Reading Wednesday
Aug. 18th, 2021 06:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sabotabbyI almost forgot! In fairness I have had a very bad few days.
Just finished: Breakdown (The Reckoner Rises), Vol. 1 by David A. Robertson, Scott B. Henderson (Illustrations), and Donovan Yaciuk. This was probably the best out of the graphic novels I picked up awhile ago. I saw the writer speak at TCAF and he was interesting enough to make me really look forward to this.
So, it's a sequel to his other trilogy, which I didn't read. I was led astray by the Vol. 1. It's about two Indigenous kids with superpowers versus an evil corporation. What I liked about it was that it dealt with their trauma from a previous adventure—despite the genre, there was a lot more introspection than action. I was a bit lost, not having read the first three, but I really enjoyed the character work. The art and character design are also quite beautiful. Basically I think I'd love it if I read it in order, and as it was I still got a lot out of it.
A Girl Called Echo: Pemmican Wars by Katherena Vermette, Scott B. Henderson and Donovan Yaciuk. Same artists, so the best thing I have to say about this one is that once again, the art and character design are really well done. Other than that, it's an educational comic for middle schoolers. A lonely Métis girl has flashbacks to points in her ancestors' history. Fine for what it is, but I'm not the target audience.
Currently reading: Blood Marble by Shirley Meier. Full disclosure: The author's a good friend of mine and I'm hella biased.
So this is high octane nightmare fuel. Minis, the 11-year-old son of the vile Imperator, grows up spoiled and indulged, with his father disappearing or murdering anyone he gets too close to. And then he befriends a foreign, enslaved gladiator, who challenges his worldview and teaches him how to be a good person. It's basically like watching a baby learn to walk, except by "baby" it's an 11-year-old child and by "walk" I mean "basic human decency." Really cool worldbuilding, engaging characters, but for the love of all things holy some of these presses need to hire me to copy-edit for them. Also all the trigger warnings. Seriously. Like de Sade on roller skates.
Just finished: Breakdown (The Reckoner Rises), Vol. 1 by David A. Robertson, Scott B. Henderson (Illustrations), and Donovan Yaciuk. This was probably the best out of the graphic novels I picked up awhile ago. I saw the writer speak at TCAF and he was interesting enough to make me really look forward to this.
So, it's a sequel to his other trilogy, which I didn't read. I was led astray by the Vol. 1. It's about two Indigenous kids with superpowers versus an evil corporation. What I liked about it was that it dealt with their trauma from a previous adventure—despite the genre, there was a lot more introspection than action. I was a bit lost, not having read the first three, but I really enjoyed the character work. The art and character design are also quite beautiful. Basically I think I'd love it if I read it in order, and as it was I still got a lot out of it.
A Girl Called Echo: Pemmican Wars by Katherena Vermette, Scott B. Henderson and Donovan Yaciuk. Same artists, so the best thing I have to say about this one is that once again, the art and character design are really well done. Other than that, it's an educational comic for middle schoolers. A lonely Métis girl has flashbacks to points in her ancestors' history. Fine for what it is, but I'm not the target audience.
Currently reading: Blood Marble by Shirley Meier. Full disclosure: The author's a good friend of mine and I'm hella biased.
So this is high octane nightmare fuel. Minis, the 11-year-old son of the vile Imperator, grows up spoiled and indulged, with his father disappearing or murdering anyone he gets too close to. And then he befriends a foreign, enslaved gladiator, who challenges his worldview and teaches him how to be a good person. It's basically like watching a baby learn to walk, except by "baby" it's an 11-year-old child and by "walk" I mean "basic human decency." Really cool worldbuilding, engaging characters, but for the love of all things holy some of these presses need to hire me to copy-edit for them. Also all the trigger warnings. Seriously. Like de Sade on roller skates.
