February 2020 Wrap-Up

This month started with the amazing Saga Vol. 9. It made me feel many things, I’m glad I picked it up.

I also read Paper Heart. It’s one of those books where you can find some pretty beautiful poems but you have to weed through a bunch of mediocre ones to get there.

Then, I read Rage. Yes, that Rage. It was quite fun! Even though this is (in my humble opinion) some of King’s weakest works, it was a pretty enjoyable book.

I also read Monster: Perfect Edition Vol. 3. love this manga with all my heart, I can’t wait to see what’ll happen next.

Saga Volume 8 – Book Review

Previous volume

Author: Brian K. Vaughan

Illustrator: Fiona Staples

146 pages

Genre: Fantasy Graphic Novel

Synopsis: After the traumatic events of the War for Phang, Hazel, her parents, and their surviving companions embark on a life-changing adventure at the westernmost edge of the universe.

Source: Borrowed (in Portuguese)

Oh, how I missed this series.

This volume had it all, and oh boy, was it a ride.

Firstly, it was an emotional rollercoaster. Not only do we get to know the other side of certain characters, we also see how some of them came to be. Also, stuff happens.

But it was also a rollercoarter in terms of place – we got thrown into a new planet with new creatures – and you know how much I love that.

So, from newly-built relationships to a new planet, this volume had it all.

Rating: 5 stars

Want a different review? Click here!

Doubt can paralyze you, can make you not want to do anything. But if you learn to channel it, to turn those feelings away from yourself and out at the world you can doubt what’s impossible.

October 2018 Wrap-Up

This month started with something I’ve been longing for a very long time, which is Saga Volume 8. I absolutely loved this – it had everything I missed from that universe. New creatures? Check. Heartbreaking moments? Check. Wholesome moments? Check. Freelancers? Check.

I also read soft thorns by Bridgett Devoue. This book, just like Saga, broke my heart and put it back together. Also, as it turns out, free verse is pretty cool.

Later on I finished Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell. I’ve been meaning to read this book for a very long time and, honestly, it didn’t disappoint. This is one of those books that are short, sweet and fun.

And because I have no self control, I watched Elite‘s first season (in two or three days). My sister described this show perfectly: it’s Riverdale on steroids. It has great actors, beautiful scenes and, to top it all off, it’s trash I’m absolute trash for.

I also finally finished American Horror Story’s fifth season, also known as AHS: Hotel. Honestly, I can’t begin to tell you how many times I thought of dropping this season. I believe it somehow managed to be worse than Freak Show – in here, some main characters weren’t cast in the best way possible. The story was mildly fun and the villain continued to be the same, though. But the whole “ancient virus” thing felt forced. To quote a friend, this season is all about sex and blood, nothing more.

Later on, I read the beautiful Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill. This was a short and very cute book, it definitely warmed my soul a little. I can’t wait to read more of this author’s works!

I finally got back on my serials by reading Stolen Treasures (False Idols Season One Episode Four) by Diana Renn. This is an okay episode (at best) but I can see that tension is rising and the stakes are changing quite rapidly. Honestly, this has to be the first episode of False Idols that made me actually look forward to reading the next.

And because I have no self restraint, I watched American Horror Story’s sixth season, also known as AHS: Roanoke. To be honest, I loved this. I don’t know if it’s because Hotel and Freak Show weren’t that good or if it’s actually good, I just know that I loved it. The format felt fresh and the story didn’t feel forced. Now, I can’t wait to watch more AHS!

Later on, I read Umta (ReMade Season One Episode Five) by Matthew Cody. I’ve wanted to read an episode centered around Umta for too long so, when I saw this episode’s title, my heart jumped. Overall, this was pretty cool. We get some answers when it comes to Umta’s origins and some stuff happens to the group towards the end. And my guess was right – Umta’s looks were pretty important.

Saga Volume 7 – Book Review

Saga Vol. 6 – Book Review

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan

Artist: Fiona Staples

152 pages

Genre: SFF Graphic Novel

Synopsis: Finally reunited with her ever-expanding family, Hazel travels to a war-torn comet that Wreath and Landfall have been battling over for ages. New friendships are forged and others are lost forever in this action-packed volume about families, combat and the refugee experience.

Source: Borrowed (in Portuguese)

This volume takes place after the events of the last.

The art continues to be as beautiful as it has always been.

Story wise, there are some fascinating plot twists and some other events that will change the future of this saga (pun intended).

When it comes to characters, they’re pretty much the same.

In this series, the character development is somewhat slow, however, it’s still noticeable.

Rating: 5 stars

“If a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, then a family is more like a rope. We’re lots of fragile little strands, and we survive by becoming hopelessly intertwined with each other.”

Want a different review? You can find one here.

Next volume

Saga Vol. 6 – Book Review

Saga Vol. 5 – Book Review

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan

Artist: Fiona Staples

152 pages

Genre: SFF Graphic Novel

Synopsis: After a dramatic time jump, the three-time Eisner Award winner for Best Continuing Series continues to evolve, as Hazel begins the most exciting adventure of her life: kindergarten. Meanwhile, her starcrossed family learns hard lessons of their own.

Source: Borrowed (in Portuguese)

This volume takes place some time after the end of volume five.

This volume’s art continues as amazing as it has always been.

The characters continue great, it’s fascinating to see Hazel grow throughout the volume. We also get to know more characters, as per usual.

The story is heartwarming, there weren’t a lot of sad moments, which is something rare in this series.

Overall, I loved this volume.

Rating: 5 stars

Want a different review? You can find one here.

I wanted to correct her, but if I’d learned one thing by that point in my education, it was that when anybody in these cruel worlds offers a helping hand… you shut your fucking mouth and grab it.

Saga Vol. 7 – Book Review

 

Saga Vol. 5 – Book Review

Saga Vol.4 – Book Review

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan

Artist: Fiona Staples

152 pages

Genre: Fantasy Graphic Novel

Synopsis: While Gwendolyn and Lying Cat risk everything to find a cure for The Will, Marko makes an uneasy alliance with Prince Robot IV to find their missing children, who are trapped on a strange world with terrifying new enemies.

Source: Borrowed (in Portuguese)

This book is a sequel of the previous novel, containing issues 25 to 30.

The art continues to baffle me with its beautiful colors.

The story in this volume is heart warming and heart breaking, the perfect kind of bittersweet. Some issues are solved, some new ones emerge.

The characters are amazing. We also get to know a new side of Marko and Alana, which is always nice.

Everything about this book is amazing, I highly recommend this series.

Rating: 5 stars

Want a different review?  You can find one here.

“Regardless of sex, everyone loses something in a war… but the first casualty is always the truth.”

Saga Vol. 6 – Book Review

 

January 2018 Wrap-Up

This month started in the less expected way possible. And that was by watching Ferdinand with my little cousin. It’s a movie about a bull who’s raised to become a fighting bull. If you don’t know what that means, you probably live outside of the Iberian Peninsula.

Overall, I think it’s a fun movie, it raises awareness about the inhumanity of touradas.

Then, I picked up Bookburners and read Shore Leave (Season 1 Episode 10) by Mur Lafferty. I absolutely love this episode, specially because it centers around Grace.

The same day I read Shore Leave, I finally finished The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis by José Saramago. To be honest, this was a somewhat fun book. Its ending was expected (it’s in the freaking title!) but Saramago still managed to make it weird to understand. Did he go and kill himself? Did he just decide to hang out with Pessoa one last time? Who knows? Not me.

Later on, a friend of mine visited and borrowed Saga Volume 7 by Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan, which I read in its integrity the day after. Oh, how I missed this series, it’s too bad I can only read one volume per year.  It’s a translated work, there are some things that still feel off, but it always gets me on a reading high.

Later on in the month, I finished reading this month’s Book Club Pick – Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner. As you probably already know, I absolutely love this book, the universe it created was interesting and the author’s writing is absolutely mesmerizing.

Continuing on the Bookburners spree, I read Codex Umbra (Season 1 Episode 11) by Max Gladstone. This episode is amazing, it lets us know how Norse came to be like he is and answers some questions we’ve had since the beginning of season one.

After it, I read Puppets (Season 1 Episode 12) by Brian Francis Slattery. Overall, it’s a great episode and I can’t wait to read the next one, I have a feeling the season’s finale will blow me away.

Later on in the month, I finished watching Dark‘s first season. This is the first German show I’ve ever watched, it was weird to not understand what the characters were saying and having to read subtitles, however, it’s worth it. I have to tell you, this show’s amazing and I can’t wait for season two.

Continuing on the Bookburners binge, I read Keeping Friends Close (Season 1 Episode 13) by Mur Lafferty. Honestly, I’m glad it ended this way, if the arc were to be longer, it probably wouldn’t work for me.

Then, to finish the month with a bang, I finished reading The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. Overall, it’s a heartbreaking story about what it took to survive during the Holocaust. It’s a book that everyone should read, not because of its quality (it isn’t mind blowing) but because of what it means.

Saga Vol.4 – Book Review

Saga Vol.3 – Book Review

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan

Artist: Fiona Staples

152 pages

Genre: Fantasy Graphic Novel

Synopsis: As they visit a strange new world and encounter even more adversaries, baby Hazel finally becomes a toddler, while her star-crossed parents Marko and Alana struggle to stay on their feet.

Source: Borrowed (in Portuguese)

This book’s, like the others, a direct sequel of the previous novel.

The art continues beautiful, Staples is a great artist.

The story has a few twists and is growing amazingly.

The characters are pretty much the same, however, the character development continues to amaze me. It also shows that couples can have fights and that that’s okay. We also see that some characters aren’t paragons even though they act like one, which is great.

This is a great series, I highly recommend it.

Rating: 5 stars

Want a different review? You can find one here.

Saga Vol. 5 – Book Review

Saga Vol.3 – Book Review

Saga Vol.2 – Book Review

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan

Artist: Fiona Staples

144 pages

Genre: Fantasy Graphic Novel

Synopsis: Searching for their literary hero, new parents Marko and Alana travel to a cosmic lighthouse on the planet Quietus, while the couple’s multiple pursuers finally close in on their targets.

Source: Borrowed (in Portuguese)

This volume is a direct sequel of the previous novel.

This book’s art is, as expected from Fiona Staples, amazing.

The story keeps getting denser as time goes by.

The characters have continued to be almost the same, an aspect I really appreciate (if you use the same characters, we get to know them better).

I really like the character development too, I can’t wait to get my hands on the next volume.

Rating: 5 stars

Want a different review? You can find one here.

Saga Vol.4 – Book Review