I read 16 books this month. What's next? 'Strange the Dreamer' coming soon...

Further updates: I'm on a superhero comics rush now. Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' remake has less reason to exist than their other live-action nostalgia cash-grabs. And as it turns out I'm still learning a lot about life and what I get from it. Fiction storytelling helps to show how the world isn't so terrible. They speak the truth. Books give us hope for the future.

Case and point: From my library:

Graphic Novel Review - 'Batgirl, Volume 1: Beyond Burnside' by Hope Larson (Writer), Raphael Albuquerque (Artist), Dave McCaig (Colourist)

So, DC, how do you get a good 'Batgirl' story? Well, aside from the obvious - rehire Gail Simone, dammit! And stop firing female writers, and while you're at it fire your employees accused of multiple cases of sexual harassment! - another obvious thing to do is, yes, let a woman write for Batgirl. Hope Larson - of 'Goldie Vance' recognition - was a decent choice, as 'Beyond Burnside' is a mystery and Batgirl is a detective. The Rebirth titles continue to look promising.

I, along with quite a lot of people, am not a fan of Batgirl's 2015 run in Burnside (also known as "hipster Gotham", or "lamer Gotham or Bludhaven"). I do not like Barbara Gordon being 21 when all logic and continuity says she should be older. And wiser. Barbara, after everything she's been through, would not care about her alter ego's fame and reputation. She would not be obsessed with taking selfies after every crime she busts - that's just asking for your identity to be compromised. Heroes without superpowers tend to keep to the shadows and the night for a reason. There's separating herself from Batman and his ways, and then there's being an irresponsible, reckless, stupid woman-child. Her "villains" gallery in Burnside suck too. And Black Canary, Bab's oldest and dearest confidante and girl-friend, is suddenly an equally-childish arsehole to her. BC is also in a band. I don't think I will ever get over that.

It all sounds like DC is trying too hard to be relevant; to appeal to the youth of the current generation, at the expense of the development of one of their most popular female superheroes. It comes across as desperate, tacky and dated.

Thankfully, in 'Batgirl, Volume 1: Beyond Burnside', Barbara finds herself - away from Burnside and in Japan and other countries in Asia. She fights crime, uses her brain whenever it is very useful and not contrived, works hard on overcoming her limitations, thinks outside the box (admittedly she does this in 'Burnside' as well, though the situations here are far more dire and the solutions are not ridiculously easy), and she doesn't use her technology to take selfies. Everything Babs does and thinks is essential to the plot and her character arc. Her eidetic memory is even used in a creative and shocking angle towards the end. 

She has a friend in Burnside, Frankie Charles, a woman POC with muscular dystrophy who is her information wizard and is a great friend - a positive in Batgirl's run on 'Burnside'. I do miss Alysia Yeoh, the transgender woman of colour from Gail Simone's New 52 run, however.

It seems Barbara is back to her old self I know and love, or she's getting close. Another aspect I like about her character is how she dates multiple guys throughout her life - before, during and after her time as Batgirl - and this is treated just how it is: completely normal. In 'Beyond Burnside' her love interest is her childhood friend Kai Ma, who mysteriously shows up as her roommate in Japan. Their relationship is sweet and full of friendly banter (they both manage to avoid being too touristy while they're at it), and it concludes in a non-cliche manner. At least Kai has nothing to do with Burnside, and isn't an idiotic cop who treats Barbara like a spoilt, privileged kid.

The baddies Batgirl fights in 'Beyond Burnside' are also a huge, memorable improvement on the past. They're threatening, somewhat sympathetic, can kick arse and are a real match for the caped crusader heroine. The last issue has her up against/teaming up with Poison Ivy; a fun callback to DC's old days and is what superhero comics should be read for. Batgirl truly saves the day here - brains all the way!

The artwork is a mixed bag; simplistic with too many lines and shadows on people's faces, it's rather off-putting. The cover art is always better drawn. The dialogue is fun and witty, conveying what it needs to.

Really, when it comes to my favourite superheroine of all time, aside from a smart story, all I want is a fun 'Batgirl' comic. 'Batgirl, Volume 1: Beyond Burnside' delivers that. How relieved I am! Rebirth appears to be DC's apology for how badly it had treated its heroes in recent years - especially its female heroes - and I was going off the "darker-and-darker-for-darker's-sake" company until now. 

I'm anxious for what is in store for Barbara Gordon in the future, with fewer and fewer references to 'The Killing Joke' at a time.

Final Score: 4/5

Book Review - 'Harry Potter: The Prequel (Harry Potter, #0.5)' by J.K. Rowling

2023 EDIT: Part of my 2023 clear-up, of books I no longer like, or am no longer interested in, or remember well as standing out, or find as special anymore, or I otherwise will not miss.

[I think I have finally outgrown this series and fandom, and I can no longer in good conscience support it, thanks to She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. My once-love of the franchise has turned sour; I am disenchanted, disinterested, and I can't look at it fondly anymore. I will always have the memories, but not the books.]

Final Score: 4/5





Original Review:



Harry Potter Reviews


The Prequel



800 words describing the Marauders James Potter and Sirius Black getting into trouble with Muggle cops, from the cops' point of view. That's it. That's the story, or event; what this "prequel" is about.

But Merlin's beard is it the most entertaining 800 words you're going to read this week. J.K. Rowling's penmanship - published online - for charity is a few minutes of pure fun. She writes so well, and her dialogue and observations are hilarious. James and Sirius are mysterious, rapscallion troublemakers, and the best of friends.

Rowling actually got me to like a prequel to something, and to want so much more of it. It's too short - just what is going on, anyway? Oh bothering, bollocking, pillocking bastards and broomsticks!

A good laugh for 'Harry Potter' fans. You've got nothing to lose.



Harry Potter: The Prequel:


Final Score: 4/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn #1-6)' by Peter S. Beagle (Author), Peter Gillis (Adaptation), Renae De Liz (Artist), Ray Dillon (Artist)

2023 EDIT: A beautifully illustrated graphic novel, adapting a beautiful story. Based on one of my favourite novels and stories ever, and darn it's gorgeous to look at, and to be immersed and lost in. A magical pool of an adaptation. Imperfect, but a feathery, gold keeper. A fairy tale classic.

One thing that remains true of my original review: A lovely, sad fairy tale graphic novel all around, that captures most of the ethereal, golden atmosphere of Peter S. Beagle's classic masterpiece.

Final Score: 4/5





Original Review:



A gorgeously illustrated graphic novel, and a decent adaptation of one of my favourite fantasy books.

I'm not too big on adaptations like this, but mainly I wanted to read Peter Gillis' 'The Last Unicorn' because the art is done by Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon, who created my beloved 'The Legend of Wonder Woman'. 'The Last Unicorn' is worth it for the spectacular artwork alone.

The choice of words for the narration boxes, and the placing of them, gets a little awkward. Similar to the animated film adaptation, it shows how some things can be better explained in the novel, without important plot points feeling random, confusing and not clearly conveyed (like what exactly Mommy Fortuna does and why, and the attitude of King Haggard's people in Hagsgate).

Well, there is magic. There are good, complex characters like Schmendrick and Molly Grue, danger, darkness, poetry and romance. The unicorn herself is a beautiful sight. Her blue eyes drink up so much.

A lovely, sad fairy tale graphic novel all around, that captures most of the ethereal, golden atmosphere of Peter S. Beagle's classic masterpiece.

Final Score: 3.5/5

After watching the latest 'Doctor Who' Christmas special and the new 'Sherlock' two-part series, I am fully convinced that Steven Moffat has never had a conversation with a woman that's lasted more than a minute, and which he hasn't interrupted her.

Graphic Novel Review - 'W.I.T.C.H., #1: The Power of Friendship' by Parke Godwin (Translator), Walt Disney Company (Creator), Elisabetta Gnone (Writer)

A small graphic novel that brings me back to my school days of collecting 'W.I.T.C.H.' chapter books. The series is about five ordinary thirteen-year-old girls who are chosen by forces in Candracar, a majestic temple in the center of the universe, to become the fairy-like Guardians of the Veil. They possess Captain Planet powers. It is as fun and full of heart and emotional investment as I remember it.

The characters are likable, the fantasy elements are creative and endearing, the mystery is decent, the plot twists are well-executed, the artwork is nice for what it is, and for 'The Power of Friendship', a prelude to something much bigger to come, the development for each of our leads is slow but understated and important. 

Will, the heart/energy Guardian, is insecure (about her body and moving into a new town), but her bravery shines through for her new friends and little creatures even before she becomes the team leader (her mum is also wonderful here). Irma, the water Guardian, is funny, selfish, spontaneous, hides nothing about herself, and acts as any teen girl would when receiving magical powers - she cheats in school and gets dates with guys. Taranee, the fire Guardian, is like Will (she was also a recent new girl at school), only shier and less independent, and a nerd with growing courage. Cornelia, the earth Guardian, is the blonde popular girl, the most mature of the group - she is a smart, stubborn, temperamental, hard-as-nails realist who will nevertheless go to great lengths to help her friends. And Hay Lin, the air Guardian, is a loving, joyful, optimistic free-spirit - a geek girl into comics and science fiction, rather fickle and unpredictable but a fantastic friend and family girl. 

All of these youths going through puberty (their bodies change to look older when they transform into Guardians, a symbol of their growing up) have their own gifts, hobbies, quirks and fashion trends. You cannot say just one thing about their personalities; there is always so much more to them. What links this funny little group is their loyalty, support and care for each other - in their normal lives, and in fighting otherworldly monsters and saving the universe. 

No aspect of their lives is easy. Indeed 'W.I.T.C.H.' can be scary for a children's comic sometimes. But these friends can overcome anything when they face them together, as corny as that sounds.

For that is what 'W.I.T.C.H.' is about: Friendship. Companionship. Bouncing off of one another. It is something that has appealed to me about any Magical Girl product since I fell in love with 'Sailor Moon' as a child. With all the silliness and plot holes, 'W.I.T.C.H.' kept its message about girl power, for young girls like me at the time. It is cute and serious and sad all at once.

Friendship is magic - thanks to 'W.I.T.C.H.' I knew that before the phrase became more universally renowned.

Final Score: 4/5

Book Review - 'The Hate U Give' by Angie Thomas

2022 EDIT: I was so worried, with my recent deluge of disappointing reads and rereads, that it will continue on to 'The Hate U Give'.

It did not.

Far, far from it.

In fact, I love it more than ever. It's more than a great book. It's an experience. It is reality. It is life. It is a living, breathing, human encapsulation, that's also brilliantly written.

It is more relevant than ever. It will continue to be relevant, to even save lives; including when, at last, something, anything, does actually change.

Absolutely everyone should read it. Everyone.

I was absorbed into this book to the point where, once briefly out, I kept being surprised by how many pages I'd read in a short time; to the point where I didn't even notice or acknowledge when one of my cats was right on top of me, up to my face, as I was reading. I adore my cats, and this is the one whose annoyingness and naughtiness extends to her fur, molting everywhere and all the time, no matter the season, so that should tell you something.

It's just...it's been so long since I'd read good writing like in 'The Hate U Give'. I was never bored, distracted, confused or baffled. It truly is how literature - modern and classic, fiction and fact - should be. It entertains as well as educates. It endears and endures, forever. It is all heart, love, fear, anger, outrage, and righteousness. It is all the emotions and thoughts.

Read my original review of 'The Hate U Give' below for more.

'The Hate U Give' is a revolutionary. Thank you, Angie Thomas, and everyone in your position.

Everyone should have a voice. Everyone, but most especially minorities in our fucked up society, should be heard. Everyone has the power, the bravery, the determination, the "fuck that, yes I'm fucking mad and I'm not taking this fucking bullshit anymore", to act; to make a change.

To keep doing what's right, no matter what.

Final Score: 5/5





Original Review:



As my 350th review, I know I probably should try to make it stand out, at least. But with 'The Hate U Give' by Angie Thomas, I find I am incapable. Hundreds of other reviewers have already said what needs to be said about this 2017 release. Its importance, its relevance, its truth - for a fictional account with fictional characters - cannot be overstated enough.

'The Hate U Give' is one of the most harrowing, real novels I have ever read in my life. A lot of book lovers have said at some point that a certain book needs to be read by everyone - me included - but 'The Hate U Give' is 100% justified in that statement. Everybody, and I mean everybody, needs to read this. Such a powerful, remarkable debut. Like the previous book I reviewed, 'Dreadnought', it could literally save lives. (They also highlight how YA lit should be written.)

'The Hate U Give' is about the Black Lives Matter movement. Here it is called the Just Us For Justice movement, but it is clearly inspired by real life events. It is about justice, silenced voices being heard, standing up to deadly, normalised bullshit.

It is about family and community.

Racism is systematic, with unchecked roots going back to past politics like all prejudices. 'The Hate U Give' breaks down how the "ghetto" in the US economy is a dumping ground and gutter for underprivileged black people, who will be forced into drug dealing, gang banging and gang violence, just to make a living for themselves and their families. Other opportunities are full of near-impossible obstacles for them. No matter where they go or who they turn to, they are in danger. Trust is such a delicate issue, fragile and changeable. And an unfortunate amount of white people feel the "ghetto" black people's early deaths to be justified - blaming them for circumstances they have no control over, and which white politicians put them in in the first place.

There are people in America with a dark skin tone who are terrified of the police, the very people who are meant to protect them, and it is not unreasonable. Unarmed African-Americans being killed by so-called law enforcers has become a common occurrence. When even black children are murdered by white policemen for no real reason and the justice system offers no indictment and doesn't care, something needs to change. Nothing is going to change unless enough people speak out loud enough about it.

Nobody deserves to die because of the colour of their skin. Whatever way it is looked at, the facts - reality - all point to systematic racism. It is why Black Lives Matter, and this novel, exist.

'The Hate U Give' tells the story of Starr Carter, an African-American teenager who witnesses the shooting and killing of her unarmed childhood friend, Khalil, by a white police officer. It is about her slowly discovering the strength to speak up about it through her PTSD. It is also about her beautiful, imperfect family. Starr's life speaks to many black people in America.

'The Hate U Give' isn't only powerful in its message. The writing is superb; Starr's voice, her constant inner struggle over how much of her "black" and "white" personalities she feels safe showing in front of white people (like the officials wanting to discredit her and a racist, whitesplaining friend), rings--no, it is bang-on authenticity. She comes to realise she hasn't even been her true self with her white boyfriend; understandably her fear is so deeply ingrained. Starr is an angel, with constellations of dimensions to her. Her tome is over 400 pages long, and it can be read in two days tops.

The characters are so strong, so real, they leap off the pages; I liked all 30+ them, flaws and everything. There is perfectly-placed symbolism of peace (loving parents, tended garden flowers etc.), and destruction (in various forms). It's not all doom-and-gloom, either; the references to 'Harry Potter' and 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' offer a refreshing and funny catharsis.

Readers will learn much from 'The Hate U Give' - it is a beacon, a mirror on society. Get angry, for you have the right to be. It is a story that needed to be told, and hopefully it will help give more attention to the many, many true stories from black communities living and dying in the US today.

One of my new favourite books, I love the whole package to pieces. Hateful and violent, yet loving and beautiful. When it comes to living our lives, and surviving injustices, there is no such thing as black and white.

Final Score: 5/5

Book Review - 'Dreadnought (Nemesis, #1)' by April Daniels

One of the most entertaining and vitally important superhero novels I have read since Perry Moore's 'Hero'. And like 'Hero', it is gold for LBGTQ representation. It could not have come out at a better time, yet it is timeless.

In a world where superheroes and villains are a common and accepted fact of life, many facets of intolerance towards "the Other" still exist. Fifteen-year-old Danny Tozer always knew she was a girl, born in the wrong body. But she also knows society won't accept that of her, especially not her emotionally abusive, toxic masculinity ideas-spewing father. The only way she finds she can be herself is in hiding, away from home and school. It is slowly killing her, being forced to act like her birth gender is supposed to. 

Until one day, whilst Danny is hiding to paint her nails, the world's most famous superhero Dreadnought crashes down beside her. Before he dies, he gives her his mantel, his powers. As well as receiving Dreadnought's super-speed, strength and flight, Danny now has the physical body she always wanted. She has super powers, but she is happy for the first time in her life because she is a girl at last. 

Amid the transphobia Danny endures with her new identity - from her in-denial father who thinks he can "cure" her, from her best friend David whose misogyny is clearer to her than before and who sees her as a sex object he's entitled to date, and TERFs like the superheroine Graywytch - will she take up the mantel of her hero - or "cape" - identity as the new Dreadnought? There's also Dreadnought's murderer, the villain Utopia, to consider. 

Will the world accept a girl Dreadnought, let alone a transgender one? 

Even with all the serious issues 'Dreadnought' addresses, and the painfully harsh and real low self-esteem issues Danny faces as a result of years of domestic abuse, it is still an incredibly fun book. There's plenty of action, comedy, and most prominent, female alliances and friendships.

'Dreadnought' is full of girl power and diversity. The charming and sympathetic Danielle "Danny" is a lesbian as well as transgender. She sticks up for herself when someone misunderstands and misgenders her, having to constantly tell the ignorant that she is a girl. But for her bravery and selflessness as she fights bad guys and saves lives, the book is ultimately about a trans girl finding the courage to stand up to her abusive father; that love and acceptance are important for a healthy life. 

Doc Impossible is one of the best characters I've come across in contemporary lit - smart, eccentric and a ton of fun to read about, I adore her. With what's revealed about her character towards the end, her mentoring, allying and compassion towards Danny is greater still. 

Calamity the rogue (or "graycape" as heroes like her are called) cowgirl superhero is Danny's crime fighting partner. A dark-skinned badass who knows her way around (her catchphrase is "I'm possessed of an idea..." etc, at least I think it is because who talks like that?), and is a true friend. There is no romance in 'Dreadnought' since there is no need of it, what with everything else going on in young Danny's life, but I loved seeing her friendship with Calamity develop throughout. Her sexuality is barely made a focus in the plot, for while it is a part of her identity, there is no reason to make a big deal out of it, and that is awesome. Hints of something more in her relationship with Calamity may come in the sequel.

Other superheroes such as Valkyrja, Danny's fangirl crush, are cool too, though they don't appear nearly as much as they perhaps should. The transphobes I mentioned - Danny's dad, David and Graywytch - can go straight to hell. It's sickening that people like them exist in real life. In a lot of ways they are worse than the spotlighted villain of 'Dreadnought', Utopia the female cyborg, who as it turns out has one of the most interesting motivations for her crimes. No one sees themselves as evil, and the bad guys here really think they are doing the right thing.

'Dreadnought' is a thrilling, touching and original superhero story and I can't recommend it enough. As part of #ownvoices, it is absolutely relevant, and how important it is in our political climate right now cannot be stressed enough.

I am cisgender. By all rights I am not a person who should pompously tell exactly what it means to be trans. Even as an ally, and a sympathetic and empathetic human being, I know I can't fully understand their experiences. No one individual has had the same experiences, not the marginalized, not anyone. No matter how much research I do, no matter how much exposure, I don't know shit. But I am going to try explaining my own experiences with acknowledging the transgender community.

My parents are friends with at least one person who is a transgender woman. Other than that there are very few trans people I've met in real life. Throughout my youth most of what I'd learned about them is from watching television which, yeah, is a highly toxic place. Apart from that one British reality TV show season where a trans woman won (that is literally the only good thing I can ever say about reality TV), TV gave away nothing but offensive stereotypes and misinformation. Transgender women (it was always women) were seen as jokes - inherently walking jokes - played for laughs at the expense of their humanity; where the writers genuinely seem to have thought that trans females and gay males are the same. One might think this is kinder than having them portrayed as sexual predators and deceivers of poor straight cisgender men, but it really isn't better. The punchline to these "jokes" always comes right down to this: Trans women are not real women, they're just men in dresses. Men who have given up their manhood and so must be punished for it, for what is worse than being a woman? Being happy to be a woman. Transmisogyny was everywhere, and this kind of dehumanization still exists to this day. 

Even films with positive representation, good intentions or not, are merely for Oscar-bait (as if acting as a decent human being earns you a gold star nowadays), and show their lack of dedicated effort and respect when they cast a cisgender actor to play a trans person (looking at you, 'The Danish Girl', which is based on a real trans person's life so there is no excuse). In a way it is still erasing the experiences of the marginalized, when they are not even consulted in the making of a film.

These depictions literally get hundreds in the transgender community killed.

Take the BS bathroom bills in the US, and "trans panic", which allows for the legal murder of trans people out of so-called shock from a deception. These exist purely from transphobic myths with no basis in facts whatsoever. They are still around. Agreeing that the trans community are human beings living their lives like everybody else is still a controversial debate. An example of "othering" them is telling them where they should go to the toilet. Politicians and powerful and influential leaders can remove the rights and protection of transgender youth - without which more of them will get murdered or attempt suicide every year, and the numbers are so much higher for trans people of colour - simply because they can. They don't care that trans men and women are their own people who are dying, and they think nobody else should care about "the Other" either. All due to baseless fear and rampant misinformation from the past, creeping up on the present. 

Overall transphobes believe transgender people shouldn't exist, or can't exist, because they appear outside comforting, black-and-white societal boxes, and challenge the perception of gender. Transphobes don't like changes and complications (which they make themselves), and in the patriarchy a man rejecting manhood - wanting to be a woman comfortable and confident in her own skin - is emasculating. Emasculation is the ultimate insult, and downright terrifying to these bigots. So like bullies they will try to stomp them out, ridicule them, take away their basic human rights, and choose not to hear them when they cry out for help. The deaths of trans people, including trans POC, are almost never on the news for a reason. The message is clear: You don't matter.

TERFs (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist) are no better. They claim to want equal rights for ALL women, and if that doesn't include women who were not assigned as such at birth, then what are they doing? Their close-mindedness and tone-deafness infuriates me. They don't seem to realize that their own ideas about gender are as dated as non-feminists'. It broke my heart when I recently heard that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, one of the best modern writers and feminists of our time, doesn't consider trans women to be real women because they got to experience male privilege early on in their lives. While not as aggressive a statement as other transphobic feminists of the past, like Germaine Greer, have made, it still assumes that the trans community is a hive mind of those who all have similar experiences to one another, and that being a woman comes down to biology and the societal expectations that come from that; something feminists have always struggled to fight against, risking their lives in the process. Transgender females are dying due to invisibility and lack of positive representation and caring, and TERFs want to deny they are even women in the first place and so are not worth helping. They are bigots. Exclusionary feminism is not feminism, period.

Not such a funny joke now, is it?

So along comes 'Dreadnought', a book about a transgender superhero. She is the lead. This is her story. Fuck knows that transgender people, especially the youth, need a hero, someone to look up to and see themselves in, as a symbol of strength against adversity. 'Dreadnought' should be a movie. No question, no debate, just make it happen. Cast someone who is actually transgender as Danny Tozer - superhero and teen, living in a world which, with bright spots here and there, is struggling to accept her for who she is, and also doesn't want to accept her. She can be a life saver.

No joke, 'Dreadnought' and books like it could save lives. Hopefully more good will come out of it in its wake and success.

Here's only a couple of the best quotes:


'I see a world that is terrified of me. Terrified of someone who would reject manhood. Terrified of a girl who knows who she is and what she’s capable of. They are small, and they are weak, and they will not hurt me ever again. My name is Danielle Tozer. I am a girl. No one is strong enough to take that from me anymore.' - page 69 of my copy

'"You think it’s a uterus that makes a woman? Bullshit. You feel like you’re a girl, you live it, it’s part of you? Then you’re a girl. That’s the end of it, no quibbling. You’re as real a girl as anyone"'. - page 51 (Doc Impossible, you are also a hero)



Final Score: 4/5

Scribble #45

Style over Substance:

With books, is there such a thing as Punctuation over Plot?

Graphic Novel Review - 'Another Castle: Grimoire' by Andrew Wheeler (Writer), Paulina Ganucheau (Artist)

2023 EDIT:

Reread: What a fun, colourful, warmhearted, clever, thrilling, and sometimes surprisingly dark fantasy adventure comic. It's not perfect - the ending is a little rushed, the main villain is weak and one-dimensional, and a couple of plot points are quick and muddled and confusing. But whatever, it's great. It is a fantasy world, containing real world political subtext. Its messages about rebellion, freedom, equality, togetherness, and forming democracies are blatant, and important.

'Another Castle' may be better than I remember the first time reading it. In many ways it is my kind of graphic novel. A wonderful, hope-filled standalone.

Final Score: 4/5





Original Review:



'Another Castle: Grimoire' is a fun fantasy graphic novel that is, appropriately enough, like a classic video game presented in another art form. It's a simple story with themes of rebellion and empowerment in all sorts of ways - nothing special, but enjoyable. The art is by the same person who worked on 'Zodiac Starforce', Paulina Ganucheau, and that ranks the book high in my, ahem, book. It is passionate, and adorable.

Artemisia, or Misty, is a princess who wants to kill an evil king, Badlug, using the only sword that can do the task. But her selfless, noble heart gets her locked up in his castle and forced to be his bride so he can rule over her kingdom of Beldora. It is Misty the story focuses on while, in the background, her "prince" comes to try to rescue her. She doesn't wait around for a mini-second, and by her own efforts, she uncovers the horrific truth behind Grimoire, the kingdom of monsters. With the help of Badlug's equally-trapped servants, the princess vows to set Grimoire free from tyranny, and kill her captor once and for all.

We've seen the rebellious princess trope so many times now that we've become as sick of it as we had the passive fairy tale princess trope that's existed since storytelling began. But at least Princess Misty, who excels with a sword and is as assertive and smart as they come, also likes dresses and jewellery, plus pink. There is more to her than any boxed gender stereotypes.

'Another Castle' is about Misty wanting freedom - from her external prison and to be whoever she wants, never ruling anywhere; alone or alongside anyone else. There's a revenge motif to her character; part of her motivation for going against Badlug is a vendetta for her mother's death years beforehand. She is hard yet kind, and cries in practically every chapter. That just makes her more brave and worth rooting for.

There is also a homosexual couple going through an on-and-off-again breakup that's a small detail to the story and not made a big deal of at all. Female friendships and sisterhood are put to the forefront. Fantastical racism with goblins and monsters - overcoming racism and loving and helping each other despite our differences really is a theme that is everywhere nowadays, and in fact was always around and we didn't care to see it until we realized how important it truly is to see in fiction right now. To that I say, "Good, keep it up, everyone always needs to be reminded about equality."

Overall 'Another Castle: Grimoire' isn't particularly groundbreaking. The villain Badlug is one-dimensional (he is just like Skeletor from 'He-Man', only not nearly as entertaining or memorable), and Princess Misty, however good she is, doesn't stand out much in comparison to the other colourful and charming characters (the monsters, including Gorga the half-gorgon, are funny and great to know over the course of the story). But as a comic for all ages, it is an exciting adventure. Energetic and not too violent, it is a fun-packed homage to eighties' Saturday morning cartoons and arcade games, notably Nintendo's 'Super Mario' and 'The Legend of Zelda'.

For a progressive, feminist dragon quest about hope, go read 'Another Castle'. The princess is in another castle, because she escaped and is on the move towards justice.

Final Score: 3.5/5

International Women's Day 2017

Happy International Women's Day. Because we all need it. Because women matter. Because women are half the human race. Because no one should be punished for existing. Because everyone should be made to feel proud to exist; as they are and who they want to be.

Keep safe, you beautiful, diverse, complex people x

Book Review - 'The Best of Pippi Longstocking (3 books in 1)' by Astrid Lindgren

If I had read 'Pippi Longstocking' when I was very young, I'm sure I'd have loved it. Pippi would have been one of my childhood literary heroines alongside Matilda Wormwood.

But it doesn't really matter that, in my mid twenties, I only just now started reading 'Pippi Longstocking'. Because Astrid Lindgren's classic books are for the inner child in all of us.

All three books in the 'Pippi Longstocking' series are just the right kind of fun, over-the-top silliness, like a comic strip. Episodic with no obvious morals, and that's okay. There's no nauseating preaching or teaching about goodness/Christianity/ladylike manners like in so much of classic children's literature.

Pippi Longstocking was created in 1945, and she is every bit a strong independent girl who lets no one tell her what to do or how to live her life. She's nine-years-old and lives alone with a monkey and a horse in a house in the outskirts of a little Swedish town. She speaks her mind, makes up her own games and routines, is highly creative and imaginative, tells fibs for the fun of it, doesn't go to school (or only when she feels like it), has had lots of exciting adventures overseas already (her father was a sea captain), and is physically the strongest person in the world. She can lift and toss around anything and anyone. Without adult authority figures, she can manage fine on her own.

Traditional gender roles do not apply to the marvelous Pippi Longstocking. She wants to be a pirate when she grows up, or maybe a real, proper lady in her unique way if she can pull it off (no chance, since she's as free as a bird), or maybe she doesn't want to grow up at all.

People will say Pippi is too independent, too irresponsible, too thoughtless, too much of a bad influence. But that is precisely why she is so beloved. Uncontrollable and unmanageable, she is every kid's dream. When she plays around with a bull or a tiger or a shark or a pistol, the grownup part of my brain telling me that this is wrong and dangerous for a child to do is drowned out by my feeling childlike fancies that I'd long thought were dormant. Besides, Pippi's not just like a female Dennis the Menace. She's optimistic and caring; in fact she's very thoughtful of other people, stands up to bullies and criminals, and tries to cheer up those around her. She gives away presents constantly (though with her inherited gold pieces she can afford to) - even to burglars - and saves children from a burning house no problem. And you thought Wonder Woman was the only female superhero in the forties that comes to mind!

Pippi Longstocking isn't a naughty brat. She's friendly, funny, perceptive, witty and extremely playful and chatty. The one thing close to a legitimate flaw she has in the mad reality the books are set is she can come across as bossy sometimes, without being too overbearing. Despite the books' simplicity for child readers, young Pippi does have depth; concerning her loneliness, which she keeps to herself. She is a lot like Peter Pan, as well.

Plus, what do you know, another awesome female redhead!

I'd recommend these books for Pippi alone. The two children she hangs out with, her neighbours Tommy and Annika Settergreen, are normal kids, if a bit bland in the reader-identification-avatar role and function. They don't stand out when Pippi is always making decisions on what they should do. That girl overshadows everything and everyone she comes in contact with. She's infectious.

So for a jolly good time, if you can overlook the 1940s racism of dark-skinned Islanders being called cannibals - though there are no hateful or fearful attitudes towards them, and this isn't meant to be taken seriously - go read the three 'Pippi Longstocking' books. They are short and can all be read in one day.

Pippi - full name Pippilotta Provisionia Garberdina Dandeliona Ephraims-daughter Longstocking - is a one of a kind treasure/heroine/icon, especially for her time. I am actually quite sad there are no other books about her adventures.

Final Score: 4/5