aksmith92's reviews
155 reviews

The Setup: Poison Ivy: The Virtuous Cycle is a riveting graphic novel that reimagines the iconic DC antiheroine, Poison Ivy, in a profoundly introspective and eco-conscious journey of destruction and redemption. Grappling with her sense of purpose and the boundaries of morality, Pamela Isley sets out on a cross-country journey to release a deadly fungal plague, driven by her disillusionment with humanity's environmental destruction and her grief over her fractured relationship with Harley Quinn.

The narrative explores Ivy's duality as a villain and a tragic, sympathetic figure, delving into her motivations and her struggle with guilt, love, and self-identity. Poison Ivy is a complex protagonist whose actions provoke empathy and moral questioning. Themes of environmentalism, personal agency, the consequences of unchecked power and greed, and hope run through it all, making the story not just an engaging but also a thought-provoking commentary on humanity's relationship with nature.

What I Loved: I mean, who doesn't love a villainess character who seems to care more about plants than humans? Especially one who is in love with one of my other favorite villains - Harley Quinn. This graphic novel neatly composes a love letter to Harley Quinn, an introspective on Poison Ivy herself, AND has beautiful graphics filled with color (and gore). I loved the storyline and the constant questioning about humanity and its role in the degradation of this earth (+ being essentially an invasive species) while highlighting humanity's capacity for love and kindness, entwining a duality that I eat up every time. The art was also phenomenal, and I loved the natural aspect of every single page.

I also can't help but love an actual multi-faceted villain. Poison Ivy definitely portrays compassion, but she is murderous and cares more for her nature than humanity, and that's not lost here. This makes her a complex character—one you aren't sure about and tugs on your emotional capacity a bit, which means it is a good story in my mind.

Why Not 5 Stars? I must admit I was a little confused at parts - I fear I missed something from another part of the universe. There were some flashbacks to places I wasn't sure the arc had been before (but maybe not?). This confusion also led to the beginning to be a bit slow. Sometimes, I also felt that there were so many different Poison Ivy's portrayed, art-wise, such as her physical and facial features. I feel like this may have been on purpose (indicating when she was fighting or just wandering about), but I am not sure, and it also led to some minor confusion.

My first read of 2025, and it was a doozy!

The Setup: The Pillars of the Earth is a historical epic that transports readers to 12th-century England, weaving a tale of ambition, love, and power against the backdrop of a small town's quest to build a grandiose cathedral. At the story's heart are the lives of richly drawn characters, including Tom Builder, the visionary mason; Aliena, a noblewoman determined to reclaim her family's honor; Prior Phillip, an idealistic and pious monk; and the ruthless William Hamleigh, whose hunger for dominance and power drives much of the conflict.

The story is meticulously detailed, immersing readers in the construction of this magnificent cathedral. However, at its core, this is a gripping novel intersecting the era's political intrigue, social upheavals, and religious tensions. The book's coupling between architecture and the struggle to create beauty and the exploration of humanity's decency (or indecency), resilience, and creativity were beautifully woven into a captivating narrative.

While I felt the novel's pacing was slow, it was, in fact, deliberate, and Follett took care to build a sweeping, multi-generational saga. While its length and brutality were daunting and challenging, this novel did evoke deep emotional investment and transported readers to a vividly realized medieval world.

What I Loved: First and foremost, I cannot imagine how many hours Follett spent researching for this book. The novel had an evident intellect element - figuring out how to build in the 1100s and documenting that on the page. Follett wove physics, mathematics, and artistry into the narrative but in a way likely indicative of the people in the 12th century. Hats off to you, Follett; that was an incredible touch. While some may think this aspect was too detailed (it did go on sometimes), I think it added a beautiful touch to the story, and I couldn't help but be incredibly intrigued and informed.

I reviewed this book well because I absolutely loved how Follett expressed the true chaos of the royal court and religion during this time. Candidly, there was a bit of underlying satire here, probably intentional, but maybe not. We had multiple characters driven by power and greed but think of themselves as doing the "good work" or, in many cases, "god's work." It described - not on the pages, but written between the lines - that our history, our literal buildings, including cathedrals, were built with treachery, corruption, and violence. Those evils were embedded in the mortar and the stones. I don't believe this book was about a cathedral; I think this book was about humans. Follett expertly described hypocrisy and greed while providing unreliable narrators to showcase the pride and excuses many humans make for doing unthinkable (or maybe just wrong) things. Follett was trying to answer the question: will good always prevail? But, then nuanced it with what is even considered "good?"

The novel completely scratched my philosophical itch. Thinking critically about each character and their motivations and actions, you could see philosophy sprouting from their motives. I loved it. Additionally, I simply loved the writing of most characters - they were nuanced, complicated, and flawed. Tom Builder was a man who wanted to provide for his family but maybe forgot about parenting along the way. Prior Phillip was undoubtedly compassionate and godly, but his pride and search for the "good" led him to play the corrupt political game. Jack was determined, loving, and caring but became hot-tempered and didn't necessarily make all the right choices all the time. Overall, the main characters had depth, and you, the reader, couldn't help but be transported in their time. Lastly - and I didn't know whether to put this in what I loved (or not) - Follett officially wrote the most hated character I've ever read about: William Hamleigh, a true villain.

Follett's writing wasn't fluffy, but it was poignant and sharp. I was utterly engrossed in the story and needed to figure out what happened next. Overall, I found this book well done, and I would recommend it for a read (check triggers, please!) for those who are looking for a historical take on the building of a cathedral, but more importantly, for the intense epic about humans and their strategy and drive.

What Missed the Mark: Bear with me as I discuss something that may not have been that exposed in 1989 when this book was first written, but I can't help but surface it now. Follett had the case of the "let's write 'feminist' women" without really understanding what that means. I'll give it to Follett: he tried. He incorporated one main character and one side character in the novel who defied the 12th century's female norms; on the surface, both were quite powerful. Aliena, our main female character, was nuanced, and I saw where he was going. However, unlike Tom Builder, Prior Phillip, and Jack, she felt less dimensional - all the women in the novel did, really. The women's choices seemed abrupt and odd, defying some of their original character development. Then, there were mentions of all their physical descriptions - beautiful (of course), and they always had big breasts (of course), and their bodies weren't the same after kids (of course). Thankfully, Follett added more than that to these characters. Still, he talked about their bodies and emotional, abrupt nature multiple times, which was annoying as a female reader. Additionally, Follett, I promise you that a woman will not climax from intercourse "over and over and over" again on her first time. Thanks, nice try!

I will also say rape and sexual violence were used too frequently here. I counted five rapes and a plethora of other sexual harassment and assault scenes. I wholeheartedly believe that rape can be written about - it's, unfortunately, and regrettably, something that people can relate to. However, writing about it has to be done carefully and meticulously. Back in 1989, I doubt they had those reviewers to help writers capture something that they didn't necessarily go through themselves, but I don't think we needed all of these rapes, most done by one person, to explain to me again why he was an awful character. We got that with the one (and plenty of other reasons why he was evil). While writing about this was likely realistic for the time (ugh), I don't believe all of them added to the story, and honestly, it made me want to look away. I am wary of men writing about a bunch rapes like this, honestly, but that's a whole different subject I won't get into here. While I was satisfied with how everything turned out, my dream for revenge for these rapes would have been different. I won't get into that aspect because I'll spoil things, and I would want to put trigger warnings on that discussion. However, overall, I think it managed to be ok, although it wasn't perfect, which I think needs to be close to perfect, if not perfect, if you add sexual violence like that into the narrative.

It was long, and near the end, I was like, how can the same thing continue to happen repeatedly? But everything Follett did was for a reason (other than maybe all the rapes), so I didn't let that sway my review too much.

I genuinely think this novel was very well done, minus a few flaws I fear were byproducts of the time (which I still think we should call out). Books in 1989 didn't come with trigger warnings, and this book needs a few different ones, so please check them out and stay safe out there. However, I think this book is worth a read to critique 12th-century power structures that just maybe haven't necessarily gone away, even roughly 900 years later.

 

The Setup: Honestly, I wanted to give a setup but can't because I couldn't tell you what happened, which is super fair in a brand-new quick comic read. It seems we are presented with some nut jobs who preach about this god. Flash forward some years later, and there is some heist happening related to this religion and god, but we don't really know anything about it. 

What I Liked: I was certainly interested. Sign me up for a dystopian comic related to some weird religion!

What Could Have Been Better: Outside of being quite confused, the art and illustrations were quite different from what I was used to. They were NOT bad, but their faces were distorted, and I couldn't tell if that was on purpose or what. It left me more confused than even the plot.

The Setup: Jumping into a new comic is always interesting, especially one related to Batwoman. We have Kate Kane, aka Batwoman, a proud lesbian who was discharged from the military during the Don't Ask, Don't Tell era and is now on a vengeance. Let's just say she has an incredibly complicated relationship with her dad after the deaths of her mother and sister. She utilizes all the energy into kicking ass and taking names. She is also super close to her cousin, although they don't necessarily see eye-to-eye on all the crime-fighting ways (and not in the way you think!). We watch as Batwoman navigates grief, new relationships, and folks on her tail, trying to find out who Batwoman is.

What I Liked: This Batwoman was intriguing. In this volume, she battles grief and takes on a case that hits too close to home. I enjoyed seeing her battle through that in these short pages and understanding that she is a flawed superhero. I liked the secondary characters and even the brief appearances of Batman himself. Overall, there was a decent plot, the art was fantastic, and I am curious to see where it goes next. 

What Could Have Been Better: The beginning was confusing as if the narrative was going in two different directions. I caught on, and it made sense, but the setup and format were a little cluttered, in my opinion. Additionally, something about the aggravated and bully-ish female main lead who likes to punch people in the face annoys me sometimes. It is almost as if the trope has been overdone. Can a super badass female main lead please be somewhat kind? It wasn't a huge deal, but sometimes I fear the comic writers forget that women are sometimes multifaceted. With that said, they did portray her well with grief and sadness at times, which I appreciated. 

Either way, I am excited to read the next volume!

The Setup: On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder is a concise and impactful guide that draws parallels between historical instances of tyranny and contemporary political developments. Snyder, a Yale historian, distills complex historical events into twenty accessible lessons aimed at empowering citizens to recognize and resist the encroachment of authoritarianism. 

Each lesson serves as a call to action, urging readers to defend democratic institutions, be wary of propaganda, and uphold the truth. For instance, Synder emphasizes the importance of defending institutions, noting that "institutions do not protect themselves" and require active support from the populace. He advises readers to "beware the one-party state," highlighting the dangers of political monopolies. These lessons are grounded in historical precedents, providing a sobering reminder of how democracies can falter. 

What I Liked: This book cuts straight to the chase. It lets you know the signs of authoritarianism and what to do in advance to prevent yourself from falling into its trap. It's quick, concise, and simply makes sense. I wanted to read this after a certain election in the US to ensure that I look for signs of a falling democracy, and this was the perfect fit.

Why Not 5 Stars? Honestly, it seemed a little too simple. While I enjoyed the book's simplicity and conciseness, I did feel like something was a little bit missing, but barely. There was a lack of emotion to it, which I suppose is quite the point, but it still prevented me from loving this book. Plus, it's hard to love a book about looking for signs of the collapse of democracy, but alas.

The Setup: This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune is a contemporary romance that explores themes of forbidden love, self-discovery, and the complexities of friendship. The story follows Lucy, who regularly vacations with her best friend, Bridget, on Prince Edward Island (PEI). During one of these visits, Lucy has a spontaneous and passionate encounter with a charming local named Felix, only later to discover that he is Bridget's younger brother - a fact previously unknown to her because of a nickname he goes by.

The novel delves into the ensuing tension as Lucy and Felix grapple with their undeniable chemistry while striving to keep their relationship hidden from Bridget over the years. Their interactions are marked by a magnetic attraction, leading to clandestine meetings that challenge their resolve to maintain boundaries. Fortune's vivid depiction of PEI enriches the narrative, immersing readers in the island's picturesque landscapes and enhancing the romantic atmosphere.

What I Liked: This book was a pleasant surprise! I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. While I still had some qualms (it is a romance book, after all), I thought this was a nice take on a rom-com. I waffled between giving it a 3.5 or a 4.0 for a while and decided to hang with a 3.5 only because the last quarter fell just a bit flat for me. Regardless, I still enjoyed this, mostly because I felt the characters were decently fleshed out, and the description of PEI was entertaining. I also must admit that the writing and prose flowed, and I was hooked. I read this quite quickly and enjoyed the act of reading it. There was great chemistry between Lucy and Felix, and I did enjoy their relationship, especially the tension in the beginning and middle.

What Missed the Mark? I mean, besides Lucy not knowing about Felix as Bridget's brother, which I actually didn't give too much thought to because rom-coms sometimes don't make too much sense, I think overall, the wrap-up of the book was "eh." I'm unsure why, and I can't share too much without giving it away, but I wasn't sold on a relationship for a while. I loved their meeting, and the tension built throughout the middle, but the end simply didn't do it for me. Maybe the characters regressed just a bit, leading to unbelievable actions or ones that didn't make a lot of sense.

Still, I found this to be a great fun read. While I didn't read it in the summer, I think it had great cottage and water vibes. Overall, I still liked it a lot! 

The Setup: Off with Her Head: Three Thousand Years of Demonizing Women in Power by Eleanor Herman is an incisive and timely exploration of the misogyny faced by women in authority throughout history. Herman delves into the historical "playbook" long used to undermine powerful women, from Cleopatra and Catherine the Great to contemporary figures like Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton. Her analysis reveals persistent patterns of vitriol targeting female leaders based on gendered stereotypes, often focused on perceived ambition, appearance, and personal lives.

The book blends some factitiousness and humor with serious scholarship as Herman shares stories of slander and vilification across centuries, shining a light on the societal challenges that still exist for women in leadership roles.

What I Liked: NOTHING! Just kidding, although I must admit, it's always incredibly challenging to read about misogyny. It grinds my gears every time, and this book was no different. With that said, it was interesting to read about the showcased sexism throughout time and that even though women's rights and other gender equity practices have been in place for decades now, some things haven't changed. Those things that have yet to change are more insidious and usually pronounce themselves in narrative, media (for whatever that meant at the time), and societal norms. I was glad to glance back throughout millennia to see how those tactics were prolific and continue to this day. I learned a few things, particularly about history, that I needed to remember about or understand with the misogyny playbook at hand. I'm always interested in stepping back and learning about women in history since many have yet to be included in textbooks and other media.

What Missed the Mark: While I learned a few things, most weren't revolutionary or nuanced. Nuance is complicated here because so many things have been lost throughout time. At times, I felt like Herman was reading between the lines. While I fear she was likely correct, there were times when I felt there was a lack of explanation around some of the other atrocities associated with some of these women (Cleopatra, for one). Herman did mention she may have been a murderer (lol), but I felt the way Herman wrote about these women absolved them from all their crimes simply because they were victims of misogyny. Women can be many things: criminals AND victims of misogyny, but I think it's important to note it as such. 

I will also state the two apparent reasons this could have been better. What others have already shared about this book: (1) this went on so long about the same thing over and over again - women have been told to smile so much more, men attack women's appearances when they have too much power, etc., which then meant there was a lack of actual solutions or ways to address these frustrating tactics from the misogyny playbook. The end chapter encapsulates some action or tangible solutions, but this book was simply about the atrocities women had to go through. I don't think Herman meant for this book to be the end all be all about how to address misogyny - we do not know since it's still around, but because there was a lack of addressing the problem, it made the book seem disjointed, and the pace was off. 

(2) This book clearly emphasizes cis-heterosexual women and mostly white women in Western culture. A chapter at the end discusses the intersection between sexism and racism, which I appreciated. Still, the bulk of the book focused solely on European misogyny, including Christianity. Maybe Herman only wanted to discuss what she felt comfortable sharing based on her education and training. However, it felt that something was missing because of it. In the contemporary parts, there was also a lack of integration of LGBTQ+ items, except for the brief mention that modern women in power are regularly called lesbians by their haters. 

Although some historical details were broad-brushed, this book made its point with clarity and wit, capturing a troubling reality with vigor and compassion. 

I began this book around Halloween, and while it wasn't jump-scary or terrifying in general, it had an odd element that was fitting for the season.

The Setup: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson is a dark, atmospheric novel that blends psychological horror with themes of isolation, familial bonds, and societal prejudice. The story is narrated by 18-year-old Mary Katherine, or Merricat, Blackwood, who lives with her sister, Constance, and their uncle, Julian, in an eerie, secluded mansion on the edge of a small village. The townspeople shun the Blackwoods after a family tragedy involving the poisoning of Merricat's parents, which many believe was committed by Constance.

Somehow, Jackson creates a sense of claustrophobia and dread as Merricat reveals her disturbed inner world and the strict routines she imposes to keep her family safe. Her rituals and superstitions hint at an unstable mind, while her fierce loyalty to Constance emphasizes their inseparable yet complex bond. The arrival of their estranged cousin Charles disrupts their fragile peace, setting off a series of events that force the sisters to confront their past and dependence on each other.

What I Liked: This was an eerie story! It wasn't scary, and I wouldn't define it as horror (even psychological horror) like the summary states, but it sure was creepy. This novel had a considerable mystery element, making me continuously guess about the story. I like stories like this because they keep me highly engaged (which I was the entire time). The sisters and Uncle were quite peculiar; you wanted to know more about them and the family. I thoroughly enjoyed Jackson's writing style - a mix of lyrical prose and haunting simplicity; overall, the premise was quite enticing.

What Could Have Been Better: For a mystery, the reveal of the "plot twist," if you can call it that, was quite anticlimactic. I had guessed the reveal for a bit, and while I don't mind when I guess it right, I generally like seeing how it all plays out, which was done poorly here. I understand why Jackson did it this way - it weaved well with the characters, but overall, I was disappointed. Additionally, while the prose and premise were great, Jackson shared much without showing you a lot. Jackson did phenomenally with psychological depth with Merricat, our unreliable narrator, but so many things dragged on that weren't needed. Since it was such a character-driven story, I didn't let that impact my rating too much, but there were times when various "acts" were so long, while the mysterious reveal was barely a page. I'm sure all of it was done intentionally - Jackson was a fabulous writer, but I didn't love it here.

However, overall, this was a great book for the season, and I did enjoy it. I'm currently in the midst of moving, meaning my reading schedule is in a bit of flux, so this took me longer than anticipated, but I think this would be a great quick read, especially during the fall around Halloween or even winter. 

The Setup: Our Hideous Progeny is a unique blend of gothic fiction, feminist themes, and mad science, creating a darkly atmospheric reimagining. The novel delves into the exploration of ambition, obsession, and the consequences of scientific pursuit. The protagonist, Mary, is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. Along with her husband, Henry, Mary discovers remnants of her great-uncle's forbidden research. Desperate to establish themselves in the scientific world and escape financial strain, they continue Victor's controversial work of creating life from dead matter.

The novel not only delves into the technical aspects of their scientific endeavor but also raises thought-provoking moral and ethical questions. Mary's character is driven by a complex mix of ambition and defiance, challenging her time's patriarchal and imperialistic limitations. Her relationships—both with Henry and other characters like Maise, Henry's sister who becomes her confidante and ally—reflect themes of power, gender, and betrayal. The strong character development in the novel will make you feel connected and invested in the characters.

What I Liked: This was a great ride. I loved the prose, the plot, and, of course, Mary, who C.E. McGill depicted as a flawed and unique character who was also someone you wanted to root for. There were pieces of actual scientific historical context in this novel, but it wasn't like you needed to know it in depth to get it, but it was a lovely touch. Mary was brilliant, and I had such a great time reading about her researching things, figuring out the scientific community, and her beautiful relationship with Maise. I also completely loved her throwing wine in the face of someone ANNOYING [read to find out]. Overall, this was a fantastic book. Exploring Mary's relationship with the Creature was also done phenomenally well.

What Could Have Been Better: This book was slightly slow at the end of the day. I put "medium" for the pace because I think it evened out by the end; however, the beginning, even up to the first half, was a tell, not show, building the scientific piece of the story. I didn't mind it, but you might. Additionally, as much as I enjoyed Mary, she made some more questionable decisions near the middle/two-thirds of the way through. I get what she was doing, but as a reader, you just knew it was a bad idea. 

However, I loved it! It was a great take on a popular book (that I still haven't read), and I think the feminist and non-heterosexual elements were a nice touch.