore that takes place in a tiny town centuries ago in northern Rus', where mid-winter is an integral part of their culture, and I get to read while looking out my window with snowflakes falling. I highly recommend doing it this way if you can plan for it!

The setup: This tale begins with a Russian fairy tale. A few children are huddled around Dunya, a nursemaid, hearing the story of the frost-king, a mythical being who controls the winter but can also be death itself. We pivot outside the story to learn about a family living in a small town in Rus' (pre-dates Russia, my friends) where Pyotr, the patriarch, overseas this land and community. He has a wife he loves, Marina, and a handful of children. Marina becomes pregnant again and notes how important this birth will be - Marina comes from a line of magical women. Unfortunately (no spoiler!), Marina dies in childbirth, and Vasya, her daughter, is left without her birth mother.

During the novel, we follow the family as children grow up and the patriarch remarries. There is a blend of "old ways," versus the growing Orthodox religion. A common theme throughout the novel is the replacement of the old ways/chyerti (gods) and the shunning of those who still practice the old ways. In addition to that prevalent idea, there is this fantastical element of the fairy tale itself around the frost-king and Vasya being connected to this magical line. Katherine Arden poetically combines Russian folklore and history into a magical realism/fantasy novel.

What I liked: The prose and writing style differed from what I am used to, especially since Arden tried to stay realistic with Rus' language at the time. However, it made it unique and compelling. I found this writing to be atmospheric in its own way, and not only was it interesting, but I had a blast reading it. I also loved many of the characters. So many were flawed, including Pyotr, Vasya's father, and Anna, Vasya's stepmother. Each character was unique and exciting in their own way. Lastly, I loved this fairy tale retelling. I know little Russian folklore and fairy tales, but this seemed original. It was something I hadn't read much about before (except for Uprooted by Naomi Novik), and it just had the vibes of a lovely winter read.

What fell flat: Not much! But it was a bit slow (for me). There was so much character development and setup, which I usually love, but at times, it did drag just a little. Additionally, this was hard to read at times because of all the misogyny in this culture and the blatant sexism that accompanied the time period (which I have no doubt is factual). And, you know, I have to mention it even though I know this fits the "time period," but I disliked that the main female character was 15, yet she was acting older, and there may be pieces of the plot in the future books that have her doing very non-15-year-old things! I don't want to elaborate because I don't want to give anything away, but you know how I feel about teenage girls in fantasy novels!

However, this was beautiful storytelling, and I cannot wait to read the next ones in the series! 

I read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn as a tandem read, as requested by most BookTokers I've seen out there. Many recommend this because they love Aelin and Rowan and didn't want to be a part of them for one whole book; plus, there will ALWAYS be Chaol haters. I honestly don't care much about Aelin and Rowan (sorry!), and I am notoriously known for thinking there is more than meets the eye with Chaol. But, I will admit it: the tandem read slightly improved my experience with my Throne of Glass journey. While reading nearly 1400 pages, give or take, seemed daunting, I did fly through this read (these reads?).

Set up: The main characters are thrown into every direction as war breaks out between citizens and the infamous Vlag. Empire of Storms follows Aelin, Rowan, Dorian, Manon, Lysandra, Aedion, Elide, Lorcan, and others we know and love. Tower of Dawn follows Chaol and Nesryn as they trek to the southern continent to, hopefully, gain support from the kaghan there in the upcoming war. Also, to see if they can get Chaol walking again. In this book, we meet Yrene again after briefly meeting her in The Assassin's Blade.

What I liked: Lysandra. I also  enjoyed Elide's and Lorcan's characters. I liked their romance. Theirs didn't feel forced per se, but their POVs were sometimes redundant. Finally, I was invested in this plot. I wanted to see how SJM wove in all the moving pieces and how it would end. I was invested. I didn't see TOO many plot holes. This is some decent high fantasy plotting.

What I didn't like: Aelin. Always. She's so annoying, even if she spouts some funnies occasionally. I didn't enjoy Rowan and Aelin either. "Just bang!" I would say throughout this novel, and THEN they did, and I was underwhelmed. Something about velvet-strapped steel also just....yuck.

This (these) book(s) also did teeter on the ROMANCE scale so much. I was finally glad not to have a love triangle anymore, and thankfully, those (kinda) went away, but everybody is paired with somebody. I'm not sure why it annoyed me because I've read other books where this happens (Roots of Chaos - Samantha Shannon), but I don't think anybody quite hypes it up and makes it a considerable plot point like SJM. I also wished I counted how many kisses characters gave at the "corners of mouths."

Lastly, there is a plethora of toxic perseverance and the glorification of war, which is something I must get used to with SJM writing. In addition [I'm putting a spoiler on this just in case],

but 
kind of healing Chaol's injury wasn't done super well in my opinion. He was disabled and then "magically" healed, yet still tied to Yrene's life and it can still go wrong? It's honestly a cop out of him being healed enough to still be mr macho man yet then things can go wrong? I don't know, it didn't quite sit well for me.

Overall, though, it was fine. This was a solid read (reads). However, I have officially decided that my TBR is too long for any more SJM. I will finish this series with Kingdom of Ash, and I will stop reading her works. Fated mates, toxic perseverance, and unnecessary romanticism of war simply isn't for me and I will officially put the books down after. 

I read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn as a tandem read, as requested by most BookTokers I've seen out there. Many recommend this because they love Aelin and Rowan and didn't want to be a part of them for one whole book; plus, there will ALWAYS be Chaol haters. I honestly don't care much about Aelin and Rowan (sorry!), and I am notoriously known for thinking there is more than meets the eye with Chaol. But, I will admit it: the tandem read slightly improved my experience with my Throne of Glass journey. While reading nearly 1400 pages, give or take, seemed daunting, I did fly through this read (these reads?).

Set up: The main characters are thrown into every direction as war breaks out between citizens and the infamous Vlag. Empire of Storms follows Aelin, Rowan, Dorian, Manon, Lysandra, Aedion, Elide, Lorcan, and others we know and love. Tower of Dawn follows Chaol and Nesryn as they trek to the southern continent to, hopefully, gain support from the kaghan there in the upcoming war. Also, to see if they can get Chaol walking again. In this book, we meet Yrene again after briefly meeting her in The Assassin's Blade.

What I liked: Lysandra. I also  enjoyed Elide's and Lorcan's characters. I liked their romance. Theirs didn't feel forced per se, but their POVs were sometimes redundant. Finally, I was invested in this plot. I wanted to see how SJM wove in all the moving pieces and how it would end. I was invested. I didn't see TOO many plot holes. This is some decent high fantasy plotting.

What I didn't like: Aelin. Always. She's so annoying, even if she spouts some funnies occasionally. I didn't enjoy Rowan and Aelin either. "Just bang!" I would say throughout this novel, and THEN they did, and I was underwhelmed. Something about velvet-strapped steel also just....yuck.

This (these) book(s) also did teeter on the ROMANCE scale so much. I was finally glad not to have a love triangle anymore, and thankfully, those (kinda) went away, but everybody is paired with somebody. I'm not sure why it annoyed me because I've read other books where this happens (Roots of Chaos - Samantha Shannon), but I don't think anybody quite hypes it up and makes it a considerable plot point like SJM. I also wished I counted how many kisses characters gave at the "corners of mouths."

Lastly, there is a plethora of toxic perseverance and the glorification of war, which is something I must get used to with SJM writing. In addition [I'm putting a spoiler on this just in case], but

kind of healing Chaol's injury wasn't done super well in my opinion. He was disabled and then "magically" healed, yet still tied to Yrene's life and it can still go wrong? It's honestly a cop out of him being healed enough to still be mr macho man yet then things can go wrong? I don't know, it didn't quite sit well for me.

Overall, though, it was fine. This was a solid read (reads). However, I have officially decided that my TBR is too long for any more SJM. I will finish this series with Kingdom of Ash, and I will stop reading her works. Fated mates, toxic perseverance, and unnecessary romanticism of war simply isn't for me and I will officially put the books down after. 

The setup: Noemí Taboada is partying it up in Mexico City, flirting with cute men, attending debutant-like balls and events, and pondering what she should do with her life when her father notifies her that they have received quite an alarming letter from Noemí's cousin Catalina. The letter reads as if Catalina needs some psychiatric help—she sees ghosts, the walls talk to her, and she is having intense nightmares. It doesn't help that Catalina recently got married to essentially a stranger, and one of European descent no less. They live with his family in the Mexican countryside, where his British lineage once made a name for themselves exploited Mexicans in the mining industry.

Noemí isn't necessarily the closest with her cousin, but she is worried, and her father offers to pay for her anthropology school if she goes to investigate. Therefore, Noemí treks to High Place, where Catalina lives with Virgil, her husband, Virgil's father, Howard, and others in the family, including Florence, Virgil's cousin, and Francis, Florence's son. Noemí discovers that Catalina isn't well, but everything is not as it seems. We trek on a journey with Noemí as she discovers a house that brings about nightmares and a family's past that unravels long-time secrets.

What I liked: I'm going to preface my entire review with this fact: I knew going into this that this wasn't as scary as it may have been set out to be. I forget where I heard it, but I knew that this was not a jump scare horror novel. Regardless, this is an odd tale that intertwines a creepy family and some natural wonders (but not in the best way!). I honestly loved the "horror" aspect to this - an utterly unhinged family and their story and a captivating plot around a house of horrors. I found it unique and compelling. I'm being vague for a reason - I don't want to give any spoilers to the house of horrors, but I thought it was exciting and original. This story made me cringe at parts, so while it didn't scare me a lot, it psychologically spooked me in other ways. Additionally, I thought Noemí was a refreshing and lovely character. She somehow didn't annoy me, which is quite challenging in a thriller/mystery/horror novel like this one. The main character inevitably decides something to further the plot where you want to scream "NO!" That didn't happen to me here, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The slight romance plot was also refreshing as Noemí most certainly didn't act like a woman of the 1950s (at least by American standards). I liked this novel's plot, thriller aspect, and characters.

Lastly, I was struck by the novel's profound symbolism, particularly its exploration of colonialism and racism. The theme of eugenics, set in 1950s Mexico, was a powerful reminder of the country's history. The Spanish conquest, the Revolution, and the exploitation of the land and its people by colonizers all resonated strongly. This voice, so prevalent in the novel, was a necessary and thought-provoking element.

What could have been better: Like many reviews, I must acknowledge that the pacing was a bit uneven. The first half of the book was admittedly slow, but the last 20% picked up dramatically. However, even during the slower parts, I was still invested in Noemí's journey, and it kept me hooked. Some parts were slightly predictable and occasionally dull, and the horror element wasn't as pronounced as I expected (or, at least, in the way I expected). Also, the writing was not atmospheric or flowery for a gothic novel. Still, the gothic elements were at least described - particularly an old, outdated house with no electricity and plenty of bad weather, mist, and fog hovering on the mountain. 

Lastly—and this didn't impact my review, but I think for expectation sake, I will share—this book did not necessarily explain the how behind the horror-like element of it; you were just expected to roll with it. Did it make a ton of sense? No. Nor was there a lot of time explaining it. However, was it interesting and a great take on something different in the genre? Absolutely. 

Overall, I enjoyed this novel, even when the pacing prevented me from rating it higher. I particularly liked the natural elements that weaved into the overall premise, and it was generally well done. 

The setup: Volume Two picks up right where Volume One left off, leaving us on a thrilling cliffhanger! Coco and her friends find themselves in a mysteriously different town, possibly due to magic. Their goal is to return to their own world, but a cunning obstacle stands in their way—a dragon. As we follow their journey, we witness the group's strategic thinking and the bonds they form to overcome this perilous situation. 

What I liked: Similar to Volume One, Volume Two presents a captivating storyline and plot. The magic system, with its unique elements, adds a refreshing twist to the narrative. The story also places a significant emphasis on learning and collaboration, which I found particularly engaging. The illustrations are in sync with the plot, and the author's storytelling style is a delight to experience.

What was missing: Ugh, this still just reads so young to me! I know it is likely meant to, and I think these Volumes do a great job of accomplishing what they are meant for—to tell a cute and cozy story about some witches. I can see showing these comics to my (potential) 12-year-old one day so that they can learn about teamwork, critical thinking, and determination. However, overall, I am just not in that space in my life, and I think some pieces are still missing. For example, our character, Algott, is still a bit of an enigma, and while we read more about her, her actions and lack of kindness still don't add up. Finally, I sometimes struggle to read facial expressions - I cannot tell if they are trying to make the characters shouting/yelling or just excited.  

However, for what it is, I will likely continue this series. Three stars have their place, and just because it's not the best for me, it might be for someone else. The messaging is still lovely in these books. 

I can't believe I'm already at Volume 11! I spent 2022 reading many of these books (alongside other comics and graphic novels) and then 2023 with regular ole' fiction. Therefore, I was excited to dive back into these books.

I will spare you the setup because there are so many of these, and it will inevitably have spoilers. But there's a little bit of conniving kiddos, a little bit of friendly faces, a little bit of trying to bring back the dead, and, per usual, a little bit whole lot of violence and dark issues surrounding war.

Saga is a space fantasy that weaves together diverse beings and plots, exploring universal themes of war, friendship, love, and healing. The author and artist have a unique ability to transport you into this world, making you deeply care about the characters and their journeys. Moreover, the series masterfully incorporates real-world issues like racism and identity, adding a layer of depth to the narrative.

Most of the Volumes are five stars for me. However, numbers 10 and 11 (this one) are slightly lower because the story seems to be going through a transition. Volume 9 left off with one of the more intense cliffhangers (and assumptions) I had ever seen, and Volume 10 worked through that - and it was SAD. Therefore, Volumes 10 and 11 are now pivoting their plots based on that twist and moving forward. While I think Vaughan is writing this transition well, I think it's going through a bit of a plateau. I have no doubt that will change, and this series is still phenomenal. 

I have always been so satisfied after reading a Saga Volume. I cannot wait to continue once more Volumes are released!