Graphic Novel Review: Let There Be Light by Liana Finck

Title: Let There be Light
Author: Liana Finck
Genre: Graphic Novel; Religion; Retelling
Publication Date: April 12, 2022
Publisher: Random House
 

In this ambitious and transcendent graphic novel, Liana Finck turns her keen eye to none other than the Old Testament, reimagining the story of Genesis with God as a woman, Abraham as a resident of New York City, and Rebekah as a robot, among many other delightful twists. In Finck's retelling, the millennia-old stories of Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob and Esau haunt the pages like familiar but partially forgotten nursery rhymes―transmuted by time but still deeply resonant. With her trademark insightfulness, wry humor, and supple, moving visual style, Finck accentuates the latent sweetness and timeless wisdom of the original text, infusing it with wit and whimsy while retaining every ounce of its spiritual heft.

Let There Be Light is proof that old stories can live forever, whether as ancient scripture or as a series of profound and enchanting cartoons. The Book of Genesis is about some of the most fundamental, eternally pertinent questions that we can ask: What does it mean to be human? What is the purpose of our lives? And how should we treat one another? The stories that attempt to answer these questions are an immediate link with the people who first told them. Unable to fathom the holiness and preciousness of that notion, or put it into words, Finck set out to depict it. The result is a true story of creation, rendered by one of our most innovative creators.

 

Rating

*A Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this. This is my honest and unbiased review*

 

Hello Fellow Readers,

 

I honestly did not know what to think of this book, because I have a bit of a hang up when it comes to the bible. This mostly comes from childhood which has to do with a religious family. Once I got over my hang ups though it was very interesting to see the book of Genesis told by someone else. 

Finck's art did take me a little while to get use to, but once I did I actually enjoyed it very much. The art complimented Finck's story very well. I love the alternative God that Finck explores, and the first two sections of the book was very interesting, but the third and last section sort of lost it's stride and I did not enjoy it as much.

Overall, a very interesting retelling about the Book of Genesis

Book Review: The Silver Arm by Ariele Sieling

Title: The Silver Arm
Series: Rove City #3
Author: Ariele Sieling
Genre: Retelling; Science Fiction
Publication Date: February 2, 2020

Maybelle works as a mechanic fixing bots and ships on Rove City and she loves it. Her life should be good. Except that her merchant father hasn’t returned from his most recent trip, her younger sisters need more than she can give them, and the family is quickly running out of money. Not to mention, Gabor, a local security guard, has decided he deserves Maybelle’s affections—at any cost.

She’s managing, until Gabor takes his attentions one step too far: he threatens her sisters. Maybelle realizes that she can’t protect them alone—it’s time to track her father down. But when she finally finds him, she discovers that it’s not that simple. He’s being held prisoner by Amarok, a temperamental cyborg who will only let her father go under one condition: Maybelle stays behind in his place.

For the sake of her sisters, she agrees, but soon discovers that there is far more to Amarok than meets the eye. The longer she stays on board his ship, the clearer it is that something strange is going on—but she doesn’t know what it is or how to fix it

 

Rating

 

*A Thank you to BookSirens for allowing me to read this. This is my honest and unbiased review*

 

Hello Fellow Reader

 So I really did not know what to expect form a science fiction retelling of beauty and the beast, but I got to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Sieling did an amazing job at making you like the main character, Maybelle. Maybelle is smart, responsible, and brave. Sieling also does a very good job at making you hate Gabor. 

As far as the plot went, I was very curious about Sedna and Amarok, while I was happy when they finally got to the explanation for him, I wish we did have more about their background. I like the use of bots and their descriptions as well as the mechanical aspects of the book. Sielings twist on beauty and the beast is very unique and I really wished the book was longer.

Overall, an enjoyable take on an old classic.

Book Review: Bittersweet Murder by Kaz Delaney

Title: A Bittersweet Murder
Series: Hart of Texas Murder Mysteries
Author: Kaz Delaney
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Romance
Publication Date: March 22, 2022
Publisher: Tule Publishing

In the small town of Airlie Falls, Texas, everyone knows everyone’s business, and newcomer carer and wannabe-baker Rosie Hart may be surprised to find herself the sole attendee at the funeral of her client, Miss Alice Auchinschloss, but she’s gobsmacked when she discovers she’s also Miss Alice’s sole heir. When reports confirm Miss Alice was actually murdered, Rosie becomes the potential small town hero for killing off the unpleasant woman—and prime suspect in her murder.

In a chance meeting with a helpful and handsome cowboy, Rosie discovers her newly-inherited home is ransacked, and someone is going to great effort to conceal their search. Rosie has no idea who is involved, or why, or what they were looking for, but when she’s questioned by the town’s sheriff, it becomes obvious that if she doesn’t prove her innocence, nobody else will.

With the help of her new friend, Jonah, his family, and a nosy but canny group of snack-loving ladies in the local retirement home, Rosie conducts her own investigation to clear her name and reveal the true identity of the murderer. Discussions over mouth-watering treats bring the motley investigative team closer together - and closer to solving this intricate puzzle, but when another elderly person winds up dead, it becomes apparent that this small town is full of secrets that someone is prepared to kill for in order to keep buried. Rosie must sift through her list of clues in order to serve up the truth - before she becomes the next victim!

Rating

 

*A Thank you to BookSirens for allowing me to read this. This is my honest and unbiased review*

 

Hello Fellow Readers,

 

I am a big fan of cozy mysteries. They are one of my favorite genres because they are easy to read, typically come in long series that I can binge, and let me sort of turn off my brain. When I saw A Bittersweet Murder and I knew I wanted to read it. I don't often get a cozy mystery at the "start" of a series, so with the prospect of seeing the main character grow in time with releases appealed to me. 

So, I really enjoyed the plot as there was more than one mystery to be solved. However, the downfall was the characters. There was just way too many of them that it was really hard to keep track of who did what, that it took away from the plot. Also, I wasn't connecting with Rosie as much as I wanted to. Jonah and his family seemed a little to coincidental, so I had a hard time believing the romance and other aspects. I think I would still be interested in the second book to see how Rosie grows, and what plot elements Delaney uses.

Overall, a good plot but lack luster characters