Category: Graphic Novels

Posted in Book Reviews, Graphic Novels, Rapid Reviews

RAPID REVIEW: Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Major Spoilers*

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Mooncakes has been making it’s way around social media, and I have finally gotten the appetite for some desserts. So let’s dine on this review of Mooncakes.

This graphic novel reminds me a lot of These Witches Don’t Burn. They both have cute witches, and magic, but Mooncakes doesn’t have any relationship drama. I like that the romance between Nova and Tam feels natural and it’s of the popular trope, friends to lovers.

One thing I loved about the story was how Nova is deaf and wears a hearing aid. It was nice seeing disability being represented here in a positive way. Also, for Nova and her family treating Tam like she’s family even though she’s a werewolf.

One small gripe I have is how jarring some of the panels progress. One of the grandmas would tell Nova that her friend is coming over soon, and in the next panel she’s next to Nova talking like she didn’t teleport. Maybe it’s just my imagination though.

Overall, I enjoyed Mooncakes. It was cute and colorful, and even when the story gets dark, it’s still bright and colorful. I would recommend this novel for people who are undecided on whether to read it or not. As well as fans of witches, werewolves, and magic potions.

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Posted in Book Reviews, Graphic Novels, Manga

REVIEW: The Crazy Food Truck Vol. 1 by Rokurou Ogaki

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Spoilers*

*Trigger Warnings for brief mentions of sexual assault*

The owner of a food truck in a post-apocalyptic world nearly runs over a naked girl sleeping in the middle of the desert. When he gives her a lift, he inadvertently takes on her baggage too—an armed militia hot on her trail…and her even more problematic appetite. If one doesn’t take him out, the other surely will!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

I discovered this manga on the virtual library and the cover caught my eye. I read the summary and as soon as I finished up one of the other books I was reading, I instantly dove into this one. So let’s fry up this review of Crazy Food Truck!

First off, I got to say that the artwork in this story is unique and beautiful. I admire artists who can draw anime food. Bonus points for even including the recipes at the end of the manga! Even though the is intended for mature audiences, I still had fun with our two main characters running away from the militia in a land covered in sand dunes.

One of my favorite parts is when they’re searching for food ingredients and Gordon and Arisa start fishing for sand squid. Well, Gordon couldn’t catch anything but a dinky little squid. He teaches Arisa how to use the fishing pole and she instantly catches the boss-level squid. Once she defeated the squid without too much trouble, Gordon was able to make burgers out of the squid meat and the rest was dried and salted.

Overall, I really enjoyed this manga and I will keep my eyes peeled for the next volume. This is one series I’m going to keep up with! I’d recommend this manga for fans of slice-of-life, post-apocalyptic stories, and of course food.

Posted in Book Reviews, Graphic Novels

REDO REVIEW: Fly by Night by Tara O’Connor

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Major Spoilers*

Trigger Warnings: Verbal Abuse, Grief, and brief mentions of fire and murder

Something supernatural is lurking in the woods. While out searching for her missing sister and desperately trying to find any possible clues to her whereabouts, Dee discovers something . . . isn’t quite right . . . in the woods. Dee soon finds herself in the middle of a battle to save the pinelands, and she is finding more suspects, and more questions, than answers.

As time goes on, there is only one thing she knows for certain, there are monsters among us. But they aren’t who you should be afraid of . . .

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I have been trying to diversify my reading this year, and when I saw this at my local library I thought I’d take the opportunity to check it out. The vibrant cover, and the mystery aspect makes this seem like the perfect review for me. So let’s sniff out Fly by Night.

First of this novel’s favorite color is purple. Even though a majority of this graphic novel is seen in shades of lavender and lilac, there’s a creepiness to it that helps the on going mystery of it all. Color theory for the win!

I like that we have a unique situation regarding Dee’s parents. That they were not only divorced but it was an interracial marriage. It’s hinted at through dialogue and insomnia spells that Dee’s father was abusive towards their mother. The father believes that if he kept both sisters together that Beth wouldn’t be missing.

Dee’s mom is visibly declining in health, she has heavy bags under her eyes and she looks like she hasn’t eaten or slept since Beth’s disappearance. Having her ex-husband there going on tirades when he’s not at work clearly is not making things easier. However she is relieved to have Dee there to help find out what happened to Beth.

As Dee is trying to sniff out clues, there’s an ongoing war against an oil company wanting to destroy the Pine-lands by building a pipeline. Beth was a major defender for the forest along with their science teacher and other students at the school. So how anyone has time to finish homework is beyond me. (haha)

Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel, there’s a lot of heart and care put in towards the characters. Even the Jersey Devil get’s an appearance and has a role to play in Dee’s story. I would recommend this novel for anyone looking for a heartwarming mystery. Even fans of the Jersey Devil or Cryptozoology would enjoy this tale of how we need to protect the places that mean the most to us.

Posted in Book Reviews, Graphic Novels, Marvel Comics

REVIEW: Marvel-Verse: Moon Knight by Multiple Authors

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Spoilers*

With multiple identities, Moon Knight is one of the most mysterious, mixed-up marauders in the Marvel-Verse! Meet Marc Spector as a monster hunter, when the shadowy Committee hires him to track down the Werewolf by Night! Then, join him juggling lives as a millionaire, a mercenary, a cab driver…and a masked vigilante teaming with Daredevil in a battle against the Jester that’s no laughing matter! But is Moon Knight really a bad guy? Find out alongside Spider-Man in a criminal competition played out by the gangs of New York! Then, when time-traveling Kang the Conqueror plots to settle an ancient grudge against the Egyptian god Khonshu, it’s up to Khonshu’s avatar, Moon Knight, to fix the broken timestream!

COLLECTING: Werewolf by Night (1972) #32-33, Moon Knight (1980) #13, Moon Knight Annual (2019) #1, material from Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #220.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

After finishing the Moon Knight TV series, as I do with most superheroes I learn about or discover, I must read one of the comics. Now the history of Moon Knight has been complicated a bit, basically the Moon Knight we see in the TV show isn’t what the character originally started out as.

When I’m meeting a new hero in the comics, it’s often overwhelming for me because I don’t know where to start. So I am glad I discovered the Marvel-Verse series. I feel like with the Marvel-Verse series that I get a good sampling of stories and get a general sense of the character when it comes to the comics.

My favorite story in this collection was from the Moon Knight Annual from 2019. It’s the final story in the collection, and it is fantastic. It’s dimension-twisting, time-turning, adventure between an ultimate villain and an unlikely hero.

Overall, I would recommend this collection. Seeing Moon Knight’s beginnings and seeing how he’s written now is fascinating. I’m hoping to explore more of the comics as we’re getting more comic-based movies and TV shows.

Posted in Book Reviews, Graphic Novels, Rapid Reviews

RAPID REVIEW: Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Vol. 1: Weapons of Past Destruction by Cavan Scott

Posted on by elishasbookreview

*No Spoilers*

Leaving World War II behind, The Ninth Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack discover that Time Lord technology, lost in the wake of the Time War, is being sold on the intergalactic black market! Now the threat of a new temporal war brews on the horizon, with the Doctor and his friends caught between the twin threats of the Unon and the Lect – two species with intertwined histories who are jostling to replace the Time Lords on the universal stage. Can the Doctor stop history repeating itself?

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

I have a special place in my heart for the 9th Doctor. Besides him being my first Doctor, I love his characterization. Fresh from the aftermath of the Time War and him meeting Rose who reminded him of what it’s like to be alive. So let’s travel through time in this review of Weapons of Past Destruction.

I have dipped my toe in to the Doctor Who comics before and it’s something I’ve enjoyed but not something I’ve spent a lot of my time pursuing or collecting. I depend on the library for a lot of the bookish content I consume, and it’s no different here. This comic takes place shortly after season 1, episode 10 The Doctor Dances.

I like how Rose tends to get separated from the Doctor and thus sees and assess the situation through her perspective, then when she meets back up to the Doctor he is still in war mode to an extent. She reminds him that there are two sides to every story. She has been my favorite companion of the reboot era.

Overall, I enjoyed this comic. The artwork is nice, and I felt like this was a good Doctor Who story. Since this is so shortly after the Time War, we see even more of the aftermath that the war had on the outer universe. So, I would recommend you have a basic understanding of Doctor Who before you dive into this story.