Pemmican Wars by Katherena Vermette Review

Pemmican Wars by Katherena Vermette
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
Echo Desjardins, a 13-year-old Métis girl adjusting to a new home and school, is struggling with loneliness while separated from her mother. Then an ordinary day in Mr. Bee’s history class turns extraordinary, and Echo’s life will never be the same. During Mr. Bee’s lecture, Echo finds herself transported to another time and place—a bison hunt on the Saskatchewan prairie—and back again to the present. In the following weeks, Echo slips back and forth in time. She visits a Métis camp, travels the old fur-trade routes, and experiences the perilous and bygone era of the Pemmican Wars.

Pemmican Wars is the first graphic novel in a new series, A Girl Called Echo, by Governor General Award–winning writer, and author of Highwater Press’ The Seven Teaching Stories, Katherena Vermette.

My Review:
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book would be really interesting, but didn’t think anything of it as it wasn’t available to request, only wish for. I’m so glad my wish was granted! This book is completely unlike anything I’ve read lately and I’m really happy and thankful I got the chance to read it. I really like the cover, and also the art in the book. Although this is volume one, the book itself is only about fifty pages long, so it’s a super quick read. It packs a punch and I really enjoyed reading it from the moment I started it to the end of the story.

It begins with a girl, Echo, in what is now Saskatchewan, but in the year 1814. Usually I’m not a fan of books about long ago, but this one was intriguing. She’s surrounded by people from the year, but obviously not of the time herself. She’s scared. A herd of buffalo run by her and some of them are shot and killed. Then she wakes up in class, in the present day. Most of the story is Echo listening to music and spending time by herself. Sometimes she goes back in her dreams, other times she’s at school or at her foster home. Honestly I love her as a character. The book really shows what kind of culture shock there is because of the history. She feels detached and lost because she doesn’t know about her ancestors, all she has are the dreams.

Overall I really liked reading this book and wished it was longer. I definitely want to check out the next volume, which I’m assuming there will be because this is called volume one. I really liked it, check it out and see what you think!

Here’s a link to the book on Amazon, and another link to the authors Twitter!

https://www.amazon.ca/Pemmican-Wars-G…

https://twitter.com/katherenav?lang=en

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
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SINthetic (The New Lyons Sequence #1) by J.T. Nicholas Review

SINthetic by J.T. Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
They look like us. Act like us. But they are not human. Created to perform the menial tasks real humans detest, Synths were designed with only a basic intelligence and minimal emotional response. It stands to reason that they have no rights. Like any technology, they are designed for human convenience. Disposable.

In the city of New Lyons, Detective Jason Campbell is investigating a vicious crime: a female body found mutilated and left in the streets. Once the victim is identified as a Synth, the crime is designated no more than the destruction of property, and Campbell is pulled from the case.

But when a mysterious stranger approaches Campbell and asks him to continue his investigation in secret, Campbell is dragged into a dark world of unimaginable corruption. One that leaves him questioning the true nature of humanity.

And what he discovers is only the beginning . . .

My Review:
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I think the cover is really nice looking. It’s just so clean! The description is really what got me interested in the book, though, and I’m really glad I got the chance to read it. It’s exciting and mysterious and unlike anything I’ve read lately.

The book starts out with the main character, Jason Campbell, in first person, looking around while he stands over the body of a brutalized dead woman. There’s a lack of blood and a sort of barcode on her neck that confirms her a synthetic human, and his co-worker thanks god when he finds out. He calls her a mule. If that doesn’t set the tone for the rest of the book, I don’t know what does.

Synthetic humans have no basic rights in this futuristic world, and people care for them about as much as they’d care about their toaster. Campbell thinks that’s unfair, seeing as they’re exactly like humans in every way except stronger, and better looking. He’s been labeled a Synth sympathizer most of his career, and that’s not going to change. But too many dead Synth women have been showing up lately, and no one seems to be bothered in the slightest, or even look into the deaths. He thinks its due to a serial killer who’s practicing on them because you can’t get any backlash for it. Killing your Synth is no bigger deal than killing your toaster, however anatomically correct and absolutely lifelike they are.

Overall i really enjoyed this book, and once I found the time to sit down and read it, it really flew by. I didn’t want to put it down in case I missed something. The characters, although thoroughly put together, develop so much more and really help the story along. Honestly this is probably one of my new favourite books and again, I’m really glad I got the chance to read it. Definitely check it out for yourself and see what you think!

Here’s a link to the book on Amazon, and another link to the authors twitter.

https://www.amazon.ca/SINthetic-Lyons…

https://twitter.com/JamesTNicholas

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
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Nurse Nurse by Katie Skelly Review

Nurse Nurse by Katie Skelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
What is NURSE NURSE?

It is a comic book about the future.
It is a prediction about television.
It is a cautionary tale about butterflies.
It is science fiction for all kinds of people.
It collects all seven issues of the mini-comic series and the never-before-seen eighth issue. Please have an adventure.

My Review:
I received a copy from edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

The story begins with a girl explaining that the year is 3030, and due to the population explosion on earth, human’s have had to create artificial atmospheres elsewhere, though not everyone is safe, and a lot of the first colonists have been poisoned. Nurses have been trained to treat said poison within the colonies.

It follows a girl named Gemma, who’s first job is to treat a poisoned butterfly farmer on Venus. She tends to be late and isn’t confident in her skills, but she wants to succeed so she tries her best. I liked the characters in this story.

I really like the art, it’s way different than the other’s I’ve been reading lately, and it fit with the story well. Although it seems a little choppy at times I enjoyed reading this book and I’m glad I got the chance to. Definitely check it out if you like comics about space with hilariously timed swears and cute characters.

Here’s a link to the book on amazon!

https://www.amazon.ca/Nurse-Katie-Ske…

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
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Alters Vol.1 (Alters, #1) by Paul Jenkins & Leila Leiz Review

Alters Vol.1 by Paul Jenkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
As the world struggles to accept the emergence of a new kind of human species known as alterations, or “Alters,” a young woman must navigate the path to becoming her true self, while struggling with the complications of her civilian life and the responsibilities of her newfound power.

This groundbreaking series–years in the making–begins the saga of a young woman who can only really be herself…whenever she is not herself.

My Review:
I received a copy of this from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly the description really is what made me want to read this book. I looked at it a few times before I downloaded it, because I was unsure if I would like it or not. It begins with the main character, writing to her diary about who and what she is, an Alter. That means basically they have abilities and powers that regular people don’t, and most hid themselves until someone stepped up and showed the world what he could do. Basically people who’d undergone altercations started to get power hungry and pretty much created a lot of disasters. I think the art fits well with the story.

The main character, Chalice, can fly and project theoretical sub-atomic particles, whatever that means. She basically has three lives, two of which are spent being a boy and living at home with two brothers and a mother and father. Being an Alter is hard enough without also being transgender and living with someone with Cerebral Palsy. The story basically takes Chalice through daily life with a little adventure, working through the beginnings of transitioning and telling the family, and then there’s Matter Man. He’s taken over and sending out broadcasts about unregistered Alter’s and executing them live on the air. He needs to be stopped.

Overall I thought that although it reminded me a lot of X-Men, that wasn’t a bad thing. The story was really inclusive, and up to date. I liked getting to know the characters and the world around them. Definitely check out this book if you get a chance.

Here’s a link to the book on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.ca/Alters-Vol-1-Pa…

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
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Shirtless Bear-Fighter! by Jody LeHeup, Sebastian Girner, Nil Vendrell, & Mike Spicer Review

Shirtless Bear-Fighter! by Jody LeHeup
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
“After being betrayed by the bears that raised him, the legendary SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER wanders the forest he’s sworn to protect, fist-fighting bears, eating flapjacks and being the angriest man the world has ever known!

When wild-eyed, super-strong bears attack the citizens of Major City, Shirtless ventures into the human world to do what he does best…PUNCH THOSE BEARS IN THE FACE! But all is not as it seems. Someone is manipulating Shirtless…and only by confronting the demons of his past can Shirtless hope to save his future!

A heart-filled, hilarious, tall tale for the ages…you don’t want to miss SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER!

Collecting SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER! #1-5″

My Review:
I received a copy of this from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, although I kind of knew I would like it from the description. The art is different than the other’s I’ve read, and the story is completely unique. It starts off with an animal control worker/stoner named Dave getting a call, and when he shows up it’s a super sized enraged bear. And bear spray isn’t going to do much for this situation. Then we meet the Shirtless Bear-fighter himself, a naked mountain man that literally punches bears until they’re knocked out so he can take them away and add to his bear house, literally a house made of bears. After that, I had a good feeling about this.

Reading this was a wild ride from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it. It made me laugh out loud at times, and I really liked the story. Shirtless really doesn’t like when you say pancakes instead of flapjacks. Bears are in the cities, and they need help from him unless they want to literally drop nukes on the entire city. It’s not an easy job, but someone’s got to punch those bears to death. One line that particularly stood out for me was, “The President won’t negotiate with Bearrorists.” What I’m saying here is, definitely check it out if you get the chance.

Here’s a link to the book on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.ca/Shirtless-Bear-…

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
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Youngblood Volume 1 (Youngblood #1) by Chad Bowers Review

Youngblood Volume 1 by Chad Bowers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
THE ‘BLOOD IS BACK! 25 years ago, YOUNGBLOOD launched the Image Comics revolution. Now, ROB LIEFELD’s blockbuster creation returns with an all new cast and a bold new mission! An uber popular self-protection app called HELP! is changing how we stay safe — “HELP! lets you decide who saves you.” But when a high-rated young hero on the app goes missing, his best friend’s search for answers gains the attention of some unexpected allies, and together, they’ll do whatever it takes to find him… even if it means resurrecting the world’s most infamous super-team, Youngblood.

Gear up, strap in, and get ready to rediscover comics most Extreme universe with creators CHAD BOWERS (X-Men ’92, Deadpool: Bad Blood) and JIM TOWE!

Collects issues 1-6.

My Review:
I received a copy of this from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

The book begins with Man-Up leaving his house to do who knows what, and then ends up missing. Gunner is later seen filing a missing persons report for a superhero with little to no information on him to the police. How do you find someone you don’t know? The rest of the book is spent mixing the new Youngblood’s team with the Oldbloods, trying to track down whoever’s kidnapping the superheroes. I really enjoyed the artwork in this book, and the story was interesting. I haven’t read anything like it lately, and I don’t regret requesting it.

Superheroes finding other missing superheroes and still finding time to help others along the way. I also really liked the little reviews that popped up from people who’ve been saved, although as it progressed through the story you learn that they have a different meaning after they stop showing up. The characters were interesting and although they borrowed a lot of their powers and actual characters from already existing superheroes, they made the story enjoyable. I didn’t feel like I got to know them very well, aside from barely learning their names, but they were able to work together nicely in the first five issues of the story. Check it out and see what you think.

Here’s a link to the book on amazon!

https://www.amazon.ca/Youngblood-1-Ch…

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
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