Rosh's Reviews

AUTHOR: Patrick Horvath GENRE: Horror Graphic Novel PUBLICATION DATE: September 17, 2024 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A horror graphic novel filled with anthropomorphic animals and questionable moral compasses. (More ‘Dexter’ than ‘Zootopia’!) Gripping, chilling, creepy! Definitely not for the faint-hearted. Loved the plot and the character development. Appreciated the complex exploration of ethics. Recommended but not to all. Plot Preview: Samantha Strong is a brown bear who has spent most of her life in the small town of Woodbrook, where everyone knows everyone else and everything about them. At least, that’s what the townsfolk think. But Samantha has a dark secret. Though she is a law-abiding hardware-store owner, she is also a serial killer with one golden rule: Don’t murder the locals. She chooses her target from a big city just beyond the forest. After all, the city is full of potential victims and no one will miss one person in the crowd. All these years, her modus oper...

AUTHOR: Aiden Thomas NARRATOR: André Santana SERIES: The Sunbearer Duology, #2 GENRE: YA Fantasy PUBLICATION DATE: September 3, 2024 RATING: 3.75 stars. In a Nutshell: An interesting continuation and finale to the Sunbearer duology. This works slightly better than the first one in writing, pacing and action, but doesn't have a strong character development, and  is a bit repetitive . YA in approach (which it should be as a YA Fantasy, but I don’t enjoy YA much.) Not a standalone. Note: This review contains minor spoilers from Book One: The Sunbearer Trials . Plot Preview: This book continues immediately after the finale of the first book. Now that the Obsidian gods are free of their prison and intent on taking back what they think was rightfully theirs, there is chaos all over Reino de Sol. Add in the complication that Sol is still not in power, thanks to Teo’s refusal of sacrificing a fellow semidiose during the Sunbearer Trials. As their world is in darkness, Teo, Aurelio, and N...

AUTHOR: Hollay Ghadery GENRE: Short Story Collection PUBLICATION DATE: September 1, 2024 RATING: 3.4 stars. In a Nutshell: A collection of literary flash fiction focussed on women’s experiences in this male-dominated world. Lyrical writing, poignant situations, a bit too slice-of-life for my liking. The endings were somewhat hit-or-miss for me, but there’s no denying the impactful themes. Hollay Ghadery is an Iranian-Canadian poet-author writing in multiple genres. She has earlier penned a memoir and a poetry collection. This is her debut short story collection, with the tales being of flash fiction length. This collection contains thirty-three stories, most featuring women in the lead. There’s no author’s note to introduce us to the theme of the collection but the blurb offers a good clue. The key word is ‘fantasies.’ This makes the theme sound light-hearted, but the stories are full of varying emotions, and often more moving than entertaining. The collection is highly literary in e...

AUTHOR: Mary Hargreaves GENRE: Contemporary Drama. PUBLICATION DATE: August 28, 2024 RATING: 3.75 stars. In a Nutshell: Don’t believe the blurb at all. This is NOT a romcom but a contemporary drama with realistic flawed characters. Works pretty well as a drama, but if you are looking for a light romance storyline (or any kind of romance plot), this isn’t for you. Plot Preview: Eve is a career-oriented thirty-three-year old who doesn’t allow anyone and anything to come in the way of her professional success. She does have some wonderful friends, but they are not high on her priority list. Her dating life is restricted to the matches sent to her by an online dating app, and she has no complaints as her physical needs are being met. Or so she thinks. Adam is an overly laidback tutor having a close-knit bond with his brother (who has cerebral palsy) and his four friends. He is also in a loving long-term relationship. Or so he thinks. When a mysterious cat starts making an appearance in ...

AUTHOR: Laura Pérez TRANSLATOR: Andrea Rosenberg GENRE: Graphic Novel PUBLICATION DATE: September 17, 2024 RATING: 2 stars. In a Nutshell: A collection of graphic short stories that focusses on the overlap between the observable and the occult. This was too metaphysical and experimental for my liking, so take this review with a pinch of salt. This graphic novel was originally published in Spanish in 2019. This English translation by Andrea Rosenberg is due to be released in September 2024. The book contains twelve stories that, though not interlinked, have some bearing on each other while still staying independent in their own content. There is no overarching plot, but there certainly is a common theme: self-discovery. The stories focus on the sense of feeling lost, of being summoned by the unknown, of discovering one’s identity under a mask. There is a recurring motif of a character feeling that someone is watching them when they are asleep. While experiencing this sensation, they t...

AUTHOR: Sallie Cochren GENRE: Animal Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: August 3, 2024 RATING: 4 stars. In a Nutshell: A sweet story from a rescue cat’s point of view. A bit slow and repetitive at the start, but once it gets going, it is an entertaining read. A heartwarming book for all pet lovers, especially for ailurophiles. Plot Preview: When a little cat called Ashley is abandoned by her owner in an unknown part of town, she realises that she can’t trust humans anymore and she has to learn to fend for herself. Frightened of the uncertain future, Ashley tackles each day one at a time, trying her best to survive. But just as she becomes resigned to her fate, another human named Summer takes her home and gives her a new name: Sapphire. Summer seems to be a kind woman, but Ashley/Sapphire knows that humans go back on their word. The situation changes yet again, when Sapphire learns that she is soon to have her own kittens. Can she trust Summer to take care of her babies, or will they be given...

AUTHOR: Christopher Francis GENRE: Children's Picture Book PUBLICATION DATE: August 16, 2024 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A picture book with an important message related to bullying, but not in the usual style. The approach makes this book stand out. A great option for school libraries and classroom group discussions. This picture book is more of a manifesto than a plot-based storybook. The content alternates between one page of text and one of illustrations. The test is written in a simple print-handwriting font and set against a notebook-style background, giving it the appearance of something written actually written by a child on a page torn off from a notebook. This adds to the personal touch of the message. The illustrations are also simple, focussing only on what is needed rather than adding needless background clutter. The streamlined approach with the appropriate expression on the main character’s face enhances his feelings on the topic. So, what is this important ...

AUTHOR: Bree Paulsen GENRE: Middle-grade Graphic Novel SERIES: Garlic, #2 PUBLICATION DATE: September 6, 2022 RATING: 4.5 stars In a Nutshell: An adorable sequel that takes Garlic’s story into an unexpected dimension. Enjoyed it just as much as the first graphic novel. Works as a standalone but better if read in series order. Great for middle-graders, fun for all. Plot Preview: Garlic, Carrot and the other veggies are still at work in Witch Agnes’ garden when Garlic discovers an unwelcome change: her hands have begun to resemble human hands. The Count and Witch Agnes try to reassure her that it is a natural development, Garlic isn’t so sure. Changes are never good, right? My review will be almost the same as that of the first book because my feelings are almost exactly the same! Bookish Yays: 🥕 While this graphic novel is primarily a sequel, the first chapter reveals how the magical vegetables came into being. This was interesting to read! 🥕 The anthropomorphic veggies are agai...

AUTHOR: Jane Sullivan GENRE: Historical Mystery PUBLICATION DATE: July 2, 2024 RATING: 2.75 stars. In a Nutshell: A historical murder mystery set in 1860s Melbourne and partly based on true events. The content turned out to be even darker than I expected. Loved the unusual setting and the atmosphere, but didn’t like the convoluted plot development, the impulsive characters, and the initially easy investigation of the mystery. Plot Preview: 1868. Melbourne. When young theatre actress Lola Sanchez watches her best friend, a theatre star named Marie St. Denis, die in a painful manner, she refuses to believe, like everyone else does, that Marie chose to kill herself by overdosing on laudanum. However, as no one else is convinced by Lola’s claim that Marie was murdered, she embarks on a quest to find Marie’s killer. When a journalist named Magnus Scott writes a touching, almost-personal obituary for Marie, Lola approaches him for help. As the two amateur detectives traverse the dark alle...

AUTHOR: Bree Paulsen SERIES: Garlic, #1 GENRE: Middle-grade Graphic Novel PUBLICATION DATE: September 28, 2021 RATING: 4.5 stars. In a Nutshell: A sweet middle-grade graphic novel featuring anthropomorphic vegetables, a witch, and a vampire. Great story, cute illustrations, nice themes, lovely ending. Much recommended! Plot Preview: Garlic likes to work in the vegetable garden along with Carrot and the other vegetables. However, she is very uncertain of herself and constantly battles self-doubt and anxiety. Even Carrot’s encouraging words and the kind witch Agnes’ encouragement don’t help. When the vegetable village learns that a vampire has moved into the nearby castle, they all agree that Garlic is the best *person* to drive him away as vampires hate garlic. However, Garlic herself isn’t sure if she has what it takes to do such a brave thing. But can she let her friends down? Bookish Yays: 🥬 The anthropomorphic veggie characters, each with their distinct personality traits. My fav...

AUTHORS: Alexis Kossiakoff & Scott Forbes Crawford GENRE: Middle-grade Fantasy-Adventure PUBLICATION DATE: August 20, 2024 RATING: 3.5 stars In a Nutshell: A middle-grade fantasy-adventure combining elements from Chinese and Slavic mythology. As an adult, I’d have preferred some plot points and the characters to be further developed, but a child would mostly enjoy this story. Some scary sequences, so might not be for sensitive or younger tweens. Plot Preview: 1920. Peking (modern-day Beijing), China. Twelve-year-old Lucy has spent the last three years away from her father, who was serving in the Russian army. But now, he is on his way to Peking. When Lucy goes to receive him at the station, she discovers that the train has been attacked and her father kidnapped by a notorious ganglord. The only clue left is a mysterious firebird feather. With the help of her best friend Su and a local Russian club owner, Lucy goes on a quest to rescue her father. Along the way, she learns that re...

  AUTHOR:  Raven Howell ILLUSTRATOR: Ann Pilicer GENRE: Children's Picture Book PUBLICATION DATE: July 15, 2024 RATING:  4 stars. In a Nutshell: A sweet picture book about appreciating nature and its creatures. Good story, lovely illustrations, important message. Recommended. Plot Preview: Leo and Lilly love chasing fireflies and salamanders in their backyard. They even manage to capture one of each in a glass jar to take it to school for show-and-tell. However, when they show their treasures to Grandma, she wisely guides them towards doing what is right for the creatures, and even shows them a way they can take a ‘firefly’ and a ‘salamander’ to show-and-tell.   When I read the start of the story and saw the kids happily capturing those lovely creatures in glass jars, my heart began to sink. This wasn’t at all an activity I could advocate! Just as I was wondering how I would review this book politely, Grandma came to the rescue. 😍 The picture boo...

AUTHOR: Kyle Prue GENRE: Humour PUBLICATION DATE: September 17, 2024 RATING: 2 stars. In a Nutshell: I expected a funnier book. Then again, ‘funny’ is a subjective term, so this might be a good gag gift. But most of this content was boring to me. It is very easy to guess why I requested this book – the title was almost like a fishhook that grabbed me and didn’t let me go. I was also curious that this was written by a man. So would it be a realistic expose on what men are truly afraid of hearing, or would it end up patronising women into thinking that they can do better with their barbs? The tagline was also interesting. 106 things not to hurt male emotions, or make them introspect, but to “shatter the male ego” – a strong claim. Sadly, the potential was not met. There are various reasons why this didn’t work for me. I won’t say it ‘did not live up to my expectations’ because I didn’t have any expectations in the first place except of finding an entertaining read. But in all honesty, I ...

AUTHOR: Meg Shaffer GENRE: Portal Fantasy PUBLICATION DATE: July 16, 2024 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A portal fantasy loosely inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia. Interesting characters, clever plot. A nice mix of light and dark situations. The last quarter was a slight drag, but I mostly enjoyed this. Plot Preview: When they were fifteen, best friends Jeremy and Rafe went missing in a vast state forest in West Virginia. They mysteriously returned six months later, with no clue about what happened in the interim. Fifteen years later, the friends are estranged. Rafe is a recluse, using his art to handle the trauma that he doesn’t remember. Jeremy is a famous missing person’s investigator. When Emilie approaches Jeremy to locate her sister, who had gone missing two decades earlier in the same state forest, Jeremy realises that he needs to reunite with Rafe and return to the location that changed their lives. It is time for the secret of the Lost Boys to come out, no matter ho...