Nostalgia Review:: A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. LeGuin

Title: A Wizard of Earthsea

Author: Ursula K. LeGuin

Series: Earthsea Cycle, #1

Format: Kindle

Rating: ★★★★★

Still good?

OMG YES.

It's honestly hard to believe this was a book published in the 60s. I was afraid to re-read it because I didn't believe it could possibly live up to my recollections. But it did. This book is simply beautiful.

Review:: Railsea, by China Miéville

Title: Railsea

Author: China Miéville

Format: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★★

Railsea is gorgeous, accessible, enchanting, and enthralling. It takes Moby Dick, throws in some Treasure Island and trains, all the while providing an incredibly novel world with extensive worldbuilding. It's been some time since I've read a book I enjoyed this much.

Review:: Jonathon Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke

Title: Jonathon Strange & Mr Norrell

Author: Susanna Clarke

Format: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★★★

I didn't think I knew what I was looking for in a fantasy book, but apparently this is it. Susanna Clark manages to write a story that doesn't rely on superfluous action, has interesting characters with real struggles and flaws, and worldbuilds without overwhelming the reader. Yes, Jonathon Strange & Mr Norrell is long, but it doesn't feel like it goes on too long. In fact, I was rather sad to depart from its world.

Review:: Pride of Baghdad, by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon

Title: Pride of Baghdad

Author: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Niko Henrichon
Format: Graphic Novel Paperback
Rating: ★★★★★

Apparently I just need to read everything Brian K. Vaughan has ever written. Pride of Baghdad is beautiful, painful, and everything I could have wanted out of this story.

Review:: Saga, Volume 4, by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples

Title: Saga, Volume 4

Author: Brian K. Vaughn

Artist: Fiona Staples

Format: Collected Comics Paperback

Rating: ★★★★★

Previously:

Volume 1

Volume 2
Volume 3

I only had one minor quibble with Volume 4: not enough lying cat. But oh, oh, oh, when she showed up... Volume 4 is a bit of a time skip. We get to see Hazel as a toddler and Sophie as a kick-ass 8-year-old. The time skip felt like the right thing to do for the plot at this point. Oh, and Volume 4 made me literally cry.

Review:: Saga, Volume 3, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Title: Saga, Volume 3

Author: Brian K. Vaughan

Artist: Fiona Staples

Format: Collected Comics Paperback

Rating: ★★★★★

Previously:

Volume 1

Volume 2

You know what I love? Volume 1: three stars. Volume 2: four stars. Volume 3: five stars. Saga started off a little shaky but good, then decided to up and run with it, getting better by the second. I actually love the protagonists now, and the side characters? They've come even further. Volume 3 managed to hit my heartstrings harder than any other so far.

And it didn't even seem like it was trying.

Review:: Embassytown, by China Miéville

Title: Embassytown

Author: China Miéville

Format: eBook

Rating: ★★★★★

It's no secret I like China Miéville. (Alert: I like China Miéville.) However, as much as I love his works, Embassytown was the cream of the crop. Alien aliens, a beautiful breakdown of politics (during a breakdown), some absolutely stunning linguistics-play, and even further elevated and intoxicating Miéville prose. Yum.

Just a note: this is this the book The Legendary Book Club of Habitica is currently reading. If you want in, there's still plenty of time! Join HabitRPG, the guild itself (you must be logged in to see the guild), and our Goodreads group to get involved. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

Review:: Hyperbole and a Half, by Allie Brosh

Title: Hyperbole and a Half

Author: Allie Brosh

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★★

Allie Brosh has a remarkable ability to make me laugh out loud, whether she's covering light topics, like her dogs, or serious topics, like depression. And the best part is, even though it's humor, she never takes the easy crack and makes things seem less important or serious than they really are.

Review:: Secrets of Selkie Bay, by Shelley Moore Thomas

Title: Secrets of Selkie Bay

Author: Shelley Moore Thomas

Format: Physical ARC

Rating: ★★★★★

I received an ARC of this book from Oakland Public Library in return for a review.

Too often, middle grade novelists oversimplify their works, leaving the age group with overtly moralistic novels that have cardboard characters and exceedingly simple prose. Secrets of Selkie Bay escapes that trap, with deceptively complex themes, characters with multiple facets, and morals without moralizing. Plus, it's magical realism with selkies.

Review:: Among Others, by Jo Walton

Title: Among Others

Author: Jo Walton

Format: eBook

Rating: ★★★★★

This book was too much right. It hurt. It made me cry. It was worth every tear.