alyssamakesart's reviews
338 reviews

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo

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emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m not crying, you’re crying.
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Ten Days in a Mad-House by Nellie Bly, Brad Ricca, Courtney Sieh

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dark informative slow-paced

4.0

Some transitions, especailly in part one, were kinda jarring I thought maybe the pages were stuck together. I don't think it was just the art, but the writing adaption elements too. By parts 2 & 3, it was great, though. I'm not sure if this is the artist' main style - but what was chosen was really cool because it fit the time period well. Also I was getting Junji Ito vibes from the way horror was depicted and the use of black and white only (no greys).

I encourage you to read the afterward of the book. I read this adaptation less than a week after NYC Mayor Adams (I'm in TX, not NY) pushed for forced institutionalizing (more than what's already allowed) in order to clear out homeless people despite the data pushing for a housing-first approach for good results, —and this book really hit in that respect. I didn't count off for this, but it would've been nice to include resources for more reading other than for aid for those in need of resources. (Which by the way was really important and something that shows the motivation for adapting the text.)
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Once & Future Vol. 1 by Kieron Gillen

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adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

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emotional funny informative fast-paced

5.0

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Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan

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emotional funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was interesting to read as someone who never really dated as an adult and was born a few years after the book's setting. Though many themes and such feel timeless. Two of the less mature women (that didn't have kids to fret about) kind of ran together until I realized one was a crystal girly. So did most of the men. I'm looking forward to trying more of McMillan's books in the future. 

 Despite all my trigger warnings, overall it was a very warm book. The friendship and the other elements beyond (most of) the men in these women's lives balanced out the chaos of dating, infidelity, and child-rearing. 
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Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Ms. Marvel & Venom #1 by Jody Houser, Dave Wachter, Sara Pichelli

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

IMPORTANT NOTE: While this says #1, it is the third in a series. Read “& Wolverine” and “& Moonknight.” 

I feel like I would’ve enjoyed the story more with this. It was still fairly okay on its own though other than fight scenes it didn’t feel like a Kamala story. Like she could have been any younger, good hero unfortunately. Except 1-2 thought bubble comments. I say this as a Kamala stan.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

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emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Beautifully illustrated - and the color choice worked well with built up of the story once it started to layer and you saw where it was going. The First 40 pages or so were okay, but after that, the story picked up a lot and I was almost crying at the end. 5/5
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