Wow, that art! That grabs the eye so amazingly that it's the first thing I have to mention. It's probably the most beautiful art in any comic that I hWow, that art! That grabs the eye so amazingly that it's the first thing I have to mention. It's probably the most beautiful art in any comic that I have seen. Every image is incredible, whereas most books at least have some panels that are lower quality, this didn't have that at all. Not only were they high quality drawings with great color, but also a high level of detail. I can't gush about the art enough in this, really. I think it actually extended my reading time almost double because I was agape at the art the whole time.
The story is also very good. There was a nice character arc with the main girl, Maika Halfwolf learning about some of her history, who she is, and what this demon monster is inside of her, including gaining control and, quite frankly, being seriously bad ass. The world building is very good, with the stressful peace between humans and arcanics - a halfbreed of ancients and humans. It touches on slavery and other touchy topics and can get very violent, but not exploitative, with some tech versus magic (in a similar way to Saga). There are these fascinating wandering giant dead gods as well.
This absolutely is going on my permanent shelf and I can't wait to read volume 2.
Merged review:
Wow, that art! That grabs the eye so amazingly that it's the first thing I have to mention. It's probably the most beautiful art in any comic that I have seen. Every image is incredible, whereas most books at least have some panels that are lower quality, this didn't have that at all. Not only were they high quality drawings with great color, but also a high level of detail. I can't gush about the art enough in this, really. I think it actually extended my reading time almost double because I was agape at the art the whole time.
The story is also very good. There was a nice character arc with the main girl, Maika Halfwolf learning about some of her history, who she is, and what this demon monster is inside of her, including gaining control and, quite frankly, being seriously bad ass. The world building is very good, with the stressful peace between humans and arcanics - a halfbreed of ancients and humans. It touches on slavery and other touchy topics and can get very violent, but not exploitative, with some tech versus magic (in a similar way to Saga). There are these fascinating wandering giant dead gods as well.
This absolutely is going on my permanent shelf and I can't wait to read volume 2....more
Another great volume. The rescue of Griffith. Fight with an assassin band and ends with a real beast of a man/criminal knight group set out against thAnother great volume. The rescue of Griffith. Fight with an assassin band and ends with a real beast of a man/criminal knight group set out against them. And other fantastic moments. ...more
This is one I picked up through Audible. Very pleasantly surprised. It has a long timeline from pre-birth of the main character until into his early oThis is one I picked up through Audible. Very pleasantly surprised. It has a long timeline from pre-birth of the main character until into his early or mid adulthood. It's a culture based on Norse Gods with a mix of things including original Gods created by the author. Some interesting political and military and religious entities around their culture. So, great worldbuilding. But the characters really shine in this. All of them seemed to have good depth and motivation around what they wanted and good differences between them to set them well apart. I hate when a book, especially in Audio form and you can't really tell them apart except by name. No problems with that here at all. Loved the story, the magic, and even the little bit of romance was well done. And turns out there is a second book in the same world that I will definitely have to check out.
I listened to a portion of this with my 13 year old son and then asked him if he wanted to join the military. That was a strong no.
What an event. I dI listened to a portion of this with my 13 year old son and then asked him if he wanted to join the military. That was a strong no.
What an event. I don't remember it going down in the news when it happened, since I was 10 at the time and probably avoided news as much as possible. So my previous understanding is purely from the movie, which I also don't remember and the vague knowledge that we had some stuff going on in Somalia once. So it was interesting to get some of the backstory of what was happening and why, but the best part of this book is the narrative style. Instead of being written like a history book, it's written like a novel, putting you right there in the action. Apparently, in the afterword, the author mentions that when he was researching it he was able to acquire actual audio transcripts and video from the event, so that allayed my wondering how much was author filler. Basically, none.
Unbelievable what some of those guys went through. And some of them being the elite of the elite. 18 Rangers and Delta soldiers were killed and 73 injured and estimates between 500-1000 Somalis were killed, all in one day and night of street fighting. On that note, this book also touches on the Somali's thoughts and side of the story, which I appreciated.
There was an epilogue of some of the after effects politically and some behind the scenes of writing the book and the response toward the author after, which was pretty interesting. ...more
As far as personal war stories books go, this one is pretty darn good. My dad was drafted into the Army just after Vietnam ended, thankfully, and agaiAs far as personal war stories books go, this one is pretty darn good. My dad was drafted into the Army just after Vietnam ended, thankfully, and again thankfully he convinced me not to follow in his and his dad's footsteps by joining the military. He hated being in the service and from other books and the politics of the time I can completely understand why. But this book is from a wholly different side. Lew Jennings couldn't wait to be a pilot and he even came back out of retirement to fly more missions in Iraq many years after he left the Army. And from some of his stories it's really quite amazing.
The title, 19 minutes to Live, was a timeframe given by the media at the time as to the average lifespan of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Based on the stats at the end of the book I don't think it's actually accurate, but what a terrifying thought. If I remember right, 40% of helicopter pilots either died or were injured enough to leave, so it was a pretty tough situation and these stories prove it. Not all of the stories are from Jennings perspective, which I appreciate, but I wish in the audio version they were read by different voices. It made it hard to discern when exactly the other person was finished with their story. Otherwise, the narrator did a good job.
I liked the format of the book. It gave a very brief history of helicopter usage in war, some of the inventors, manufacturers, models, etc. It talked about military structure, a brief history of Ho Chi Minh and the leadup to the Vietnam war, how Jennings entered service, and of course all of the daring stories of combat, from friends being shot down, to rescues, to doing stupid stuff and flying into a tree accidentally, to kicking a stuck rocket pod from outside the cockpit at hundreds of feet in the air, and a lot more. Easy going narration written in a way like you were swapping tales over beers. It was an enjoyable listen/read. ...more
This one was hard to read (listen). And that's without it even talking about Unit 731 (NSFL). This book very very briefly talks about the RaHoly shit.
This one was hard to read (listen). And that's without it even talking about Unit 731 (NSFL). This book very very briefly talks about the Rape of Nanking, and then primarily talks about POWs and occasionally swings into treatment of civilians. And it's shocking. I tagged this as horror because it's absolutely horrifying. The worst part about it, is that it makes it sound like many of the Japanese soldiers did this with glee. It really makes takes the Nazis for a run for the money, so to speak. Nazis still did immense horrors and more importantly at immense scales or quantities of people. This is the sort of thing that comes when propaganda absolutely dehumanizes the enemy. When your enemy is said to eat your babies alive, your soldiers are going to treat them equally. Dark Dark Dark time in history across the globe, for sure.
The final chapter(s) talks about the trials and punishments doled out to certain soldiers and generals and people after the war. It also kind of talks about the "I was just following orders" defense and how it fit with Japanese society and chain of command culture. So that was somewhat interesting.
I can only recommend to a reader with a strong stomach and a strong heart. And the hope that this sort of treatment stays in the past....more
Another great volume. Griffith does a deed, gets locked up and tortured. King is gross. Guts returns to the Band after they are betrayed and saves theAnother great volume. Griffith does a deed, gets locked up and tortured. King is gross. Guts returns to the Band after they are betrayed and saves them. A good tourney fight mixed in. Lots of stuff happens. Guts and Casca get together. Guts has memories of his past abuse. This was a pretty X-rated volume (well, maybe Hard R), especially the last two chapters....more
By far the majority of this volume is one big battle, well, two battles I guess. As always the art is impressive for these. Also, I love the armor in By far the majority of this volume is one big battle, well, two battles I guess. As always the art is impressive for these. Also, I love the armor in Berserk, really interesting stuff. ...more
The first of the Hale's Hazardous History series, but probably the 6th or 7th I've read at this point. They are all so good. Great humor and keep histThe first of the Hale's Hazardous History series, but probably the 6th or 7th I've read at this point. They are all so good. Great humor and keep history fun and fast paced while still being accurate and introduce all the important characters. This one, recounting much of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War has some pretty interesting tales, like the one-night fort and the mysterious army escape. They weren't quite as wild as some from the other HHH book on the Revolution that is about Lafayette, but still great stuff. ...more
Great finish to the trilogy. There are some surprising twists and deaths. This book series reminds me, in a way, of GRR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire Great finish to the trilogy. There are some surprising twists and deaths. This book series reminds me, in a way, of GRR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series just in that no one seems to be safe. A mix of future tech sci fi and old Roman societal life and honor. ...more
Another great hazardous tales book. Second published but actually first one written and it might be one of my favorites. This takes a pretty narrow scAnother great hazardous tales book. Second published but actually first one written and it might be one of my favorites. This takes a pretty narrow scope to the Civil War, which actually helps the story telling. And William Cushing sounds like a really fascinating man to further research. John Ericsson too for that matter. These books are just so fun and an enjoyable way to learn about some neat history....more
This book covers a surprising amount on WWI in a short top level summary. It shows just horrible and depressing it was and I like how he equates the GThis book covers a surprising amount on WWI in a short top level summary. It shows just horrible and depressing it was and I like how he equates the God of War eating up all the dead and growing in power. But Hale still manages to add in a little humor and the illustrations are great. The use of animals was a good idea to keep the different factions apart clearly. I really love this series of books and plan to buy them all to keep in my personal library, especially as my kids grow into them. ...more
Another great Hazardous Tales book. This covers a lot of what lead up to and events surrounding the area to show what was going on with the Alamo. It Another great Hazardous Tales book. This covers a lot of what lead up to and events surrounding the area to show what was going on with the Alamo. It has some good maps of not only the area but the Alamo fort as well. As always there is a great use of humor to break up the terrible events, but this really does teach some interesting history. Love this series as a whole....more
It's funny how hard it was for the Brits at the time to do something so dishonorable as create a group of commandos and sappers. In the Edwardian timeIt's funny how hard it was for the Brits at the time to do something so dishonorable as create a group of commandos and sappers. In the Edwardian times it was tops to be gentlemanly and this was far too backstabbery. But they sure succeeded when they went through with it. This is a history of the men (and women!) involved in the first top secret organization to figure out all the nasty ways to kill the enemy. Hitler's Nazi army was just too bad to do anything less. There were people training men how to kill in any number of ways with their barehands, with weapons that are made up on the spot, with hidden bombs, and sabotage. It goes quite in depth with some of the missions that came out, both successes and failures. I'm sure it's far from the exhaustive list of missions, but it went over some pretty fantastic ones. This is the history of just a few men in a war of millions but boy did they have a big impact. ...more
This is a kid's book, so I automatically question the accuracy of the history, but it seems to be well researched. This is a character from history thThis is a kid's book, so I automatically question the accuracy of the history, but it seems to be well researched. This is a character from history that I had never heard of. A Civil War hero turned adventurer. He explored the unknown area of the Colorado River and Grand Canyon, as well as innumerable sites along the way.
The book is a humorous travelogue, mixed with flashbacks to his childhood (with added moustache, so you can tell who he is!) and his education, as well as his civil war experiences (including a pretty nasty section where he gets shot in the arm and it's amputated). It adds in notes from his fellow explorers, including a letter from someone that supposedly went down the river unwittingly, in his own words and his own terrible spelling. Very interesting information. Not terribly deep, but I wouldn't expect that.
The artwork wasn't groundbreaking, but it worked really well and I liked the muted colors. It made the blood red of his arm scene that much more of a deal.
I'll definitely be looking for more of these from the library, both for my kids and myself. I guess there is a whole series on interesting historical characters....more
Honestly, I'm just glad this series is done and behind me. I'm not really sure why I stuck it out through this many. The characters just got head-shakHonestly, I'm just glad this series is done and behind me. I'm not really sure why I stuck it out through this many. The characters just got head-shakingly dumb. The story and events are just mind-numbing. ...more
This series continues to improve in various ways. The art in particular is so much better than volume 1. Starting to see some evil scheming by GriffitThis series continues to improve in various ways. The art in particular is so much better than volume 1. Starting to see some evil scheming by Griffith.
Some history of Guts. He hasn't had it easy by any means. Sold out by his father figure to a [very large] fellow mercenary pedophile, fighting in battSome history of Guts. He hasn't had it easy by any means. Sold out by his father figure to a [very large] fellow mercenary pedophile, fighting in battles since he was young, abused and turned on by his father figure whom he had to kill in self-defense, etc. He knows fighting, that's certain. This arc introduces Griffith, a seriously talented mercenary, and his band. These books just continue to improve.
Some of the art is still only ok, but then it's also improving a lot. There are some pages that are just absolutely fantastic wide shots of battles or castles being sieged that are full of detail. Quality stuff there. Some of the fast fighting scenes are odd because it shows ghosts of multiple movements all over. They are fine though and do show the speed of the fight. ...more
I might be a bit biased as I love dog stories in general, but this was surprisingly good. It hits 3 different stories with 3 different dogs in 3 diffeI might be a bit biased as I love dog stories in general, but this was surprisingly good. It hits 3 different stories with 3 different dogs in 3 different conflicts.
WW1 - I liked that this included the Christmas story from WW1. The other parts are so tough, as it was a terrible terrible war (not that any are good). There was so much death and the dog really helped everyone cope for multiple reasons.
WWII - This was a different than usual story of WWII, as it takes place at a air field post in Greenland. It's almost an adventure story and the war is barely present. Still quite good.
Vietnam - This story was by far my favorite. It really focuses on PTSD and how the vet had a hard time coming back and being ridiculed. It was mirrored in the young boy who had no friends and basically had the worst summer vacation from school. They become friends, more or less, while the vet talks about his squad mates and experiences. The whole story seemed very real and visceral.
The artwork was very good throughout. Nothing innovative, just well done with good colors. Kid friendly despite being about some horrors of war....more
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