This book doesn’t shield us from the ugliness and horror that is the pirate trade. Piracy was a hideous business, one entered into only when the alterThis book doesn’t shield us from the ugliness and horror that is the pirate trade. Piracy was a hideous business, one entered into only when the alternatives were deemed worse.
This is by no means a children’s book. It pulls no punches when describing piratical rape, torture, brutality, racism, poverty and the complicit blindness of governments and monarchies when it came to brokering deals with lawless mercenaries on the seas. The drawings are equally rough, with coarse black outlines and smudgy browns and reds. The images look realistic but in the way of savage artists who eschewed finicky in favor of blunt, broad strokes.
The historical background states that piracy has existed as long as mankind has taken to the seas in search of trade, plunder and profit. Odysseus is described as having been a sea raider. His oratorical speeches were likely made up by imaginative poets but listeners would have seen the fiction as truth, given that various countries of the Greek Dark Ages would have been aware of the grim business of ship thievery that took place. (It even includes a short passage about a young Julius Caesar taken captive by Cilician pirates that I was astonished to remember watching fictionalized on an episode of “Xena Warrior Princess”. It did not end well for her.)
Piracy continues today. The realization of that may be a shock but, hey, they made a Tom Hanks movie about it so it’s not necessarily news to modern audiences. This book strips away the cheerful romanticizing of the piratical trade down to its gritty essence and also points to the various authors, filmmakers, lyricists and scriptwriters who glossed it with the fanciful veneer we see today. Thus, this book is a slice of forbidding world history. Keep it away from the children....more
This graphic connects magic ability to hair length. Oookay, that’s not the oddest magic system I’ve ever read but it ranks in the top three.
Samson-likThis graphic connects magic ability to hair length. Oookay, that’s not the oddest magic system I’ve ever read but it ranks in the top three.
Samson-like qualities aside, I’m a bit puzzled. Supposedly, too long hair is a sign that one is a magical traitor and subject to the painful penalty of public immolation. But some people are allowed to have Rapunzel-length tresses. You’d think people would be upset by this hypocrisy, especially after watching their long-haired loved ones roasted like marshmallows. But I guess it’s only those in power who get to have silken strands that sweep the steps.
In this story of an unlikely heroine, we meet a panoply of characters, including a trans woman who gives a new definition to “mean girl”, a talking raven that may not be entirely trustworthy and a bunch of orphaned children whose parents were burned at the stake.
Nyneve Jaga Ahmadzai proves stalwart enough but feels she’s actually a coward, a self-imposed title she accepts with no shame. She’s been hiding her true nature her whole life…until she was exposed. Then she decided to do something stupid and is now on the lam. It wasn’t even her decision to flee; that was forced on her by another. It does make her a different sort of adventurer. Like Bilbo Baggins, like Harry Potter, she never asked to be a hero and resents the notion of changing the world by joining a bunch of child rebels. It’s a burden she never asked for and would avoid at all costs.
The story travels apace, bounding from one location to another as Nyneve attempts to find her footing outside the comforts of her home. She has to fight when she doesn’t want to, dodge assailants, avoid assassins and talk to trees. Like it or not, she’s set off on an adventure and the story reflects her growing into her role as cautious explorer.
The color palette of the illustrations are often a matter of tonal shifts rather than a broad spectrum of hues. Cool tones give way to earth palettes and then to warm backgrounds. The characters are easily recognizable after only one drawing, as the author evidently doesn’t believe in making everybody look alike, even when they’re in the same “family”. If I have an objection, it’s to seeing noses that look like the L letter. I don’t like that in manga and I didn’t care for it here; I think it looks childish and cheap. However, this is a graphic novel meant for the tween set so it’s a personal quibble of mine.
For those who like magic systems that are of the unusual, try Witchy....more
Set in the America of 1930s, Ms. Glover mixes racism with a unique form of magic to underpin this story of mysterious murders and a machine with the pSet in the America of 1930s, Ms. Glover mixes racism with a unique form of magic to underpin this story of mysterious murders and a machine with the potential to destroy towns.
Velma Frye, known by a variety of names, is a daredevil pilot whose stunts are a brilliant cover for her more important work as an investigator, crime solver and wielder of magic. As when helping any people nearly crushed by the legal system, Velma is not above breaking the law every now and again. She tries her best to aid other black people and through her efforts we see the racism that still had America in a tight stranglehold. While the book doesn’t show on-page clashes between whites and blacks, we get reports time and again about how black people must struggle to hold on to the little they have. Any sign of success among them and angry, sullen white mobs are quick to take up the torches and advance on their African-American neighbors.
The mystery takes Velma and her wonderful monoplane, Fowl Weather, all over America with a nosy, exasperating reporter Dillon Harris in tow. Dillon at first is one of those perk, annoying rogues given to winking and infuriating smiles and popping up places where Velma happens to be. You can understand her irritation with him, especially since he started off his acquaintance with a newspaper feud that disparaged and belittled the then-new science of airplane flying. What’s wrong with broomsticks? he wonders. What can planes do that’s any better?
Their enemies-to-lovers romance is believable because they share their unique talents in solving the mystery, aiding one another and complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Dillon learns to appreciated Velma’s flying skills, her airplane and her determination to use both to help others. Velma respects Dillon’s integrity in his capacity as a reporter as he has a tendency to dig for the truth and print scathing exposés that give him his fair share of enemies.
This is a terrific mystery, too, with shades of Agatha Christie when suspects are locked in a house and bodies start turning up. The action is briskly written, especially when Velma takes to the skies; you almost can feel the airplane vibrating under your seat. The characters are edgy, potent and complicated. Even the supposed criminals garner your sympathy.
This is a standalone novel but it takes place as part of the Murder and Magic series. You don’t need to read those to understand and appreciate this novel. But this novel may make you hungry to learn more....more
“After all, fighting’s what the men of Troy were born for, and I most of all.” - Hector, son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy.
The Iliad is a str“After all, fighting’s what the men of Troy were born for, and I most of all.” - Hector, son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy.
The Iliad is a strange bit of literature. Although it purports to tell of a conflict between two major players, the circumstances seem odd to modern readers. Is it really possible or likely that several hundred men would go to war to retrieve one man’s adulterous wife? Did this whole thing actually start because a slighted goddess threw a bit of fruit? How could an obvious stratagem of stuffing men into a wooden horse even work?
The main thrust of the story takes place in the final days of a ten-year siege, in which the Greeks and various other factions are camped outside the Trojan gates. Some people who attempt to leave the city are set upon and slaughtered by the stewing Achaeans but that’s the extent of the action, so far. However, Mr. Strachan thrusts us into the middle of the tale, as gods and mortals contend on the battlefield to win supremacy, victory, valor and whatever set of cool weapons and armor they can loot from the fallen dead.
In spite of this supposedly being a tale of heroism, we can’t help but note the seediness and all-too-fallible humanity and divinity on display. Ares is supposed to be fighting on the side of the Greeks. However, as a sower of chaos and lover of gore for its own sake, he switches sides to the Trojans. Poseidon shouldn’t interfere--then he does, against Zeus’s express orders. Athena is described as a pretty, pampered daughter of Zeus (contrary to all descriptions I’ve read about her) and interferes on the battlefield because of a grudge she bears Paris. Achilles is supposedly the noblest of the Achaeans but the description of him is that of a one-man slaughtering machine, attacking the outlying cities beyond Troy’s walls and carrying off the spoils, prisoners and war brides (read: rape victims). When he’s not killing wiily-nilly, he sulks for days because Agamemnon forcibly seized Briseis, a captive of war, from Achilles. Agamemnon shows himself to be a bully, tyrant and greedy bastard.
While there are women in this tale—most notably Helen herself—they come off as mainly peripheral characters, relegated to fretting over their foolishly warring menfolk, shuddering at every tale of bad news, mourning their dead. Helen particularly mourns Hector’s demise because he was the only Trojan (besides Paris) who ever spoke kindly to her. All the other Trojans loathed her like poison. (Hmmm, wonder why?) Amazingly, Amazons show up in this book but they’re quickly dispensed with; they’re mentioned and vanish in a single paragraph. They have no dialogue and there aren’t even any action scenes involving them.
This story lists the various characters and their blow-by-blow scenes. Whether we get lance thrust, arrow shot or swing of sword, the author is careful to emphasize who did what. There are few vague scenes of stating how the battlefield was a churning, chaotic mess. No, there is a clinical, point-by-point description of what is happening. You feel as if you’re listening to some sportscaster talking avidly about what’s happening as the athletes play off against each other.
It doesn’t stint on the bloodshed. In fact, there are almost graphic descriptions accompanied by equally gory illustrations. Colors are subdued in some places yet garish in others, such as when we see bright orange reins against purple cloaks. While it can be difficult to convey facial expression of a man wearing a helmet, there are plenty of scenes off the battleground with emotion aplenty.
This is a version of The Iliad that I was eager to peruse and I wasn’t disappointed. However, I would hesitate to give it to children. It presents ferocious and hideous battles that don’t shy away from the brutality of warfare. It’s a story that elevates armed conflict, sending warped messages about honor, glory and bravery being qualities men should strive for, even at the expense of their own lives. It’s a story about gods, demigods, legends, warriors and heroes whose names would never be forgotten yet it was also senseless conflict that grew so wearying even the gods tired of it.
It manages to be a glorification of war and a vicious anti-war warning. Children may not get it but adults will understand its grim underlying message. In the end, this story reminds us of the subtle brilliance and sly satire of the original text. No wonder it has lasted so long and remained a classic of literature. ...more
For a long while, Ms. Bourne accomplishes the amazing task of making Mariss a very sympathetic character. The novel isn't told from her point of view For a long while, Ms. Bourne accomplishes the amazing task of making Mariss a very sympathetic character. The novel isn't told from her point of view but we get to know her--her origins, her behaviors, her desires--through the lens of Josephine Cadogan, an 11-year-old girl who loves her daddy fiercely.
As it turns out, her love is a little too fierce and rather nasty. She doesn't want to share him with anybody else and that means consistently playing mean pranks against his lady friends. She's run off quite a few by the time the novel begins and she successfully deals with yet another wooing attempt by setting up a bucket of rancid fish guts.
It would be amusing if these women were horrible, vicious, gold-digging tramps. But her father is a simple fisherman and there's little to no indication that the women like him for any reason other than they find him handsome and charming. There's no sign that they're awful to Josephine. She simply doesn't want them to come between her and her father. In short, she's rather a brat. I actively disliked her petulant behavior for most of the book and felt overjoyed that Maris repeatedly managed to get the better of her.
So having Mariss turn out to be something other than human (no spoilers; you can tell something's off by the cover photo) was a bit of a letdown. Still, you empathize with Mariss. She's not evil, per se. She's simply acting according to her nature. For a while, things are even great. She's the kind of being who is generous to those she favors, like a pooka, domovoi or brownie. She can also turn malevolent if she thinks her chosen human is ungrateful.
Therein lies the problem. Mariss can't comprehend the complexity of human emotions, especially love. Humans are messy, contradictory creatures and love can be a complicated business. She doesn't see how a man can be in love with her and dance with another woman. She thinks true love--the eros that Greeks feared--should be all encompassing. A man can't love her and his own child; true love should come first and always.
In short, she's a binary creature who doesn't get the enormity of human affection. Poor Josephine isn't the one to explain this to her, either. She's only 11, after all. So faced with a terrifying crisis, Josephine can't tell Mariss that she doesn't have to understand human love but she can accept it. She can have love with Josephine's father as long as she's willing to let him love Josephine as well.
Instead, the drama peaks with a terrible showdown in which there can be only defeat means death. It's tragic and I couldn't help but feel a pang. Josephine may have grown past her silly antics but you sigh over the cost of her maturity....more
Ethereal, strange and moody by turns, this novel defies easy explanation. While ostensibly a remake of The Snow Queen, this tale is odder, both wider Ethereal, strange and moody by turns, this novel defies easy explanation. While ostensibly a remake of The Snow Queen, this tale is odder, both wider and narrower in scope.
Ophelia is no Greta. She lacks physical stamina and is extremely timorous. She mostly resents the boy for the seemingly impossible tasks he's set before her and she's a firm believer in science not magic. She'd gladly forget about the mysterious boy supposedly concealed against his will for hundreds of years...but her own spirit keeps nagging her to consider...what if he's telling the truth about the end of the world?
Most of the action of the story takes place in one labyrinthine museum, a place of odd collections and shifting possessions. A Miss Kaminsky reigns over all and the bone-cracking chill she trails with her is enough for Ophelia to concede that something very strange is happening.
At first, this icy female appears to have the right on her side. The mysterious boy claims to be without a name. He shows up unannounced in someone else's kingdom. He doesn't age and he's always carrying around a sword with him. He can't use it or even lift it but he solemnly assures the woman that he's going to hand it to someone who's going to kill her. Why wouldn't she imprison him if he's threatening her?
The Snow Queen's assault on the world involves cold, like the Norse depiction of Ragnarok. That's all I'll tell you of the matter. The story appears to meander a bit; people who like fast-paced drama may not care for the deliberate pacing. After action that drags itself back and forth among the museum's various levels, the denouement comes at a surprisingly fast clip.
Certain mysteries are left unanswered. This too may irk people who like their stories tied up with a neat little bow. For those who adore fantasies with unlocked doors at their center, this story with its many evocative images of frost, chill, cold and ice will be a proper delight....more
These tales range from the whimsical (an old man uses a poor imitation of one of his famous paintings to conjure a paper man) to the sinister (a womanThese tales range from the whimsical (an old man uses a poor imitation of one of his famous paintings to conjure a paper man) to the sinister (a woman tricks a desperate royal in order to gain revenge). But, in the midst of the fantastical elements, they all involve human feelings and valuable lessons.
The fantastical aspects are part of nature not separate from it. Even as valuable natural resources get demolished, humans can restore order through simple effort and kindness. Cheering crowds practically weep as a baby dragon takes flight. A young girl saves a small fish god when its river is destroyed by construction workers. A vengeful woman who’s lost her child finds a surrogate in an imprinting baby dragon.
If some of this sounds too cute for words, they aren’t. There’s enough pathos to skirt silliness and twee charm. These are stories for children as well as adults but they’re far from childish. ...more
Vengeful fox spirits combine with wronged young women to create lethal killers. The story is set firmly within a specific point of history, a time wheVengeful fox spirits combine with wronged young women to create lethal killers. The story is set firmly within a specific point of history, a time when people were still steeped in peasant superstition even as the upperclass scoffed at the prevalence of old myths and legends.
The author presents us with a world struggling to reconcile its various contradictions. A woman's job was to marry and bring forth sons. A barren woman was an embarrassment, a nuisance or seen as cursed. Her husband might take multiple wives and it didn't matter if any of them could read or write. But a courtesan, a woman who slept with men for money, was prized if she was literate and gifted in various arts. While girls were forbidden to learn martial arts, a young general decides to defy the rules by teaching and training his eager daughter how to fight.
Women suffered if they were married to a brutal man (it's not certain if divorce is allowed but you get the feeling it wasn't.). But they were terrified to lose him, because what would become of a wife and her children without a man to provide for them?
With these various subplots in play, it dawned on this reader that this is a world on the cusp of change, even if some people are fighting against it tooth and nail. To these conservatives, rank matters, gender matters and social standing definitely matters.
So when a girl wants to learn martial arts, you see the storm approaching on the horizon. When another girl turns down suitor after suitor to take care of her ailing grandmother, the reader experiences a frisson of fear for these are not men who take rejection kindly. And when a girl outfights the boys, you can almost predict the accusations that will follow.
What you gradually realize is that this is a story of women--women who are connected across time and space. These are women who, through circumstance or choice, must take unusual paths to obtain their freedom and they all face dire consequences whenever they try to fit themselves into the worlds of men.
The fox maidens dwell in mountains and forests and their human selves come to chafe at being forced to be civilized. They are reminders of Artemis and her band of virgin followers, women who eschewed the worlds of men and the traditional roles of wife, mother, housekeeper. They are most comfortable running free. Their giving up their fur and padded feet for feeble human skin because they are lured by the frailty of human love is an obvious encapsulation of the dichotomy of their dual nature.
This graphic novel is an intimate tale of love found, lost and found again. It's a grand saga of redemption, revenge, the struggle to self actualize, the battle between the sexes and the constant fight between our better and worser natures. It's a love story, a ghost story, a revenge tale. It's so much more than the sum of its parts. I was left stunned, moved and near tears by the time I was finished. If you like stories about fierce women are your dish, prepare to feast. ...more
Comic books were once considered the stuff of children. After all, they featured grown people in skin-tight suits, spectacular feats of derring do andComic books were once considered the stuff of children. After all, they featured grown people in skin-tight suits, spectacular feats of derring do and bright colors everywhere. It was like going to the circus, only for less than a quarter. Anyone over the age of 40 can remember countless hours spent flipping the pages, looking for that next great story or hero to grace the sheets.
Well, Mr. Morris dug deep and found superheroes that were…less than stellar. They flared up briefly, sputtered into the sky and fell to earth we know not where, doubtless lost in the depths of a cardboard box at your local comic book store. The creations in this book are the also-rans, the never-weres, the ones who didn’t quite make the grade.
Who knows why they didn’t cut it? (Oh well, Mr. Morris knows and had no problem venting his opinion.) They were simply too goofy, too much like another, more successful superhero creation, they were too far ahead of their time, too far behind or used lingo that was already going outdated by the time they hit the shelves (far out, man).
But the inkers tried. They didn’t create these fictional characters to fail, after all. (Although you have to scratch your head at the creative “genius” behind someone who thinks a floating, disembodied eyeball is superhero material. What was he smoking?) Even if these attempts didn’t last beyond a few short installments, you have to appreciate the fancies of people who thought Mother Hubbard, Dracula or a man whose metallic hand is reminiscent of Inspector Gadget would be worthwhile supers.
You sense the love behind these handiworks. The craftspeople wanted to bring something new to the page and comics lend themselves wonderfully to flights of fancy, outrageous propositions, stories that demand their readers suspend belief and call to the imagination of their readers. Sometimes, you could see how these fictional beings were precursors of far more successful followups. There are hints of the future characters of Wonder Woman, Spider-Man and so many others.
Whether you read this for amusement or for a peek into the deranged minds that could invent a superhero who could dismember his own body, this is a book to flip through quickly, savor or share with your comic book-loving friends. Nerds of the world, unite!...more
I’ll admit I didn’t know of many of these women. But others were very familiar and I was glad to see how history and their own contemporaries viewed tI’ll admit I didn’t know of many of these women. But others were very familiar and I was glad to see how history and their own contemporaries viewed their daring choices of clothing. Sometimes these women were in defiance of the stated norm. Sometimes they donned trousers for comfort. Many a time, they simply wore what other women of their time wore and didn’t know that they were considered transgressive.
Whatever the reasons, these snippets of history remind us that women’s liberation covers a lot of ground. Whether historically, socially or sartorially, women continue to make their mark. We are ever taking bold strides away from what our ancestors knew—and we’re often doing it in pants....more
Mosca Mye is one of the orneriest heroines you’ve ever likely to meet on or off the page. Having been orphaned young and reared by a mean-spirited aunMosca Mye is one of the orneriest heroines you’ve ever likely to meet on or off the page. Having been orphaned young and reared by a mean-spirited aunt and uncle, she’s never cultivated warm feelings towards anybody or anything except a goose named Saracen. This avian matches her in warlike spirit, being a terror to any foe he encounters. His beak can peck out eyes. His wings can break a man’s legs. Dogs have learned to shun him and men to fear him.
Mosca isn’t quite so formidable at fisticuffs (she’s only 11, after all) but she makes up for it with a minatory spirit. Her desperation to escape the humdrum awfulness of life in a small town makes her an accidental arsonist, a jailbreaker, liar, thief and spy. It’s humorous how only part of that list is intentional.
Her adventures lead her to a panoply of colorful characters of blackmailers, thieves, marriage brokers, highwaymen, blue collar workers, mad dukes, scheming duchesses, saboteurs, espionage agents and religious lunatics, just to name a few. The story gallops apace with nary a dull moment. At times, the threads of plots, counterplots, political machinations and switching of sides gets so tangled it’s tough to make out who is working for or against whom. But the story is worth it so stick with it.
Joining Mosca on her travels is the silver-tongued scapegrace Eponymous Clent who is and isn’t what he seems. We, like Mosca, spend a great deal of time admiring or being frightened by this unscrupulous fellow, who may have blood on his hands, constables on his tail and debtors craving his heart on a hook. Everybody wants him—the police want him for questioning. Mosca would be happy just to get out of his clutches.
Underneath the hijinks, the book is a sober look at religiosity: the role it plays in the lives of hoi polloi, how those in power find it useful and how others see it as a illness that should be stamped out—with fire, if necessary. I found this book filled with fascinating conversations, tips and one girl’s burgeoning understanding of just how the world works even as she tries to figure out her place in it....more
These enchanting stories are entirely new to me and each one is a treasure. We are taken upon the ancient Silk Road and each tale highlights an aspectThese enchanting stories are entirely new to me and each one is a treasure. We are taken upon the ancient Silk Road and each tale highlights an aspect of the country. From kidnapping bandits to heavenly goddesses, from mischievous demons leading men astray to magical purses, these stories incorporate wonders, mysteries and dangers to mere mortals. There are hardships to be endured (like the Silk Road itself) and lessons to be learned.
The illustrations are divine. Soft flowing lines envelop characters that pop with color. Each page has illustrations on the bottom as well, forming miniature counterparts to the accompanying story. It’s a terrific book. Children who like reading about far-off countries will adore this....more
Mrs. Patel has dug into her heritage and fleshed out a blank character who was conveniently made into a villain. Kaikeyi is a woman of parts and contrMrs. Patel has dug into her heritage and fleshed out a blank character who was conveniently made into a villain. Kaikeyi is a woman of parts and contradictions. She wishes to make life better for women, a difficult feat in the rigid, patriarchal world she must inhabit. Yet it takes insights from her maid to get her to reach out to the first and second wives of her husband. Gifted with a mystical power, she is almost helpless against the machinations of sages and ministers who disapprove of her strange ways. She’s willing to take instruction but she’s also headstrong. She believes the gods have forsaken her yet resorts to prayer when matters become dire.
Her story is epic but grounded in the mundane and personal as well as the spiritual. Having partaken in warfare, she becomes horrified by it and has no wish to see her adopted country or her homeland engulfed in it. The story pits her decision against that of all the men arrayed against her: young men who slaver for warfare thinking it will bring them glory, her deluded husband, her enraged brother and her adopted son, Rama—a god in human flesh.
This is a novel that brings to life an ancient world, one steeped in mysticism, politics, misogyny and religious fervor. We see, once again, how women who step out of their assigned places are maligned and slandered. The old, dreary, hateful words are dredged up: demon, whore, monster. Kaikeyi must tread a careful line and we witness her frustration and despair whenever she runs up against the hostility of men, including Rama.
Initially, I was bothered whenever I read about Kaikeyi’s words about how she tore her world apart. These foreboding passages would crop up as a warning of what was to come and it irked me. Couldn’t I read the story without being reminded that it would all end in tears? I wanted to ending to surprise me not have a leaden feeling of dread as I read about Kaikeyi’s increasingly frantic efforts to stave off warfare and save the ones she loved.
I considered Shakespeare’s The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Right at the beginning, before the play properly begins, the bard writes of the heartbreaking deaths of its titular protagonists. He spills to the audience about their suicides and how it takes their deaths to put an end to a meaningless feud. So we know just how the play is going to end. So why did knowing that Kaikeyi’s efforts would fail peeve me so much?
The gods remind her how little they care for human travail and suffering, how Kaikeyi’s every effort played out just as they foresaw it would and how little she mattered. Even Rama’s godhood was merely a pawn in their endless game.
Then I read it to the end. Kaikeyi’s triumph isn’t what she thinks it is. Kaikeyi set out what she wanted to do and in the end…she changed her world. She changed it for the better and, if it wasn’t the grand gesture she’d hoped it would be, she realized that it would ripple across time and space to have larger, wonderful consequences.
This is a novel that teaches too, beneath its seeming as mere storytelling. It’s a sly treatise on the art of communication, speaking to persuade, watching and, most importantly, listening. Most wonderful of all, within the strict confines the men tried to set for them, this is a novel about women. Their machinations, their advice, their solidarities and their voices ring from the page. This may be a mere imagining of a blank character from myth and legend. But it’s one I would gladly give to any girl who craves to see women as heroes of their own stories....more
Princess Mabelrose continues to display the qualities that make her a superb example of royalty. She’s consistently thoughtful, clever, kind, gentle, Princess Mabelrose continues to display the qualities that make her a superb example of royalty. She’s consistently thoughtful, clever, kind, gentle, sympathetic, compassionate and generous. She also has the cunning of a fox and the incisive focus of a successful general.
However, she’s up against a worthy foe...her aunt Ursula. From the moment I saw Ursula in action, I found her intriguing and quite sympathetic. Far from being an evil despot bent on destruction for its own sake, she showed compassion for her enemies. In volume two of this series, she treated Mabelrose well. She didn’t attack Mabelrose’s companions or her brother-in-law’s band. She only retaliated when they attacked her. She sent King Jeryk and his followers to a comfortable oasis, filled with plenty of food, water and shelter, when she could have killed them outright.
In this volume, Ursula lets Mabelrose stay in a pampered room, gives her lovely soft robes and sumptuous meals. She lets Mabelrose roam freely throughout her castle rather than shutting her up in a dungeon. She also reveals how she was ill done by when Mabelrose’s uncle Philippe supposedly slew a dragon--a tale that turns out to be a complete lie. Given what we know about how knights fared against the fearsome Shalathrumnostrium, we can easily believe that Philippe told a fib that made him considered a hero (and explains why he turned down his brother Jeryk’s request to rescue Mabelrose from the clutches of Shalathrumnostrium).
It would have been wonderful and a truly brilliant twist in the story if Mabelrose had passionately debated her aunt into giving up her dreams of conquest and using her magic for good. Ursula had proven she could be merciful in victory. Ursula shows many signs of tenderness, especially when watching Mabelrose as the princess deals kindly with those around her. Ursula wants Mabelrose to rule by her side, seeing Mabelrose’s special qualities in a way that others may not. Ursula boasted that her wand could create buildings; she had enough wealth to feed and house every starving and homeless person in the Hundred Kingdoms. With a powerful dragon at her command, she could have sailed triumphantly back into New Tinsley and told King Jeryk about his lying brother’s perfidy.
But this isn’t that kind of story. Instead, we have a rebel girl who once singlehandedly defeated eight terrible witches becoming corrupted by an evil weapon and therefore she’s incapable of being redeemed...only defeated in battle. And what a battle we get! All the beings come into play as they might for a battle royale. The graphics lead us all over the castle, within and without, as the combatants rage against each other. It’s epic stuff, enhanced by the little references to other fairy tales that Mr. Espinosa has sprinkled throughout this series.
This is a great tale of a most atypical princess and her loyal entourage. I recommend it for all girls who like their heroines feisty, brave and smart....more
Meet Eric Bittle. He’s a sweet, jovial, cheerful pie baker, avid vlogger and former figure skater turned hockey player. We never learn why he switchedMeet Eric Bittle. He’s a sweet, jovial, cheerful pie baker, avid vlogger and former figure skater turned hockey player. We never learn why he switched from ice skating to hockey. He’s still got the skills (as he proves when he launches into a figure skating spin to the delight of his new teammates) but somehow he’s channeling that into hockey.
As a high school hockey player in a small town, checking (hockey parlance for “being slammed into by another hockey player) wasn’t allowed. But in college hockey, checking is absolutely part of the game and he claims to his online fans that he can’t wait.
Again, why?!? Hockey is a brutal sport. Those guys can’t be wearing all that padding for aesthetic reasons. Checking is definitely going to bring about concussions. (Didn’t anyone watch that Will Smith movie?) So why does he want this?
I don’t get the reasons. There really aren’t any that convince. Maybe it has something to do with Jack, the handsome player on his team. But that’s not really Eric’s motivation, since he wanted to enter into college hockey before he ever met Jack.
So why did I continue with this graphic novel when I don’t like hockey or the bro-dude atmosphere that permeates the sport? (And it’s the typical behavior you’d expect such as excessive profanity, crude talk about getting girls, keg stands, etc., etc., etc.) Well, I like Eric Bittle. He’s an ebullient sort with a thoughtful, considerate personality. Off the ice, he’s gentle and caring about his teammates. Also, he’s a baker! I am too and I was delighted with his constant culinary efforts and his urge to share them with his teammates.
His homosexuality isn’t even an issue. I just accepted it and moved on with the storyline. I suppose I’m so laissez-faire about it because Eric is. Unless the two aggressively pussy chasers Ransom and Holster are talking about getting him a woman, it doesn’t really matter much to the plot.
Then Eric must deal with his burgeoning feelings for Jack, who he is certain is straight. Is he or isn’t he? Ah, that would be telling. Suffice it to say that I was so glad to read about a protagonist who could use words like “disheartening” and “felonious” in the same paragraph without embarrassment, any and all homosexual action can wait...until the sequel....more
Rose has come to terms with being a magic wielder. But that doesn’t make her complacent or lazy. On the contrary, she likes having things to do. HouseRose has come to terms with being a magic wielder. But that doesn’t make her complacent or lazy. On the contrary, she likes having things to do. Housework is something she happily throws herself into, without magic being involved.
However, things have taken a dark turn in the kingdom. Thanks to an insatiable and insane magician, people have become fearful of magic. That suspicion becomes ugly as paranoia seeps into Mr. Fountain’s household. While the staff are more or less accepting of the upper classes having magical abilities, they are greatly uneasy about anyone on their social level possessing it. Rose suddenly finds herself persona non grata among people she’d once considered her friends. It makes her unsettled and forlorn.
Rose never forgets that she comes from a poor background. As an orphan, snow didn’t mean snowball fights, castle building or hot cocoa when you came back home. It meant slush getting into your shoes, your meager clothes being sodden until you shivered with cold. Even if she would forget it, no one else would let her. So she remains humble and hard working, compassionate and tolerant.
She’s also brave, too, when she needs to be. The latter part of the book finds her going up against kidnappers and would-be assassins. She’s a fictional heroine that continues to rise to the occasion when needed.
Since the mystery of who’s behind royal kidnapping hasn’t been completely solved, I want to see what happens in the next sequel. I’m sure Rose won’t disappoint....more
This is a lycanthrope story, a supernatural being set firmly in a mundane setting. Reminiscent of Fat Vampire, we find a loner who has a tough time coThis is a lycanthrope story, a supernatural being set firmly in a mundane setting. Reminiscent of Fat Vampire, we find a loner who has a tough time connecting with people. He’s dropped out of school, out of shape, on the verge of becoming an alcoholic, alienated from his parents and he’s worried that he’s killing people.
Brian cultivates distance from people. This initially comes off as the typical disconnect of contemporary millennials. Why bother maintaining friendships when you can get 2000+ followers on Facebook? Why hold tête-à-têtes when you can have anonymous Grindr sex? But Brian’s lycanthropy means that distance isn’t an affectation but a dire necessity. How can he have friendships when he can’t tell people about his lupine transformation every full moon?
The novel adroitly combines humor with social commentary as Brian falls into the hands of an aggressive werewolf by the name of Tyler Gainsborough. Anyone with half a brain can see that Tyler’s cant is pompous, self serving, meaningless, long on business-speak yet vague on details. He’s spinning Brian a line of malarkey. But he seems to understand Brian’s troubles and articulates the vacancy of Brian’s low-level, low-income lifestyle in a way that appeals to Brian’s desperate desire for personal growth.
The novel steers us through Brian’s struggles to meet Tyler’s abusive expectations, drifting from his friends and gradual realization that Tyler’s idiotic self-help New Age cant conceals a truly dark and dangerous agenda. Brian is your typical feckless loser but the author brings us into his vague yearnings for something more. You smirk a little at his slowness in realizing who and what Darby’s lover Abe is but even the revelation at the end of the novel manages to bring a sense of surprise....more
This is a bizarre story with a trio of quirky girls as unlikely heroines. While there is a mystery (who or what is Steve?), the girls are mostly conceThis is a bizarre story with a trio of quirky girls as unlikely heroines. While there is a mystery (who or what is Steve?), the girls are mostly concerned with taking care of Cyd the Squid (who’s getting Batman vibes here?), an oceanic escapee from a duo of anthropomorphic rats in a yellow submarine. Hmmm…
The story is silly, of course, but the lively illustrations, the girls’s goofy interests and personalities as well as the antics of the two bumbling rodents perk up this adventure tale of a runaway squid and the children who befriend him. The inclusion of a swimming quartet of women who aren’t what they appear to be only adds to the amusing content.
Children who want adventures that feature kids and animals with just a splash of the outré will like this....more
This middle-grade story deals with a stubborn little missy who comes in for the shock of her existence when she chafes against her predetermined futurThis middle-grade story deals with a stubborn little missy who comes in for the shock of her existence when she chafes against her predetermined future as a Yaga.
The author has drastically reworked the old folklore of Baba Yaga. Far from being a meddling, dangerous witch who careens around the world in her chicken-legged hut, seeking mischief, these Yagas exist to guide the mortal dead onto the next plane of their existence. You’re drawn into the home of Baba Yaga, a building with a decidedly quirky personality. It takes offense, plays games with its young charge and, like a hive of bees, has a tendency to uproot itself and wander without warning.
Baba is a warm-hearted soul, gladly welcoming the dead into her home, laying out dishes for the dearly departed to eat, talking to them, listening to them (which she says is most important) and guiding them to the Gate that appears to whisk them away to the stars. Death isn’t a terrible specter in this world but simply another state of being, one that most of the dead enter into without fuss or anger. They act like happy guests in Baba Yaga’s avian-legged hut, partaking of her sumptuous meals and congenial company before joyfully entering into the next stage of their non-existences.
However, Marinka’s reluctance to enter into this world and her anger over being saddled with an eternity of caretaking the dead comes through with palpable force. She wants a real, flesh-and-blood living friend not wispy eidolons who linger for a few hours and then pass away into a realm she can’t follow. You feel for her: her loneliness and misery are deep thorns whenever the house abruptly uproots her from a place just before or after she’s made a connection with another human being.
Marinka rebels, as you would expect, but the results of her revolt are disastrous. The story then takes an abrupt U-turn with a plot twist straight out of M. Night Shamalayan film.
This may have been made for middle-grade children but adults who like twists on old folklore, who are touched by a young girl’s wish for another life and who relish surprise twists in the hands of a deft author will be very pleased by this one....more
Like Bilbo Baggins, like many people born, bred and nestled within the bosom of a small community, Barclay Thorne doesn’t like the idea of adventure. Like Bilbo Baggins, like many people born, bred and nestled within the bosom of a small community, Barclay Thorne doesn’t like the idea of adventure. Well, he did when he was younger but the tragic deaths of his parents by a monster quelled him of that desire…mostly.
Barclay comes across as close minded, superstitious and a tad fearful. But he’s contrasted with the whiny, timid Selby and he shines by comparison. As the story progresses, we get an image of a boy who’s strong willed, hard working, highly intelligent, diligent in any task he sets himself and with a secret penchant for breaking rules he thinks are foolish.
Barclay’s inner journey and outer travel serves to widen his viewpoints, destroy his prejudices and open his circle to welcome people who aren’t as rigid and shortsighted as the fearful people of his aptly-named town of Dullshire. There’s a touch of whimsy when we read about the various beasts he studies— reminiscent of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and American tall tales. But there’s danger, too, and Barclay draws on hidden depths to meet the challenges.
I was a little sorry to close this book. Unusual for most adventure stories involving children, this one is bringing in an adult to steer and guide them. So I’m looking forward to reading the sequels. March on, Barclay Thorne. We’re rooting for you....more
