I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman finds herself transported back in time to her high school days in author Alyssa Villaire’s “RE: Trailer Trash”, a WEBTOON graphic novel illustrated by Yishan Li.
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The Synopsis
With over 17 million reads and growing, RE: TRAILER TRASH, the phenom smash Webtoon time travel fantasy of friendship, do-overs, and second chances is now a graphic novel for the first time!
DO OVER. DO BETTER.
Tabitha Moore has lived a miserable life of regret and being treated as “Trailer Trash Tabitha.” But, after a mishap with an MRI, her mind is sent back to 1998 and into her 16-year-old body. With her life now in front of her, maybe this is the chance to redo her life!
But is it so easy to change what you already lived through?
From the bestselling Webtoon Original, RE: Trailer Trash!
Sometimes all you need is a second chance.
For fans of:Before the Coffee Gets Cold, The Midnight Library,All Our Wrong Todays, The Every Day series (David Levithan), The Great Storyteller, God of Cooking, The Middle Falls Time Travel series, Tori Transmigrated, Fated To Fall: A Transmigrator LitRPG Tale, The Many Lives of Cadence Lee , Ascendance of a Bookworm, Shade Touched , Melody of Mana, Interdimensional Garbage Merchant, Beware of Chicken, RELife, Solo Leveling, Azarinth Healer, This Used to be About Dungeons, Good Student, Mother of Learning, ORANGE and MIRAI.
The Review
This was a powerful and compelling graphic novel. The premise is a tried and true one, exploring what would happen if we could go back to our teen years and do things differently. The author does a remarkable job of capturing this theme while also making it feel fresh and unique, providing commentary on the hardships and struggles young women must go through during these formative years and the challenge of standing apart from the rest of the crowd can impact a person’s mental health. The way the author explores the protagonist’s relationships with her parents, her grandmother, and her peers and the way an adult perspective can change some things about the high school experience while others are harder to contend with made this story so accessible to readers of all age groups.
What really stood out to me was how the author was able to bring in that sci-fi/fantasy element of going back in time but didn’t make the narrative all about that plot device. Instead it became a catalyst for a much more grounded, insightful commentary on growing up and how peer pressure, family strife, and mental health can impact who a person grows up to be. Balanced with the bright, beautiful illustrations that captured the 90s era perfectly and the world building the author managed to capture, this was a stellar graphic novel.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, entertaining, and compelling, author Alyssa Villaire’s “RE: Trailer Trash” is a must-read graphic novel. Originally a WEBTOON comic that is now being brought to life through Vault Comics, this graphic novel beautifully uses the fantasy storyline of going back in time to tell a grounded, emotionally-driven story of second chances, finding self worth, and finding the confidence to stand up for yourself and what’s right. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Alyssa Villaire is a writer of young adult fantasy. While she’s based in Los Angeles, most of her stories harken back to the places where she grew up—from the woods of rural Indiana to the lakeshores of Wisconsin and Michigan. She has published short stories in Luna Station Quarterly and in an anthology titled Journeys to Uncharted Lands. When she’s not writing, Alyssa is probably eating spicy food, watching horror movies, or waiting in a virtual Ticketmaster line.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young man who dreams of becoming a hero discovers the heroes he looks up to may not be who they claim to be in author Eddie O’Shea’s “Retribution Rising Volume 1: Flashbacks.”
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The Synopsis
In “Retribution Rising,” Ethan navigates a world reminiscent of Earth, yet teeming with super-powered individuals. His lifelong aspiration to join the elite hero group, D4, seems within reach as his own powers begin to manifest. Inspired by D4’s valor and their motto, “When danger calls, D4 answers,” Ethan seizes an opportunity to aid them against a formidable villain near his home. However, as he steps into the fray, he learns the hard truth behind the adage: never meet your heroes.
The Review
This was an action-packed, gripping and thrilling new sci-fi and fantasy epic graphic novel. The exploration of people’s love and passion for superheroes and the theme of hero worship plays a crucial role in the narrative, and the way the author explores both this world of heroes and the history of the protagonist will instantly draw readers into the narrative. The dynamic imagery in this graphic novel harkens back to iconic MANGA and ANIME style artwork, and the artwork lends itself to the fast pace of the action as well.
The character development was the best aspect of this narrative. It held elements of classic comic book origin stories while also adding unique world building and mythology to the world, especially in Ethan’s backstory as he discovers the origins of his family. The mythos plays into Ethan’s psychology as the story develops and the way his love for the heroes of his world impacts his interaction with them as well.
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The Verdict
Big Hero 6 meets Superman meets Brian Sanderson, author Eddie O’Shea’s “Retribution Rising Volume 1: Flashbacks” is a must-read graphic novel. The twists and turns Ethan’s story takes and the compelling balance of action and world-building all culminates in a shocking twist finale that will leave readers breathless and hanging onto the edge of their seats as they eagerly await Volume 2 in this story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out this graphic novel today!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman facing a destiny that was never hers must learn to accept herself to save those she loves in author Nicole Maines’s “Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story.”
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The Synopsis
Dreamer’s origin story has finally arrived, featuring characters from Galaxy: The Prettiest Star in DC’s first YA crossover!!
Nia Nal’s spent her whole life taking a back seat to her older sister, Maeve, who’s expected to inherit their mother’s Naltorian powers—the ability to see the future through dreams. But when Nia starts having visions of the future, she must suppress her powers to protect her relationship with her sister. There’s only one problem: Nia can’t stay awake forever…
From actress, activist, and writer Nicole Maines, who originated the role of Dreamer—the first trans superhero on TV—and artist Rye Hickman comes the highly anticipated origin story of a girl who must accept her destiny to discover she’s more powerful than she could ever dream of.
The Review
Of all the characters that have been introduced into DC Comics in recent years, my two favorites have been Jon Kent’s Superman and Dreamer. Between author and actress Nicole Maines stellar performance on the acclaimed television series Supergirl as the titular hero Dreamer, or the hero’s introduction into mainstream DC Comics, Nia Nal’s rise to heroism and the complexity of her character arc, she is one of the best characters to arrive in the modern DC Comics age and a great representation of the direction comics needs to be taking. Seeing a cosmic, spiritual, and thought-provoking narrative from the actress who brought the character to life and breathed fresh life into the world of DC Comics made this graphic novel so special.
The crossover and connection shared with newcomer Galaxy, another new DC Comics hero, and the balance the author found with both action and storytelling was incredible. The vibrant colors and bright artwork from Rye Hickman were sensational, and the depth of mythos the author explored in Dreamer’s backstory helped elevate what fans knew of the character from her time on Supergirl and took it to a whole new level. The twists and turns in the story also helped elevate the LGBTQ+ themes, providing a much-needed exploration of the power of identity and acceptance, as well as facing the challenges of the ignorance many people have towards the transgender community, especially.
The Verdict
Compelling, entertaining, and brilliantly written, “Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story” by author Nicole Maines and artist Rye Hickman is a must-read DC Comics graphic novel. The twists and turns of the narrative, the beautiful illustrations, and the vital messaging behind this remarkable origin story solidified why Nicole Maines is not only an emerging voice in the comics world but a much-needed voice that is powerful and invokes great emotion and thought in every piece she brings to life, and Dreamer is the perfect hero to represent that. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Nicole Maines is an actress, activist, and writer paving the way for LGBTQ+ youth on and off the screen. Maines’s breakout role came on The CW’s Supergirl, where she starred as Nia Nal, a.k.a. Dreamer, making her TV’s first transgender Super Hero. She wrote Dreamer’s comic book debut in DC’s 2021 Pride anthology and has since gone on to pen numerous other comics for DC, including Superman: Son of Kal-El #13 with Tom Taylor, Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1, Harley Quinn, and DC’s upcoming Dreamer YA graphic novel. Maines has been nominated for a GLAAD Media Award and was a Variety Power of Young Hollywood and Power of Pride honoree. She was also a 2020 Human Rights Campaign Upstander Award honoree for her activism and continues to be a tireless champion for trans rights. Her biography, Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family, was a Stonewall Honor Book in nonfiction, a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for transgender nonfiction, and a New York Times bestseller.
Rye Hickman (previously published as Jen Hickman) is a visual storyteller based out of Denver. Past work includes The Harrowing, Bad Dream, Buzzing, and more. They get really excited about dystopian fiction, good coffee, and drawing hands.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A teenager must fight to protect humanity and his community in author Julio Anta’s “This Land is Our Land: A Blue Beetle Story.”
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The Synopsis
Writer Julio Anta and artist Jacoby Salcedo, the dynamic team behind the young adult graphic novel Frontera, take readers on a gripping and inspiring journey filled with high stakes and heart as Jaime embraces his new calling as Blue Beetle!Jaime Reyes is an ordinary high school student in El Paso, Texas, with a deep love for his family, culture, and home, and loves nothing more than his neighborhood’s spontaneous gatherings that go late into the night. But lately, he’s begun to realize that he and his border community are being used as pawns in an increasingly toxic immigration debate. The last few months have seen armed troops deployed along the U.S. and Mexico border, manufactured crackdowns at official border crossings, and a mounting resentment among a group of disaffected and reactionary youth.Jaime’s problems get even more complicated when he finds an odd bug-like artifact while stargazing. He starts feeling a little different—like there’s another voice in his head pushing him toward his most base instincts. And to make matters worse, he’s been having surreal dreams that show him that the true threat El Paso faces isn’t “illegal aliens” but actual aliens known as the Reach. In fact, according to his dreams, Jaime is meant to pave the way for the Reach’s impending invasion!
The Review
This was such a powerful and inspiring read. The earthy tones of the artist’s work allowed the narrative to shine brightly in this graphic novel and were a great juxtaposition to the vibrant blues associated with Blue Beetle and the cosmos as a whole. The action and the way the writer explored the origins of both Jamie Reyes and the Reach/Blue Beetle felt both fresh and original, and a significant expansion on the lore from DC Comics as a whole.
Yet at its core, this story was both socially relevant and morally impactful. The horrific actions the people of the United States are witnessing with immigration rights and the actions taken by ICE have not only dominated newswires for the last few months, but have elevated tensions and created more fear and uncertainty than ever before. This story not only touches on these fears and showcases the harm that it causes, but also shows a path of unity and commitment to a more open, heartfelt, and understanding path that celebrates our differing cultures and how much stronger our nation is together than it is torn apart. Themes of identity, social justice, and family all converge effortlessly, lending this sci-fi epic a sense of groundedness and connection to our world.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, enduring, and compelling, author Julio Anta’s “This Land is Our Land: A Blue Beetle Story” is a must-read graphic novel. A great DC Comics graphic novel, both Anta’s writing and Jacoby Salcedo’s artwork mesh seamlessly and help tell an essential story of identity that will stay with readers long after the book ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Julio Anta is the author of many graphic novels and comic books for young readers and adults including Frontera, his young adult debut illustrated by frequent collaborator Jacoby Salcedo, and Sí, Se Puede: The Latino Heroes Who Changed the United States, a non-fiction graphic novel illustrated by Yasmín Flores Montañez.
Julio was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and currently resides in New York City where he works to tell narratively rich stories about a diverse range of Latinx characters for readers of all ages. Forthcoming work includes a slate of graphic novels for HarperAlley, Random House Graphic, First Second and DC Comics.
Jacoby Salcedo, is a comic book illustrator who is based in Olympia, Washington. He is the co-creator of the Harper Collins YA graphic novel, FRONTERA with frequent collaborator, Julio Anta. He is also the artist on Dark Horse mini-series, IT’S ONLY TEENAGE WASTELAND with writer Curt Pires. Jacoby has been featured in multiple comic anthologies such as DC’s Legion of Bloom, Panel X Panel, Graphic Mundi’s Covid Chronicles, and the GLAAD award winning Young Men in Love. His next project is THIS LAND IS OUR LAND: A BLUE BEETLE STORY, from DC with Julio releasing October 2024.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A fierce warrior on a hellish planet discovers the possibility of hope and love in author Ngozi Ukazu’s “Barda” from DC Comics.
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The Synopsis
Join New York Times bestselling writer-artist Ngozi Ukazu (Check, Please!) as she takes readers on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, deep friendships, and first loves!Darkseid is…and life on Apokolips is tough—but then, it is hell, after all. And no one knows this better than Barda, Granny Goodness’s right-hand warrior. But Barda has a secret…she is in love. Or she is drawn to the idea of it, anyway, whether it be the beauty of a flower; her affection for her closest friend, Aurelie; or the mysterious and fierce enemy warrior Orion, who isthe only match for Barda’s strength.When Granny decides Barda is becoming too soft, she assigns Barda a task that might be more than she can handle—to break the seemingly unbreakable Scott Free. And as Barda questions why Scott has such hope and what he might have done to provoke such hatred from Granny, she finds herself drawn to him in a way she never expected.The only thing is, we do not speak of love on Apokolips…
The Review
As a longtime fan of DC Comics, getting to see a story centered around Barda was fantastic. The lore behind Apokolips and its ruler, Darkseid, is intricately woven into the fabric of DC Comics, and seeing life on the planet and how Darkseid is both feared and revered by its citizens and servants come to life on the page was chilling. The muted tones of the artwork did an excellent job of capturing the gritty, darker tone and atmosphere of Apokolips. At the same time, the brighter moments on other worlds and between Barda and Scott served as a firm reminder of the glimmers of hope that emerged as a defining aspect of Barda’s character.
The heart of this graphic novel lies in the character development and themes, particularly the idea of hope in a hopeless place. The evolution of Barda, from a fierce warrior and leader of the Furies to a strong soldier who experiences love and kindness for the first time in her life, made this a compelling narrative to get lost in. The duality of Barda as a character, embracing both her fierce strength and her growing love, not only serves as a bridge between her people and the New Gods on New Genesis, but also as a vivid example of both leadership and heroism in the face of fascism. Her love and heart, as well as the inspiration Scott Free brings to life, made the theme of hope so powerful in this story.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, memorable, and entertaining, author Ngoni Ukase’s “Barda” is a must-read graphic novel and a great deep dive into an excellent DC Comics character. The mythos surrounding the New Gods, Darkseid, and Apokolips was greatly expanded upon, and the twists and turns in the narrative help elevate the emotional and hopeful tones of the story as a whole. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Ngozi Ukazu is a DC Comics artist, New York Times-bestselling graphic novelist, and the creator of comics like Check, Please!, BUNT!, and the forthcoming graphic novel FLIP. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in Computing in the Arts, and since 2020 her cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker.
Illustrations by Ken Hunt and a foreword by NY Times Bestseller, Jonathan Mayberry!
We take the entire cast of Dracula and Gender Swapped the cast, Its the classic story with new twists and turns. This is a prose novel. Very akin to Bernie Wrightson Frankenstein with 24 black and white illustrations by Ken Hunt.
Christopher Denmead has both updated and gender-swapped Bram Stoker’s life-impaired Transylvania nobleman. Vlad is now Countess Vlada Dracula, and she is now pitted against a female Harker and -of course – a new take on Van Helsing. It’s both a re-telling of the story and an original take, bringing freshness and a dark sense of fun to a story we only think we know by heart.
It’s a quick read -pause through to drink in the wonderful artwork-and a thoroughly entertaining one. Scary and smart, fast and very furious. It is -pun entirely intended – something to really sink your teeth into. Turn the page. Take the bite.Jonathan Mayberry, NY Times Bestselling author of V-Wars, Ink, & Rot & Ruin
Christopher Denmead is the publisher of several biographies about local businesses and film makers in New England. His most recent book is about comic book store owners. When he’s not writing he hosts a radio show Sunday nights at 10pm
The Dr. Chris Radio of Horror show in Worcester MA. The show has been broadcasting on 91.3 FM from the WCUW building since Oct, 2007.
In 2021 he published Vlada a Dracula Tale, a Graphic Novella with artist Ken Hunt. He lives in Framingham MA.
To request additional about the Kickstarter or an interview with Christopher Denmead, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
Hi, my name’s Adam Wilson and I’m a comic writer as well as the co-publisher and Director of Production for Read Furiously – a press my partner S. Atzeni and I have been running for almost ten years now.
Initially though, I got into writing at a very young age. I was always making up stories in one way or another. In fact, I remember I made my first movie when I was about seven or eight years old. I spent most of the summer working on it with my friends and family. As I grew up I experimented with different types of writing, from plays to song-writing, short stories. It wasn’t till I was almost out of college that I ended up trying to write comics. I was having one of those “We’re gonna graduate soon, what are we going to do with our lives” conversations with a friend. He was an art major, I was a burnt out pre-law major. We came up with the idea to do something together – I’d write it, he’d draw it – and before long we were printing out mini-comics in the college’s computer lab, stapling them together on our dorm room floor. It was something I really enjoyed, and even though nothing ever really came of that project, I kept going with it, getting short stories published in different anthologies, building up larger and larger projects over time till eventually I had my first graphic novel published.
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2) What inspired you to write your book?
The inspiration for Last of the Pops actually came from the title itself. It’s a play on the British music program Top of the Pops. And when it popped into my head one day I just really liked the sound of it. Top of the Pops was a show all about celebrating the most popular music of the week. Last of the Pops kind of has this feel of the end of pop music. That seemed like a fun idea to play with, even though I had no idea what I was going to do with it. But I created a blank word document on my computer and just labeled it “Last of the Pops.”
For a while it was just this place where I’d jot down ideas, phrases I really liked, concepts I thought would be cool to explore. They all revolved around music in some way, and I just threw everything on there. Eventually amidst all the spattering of ideas characters started to take shape from all of the bits and pieces I had. All the different areas of inspiration started to develop into a story and over about five years I was able to craft it all into a narrative.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
When I first started writing Last of the Pops my intention was really to look at people’s relationship to music, but as I dove deeper into writing the book it ended up evolving a lot and really became a book about loneliness. Particularly the loneliness that comes from change and growth and how people come to terms with it.
The book is still very music centric, the entire plot revolves around the final radio broadcast and a musician who vanished before getting to record his first album. But in writing it I realized there are a lot of parallels between music and loneliness that I really wanted to explore.
Music is very much something that brings us together. Musicians form bands to play, people bond over their favorite songs. Music connects us. But the way we consume music over the past few decades has changed so much. I’m a millennial, so I’ve lived through the tail end of vinyl, eight tracks, the entire lifespan of cassettes and CDs. I was starting college right when peer to peer music sharing became a thing, and as I’m writing this I’m streaming a playlist on Spotify.
That’s a lot of change in a very short time. And as a result our relationship to music has changed as a result of that. It’s changed how we consume it, how we connect with it, and how it connects us to each other. In some ways it’s left us disconnected from each other, but in others it’s actually connected us more. So really music kinda became the perfect lens from which to explore this kind of loneliness.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I think one of the things I love about comics and graphic novels is the play between the narrative storytelling and the visual storytelling. You’re almost telling two different stories at a time, and how you structure the two relative to each other can create some really amazing moments. Getting to go back and forth between harmony and dissonance of what are you choosing to tell the reader vs what are you letting them see. These are all extra layers that you don’t really get in a lot of other mediums.
I’ve also found, and maybe this is just me, but sequential storytelling can actually give you the truest vision of the story you want to tell. In prose you’re limited in your ability to connect to the imagination of your reader, how thoroughly you can paint a mental image for them. With a medium like film, you get the visual and the narrative storytelling, but you’re limited with things like budget, locations, what computer or editing effects can accomplish, you sometimes have to make compromises to bring something to life.
But with sequential storytelling, if you’re willing to put in the work, the artwork can be an exact representation of what you envision. Characters can look exactly as you picture them in your head. The emotional beats can play out at the exact pacing you feel them rising and falling. And the fantastical elements can be as fantastical as you’d ever hope them to be, there are really no restrictions. It’s the only medium I’ve ever experienced where that’s possible.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
In an alternate dimension somewhere, I never switched majors after my freshman year in college, and I ended up pursuing a career in radio like the 18 year old version of myself wanted to. In a way, the character of Caroline from Last of the Pops is how I saw that story eventually playing out. So as I was writing her arc I pulled a lot from my own personal experience for her character, memories from my childhood and teen years even. So I think it would be nice to talk with her. Reminisce a bit about the life that could have been.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
This is a tough one, because I’m awful at most social media. But I think the one that I’ve at least been able to keep up with the longest is probably Instagram. I think particularly for someone working in comics, it’s a great tool because it’s got such a visual focus.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
So having worked on both sides of the industry at this point, both as an author and as a publisher, I think the best advice I can give is that you really have to care about the stories you are telling. There are so many avenues out there available for folks to get their work in front of readers, but your audience will always connect the most with the stories you’re passionate about. That’s why it’s so important that you have to be writing the things that really mean something to you. Cause when it’s an important story, you’ll go to any extreme to make sure it’s the best possible version of itself. And sometimes that even means being willing to tear it all apart and start anew if it means making your work better. But that kind of commitment and effort shows in the final product, and the readers you want to appreciate your book will see that.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
Well, Last of the Pops is going to be hitting shelves in October, so I’m gearing up for the release of that. In the meantime though, my co-publisher at Read Furiously, S. Atzeni, and I have also just started work on the third volume of the award winning anthology series Life in the Garden State – which is all about exploring the sides of New Jersey that often get overlooked. It’s our chance to show how amazing a place it is. So we’re both really excited to get going on that.
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About the Author
A former comic editor, Adam Wilson is one of the co-publishers of Read Furiously and an award winning comic writer, His works includes Brian & Bobbi, In the Fallout, Helium, and the upcoming graphic novel Last of the Pops. He co-writes the graphic novel series The MOTHER Principle and edits the anthology series Life in the Garden State with his partner S. Atzeni. Together they live in West Trenton with their son and cat.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Twenty years after radio waves suddenly powered down, a group of people are brought together when the radio turns back on in author Adam Wilson’s “Last of the Pops”.
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The Synopsis
Not many people noticed the day the airwaves went silent. Thousands of radio stations across the country powered down for the last time. Twenty years on, even fewer noticed the day the towers came back to life, broadcasting on repeat, a handful of songs that don’t exist.
An experiment in sequential and epostolary storytelling, Wilson, Demus, Paratone, and Jamit present the soundtrack of a wannabe podcaster, a teen graffitti artist and her estranged brother, a former disc jockey, the newest owner of a vinyl legacy, and a tortured singer on the cusp of greatness.
The Review
This was such a fantastic, well-written graphic novel. The distinctive difference between artistic styles alternating between each story highlighted the talent and tone each illustrator brought to the narrative. The emotional depth of each character’s experiences in their respective chapters and the way music and sound highlighted each story helped elevate the significance of each character’s arc.
This graphic novel stood out because it honed in on relatable, everyday emotions. Rather than focusing on how the radio stations disappeared and reappeared two decades later, the chapters honed in on how music and sound, in general, impacted the character’s feelings and overall journey. The stories tapped into everything from friendship and love to inspiration and connectivity among our fellow human beings.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, memorable, and engaging author Adam Wilson’s “Last of the Pops” is an incredible and exciting graphic novel. The depth and heart that went into these characters and their journey, as well as the thoughtful approach to such deep subject matter, kept me enthralled by the developing stories in this book. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
A former comic editor, Adam Wilson is one of the co-publishers of Read Furiously and an award winning comic writer, His works includes Brian & Bobbi, In the Fallout, Helium, and the upcoming graphic novel Last of the Pops. He co-writes the graphic novel series The MOTHER Principle and edits the anthology series Life in the Garden State with his partner S. Atzeni. Together they live in West Trenton with their son and cat.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A shy young teenage girl finds herself thrust into the battle to save all galaxies in author Morgan Middleton’s “Asteria: The Legend of the Fallen Star: Book One”.
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The Synopsis
Fourteen-year-old Celeste Evans has perfected the art of camouflage, inspired in part by her life on an army base, but mostly by her shyness. She prefers to slip under the radar, but when she is plucked from her ordinary suburban life and placed into a galactic military boarding school, Celeste must squash her own insecurities and find her true purpose. Does she have the strength to hone her powers to fight for the preservation of all galaxies, or will time run out for those she loves and for countless others?
This is the first book in a series.
The Review
This was a captivating and adventurous read. The author does a great job crafting a wholly original sci-fi epic that is visually stunning and written compellingly. The rich mythology and backstory the author developed with the looming threat to the galaxies at play and the graphic novel’s unique illustration style helped capture the narrative’s larger-than-life status.
The heart of this story resonated with the character development and the powerful theme of destiny. The way Celeste was developed made the reader feel like they were represented in the narrative, as she finds herself transported to this whole other world and galaxy and away from the life she knew. Her connection to this universe and the developing nature of her role in this coming battle made the reader feel invested, and the themes at play in the story allowed the reader to feel the sense of destiny that Celeste exudes in this story.
The Verdict
Memorable, engaging, and thrilling, author Morgan Middleton’s “Asteria: The Legend of the Fallen Star: Book One” is a must-read action and adventure meets sci-fi graphic novel/manga. The twists and turns in the narrative and the cliffhanger ending will keep readers eager to get the next volume of this mesmerizing story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Morgan Middleton (she/her) is a singer-actress, producer and writer. She is creator, producer and director of a one-woman show designed to highlight the power of music as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Morgan was named a grantee of The Boston Foundation and a 2020-2021 Turn The Spotlight Fellow. Her passion is bringing underrepresented people into focus and showcasing them in their best light. She is currently performing in and around the Chicago area and is an advocate for the arts. Ms. Middleton completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern California and her master’s degree at New England Conservatory of Music.
