The Bookwyrm Lair
An amazing graphic novel that does an excellent job of tackling a difficult event in an informative and compelling way.
The design is original in its approach to colour and technical schematics, but at the same time it tells a very human story in an easy to read way.
I found it very enlightning and came away with a better understanding of the Chernobyl incident.
This book is a bit of a punch to the face.
But in a very good way!
If, like me, you have kids, your life is constantly filled with doubts about what is best for them: from food, to schools, to toys, what to read, what school/style of education, how to manage tantrums, sleep, screens.
It is never ending.
This book does not offer a solution.
And, again, that is a very good thing!
It makes you think about things related to parenting and to the problems facing our world in ways you probably haven't thought of before.
I guess, the one strong conclusion I got from reading this is that sometimes, what is best for your children, might not be the best for the world that surrounds us, and you should be prepared to make tough decisions.
This book might help you make those decisions, so go read it!
This anthology caught my attention for its premise:
“Once every generation there is a Chosen One, who will stand between humanity and darkness.
But why is the Chosen One so often a teenager? (...) Whose idea was it to put the fate of the world in the hands of someone without a fully developed prefrontal cortex?”
Writing as someone who is almost forty, I cherish this idea that we are never too old to go on adventures!
As with every collection of this type, there were amazing stories, and some that didn't speak to me as much, but I can honestly say, there is something for everyone here.
From portal fantasies to Chosen-Ones-CEOs, from mothers to grandmothers to soon-to-be mothers. from the mystical to the more mundane, this anthology is seriously worth your time!
As with most collections of short-stories I've read, there were some great ones and some more indifferent ones.
I didn't get the feeling for the Lost Worlds the title indicated in some of these stories, but if you enjoy some of the authors listed give this a read!
I am sure you'll find something to enjoy.
Feel-good post-apocalyptic short story?
Sign me up!
This novella was quite a surprise, to be honest. I was expecting something quite a bit darker and sadder, being that civilization as we know it has ended in this world. But I was pleasantly surprised that it showcased humans in a pretty positive light, and ended in a upbeat and hopeful note.
The countdown device is quite satisfying, and it blends with the story itself very well.
The main characters are empathetic and easy to connect with, and the groups of side characters are all interesting and, although not the most original I've read, they fit the story they are in and make sense in the world.
All in all, a very enjoyable read and a series I intend to continue!
“The Last Session” is a graphic novel about a group of friends who have been playing Dungeons & Drago.. .- I'm sorry, Dice & Deathtraps - together since high school.
As they move on to college, and soon, the adult world, they have decided to finally finish their first campaign. But the addition of a new player might throw the party into turmoil and chaos.
This cute comic is both fun and relatable. I too have been in such a party, whose campaign spanned years. And I too identify with the difficulty of accepting change as you grow older.
The characters are very relatable and diverse, they could be you or your friends when you were in college.
I found the illustrations and design very accessible, easy to follow the action as it developed, and the transition between real-world action and in-game world action was very smooth.
All in all, a very well done graphic novel for all players of tabletop RPGs (or maybe a good motivator to start playing?), fans of stories about friendship, the family you choose as you grow older, and the struggles of being an adult.
You should read this!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I must start this review by admitting I did not finish this book.
However, I do think the idea behind this story is a great one, but I found the writing style difficult to follow.
Kingdom tells us the story of Margaret, an older woman, “stuck in a loveless marriage with her son as her only solace”, who accesses a magical world through a picture on her wall. Of course, all is not well in our magical realm of Kingdom, and Darkness is on the rise, mainly inside our main character.
It is not often we get older main characters in fantasy books and so I must congratulate the author! It was one of the reasons I asked to review this book. It is refreshing to have a character with a life so similar to so many of us
The idea that she can access a magical realm through a picture on a wall might not be a new one, but it is still one we love. Portal fantasies continue to be some of my favourite ones. Added to that the notion that this magical world chooses people in the normal world that are too sad to continue here, I found a warm and cozy thought.
My main problem with this book was the way we were thrown into the world without much introduction, setup, or information.
We start with our character already in Kingdom, things are already happening, characters are not introduced, and most of the information about the world and the inciting events comes from the characters telling us things that happened to them in the past, instead of the author showing us the world, their past and the actual main events.
I confess I was very confused throughout the first chapters, which is why I did not manage to finish this book.
I do think this was more of a problem of execution than an issue with the ideas and worlds behind the story, which I still found to be very interesting.
I really liked this book! The world of event organizing is an interesting one (at least for me!) and I found the characters relatable enough. I was glad the drama wasn't too over the top, as sometimes is the case with romances) tho I wish the conflict and friction between our main characters was a bit more emphasized in the beginning. I found Leah a bit too nice at times!
Overall, good characters, great sexual tension between them and an overall good plot.
Thank you for letting me read this!
Ok, this is probably one of the best novellas you're going to read this year, probably ever.
It is beautifully written, poetic, abstract but filled with real feelings at the same time.
It is confusing at times, funny at others, and you'll delight in finding all the references to modern culture hidden within.
Also, it's a great way to learn a thousand different ways of saying the colour Red and Blue.
Ok, I might be a bit biased, since I'm a big fan of Felicia Day, but this book is simply awesome!
Funny, honest and awkward at times, but always inspiring. It almost makes me wish I had a less “normal” childhood.
But in the end, we are all weird in our own special ways, I guess.
Plus, it's a really fast read, so no excuse not to put it on your To-Read-List right now.
Can't wait to listen to the audiobook!
You can't go wrong with this one.
Ms. Novik does not disappoint (again)!
If you like Dragons, Ships, Napoleonic Wars (or just enjoy a good story) I would suggest you read this book.
Amazing characters, great world building and a fresh account of historic events.
The only issue I can point to where will I find the time to read the next 8 books in this series?
Truly an amazing book!
I read this after Adam Savage and the crew at Tested.com recommended it, and boy was it worth it.
If you like technical talk, if you loved The Martian, go read this!
My only problem with this book was that I felt the third part could've been a separate book, a sequel if you may.
But the first two parts of the novel will make you laugh and cry, feel anxious and tense as never before, and you will hate some of the characters even more than Umbridge (trust me on this).
Definitely going to read more Neal Stephenson books after this one!
A must-read!
Not only it is an enlightening read about life as an astronaut, it is also an extremely inspiring and upbeat guide to life, no matter what you do, or aspire to do.
I've always admired Chris Hadfield for his work promoting space science, but now I want to listen to him talk all day about all the interesting things he has seen and done, both on Earth and in space.
A journey I must advise everyone else take!
I gotta confess I did pick out this book solely based on its cover.
But I did not regret it!
It's an amazing read, funny, morbid and clever, and you couldn't ask for a better heroine in Flavia (what a great name!)
Also, it has some of the best sentences I've read lately:
“If poisons were ponies, I'd put my money on cyanide.”
For those of you who, like me, loved the movie (despite some cheesy parts) this is just the book for you.
It is, simply put, the book version of the movie! You can actually “listen” to the soundtrack in some passages (without ever turning on your music player).
Very good and a good gift for the Interstellar fan!
Another amazing book by [a:Brandon Sanderson 38550 Brandon Sanderson https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg]!!And you can even read the first version of it for free at his website (http://brandonsanderson.com/books/warbreaker/warbreaker/). Just check it out to find out more.If you love Sanderson's work, read this!If you want to start his works, but have no idea where, read this!If you just want a good epic fantasy book (without a million sequels that you're gonna need to read afterwards), read this!It's a win-win situation ;)