Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Search

Backstory Can Be Relevant, Who Knew

Spy X Family vols. 14-15 by Tatsuya Endo

by Leave a Comment

Turns out that sometimes backstory time can be both interesting and maybe even relevant. Spy x Family is essentially an action-comedy where a spy has to create a family to get close to his mark; the gal he marries is secretly an assassin, the daughter he adopts is secretly a telepath (but she’s 6, meaning she understanding things not the conventional way a lot), and the family dog has some kind of foretelling (but is also a dog, and thus cannot speak people). For most […]

Softball with a side of Magical Girl?!

Grand Slam Romance Book 1 by Ollie Hicks and Emma Oosterhous

by 3 Comments

I am so upset. I remember the first time I saw the cover of this book. Covered in bright pinks and yellows, it exuded such a queer vibe that I couldn’t look away if I tried. I thought it looked utterly delightful and, of course, I added it to my want-to-read list. I saw other people review it, and it probably crossed my path in bookstores and libraries alike. But I put it off and put it off, never actually making the decision to pick […]

Hippos of the Deep South

American Hippo by Sarah Gailey

by Leave a Comment

In a world where the American Hippo bill passed (look it up, it was real!) and the vast Mississippi became the home of deadly feral hippo, Winslow Houndstooth and a crew of rogues, murderers, and con artists have been contracted to take it back. This book consists of the novellas River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow and two additional short stories, which all take place in this alternate United States and follow Winslow and his motley crew of hippo riders. Firstly, I love hippos, I love the idea of […]

If anyone can, a magical Yeti… might

Penny and the Yeti b by Jimmy Gaspero and Amber Akin

by Leave a Comment

When April 2026 comes, you readers of this review will have a plethora of choices. And I hope one of those is Penny and the Yeti by Jimmy Gaspero and Amber Akin. Read via an online reader copy, I plan on finding a finished copy as there are some things I think might make more sense if I can physically hold a book in hand and explore this deceptively simple seeming story. This book is not perfect. Which, yes, is an odd thing to start […]

Too far out for my tastes

Oracles by Olivia Sullivan

by Leave a Comment

As I read the words of Olivia Sullivan on the pages of the graphic novel, Oracles, I heard the Beatnik standing on the coffee house stage making their words bubble out. I saw the slam poet gazing out into a darkened crowd. There was a spotlight in my brain that shone brightly on the poet freeversing.  And while I like all of that , this book was not for me. However, if you enjoy a slightly nonconcrete writing style or free verse prose, with literary […]

Going to hell to finish school

Katabasis by R. F. Kuang

by Leave a Comment

I could not get more than halfway through R. F. Kuang’s Babel. The world and magic system were amazing; I could not stay interested in all the character personal drama. Thus I was hesitant to try Katabasis. I finally did though, as I have some experience in the world of higher education as well as the Classical background to appreciate that title reference. On the other hand, that didn’t help The Secret History; hated that, mostly because of the stupid unlikeable character drama. Tragedy in […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo