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dreamingofsmiles's reviews
617 reviews
Claimed by the Orc Prince by Lionel Hart
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Follow the Black Cat by Iris Forester
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Muscles & Monsters by Ashley Bennett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
How to Talk to Your Succulent by Zoe Persico
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by this book. The art is gorgeous, I felt myself getting lost in the illustrations and wanting to admire every brushstroke and choice of color. The story is touching and real and I couldn't put this down.
I love how this book used plant imagery to explore grief and communication. As well as how realistic the journey of our MC was. This is a topic everyone has or will experience and theres just something so magical about how it was explored in this novel.
I highly recommend if you're looking for a beautifully illustrated and written story.
I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by this book. The art is gorgeous, I felt myself getting lost in the illustrations and wanting to admire every brushstroke and choice of color. The story is touching and real and I couldn't put this down.
I love how this book used plant imagery to explore grief and communication. As well as how realistic the journey of our MC was. This is a topic everyone has or will experience and theres just something so magical about how it was explored in this novel.
I highly recommend if you're looking for a beautifully illustrated and written story.
Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A Mark on My Soul by Jordon Greene
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn’t cry but it was like a cinderblock fell through my stomach. Beautiful novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Homophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Suicide, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Confession by Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Kaiji Kawaguchi
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story was a bit different than alot of what I've been reading lately. I *love* a good thriller and love psychological themes in my manga. This book kept me on my toes the entire time and I couldn't put it down once I started.
I will say, there was alot of stuff that is brought up that isn't very clear to the end and I'm not sure if that really helps the impact of the overarching themes of the volume. I enjoyed the art style, really brings me back to 90's era manga. I think this was OG drawn in the 90's and published and this is just finally the official translation in the states? But I'm not sure, but regardless I enjoy the feel of the art. I feel it really pushes the story.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this. My 3 star isn't saying its "ehh" but that I really liked it but some technical things (like spoiler stuff) kinda impacted my rating. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a manga to fill an hour or two or looking for a new physiological thriller to get their fix.
This story was a bit different than alot of what I've been reading lately. I *love* a good thriller and love psychological themes in my manga. This book kept me on my toes the entire time and I couldn't put it down once I started.
I will say, there was alot of stuff that is brought up that isn't very clear to the end and I'm not sure if that really helps the impact of the overarching themes of the volume. I enjoyed the art style, really brings me back to 90's era manga. I think this was OG drawn in the 90's and published and this is just finally the official translation in the states? But I'm not sure, but regardless I enjoy the feel of the art. I feel it really pushes the story.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this. My 3 star isn't saying its "ehh" but that I really liked it but some technical things (like spoiler stuff) kinda impacted my rating. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a manga to fill an hour or two or looking for a new physiological thriller to get their fix.
Re:Anima Vol. 1 by Yoshinori Matsuoka
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha for this eARC in exchange for a honest review.
Re:Anima is a refreshing take on Shonen. Maybe its just because the market currently is so saturated with fantasy and crazy magic and such that the futuristic setting is a nice change of pace and very interesting.
I'm not sure how many volumes this series is going to end up being but the world building so far has really peaked my interest. There's so much I want to know about how we got to this point and how the Re:Anima's work, etc, that I know I will definitely be reading on.
I will say I was very "ehh" at the beginning. It felt like we got thrown in the deep end very early, which isn't bad necessarily but it did take a little to get adjusted and to be able to wrap my head around what was going on (mostly just due to having to learn the rules of this world). By the end of the volume I was genuinely very captured in the story and action.
The art feels a bit odd in how some characters are drawn from panel to panel. Sometimes they feel like their faces look too different? But its not in a way where you wouldn't know who they were, just that they look different in a way thats like "huh, whats different about this". I think as the series progresses the characters will be more consistent so I'm not really adding that to my rating, just something I wanted to point out.
Overall I really enjoyed this. Started a bit slow for me in terms of getting me interested but by the end I was very "I need the 2nd one now!!". Def check it out if you want a change of pace from stories like Demon Slayer and One Piece.
Re:Anima is a refreshing take on Shonen. Maybe its just because the market currently is so saturated with fantasy and crazy magic and such that the futuristic setting is a nice change of pace and very interesting.
I'm not sure how many volumes this series is going to end up being but the world building so far has really peaked my interest. There's so much I want to know about how we got to this point and how the Re:Anima's work, etc, that I know I will definitely be reading on.
I will say I was very "ehh" at the beginning. It felt like we got thrown in the deep end very early, which isn't bad necessarily but it did take a little to get adjusted and to be able to wrap my head around what was going on (mostly just due to having to learn the rules of this world). By the end of the volume I was genuinely very captured in the story and action.
The art feels a bit odd in how some characters are drawn from panel to panel. Sometimes they feel like their faces look too different? But its not in a way where you wouldn't know who they were, just that they look different in a way thats like "huh, whats different about this". I think as the series progresses the characters will be more consistent so I'm not really adding that to my rating, just something I wanted to point out.
Overall I really enjoyed this. Started a bit slow for me in terms of getting me interested but by the end I was very "I need the 2nd one now!!". Def check it out if you want a change of pace from stories like Demon Slayer and One Piece.
Parties by C.M. Nascosta
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0