REVIEW: "Jupiter's Legacy" by Mark Millar!

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Type: Graphic Novel, Superheroes, Comic Books, Now and Then, Kids grow up so fast (and horrible), Diamond Books

About the Book: The children of the world’s greatest superheroes may never be able to fill their parents’ shoes. When the family becomes embattled by infighting, one branch stages an uprising, another goes into hiding. How long can the world survive when one family’s super-powered problems explode onto the global stage? [Description provided by Netgalley.com]

My Review: I almost want to review the first half of this graphic novel separately from the last half, because I felt so differently about each. But no, this is one story and must be judged as such - which is why my final rating will be a three. Which I think is being charitable.

The concept of this is fantastic. Superheroes change the world - but how does that superstardom change their families? Like the spoiled brats most of them are, I hated pretty much every character in this book, honestly. It wasn't until the last few issues that some of the characters redeemed themselves in my eyes, and I started enjoying the story. I think the introduction was just so heavy that it made this less like reading, and more like wading through sludge.

Cover Lovin': Uh, I don't know. I might find this cover a little off-putting. Or expect it to be about aliens, or at least space, rather than superheroes and their progeny.

Recommendation: This is one of those books that will appeal to people who like odder graphic novels. Maybe things that are more meta?

Final Rating: THREE out of FIVE stars (3/5). The first half would get one star, but the last two issues were our star worthy - so three total.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "I'll Meet You There" by Heather Demetrios

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Type: Young Adult, New Adult, Romance, Coming of Age, Military, War, Paradise Motel and Pool

About the Book: If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper. [Synopsis provided by Goodreads.com]

My Review: Oh, wow. This is one of those books that I loved so much that my review will be hard to write. I don't want to just gush all over this page, but I might have to - this book was that good. I don't usually get emotional while reading - I go through the emotions with the main character, but it is muted, because I know this isn't my real life. But when Skylar felt hopeless, when everything was falling apart in her life - this author made me feel it. I hurt, I even cried, and it was amazing.

This book wasn't perfect, no book is. I felt the big climax, the "misunderstanding that sets our budding relationship back several steps," was far from original, but author Heather Demetrios made it work for her. The awkwardness, the "why" - that was new and different. The author took a trope I have seen countless times before, and added her own spin to it. And lastly, I thought Skylar's downward spiral happened too fast. She went from one extreme to another. But I can even find myself explaining that away as well - sometimes life just sucks, and you find yourself doing something you never wanted, and never expected. This book was that good - I'm practically petting it and telling it that everything is okay. Even the not-so-great stuff is still amazing.

This is my favorite book of 2015, so far. It's one of those books I wish I had the money to buy multiple copies so I can throw them at people, forcing them to read it. It wasn't perfect, but even its imperfections made me love it all the more.

Cover Lovin': This doesn't exactly give you a good idea about the book's story or content. However, the run-down sign fits perfectly with their tiny little can't-even-afford-a-horse-town.

Recommendation: This is one of those books that can and will appeal to both young adult and new adult lovers. It's incredibly compelling and emotionally astounding. Recommended to absolutely everyone! It was that good.

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE STARS (5/5)!!! My favorite book of 2015 so far, hands down. It will take a lot to top this, for sure. I can't say enough good things about this book.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~