{Graphic Novel Series Review #34-38} Full Graphic Novels

Hey, guys!

This batch of mini-reviews has been a long time coming and I'm so excited to share my thoughts on these lovely graphic novels. They're an eclectic mix, so I hope you benefit from my thoughts and opinions.

All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Enjoy!

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Page Count: 208

Published On: July 15, 2014

Published By: Margaret K. McElderberry Books

Genre(s): graphic novels,  horror, fantasy, short stories, 

YA, fiction, comics, sequential art

Source: paperback - borrowed from the library

Age Rating: Gory and creepy - cannot determine

Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 4 stars

I don't usually enjoy horror stories or stories that are on the creepier side, but I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Emily Carroll is such a wonderful writer and the illustrations were so stunning. I have a few books with covers designed and illustrated by her and I'm so in love with her art style. I definitely recommend this graphic novel for those who love a great ghost story and thoroughly creepy illustrations to go along with them. 

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Page Count: 525

Published On: March 2007

Published By: Scholastic Press

Genre(s): historical, historical fiction, fiction, YA, children's

Source: hardback- borrowed from the library

Age Rating: middle grade

Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 2.5 stars

I've never really been a historical fiction nut, but I usually like it in graphic novels. Unfortunately, I was just bored throughout this book. I've seen the movie so many times, and I'm pretty entertained, but this book was just so drawn out to me. I really did not care about any of the characters and the plot just dragged on. Granted, the illustrations were STUNNING, but I do not think I will read this ever again. I'm glad I checked it out from the library. If you enjoy historical fiction, you'll probably like this, but it wasn't for me.

Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson & Emily Carroll

Page Count: 374

Published On: February 6, 2018

Published By: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (Byr)

Genre(s): graphic novel, YA, realistic fiction, Fiction

Source: hardback- borrowed from the library

Age Rating: middle grade

Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 3 stars

I've never read the original story, but I'm glad that I picked up this adaption. I absolutely adore Emily Carrol's work and Laurie Halse Anderson is such a major figure in the YA community that I'm glad I've had a sort of taste for what she has written. I'm not sure when I didn't know about the original Speak, but I've never really found the need to read it. While this graphic novel was fairly interesting, I felt like it just wasn't for me. It's an inspiring and a story worth reading, but I think I've read books that center on similar themes. I just wasn't connected to the characters.

Persepolis 1 & 2 by Marjane Satrapi

Page Count: 341

Published On: October 30, 2007

Published By: Pantheon Books

Genre(s): graphic novel, comics, nonfiction, autobiography, memoir

Source: paperback

Age Rating: middle grade

Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 3 stars

Persepolis has been so iconic and acclaimed that I had to pick up the two volumes during a Half Priced Books trip with Courtney and Mallory. During a readathon this past summer, I picked up the two volumes and read them quickly and eagerly. Marjane's story is just so compelling and interesting that I couldn't stop reading. While I really enjoyed the first volume, I felt the second lagged just a tad. The story was just so addicting and educational. I'm definitely a fan. I recommend this to everyone!

Favorite of the Bunch: Through the Woods

Least Favorite: Speak the Graphic Novel

Happy reading, everyone!

Olivia

~Liv the Book Nerd~

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January 2019 Book Haul

(I am currently rearranging everything, so I probably missed a couple of books that are listed below)

Preorders

1. Stain by A.G. Howard
2. Famous In A Small Town by Emma Mills
3. Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer
4. The Wicked King (x3) by Holly Black
5. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
6. The Severed Moon by Leigh Bardugo

If you are familiar with my 2019 Most Anticipated Releases or you follow my ravings on IG, you'll know about my major excitment for all of the January releases. January is one of the best months for 2019 releases. I'm so excited to read all of the books I picked up this month. It's going to be so much fun. I've already read the majority of A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer, The Wicked King by Holly Black, and a couple other 2019 releases. This year is going to fantastic!

Purchases

1. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
2. The Summer Palace by C.S. Pacat (not pictured)
3. The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
4. The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm by Christopher Paolini and Angela Paolini
5. Tentacle & Wing by Sarah Porter
6. Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

As always, I buy too many books because I have very little self-control around sales. One of my goals for the next few months is to just save my money and only buy the books I'm SO EXCITED for. Time to be a real adult, eh?

ARCs/eARCs

1. [eARC] The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston
• Thank you, NetGalley, Quirk Books, and Ashley!
2. [eARC] A Curse So Dark & Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
• Thank you, NetGalley, Bloomsbury, and Brigid!
3. [ARC] Lost Boys by Riley Quinn
• Thank you, Riley!
4. [eARC] Stolen by Marlena Frank
• Thank you, Marlena! I will be reading this very soon!

Thank you thank you thank you so much to the publishers, authors, and other bookish people who contributed to my bookish buying/acquiring habits. I am so blessed. 

Here's to another month of reading, writing, and consuming bookish media!

Happy reading, everyone!

Olivia

~Liv the Book Nerd~

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January 2019 Reading Wrap Up

Hey, guys!

This is going up much later than I anticipated, but the beginning of February really snuck up on me. I can't believe how fast this month went by. I also cannot believe how much I read this month. I'm so ahead on my reading goal for the year. I think Goodreads says I'm 11 books ahead of schedule. I am so pleased with myself. I hope I can keep it up. We will see what happens in the future!

  

This month, I read 7 full books, 5 graphic novels/comics, and 5 short stories. Of course, if they are individually on Goodreads, I will usually count them as (1) piece of literature, so of course, the short stories are counted.  Who wouldn't count them? (The boyfriend wouldn't haha)

Here are the books I read in January!

Full-Length Novels

• Prince's Gambit (Captive Prince #2) by C.S. Pacat
• 3 stars
• The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Gods of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan
• 5 stars
• King's Rising (Captive Prince #3) by C.S. Pacat
• 3 stars
• Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
• 4 stars
• The Wicked King by Holly Black
• 5 stars
• The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston
• 5 stars
• Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith
• 4.75 stars
• Review coming soon!

Graphic Novels/Comics/Single Issues

• Steven Universe Volume 1 by Rebecca Sugar, Jeremy Sorese, Coleman Engle
• 5 stars
• Steven Universe Volume 2 by Jeremy Sorese
• 5 stars
• Steven Universe Volume 3 by Grace Kraft, Rebecca Sugar, Rii Abrego
• 4 stars
• Steven Universe Warp Tour Volume 1 by Melanie Gillman, Rebecca Sugar, Katy Farina, Whitney Cogar
• 5 stars
• Steven Universe (2017-) #6 by Grace Kraft, Rii Abrego
• 4 stars

Novellas/Short Stories

• Green But For A Season (Captive Prince #2.5) by C.S. Pacat
• 3 stars
• Pet (Captive Prince #1.5) by C.S. Pacat
• 4 stars
• The Adventures of Charls the Veretian Cloth Merchant (Captive Prince #3.6) by C.S. Pacat
• 3 stars
• The Summer Palace (Captive Prince #3.5) by C.S. Pacat
• 4 stars
• Galatea by Madeline Miller
• 4.5 stars

Upcoming Reviews & Blog Posts:

• {FULL SERIES REVIEW} The Captive Prince series by C.S. Pacat
• {Short Story Review} Galatea by Madeline Miller
• {TV Show/Comic Discussion} Steven Universe by Rebecca Sugar
• A *Discussion Post* on PR in Publishing (for a class, but still relevant for my blog! Yay!)
• {Re-read Review} The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan & East by Edith Pattou
• {Review} Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
• {SJM reviews to be written [SO DAUNTING]}: ACOFAS, Kingdom of Ash, Tower of Dawn
• LONG OVERDUE REVIEWS: Mirage by Somaiya Daud, Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo, City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab, Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, And I Darken by Kiersten White, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
• {Collective Series Re-Read Review} The Shatter Me series (#1-3 +novellas) by Tahereh Mafi
• {New Adult Joint Reviews} The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and Josh & Hazel's Guide to Dating by Christina Lauren

This probably sounds like a lot of upcoming content...it is! I'm currently in the busiest semester of my college career, so bear with me while I try to figure out my current groove. I'm still working on understanding my homework schedule and meeting schedule for online class meetings and internship meetings ALONG WITH my two jobs and the responsibilities that they entail.

Thank you so much for your patience as I continue my education. I'm doing my best to make sure that I have consistent content on this blog. If you'd like a day-by-day connection with my bookish shenanigans, check out my Instagram!

I tend to go on rants about my current reads, I change up my shelves live on my page, and I share the books I unhaul and haul as they are happening. 

Thank you all so much! I absolutely adore this reading community! You guys are the absolute best! Thank you for reading my reviews and reading my nerdy comments and ideas. 

Thank you for sticking with me! 

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

Twitter // Instagram // Tumblr // Goodreads // YouTube // Bloglovin // Book Depository Affiliate Code