Hello friends! Welcome to the first Bite Size Review post of 2022. Granted, I usuallly try to post these on Saturdays. But since I had to work yesterday, the day got away from me. So, here we are for the list of the first books I read in 2022! This year, I’m moving a bit away from reading challenges, so I can focus on what I want to read instead. And on all the ARCs that I have on NetGalley. Anyway, for the Week of 1/1, I read a total of 5 books! A good start to the year so far.
Bite Size Reviews: Week of 1/1
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston (1/4)
Planning a review for this coming up this week, so I’ll try not to give too much detail here. On the night of prom, Shara Wheeler kissed Chloe Green and the disappeared. Now, Chloe is trying to find her. This is like a mix of Paper Towns, Mean Girls, and Footloose and I am here for it. I loved the way some of the students figured out their queer identities in the book. Like always, McQuiston has a great cast of characters you won’t forget for a while. You’ll definitely want to pick this one up when it comes out in May! (5 stars).
Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe (1/4)
A re-telling of Hades and Persephone in graphic novel format. What started as a web comic is now being published in physical volumes, which is always fun! I saw this a lot on Goodreads and Instagram and I was so excited to read it. However, the writing felt a little underwhelming. The art, though. The art is worth it! I loved the art style throughout this, and would definitely read anything that Smythe illustrated. It’s so unique and gorgeous (3.5 stars).
Cold by Mariko Tamaki (1/4)
I already wrote a review for this one this week, so just a few thoughts here. While I’ve loved every graphic novel that I’ve read from Tamaki, this novel fell short to me. The writing itself felt almost graphic novel like, as it was really image heavy. The book itself felt too surface level. I wanted Tamaki to dive more into the characters and the mystery, it would have made the book overall more enjoyable (3 stars).
Real Hero Shit by Kendra Wells (1/5)
Prince Eugene has decided to go on an adventure in order to prove that he’s a hero. For Michel, Hocus, and Ani, they find it a bit unfortunate he deicdes to join their party. Their quest seems straight forward, until Eugene is forced to face the realities of his kingdom. If you like Dungeons and Dragons, you’ll definitely enjoy this graphic novel! It has a lot of elements of a D&D game, which makes it a fun adventure story. It could have been fleshed out a little more, but it was still fun! (3.5 stars).
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer (1/5)
In the kingdom of Kandala, a deadly fever is working its way through the country. The only thing that helps is the petals of moonflower, mostly reserved for the rich. Tessa works against the system to distribute the petals with her friend Wes. But Wes is hiding a big secret, one that could change the kingdom forever. Maybe not the most original YA fantasy, but it’s still entertaining! Kemmerer is great at writing character, and that once again shines in this book. Interested in seeing if she takes it in a new direction with the next book (4 stars).