OWLs Reading Challenge Conclusion

I made it! I completed the OWLs Reading Challenge!

Honestly, I wasn’t sure I was going to complete the five categories needed to ace my OWLs. I didn’t read quite as much this month as I did through January, February, and March, and I finished the last two books on the very last day of the challenge. This was tons of fun, though. I loved the premise of the challenge. I really had to search through my shelves for books that would fulfill some of the categories. While I didn’t read something for all of the categories, I did have books lined up for almost all of them and do still plan on reading them at some point in the near future.

Some of the books I’ve read have already been reviewed on the blog. (Links are included below.) Others will be reviewed soon, so stay tuned for those.

 

Ancient Runes: Null States by Malka Older

Astronomy: Void Black Shadow by Corey R. White

Arithmancy: One Way by S. J. Morden

Care of Magical Creatures:

Charms: American Gods: Shadow #1-4 by Neil Gaimon, P. Craig Russell, and Scott Hampton

Defense Against the Dark Arts:

Divination:

Herbology: Black Clover Vol. 1 by Yuki Tabata

History of Magic:

Muggle Studies:

Potions:

Transfiguration: Cutie Honey a Go Go! by Go Nagai, Ito Shinpei, and Anno Hideaki

 

Review – The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service Omnibus, Book 2 by Eiji Otsuka

The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service Omnibus, Book 2
By: Eiji Otsuka
Illustrator: Housui Yamazaki; Bunpei Yorifuji
Translator: Toshifumi Yoshida; (editor/english adaptation) Carl Gustav Horn
Release Date: November 18, 2015; (original)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Series: The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
Rating:


Horror manga is a genre I have long loved, starting with Junji Ito’s work. More recently I discovered The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service by Eiji Otsuka. Funnily, once I was finished with the first volume of the omnibus and ready to purchase the second volume it was out of stock on nearly every website I usual frequent for manga purchases. Thankfully, my brother works at a bookstore and was able to snag a copy! The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service Omnibus Book 2 is a great horror manga that more people should read.

Review – Goldfisch Vol 1 by Nana Yaa

Goldfisch Vol. 1
By: Nana Yaa
Translator: Michael Waaler
Release Date: January 16, 2018
Publisher: TokyoPop
Series: Goldfisch
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


I love shonen. It’s probably my absolute favorite genre of manga. So when I received a copy of a newly translated shonen manga I jumped on it. Goldfisch by Nana Yaa is a great action story set in a slightly dystopian world with endearing characters.

Review – Kill the Minotaur by Chris Pasetto & Christian Cantamessa

Kill the Minotaur
By: Chris Pasetto; Christian Cantamessa
Illustrator: Lukas Ketner; Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Publisher: Image Comics
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


Mythology is something I have long been fascinated by, an interest that formed when I was a child and stuck. While I sit on the fence most of the time with retellings of popular fairy tales or legends, I decided to give this one a try. Kill the Minotaur is written by Chris Pasetto and Christain Cantamessa with art by Lukas Ketner and Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and is a unique retelling of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.

Review – Killing Gravity by Corey J. White

Killing Gravity
By: Corey J. White
Release Date: May 9, 2017
Publisher: Tor.com
Series: Voidwitch Saga #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


You know what I like? Space adventures. You know what I also like? All powerful magical type characters. So, obviously, when a surprise copy Killing Gravity fell into my lap I made sure to read it immediately. Killing Gravity by Corey J. White is a fast paced, fun story about an all-powerful voidwitch.

Review – Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Nimona
By: Noelle Stevenson
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Publisher: Harper Collins
Award: National Book Award Nominee for Young People’s Literature (2015); Odyssey Award Nominee (2017); Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award Nominee (2017); Evergreen Teen Book Award Nominee (2018); Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Nominee (2016); Lincoln Award Nominee (2018); Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for Best Graphic Album-Reprint and Nominated for Best Digital/Web Comic (2015)(2016); Children’s Literature Council of Southern California Award for Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature (2016); Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Graphic Novels & Comics (2015); The Magnolia Award Nominee for 9-12 (2017)
Rating:


I had wanted to read Nimona for quite some time. It was a graphic novel I’d heard a huge amount of praise for, but one that I’d simply never picked up. When I came across a copy in the library, I checked it out immediately and read it the very same day. And man, I was not disappointed. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson is an absolutely wonderful story about a villain, his side kick, friendship, and how far someone is willing to go for love.

Review – Outbreak Company: Volume 1 by Ichiro Sakaki

Outbreak Company: Volume 1
By: Ichiro Sakaki
Illustrator: Yugen
Translator: Kevin Steinbach
Release Date: November 17, 2017; (Original) December 2, 2011
Publisher: J-Novel Club
Series: Outbreak Company #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


I am always on the hunt for new isekai (that’s ‘trapped in another world’ for those who don’t know) light novels. Somehow I’d missed the anime Outbreak Company when it first aired, so I jumped at the chance to read the light novel. Outbreak Company Vol. 1 by Ichiro Sakaki, author of Chaika: The Coffin Princess among others, is a light novel that is both fun, but unafraid to delve into the more serious aspects of politics and the issues that arise when transporting pop culture to another world.

Review – The Armored Saint by Myke Cole

The Armored Saint
By: Myke Cole
Website: http://mykecole.com/
Release Date: February 20, 2018
Publisher: Tor Books
Series: The Sacred Throne #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


I’ve never read a Myke Cole novel before, but it is a name that’s somewhat familiar due, I assume, to my mother’s habit of devouring all action/adventure military novels she can get her hands on. The Armored Saint by Myke Cole is a compelling dark fantasy which follows a young woman named Heloise as she stands up for what she believes is right at the expense of her family and communities safety.

Review – Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files Welcome to the Jungle

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files Welcome to the Jungle
By: Jim Butcher
Illustrator: Ardian Syaf
Release Date: October 21, 2008
Publisher: Del Rey/Dabel Brothers
Series: The Dresden Files Graphic Novels
Award: Hugo Award Nominee for Best Graphic Story (2009)
Rating:


I’ve been a fan of the Dresden Files since the series early days. I have all the novels lovingly sitting right next to my Harry Potter collection. (Look, having all the fantasy books with protagonists named Harry together just makes sense to me). What I don’t have are any of the assorted graphic novels. Recently, I picked up a copy of The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher and Ardian Syaf.

Review – Scales & Scoundrels Vol. 1: Into the Dragon’s Maw

Scales & Scoundrels Vol. 1: Into the Dragon's Maw
By: Sebastian Girner
Illustrator: Galaad
Release Date: February 13, 2018
Publisher: Image Comics
Series: Scales & Scoundrels
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:


I love fantasy stories. So it isn’t any surprise that I picked up the latest fantasy graphic novel, which hit shelves today, February 13, 2018. Scales & Scoundrels Vol. 1: Into the Dragon’s Maw by Sebastian Girner and Galaad is a delightful fantasy perfect for people of any age.