Oh, man, I love Sophie Campbell’s style. Super pleasing to the eye and totally captures a youth to the turtles that can sometimes get lost in grittierOh, man, I love Sophie Campbell’s style. Super pleasing to the eye and totally captures a youth to the turtles that can sometimes get lost in grittier styles. Yet the action still pops off and is super engaging!
I liked the themes of how important rest and recuperation are, as short as it lasted. The family (and by extension April and Casey) have gone through a lot of changes in a very short period of time, some good and some bad.
I also find I really like Leo’s stance on death and not wanting to cause it directly. Sometimes I think he’s almost too level-headed but it all adds up to what makes him a fantastic leader. Watching him come back to himself was really satisfying....more
Exquisite fight sequences in this one, the angst was cranked up quite high as brother fought brothers! Leo’s emotional arc in this one was intense andExquisite fight sequences in this one, the angst was cranked up quite high as brother fought brothers! Leo’s emotional arc in this one was intense and I enjoyed seeing his personal morals battle against Shredder’s desires.
I’m starting to like Hob and Slash a lot! They make a great addition to the team during times where motivations align. Slash in particular has a big, lovable goof energy and I always like characters like that. Mikey and him having a connection is always rad to see.
The one thing that threw me off a bit was Casey’s dad in this volume and the sheer 180 degree flip he took in physical appearance? Some of the full body drawings of him made it seem uncanny or like maybe he was using steroids to recoup after his years of alcoholism. His arms in particular often seemed… too long.
Still a fantastic continuation of the battle of the Hamato and Oroku families. I wonder how the turtle family will pick up the pieces of what has been shattered in this arc!...more
I’m enjoying this arc, as painful as it is! Shredder’s so sick but the art for all the manipulation sequeUh oh, things have gotten incredibly serious.
I’m enjoying this arc, as painful as it is! Shredder’s so sick but the art for all the manipulation sequences was really well done. Really captured the twisting of Leo’s mind against himself.
But oof owtchie. Wondering how this will be resolved!...more
Fun! I find I really like when the arcs take up the whole volume, instead of being a volume of smaller arcs in one.
We get a lot of information about KFun! I find I really like when the arcs take up the whole volume, instead of being a volume of smaller arcs in one.
We get a lot of information about Krang in this, with a fun jaunt to another world that was engaging despite being brief. I always find Honeycutt interesting and learning more about his backstory was a treat.
I think it’s a neat undercurrent theme of Splinter dealing with his internal rage and anger about both the past and the present. It showcases why he is so harsh on Raphael’s quick temper, since Splinter realizes snap decisions could lead to a lifetime of regret. We got a big scene in that nature in Vol. 4, but here it was more subtle and quietly upsetting.
I enjoy this dynamic of their family, as eclectic as it is sometimes. The brothers are so protective of each other while also being staunchly their own individuals with their own gripes amongst themselves. I enjoy this series a lot!...more
This volume was a bit of a lull for me. As it happens with any series! Dips and heights can happen over time.
I did love the last third of this volume This volume was a bit of a lull for me. As it happens with any series! Dips and heights can happen over time.
I did love the last third of this volume a lot. Leonardo’s fight to end things peacefully was so painful with the outcome he was forced into. Seeing grief and upset in both Leo and Mikey is helping hone in that they are all more than just ninjas who fight. They are impacted by everything they endure.
Shredder is so?? Hm. His thought processes leave me a bit confused as to how he reaches his conclusions, but it seems he is motivated by what would hurt Hamato Yoshi (aka Splinter) the most. And that seems to be trying to get his eldest son to betray him....more
I definitely solidly label this series as a space opera of sorts - the cast is so multifaceted and the intertwining of politics and religion is inescaI definitely solidly label this series as a space opera of sorts - the cast is so multifaceted and the intertwining of politics and religion is inescapable. You don’t get three books deep unless you are fascinated with the choices of the Atreides.
And what interesting choices were made in this book!
”I don’t like the things I know I’ll do,” he said. “For the first time in my life I understand my father.”
Taking place nine years after Paul’s disappearance into the desert, his children, Ghanima and Leto, must contend with the force of their aunt Alia as she falls into disarray in her leadership. I loved Ghanima in this, her intense devotion to her convictions and protective nature are endearing. I enjoyed every sequence with her and the moments after their battle against the panthers hit particularly hard. This is definitely a sibling-focused story.
Funnily enough, the closeness of Ghanima and Leto is mirrored by Paul and Alia growing even further apart. All of them have fractured minds in various ways, but in some it causes decay and in others it fosters growth.
Leto morphs both literally and figuratively through his journey here. While pre-born, as both he and Ghanima are, there is a shift in how he speaks and his determination by the end of this book. There is newfound surety. I found his path to his own personal realization very interesting to read. If you wanted an up close look at the desert and how it functions, both pre-Atreides meddling and now as green covers the planet, it’s detailed here.
To label some things others may find unpleasant: there is a lot of focus on consorts and political romance. There is discussions of royal incest and the desires of the Bene Gesserit to further the Atreides line. There is the knowledge that Farad’n and Ghanima are distant cousins, but cousins nonetheless. There is a shit tonne of jumping from location to location and person to person with each chapter, necessitating keeping almost a dozen plots in mind at once. The plot can be convoluted and chaotic, but what else did you expect from a soap opera so far along in its grip? So much is in the air at any given moment.
Overall, I’ve really enjoyed my time with Dune so far. I enjoy experiencing the new things Herbert throws at us as we learn more about Arrakis and the Fremen and how we think as people in general....more
Very much in a turtles phase and learning that I do love them in every iteration. The brothers are just too good and their bond as a family is fun to Very much in a turtles phase and learning that I do love them in every iteration. The brothers are just too good and their bond as a family is fun to see every single time!
I really like the art in this, it has a gritty feel that seems to capture the tension of their new lives as mutants. This is definitely just the jumping off point to get us introduced to the new line, and I look forward to seeing the developments with April, Casey, Krang, and Baxter.
I think it’s interesting that the main signifiers between the turtles is no longer their mask colors, but instead skin hue and head shape. It takes some getting used to, but I picked up on it pretty quick. Their banter is pretty well coded to be decipherable as who’s talking. I have always liked the personalities of the boys and how each author strives to make them stand apart from each other, while also still being brothers and similar in underlying ways.
The time jumping is pretty intense in this first volume too as we set things up, going from initial contact with mutagen to a year after that. I’m hoping the timeline narrows in focus as I keep reading, but I don’t mind it! I’m excited to catch up with this line of comics since they are the most accessible to me at the moment, though I’d love to look at other lines in the future....more
Oof, owtch, my turtle loving heart. The way themes of grief and change and family are tackled in this is just so well done. I enjoyed seeing this deveOof, owtch, my turtle loving heart. The way themes of grief and change and family are tackled in this is just so well done. I enjoyed seeing this development of a future for them yet also it was painful to endure. It’s a bittersweet story!
Media that includes the loss of siblings always does me in way more than I expect it to, I’ve gotta start realizing its impact. It’s just crushing to see the Ronin struggle with the loss of family even sixteen years later, because I think that would be how I felt if I lost my sister, too. Unmoored.
Casey Marie’s comment of “the funny one” also was a hard hitting line - because the Ronin has completely shifted in personality. Loss can change a lot, but his determination is incredible.
Overall, this is an incredible short run and it makes me eager to pick up more of the comics as I foray into them after being a shows/movies turtle fan for such a long time. I had no idea what I was missing out on!...more
Once again, so so fun! I’m still really enjoying the new spin that Garcia and Picolo are putting on these characters. The focus on their bonds is realOnce again, so so fun! I’m still really enjoying the new spin that Garcia and Picolo are putting on these characters. The focus on their bonds is really sweet and I’m intrigued as we learn more about H.I.V.E. and what they’re up to in this go-around.
I liked Damian’s arc in this, I think it’s realistic to expect his tension with Dick, someone he views as the son Bruce chose instead of him. Rejection, even if it’s only something you perceive and isn’t true, can be hard to wrestle with. Yet I appreciate Dick’s patience with him and the lessons on how anger sometimes is not a productive way of working through your problems.
I’m eager for the next book, even though this one just came out!! Sitting on my hands as I wait for Kori to become part of this family, my forever favorite....more
Oh, owtch. What a bittersweet volume of these two trying to sort out their feelings. It often feels like even Shima is not sure how he feels, because Oh, owtch. What a bittersweet volume of these two trying to sort out their feelings. It often feels like even Shima is not sure how he feels, because of the picture perfect caricature of a boy he had to be to please his mother. I also liked the discussion of Mitsumi’s confidence being rooted in how she was unconditionally loved as a child - I think it’s one way in which she and Shima are narrative foils. Their upbringings were so different and it made them react to emotions differently.
I wonder how things will continue to shift and change for these two as they progress through high school. There is still a lot of time for growth!!...more
This was a really enlightening read, a way to hammer home concepts you may have had an inkling of inside but hadn’t had reinforced by artists and creaThis was a really enlightening read, a way to hammer home concepts you may have had an inkling of inside but hadn’t had reinforced by artists and creators around you. Especially if, like me, you didn’t pursue a degree in an artistic field or haven’t pursued artistic communities to join. Rubin provided a way to commiserate and to work forward.
I really took to Rubin’s description of creative works being like a diary entry: a capsule of who you are, what your skills are, and what excites you in this specific moment. It might make looking back a bit cringe inducing, but an earnest focus on doing your best in the moment is never a wasted effort. The diary example has helped me to move past my own fears of imperfection, because the work will always be a perfect representation of that time, even if I spot mistakes later on.
I’ve been doing a lot of work on cultivating my inner creative confidence, and its so helpful to see that I’m not alone in my artistic self-doubt. A shared burden makes it feel less daunting.
The best way to grow is to keep going. And I wonder what will stick out to me if I reread this in a few years, what crisis it could help me through then. Because every viewing of a work is changed by the context of your experiences, and I look forward to it....more
It’s interesting to see such polarizing reviews of this series, and especially of this last book. I had a lot of fun reading this and took it for the It’s interesting to see such polarizing reviews of this series, and especially of this last book. I had a lot of fun reading this and took it for the fast paced, romance focused fantasy it is. Yet I enjoyed seeing how Emilia struggled with the reconciliation of two very different parts of herself.
I also enjoy the fantasy landscape Maniscalco has created here, the sheer number of characters we have learned about and (maybe even) learned to like as the series progressed. I’m eager to see what happens in the continuing spinoff books, as I don’t want to leave this world yet!
I understand where some people have grievances with Emilia, in some aspects she can feel very surface level. A slightly trope-y main character, it’s hard to avoid that sometimes. Yet I found the discussions of sisterhood and autonomy incredibly important. Emilia’s whole thing is making sure she is the one choosing what will happen to her. No one makes the choice for her, but they can offer more knowledge so she has a fuller picture of what may happen. She establishes boundaries in a way that I found refreshing - Wrath does not walk all over her.
Wrath himself is another complexity - he is not just Wrath. He is also a king. He’s a man who has loved and lost and fears to love again for what might happen. His anger took a backseat in this book to Emilia’s goals of self actualization, and he supported her through it, even when it meant uncomfortable truths had to be conquered. Their trust and respect and caring for each other made them feel balanced and equal, neither one aiming to be higher than the other. It was a nice relationship to see.
Idk. I had a great time, and that might be because I went into this series with no preconceived notions of what it could be. I just enjoyed the ride, as chaotic and fun as it was, and am glad I did so....more
This was such a fun read, helping to bridge the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. And after reading Claudia Gray’s novel focused oThis was such a fun read, helping to bridge the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. And after reading Claudia Gray’s novel focused on a younger Leia, it was wonderful to read about a Leia with her legacy already solid, living as a Senator in her late forties. Such a rare treat to see fiction of any kind focused on that age! The little glimpses of Leia as a mother and a wife were so sweet.
”We are failing to lead our citizens. We are becoming a joke.”
Leia kicked ass and stayed true to her principles in this book in a way that honored her character. I have always loved Gray’s methods of showcasing Leia’s smarts and strategy in every aspect of her thinking, from political to personal. Yet I also adored how Leia was allowed to feel worn out by her decades amid the political sphere. The yearning for a quiet life, which she knows her determination to do good for the galaxy will not allow.
I really liked Joph and Greer as some of the important side characters in this! I feel like their characters were given the perfect amount of time to really grow on me and they felt complex. In particular I liked that we learned a bit about their home worlds and home cultures, it breathed that extra bit of life into them to make them stand on their own and not be shadowed by Leia’s prominence within Star Wars.
The ending of this book is bittersweet in a way that feels realistic for the tumultuous situation the galaxy is in by the story’s end. Corruption can fester so easily, and it always yields horrible consequences for unsuspecting individuals. Not unlike our own world....more
It’s been a good while since a book left me absolutely reeling at the end like this, desperately trying to take in the sheer quantity of what happenedIt’s been a good while since a book left me absolutely reeling at the end like this, desperately trying to take in the sheer quantity of what happened amid the pages. I enjoyed the hell (pun intended) out of this.
I will say, Maniscalco’s warning that this is a new adult series is warranted. The spice picks up in intensity and specificity in this one, though my love for this series comes from the dynamic between Emilia and Wrath. The interesting game they play through their own motives while also wrestling with their feelings is just so entertaining to watch.
As usual, Wrath is chivalrous to a fault and maddeningly stubborn. Emilia’s focus on the mystery she is trying to unravel is admirable, if also often anxiety inducing. Where Wrath seems to be making Emilia darker and wilder, Emilia seems to be brightening up the incredibly rigid Wrath. They are so similar, yet have some wonderful contrasts, and it makes watching the way they dance around each other fascinating.
I will say I can see where some people find fault in this series, the roller coaster is quite intense. Sometimes I worry the fast pacing can work against the narrative Maniscalco is weaving, but I have a fondness for this genre and love when I’m breathlessly gripped by a book like this. To me, this is pure fun. I just gel with the way she writes! Though I wish chapter seventeen had been omitted, as even Wrath’s clear displeasure with the situation does not change the way the scene feels just a bit off.
Meeting so many other princes in this book makes me excited not only to see where the third book goes, but where their spin off titles will wind up. The politics of hell is much more complicated than I initially thought and I’m eager to keep learning about it, in conjunction with what Emilia’s Source and magic potential will reveal....more
What a painful but also perfect ending to this story. Essun’s determination to save those she loves is a beautiful thing to witness, and I already knoWhat a painful but also perfect ending to this story. Essun’s determination to save those she loves is a beautiful thing to witness, and I already know I want to revisit this with all the knowledge I have now. To see the past with more explanation.
Tools should not want to escape their box so obviously.
I can’t overstate how amazing this trilogy is, it means a lot to me. The themes that are tackled mirror important elements of how it means to live “well” today and to seek the “good” that you can do. And nothing is ever easy - I grim reflection of reality. There is grief and pain and difficulty! Yet there are some gorgeous moments when you seek them out. Jemisin captures that fine balance of optimism and pessimism well.
Growth and change also play key parts in this series, both literally (aging and transmutation) and figuratively (growing your morals and ideals beyond who you were as a child). I think it’s a great reminder that no matter what you’ve done (or not done) in the past, you can make the decision to be a better version of yourself at any point. Life does not end as early as we like to think.
I hold all of these characters rather close to my heart now. I will miss them. But I will return....more
This series continues to floor me and leave me both hurting and admiring the characters within this messy and complicated world they live in. Jemisin’This series continues to floor me and leave me both hurting and admiring the characters within this messy and complicated world they live in. Jemisin’s prose is intoxicating and I’m now two for two on her books giving me a bit of a reading hangover.
”But just because you can’t see or understand a thing doesn’t mean it can’t hurt you.”
I continue to love the magic system being set up in this series, with Orogeny containing so many complex parts to its function and form that go on to expand even further beyond my initial expectations. I feel my imagination go into overdrive as I try to picture the Obelisks and Stone Eaters, helped by Jemisin’s vivid depictions of what these abilities feel like to wield, control, and embody.
I love that the characters in this are not truly “good,” in that they have morally grey moments and trauma filled pasts and choices they must make. Yet, Essun keeps trying to pick the best choice she can even when there is an easier (darker) path, and that makes her a commendable and interesting protagonist. And there is no shortage of discussion on the theme that what is “best” is still heavily subjective, especially in the methods of how to “deal” with Orogenes.
To conclude: wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, and painful. I will be picking up the next book soon....more
What a cute extra volume! I appreciated the discussions on going slow and ensuring the comfort of your partner. Sexual trauma, even if it wasn’t an asWhat a cute extra volume! I appreciated the discussions on going slow and ensuring the comfort of your partner. Sexual trauma, even if it wasn’t an assault, can definitely influence how you feel about intimacy. Sachi’s arc in this volume was great to see as representation for sex-repulsed individuals!
Enmoto is such a kind and golden-retriever type man, I love the contrast between him and Sachi, who is more reserved. An opposites attract type story! I feel like this volume did a great job of showing so much of their dynamic, even if it wasn’t a full series....more
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