Bitsy's Books
Note: I'm uploading my books from Goodreads and since there are like 200+ it's going to take awhile. The uploading seems a bit wonky too, so hang with me as I fix things. Also there may be spoilers until I can make all the appropriate tags.
I'm an ex-English Major who, sick of reading classics after college, decided to read all the trashy books I didn't before because I was too snobby. Since graduating, I've entertained myself with comics, YA, and romance novels, finding out they can not only be decently written, but superbly written. I've since recovered from my classics aversion, but I'm now more open-minded reader willing to read from any genre. If a book has kick-ass heroines and/or witty banter and/or takes place in a different time or place (including fantasy settings), I will most likely fall in love with it. My favorite authors are Jane Austen, Shakespeare, E.M. Forster, Meljean Brook, Sarah Rees Brennan, Rachel Hartman, Catherynne M. Valente, and Aliette de Bodard.
2.5 out of 5 StarsSix teenagers are the newest recruits to the prestigious Morning Glory Academy, but as soon as they arrive, strange things begin to happen. None of their parents remember who they are. All of them share the same birthday. Slowly they realize that they are prisoners at the school and being used for some unknown purpose. While the kids try to survive the tests put before them, they unknowingly play into the faculty’s plans.This review is probably not the best because this book wasn’t exactly what I had expected. I thought this was more of a psychological thriller, but what I got was something much…weirder. The psychological stuff is there, but the mysterious happenings are much more in your face and everything is very over-the-top. I expected things to be subtler. In the first issue, the kids already know something strange is going on. By the second issue, they already know that they are prisoners and that their lives are in danger. I had hoped for a slower, more suspenseful build-up. Nothing seems to fit together coherently, but just seems to be weird for the sake of being weird. It’s too much and too over-the-top for me.This doesn’t mean the story is bad by any means. There are some clever moments. The characters are interesting enough (although each seem to fall into types – The Perfect Girl, The Nerdy Boy (who’s more of an author/(assumed male) reader surrogate – his nerdiness stems more from the 80’s, not the 10’s and is therefore unlike any modern teenage nerd), The ‘Slutty’ Girl, The Rich Boy, The Basketcase, The Strong/Silent Type. None of them are easily relatable, but you do root for them. Only time will tell if any of these characters grow to be more than their stereotype.Eisma’s art is alright. Things can seem goofy and disproportionate at times, but it fits with the slight horror vibe of the comic. It’s disappointing in comparison to Esquejo’s beautiful cover work.The story is interesting and I’ll read the second volume, but I found myself disappointed. It’s hard to tell if it’s from incorrect expectations or something inadequate within the narrative itself. Morning Glories is definitely a strange book and lacks no points for creativity. However, there may be too much creativity to the detriment of the story.