I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes.
This was such a joy to read! This manga is seriously the cutest thing ever. I was dying over how adorable it was.
Like the title suggests, the main characters are opposites. Suzuki is outgoing and popular, while Tani is more reserved and keeps to himself. I loved seeing their relationship blossom. In particular, their first date was a standout. Their relationship also felt very relatable, especially when it comes navigating first relationships. I was glad the story did not have any unnecessary drama. It was straightforward and mainly focused on their developing relationship.
As for the art style, it complemented the story perfectly. It was fun, cute, and occasionally silly, just like the story.
Overall, if you are looking for a sweet manga that will bring a smile to your face, consider picking this one up! I can’t wait to continue their story.
I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher for promotional purposes.
I was so excited to read this because it is based on Filipino mythology. I’m Filipino and this is the first book I’ve seen that draws from Filipino mythology. It did not disappoint.
The incorporation of Filipino mythology and culture were wonderfully done. There’s no denying the Filipino influence. There are even mentions of various Filipino foods (like pancit and empanadas) and Filipino clothes (like Barong Tagalog and Maria Clara dresses). I just loved seeing all the Filipino representation! I’m so glad Melissa de la Cruz decided to use her heritage as inspiration.
I loved the supporting characters. MJ’s friend Nix was super cool and such a great friend to her. MJ’s love interest, Sir Lucas, was very dashing. It’s no surprise she fell for him.
As for the story, I found it to be exciting and intriguing. There’s mystery, adventure, politics, magic, and of course some romance. I was never bored and I couldn’t wait to see how it all ended. It definitely kept me guessing until the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and am curious to see what’s to come in the sequel (this is the first in a duet). If you’re a fan of Melissa de la Cruz’s books, you’ll like this one!
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (DC Comics) for promotional purposes.
Going into this book, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know much about Krypton, other than the fact it is Superman’s birthplace. But once I started reading it, I was very intrigued!
I’ve read many of DC’s graphic novels for young adults, and this one leans more on the action packed side (some other titles in the line are more slower paced and introspective). This book is full of adventure and there is never a dull moment.
I found the setting of Krypton to be so interesting. It was a utopia where things weren’t actually perfect.
I also liked the two main characters, Sera and Zahn. They are from 2 different castes (Sera is a solider and Zahn is an elite future leader), but team up due to their doubts about Krypton. They were both so well developed and had an equal amount of storyline.
The artwork worked very well for the story. The colors were vivid and really brought the word to life. The action scenes were also nicely drawn.
Since this is the first book in a trilogy, it does end in a cliffhanger that makes you want to read the next one ASAP.
Overall, if you’re looking for an exciting and action filled graphic novel, read this one!
I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher (Harper Perennial) for promotional purposes. Since I received an ARC, my quotes from the book are tentative.
I am such a huge fan of Lang Leav, so I knew I had to read this book. I thought this was such a poignant and impactful story.
The story takes place in Australia during the late 90’s. As an Asian American, it was fascinating learning about Australia and its racial tensions during that time. I also enjoyed learning more about the large group of Asian refugees who moved to Australia.
The writing style is gorgeous. Lang Leav is a wonderful poet so it’s no surprise her prose is just as beautiful.
The best part of the book was the exploration of friendships, particularly Ai and Brigitte’s. At times their friendship reminded me of Olivia Rodrigo’s song, “Lacy,” because of the jealousy that Ai sometimes had towards Brigitte. The author weaved an intricate portrayal of their sometimes complicated friendship. The theme of grief and loss was also masterfully woven all throughout the story.
I do have two minor critiques. The first being that the 2 parts of the story felt unbalanced. Part 1 was twice as long as part 2, making part 2 feel a little rushed. My second critique is that this book felt more YA than adult. That isn’t a bad thing (I love YA); I just feel like it was miscategorized.
Lastly, I want to share a quote about the magic of books that I loved. Brigitte states,
“I’m envisioning a bookshelf lined with tiny doors. A whole world behind each one. I’m in awe of the way authors can bring these worlds to life the way they do. Like Wonderland for example. It’s so detailed, it feels just like a real place to me—as real as any other”
pg. 45
I couldn’t agree more! Books can feel so real.
Overall, this was a moving and beautifully written story!
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (DC Comics) for promotional purposes.
I’m a big fan of DC’s graphic novels for young adults line and this novel was a great addition to the lineup. I’m not really familiar with Swamp Thing, so I didn’t have any particular expectations going into it.
As for the storyline, there really isn’t much of a plot. It’s more of a character study that serves as an origin story for Swamp Thing. If you’re looking for an exciting superhero read, this book isn’t it. The majority of the novel focuses on the twins and their relationship. There is a lot of exploration of their feelings and emotions towards themselves and each another, which I enjoyed.
However, the ending did feel rushed and abrupt. It ended suddenly and with little closure. I would have liked to seen it fleshed out more.
The best part of the book was definitely the illustrations. The artwork is stunning, especially the drawings involving plants. There’s an ethereal, almost horror-like quality to some of the depictions.
Overall, I recommend this graphic novel for those looking to read a different kind of superhero comic.
I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes.
What a powerful debut novel!
First off, I am Filipino American so I’m always extra excited to read any book with Filipino rep. This one did not disappoint.
I love that this book explores all of the main character’s identities. Bobby is not only Filipino American, but also gay and lower income. He’s also a huge comic book nerd. All of his identities intersect in a real and authentic way.
There was a good balance between the lighter moments and the heavy ones. This book does feature quite a bit of violence (both in boxing and non-boxing contexts) and homophobia, so the lighter moments are much needed.
Additionally, I did like that the antagonists (the bullies) of the story were also Filipino American. The book highlights the positives of Filipino culture, but also shows how homophobia can still exist within it (the Philippines is still a very Catholic country). I’m glad that the author did not shy away from that.
Finally, the way the book handled Bobby’s reaction to Manny Pacquiao’s statements was also well done. It felt very realistic and showed that sometimes our idols are not all that great.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel! I recommend it if you’re looking for a YA book with Filipino or LGBTQ representation.
I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes.
This book serves as a prequel to the Disney movie, Cinderella, and explores how Drizella and Anastasia became evil stepsisters.
The plot was well executed. I liked that the book started off with a prologue in the viewpoint of their father, which helped set up the story and shed some light on Lady Tremaine and her motives. The rest of the book is told in alternating points of view between Drizella and Anastasia, with an epilogue in the viewpoint of Lady Tremaine. The story is fairly basic, but it works. It highlights how the sisters weren’t born being evil, they became evil.
The character development was also well done. The sisters are very likable in the beginning and you can’t help but root for them to pursue their dreams. By the time you reach the end, you understand how and why they became evil and why they dislike Cinderella so much.
I do want to note that there is bullying, abuse, and neglect in the story and there isn’t a happy ending. If you’re looking for a light hearted Disney read, this book isn’t for you.
Overall, I really enjoyed this dark dive into the world of Cinderella. If you like villain stories, consider picking this book up!
I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes.
This was such a cute book!
The story centers on the classic fake dating trope, so a lot of it is predictable. I did get major To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before vibes at times, which is not a bad thing because TATBILB is one of my all time favorite books.
Everything about this book was super adorable and sweet. I loved all of Eliza and Caz’s interactions. They really brought out the best in each other and most importantly, helped each other grow and develop.
I also liked that the book explored long distance friendship. I haven’t seen that too often in books and it offered a good contrast to the relationship storyline.
My one critique is that the ending felt rushed. It ended super fast and I wanted to see a little bit more resolution. I would have loved to have seen it end with the final article she was writing for her internship because that would have brought the story full circle (the whole thing started because of a piece she wrote). Also, since none of the blog posts are featured in the book, it would have been nice to have at least one.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! I highly recommend it if you love the fake dating trope and young adult romances.
I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes.
This is only the second Twisted Tale I’ve read (the other being Reflection, which coincidentally has a somewhat similar storyline) so I can’t rank it in comparison to the others.
This was such a fun read!
I love that the book focused on Meg instead of Hercules. Meg is one of my favorite Disney characters and is so underrated. This book not only gave Meg her own story, but also dove into her past and showed more of her relationship with Hercules that we didn’t see in the movie.
Other characters from the movie are also in the book including Phil, Pegasus, Zeus, and of course Hades. There are also plenty of new characters. I would have liked to have seen a little more of Hercules, but given that this is truly Meg’s story, his lack of presence was justified.
As for the story, I found it entertaining and full of adventure, while also still having a lot of heart.
Lastly, I loved that it is revealed (on page 252) that Meg’s last name is Egan. In case you didn’t know, Egan, is the last name of Meg’s voice actor (Susan Egan).
Overall, if you are a fan of the movie or Meg, I recommend this book!
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the PRINCE OF SONG & SEA by Linsey Miller Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my review and make sure to enter the giveaway!
For fans of Twisted Tales and Villains is a brand new YA series that retells the classic Disney stories you thought you knew from the Disney Princes’ perspectives.
Before Prince Eric’s mother, the Queen of Vellona, went missing two years ago, she reminded him about the details of the deadly curse that has plagued his entire life. The curse? If he were to kiss someone other than his true love, he would die. With a neighboring kingdom looking for any excuse to invade their shores, and rumors of ghost pirates lurking the seas, Eric is desperate for any information that may help him break his enchantment and bring stability to Vellona. The answers he has been searching for come to him in the form of a letter left from his mother that reveals Eric must find his true love, the one with a voice pure of heart, or kill the sea witch responsible for cursing him in the first place.
Now Eric is on a quest to find the Isle of Serein, the witch’s legendary home. But after he is rescued by a mysterious young woman with a mesmerizing singing voice, Eric’s heart becomes torn. Does he enter a battle he is almost certain he cannot win or chase a love that might not even exist? And when a shipwrecked young woman with flaming red hair and a smile that could calm the seven seas enters his life, Eric may discover that true love isn’t something that can be decided by magic.
Click the picture to purchase the book on Amazon
Rating: ★★★★★
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher for promotional purposes.
I was really impressed with this retelling! I know a lot of people take issue with the Twisted Tales Disney series because it follows the movie too closely, so I was worried that this new Disney Prince series would be similar. Fortunately, this book does add a lot more to the movie. Prince Eric gets an entire backstory involving a curse which gives him so much more depth than he has in the movie. There are also a bunch of added scenes including a ton developing Eric and Ariel’s relationship. Their love story in the book is a lot less insta-lovey than it is in the movie.
I also loved that the book managed to solve common plot issues of the movie. For example, it explains why Ariel doesn’t write what she wants to say and why Ariel didn’t read her contract with Ursula.
This book is also inclusive without feeling forced. One character, Gabriella, is a lesbian, while another character, Sauer, uses they/them pronouns. Both Gabriella’s sexuality and Sauer’s pronouns are no big deal. It’s treated so normally that it actually took me a while to notice Sauer’s pronouns.
Lastly, let’s just take a minute to appreciate that gorgeous cover. It’s perfection.
Overall, I loved this retelling of The Little Mermaid! If you’re a fan of The Little Mermaid, I highly recommend this book. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
About Linsey Miller:
Once upon a time, Linsey Miller studied biology in Arkansas. These days, she holds an MFA in fiction and can be found writing about science and magic anywhere there is coffee. She is the author of the Mask of Shadows duology, Belle Révolte, The Game, What We Devour, and the upcoming Disney Princes books for Eric and Phillip. Visit her at linseymiller.com.
Odd and Bookish 