Tag: graphic novel

Book Review: To Dance the Moon and Stars by Tasia M.S. and Barbara Perez Marquez

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Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance Graphic Novel
Length: 256 pages
Author: Tasia M.S. and Barbara Perez Marquez
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Release Date: July 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a kingdom where dance is forbidden, a future high priestess must bend the rules to stop an ancient evil from destroying everything and everyone she loves, including the crown prince, in this sweeping romantasy graphic novel.

Eighteen-year-old Myra has spent her entire life training to replace her grandmother as High Priestess. But with the day of her ascension rapidly approaching, she’s not sure if she’s meant for this path. How can she become the herald of the god Alrun when he forbids the thing she loves most: dancing?

Her kingdom can’t afford her hesitation though. Not only is the emperor looking for Alrun’s wisdom ahead of a peace treaty, but forces of darkness are seeping through the barrier between worlds. The only source of light Myra has is her childhood best friend, the crown prince. Without his support and…love, she may not be able to stop what’s coming.

To save her people, Myra must delve into her kingdom’s forgotten history, even if it means defying the laws of the land. But the key to salvation may just require her to make the biggest sacrifice of all.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

SIMPLE AND SWEET.

I have been craving a graphic novel and was very excited when this book showed up on my doorstep! It’s a fast paced read that I do think is appropriate for the young adult audience.

I loved the art work. It was gorgeously colored and blocked throughout. I think it fit the story too. But for the story I wish there had been more. It felt like there was a lack of dialogue or narrator squares to help set up the world a little bit more. Everything moved SO FAST that it was hard to keep up with the pacing.

The romance is sweet and I did like the FMC, Myra. I loved the dancing content and how that fit into the world. Not a bad read by any means, just missing that deeper sense of connection from the characters/story.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Romance Graphic Novel
  • Lanugage: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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ARC Book Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before the Graphic Novel by Jenny Han

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance Graphic Novel
Length: 168 pages
Author: Jenny Han
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is now a major motion picture on Netflix and the inspiration for the spin-off series XO, Kitty—now streaming on Netflix!

In this sparkling graphic novel adaptation of the Time Best YA Book of All Time selection and New York Times bestselling first book in the beloved series, Lara Jean’s love life gets complicated.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed and, suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

Experience Lara Jean’s story all over again in an all-new graphic novel format!

Thank you Simon Teen for the gifted eARC.

A GOOD ADAPTATION.

I have read and enjoyed the original trilogy, I have watched and enjoyed the movies, and now to see a graphic novel adaptation is wonderful! I really love graphic novels and I thought that overall, this held the core of the story + movie.

The art was beautiful and I LOVED the colors. I feel like the softness of the art lined up with the characters and story line. It’s easy to read and does follow the storyline well while hitting the necessary plot points. I do think some of the flow was missing though. I’d turn a page and there would be a new scene and that often felt a bit disconnected.

Still a fun read and mix to my usual hefty fantasies. I look forward to seeing book two and three in this style as well. PETER K FOREVERRRRRR.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA Contemporary Romance Graphic Novel
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: kisses; low innuendo
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of a parent [recounted]

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ARC Book Review: Brielle and Bear (Once Upon a Time Vol. 1) by Salomey Doku

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Magical Realism Romance
Length: 178 pages
Author: Salomey Doku
Publisher: Harper Fire
Release Date: April 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A stunningly illustrated and brilliantly told love story perfect for teen readers – the first in an exquisite full-colour graphic novel series

(This ebook is optimised for Kindle tablets and the Kindle App. It is not suitable for e-Ink kindle devices, such as the PaperWhite. We recommend you download a sample to your device before purchase if in doubt.)

Fairytale Rule No. 1: All the best fairytales start with ‘Once upon a time . . .’

First-year student Brielle, a daydreamy book lover, knows everything there is to know about fairytales. Returning to the city of Rosebridge four years after moving away, she attends Once Upon a Time University, with the intention of living her fairytale dream. And when she meets Bear, shy vice-captain of the Princes rugby team, at the bookshop where she works, Brielle’s dream is off to a good start.

Determined to forget the past, and with an unexpected new relationship blossoming, Brielle feels she’s finally living the dream. That is, until she discovers that she’s not the only one hiding something .

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted ARC.

SO STINKIN’ CUTE.

I did not have plans to read this 5 months before release but when I picked it up, I inhaled it (my ARC copy had black/white print but the final will have full color). I can’t wait to see the full color version because I loved the artwork and set-up for this story.

It’s light-hearted and made me smile multiple times. I loved the cute flirtations and deep talks. You can see the essence of Beauty and the Beast without being a copycat. I loved the introductions to all of the characters that I hope to see in future volumes. This is an easy read and an utter delight. I can’t wait for more!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Graphic Novel
  • Language: none
  • Romance: flirting
  • Content Warnings: mentions of bullying (MMC has dyslexia)

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ARC Book Review: First Test Graphic Novel by Tamora Pierce

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Graphic Novel
Length: 160 pages
Author: Tamora Pierce
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Release Date: July 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This eagerly awaited graphic novel adaptation of the iconic fantasy novel, First Test, reimagines the classic knight’s tale, but with a twist. In a world not quite ready for her ambition, a determined girl seeks knighthood and finds herself on a mission to prove it.

Keladry is the first girl who dares to take advantage of a new rule in her homeland, Tortall–one that allows women to train for knighthood. She knows she’s ready for the traditional hazing and grueling schedule of a page, but standing in her way is the Knight’s training master, Lord Wyldon.

The training master is dead set against girls becoming knights, and in an attempt to further hold Kel back Lord Wyldon decides that she must pass a one-year trial that no male page has ever had to endure. But she is not to be underestimated. She will fight to succeed, even if the test is purposely unfair.

The Protector of the Small series gets its first graphic novel adaptation, bringing to life Tamora Pierce’s best-selling First Test in an exciting new format. This graphic novel story about believing in yourself and overcoming all odds, combines action and adventure in a way that new and old fans of the series will love.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted book.

A START TO AN ADVENTURE.

I’ve read one of Tamora Pierce’s fantasy quartets and was excited when I saw that one of them (not the one I read) was becoming a graphic novel. I love a good graphic novel and this was awesome. I loved seeing the start of Keladry’s journey to becoming a knight. There beginning themes of found family and standing up to bullies are wonderful for young readers too.

This was an easy book to read in an evening, I liked the artwork a lot and I look forward to continuing this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Graphic Novel
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: moderate

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