Tag: graphic novels

Kate’s Review: “Let Me In Your Window”

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Book: “Let Me In Your Window” by Adam Ellis

Publishing Info: Andrews McMeel Publishing, September 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: This sequel to Adam Ellis’s New York Times bestselling Bad Dreams in the Night is packed with terrifying twists, haunted houses, urban legends, and delightfully horrifying stories—like your own personal campfire ghost stories packed into a graphic novel. Each story will make you scream for more!

This brand-new collection of delightful horror comics includes nine new thrilling and terrifying stories that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and peering out their windows in fright. Adam Ellis, one of the biggest stars in webcomics, brings his unique blend of humor and horror to life with stunning illustrations and gripping narratives. Stories include Sleepwalker, about a terrifying and unexplained incident at a youth hostel, Old Machines, about receiving instant messages from a friend who has been dead for years, and Sunken Express, which chronicles a paranormal journey on a phantom subway car. Whether it’s a ghostly encounter, a creepy urban legend, or a supernatural mystery, Let Me In Your Window is guaranteed to give you the creeps.

Review: This past summer I reviewed Adam Ellis’s horror graphic collection “Bad Dreams in the Night”, and had mentioned that he had a new collection coming out this Fall. It probably comes as no surprise that I decided that I wanted to pick this one up as well given that I enjoyed the first one so much, and now that “Let Me in Your Window” is here I once again devoured the entire thing in one sitting. I just couldn’t help myself! Ellis’s horror stories are so quick and fun!

Like I do with most short stories collections I will talk about my three favorite stories first, then look at the collection as a whole.

“Little Kingdom”: We once again have the first story in the collection roping me in from the jump, which is always a great way to start. Two documentarians travel to a remote island that has a community that wanted to stay away from modern society, but birthed strange children who don’t seem like they are of this world. Unable to find success after this first film, they decide to go back to recapture another hit, but find something horrific instead. I love a documentary gone wrong story, and enjoyed the references and inspiration points, from North Sentinel Island to “Grey Gardens” to “Cannibal Holocaust”. Also an interesting question is raised about the ethics of making documentaries that could tread towards exploitation.

“Sunken Express”: I’m kind of seeing a similar pattern in the stories that stood out to me in this collection, as I first talked about the first story that really set the scene, and now I’m talking about the least horror-oriented story that had a little more bittersweetness to it. A man has heard an urban legend about an old subway stop that could possibly get you a ticket on a mysterious train that can take you to wherever your heart most desires. If you mess up the ritual, you may be stuck forever. You are supposed to be alone on the train…. except when he boards, he isn’t. Again, this isn’t a super scary story, it’s more about isolation, loneliness, the hope for redemption, and connection when you least expect it. I love a little emotion with my spooky stories.

“ReBrand”: AGAIN, following the same pattern as the first collection, as this was the last story in the book and it ended on a SUPREMELY CREEPY note! An aspiring model is frustrated when a mysterious digital billboard goes up across from her apartment, as the lights are keeping her awake at night. But one of the advertisements catches her eye: a youtube channel for a woman named Maarja Verine, who doesn’t seem to have much of a presence…. But she just has to keep checking back on her…. This one genuinely caught me off guard by the ending, and I was so shocked I immediately felt a need to go back and see if the clues were there. And they sure were! I really liked this one. It may have been my favorite in the collection.

An as a whole, I think that the stories in this book were all pretty solid! There were a couple that didn’t really connect with me (“Apple Head” felt a bit hokey, honestly), but none of them were BAD, per se. Ellis also has a fun style for his stories, able to have a charming and cute aesthetic that can shift into the grotesque on a dime. He has a real talent for these kinds of collections.

“Let Me in Your Window” was another enjoyable bundle of horror comics from Adam Ellis! It’s two for two for me, and I am going to manifest that we get more as time goes on!

Rating 8: Another fun horror comic collection from Adam Ellis! So fun and twisted.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Let Me in Your Window” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of now, but it would fit in on “Horror Comics Anthologies”.

Kate’s Review: “Lore Olympus: Volume Nine”

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Book: “Lore Olympus: Volume Nine” by Rachel Smythe

Publishing Info: Inklore, October 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: “The Underworld has a queen!”

Persephone and Hades are finally reunited when the banished goddess of spring returns to the Underworld to claim her rightful place as queen. Now that Hades and Persephone have defeated and imprisoned the power-hungry Kronos once more, nothing can keep them apart, and years of being separated have only made their desire for each other grow. But the other Olympians can’t help but meddle, pushing the pair to make things official with a coronation—and a wedding.

Ignoring the others who try to define their relationship, Hades and Persephone choose to take things at their own pace and focus on rebuilding the Underworld. They begin by investigating how Kronos was first able to escape, and they learn the horrifying truth that he has captured a powerful young god whose abilities help Kronos project his thoughts outside of Tartarus—thoughts he uses to plague Hera’s every waking moment. Though Kronos’s physical form is locked away, Olympus will never be free until they can rescue the child from the furious Titan’s grasp.

To save the realms, Persephone must figure out her fertility goddess powers and embrace her role as Queen of the Underworld—even as it takes her further from her mother’s expectations and her former place in the Mortal Realm.

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

Review: Given that last month was Horrorpalooza, I didn’t really have the theme that would fit the newest volume of “Lore Olympus”, but never fear! I didn’t forget! How could I forget my favorite adaptation of the Hades and Persephone myth? “Lore Olympus: Volume Nine” is here, and after a pretty intense previous volume where so much happened, we have a little bit of a breather. Persephone isn’t fighting any Titans this time around! Instead we get a focus on romance, healing, and other characters who deserve a little bit of the limelight.

After the huge confrontation between Persephone and Kronos, which basically saved Olympus, The Mortal Realm, and the Underworld (as well as Hades, Hecate, and all of the people Kronos had possessed in the Underworld), she and Hades are now trying to slowly and carefully figure out how to rebuild the Underworld, and how to approach their relationship. It’s a calmer volume and a quieter follow up to the action packed previous one, but I love that Smythe wants to give the reader a little breathing room, as well as wanting to be deliberate with how to build up their relationship now that so many obstacles are out of the way. Sure, there is still the issue with Demeter, who does NOT approve, and there is still the fact that Persephone has PTSD after her sexual assault by Apollo, but none of it feels insurmountable if the two of them are willing to support and adapt to each other. But Smythe is also sure to start giving us hints to what is coming next in this story, which brings back Kronos, Tartarus, and the war between the Olympians and the Titans that still has bad blood. It’s a good balance of breathing room as well as foundation for what’s next, and I enjoyed having both aspects.

But not only do we have a lovely and tender easing into a romantic relationship after a lot of pain and trauma, we also have some more great character development for other gods and goddesses who have appeared and played their parts, but haven’t had moments to shine on their own. Seeing Aphrodite have some development was great, especially since she is so often reduced to beautiful, vain, and vapid. I loved learning more and Thanatos and his tumultuous relationship with Hades, who basically raised him but had no idea on how to do it in a supportive and loving way. I REALLY loved seeing Psyche get some more story, especially as she has finally married Eros and has a larger part to play. And the most engaging and enjoyable character exploration in this was seeing Minthe again, no longer a plant, and dealing with her personal issues in ways that are surprising and incredibly gratifying. It’s so awesome that Smythe wanted to take the time for all of these characters, and made the story that much richer.

“Lore Olympus: Volume Nine” continues the fantastic reimagining of Persephone and Hades, and has started to set up the final storyline. I hear that we only have two volumes left until it’s all finished, and Smythe has laid out a very intriguing path forward. Can’t wait for the next one.

Rating 9: I love this series so much, and I love the focus of this volume being on Hades and Persephone building a healthy relationship after all of the trauma they have experienced. Also, more emotional character development for other characters!

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume 9” is included on the Goodreads list “October 2025 Most Anticipated Romance Releases”.

Previously Reviewed:

Kate’s Review: “Queer As All Get Out”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “Queer As All Get Out: 10 People Who’ve Inspired Me” by Shelby Criswell

Publishing Info: Street Noise Books, October 2021

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eBook from the publisher

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: This graphic novel paints a picture of the lives of 10 specific LGBTQIA people from history, framed by the personal struggles of the author to find acceptance and to carve out a meaningful life as a genderqueer person. Each chapter focuses on a different relatively little-known historical character, presented within the context of the author’s own life. Shelby Criswell’s art is fun and engaging and brings a comic book feel to this enlightening and important subject matter.

Review: Thank you to Street Noise Books for sending me an eBook of this graphic novel!

In honor of Street Noise Books’s 5th Anniversary in publishing, they were kind enough to ask if I would like to help celebrate this achievement with them by highlighting one of their titles from the past five years. I was absolutely into this idea, as I really enjoyed the other works they’ve sent me and because I love the focus on political and social conscious themes. So today I bring you the graphic novel memoir/history book “Queer As All Get Out: 10 People Who’ve Inspired Me” by Shelby Criswell, a book about important queer people in history who have kind of been lost or forgotten to mainstream history as time has gone on. I was very eager to dive into this book, and I was very, very impressed by it.

As a history based graphic novel, this is a great read. While I had heard of a few of the people that Criswell highlights, there were so many that I had absolutely no clue existed even though their contributions and achievements are impressive and impactful. They stories are separated into different sections interspersed with Criswell’s own perspectives of being an out queer person (more on that in a bit), and you can tell that there was a lot of research and a lot of care put into telling these peoples stories correctly and respectfully. From people like Magnus Hirshfeld to Nancy Cárdenas to We’wha and more, the contributions range from the arts, medicine, politics, music, science, and it’s so comprehensive without feeling overwhelming or overstuffed. Criswell clearly did their homework and provides great overviews of these important figures in queer/LGBTQIA+ history, but goes even a step further and has an extensive bibliography for readers to do even more delving if they so choose. I learned so much and it was always very accessible and never felt overwhelming with information.

But I also I really enjoyed how Criswell managed to tie their own story as a queer person living in San Antonio into a really well done exploration of queer people in history who have been overlooked for so many years. Representation is so important for people to be able to see themselves in stories and history, and for far too long many marginalized groups didn’t get as many examples of people like them to be able to see and resonate with. Not only do we get these great minibiographies, we also get the story of a queer person who is trying to figure out their own self, and how these people who have been largely ignored or forgotten are being remembered and being inspirational in their journey of self-discovery. It’s a great way to show the importance of representation in a personal way that the reader can see first hand, and I thought it never detracted from the history bits, which was really great to see.

“Queer As All Get Out” is a great history book, and I mean that not only for LGBTQIA+ history, but also just history in general. The research is there, the facts are accessible, and the point is clear. I definitely recommend it.

Rating 9: An illuminating history of queer and trans people who have contributed to culture and society but have been lost to history, “Queer As All Get Out” is a great history book, LGBTQIA+ or otherwise.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Queer As All Get Out” is included on the Goodreads lists “Reading Rainbow – Queer Graphic Novels”, and “Books for Baby Queers”.

Kate’s Review: “This Place Kills Me”

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Book: “This Place Kills Me” by Mariko Tamaki & Nicole Goux (Ill.)

Publishing Info: Abrams Fanfare, August 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an ARC from the publisher at ALAAC25

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: At Wilberton Academy, few students are more revered than the members of the elite Wilberton Theatrical Society—a.k.a. the WTS—and no one represents that exclusive club better than Elizabeth Woodward. Breathtakingly beautiful, beloved by all, and a talented thespian, it’s no surprise she’s starring as Juliet in the WTS’s performance of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. But when she’s found dead the morning after opening night, the whole school is thrown into chaos.

Transfer student Abby Kita was one of the last people to see Elizabeth alive, and when local authorities deem the it-girl’s death a suicide, Abby’s not convinced. She’s sure there’s more to Wilburton and the WTS than meets the eye. As she gets tangled in prep school intrigues, Abby quickly realizes that Elizabeth was keeping secrets. Was one of those secrets worth killing for?

Told in comics, letters, diary entries, and news articles, This Place Kills Me is a page-turning whodunnit from award-winning writer Mariko Tamaki and acclaimed illustrator Nicole Goux that will have readers on the edge of their seats and begging for an encore.

Review: Thank you to Abrams Fanfare for providing me with an ARC at ALAAC25!

As someone who was a bit of an outcast in high school, stories about outsiders dealing with their outsider status appeal to me on a personal level. Along with that, I do love a good thriller and mystery. “This Place Kills Me” by Mariko Tamaki scratches both of those itches when it comes to thematic elements, and when I saw that it was going to be available at ALAAC25 I really wanted to get it. Finding out that there were also theater elements, boarding school dramatics, and queer themes to boot just hyped me up more! I’ve always enjoyed Mariko Tamaki’s contemporary books so I was quite interested in seeing what would be done with a thriller.

I really liked Abby as our main character, as she is a very relatable outsider who can’t seem to find her way to fit in at this prestigious all girl’s school, and who has some baggage toe carry with her due to rumors and unfair perceptions. I fully believed her as an amateur detective who wants to get to the bottom of her classmate’s unexpected death, especially when she uncovers some clues that make it seem like Elizabeth may have been hiding something. Tamaki is very deliberate in revealing clues through the eyes of Abby, and as she investigates and starts to find some of the more sordid and controversial secrets at Wilberton, she makes new enemies of fellow classmates, but also finds a potential ally in her roommate Claire, who has been pretty aloof bordering and hostile up until this point. I kind of saw some of the layers of the mystery early in the book, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. I was invested in seeing how Abby eventually figured things out for herself, and the coming of age that comes with learning about some dark and unfair truths about the world we live in.

But the thing that I found most resonant about this story, like many of Tamaki’s stories in the past, is how real and bittersweet and painful the coming of age aspect was in this story, and not just for Abby. But mostly Abby. This book takes place in the early 1990s, and Abby is a queer teen who has found herself ostracized and demonized because of her queerness and those around her being unable to understand or accept it. Tamaki taps into the loneliness and the isolation, and the way that having to hide oneself can be so damaging to a teenager (or anyone, really) going through some really difficult things. This book has some truly bittersweet and pathos filled moments, letting these feelings linger and speak for themselves even with a dark mystery at the forefront. But again, Tamaki has always been great with these kinds of stories, and this one continues the streak.

And finally, I enjoyed the artwork by Nicole Goux. Full disclosure, my ARC of this book was in black and white and the finished product will have some color, but even without that I still enjoyed the style.

(source)

“This Place Kills Me” is another great book about difficult subjects by Mariko Tamaki. Definitely recommended!

Rating 8: A disturbing mystery, a secretive girls school, and a bittersweet coming of age tale combine to make a solid story from Mariko Tamaki.

Reader’s Advisory:

“This Place Kills Me” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of yet, but it would fit in on “Boarding School Mysteries”.

Kate’s Review: “Bad Dreams in the Night”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “Bad Dreams in the Night” by Adam Ellis

Publishing Info: Andrews McMeel Publishing, April 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: Like a graphic novel version of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark , this collection of original horror tales is packed with urban legends, terrifying twists, and delightfully haunted stories by one of the biggest stars in webcomics. Each story will make you scream for more!

A new take on a classic format, Bad Dreams in the Night is an updated, illustrated take on the horror anthologies the author grew up with as a kid, such as Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and In a Dark, Dark Room . These self-contained stories grew rapidly in popularity among the author’s online audience, and even inspired production of a motion picture from Buzzfeed Studios and Lionsgate Films. Filled with spine-tingling, pulse-increasing tales of mystery and supernatural occurrences, this book of never-before-seen comics will be the perfect gift for people who love  Black Mirror  and  Stranger Things  and listened to podcasts like  Welcome to Nightvale  and  Rabbits. 

Review: I’m sure that if you have spent at least some time on the Internet you have stumbled upon something by Adam Ellis. He is a cartoonist whose works have gone viral more than once, and have become memes in some cases. I think that what I was most familiar with him from was his long form Twitter ghost story “Dear David”, where he recorded and shared a ‘haunting’ of his apartment by a child ghost with a caved in head. I thought it was very creative and a really fun way to tell a story and create folklore. I actually hadn’t heard of his horror story collection “Bad Dreams in the Night” until very recently, but once I had I really wanted to read it because I found “Dear David” to be a hoot. Clearly I needed to see what else he could do.

Like most short story collections, I will highlight my three favorite tales, and then address it as a complete product.

“Evangeline”: This book started off with a bang, as ‘Evangeline” really grabbed my attention and went places that I kind of expected, but still found poignant. Ellis reminisces about visiting his grandparents house and watching from the TV recorded horror movies on many VHS tapes, but there was one film that he hasn’t been able to find anywhere else. In the film a farmer has a strange alien land on his property, and he calls her Evangeline and they fall in love, though their love is doomed. Ellis searches far and wide but can’t find this movie anywhere. Perhaps for a reason. Was it easy to see wehre this was going? Yeah, a little, but I still loved the journey and found it to be rather bittersweet and beautiful, in a way.

“Little House in the Sea”: I thought that this was probably the most unique story in the book, and wasn’t so much scary as it was haunting and dreamy. A girl is raised alone on a small island with her mother. She always asks her mom if they can leave, but her mother is a steadfast ‘no’. The girl wonders what is beyond the sea. As a mother whose only child is a daughter this one felt especially emotional, even as the more speculative and odd aspects started to reveal themselves, and it just felt ethereal in its strangeness. This was a favorite based on vibes, I suppose, but man the vibes were great for me.

“Viola Bloom”: Is this pretty much a reimagining of a fairly common creepypasta trope that has been around for many, many years (the cursed chain letter/media situation)? Yes. But I still really, really enjoyed “Viola Bloom”, as even if it’s been done before, Ellis still made it unsettling and scary for me. Framed as autobiographical, Ellis receives a strange card in the mail with the name ‘Viola Bloom’ on it, and shortly thereafter a strange, unearthly woman is stalking him outside of his home, unwilling to leave and merely standing, and staring. But what worked the most for me was the inspiration, as Ellis has had to deal with some really scary real life stalking incidents, mostly from the alt-Right and internet trolls that target him for his identity. By channelling that fear into a story about being stalked by a seemingly unending force it makes for a tale that’s all the more resonant and scary.

As a whole, the stories generally worked for me. Some felt a little more shallow than others (“Butter Corn Ramen” was pretty predictable, and “Murder Party” says the same arguments against the true crime genre that pretty much everyone is saying and didn’t feel interesting beyond being a scold, even if I generally agree with the sentiments), but as a whole I found them all entertaining, and I devoured the collection in one night. I also enjoyed the Millennial nostalgia of some of these tales, whether referencing classic scary tales from our youths or the old comfortable formulas of a sitcom’s narrative design.

“Bad Dreams in the Night” is a quick and creepy read, and given that Ellis has a new collection of horror graphics are coming out, it has put him on my radar as a horror author. Excited to see what else he will do in the future!

Rating 8: A quick paced and creepy collection of scary stories from a creator whose horror chops had promise even before this, “Bad Dreams in the Night” is an devilishly fun ride by Adam Ellis.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Bad Dreams in the Night” is included on the Goodreads list “YA Graphic Novels of 2024”.

Kate’s Review: “Lore Olympus: Volume 8”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “Lore Olympus: Volume 8” by Rachel Smythe

Publishing Info: Inklore, May 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I own it.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: “You have no authority here.”

Revelations rock Olympus as Persephone’s trial ends, threatening to throw the gods into a new war.

Though Persephone and Hades become closer than ever after she opens up to him about all she has endured, their peace is shattered when another truth is revealed: Apollo is Zeus’s son. The announcement shocks the pantheon, and the king of the gods realizes that the would-be usurper wants Persephone’s power to take the throne.

Zeus banishes Persephone to the Mortal Realm and, out of fear, cuts it off entirely from the rest of the gods. This decree succeeds in undercutting Apollo’s plan, but also inadvertently begins a decade-long divine cold war when Hades strikes back by shuttering the Underworld. With the gods scattered and weakened, Kronos uses the ensuing bedlam to finally escape his imprisonment and begin staging his own coup.

Persephone has only one choice when she discovers all the realms on the verge of collapse: Descend into the Underworld to try to defeat the power-hungry Titan, claim her rightful place as queen, and reunite with her one true love.

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

Review: After dropping the ball on reviewing the previous volume of “Lore Olympus” in a timely matter, I promised myself that I wouldn’t let that happen again. I mean come on, it’s one of my favorite series, how can I let it fall by the wayside?! So here we are with “Lore Olympus: Volume 8”, in a more timely manner and at not a moment too soon! Because things are really heating up with the gods and goddesses of Olympus, barreling towards a wrap up of a THRILLING story arc that has SO MUCH going on.

And what an action packed conclusion to this story arc it is. To really get into the nitty gritty, we have to get into some spoilers for this volume, so proceed with caution if you don’t want to know anything. This volume really shows the dysfunction of the hierarchy of the Olympians, with Zeus being fully in charge, and making panicked decisions that are more about protecting his own power versus what is good for everyone, culminating with him banishing Persephone to the Mortal Realm and cutting it off completely. Not because he thinks this is a fair punishment, but because he realizes that Apollo, newly revealed as his son, is plotting to overthrow him, and needs Persephone’s mysterious powers to do so. Which, of course, results in disaster. Not just for Hades and Persephone, who are now ripped apart and both devastated and traumatized by this, but for the entirety of Olympus, as Hades, in retaliation and rage, closes access to The Underworld, which separates the Gods and Goddesses even further, and opens all of them up to new vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, Persephone is doing her damnedest to appease Zeus, though she is pretty certain she will never be able to meet his demands by design, which sends her on her own mission to take matters into her own hands (more on that in a bit). All of the pieces that have been put into place are starting to come together, and it’s a fantastic set up with a really satisfying pay off. We have a bit of a time jump so that we can fully see how bad things are, and Smythe slowly reveals what all has happened in subtle and ingenious ways without the pacing falling out of sync (for example, we see that Daphne is no longer a tree), while also having brief flashbacks to the fallout from Persephone’s banishment. It’s a well done device, and it makes for a more engrossing way to tell the story.

But what I loved the most in this volume is that I feel like we finally got some payoff for the way the story has been slowly revealing Persephone’s strengths and powers, even though she herself hasn’t quite figured out her own abilities. I will say that one of my (mild!) criticisms of this series in the earlier books is that Persephone, while being AWESOME in her own right for lots of reasons, was a little bit infantilized or treated in a way like a manic pixie dream girl, at least to start. Yes, we get insights into some darkness, and as her story progresses we find out that she is a fertility goddess and has a bit of wrath inside of her, but it always felt a LITTLE bit like she needed protecting and guidance from Hades. But that has fully fallen away, as their romance, while still pivotal to both of their motivations, is put on the back burner here, as they are mostly separated in this book and Persephone has to figure shit out on her own. And it is here that we finally get to see her come into her own, stand on her own, and fully round out as a character, who has for literal millennia been a bit of a wallflower in her own story throughout many adaptations. This feels like Persephone finally gets to come into her own. And I love to see it.

You’ve come a long way, baby. (source)

And even with all the very intense moments in this volume as a huge arc wraps up with high, high stakes, we still get some genuinely hilarious scenes and interactions, whether it’s wink wink nudge nudge references to the original myths dynamics, or just clever banter and laugh out loud physical comedy moments. Smythe has such a gift for hitting a wide range of emotional beats in her stories, and honestly I still think that her humor is one of her strongest elements in this series.

What a great wrap up of a first major arc to “Lore Olympus”! The foundation for where Persephone, Hades, and all of the Olympians are going next has been laid, and I am so excited to see what happens next. I guess we’ll find out in the Fall! Can’t wait!

Rating 10: A fantastic conclusion to a riveting story arc, “Lore Olympus: Volume 8” dazzles with deep emotion, engrossing romance, and a lot of humor.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Lore Olympus: Volume 8” is included on the Goodreads list “2025 Mythology Releases”.

Previously Reviewed:

Kate’s Review: “Leap”

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Book: “Leap” by Simina Popescu

Publishing Info: Roaring Brook Press, November 2024

Where Did I Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: A coming-of-age graphic novel following two dancers at a conservative performing arts school―exploring friendship, first love, and what it means to fall out of step with your own dreams.

Ana has been studying contemporary dance since she was little, but her heart isn’t in it anymore. Instead her focus is on Carina―a beautiful, ambitious ballerina whose fear of being outed keeps Ana in the closet and their fragile relationship from seeing the light of day. Risking her own career, Ana gives up more and more in order to fit into the shadows of Carina’s life.

Sara, on the other hand, is fielding whispers she may be the best dancer their school has produced in years. Much of that is thanks to her mentor and instructor, Marlena, who plucked Sara from the classical track and encouraged her to blossom as a contemporary dancer. Sara has always been in awe of Marlena, but recently, that admiration has sparked into something more, and Sara’s not sure what to do about it.

As junior year at their performing arts school begins, Ana and Sara are assigned as roommates. What starts off as a tentative friendship soon becomes a much-needed anchor.

Review: Sometimes I have a hard time writing reviews because I find myself somewhat unable to express why I feel a certain way about a book outside of the very simple and concise phrase ‘vibes, man’. It never feels fully constructive, but sometimes it is what I find myself falling back upon. “Leap” by Simina Popescu is absolutely one of those books, as once I had finished it I was chiller and calmer and happier than when I’d started it, all because of the vibes. But then it was time to explain why, exactly, it made me feel that way, and I found myself having a hard time articulating. So you may have to forgive me as you read this review, as it very well may fully turn into a written out screed that all comes back to vibes. But hopefully that can be enough sometimes?

Okay fine, even I’m unconvinced, I’ll give it a shot! (source)

“Leap” has a very straightforward plot: two young women, Sara and Ana, are two dance students at a fairly conservative academy in Romania. They are both in a more contemporary program, though Ana is dating an ambitious ballerina named Carina on the sly, as Carina isn’t ready to come out. Ana and Sara become roommates and start to forge a friendship through a shared interest in dance, as well as the realization that they are both queer women in a setting where they are a bit more invisible, though Ana would love to be out and Sara is grappling with the possibility of doing so. It’s a bit slice of life, and I enjoyed watching their friendship build as they support each other through the highs and lows of what’s going on in their lives (Sara’s unattainable crush on Marlena, one of the teachers at the school, and Ana’s ennui with dance and her somewhat one sided relationship with Carina). The issues were important and weighty without feeling overwrought, and their separate but easily relatable journeys felt very real and fit together well, leading to believable conflict but nothing a little communication and empathy couldn’t fix.

Another aspect that really worked for me, and I do have to spoil a bit here to talk about it but it doesn’t really spoil anything too much, is that this book’s focus really was on the importance of friendship instead of focusing on romance. Ana and Sara are two queer friends who are both going through difficult moments in their personal lives in the romance department; Ana is having to hide her relationship with Carina, and Sara is discovering her sexuality through crush on her teacher Marlena (and which is wholly unattainable for many reasons). While these relationship woes are definitely a conflict for them and unrequited and painful, Ana and Sara are always there and supportive of each other, and the story never hints at a possible romance for the two of them. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve read that would have taken the opportunity to show that these two girls would fall for each other in the end (not that I dislike that kind of trope, friends to lovers can be fun!), and in this case I loved that Popescu instead decided to show that platonic love and intimacy can be more than enough for connections between two people.

“Leap” is a calm and lovely coming of age story that felt cozy and earnest. If you are looking for something sweet to read this Spring, this is a great choice. Vibes galore.

Rating 8: A sweet and charming coming of age tale about friendship, self discovery, and connection.

Reader’s Advisory:

“Leap” isn’t on any Goodreads lists as of now, but it would fit in on “Graphic Novels Featuring LGBTIQ+ Themes”.

Kate’s Review: “You Must Take Part in Revolution”

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Book: “You Must Take Part in Revolution: A Graphic Novel” by Melissa Chan & Badiucao (Ill.)

Publishing Info: Street Noise Books, March 2025

Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from the publisher.

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: From acclaimed journalist Melissa Chan and esteemed activist artist Badiucao comes a near-future graphic novel dystopia that explores technology, authoritarian government, and the lengths that one will go to in the fight for freedom.

Three idealistic youths, forever transformed by the real-world protests in Hong Kong in 2019, develop diverging beliefs about how to best fight against techno-authoritarian China. As conflict escalates and a nuclear disaster looms, is working with an increasingly fascist and non-democratic United States the answer? Andy, Maggie, and Olivia travel different paths toward transformative change, each confronting to what extent they will fight for freedom, and who they will become in doing so.

A powerful and important book about global totalitarian futures, and the costs of resistance.

Review: Thank you to Street Noise Books for sending me an eARC of this graphic novel!

When I was an undergrad at the U of MN, I had my first library job working in the Annex at Wilson Library. My duties included shelving books all throughout the library, as well as working the desk to pull materials like old journals, microfiche, and newspapers. One of my friends at the time was my coworker Hugo, who was an exchange student from Hong Kong. A few years after graduation he moved back home and we lost touch, but in the summer of 2020 he reached out during the George Floyd protests/the uprising to see how I was doing since he knew I was still living in the area. We chatted a bit, and he told me that he had been a part of the protests in Hong Kong in 2019, and gave some tips to pass on to others who were out protesting. It was interesting hearing him talk about all of that, as I certainly heard about it peripherally, but hearing about it first hand was jarring. I kept thinking about Hugo as I read Melissa Chan’s new graphic novel “You Must Take Part In Revolution”, as it has a start in 2019 Hong Kong, and then delves into a not so distant possible future where autocracy is rising across the world. So….. relevant reading to say the very least.

The first thing you need to know about this book is that it is GRIM. That isn’t meant to be a negative critique, because I think that any book talking about a totalitarian world needs to be grim on some level, and Chan feels no need to hold anything back in this possible future as China has cemented itself as an autocratic world power and a fascist United States starts to push against them in a bid for its own power. We follow three characters, all of whom bonded and became friends during the 2019 Hong Kong protests. We have Andy, who has been trying to keep his head down but has been helping resistance against the CCP in his own ways and finds himself recruited to a rebel paramilitary group . We have Maggie, who went to prison in 2019 for her part in a violent protest tactic that had severe consequences. And we have Olivia, who has some dark secrets that she is hiding after dropping off radar after the protests. One of the greatest strengths of this story is that all of these characters are well drawn out and have many layers, and while the reader could certainly have opinions and feelings about the actions they take, Chan is careful to not label any of them as doing something right or wrong, but all trying to survive in a world that is filled with horrors and complexities.

Both Chan and illustrator Badiucao have backgrounds that can lend first hand to the story being told, as Chan is a journalist and Badiucao is an activist, and their critiques of the autocratic and oppressive CCP are blistering, but they don’t stop there as the United States in this book is ALSO rather villainous. As both countries start to set their sights on Taiwan, and the fallout from that unwinds as the years pass, we see a very scary possibility that our own world could be headed in such a direction. I was chilled to the bone reading this book, and I feel like it is a must read for anyone who may be terrified about the state of things, and who are wanting to find their place in not only a new reality, but also within an urge to resist. That said, let’s go back to the grimness mentioned above. This book makes it VERY clear that there is a stark cost for anyone who wants to fight back. That isn’t to say it’s a condemnation of fighting back, because it is not at all. Chan and Badiucao are very clear that resistance against such things is necessary. But it also has no room for romanticism of revolution against a world of surveillance, greed, and corruption, and the pain and consequences are laid out in full honesty.

And finally the artwork. I was fully unfamiliar with Badiucao before reading this, though apparently he is known as Australia’s answer to Banksy. I really, REALLY liked his art style, as the visuals and unique and jarring and sharp in all the right ways for the story at hand. It brings in glimmers of humanity against a backdrop of oppression and despair.

(source: Street Noise Books)

It’s hard to stomach at times, but “You Must Participate In Revolution” is absolutely necessary reading for the times we are living in. I hope that we heed its warnings.

Rating 9: A stark warning for a possible dark future, “You Must Participate In Revolution” is a call for resistance to authoritarianism. Incredibly relevant reading.

Reader’s Advisory:

“You Must Take Part In Revolution” is included on the Goodreads list “Great Graphic Novels (Released In) 2025”.

Kate’s Review: “Fence, Vol. 5: Rise”

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Book: “Fence, Vol. 5: Rise” by C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad (Ill.)

Publishing Info: BOOM! Box, August 2022

Where Did I Get This Book: The library!

Where You Can Get This Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | Indiebound

Book Description: USA Today best-selling author C. S. Pacat (Captive Prince) and popular web cartoonist Johanna the Mad along with colorist Joana LaFuente (Transformers) and letterer Jim Campbell (Giant Days) reunite for the highly-anticipated next chapter in this fierce and heartfelt GLAAD Media Award-nominated series. Excitement is in the air as Nicholas and his friends celebrate their prestigious invitation to the Halverton Training Camp. They immediately come face-to-face with the best teams in the country, and Nicholas struggles as he suffers defeat after defeat by an old enemy. Will a new addition to the team bring Nicholas closer to the rest of the team and awaken the resilience within he needs to prevail? But Seiji, in contrast to Nicholas, remains unchallenged and let down by the camp. With Seiji’s goal to learn (instead of win) stuck in his head, will Nicholas step up to pose a real challenge to Seiji, even growing their friendship as a result?. Get ready to say “En Garde” to the next installment of Fence!

Review: It has been so long since I’ve revisited the fencers at King’s Row Boys School! Once I realized I hadn’t read the next installment in the “Fence” Series, I hastily requested “Fence, Vol. 5: Rise” from the library, more than ready to jump back into the world of high school fencing and all the slow burn drama that comes with it. Normally I like a slow burn, as well all know. But I will say that when it comes to “Fence”, I’m starting to get a little impatient…

But first I’ll start with that I enjoyed. I do like how Pacat is still really devoting time and explanation to fencing as a sport, and how we are seeing the ins and outs of the fencers and the kinds of competitions they engage within. In this volume we see Nicholas, Seiji, and all the rest of the team (as well as new team manager Bobby!) go to a prestigious training camp to hone their skills, alongside other top tier fencers in their competitive circles. It’s an interesting way to keep things going while also showing the kind of work and dedication elite athletes have to tend to even if they aren’t doing high stakes tournaments. We also get introduced to a few new characters, and while we don’t get to know them terribly well (And how could we? We already have so many characters to keep track of), we see enough of them that I got a feel for the different teams and how they gel with each other. And finally, I REALLY loved how Pacat found a way to bring in Bobby further into the story, as I think that Bobby is just the sweetest. I had been worried when he hadn’t made the team, as I was thinking that meant we wouldn’t be seeing as much of him anymore, but here he is in all his adorableness being able to be a part of the team while using his skills at being the best booster ever for his friends. Perfection!

But there are a couple of things that didn’t work as well, and I think that at this point I am just about done with the very slow pacing of this series. I know that for some people that means that they are waiting for Nicholas and Seiji to finally figure out their feelings for each other (or Aiden and Harvard, who are also lollygagging a bit in their will they or won’t they), but for me it’s about an actual confrontation between Nicholas and his half brother Jesse, who as far as we know doesn’t know that Nicholas exists. That has been a huge driving force for Nicholas in this series, to prove himself as a good athlete as a way to work out his abandonment issues regarding his father, with Jesse being the personification of that (as well as an arrogant prick, as far as this reader can tell). But I feel like it just keeps getting drawn out, and I’m starting to lose my patience. I like the technical aspects of this book when it comes to fencing as a sport and a skill, but I also want to get to some of the emotional pay offs that have been teased for quite awhile now.

ANY DAY NOW. (source)

At the end of the day I’m still invested in “Fence” and am interested to see where we are going next. But I would love it if we could move it along.

Rating 7: Another cute installment to this sports series, though I am getting a bit impatient waiting for some interaction between Nicholas and his half brother…

Reader’s Advisory:

“Fence, Vol. 5: Rise” is included on the Goodreads list “Books About Queer People In Sports”.

Book Club Review: “Delicious in Dungeon (Vol. 1 & 2)”

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We are part of a group of librarian friends who have had an ongoing book club running for the last several years. Each “season” (we’re nerds) we pick a theme and each of us chooses a book within that theme for us all to read. Re-visiting some of our past themes, we’re once again reading books that have had film/TV adaptations and then comparing the two mediums. For this blog, we will post a joint review of each book we read for book club. We’ll also post the next book coming up in book club. So feel free to read along with us or use our book selections and questions in your own book club!

Books: “Delicious in Dungeon (Vols. 1 &2)” by Ryoko Kui

Publishing Info: Yen Press, May 2017 & August 2017

Where Did I Get These Books: The library!

Where You Can Get These Books: WorldCat.org (Vol.1) (Vol.2) | Amazon (Vol.1) (Vol.2) | Indiebound (Vol.1) (Vol.2)

What We Watched: “Delicious in Dungeon” Episodes 1 & 2

Book Descriptions: Vol. 1: When young adventurer Laios and his company are attacked and soundly thrashed by a dragon deep in a dungeon, the party loses all its money and provisions…and a member! They’re eager to go back and save her, but there is just one problem: If they set out with no food or coin to speak of, they’re sure to starve on the way! But Laios comes up with a brilliant idea: “Let’s eat the monsters!” Slimes, basilisks, and even dragons…none are safe from the appetites of these dungeon-crawling gourmands!

Vol. 2: With the possibility of starvation as a constant companion, Laios’ party continues advancing deeper into the Dungeon. The adventurers have made it to the third floor but only rotting zombies, ghastly spirits, living paintings, and golems await them–all of them absolutely inedible. After coming this far by adapting and learning how to live off the dubious bounties of the Dungeon, how will they manage when even the meanest monster won’t make a decent meal?

Kate’s Thoughts

It had been a long time since I read any manga before our book club picked “Delicious in Dungeon” Volumes 1 and 2. Like, probably since we read “Sailor Moon” Volumes 1 and 2 a few years ago! I used to read more manga back in the day, but it has admittedly fallen away a bit, so I was eager to pick some up again. Especially since I’ve been doing an online Dungeons and Dragons campaign for the past year or so and this just SCREAMED D & D to me!

And it really did feel like I was reading a D & D campaign as our heroes go into the dungeon to find Laios’s captured sister and find the depths, the creatures, and other adventurers along the way. Not only is the lore of the dungeon expansive and super creative (different levels, different resting spots that have turned into markets and communities), I really enjoyed the many different creatures and how they are broken down and used for food, with thought out recipes and oddly mouthwatering pictures to boot! I also enjoyed seeing the party of varying characters try and maneuver through the monsters and the recipes, whether it’s determined leader Laios who wants to save his sister (and has always been curious about monsters as food for some reason), or anxious spellcaster Marcille, or steady locksmith Chilchuck, or fine dining chef dwarf Senshi (my favorite to be sure). And man, did that food look good even though it was made of slimes, scorpions, chimeras, and other dungeon dwelling beasts.

Will I go on in the series? Probably not. But it was a fun ride to be sure!

Kate’s Rating 7: Creative world building, fun characters, and some delicious looking food make for a fun adventure tale!

Book Club Questions

  1. Have you read manga before? If so, how did this manga compare with the other ones you’ve read in the past?
  2. Did you think that the art style and the structure of it fit the story? Do you think you may have liked this more if it were in a different format, like a long form fantasy novel?
  3. Which character did you connect with the most?
  4. If you watched the adaptation or parts of the adaptation, how did it compare to the source material? Do you think you liked watching it better or reading it better?
  5. Have you played any games that have dungeon quests or themes (like D&D, or any video or board game with dungeons and monsters)? How did those compare to this story?

Reader’s Advisory

“Delicious in Dungeon (Vols. 1 & 2)” are included on the Goodreads lists “Comics About Food”, and “RPG Board Games”.

Next Book Club Pick: “The Princess Bride” by William Goldman