Secondborn Book Reviews

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nimona by Noelle Steveson is a fantasy and adventure graphic novel. The story follows Nimona, a reckless shapeshifter, and Lord Blackheart, the wizard she apprentices. They are attempting to bring attention to the immoral acts being committed by the Institute of Law Enforcement. “A dangerous nation is a powerful nation.” Nimona has it all: drama, betrayal, and a positive lesson to learn. The characters are captivating. The world Stevenson has built is phenomenal.  What's more, all of it is brought together with her awe-inspiring artwork. Nimona is a perfect adventure story told with amazing characters and plot. Lord Blackheart is an understandable villain. He tried to follow society's rules, was knocked down and forced to respond in the only way the society told him he could. Nimona is tan adorable shapeshifter with a taste for revenge. They learn to work together and learn more about each other.Everything about Nimona (the a...

Turn Your Pain Into Art by Ariel Bloomer Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “What will being true to your soul allow you to accomplish?” Turn Your Pain Into Art: One Self-Hater’s Journey to Self-Love, Authenticity, and Creative Freedom by Ariel Bloomer is both an autobiography and a self-help guide. The book is split into two parts: her life story followed by the story of her recovery from self-hate. Ariel approaches both of these subjects with humor and heart. To be perfectly honest, I approached this book with a massive bias. I enjoy Ariel’s weekly vlogs and am a little obsessed with her band, Icon For Hire. However, I don’t normally read self help books. I didn’t think I would like the parts of the book that focused more on subjects concerning self-care. Still, I wound up really connecting with her words and her suggestions. Ariel doesn’t preach about or imply that her life was terrible but now everything is great. It’s simply “Hey. This thing helped me feel better. Maybe it can help you t...