Showing posts with label Faith Erin Hicks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith Erin Hicks. Show all posts

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Week 52 Reviews: Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy, Azula in the Spirit Temple


From Goodreads:
Set in the post-series comics era of the beloved Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise, fans will get to see a new part of the original timeline that they've never seen before. A stand alone comic about the best earthbender and inventor of metalbending, Toph Beifong. Written by Faith Erin Hicks (The Adventures of Superhero Girl, The Last of Us: American Dreams) and illustrated by Peter Wartman (Stonebreaker, Over the Wall) and Adele Matera, the same team behind the Imbalance trilogy.

A brand new stand-alone comics story from the world of The Last Airbender!

Azula continues her destabilizing campaign against the Fire Nation and her brother, Fire Lord Zuko.

But after a failed attack on her latest target, Azula finds herself in a mysterious forest temple inhabited by a solitary monk…or is it something more mysterious? Azula must confront her past, and finally face her chance at redemption.

Written in consultation with Avatar Studios, the veteran team of Faith Erin Hicks, Peter Wartman and Adele Matera is back with a new story in the world of The Last Airbender.

My Review:
I had such a great time reading these stories! Toph is such a beloved character, and Azula is a really interesting one, and I had a great time with these one off stories (and I can't wait for the Uncle Iron story, which I hope we see Zuko in, since we haven't seen him in a while!) and I'm so glad that we got this time with these characters!

Toph is bored, she's done well with the school, but her first students can handle instructing the new students. But since she's a part of Team Avatar, people are scared of her and think that she would report rule-breaking. So she's bored. I had such a great time with her meeting a lava-bender, and dealing with nomad band of secret tunnel fame!  

Azual in the Spirit Temple, yeah, was really interesting. Because she's powerful, but she's also villainous (not because she's a girl, but partially who she is as a person, and part how she was raised) and she's not right in the head, and has some mommy issues. 

I am a bit confused as to what was going on, with the caretaker of the temple, and what they were making Azula see. I don't know why they let her go, but she does show a bit of growth through this issue, which was great to read. But I'm still a bit confused. 

These were really fantastic to read and I can't wait to read more from this world!

Authors: Faith Erin Hicks, Illustrated by Peter Wartman and Adele Matera
Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics #7, 8
Read: December 29th, 29th, 2023
Source: Online
Reason Why: Love this world and these graphic novels, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Books! 
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Published: February 16th 2021, October 24th 2023

Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Azula in the Spirit Temple:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Week 38 Reviews: Imbalance, Part 1, Imbalance, Part 2, Imbalance, Part 3



From Goodreads:
When Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph return to Earthen Fire Industries--the factory owned by Toph's father--Team Avatar finds that the once small town is now booming. Expecting a warm welcome, Aang is surprised when their arrival is met with unimpressed, cold-shouldered spectators. As soon as the team is asked for help at a business council meeting, the reason for the slight becomes clear--a massive bender versus non-bender conflict has gripped the town and is threatening to turn violent.

Aang and Team Avatar race to resolve rising tensions between benders and non-benders before a town is torn apart!

There's something fishy going on in Cranefish Town, and it's up to Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph to find out what, before the simmering conflict between benders and non-benders boils over into all-out war. But danger lurks where they least expect it, and uncovering the truth will reveal a threat unlike any they've ever faced--and a fateful choice for Aang he can never unmake!

Written by Faith Erin Hicks (The Adventures of Superhero Girl, The Nameless City) and drawn by Peter Wartman (Stonebreaker), in collaboration with Avatar: The Last Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, this is the ultimate continuation of Avatar!

From Goodreads:
Team Avatar faces their most dangerous foe yet as the bender vs. non-bender conflict turns into an all-out war in this action-packed conclusion to the Imbalance arc!

While Aang grapples with a life-changing decision that only he can make as the Avatar, Toph and Katara implore him--from opposite sides--to choose a path. Meanwhile, Ru and Yaling concoct a fiery ploy to get their mother back. The bender vs. non-bender conflict finally reaches a powerful boiling point, and for better or for worse, Cranefish Town will never be the same!

Written by Faith Erin Hicks (The Adventures of Superhero Girl, The Nameless City) and drawn by Peter Wartman (Stonebreaker), in collaboration with Avatar: The Last Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, this is the ultimate continuation of Avatar!

My Review:
I really loved reading this story arc! I don't think I have much more left to read of Aang's time, or at least, what's currently published. So this almost feels like a final send off. I know there's the Azula story, but it looks like that's a one and done. So it's almost like we're saying goodbye here, or very soon after.

This takes place in Cranefish Town, which I think will become Republic City, and explores benders vs. non-benders, and the prejudice there, exacerbated by technology replacing people, in a bustling, growing industry town. So that was a really interesting discussion, a difficult one, and with no easy answers. 

Alongside that, is that Aang can take benders abilities away, as he demonstrated in the finale of the show. The question becomes, when is that the right answer to a problem? Because bending is a part of a bender's identify, as Katara points out, so when does the safety of the many override the abilities of the few?

All in all, this was another great look of the progress of the world, and the growing imbalance between nature and mankind, benders and non-benders. I'm a bit sad that there doesn't seem to be much more content of Aang and the gang, but this left off in a good place for the Legends of Korra series to pick up! 

Loved reading this story, it was such a great read! 

Author: Faith Erin Hicks, Illustrated by Peter Wartman
Series: Imbalance #1, 2, 3, Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics #6.1, 6.2, 6.3
Read: September 17th, 17th, 17th, 2023
Source: Online 
Reason Why: Love this world, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book! 
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Published: October 23rd 2018, May 14th 2019, September 10th 2019

Imbalance, Part 1:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Imbalance, Part 2:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Imbalance, Part 3:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Sunday, September 17, 2023

SeasonAthon Academy Update 11

So I read my next book for SeasonAthon Academy, and it was Imbalance which was for the prompt ART 1110, and I'll be reading Out There next! 

My Reading Journey:

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Prompt Fulfilled: PSPS 1030
Started On: September 2nd
Finished On: September 2nd, 1:04 PM
Pages Read: 336

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 2510
Started On: September 2nd
Finished On: September 2nd, 9:17 PM
Pages Read: 416

Dawnbreaker by Jodi Meadow
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 2530
Started On: September 4th
Finished On: September 4th, 9:14 PM
Pages Read: 464

Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah
Prompt Fulfilled: WGSS 2000
Started On: September 5th
Finished On: September 5th, 10:13 AM
Pages Read: 320

The Devouring Grey by Christine Lynn Herman
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 1330
Started On: September 7th
Finished On: September 7th, 9:51 AM
Pages Read: 368

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Prompt Fulfilled: ANTH 1500
Started On: September 10th
Finished On: September 10th, 8:53 PM
Pages Read: 464

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray
Prompt Fulfilled: MUS 3170
Started On: September 12th
Finished On: September 12th, 11:48 AM
Pages Read: 624

What the Spell by Brittany Geragotelis
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 1020
Started On: September 14th
Finished On: September 14th, 9:41 AM
Pages Read: 352

Mister Magic by Kiersten White
Prompt Fulfilled: MLNG 1500
Started On: September 15th
Finished On: September 15th, 9:36 PM
Pages Read: 295

Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 2420
Started On: September 16th
Finished On: September 16th, 10:01 PM
Pages Read: 416

Imbalance by Faith Erin Hicks, Illustrated by Peter Wartmen
Prompt Fulfilled: ART 1110
Started On: September 17th
Finished On: September 17th, 3:55 PM
Pages Read: 240

Out There Anthology 
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 1310
Started On: September 17th
Currently On: Page 0 of 464

Prompts Left: ART 3010, MUS 1110, THSP 1110, ANTH 1400, FLNG 2140
Read: 11
Pages Read: 4295

Saturday, September 16, 2023

SeasonAthon Academy Update 10

So I read my next book for SeasonAthon Academy, and it was Manslaughter Park which was for the prompt ENGL 2420, and I'll be reading Imbalance next! 

My Reading Journey:

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Prompt Fulfilled: PSPS 1030
Started On: September 2nd
Finished On: September 2nd, 1:04 PM
Pages Read: 336

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 2510
Started On: September 2nd
Finished On: September 2nd, 9:17 PM
Pages Read: 416

Dawnbreaker by Jodi Meadow
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 2530
Started On: September 4th
Finished On: September 4th, 9:14 PM
Pages Read: 464

Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah
Prompt Fulfilled: WGSS 2000
Started On: September 5th
Finished On: September 5th, 10:13 AM
Pages Read: 320

The Devouring Grey by Christine Lynn Herman
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 1330
Started On: September 7th
Finished On: September 7th, 9:51 AM
Pages Read: 368

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Prompt Fulfilled: ANTH 1500
Started On: September 10th
Finished On: September 10th, 8:53 PM
Pages Read: 464

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray
Prompt Fulfilled: MUS 3170
Started On: September 12th
Finished On: September 12th, 11:48 AM
Pages Read: 624

What the Spell by Brittany Geragotelis
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 1020
Started On: September 14th
Finished On: September 14th, 9:41 AM
Pages Read: 352

Mister Magic by Kiersten White
Prompt Fulfilled: MLNG 1500
Started On: September 15th
Finished On: September 15th, 9:36 PM
Pages Read: 295

Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price
Prompt Fulfilled: ENGL 2420
Started On: September 16th
Finished On: September 16th, 10:01 PM
Pages Read: 416

Imbalance by Faith Erin Hicks, Illustrated by Peter Wartmen
Prompt Fulfilled: ART 1110
Started On: September 17th
Currently On: Page 0 of 240

Prompts Left: ENGL 1310, ART 3010, MUS 1110, THSP 1110, ANTH 1400, FLNG 2140
Read: 10
Pages Read: 4055

Monday, January 24, 2022

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #555, January 24th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!
What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #554
Teaser Tuesday #562
WWW Wednesday #562
WOW #558
Will the Time Come #555
Third Sentence Thursday #545
Random Reads #531
First Lines Friday #558
Book Blogger Hop #224
21 Books to Read in 2021 Update 19
The Reward Challenge Update #540
Wheel of TBR #87
How Well I Stuck to It #392
Wrote that Review Update #390

Week 3 Reviews:
Wanderlust
The Girl in the Gray Sweatshirt
Besieged 

NetGalley November: 

Page-a-Thon: 

TBRPGathon: 

Random:

OK, so I got 51 posts in 7 days, and I read a good number of books, which was really great, and participated in a few different readathons. So yeah, really enjoyed that, and I can't wait for next week! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Highland Wolf!

New York Times Bestselling Author Lynsay Sands delivers another sexy historical romance set in the wilds of the Highlands

In all her daydreams about her wedding day, Lady Claray MacFarlane never once imagined being dragged to the altar by her greedy uncle and forced to marry a man she didn't know. But that's what happened, or would have, had a Highland warrior not snatched her up at the last minute and ridden off with her in his arms...

They call him the Wolf. The mercenary's courage and prowess in battle are known throughout the Highlands, and with his handsome face and black-as-sin hair, he was as intelligent and deadly as the wolf he was named for...

But the Wolf is also Claray's betrothed. Thought to have been killed as a child, he'd been in hiding all these years. Now, he's determined to earn enough coin to rebuild his home, reclaim his birthright, and honor his marriage contract to Claray. For he's fallen for the tender-hearted lass...and he will do anything to protect her and their future together.

Saturday, January 22, 2022

Week 3 Review: Suki, Alone

From Goodreads:
Even a Kyoshi Warrior can find herself in trouble.

Suki is captured by the Fire Nation and brought to the Boiling Rock, a grim prison in the middle of a dormant volcano. Separated from Team Avatar and her Kyoshi Warrior sisters, she decides to build her own community among other prisoners. But it's going to take more than an encouraging word to build trust among so many frightened people. Suki will need to draw on all her resources to do it, and even that might not be enough.

Enjoy all-new material from Faith Erin Hicks (The Nameless City; The Adventures of Superhero Girl) and Peter Wartman (Stonebreaker), with colors by Adele Matera. Written in consultation with original series writer Tim Hedrick! 

My Review:
This was such a great read! I really enjoyed this focus on Suki, because she's only in a handful of episodes in the show, she's a warrior, a protector of her island, and she dates Sokka, and that's about it, so it was really great to have her star here!

It starts off with her being sent to Boiling Rock and I enjoyed seeing how she got a lay of the land, and of making allies, of making a community. That that community is shattered, that was not fun to read, sometimes humanity is just out for themselves and it really sucks! 

One thing that I really enjoyed was that we did get flashbacks of her past, of parts that connect with what's going on now, from the weed that could save them, to her friend leaving to help the rest of the world. Loved getting this look into her past!

That moment, when she feels so alone, I'm really glad that Kyoshi was there, to remind her that while she was physically alone, her friends were still with her. It was a really hopeful sequence! And having it end with Sokka and Zuko coming to the prison, and we know how that turns out!

This was a really great read, and I can't wait to continue with the series! 

Author: Faith Erin Hicks, Illustrated by Peter Wartman 
Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics #0.6
Read: January 20th, 2022
Source: Online 
Reason Why: Love this world, and need to read all of it, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book! 
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: June 22nd 2021
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Page-a-Thon Update 30

So I read my next book for Page-a-Thon, and it was Suki, Alone and I'll be reading Blood of Elves next! 

My Reading Journey:

Nightrender by Jodi Meadows
Started On: January 1st 
Finished On: January 1st, 11:04 PM
Pages Read: 368

Miss Moriarty, I Presume by Sherry Thomas
Started On: January 2nd
Finished On: January 2nd, 7:40 PM
Pages Read: 357

A Relative Murder by Jude Deveraux
Started On: January 3rd
Finished On: January 3rd, 4:50 PM
Pages Read: 400

Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy
Started On: January 3rd
Finished On: January 3rd, 10:09 PM
Pages Read: 304

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Illustrated by Lisa Sterle
Started On: January 4th
Finished On: January 4th, 10:05 PM
Pages Read: 224

Lake Silence by Anne Bishop
Started On: January 5th
Finished On: January 5th, 8:38 PM
Pages Read: 433

Crowbones by Anne Bishop
Started On: January 6th
Finished On: January 6th, 6:58 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Lost Adventures Anthology
Started On: January 7th
Finished On: January 7th, 9:5 PM
Pages Read: 240

Straight On Till Morning by Liz Braswell 
Started On: January 8th
Finished On: January 8th, 2:38 PM
Pages Read: 496

Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan
Started On: January 8th
Finished On: January 8th, 5:52 PM
Pages Read: 464

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
Started On: January 8th
Finished On: January 8th, 9:35 PM
Pages Read: 302

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine
Started On: January 9th
Finished On: January 9th, 6:02 PM
Pages Read: 343

Wolfhunter River by Rachel Caine
Started On: January 9th
Finished On: January 9th, 10:38 PM
Pages Read: 334

Spelunking Through Hell: A Visitor's Guide to the Underworld by Seanan McGuire
Started On: January 10th
Finished On: January 10th, 5:15 PM
Pages Read: 439

A Phoenix Must First Burn Anthology
Started On: January 10th
Finished On: January 10th, 8:22 PM
Pages Read: 364

Lies Like Poison by Chelsea Pitcher
Started On: January 11th
Finished On: January 11th, 10:32 PM
Pages Read: 304

Katara and the Pirate's Silver by Faith Erin Hicks and Peter Wartman, Illustrated by Adele Matera
Started On: January 12th
Finished On: January 12th, 6:12 PM
Pages Read: 80

Love at First Spite by Anna E. Collins 
Started On: January 13th
Finished On: January 13th, 4:00 AM
Pages Read: 320

Taking the Heat by Brenda Novak 
Started On: January 13th
Finished On: January 13th, 7:52 PM
Pages Read: 384

Death Over the Garden Wall by Honor Raconteur
Started On: January 14th
Finished On: January 14th, 6:45 PM
Pages Read: 281

Wanderlust by Ann Aguire
Started On: January 15th
Finished On: January 15th, 6:26 PM
Pages Read: 320

Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre
Started On: January 15th
Finished On: January 15th, 10:44 PM
Pages Read: 372

Electric Idol by Katee Robert
Started On: January 16th
Finished On: January 16th, 9:57 PM
Pages Read: 387

Seven Mercies by Laura Lam and Elizabeth May
Started On: January 17th
Finished On: January 17th, 8:52 PM
Pages Read: 464

Electric Idol by Katee Robert
Started On: January 18th
Finished On: January 18th, 9:59 AM
Pages Read: 387

The Purveli by Dianne Duvall
Started On: January 18th
Finished On: January 18th, 7:41 PM
Pages Read: 347

All Rights Reserved by Gregory Scott Katsoulis 
Started On: January 18th
Finished On: January 18th, 11:44 PM
Pages Read: 400

A Desperate Search by Amanda Stevens
Started On: January 19th
Finished On: January 19th, 8:10 PM
Pages Read: 256

Someone is Watching by Amanda Stevens
Started On: January 19th
Finished On: January 19th, 10:31 PM
Pages Read: 256

Suki, Alone by Faith Erin Hicks, Illustrated by Peter Wartman
Started On: January 20th
Finished On: January 20th, 10:11 PM
Pages Read: 80

Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
Started On: January 21st
Currently On: Page 0 of 409

Goal: 25
Read: 30
Pages Read: 10087

Saturday, January 15, 2022

Week 2 Review: Katara and the Pirate's Silver

From Goodreads:
It's sink or swim for Katara!

When Team Avatar is suddenly ambushed by the Fire Nation, Katara gets separated from the group. Unable to rendezvous with Aang, Toph, and Sokka, Katara must avoid capture by aligning herself with some unlikely allies! The normally sweet and sensitive Katara will need to explore her tougher side if she's going to reunite with the rest of Team Avatar....

Written by Faith Erin Hicks (The Adventures of Superhero Girl, The Nameless City) and drawn by Peter Wartman (Stonebreaker), with colors by Adele Matera and letters by ComiCraft's Jimmy Betancourt, in collaboration with Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series writer Tim Hedricks!

My Review:
This was such a fun graphic novel to read! I love Avatar, and I'm trying to consume all of it's content! This takes place in season 2, after they've hooked up with Toph, but before they go to the Great Library. I really enjoyed this adventure!

Katara is alone, and she's trapped in a village. I loved how she tried to be tough like Toph, and her meeting up with these pirates. Though she is wary, and doesn't like how they are acting towards the Earth Kingdom, given the Fire Nation's treatment of it. Loved how that story played out!

This is a story aimed primarily at younger readers. I loved the lesson that Katara learns in this, that the pirates are not so much pirates right now, but smugglers trying to do their best for the innocent in their country! 

The story mainly focuses on Katara, but we do get some time with the rest of the gang, as they try to convince a Fire Nation solider of the truth. Which goes about as well as you can expect, the Fire Nation has indoctrinated its subjects for 100 years. That last scene with that solider was just hilarious! 

I really enjoyed this story, and I can't wait to continue! 

Authors: Faith Erin Hicks and Peter Wartman, Illustrated by Adele Matera
Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics #0.5
Read: January 12th, 2022
Source: Online
Reason Why: Love this world, and I need to read all the content, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book! 
Publisher: Dark Horse Books 
Published: October 13th 2020
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Page-a-Thon Update 17

So I read my next book for Page-a-Thon, and it was Katara and the Pirate's Silver, and I'll be reading Blood of Elves next! 

My Reading Journey:

Nightrender by Jodi Meadows
Started On: January 1st 
Finished On: January 1st, 11:04 PM
Pages Read: 368

Miss Moriarty, I Presume by Sherry Thomas
Started On: January 2nd
Finished On: January 2nd, 7:40 PM
Pages Read: 357

A Relative Murder by Jude Deveraux
Started On: January 3rd
Finished On: January 3rd, 4:50 PM
Pages Read: 400

Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy
Started On: January 3rd
Finished On: January 3rd, 10:09 PM
Pages Read: 304

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Illustrated by Lisa Sterle
Started On: January 4th
Finished On: January 4th, 10:05 PM
Pages Read: 224

Lake Silence by Anne Bishop
Started On: January 5th
Finished On: January 5th, 8:38 PM
Pages Read: 433

Crowbones by Anne Bishop
Started On: January 6th
Finished On: January 6th, 6:58 PM
Pages Read: 384

The Lost Adventures Anthology
Started On: January 7th
Finished On: January 7th, 9:58 PM
Pages Read: 240

Straight On Till Morning by Liz Braswell 
Started On: January 8th
Finished On: January 8th, 2:38 PM
Pages Read: 496

Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan
Started On: January 8th
Finished On: January 8th, 5:52 PM
Pages Read: 464

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
Started On: January 8th
Finished On: January 8th, 9:35 PM
Pages Read: 302

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine
Started On: January 9th
Finished On: January 9th, 6:02 PM
Pages Read: 343

Wolfhunter River by Rachel Caine
Started On: January 9th
Finished On: January 9th, 10:38 PM
Pages Read: 334

Spelunking Through Hell: A Visitor's Guide to the Underworld by Seanan McGuire
Started On: January 10th
Finished On: January 10th, 5:15 PM
Pages Read: 439

A Phoenix Must First Burn Anthology
Started On: January 10th
Finished On: January 10th, 8:22 PM
Pages Read: 364

Lies Like Poison by Chelsea Pitcher
Started On: January 11th
Finished On: January 11th, 10:32 PM
Pages Read: 304

Katara and the Pirate's Silver by Faith Erin Hicks and Peter Wartman, Illustrated by Adele Matera
Started On: January 12th
Finished On: January 12th, 6:12 PM
Pages Read: 80

Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
Started On: January 13th
Currently On: Page 0 of 409

Goal: 25
Read: 17
Pages Read: 5833