Review: Green Arrow , Volume 1: The Death & Life of Oliver Queen

Green Arrow: The Death & Life of Oliver Queen | Benjamin Percy, Otto Scmidt, Juan Ferreyra

Published by: DC Comics, January 4th 2017

Genre: Graphic Novels, Superheroes

Pages: 160

Format: Ebook

Source: DC Comics,  via Netgalley

Green Arrow's life will be forever changed as he is betrayed by those closest to him! A budding relationship with Black Canary forces Ollie to confront the fact that he can't fight "the man" if he is "the man." And one by one, his friends desert him-and all the money in the world won't bring them back when he needs them most.

Collecting: Green Arrow 1-5, Rebirth

I enjoyed the story and how character's lives blended easily with action. I also liked the fast pace. Not sure about Dinah, or how she's so sexualised (and does a skimpy outfit really make sense when dealing with dangerous situations? How protective are fishnets really?) but I liked Oliver and his character development. I do feel like having disfigured villains is a little boring and expected though, and has some pretty shitty underlying messages. But still - a really decent Green Arrow story.

Characters ★★★☆☆
Setting/World ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

Review: Zeroes

Zeroes: Zeroes | Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti

Published by: Simon & Schuster Children's Books, September 24th 2015

Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Superheroes

Pages: 546

Format: Ebook

Source: Simon & Schuster Children's Books,  via Netgalley

Don't call them heroes. But these six Californian teens have powers that set them apart 

Ethan aka Scam has a voice inside him that'll say whatever people want to hear, whether it's true or not. Which is handy, except when it isn't - like when the voice starts gabbing in the middle of a bank robbery. The only people who can help are the other Zeroes, who aren't exactly best friends these days.

Enter Nate, aka Bellwether, the group's 'glorious leader.' After Scam's SOS, he pulls the scattered Zeroes back together. But when the rescue blows up in their faces, the Zeroes find themselves propelled into whirlwind encounters with ever more dangerous criminals. At the heart of the chaos they find Kelsie, who can take a crowd in the palm of her hand and tame it or let it loose as she pleases.

Filled with high-stakes action and drama, Zeroes unites three powerhouse authors for the opening installment of a thrilling new series.

I love love LOVE this book and it was 100% unexpected. The best kind of book to fall in love with. Here's what I thought about Zeroes:

- Thibault is precious and innocent and my smol cinnamon roll. 100% my favourite thing about this book.

- Flicker/Thibault is one of the cutest, most genuine relationships I've read in a long time. Their romance is EVERYTHING.

- I LOVE the dynamic between the cast of characters. Villain-y Nate, moral Chizara, complicated (read: fuckup) Ethan, vibrant, lively Kelsie, lonely, complicated Thibault, and Flicker holding them all together. Squad goals, honestly.

- The plot is fast as hell, exciting, and stays well away from the predictable

- Super abilities that are hella new and inventive

- The writing is so, so strong and compelling and vivid emotionally

- It's just so damn good. SO damn good. I need both sequels immediately. This series excites me so much.

- Just read this book. You won't regret it.

Characters ★★★★★
Setting/World ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Review: Split The Sun

Inherit The Stars: Split The Sun | Tessa Elwood

Published by: Running Press Kids, December 6th 2016

Genre: YA, Science Fiction

Pages: 288

Format: Ebook

Source: Running Press Kids,  via Netgalley

The Ruling Lord of the House of Galton is dead, and the nation is in shock—or celebrating, depending on the district. Kit Franks would be more than happy to join him.

Kit’s mother bombed the digital core of the House, killing several and upending the nation’s information structure. No one wants the daughter of a terrorist. Kit lost her job, her aunt wants her evicted, her father is using her as a shield against a drug lord, a group of political rebels need Kit to ignite an interplanetary war, and the boy two floors down keeps jacking up her suicide attempts—as if she has a life worth saving.

When Mom-the-terrorist starts showing up on feeds and causing planet-wide blackouts, everyone looks to Kit for an answer. The rebels want Mom on their side. The government needs to stop Mom’s digital virus from spreading before there’s no record of government left. Both sides will do anything, destroy anyone, to make Kit crack. They believe she’s the key to Mom’s agenda and the House’s future. Worst of all, they may be right.

Kit’s having dreams she can’t explain, remembering conversations that no longer seem innocent, understanding too much coded subtext in Mom’s universal feed messages. Everyone, from Mom to the rebels, has a vision of Kit’s fate—locked, sealed, and ready to roll. The question is, does Kit have a vision for herself?

Tessa Elwood’s final book in the Inherit the Stars series introduces readers to a strong, unique heroine who must chart her own destiny against a minefield of family ambitions and political agendas.

I absolutely adored Inherit The Stars - the world, the characters, the romance, all of it. This book ... not nearly as much. I liked the romance. The story itself was part cool, part strange. I just didn't get why Kit was involved, why she cared at all. And it didn't make sense that she knew nothing about her mum's motive but also knew her secrets at the same time. I just couldn't figure Kit out. BUT I like that she's mean, and unlikeable, and brash. I like that in my ladies - we don't all have to be sweetness and nice.

I liked the romance too. It was pretty sweet, with a layer of angst and drama. And the plot was pretty interesting, even if there were too many people and events to really keep track of and I didn't understand what was driving Kit or what the main storyline really was. But it was decent and interesting and I liked Niles a whole lot. My favourite part was the throwaway reference to the marriage between Fane and Westlet - my babies! - which says a lot about which book I really loved. 

Characters ★★★☆☆
Setting/World ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

Monthly Round Up (11)

Monthly round up is a journal where I record my reading progress, reviews, and my favourite books/biggest disappointments of the month.

Reviews:

Ivory & Bone
What The Dead Want
Relentless

What I've read this month:

ACOMAF ruined me. And then I read Winter and ruined myself. Fun month.

Favourite book:

ACOMAF. Damn that book.

Biggest Disappointment:

I guess Sacred Light, though I didn't dislike it. Wanted more from the protagonist though.

What did you read this month? Leave a comment!

~Saruuh