[Book] Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Book cover The descriptions of the country, fashions and even the names of characters channels Poland of the 1500s or 1600s.  The story focuses on a peaceful valley with little villages nestled along the Spindle river, but a dark forest grows nearby.  Corrupted creatures come from the forest late at night and attack human, livestock or both.  Or worse, a cloud of pollen might come in and corrupt a neighbor where they stand, turning them....

8 Aug 2018 · 3 min · Gary Allen Vollink

[Book] She Would Be King by Wayétu Moore

Book Cover (from publisher) This is divided into two books, THE THREE and SHE WOULD BE KING.  A quote from the Author's Note (before the book even begins): {Gbessa is pronounced "Bessah"} The first book is the story of three characters, each from different places and backgrounds.  Gbessa is exiled from her African village as a witch.  June escapes slavery from a plantation in Virginia....

1 Aug 2018 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink

[Book] Skyward (Omnibus) by Jeremy and Kelly Dale

Before I start this: I met Jeremy Dale with Kelly by his side on several occasions at various comic book conventions.  I am always on the lookout for a well written all-ages comic book story, and I found Jeremy and Skyward when there were only two issues, self-published and in black and white.  Later, I saw him at a different convention and got issue 3, and he said that issue 4 should be out by NYCC....

25 Jul 2018 · 3 min · Gary Allen Vollink

[Book] Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: 2 Fuzzy, 2 Furious by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

Book cover Fourteen year-old Doreen Green is back in this second adventure of Squirrel Girl.  Her parents are a little more used to the idea that she has super abilities, but are still nervous parents.  Her Best Human Friend Forever (BHFF), Ana Sofia, is also a friend of Thor, and Agents of SHIELD show up. Her Best Squirrel Friend Forever (BSFF), Tippy Toe, also joins in to help her solve the big mystery....

18 Jul 2018 · 2 min · Gary Allen Vollink