Author: Faith Erin Hicks
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Miriam’s family should be rich. After all, her grandfather was the co-creator of smash-hit comics series The TomorrowMen. But he sold his rights to the series to his co-creator in the 1960s for practically nothing, and now that’s what Miriam has: practically nothing. And practically nothing to look forward to either-how can she afford college when her family can barely keep a roof above their heads? As if she didn’t have enough to worry about, Miriam’s life gets much more complicated when a cute boy shows up in town . . . and turns out to be the grandson of the man who defrauded Miriam’s grandfather, and heir to the TomorrowMen fortune.
In her endearing debut novel, cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks pens a sensitive and funny Romeo and Juliet tale about modern romance, geek royalty, and what it takes to heal the long-festering scars of the past.
I got this book as a gift after I fell head over heels for the storyline. Romeo and Juliet, comics, romance and Comic-Con? Count. Me. In. I was reading another book, but I just had to read this book immediately. And I’m glad I did. This book was endearing. I loved the slow and sweet romance between Mir and Weldon. It felt realistic and it was just adorable. But it could have used a bit more excitement. The storyline gave a vibe of real conflict, but that was not really the case.
Mir wasn’t really a special character that I really liked. She is fighting for something way before her time. She also felt a bit like a whiny child at moments. Whining about how unfair everything is. I did really admire her hard work. But it did not always make sense to me. But her character growth overtime was nice to see!
Weldon was a bit more clear, but he felt a bit cliché at times. The rich kid that’s getting into trouble to get attention from his parents. Not really something I haven’t seen before. There also wasn’t a lot of depth to him. That was something I was a bit sad about, I always love character growth and while Mir did have that, he did not.
I also did not really get the relationship between Mir and her best friend Rayleigh and her irritating boyfriend Jamie. I did not really feel like it really did something for the book, but that it was more like pagefilling. The friendship between Evan and Mir was great though! I would have liked seeing more of that. Together they went through a big growth and I adore that. I would love to see what they are going to do together in the future.
What I liked most about this book, was seeing the ugly side from comics. The fights and the consequences it has for not only their generation, but also later generations. I also had fun reading the parts where the grown ups are whining about how comic con isn’t about comics anymore and fake geeks and blablabla… That did feel realistic, since a lot of old school geeks are exactly like that, honestly.
I was dissapointed about the ending. I won’t spoil anything, but it felt a bit anti-climatic. I don’t mind an open ending, but this one felt a bit too open. I kinda wish there would be a second book, since I am really curious what’s going to happen between them a year later! But I haven’t seen any indication about this, so I guess it’s just imagining the best.
There’s one thing I would have LOVED to see in this book, and that would be comics. It does not even have to be in color. But I loved it on the cover and backside and it would have given the story so much more depth. I would have loved to see all the art they were talking about, it would be so GOOD! And with an author that’s also a comic artist, it would have been a match made in heaven. I think.
6,5/10
Written by Shelby Mahurin
Published by Greenwillow Books
Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned. As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation-marriage. Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.
I saw a lot of positive reactions on Serpent and Dove so I was looking forward to reading this book! I got the book for Christmas and I read it as soon as I could. And I immediately fell in love. I loved the setting of the story. Without even saying it exactly, you could really feel the French, historical style of the story. it was all subtly woven into the story, which I really enjoyed. The writing is great. I read this book in two days, even though I didn’t really have the time for it, but I just couldn’t lay it down.
Louise is definitely one of those characters I loved tremendously. Her feisty character is something I really enjoy. She is funny and foul-mouthed, but also sweet and caring. I adore her. It’s been a long while since I loved a character as much as I did her. I like characters that aren’t wholly good or bad. You really see her growing throughout the book, while maintaining her feistiness.
Reid was so adorable. His righteous, black and white character from the beginning was so enjoyable. A woman wearing pants?! Outrageous. His character was also so well-written, since I normally would have thrown a hissy fit after that situation, but you could really see he didn’t mean it badly and understands later on that he’s mostly in the wrong with his old-fashioned look on things. His character growth throughout the book is amazing. From someone who would do anything for his belief, to someone who would fight tooth to nail for others. Lóved him.
Throughout the whole book, you think you know what’s going to happen in the end, but in the last few chapters, there were quite a few surprises I did not expect. I’ve read too many books to really be suprised, but this one did it multiple times. It was so exciting and I was at the edge of my seat the whole time at the end. I kinda had to study, but I couldn’t put this book away.
This book is exciting, funny, romantic, passionate, thrilling and just fantastic. I got sucked into the story and it did not let me go until the absolute end. And when I finished it, the first thing I did was find out when book two is coming. I need more. Now. I cannot give this book anything else than full marks, which is something I do not do often, but this book had everything I loved and I cannot wait to read more!
10/10
