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destdest's reviews
2702 reviews
The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife Vol. 1 by IWATOBINEKO
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Another one to add to my simply wholesome manga list!
An invisible man, only his clothes are visible, and a blind girl with over-powered senses falling in love, while working in a supernatural and paranormal detective agency. The premise is already interesting with a lot of room for adventures and mishaps to explore, but what I like most is the earnest, adorable relationship.
Tounome, Invisible Man, is a constant professional and an absolute gentleman. The artist excels with drawing men’s fashion, and I enjoy seeing his array of suits. This man is dapper! But he’s also kind-hearted.
These two see each other in a way no one else can. And the tea date was so thoughtful and cool. I’m sure there are real-life tea shops like this, but I’ve never thought about it.
Anyway, I already have volume two. I hope my interest doesn’t wane for this series because it’s seriously cute so far.
SN: the elf couple is so fun, namely the husband with crackhead energy. I’m sure the translation had an interesting time (the father doesn’t want his white elf daughter dating a “dark” elf; genuinely wondering what made them not do light/dark elves) And one of the characters feels straight out of DeviantArt, but in a good way.
Also, this is a workplace romance/ because he’s technically dating his secretary/admin assistant. In real life it’s a power imbalance, but it’s cute here so …
Moon Man Volume 1 by Kyle Higgins, Scot "Kid Cudi" Mescudi
adventurous
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A little trippy. A little man vs. the capitalistic system. A little activism.
The art is blocky but bright and expressive during action moments. However, it looks somewhat unfinished or maybe undefined during the slower moments. Still, I love it when the character's eyes go yellow, it gives it that otherwordly quality.
But I’ll always give a kudos to any story with a Black hero who doesn’t have electric powers.
The art is blocky but bright and expressive during action moments. However, it looks somewhat unfinished or maybe undefined during the slower moments. Still, I love it when the character's eyes go yellow, it gives it that otherwordly quality.
But I’ll always give a kudos to any story with a Black hero who doesn’t have electric powers.
Mia and Friends: Mia Hamm and the Soccer Sisterhood that Changed History by Karlin Gray
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.0
Serviceable. But it doesn't dig deep enough for it to focus on Mia. very little of her personal life is shown or any meaningful times. Maye have been better refocused on the women's US team as a whole as that's what it read like
Still, will inspire and interest young soccer players
Still, will inspire and interest young soccer players
Through the Elder Woods by Katie Cook
3.0
Cute. Magical realism + journey to find the missing parent
Callie and Declan's relationship was adorable (the equivalent of sugary gum), but Declan was boring as dirt. Most of his character surrounds him as having feelings for her. There's no true love triangle but a rival is introduced halfway through. Most of this schtick is sexual harassment/"not getting the picture," but he was more entertaining when that dialed down. After a while, you see he's just delulu and funny.
The ending fight happened rather cleanly. Callie made a permanent decision fairly easily. This is a series, so I'd like to explore this more if I have any regrets. It's a little unclear how the dad ended up in his situation. At first, it's a clear kidnapping situation, but then maybe not.
The radish friend was a bit too much, but fun in small doses.
On the positive, I really enjoyed a certain reveal. Why? because it was entertaining.
Overall, it was a mostly lighthearted read with a few subverted f-bombs and a character killing another character).
Callie and Declan's relationship was adorable (the equivalent of sugary gum), but Declan was boring as dirt. Most of his character surrounds him as having feelings for her. There's no true love triangle but a rival is introduced halfway through. Most of this schtick is sexual harassment/"not getting the picture," but he was more entertaining when that dialed down. After a while, you see he's just delulu and funny.
The ending fight happened rather cleanly. Callie made a permanent decision fairly easily. This is a series, so I'd like to explore this more if I have any regrets. It's a little unclear how the dad ended up in his situation. At first, it's a clear kidnapping situation, but then maybe not.
The radish friend was a bit too much, but fun in small doses.
On the positive, I really enjoyed a certain reveal. Why? because it was entertaining.
Overall, it was a mostly lighthearted read with
The Haunting of Loch Ness Castle by Chelsea M. Campbell
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm still charmed by this series.
Bigfoot and Nessie go to Scotland in a direct continuation of the last book (this series is episodic but remembers what happened before). Nessie takes the spotlight with an overbearing but well-meaning manager mother.
It was funny and rewarding to watch Nessie finally find her voice.
Bigfoot and Nessie go to Scotland in a direct continuation of the last book (this series is episodic but remembers what happened before). Nessie takes the spotlight with an overbearing but well-meaning manager mother.
It was funny and rewarding to watch Nessie finally find her voice.
Cemetery Kids Don't Die Vol. 1 by Daniel Irizarri, Zac Thompson, Brittany Peer
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
The writing was fine and tended to repeat like a song chorus; music was a constant undercurrent. It felt very intimate. There was some nice quotables of the throes of new love. I liked the initial giddiness, but I never connected to the characters' relationship.
The characters and situations are messy, but perfect characters are often boring. I don't think my issue was that it was a slow burn. But I lost interest around 60 pages in, as the pacing just seemed to go in a circle:
Friends that don't want to break the status quo but know they're feeling something between them. Girl is forward. Guy (you) reciprocates heavily. Girl gets skittish. Guy is left to withdraw but goes back when in need of emotional support. Friends reconnect. Feelings still hang heavy. Their connection was repetitive in the worst way. Either do something or keep it on the playground. I'm not mad that they broke up for a spell. He (you) needed to see a therapist at some point. your partner should be supportive always, but at some point, you also have to help yourself.
While the 2nd-person pov is unique, this story would work best as a movie or short film. The male lead (you) is emotional and emotionally repressed at the same time and has big feelings about love, grief, police brutality, Blackness (male-centered), and love. (You're) he's a creative at heart and tries to find the words and ways to express himself.
2 stars
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
"You ache. You ache all over. You are aching to be you, but you're scared of what it means to do so."
The writing was fine and tended to repeat like a song chorus; music was a constant undercurrent. It felt very intimate. There was some nice quotables of the throes of new love. I liked the initial giddiness, but I never connected to the characters' relationship.
"You know that to love is both to swim and to drown. You know to love is to be a whole, partial, a joint, a fracture, a heart, a bone. It is to bleed and heal. It is to be in the world, honest."
The characters and situations are messy, but perfect characters are often boring. I don't think my issue was that it was a slow burn. But I lost interest around 60 pages in, as the pacing just seemed to go in a circle:
Friends that don't want to break the status quo but know they're feeling something between them. Girl is forward. Guy (you) reciprocates heavily. Girl gets skittish. Guy is left to withdraw but goes back when in need of emotional support. Friends reconnect. Feelings still hang heavy. Their connection was repetitive in the worst way. Either do something or keep it on the playground.
While the 2nd-person pov is unique, this story would work best as a movie or short film. The male lead (you) is emotional and emotionally repressed at the same time and has big feelings about love, grief, police brutality, Blackness (male-centered), and love. (You're) he's a creative at heart and tries to find the words and ways to express himself.
2 stars
Gamerville by Johnnie Christmas
adventurous
lighthearted
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 really enjoyed the narrative voice here. There are about three different plots here, but the author managed to interweave and end them properly.
A little on the nose at times, but I thought it was refreshing. Yes, nature and video games can both coincide.
A little on the nose at times, but I thought it was refreshing. Yes, nature and video games can both coincide.