Graphic novels from Netgalley

I though I'd do a collective post of a few graphic novels I've had the opportunity to read from Netgalley. Here they are:

Little Mama by Halim Mahmouidi.
Publication date: 10 September 2019

This one I felt right in the heart. With it's dark and sometimes telling artwork this book shows a little girl growing up in an abusive home, neglected and punished and still trying to look after her family. I read it in one sitting, with my heart in my throat most of the time. Most horrible was it to see how the social services apparently wouldn't or couldn't do anything to help the poor child and I think about all the children in the world, probably in my own city, never getting the help they need.

The story is told through flashbacks during Brenda's, Little mama, sessions with a psychologist. I think the way her maturing was portrayed was strong and moving.

Needless to say, this book made thoughts spin and I think it ended just as it should - openly and honestly. This isn't a book to read if you don't want anything intense and raw. There are explicit pictures of violence and child
 abuse that you should be aware of.  It's not only talked of.

A fantastic book, really!

The Avant-Guards by Carly Usdin & Noah Hayes
Publication date: 3 September 2019

There’s really not much to say about this one except for I loved it. It has what I’m after in a graphic novel - interesting characters, great art work, a story I can get into and not to much text to have to read to be able to follow it. I think the story might move a little bit fast, though - there’s not many days that’s passing, right? Still, an easy read, lots of smiles, LGBTQ rep and a chance to learn some basketball.

The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O'Neill

Publication date 17 September 2019

How adorable is this? I haven't read The Tea Dragon Society, but I didn't feel like it mattered that much. The artwork is adorable and charming and the story is filled with all sorts of creatures and magic and everyday life. I adored this read. It's sweet with a touch of fierceness and a bunch of diversity, which I love! The story itself is easy to read and even though nothing much happens, it's still interesting to follow how the dragon fell asleep for 80 years and get to know the characters.The important part is community, friendship and love. And cute, awful pets in form of tea dragons! This is for the ones who're looking for charming artwork, a unique, magical world and a diverse set of characters.

Thank you Netgalley and all the publishers for letting me have the opportunity to read this! The thoughts here are entirely my own reactions to reading the books and I loved them all.

/ Denise

Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller

Author: Tricia Levenseller
Title: Warrior of the Wild
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy/Fantasy

Links: Bokus / Adlibris / Goodreads

This is the perfect standalone book. It has a great start that sucks you right in, a fantastic world building that doesn't make you yawn and skip paragraphs, characters with more depth that striking blue eyes and dimples and beasts. Beasts, guys! I haven't even realized that I have a thing for fantasy books that involve beasts. Bad one, good ones, smart ones, stupid ones. I love the all, apparently! And this book has a bunch. I also has a cruel god, secluded villages and old fashioned rules that banishes anyone who doesn't fit the bill. Kind of. Read it, you'll see.

Okay, so I've told you what I like about this book. Let me tell you a bit more. I loved how Rasmira grows during the entire book. Sure, this could have been a duology to make the development take som more time, but she is cast out in to the wilderness and hellbent on surviving. A little growing up and learning by your mistakes is vital. I also loved both Soren and Iric, even though Iric is a bit petty and Soren is loyal to a fault. Take care of yourself, dude! Oh, and the way Levenseller writes. Yes! Her characters feels strong and the conversations lights up the story. As a feminist, seeing a female warrior battle between being a warrior and a woman is frustrating and I appreciate how Levenseller spun it.

What could have been better..? Honestly? I don't know, really. I mean, it's still YA. It has the same basic cornerstones, boys are still important. It's a bit strange that love and attraction is even in the picture when you've been betrayed and banished from your village, but I love me some good romance and this was done good. Without shame, with sound minds, so to speak. I saw someone complaining about the heroine being just another YA-heroine and I'm like, yeah? She is, because we're reading a YA novel. Just like one's reading another romance, thriller, mystery, feelgood. Things will repeat themselves, molds will be reused. That said, I really thought Rasmina was her own character and had her own charm. 

I won't babble more about this, except to say that I recommend this if you want to read a great YA fantasy novel with a kickass female protagonist, beasts galore, self-discovery and teamwork.

That will be all, thank you.

5 of 5 battle axes

/ Denise

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

Author: Tessa Bailey
Title: Fix Her Up
Series: Hot & Hammered #1
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2019
Genre: Contemporary romance

Links: Book Depository / Bokus / Adlibris / Goodreads

Okay, where to start with this one. Hm... Let's start with what I liked. I loved Georgie and at moments I also liked Travis, especially when he defended her. I did not see the complete point with the "fix up", but I felt like it was made for her sake and not anyone else (no matter how much she wanted Travis to see her) so that's a good thing. I love her being a clown, of all things. I don't think I've ever read about clowns in romance before..? It awesome, in any case!
The love Georgie has for her family is also lovely to read, even though I hated Stephen (Steven? Damn audiobooks), because he was frankly a misogynist dick. (Who the hell comes to fetch his wife just because she wasn't home when he came out of the shower? Really?)
Bailey is also great at writing funny conversations and banter and I found myself laughing and chuckling throughout the book. It also has steam. A lot of steam.

What troubled me with the book was multiple things. For one, I didn't feel it for Travis. Shitty childhood, sure, but that wasn't enough for me to feel anything for him. For another, like I read in another review, there's so many tropes going on that it's hard to make it all connect. I would have been happy with maybe two connecting, but there's a lot going on. 
Also the sappiness. I can handle a bit of sapp, but this is just too much. The book got boring about halfway through and it never really recovered. Sometimes it felt like the book didn't even have a plot, just a whole lot of pining and sappiness..? I don't know, it didn't really work for me, is all. And I hate, absolutely hate, the endearment "baby girl". That's what you call a child, not a grown ass woman (who hates being treated as a child?!) and especially during sexy times. I mean, come on. Do you want her to call you Daddy at the same time? Yuck. Sorry, I just hate it and it bothered me during the entire book.

So, this is a cute but steamy book with questionable sappiness and my entire rating goes to Georgie and her girls, basically.

2.5 of 5 cheese plates

/ Denise

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Author: Christina Lauren
Title: The Unhoneymooners
Publisher: Gallery books
Published: 2019
Genre: Contemporary romance

Links: Book Depository / Bokus / Goodreads

So, the biggest question is, why am I not reading Christina Lauren books all the time? I've read four of them so far and with the exception of My Favorite Half-Night Stand (which I only liked), I loved them so much and had such a great time reading them. So why do I hesitate before I pick up the next one? Maybe I scared of it not being great, who knows. Anyway, we're all here for my awesome reactions to books I've read, so you're going to get one!

It's a really wacky idea, isn't it? Writing about two people who hate each other, going on a honeymoon because the entire wedding except them became vomiting wrecks. But it works. I read in a review that Olive and Ethan reminds them om Hazel and Josh. And I see the point, but I don't see the issue. I loved Hazel and Josh, so why wouldn't I want to read about such characterization again? I think authors are allowed to draw from their past characters now and again.

What did I like about this, then? As in any Christina Lauren books, the banter is my favorite. But I also loved the connection between Olive and Ethan. Even when they dislike each other, they're actually quite caring. This book is also unapologetically cute. I mean, it has a cute drunk Ethan scene and a really awkward bathroom scene. And the little comments he makes about her always looking nice and stuff. Need I say more? Nope, cuteness achieved.

If I have to pick something not to like, it's probably the ending. Ethan was being a complete asshole about a certain thing (this could have been handled differently and felt kind of like "Shit, we need a problem, let's just invent a reason and a totally weird reaction to it". Because we also don't really get an explanation for his strange protectiveness, do we? Seriously, do we? I have no idea) and the ending felt a bit... Unresolved.

Buuuut, I recommend this to anyone who loved contemporary romance and wants it quirky, cute with a sprinkle of banter.

4 of 5 non-buffet dinners

/ Denise

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews

Author: Ilona Andrews
Title: Sapphire Flames
Series: Hidden Legacy #4
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2019
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal romance

Links: Book Depository / Bokus / Goodreads

After having read and loved the other books of the Hidden Legacy-series, I was so excited to hear about Sapphire Flames. Getting the chance to read an ARC of this book was so great. Thank you Avon and Edelweiss+! (What is up with the flames on Catalina's hands, though? She should have wings!)

Sapphire Flames will be published on August 19 2019!

The first three books is about Nevada, the breadwinner of the Baylor family. This book is about one of her sisters, Catalina, who is a now a Prime (super awesome and strong magic person) and the head of the Baylor house. Not the easiest job in the world, keeping your family safe while also trying to run a business. Cue murdered people and the will to help a friend in need. Too bad the smoking hot Alessandro, who she's had crush on for ages, turns up at the most inconvenient times and is apparently not at all who he seems to be on his social media (shocker!). Oh, there's also bad people who wants to kill everyone and warped magic users and who even climbs in through someone's window?!

I loved this. Loved with big heart eyes and lots of feels. I loved reading about Catalina and how she had changed from the shy teenager who where scared to use her powers, to the strong, confident (fake it til you make it, right?) and badass woman she always have been. The whole world the Ilona Andrews has built up is also still amazing, even though I would have loved to dive in a bit more there - it's such a good start for the rest of the books (can they come now, please?). The glimpses of the different Alessandros are also fun and intriguing and I am eagerly awaiting the development of both the characters and their relationship. 
Also, I want to know more about Runa and Bern...?

The story in all was good - I like the mystery part of it and how pieces come together. Somethings are a bit out there on how they find things out, but the authors are really great at describing how the process works without boring us to death. The "endbattle" is so good, but the ending a bit anticlimactic.

Anyway, I highly recommend reading the first three books and the novella before diving into this beauty. You'll have a lot more flesh to the bones, so to speak and a deeper understanding for the world that surrounds the story - which is a huge part of it, so it's a shame to miss it. You also shouldn't miss Nevada and Mad Rogan, obviously.

5 of 5 wings

/ Denise