words of coffee

Book Review of 'Voices in the Sea Foam' , by Kotaro Thank you to the author Kotaro, Kondansha Comics and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. What if the Little Mermaid were reincarnated as a boy in the present day, and upon falling in love with another boy, suffered the curse weighing on his soul ? Unable to speak or communicate properly when that special boy is around, feeling his feet burning with immesurable pain as he walks, as if stepping on a thousand sharp knives. This is the premise and the story of the main character, Aito , and how he falls for Tory - the new boy at his high school. Toru practically begs Aito to work with him in a school project. He needs Aito to record a song for. What prompts Toru to do this is the video that pops up in his cellphone - he falls in love with Aito's voice instantly.  I absolutely loved everything in this book and how beautifully crafted is. It hooked me from start to finish. What I didn't like was th...

Book Review of "i am a sunset" by John Colacarro Thank you to the author John Colacarro for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  "i am a sunset" is a collection of poems that delve into the depths of your personal self , of discovering who you really are and embracing it proudly. To learn to love yourself and always see the positive lights in the world despite all the suffering.  The author writes in a beautiful and charming way that makes the reader see themself in the poems.  Some of the poems are embellished with lovely, minimalist illustrations that reflect them and allows for a much entertaining experience while reading.  In general, I loved this book and the author's writing. The weakest parts in this poetry collection is the lack of rhythm in a handful of poems. 

 'Castle Swimmer: Volume 3' by Wendy Martin [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to the author Wendy Martin, the publisher Ten Speed Graphic and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  This brand-new Castle Swimmer's volume is as addictive and heartwarming as the first two volumes.  Impact-Site-Verification: c673a114-7fbb-41e9-bd13-9f1eca5918d6 I deeply love and adore this story , these beautiful characters like Kappa and Siren, the atmosphere of the mers and underwater ambience. This volume focuses on the main story as well as two subplots: the prophecies and how Kappa is pulled to them, Siren fleeing the castle to find a cure for the curse and to find his dad, and the efforts of the new soon-to-be ruler appointed by Siren to rebuild and strengthen the kingdom.  New characters pop up and new information about prophecies is given to Kappa and Siren.  It pains me to read how Kappa and Siren miss each other constantly. They are so dear to me, and I hope I r...

 "A Sea Change" by Cassandra Clare [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to the author Cassandra Clare, Daphne Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  This brand-new soon-to-be-published Shadowhunters' novella tells the story of Matthew Fairchild embarking on a sea adventure among cabins and a blossoming relationship with an intriguing fellow Shadowhunter while trying to solve a murder.  Matthew is on the last part of his journey back home. He's trying to find some inner peace. He's trying to overcome a great loss. What I admire most from Cassandra Clare is her writing and her ability to channel stories and unique atmospheres while having a few subplots at hand - the loss of a great friends, his fears of love thinking all he ever does is lose the ones he loves & his fears of getting lost into loving someone new, a ship filled of vampires that might or might not have broken the Accords,... It's a well-balanced character and plot-driven boo...

'Away to See: Martha's Vineyard' by Liz Norwood and Paul Norwood [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to the publisher, the authors and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  This collection of paintings and poems about Martha's Vineyard is an exquisite sensory experience to get to know a place you may or may not have visited.  Martha's Vineyard is an island in Massachusetts.  What I enjoyed most about this book was the beautiful, vibrant full-color paintings depicting a local place.  #AwayToSee #Netgalley

'Milk & Mocha:Our Little Moments, Comics Collection' by Melani Sie [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publisher, the author Melani Sie and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  This collection of little comics having as main characters the cutest bears named Milk and Mocha is by far the lightest, endearing and adorable collection I've ever read !  I never heard about them before reading this collection, I did not know they were popular on the Internet. Although I'll search for the author in order to read more about them!  This book explores the most intimate, daily human interactions - the little gestures of love for your significant other, the adventures of going on a trip together, the faces or movements you make when they're taking a photo of you or you're taking it,...  This book portrays the experience of appreciating life and the little pleasures of it.  I highly recommend it! It's such a cute collection of comics.  ...

 'A Vow In Vengeance' by Jaclyn Rodriguez [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to the publisher Zando Projects, the author and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. In a world dominated by the magic of tarot cards and twisted politics , a mortal named Rune is forging a desperate plan to take her family back: being Selected by the cruel Immortals. She's taken to their lands and thrown into the Forge, an academy to learn her strength (her Card power). She'll make friends and enemies while trying to take down the Immortals and not to fall in love with the arrogant prince of the Druids: Draven. This book is a dance to the senses : a sharp, witty and smart main character (Rune) in a dark academia setting while swaying through political schemes and a blooming romance with the prince. My favorite part of this book was Rune. I love her. I adored the friends she made along the way and hated the enemies with the same effervescence. Besides, this story is so beautifully wo...

 'Glass and Gravel' by Nick Calder [BOOK REVIEW] Thank   you   to   the   author  Nick Calder and  the   publisher   for   this  ARC in  exchange   for   an   honest   review .    Glass and Gravel   is  a compilation of poems that depict trauma,  grief,  and pain.  The author presents each poem in its own unique way – each having a different composition and  d e s i g n .   The poems pictur e  a  star k,  raw illusion of the world   accompanied  with  black and white illustrations  that help convey the essence of the work.    Even though some parts kind of confused me a bit, I did find this book so  well written  with rich structures and perfe ctly well-crafted human emotions and experiences .    I loved this book of poems and  I’d  for sure read it again in the future. This first read was...

"The Fairkind" by Randolph Kuczer [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to the author Randolph Kuczer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Fairkind tells the coming of age story of Jane , a member of the Fairkind, a tribe that lives in the forest immersed in a myriad of nature-bending powers . It is a surreal mix of plots, characters’ arcs and dialogue and scenery. The Fairkind’s members have never travelled to the world of humans, which they find oddly alien and, in a way, enchanting. What makes Jane’s story shine is the secret that a diamond necklace – an unexpected birthday gift – that contains a vision. At the time of a traditional yearly ceremony in which her powers don’t manifest and cataclysmic, long buried secret comes out, Jane decides to adventure on her own to the forest in search for something else, to get away from the Fairkind. That’s how she meets a kind family of ranchers that accept her and invite her to work and live in their house and land...

 'Meant For More Than This', by Rha Arayal [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  'Meant For More Than This ' is the new collection of poetry by Rha Arayal . It comes out on the 25th May . The author explores a myriad of topics and delves into them in depth : identity , self-love and life itself. I'd like to highlight it also exposes a bit and represents what life is for women, the sharp edges that haunts us for just being women. I love that the author talks about these topics and give it exposure. It also explores the experience of living between two different cultures, and its marvels - and how love and care is an universal language. I found these poems effervescently and beautifully well written .  This poetry is woven and captured with detailed imagery - it pictures vivid descriptions of a wide variety of scenarios that encompass the author's life.  It is a portrayal of the search for your own identity . Wh...

 'Love Languages' by James Albon [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to the author James Albon, the publisher IDW Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A comtemporary slow-burn love story between two foreigners that meet in Paris and slowly develop a friendship that would change into love. Sarah is from England and Ping is from Hong Kong . Sarah speaks English and is still learning French, and stopped her Cantonese lessons. Ping speaks Cantonese and English, which still is trying to learn more about, as well as French. They are each other's anchor and support.  What I found more lovely and beautifully woven is the relationship and the romantic attraction that blooms between them and how the invisible strings work in their favour to unite them once again against all odds. Laced with emotional, romantic and humour doses , this story shaped in the form of a vibrant, detailed graphic novel is quick-paced and is perfect for reading it in one-sitting. Thi...

 '31 Days Of Spooky' by Harper [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to the publisher Harper and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. '31 Days of Spooky' is an anthology of short slightly scary horror tales and stories along with one or two illustrations accompanying the scary tale.  I enjoyed the book overall. Ghostly appearances, mysterious figures, and some emotional stories.  Each tale is quite different from one another: an old house that belonged to a newly wed couple, a mother in the road with her baby, two friends playing hide-and-seek in a forest and a cemetery, unsolved or hidden murders at a house or a hotel,... Many different topics and plots are embedded in this collection of short horror stories.  It is beautifully illustrated painting and embodying the image, or the essence or a scene, of the story itself. It is a quick, fun read.  #31DaysOfSpooky #Netgalley

 'I Hated You In High School' by Kathleen Gros Thank you to the author Kathleen Gros, the publisher Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. In this contemporary, romance graphic novel Tessa is a struggling twenty-something artist that is struggling with her creative career at the same time she is fired from her job as a barista in Vancouver. After the cofee shop she works in closes abruptly she decides to visit her parents and sister for the first time in years. A bitter surprise awaits for her when she arrives at her parents' house, as she discovers that they're renting the basement apartment to her high school bully: Olive. Unhealed wounds and complicated feelings resurface as they attempt to keep their distances from each other and be cordial and nice, until they get trapped together in the attic while searching for something for the upcoming anniversary party for Tessa's parents. I'd love to highlight the...

 'Bloody Mary: A Graphic Biography of Mary Tudor' by Kristina Gehrmann  Thank you to the author Kristina Gehrmann, the publisher Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  A beautifully illustrated in a comic style biography of Mary Tudor, or more widely known as Mary I Queen of England, or "Bloody Mary". The first child and daughter of Henry VIII with Catherine of Aragon of Spain.  It was a quick, fresh read and enjoyable for any History enthusiast. The illustrations are stunning and I loved the style. It narrates Mary I's life since she was born in 1516 until her death in 1558 . Her upbringing, what happened to her mother Catherine of Aragon, her complicated dynamic with her father because of their difference and different religious beliefs - she was Catholic; he, a protestant that defied the Catholic Church and the Pope and the Vatican by divorcing his first wife (Mary's mother) and created the Church of Engla...

'Rivals To Lovers' , by Elise Wayland [BOOK REVIEW] Thank you to the author Elise Wayland, the publisher Alcove Press and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.  Rivals to Lovers is a contemporary romance standalone with bits of comedy and filled with literary conversations and rivalry that sets the main characters to compete for one book publishing deal . One classic novel, two authors. Just one adaptation. Mo Denton and Wes Spencer has been working on their respective books, two different reimagined versions of the famed feminist classic 'The Proud and The Lost'. Only one will be approved to publish their book - if Estelle Morgan, the author's only daughter, gives it the green light to do so.  Estelle invites them over to the Hill, her house, to get to know both in a more informal way, and to pick - or not - the manuscript that will make it to be published and adapted . She seeks for them to tell her more about their manuscripts, to get to th...

'365 Days of Gutsy Women' , by Rosemary Roenfaz Title: 365 Days of Gutsy Women Author: Rosemary Roenfaz Genre (s): Biography, Nonfiction Language: English Publisher: Self-published Publication Date: 12th September 2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Link to buy it! Thank you to the author for sending me a physical copy of '365 Days of Gutsy Women' in exchange for an honest review. I loved that it was personalized signed! I find this detail so lovely! A delightful, must-read biography book centered on women , this book talks about activists and rebels, educators and philosophers, scientists and innovators, authors and poets, leaders, artists and musicians, and goddesses. All women.  I loved this book a lot! If you have read a few book reviews of mine before, you can know that I love reading and learning more about women. I do believe it is so important to educate ourselves and to learn more about the women that have preceded us, and even the actual ones.  The dynamic in this bo...

'Age of Shadows' , by R. E. Palmer Title: Age of Shadows Author: R. E. Palmer Genre (s): Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction Language: English Publisher: FrontRunner Publications Publication Date: 24th January 2022 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Link to buy it! Thank you to the author for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.  Age of Shadows is the second installment in the epic, adult fantasy book series about politics , magic and ancient myths coming to life once again stronger.  Synopsis: As Elodi strives to defend her realm against a new enemy threatening the north, Toryn discovers the dark secret that plunged Hope into despair, destined to live under a shadow of her own making. But as both struggle in the face of overwhelming forces, the Archon demands all who can bear arms, rally to his cause. It is an addictive , action-packed book filled with beautiful descriptions, well-driven plots and storylines, so perfectly written, to my view. I really loved the way the storyline of...

'The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell' , by Laura Alary and Ellen Rooney  Title: The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell Writer: Laura Alary Illustrator: Ellen Rooney Genre (s): Picture Book, Astronomy, Non-fiction Language: English Publisher: Kids Can Press Publication Date: 3rd May 2022 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Link to buy the book! Thank you to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell is a lovely, fascinating picture book about women and astronomy . It talks about women's rights , desires and dreams and aspirations; bonds Maria had with her family; the environment she grew up in,... This book is written by Laura Alary , and is illustrated by Ellen Rooney . Maria Mitchell was an American astronomer that grew up believing she did not need someone else 一of authority一 to think for her, or telling her what to ...

'Postcards Beyond Reality: The Selected Poems of Michael Daniels' , by Bernard Jan Title: Postcards from Beyond Reality: The Selected Poems of Michael Daniels Author: Bernard Jan Genre: Poetry Language: English Publisher: Self-published Publication Date: 20 March 2022 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /4 Link to buy the book! Thank you to the author for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.  'Postcards Beyond Reality: The Selected Poems of Michael Daniels' is a poetry book written by Bernard Jan. This book talks about Michael Daniels, the main character in the author's Cruel Summer book. In this book, 'Postcards Beyond Reality: The Selected Poems by Michael Daniels' , we can read how Michael feels and experiences some things that have happened to him during his life. "If I send you a postcard will you thank me for it?" I was genuinely bewitched by the author's writing. I found it fascinating, so descriptive and so symbolic. (This book is filled with s...

'Daniel' , by Marcin Lechna Title: Daniel Author: Marcin Lechna Genre (s): Sci-fi, Fiction, Psychology, Astrology Language: English Publisher: Labrum Publisher Publication Date: 02/08/2021 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 4 Link to buy the book! Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Daniel is a sci-fi book that tells the story of Daniel Roark , a cardiologist who ends trapped in a white hall where the laws of physics and logic begin to fail .  But how did he end trapped there? Why? Who? What do they want from him? It is a book packed with many themes , many different feelings and subplots so well structured. It's like an action , mystery , sci-fi all at once movie playing in your head while reading this book. The descriptions are fascinating, the plots so well carried, the characters so complex.  Synopsis Daniel Roark is a cardiologist who finds himself imprisioned in a hall where the laws of physics and logic begin to fail. Daniel...