Reading: MR. SUMMERLING'S SECRET CODE (THE TREASURE TROOP #1) - Doris Hillestad Butler (author), Tim Budgen (illustrator)

1st Line: "Marly heard the doorbell ring, but she didn't budge from the couch."

Prose (Story): The first in a new chapter-book mystery series from Edgar-winning author Doris Hillestad Butler (the Haunted Library series), in which three classmates who barely know each other must band together to solve a series of codes and mysteries to uncover a hidden treasure left to them by a beloved neighbor. 

Don's (Review): Mr. Summerling, the old man who'd lived next door for years, was someone young Marly had always enjoyed watching strutting around town with his metal detector, obsessed with finding treasure. When news of Mr. Summerling's death comes in the form of an invitation to the reading of his will, Marly is shocked at both the sad turn of events ... and when she then learns that, in his will, the eccentric Mr. Summerling left a treasure - not only to Marly, but two other children from her class, Isla and Sai ... provided the three kids can work together to solve a series of codes, puzzles, and riddles the old man left behind, which will lead them to their prize. At first Marly - still hurting from when her best friend recently moved to the other side of the country - is a bit resentful of having to work with a pair of classmates she doesn't know, but soon the three become entranced in their treasure, forming a friendship without even realizing it in what is a terrific, charming, and very upbeat kid's book that incorporates themes of loss, acceptance, friendship, working together as a team, children with disabilities - all featuring a multi-ethnic cast of characters and some cool puzzles that children will enjoy, as well as a satisfying and fun conclusion that kids of any age will enjoy - plus setting up the new Treasure Troop series! Having read only the first Haunted Library book as well and loving it), I can honestly say that I will eagerly be continuing with/finishing off both series, as well as pretty much anything else Doris Hillestad Butler writes; her plots and characters (always accompanied by perfect illustrations, in this case by Tim Budgen) make for books that are always fresh and interesting page-turners I whisk through in no time. Genuine treats.  4.5/5 stars

Reading: HOLLYWOOD TRASH - Stephen Sonneveld (author), Pablo Verdugo (illustrator)

1st Line: "... And that is the source of my power, and why the garbage man must die."

Prose (Story): In a lavish Hollywood mansion owned by a world-famous entertainment mogul named Grapevine meets The Privy Council, a clandestine and nefarious club of the famous and near-famous, led by Grapevine, whose latest grab to attain power, influence and wealth seems oddly simple: they must kill a garbage man. One who has something belonging to their ruthless leader that he wants back. As each member of the council (if he or she doesn't want to face Grapevine's wrath) systematically hunts down the hapless James - a burly and good-natured guy completely unaware of what's going on, who only wants to train his new route partner, Billy - little do the two Los Angeles-based garbage collectors understand the eventful day ahead of them, as one assassination attempt after another hunts their every move through Hollywood.

Don's (Review): This volume collects issues 1-5 of the comic, and while I normally wait a day or two (minimum) to write a review, all the negatvie reviews and bashing of this book - on Goodreads especally - spurred me to write ths literally minutes after finishing. The problem on GR seems to be that some are posting low, one-star reviews, and then complaining about how incomprehensible the book was to them. In fact, when reading on, the problem becomes obvious: the reviewer read one or two issues of the comic, jumping in on the middle of the story, whch of course means so, so very much won't make sense. Worse, they are posting these reviews on the page dedicated to the 118-page collected volume of the five issues and NOT for the individual issues, therefore badly skewering the numbers when, in fact, the reviews being left don't apply to this volume! All - inredibly - WRONG; for my taste, even a slap-dash, too-quick ending that left me a bit "Huh?" still didn't hurt the fact that this is an over-the-top, often funny, and beautifully-illustrated parody, of sorts, of a supervillain movie where the majority of the villains are genuinely inept. I loved James and Billy, both good guys just trying to do their job, and as each attempt to kill them ends in delicious disaster, the stakes rise and the reader becomes more invested in wondering just what could a garbage collector have, on some super-rich Hollywood mogul, that'd be worth being killed for? It's a lot of fun, and yes if you are reading the compendium it all DOES make sense (contrary to some GR reviews) by the end; in fact, this would make a great limited series for something like Adult Swim or even Fox; the visual style of the book, as well as the writing, would be ideal for either. Not sure what Oprah would think of all that, considering the very thinly-disguised version of her here, in the form of a major member of The Privy Council - but yeah, please don't listen to the negative reviews; at least not until you've read the full compilation volume, and enjoyed some great art and snarky humor tthat will keep you turning pages.  3.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: CHÉRI, MY DESTINY! - Okoge Mochino

1st Line: "'Hello, and thank you for dropping in!'"

Prose (Story): Kaoru, after studying the art of candymaking in France, proudly opens up Bisous, his own patisserie, in Japan, specializing in new and innovative flavors and creations. The store is a hit, Kaoru even more so as he is quite young and handsome; a good catch, for someone so young yet already operating his own successful business. Kaoru takes huge pride in all he's learned and accomplished - no more so than when he hears of a nearby patisserie, called Tatsuya, that's been in business forever and yet remains as popular as the day it opened. As Tatsuya only deals in traditional Japanese chocolates and sweets, Kaoru is even more dumbfounded about how the shop could rival his ... until he takes it upon himself to visit the store to size up the competition, and sees that the manager behind the counter is just as elegant, upscale, and breathtaking as the shop itself. Worse, Kaoru - who is bi - finds himself immediately smitten by the store manager, Sojiro, the insta-love throwing him completely off-course, and after trying unsuccessfully to reign in his emotions regarding the superiority of his own shop and sweets, Kaoru makes it his mission to create some new, even more innovative sweets ... for the sole purpose of bringing them over to Sojiro, who will then have to acquiesce to the superiority of Bisous and French sweets, even as Kaoru finds himself falling more and more in love with his shop's biggest rival.

Don's (Review): Run-on sentence above aside, I can hardly find room in my heart for the love I have for this incredibly sweet (no pun intended) male-male manga love story with a confectionary setting. Kaoru is so reminiscent of that one character (at least) in every anime - film or series - whose reactions are all overreactions; one minute he's adorable, in the next panel a bug-eyed, shrieking fiend with razor-sharp teeth because something minor has sent him over the edge. A talented pastry chef and smart business owner, yet at times very immature emotionally, whether it be falling in love so fast or having a serious freakout when Sojiro isn't immediately impressed with one of his confections. My worry was that these constant actions and reactions would make Kaoru incredibly annoying, very fast, but in truth somehow writer Okoge Mochino has in Kaoru created a character whose emotional outbursts seem to cover up a young man who's simply trying very hard to be successful in the adult world, even while maybe still not fully a "grown-up" inside. Indeed, instead of off-putting, as the story went on I found myself becoming more and more endeared with Kaoru, wanting him to succeed both in business and with Sojiro - and speaking of which, in Sojiro Mochino has successfully created a sensitive yet masculine, empathetic yet intelligent "hottie" that makes it easy to see why Tatsuya has such a large female clientele ... and why Karou falls in love. Not a lot of conflict here, in a pretty straightforward story, but if seeking a charming, simple, boy-meets-boy love story, you probably couldn't find anything in either Kaoru or Sojiro's patisseries that is any sweeter. I only hope Mochino continues, either via these boys or other standalones, with bringing characters so wonderfully to life on the page as a manga artist and writer.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: WYND BOOK ONE: THE FLIGHT OF THE PRINCE - James Tynion IV (author), Michael Dialynas (illustrator)

1st Line: "Wynd?"

Prose (Story): Wynd is a teenage boy who lives and works at a bawdy tavern in Pipetown, working with the cook downstairs at preparing and sending food orders, via pressurized chutes, up to the tables in the inn above. His best friends are Oakly, an engineering apprentice, and her mother - his found family, as he has none of his own. His job keeps him downstairs and away from actually facing customers; a good thing as Wynd, under his unruly head of hair, has pointed ears - a sign of magic in his blood, and magic is forbidden in Pipetown. So forbidden, in fact, the king has recently called the sinister Bandaged Man back to hunt down and kill anyone in the city even touched by magic. Magic contaminates, after all, and Pipetown is seemingly the last truly, wholly human city left standing; the king is determined to keep it that way. So Wynd stays indoors mostly, covering his pointy ears with his thick hair or hood - even when he sneaks up to the crow's nest above the tavern on break time, to spy on Thorn, the beefy, handsome son of the king's gardner, when the young man goes on his daily runs. Wynd dreams of this young gardner boy as much as he does a normal life ... though dreams, these days for Wynd, include nightmares where he transforms into a hideous beast with wings that Oakley beats to death when she doesn't recognize it's him. But an escalation in the Bandaged Man's plans, conbimed with the king's son's attempt to flee the kngdom with Thorn in a plot to help make Pipetown free, puts Wynd on his own path, along with Oakley, to get out of Pipetown before he's discovered and killed - and find his way north, to where he'll be able to not only live with his own kind ... but accept himself for who he is, as well.

Don's (Review): If the plot above sounds complicated, it's not really - and yet is, thanks to writer Tynion's cinematic take on this pretty brilliant first-in-a-series graphic novel that - thanks to artist Dialynas's artwork, as well - plays out like a film while reading. A very unique history and world surrounds the seemingly simple Pipetown, and that world is populated with real characters you can either hate or root for, as well as a natural storyline pulsating with dramatic tension that plays a bit like an Indiana Jones-style adventure on the page. Wynd is endearing and sweet, torn between who he is and his desire to lead a normal life (hopefully with the right boy; hopefully Thorn), and even supporting characters like Oakley, Thorn, the prince, etc. all come to life in this exciting, suspenseful page-turner that I loved from cover to cover, spurred on by both great story and art. Even the ending, thankfully, leaves some doors and questions open for book two, while not pulling the silly, too-often-used trope of leaving the reader with a doozy of a cliffhanger to literally yank them into book two. No such gimmicks needed here; here, your attachment to (love for) both characters and story will be more than enough to make you wonder what happens next, long after you close this one. Only my second 5-star graphic novel read of 2021 so far, and one of my favorite reads of all time. Outstanding.  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: TWISTED FAIRY TALES: CINDER-ELEPHANT - Samantha Newman (author), James Hearne (illustrator)

1st Line: "There once was a girl called Cinderella."

Prose (Story): A retelling of Cinderella for kids 6+, in which a hard-of-hearing Fairy Godmother sends the poor but beautiful young girl to the prince's ball in the form of a full-grown elephant!

Don's (Review): Dropping 6/1, I read and fell in love with this kids (age 6 and up, though I was giddy as a six-year-old just reading it) book tonight; have already read it twice. Yes, I love elephants, but like me if you also remember "Fractured Fairy Tales" from your youth, this Twisted Fairy Tale - in both story and funny full-color illustrations - will take you back to those days and laughter of your childhood. Cinderella is a poor but beautiful, rather bedraggled young girl who, after the death of her father, is basically treated like a servant by her bad-tempered stepmother and two stepsisters. When they keep her from attending the ball the prince is throwing for the kingdom's maidens, Cinderella is visited by her fairy godmother ... whose ears happen to be clogged with fairy dust, making her mis-hear everything Cinderella says to the point that she sends the poor girl to the ball transformed into an elephant (!) - one who will have only until midnight to capture the prince's heart. Not sure what else to add, except GET THIS; I loved it so much, plus as of this writing the Kindle pre-order price is just a whopping 99 cents! (Available June 1)  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

April Wrap-Up: Welcome to Slumpsylvania

Well, April started off good anyway. Some book disappointments but got "Lost" in a couple of really decent reads (one of which, in particular, still resonates in my mind), and had even started reminding myself of my love for films by starting to catch up on some I'd been wanting to see.

Then sadly, about three weeks in, a series of circumstances convinced me to give a long-term dream - writing. I finished both The Lost Village and The Lost Apothecary around the same time, suffering a book hangover with the latter especially. Then suddenly, I had lost the capacity - even desire - to read. Concentration impossible for more than a couple pages, and even when making myself pick up a book, no matter what it was, the desire to read just wasn't there.

So I turned to films, which took less concentration and allowed me to veg out; hence the eleven titles on this month's wrap-up. Had such hope for Melissa McCarthy's newest (hopes dashed) otherwise saw some fair-to-mediocre films with the occasional gem in between. Meanwhile, the most I could muster for the rest of the month, book-wise, were kidlit and graphic novels - though that said, there were a couple goodies in that mix!

Now in May, the slump continues (so far). HATE book slumps; don't think I've been mired in one for like six years, at least. And as there are some freaking amazing titles coming out in May - not to mention I've got blog tour commitments I'm trying to keep - fingers crossed I can push this trolley back on the tracks asap. 

Any suggetions welcomed! See you in June, and oh yeah - have just barely started back to posting some long-overdue back reviews ... at last! Still a ways to go to catch up, but let's see what we can do ...

BookTube Spin #2 ... + Reaction to Book #1

If you saw my post of 23 April (which you can read here), you saw I posted my list of 20 titles for the second BookTube Spin, hosted and spun by BookTuber Rick MacDonnell on 28 April. Details on how the project works are in the linked post above; it's an easy and fun way to knock a few books off your TBR - especially if you're up for the game of a random spin to see which from that list you'll read next.

Spin #2 came up with a boring number - "1" no less - but the corresponding book from my list seems anything but: The Deep by Alma Katsu. A part of me has been obsessed with the Titanic forever, and I've been wanting to read Katsu's novel for what feels just as long ... so yay! Now it's official, and will be read by June 30th.

Meanwhile, for the first spin (#15) back in late December, my book-to-read was The Lost Village by Camilla Sten, which I gave three stars. Official review to come (hopefully within this millenia), but I did enjoy the book a lot, while at the same time felt it definitely came with some of the growing pains most first novels (it is a debut) come with. More to come. 

Such a fun project, though, and if even one person reads this post and comes aboard The BookTube Spin now - or for the next spin in July - it will have done its job!