Scan barcode
indieandajean's reviews
426 reviews
The Magnus Archives: Season 2 by Jonathan Sims, Alexander J. Newall
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
Adventure Time Vol. 14, Volume 14 by Mariko Tamaki
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Princess in Black, Books 1-3: The Princess in Black; The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party; The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bu by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
These books are adorable, I've been trying to read more early chapters so I can make better recommendations for my young patrons. I will 100% be recommending this series to kids that are superhero or princess fans as it offers plenty of the action and tropes of both in a very cute package.
Goblin Mode: How to Get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection, and Thrive in the Muck by McKayla Coyle
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
I feel incredibly seen by this book. My fiance often refers to my more feral moments as "goblin hours" and the more I read in this book the more apt I realized that descriptor was.
In all honesty, there wasn't a lot in this book that was new to me per say. I think that most goblins and goblins adjacent folk will find the main points of this book to be familiar and nothing new, but that is rather affirming in a way. I particularly found joy in the craft and activity instructions that went along with these broader topics. It just goes to show that there's always something new to try.
This book is pro-library and anti-capitalist and really need I say more? At the end of the day, this book was a blast to read and it made me feel like I was part of the goblin club.
In all honesty, there wasn't a lot in this book that was new to me per say. I think that most goblins and goblins adjacent folk will find the main points of this book to be familiar and nothing new, but that is rather affirming in a way. I particularly found joy in the craft and activity instructions that went along with these broader topics. It just goes to show that there's always something new to try.
This book is pro-library and anti-capitalist and really need I say more? At the end of the day, this book was a blast to read and it made me feel like I was part of the goblin club.
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Normally contemporary YA isn't my jam, but Pumpkinheads made me smile and feel some serious nostalgia for my late teen years. I enjoyed the wild goose chase style plot and I felt that it really made the one night timeline feel complete. Josie and Deja are brilliant, relatable and like-able characters that I was cheering for throughout the story. The ending feels earned and deeply satisfying.
The plot is fun, the art is gorgeous, and it makes for a great quick and cozy read. Highly recommend this one if you're looking for a quick, funny, and joyfilled fall themed read.
The plot is fun, the art is gorgeous, and it makes for a great quick and cozy read. Highly recommend this one if you're looking for a quick, funny, and joyfilled fall themed read.
Twistwood Tales by A.C. Macdonald
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I very much enjoyed this cozy, adventurous, and vaguely spooky collection of comics.
There is just so much to love in this collection. The vibes of the art style and the quirkiness of the characters and stories reminded me very much of Over The Garden Wall, which is one of my absolute favorite pieces of media. I would highly recommend Twistwood Tales to someone who is looking for cozy autumnal vibes in their next read.
I also have to add that the content of the stories felt very relatable and spoke to me as
a 20 something people pleaser very strongly. The moral of so many of these small tales comes out to be that you should treat yourself with more kindness and view your worth as more than what you can give to others, which are important for everyone to realize. Lately, I feel that every book I pick up lately includes this message to some extent, which means that either the universe or my subconscious is trying to tell me something. If this book resonates with you, welcome to the club of spooky gals that need to learn how to say no and take more moments of rest. You are in good company and have excellent taste in comics.
There is just so much to love in this collection. The vibes of the art style and the quirkiness of the characters and stories reminded me very much of Over The Garden Wall, which is one of my absolute favorite pieces of media. I would highly recommend Twistwood Tales to someone who is looking for cozy autumnal vibes in their next read.
I also have to add that the content of the stories felt very relatable and spoke to me as
a 20 something people pleaser very strongly. The moral of so many of these small tales comes out to be that you should treat yourself with more kindness and view your worth as more than what you can give to others, which are important for everyone to realize. Lately, I feel that every book I pick up lately includes this message to some extent, which means that either the universe or my subconscious is trying to tell me something. If this book resonates with you, welcome to the club of spooky gals that need to learn how to say no and take more moments of rest. You are in good company and have excellent taste in comics.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Self harm, Violence, Medical content, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Sheets by Brenna Thummler
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Sheets is a beautifully crafted and deeply reflective graphic novel about death and mourning for a juvenile/ YA audience. There were moments while reading where I teared up from the raw expressiveness of the art, and overall I found the emotional experience very impactful.
The plot itself is good, showing the weight upon the shoulders of a child who has had to take on the role of a parent after the death of her mother. The juxtaposition of this with the story of a child who has died and is looking for belonging from the beyond is well done, but the real heavy hitter here is the visual element. The art is stunning, I cannot fully explain how perfectly it conveys the emotion and carries the plot forward.
The plot does drag at times, and until the context of the ghosts arrives in the plot, the story is a bit confusing. Overall, however it is an enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to those who are working through loss themselves, and to those looking for a teaching tool for their children (10+) to talk about grief, death, and dying.
The plot itself is good, showing the weight upon the shoulders of a child who has had to take on the role of a parent after the death of her mother. The juxtaposition of this with the story of a child who has died and is looking for belonging from the beyond is well done, but the real heavy hitter here is the visual element. The art is stunning, I cannot fully explain how perfectly it conveys the emotion and carries the plot forward.
The plot does drag at times, and until the context of the ghosts arrives in the plot, the story is a bit confusing. Overall, however it is an enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to those who are working through loss themselves, and to those looking for a teaching tool for their children (10+) to talk about grief, death, and dying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
The Magnus Archives: Season 1: Official Transcripts by Jonathan Sims, Alexander J. Newall
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Gaslighting
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Help, I've been impaled.
It's always been easy for me to relate to Ali's characters, but our heroine Elsie is just a little too relatable for comfort. This one is for all the people pleasers in the world, it's got a message for us all and we need to hear it.
Loved all the attention to academic politics and the way it shows the very real problems with the adjunct system. Also I always love a good star wars & Reylo homage, which are always sprinkled in here and there (I can only assume Millicent is one of these and obviously there's a straight up Kylo and Rey call out too).
Overall, another amazing piece of steminist fiction!
It's always been easy for me to relate to Ali's characters, but our heroine Elsie is just a little too relatable for comfort. This one is for all the people pleasers in the world, it's got a message for us all and we need to hear it.
Loved all the attention to academic politics and the way it shows the very real problems with the adjunct system. Also I always love a good star wars & Reylo homage, which are always sprinkled in here and there (I can only assume Millicent is one of these and obviously there's a straight up Kylo and Rey call out too).
Overall, another amazing piece of steminist fiction!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Classism
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I'm a massive fan of Caitlin Doughty and the work she is doing through the Order of the Good Death to change the American perspective of death and mourning from our modern moment of hiding and sanitizing death towards a more traditional mourning ritual of home funerals and natural primarily non-embalmed means of body disposal. I'd read her other two books, but had yet to read this one because I was concerned that as her debut publication, it wouldn't contain her strong narrative voice and nonchalance about the details of death.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was untrue and that this book was not only extremely well written, but was the key to understanding why Caitlin's death fascination began and how she used her experiences to start the order. This book is a fantastic piece of memoir, and it is also a great place for the uninitiated to start when learning more about the good death and the ways in which we can begin to challenge the funeral industry as it exists today.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was untrue and that this book was not only extremely well written, but was the key to understanding why Caitlin's death fascination began and how she used her experiences to start the order. This book is a fantastic piece of memoir, and it is also a great place for the uninitiated to start when learning more about the good death and the ways in which we can begin to challenge the funeral industry as it exists today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death