Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel, LGBTQIA+, Fantasy
Style: Ebook
Page Count: 192
Trigger Warnings: None That I Could Find
Summary:
Skates on. Fangs out. Let’s roll. This perfectly paranormal graphic novel about a 13-year-old ice skater who embraces the dark side and finds her light when she joins a vampire roller derby team is to die for.
Ice-skater Mina is on a one-track path to Olympic gold and glory—that is, until she wipes out at her biggest competition, and is kinda-sorta-kidnapped by undead kids on roller skates. Sucked into the high-stakes world of Paranormal Roller Derby, she finds herself “recruited” by a squad of vampires who need a human player to complete their team—just in time to save the league from losing it all.
Between learning to play derby well enough to kick butt on the track, crushing hard on the dreamy team captain, and navigating the spooky rules of the supernatural, how can Mina go from striving to be a ten alone to becoming one of nine chaotic bodies forming a perfectly- imperfect team? Forget being the best. Will she be enough to help her new friends survive the season?
They say if you’re bitten during a blood moon, you get to choose. An obscure factoid of vampire lore, that there’s a choice. To turn OR to remain human. Live forever OR stay regular. Normal. Basic. Seems like a no-brainer, if you ask me. But then, nobody ever asks me.
Page 9
Thoughts:
I do think that this was a good first installment in a potential series. I will say that I do think that this is going to be one of those graphic novel series that I will continue to read as more are released within the series. I do think the setup for a potential second installment was amazing to the point where I wished that the second installment was out now.
I loved the artwork and the writing of this one. I think that those two go hand and hand. I think that there is a lot of potential for the story to grow and would love to see where the writing goes.
I will say that if you are looking for a book that has a non-binary rep then I would recommend this one. I loved the rep in this one and I am a sucker for a good non-binary (or any good LGBTQIA+ rep). I am one of those readers that if you are going to write LGBTQIA+ characters then you need to know what it is that you are talking about. I do think that it was helpful that one of the authors does fall under the non-binary umbrella because both authors were willing to make the characters seem more lifelike and not stereotypical.
The only thing that I wasnt a fan of was how the supernatural creatures end up kidnapping a few humans for their team. I mean it works out in the end but I think that there should have been a better way to bring in a human without having them magically disapper.
I may be young — and a little sheltered — but I’ve also seen a LOT of horror films. I know what could happen if I choose wrong:
Page 40
a) Vampire falls in love with me and offers to turn me immortal (UNLIKELY)
b) I cry for help; nobody hears my screams.
c) I cry for help; cops come; vampires eat cops.
About The Author(s):
Veronica Park (VP) Anderson (she/they) is a neurodivergent, queer, feminist millennial writer with a resume that Victor Frankenstein would disown for being “a bit much.” V’s previous job titles include award-winning community theater actor, professional lecturer on cruise ships, indie film producer, literary agent, and creative project manager; however, “writer” is the title that always fits. V plays competitive flat track roller derby as “Scarlet Five” #55 and prefers the pivot role, aka “surprise jamming.” Born in Alaska and raised in Oregon, she currently lives with her partner in Upstate NY and has two cats named Skeletor and Bo-Catan.
Tatiana Hill (she/her) is a Black and Latina illustrator by day and a roller skater by night. Her art journey began simultaneously with her growing love for anime and culminated in a BA in Animation. Receiving an award for Best Art Direction in her end-of-the-year showcase, she would later apply her skill set in color and design to her illustration career. As a member of the Los Angeles roller skate community, Tatiana enjoys participating in a space that celebrates diversity and found family. Her love for this community led to her illustrating The Roller World Tarot Deck and eventually Blood City Rollers, her debut graphic novel as an illustrator.
Learning how to be part of a team is like training how to go into battle. But half the battle is against your own doubt. Because if you cant trust yourself to have anyone elses back. Its the opposite of being self conscious; its this selfless kind of team-consciousness. And almost by accident, suddenly you realize: becoming part of something greater has made you… a whole person. Stronger than ever. Even when you’re standing all by yourself.
Page 102
Rating:
3.25 stars
Kathryn Books 