June 24, 2017 • Cee • Letters

Dear F.C. Yee & The Epic Crush of Genie Lo,

The struggle to get into a top-tier college consumes sixteen-year-old Genie Lo’s every waking thought. But when her sleepy Bay Area town comes under siege from hell-spawn straight out of Chinese folklore, her priorities are suddenly and forcefully rearranged.

Her only guide to the demonic chaos breaking out around her is Quentin Sun, a beguiling, maddening new transfer student from overseas. Quentin assures Genie she is strong enough to fight these monsters, for she unknowingly harbors an inner power that can level the very gates of Heaven.

Genie will have to dig deep within herself to summon the otherworldly strength that Quentin keeps talking about. But as she does, she finds the secret of her true nature is entwined with his, in a way she could never have imagined…Goodreads

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June 19, 2017 • Cee • Comics

Comic Firsts

Comic Firsts, a feature where I talk about the first issues of comics that I’ve bought, received, or borrowed. It’s all about first impressions, what I like or didn’t like about the issue, and whether I would keep reading it beyond the first issue.

Shirtless Bear-Fighter is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds. But it’s the kind of ridiculous that will have you laughing because of how absurd and weirdly mesmerizing the titular Shirtless Bear Fighter is.

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June 15, 2017 • Cee • Holy Mother Cover

holymothercover

Inspired by What She Reads, Pure Imagination Blog, and Stacked.

I admit I’m a book cover snob. Who isn’t though?

Book covers are the first thing that attracts readers to a book. A good cover can draw someone is, just as a bad cover can easily draw someone away. It can essentially make or break a book. Holy, Mother Cover! is where I showcase the book covers that stand out (or make me cringe), and discuss cover changes.

(A big special thanks to Georgie at What She Reads for bestowing me this fabulous name and to Charlotte at The Simple Tales for creating the beautiful feature banner you see before you.)

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Cover Change: The Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia

When I first saw the hardcover design of The Lovely Reckless, I wasn’t a fan. I couldn’t see myself picking up this book because of the cover. The typography left a lot to be desired. I didn’t like the glare of the gray in Kami Garcia’s name. I thought the watercolored graffiti-like couple could’ve been done a bit better. It’s just super forgettable.

Now that paperback cover, I like. The font is fabulous. I found it extremely fitting with the muscle car because it gave a sort of retro vibe. I like the blurs behind the car, making it look like the car is on the go. The red is very eye-catching. It’s a simple, yet striking cover.

Final Verdict: What cover do I like better? Paperback!

Which cover design do you prefer? Would you buy the the hardcover or paperback cover?


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June 9, 2017 • Cee • Reviews

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley • June 6, 2017 • Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House)
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indigo | Library

Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry Jones. The day before she moved away, she tucked a love letter into his favorite book in his family’s bookshop. She waited. But Henry never came.

Now Rachel has returned to the city—and to the bookshop—to work alongside the boy she’d rather not see, if at all possible, for the rest of her life. But Rachel needs the distraction. Her brother drowned months ago, and she can’t feel anything anymore.

As Henry and Rachel work side by side—surrounded by books, watching love stories unfold, exchanging letters between the pages—they find hope in each other. Because life may be uncontrollable, even unbearable sometimes. But it’s possible that words, and love, and second chances are enough.

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I received this book for free from Random House for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

First sentence: “I open my eyes at midnight to the sound of the ocean and my brother’s breathing. “

How do you not fall in love with a book that’s a love letter to, well, books? For a book reader, it’s hard.

What you get in Words in Deep Blue are: an ode to books, characters who are constantly surrounded by books and see love bloom in front of their eyes, a love of Prufrock, letters being exchanged between pages, a childhood friends becoming more, a loss that upends an entire world, and Australian lit that will make you yearn for more.

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June 8, 2017 • Cee • Discussion

I did a better job reading my TBR in May. I didn’t quite get to all of it, but that’s okay.

For those who do not know, Too Much TBR is a way to help me see which books I really need to read and tackle them. Is it effective? Perhaps. It helps a lot seeing a visual of the books on my TBR pile.

Let’s discuss what I read last month, and what I’m reading this month!

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June 6, 2017 • Cee • Discussion

The Refrigerator Monologues is for anyone who ever got upset at the way women were treated in comic shows, movies or books.

The lives of six female superheroes and the girlfriends of superheroes. A ferocious riff on women in superhero comics.

From the New York Times bestselling author Catherynne Valente comes a series of linked stories from the points of view of the wives and girlfriends of superheroes, female heroes, and anyone who’s ever been “refrigerated”: comic book women who are killed, raped, brainwashed, driven mad, disabled, or had their powers taken so that a male superhero’s storyline will progress.

In an entirely new and original superhero universe, Valente subversively explores these ideas and themes in the superhero genre, treating them with the same love, gravity, and humor as her fairy tales. After all, superheroes are our new fairy tales and these six women have their own stories to share.

Goodreads · Amazon · Barnes & Noble · The Book Depository · Indigo · Indiebound · Library 

I am deeply honored to be part of the Refrigerator Monologues blog tour. You combine Catherynne M. Valente’s writing with ladies in comics, I’ll be front and center with bells on!

I can write essays about all the super heroines I absolutely adore. I actually had a hard time pinpointing which ones are my all-time favorites. I just couldn’t narrow it down! They are equally awesome and my favorites. They’re all inspiring ladies.

There are four super heroines I hardcore adore to the point where I’ll be holding signs professing my love to them. They are forever in my heart.

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