Head Games by Joe Hill

Head Games by Joe Hill
Locke & Key #2
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Source: Bought
Star Rating: 4
Rating: Essential

New York Times bestselling writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez, the creators behind the acclaimed Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft, return with the next chapter in the ongoing tale, Head Games. Following a shocking death that dredges up memories of their father's murder, Kinsey and Tyler Locke are thrown into choppy emotional waters, and turn to their new friend, Zack Wells, for support, little suspecting Zack's dark secret. Meanwhile, six-year-old Bode Locke tries to puzzle out the secret of the head key, and Uncle Duncan is jarred into the past by a disturbingly familiar face. Open your mind - the head games are just getting started.

Since reading Welcome to Lovecraft, I haven't been able to stop thinking about this world. The artwork is amazing, and the storyline is dark, creepy, and totally captivating. I had to order Head Games as soon as pay day arrived, because I simply couldn't wait any longer. The wait for it was awful, but I finally got my hands on it and I loved it! Locke & Key is a fantastic series, and I am so happy that the second graphic novel lived up - even surpassed! - my expectations.

Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill

Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill

Locke & Key #1

Release Date: September 29, 2008

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Source: Bought

Star Rating: 4

Rating: Essential

Locke & Key tells of Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them.... and home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all... Acclaimed suspense novelist and New York Times best-selling author Joe Hill (Heart-Shaped Box) creates an all-new story of dark fantasy and wonder, with astounding artwork from Gabriel Rodriguez.

I had been looking forward to reading this graphic novel for a long time. My first graphic novel was The Kite Runner, and since I read that I've been craving more. But I had to wait until I found a job, because graphic novels can be bloody expensive, and that is certainly true for the Locke & Key series. So, I bought this ASAP, and I absolutely devoured it!

I am a huge fan of horror and blood and gore, and as soon as I started reading this I knew that it would be the book for me. There's a murder in the first couple of pages, and Welcome to Lovecraft only gets darker from there. 

Frostbite: The Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead, Emma Vieceli and Leigh Dragoon

Frostbite: The Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead, Emma Vieceli and Leigh Dragoon
Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #2
Release Date: May 24, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Bought
Goodreads Stars: 4
Rating: Essential

Buy the Book: Amazon UK

The drama and romance continue in this 144-page full-color graphic novel adaptation of the second Vampire Academy novel, Frostbite, which was overseen by Richelle Mead and features beautiful art by acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli. - Goodreads

 I have put off buying this graphic novel for the longest time because when I read the first one I had to wait a year to get my hands on this. So of course it was only natural to wait an extra year in the hopes that the wait for Shadow Kiss wouldn't be too painful. I don't even know when the Shadow Kiss graphic novel is coming out, but I got this while Bout of Books was on and just thought I could do with a quick, fun read.

The Avalon Chronicles: Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue Moon by Nanzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir
Avalon Chronicles Volume 1
Release Date: March 21, 2012
Publisher: Oni Press
Source: NetGalley
Rating: Essential

When Aeslin Finn was a little girl, her parents read to her from a magical book called The Avalon Chronicles. But that was a long time ago. Now a teenager, Aeslin is about to discover just how magical she and that book really are. Transported to the world of Avalon, she discovers a kingdom in need of a Dragon Knight - and the last dragon, Blue Moon, is waiting for her.- Goodreads

I went into this not knowing much about the background of the story, and I'm pleased to say that I totally didn't need to know anything before reading this.

I haven't read many graphic novels, but this one is definitely one I'll come back to again and again. This is only the first volume, and I'm really looking forward to the next book.

The story itself is action packed from the start, and the drawings make it easy to depict what is happening. The illustrations are beautiful, and added a lot to the story itself. I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't get to read this in full colour, as I received it as an ARC, because I think it would have made the experience even better.

The world building is FANTASTIC, the illustrator and writers include the rich history of the world that Aeslin gets transported to really well and efficiently, and I was sucked in from the beginning.

I would definitely recommend picking this one up if you enjoy reading graphic novels or comics. I was really impressed with everything about it, and would recommend it to everyone. I'm dying to read the next book in the series, because I need to see more of this world!

Cover: Frostbite Graphic Novel

While I wait for my IMM video to process - and believe me, I've been waiting a LONG time - I was casually looking through some Facebook pages, forums and the like. I was directed to Emma Vicieli's DeviantArt page and I found THIS, along with other previews from the book.

Have you all seen this before, and I'm really late in finding it? I cannot express how much I LOVE this cover! It says (quite clearly) that the cover is not final, but this is FANTASTIC and I love it. Mainly because Christian is on the front. And the Strigoi look like ninjas.

What do you all think of it? Have you guys read the Vampire Academy graphic novel yet? I believe that the Frostbite graphic novel is coming out in May of this year. I CAN'T WAIT!

The Kite Runner Graphic Novel by Hosseini, Celoni and Andolfo

The Kite Runner Graphic Novel by Khaled Hosseini

Illustrated by Fabio Celoni and Mirka Andolfo

Release: September 5, 2011 (UK)

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Source: Publisher

Rating: 5 out of 5

Buy the Book: Amazon US | Amazon UK

It is 1970s Afghanistan, just prior to the Russian invasion. Twelve-year-old Amir is desperate to win the local kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. the two make a partnership that appears to defy Hassan's position as a servant and Shi'a Muslim. But neither of the boys can foresee what will happen to Hassan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter their lives... - Goodreads Page

I haven’t read The Kite Runner novel, so I don’t know how this graphic novel fares in comparison. I do have the novel on my bookshelf waiting to be read, and I can honestly say that after reading this fantastic graphic novel that I will be picking up the book by Khaled Hosseini.

I’ll start by saying that there wasn’t anything that I disliked about this graphic novel. I thought that the drawings were stunning, and they really pulled me into the story and made the characters come to life. I focused on each and every panel, and paid such attention to the little details that were in the story.

I was blown away by the powerful story, and I was left shocked at some parts. The story is truly heartbreaking, and yet full of hope. The graphic novel gives a good idea of how life in Afghanistan had changed over twenty years – something we don’t learn about at school here in the UK. After reading this, I am interested in finding out more about the Palestinian people and the problems that were/are happening in Afghanistan. I definitely think that a book like this would be a great read for a teenager who wanted to discover more about the subject.

The Kite Runner has also been made into a movie, so I’ll definitely be checking that out after reading the novel. I want to thank Bloomsbury for sending me this wonderful book, as it’s really opened my eyes and encouraged me to want to learn more about the issues at hand. 

Book Review: Vampire Academy Graphic Novel

Vampire Academy Graphic Novel

Illustrated by Emma Vieceli; Adapted by Leigh Dragoon

August 23, 2011

Publisher: Razorbill Penguin

Source: Publisher. Thank you! 

Rating: 4 out of 5

Recommended? Of course! 100%

Buy the Book: Amazon US | Amazon UK

After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir's Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It's filled with intrigue, danger - and even romance. Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life. - Goodreads Page

This is the first full graphic novel I have ever read, and now that I’ve read it I am dying to read more. The drawings are fantastic overall; I think Emma Vieceli has done a great job at bringing our favourite characters to life. The depth of the emotions shown was really striking, and I felt I didn’t even have to read the descriptions to know what the characters were feeling. 

The plot of the original 300+ page novel was condensed quite a bit, as expected, and as a result every single scene in the graphic novel holds some importance to the overall arc of the plot. I personally would have liked to have seen more of Dimitri and Rose, and their relationship developing, but I feel there was just enough to make me want them together already. 

Regarding the drawings, I thought most of the characters were brilliantly drawn. Dimitri was hot, as expected, but – dare I say – Christian was even hotter! I fell in love with him all over again in this book. Yum. His scenes were awesome and I also loved it when he was using his magic. That was also blazing hot. Excuse the pun. 

I would definitely recommend reading the novel by Richelle Mead first, if you haven’t done so already, as there is a lot more description and fleshing out of the plot and I think this is important to the story.

I applaud both Leigh Dragoon and Emma Vieceli for bringing my favourite series to life, so to speak. Overall they both did an amazing job! My only peeve is that my favourite quote was changed! “If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you.” Is one of my favourite quotes of all time, and I was a bit upset when it read as something else. I’m not sure how necessary the change was, but I would have much preferred it if they had left it in. But anyway, go and buy this book. It’s a must for your Vampire Academy collection!