The Tea Dragon series by Kay O’Neill || series review

✧ This review is spoiler-free! ✧

Titles: The Tea Dragon Society, The Tea Dragon Festival, The Tea Dragon Tapestry
Series: Tea Dragon, #1-3
Author & illustrator: Kay O’Neill
Publisher: Oni Press
Category: middle grade
Genre: graphic novel, fantasy, LGBTQIA+
My Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads page

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Synopsis of Tea Dragon Society

From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons.

After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives—and eventually her own.

[ This synopsis was taken directly from Goodreads. ]

Heartstopper, Volume Three by Alice Oseman | book review

✧ This short review is spoiler-free! ✧

Title: Heartstopper, Volume Three
Series: Heartstopper, #3
Author: Alice Oseman
Published: Feb. 6, 2020
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Category: young adult
Genre: contemporary, LGBTQIA+
Pages: 384
My Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads page

Punderworld, Volume 1 by Linda Sejic | ARC review

DISCLAIMER: I was given a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

✧ This review is spoiler-free! ✧

Title: Punderworld, Volume 1
Series: Punderworld, #1
Author + illustrator: Linda Sejic
Expected Publication: Aug. 3, 2021
Publisher: Image Comics
Category: YA/adult
Genre: mythology, romance, graphic novel
Pages: 176
My Rating: ★★★☆☆
Goodreads page

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Synopsis

Hades and Persephone’s love-struck misadventures.

The classic tale of Greek mythology, but 100% more awkwardly relatable. Hades is the officious, antisocial ruler of the Underworld; Persephone, daughter of Demeter, is an earth goddess of growth and renewal – they’ve been crushing on each other for the past two centuries. But when a festival (and a little liquid courage) present an opportunity to put an end to their olympian will-they-won’t-they, a meddlesome pantheon and several titanic misassumptions threaten to give every god in the sky the wrong impression… and leave their romance dead before it can bloom.

[ This synopsis was taken directly from Goodreads. ]

Heartstopper, Volume Two by Alice Oseman | book review

✧ This review is spoiler-free! ✧

Title: Heartstopper, Volume Two
Series: Heartstopper, #2
Author & illustrator: Alice Oseman
Published: July 19, 2019
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Category: YA
Genre: contemporary, LGBTQ+
Pages: 320
My Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads page

Heartstopper, Volume One by Alice Oseman | graphic novel review

✧ This review is spoiler-free! ✧

Title: Heartstopper, Volume One
Series: Heartstopper, #1
Author: Alice Oseman
Published: February 7, 2019
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Category: YA
Genre: contemporary, LGBTQ+
Pages: 288
My Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads page

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Synopsis

Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…?

Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn’t been too great, but at least he’s not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He’s heard a little about Charlie – the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months – but he’s never had the opportunity to talk to him.

They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner…

[ This synopsis was taken directly from Goodreads. ]

Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia, illustrated by Gabriel Picolo | Book Review

Title: Teen Titans: Beast Boy
Series: Teen Titans, #2
Author: Kami Garcia
Illustrator: Gabriel Picolo
Published: Sep. 1, 2020
Publisher: DC Ink
Category: young adult
Genre: fantasy, superhero
Pages: 208
My Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Goodreads page

This short review is free from spoilers.

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Synopsis

Garfield Logan has spent his entire life being overlooked. Even in a small town like Eden, Georgia, the 17-year-old with green streaks in his hair can’t find a way to stand out–and the clock is ticking. Senior year is almost over. If Gar doesn’t find a way to impress the Chosen Ones–the social elite at Bull Creek High School–he will never know what it’s like to matter. Gar’s best friends, Stella and Tank, don’t understand why he cares what other people think. They miss their funny, pizza-loving, video game-obsessed best friend.

Then Gar accepts a wild dare out of the blue. It impresses the Chosen Ones and his social status soars. But other things are changing, too. Gar grows six inches overnight. His voice drops and, suddenly, he’s stronger and faster. He’s finally getting everything he wanted, but his newfound popularity comes at a price. Gar has to work harder to impress his new friends. The dares keep getting bigger and the stakes keep getting higher.

When Gar realizes the extent of his physical changes, he has to dig deep and face the truth about himself–and the people who truly matter–before his life spirals out of control.

[ This synopsis was taken directly from Goodreads. ]

Valentine’s Day lovers and haters book recommendations

Romance and no romance book recommendations

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and people usually have one of two reactions. Either you get excited thinking about it or you just rolled your eyes at me. Either way, I have book recommendations for whether you’re a romantic at heart (like myself) or not.

Top 20 Books of 2020

My Top Books of 2020

Happy New Year (and thank goodness 2020 is over)! We have a tradition on this blog to showcase the top 10 books that I read every year. However, this year I wanted to do something different. Since it was 2020, I wanted to list my top 20 books instead of my top 10. It just has a better ring to it. However, I haven’t read that many novels this year, so I decided to split it into my top 10 books and my top 10 graphic novels. I read a lot of comics (although I don’t review them that much), so it’s only fair that I include them on the list.

In no particular order, I present to you my top books of 2020.

Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Search Omnibus by Gene Luen Yang | ARC Review

A digital copy was provided by the publisher through Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Search Omnibus
Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics, #2
Author: Gene Luen Yang
Illustrator: Gurihiru
Release date: October 27, 2020
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Category: YA
Genre: fantasy, graphic novel
Pages: 224
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Goodreads page

This review is spoiler-free!

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Synopsis

Immediately following the Avatar’s adventures chronicled in The Promise, this remarkable omnibus that collects parts 1-3 of The Search, from Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko!

For years, fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra have burned with one question–what happened to Fire Lord Zuko’s mother? Finding a clue at last, Zuko enlists the aid of Team Avatar–and the most unlikely ally of all–to help uncover the biggest secret of his life.

[ This synopsis was taken directly from Goodreads. ]

Timo the Adventurer by Jonathan Garnier | ARC Review

I was given a digital ARC from the publisher through Edelweiss+ in exchange for a honest review.

Title: Timo the Adventurer
Series: standalone
Author: Jonathan Garnier
Illustrator: Yohan Sacré
Release date: October 13, 2020
Publisher: Etch/Clarion Books
Genre: middle grade, fantasy, graphic novel
Pages: 128
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Goodreads page

This review is spoiler-free!

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Synopsis

Having read every book in his tiny village, young Timo decides it is time to leave home and become a hero. And while that is easier said than done, Timo is determined to succeed. When he rescues an enchanted beast named Broof, Timo gains a gruff and reluctant ally. But little does good-hearted Timo suspect that Broof’s mysterious past will bring complications to his journey…. An engaging hero, surprising plot twists, and a host of fantastical creatures keep readers turning the pages of this spelling-binding fantasy.

[ This synopsis was taken directly from Goodreads. ]