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magicalghoul's reviews
54 reviews
The Invasion by K.A. Applegate, Michael Grant
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I wasn't too keen on the art style at first (I remember seeing around the internet the rejected pages from other artists and wondering why they'd gone with this style in the end) but after reading, it really grows on you— and I guess it's a better fit for their 8-12 year old target.
The spreads are beautiful and the only complaint I have about the character design is that they didn't give Marco his long hair.
As for the adaptation, it's a very faithful one. There's a couple of minor changes in relation to the books here and there (mainly the omission of the "idiot teenagers with a death wish" phrase which made me sad, not gonna lie) but I ended up happy with it. Hope it ushers in a new generation of Animorphs fans and hope we get to see the entire series in this format!
The spreads are beautiful and the only complaint I have about the character design is that they didn't give Marco his long hair.
As for the adaptation, it's a very faithful one. There's a couple of minor changes in relation to the books here and there (mainly the omission of the "idiot teenagers with a death wish" phrase which made me sad, not gonna lie) but I ended up happy with it. Hope it ushers in a new generation of Animorphs fans and hope we get to see the entire series in this format!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Minor: Child abuse
The Encounter by K.A. Applegate
♢ 3/62 OF THE ANIMORPHS REREAD
Tobias' books are about the search for his identity and personhood, about duality and finding yourself within it, about his role in the group (a theme for all of the animorphs!) and how he stands as a warning for the rest— and also for the reader to know that the stakes are real and will affect our protagonists, in case it wasn't clear from all the death and suffering they've already come across in only two books.
His narration is turned towards interiority and this one being the first, is the peak example of it, I think. It's after all one of those points where Tobias' identity is more fractured (what with Just being trapped in a hawk body and all) to the point of being suicidal, and the narration of his inner conflict is really really gutting— made even more poignant if you're listening to the audiobooks, whose narrator did a great job in carrying across Tobias' emotionality.
Highlights: The depiction of Tobias' relationship with Rachel, the Berensons being such battle axes As Usual, these kids deciding they'd rather die than be taken captive AND WE'RE ONLY ON BOOK 3, the entirety of the mall scene, and Rachel saying "a person isn't his body" and thus supporting the fact that you can 100% read Tobias as trans. TRANS RIGHTS 🏳️⚧️
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
<Yeah. I know. That's how I know that you are wrong, Rachel, at least partly. I am a human, yes. But I am also a hawk. I'm a predator who kills for food. And I'm also a human being who... who grieves, over death.>
She was terribly sad. She's very human, my friend Rachel.
♢ 3/62 OF THE ANIMORPHS REREAD
⚠ tws for the entire series: war, death, child soldiers, child death, descriptions of gore, body horror, discussions of parental death, slugs, parasites, loss of free will, depictions of PTSD and trauma, ableism, imperialism.
Tobias' books are about the search for his identity and personhood, about duality and finding yourself within it, about his role in the group (a theme for all of the animorphs!) and how he stands as a warning for the rest— and also for the reader to know that the stakes are real and will affect our protagonists, in case it wasn't clear from all the death and suffering they've already come across in only two books.
His narration is turned towards interiority and this one being the first, is the peak example of it, I think. It's after all one of those points where Tobias' identity is more fractured (what with Just being trapped in a hawk body and all) to the point of being suicidal, and the narration of his inner conflict is really really gutting— made even more poignant if you're listening to the audiobooks, whose narrator did a great job in carrying across Tobias' emotionality.
Highlights: The depiction of Tobias' relationship with Rachel, the Berensons being such battle axes As Usual, these kids deciding they'd rather die than be taken captive AND WE'RE ONLY ON BOOK 3, the entirety of the mall scene, and Rachel saying "a person isn't his body" and thus supporting the fact that you can 100% read Tobias as trans. TRANS RIGHTS 🏳️⚧️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Body horror and Gore
El general en su laberinto by Gabriel García Márquez
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Animal death and Slavery
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not only is the prose in Raybearer Incredible, so is the world building, the character development, the themes— I couldn't stop reading, and when I wasn't reading I was Itching to come back to it.
Would recommend it if political drama, found family, reclaimed personhood and magic bonds all wrapped up in a richly built world told in beautiful prose are your thing.
The only other comment I have is against the pacing. Although it didn't feel precisely rushed, the events in this installment could have probably been covered in two books and that way we would've been given more time to take in the (fantastic!) world and some of the plot points— specially the political intrigue, which I loved, for the record.
But as it is I adored it, I was blown away and left in tears more than once and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Would recommend it if political drama, found family, reclaimed personhood and magic bonds all wrapped up in a richly built world told in beautiful prose are your thing.
The only other comment I have is against the pacing. Although it didn't feel precisely rushed, the events in this installment could have probably been covered in two books and that way we would've been given more time to take in the (fantastic!) world and some of the plot points— specially the political intrigue, which I loved, for the record.
But as it is I adored it, I was blown away and left in tears more than once and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Genocide
Minor: Rape and Suicide
Relatos Pioneros de la Ciencia Ficción Latinoamericana by Daniel Arella
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Necesaria e interesante colección de historias cortas que muestran la diversidad y primeros pasos del género de ciencia ficción en latinoamérica con un excelente prólogo explicando las bases documentales del género en el continente.
Como toda antología, la calidad de los cuentos varía pero aún así es una muestra de buenos escritores.
Lo único que me creó duda fue la inclusión de Clemente Palma y su historia racista (a quien además prsentan como “conocido por ciertas opiniones xenófobas”) . Por más “pionero” que alguien supuestamente haya sido, no veo a bien darle plataforma a mensajes de odio más de cien años después de su publicación original.
Como toda antología, la calidad de los cuentos varía pero aún así es una muestra de buenos escritores.
Lo único que me creó duda fue la inclusión de Clemente Palma y su historia racista (a quien además prsentan como “conocido por ciertas opiniones xenófobas”) . Por más “pionero” que alguien supuestamente haya sido, no veo a bien darle plataforma a mensajes de odio más de cien años después de su publicación original.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Las advertencias de racismo y demás son para la historia Clemente Palma, “La última rubia”.
The Spire in the Woods by Tony Lunedi
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This story was the best of the best that r/nosleep had to offer. It's miles ahead from any other noteworthy story from that corner of the internet.
The quality of the writing really shines despite some blunders here and there but most importantly, this story has had a special place in my brain ever since I read it.
It's /insidious/ and I love the social commentary about horror narratives. I can't recommend it enough.
The quality of the writing really shines despite some blunders here and there but most importantly, this story has had a special place in my brain ever since I read it.
It's /insidious/ and I love the social commentary about horror narratives. I can't recommend it enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Body horror, Misogyny, and Rape
Vuelven los fantasmas by Mercedes Franco
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Libro favorito de la infancia y que despertó mi interés por lo sobrenatural y las leyendas venezolanas. La estética de esta edición se va más por lo moderno a diferencia de la estética más clásica de la edición de Monte Ávila, pero las ilustraciones de esta edición son igual de hermosas. En general es una buena actualización de un libro conocido.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
I liked what I read but I'm putting it back on the shelf for now, since I keep seeing reviews saying how grim it is and honestly I'm not in the mood for any of that at the moment.
La mala hora by Gabriel García Márquez
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
Moderate: Torture and Police brutality
Minor: Animal cruelty and Sexual content
Autobiografía de mi Madre by Jamaica Kincaid
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism