Setting: Vermont

Low Orbit / Kazimir Lee

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Low Orbit
By: Kazimir Lee
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Number of Pages: 336
Published: April 29, 2025
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Azar feels stuck. Her mom’s job moved them to Vermont, where she doesn’t know anyone and her only friends are the next-door neighbors: an aging sci-fi writer and his nonbinary teen, Tristan. For a while, Azar can escape her troubles by disappearing into the pages of her neighbor’s novel, The Exiles of Overworld. When her queerness throws her life out of wack, Azar realizes some secrets can’t hide forever.

This is much more slice of life than fantasy like I originally thought from the cover, but that slice of life aspect of it is still a good read, which is about hiding a part of you from those you care about. The fantasy part of it was from the high fantasy novel Azar is reading, but to be honest, that kind of took me away from the storyline of Azar and at times were even confusing as to what is happening in that world. I know it was her escape and that’s what the panels were showing, but I think it could have been done differently to show that.

Other than that, I did enjoy the story and the overall themes of honesty, being true to yourself, friendships, and even convention culture.

The artwork was fantastic and detailed and I always found myself lingering a little bit on pages to see what was in the background.

Overall, a great coming of age, queer young adult novel to add to a collection.

The Forest Demands Its Due / Kosoko Jackson

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Forest Demands Its Due
By: Kosoko Jackson
Genre: YA, Horror
Number of Pages: 432
Published: October 3, 2023
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Dates Read: August 8, 2024 - August 13, 2024
Format: Hardcover

Douglas Jones wants nothing to do with Regent Academy’s influence on its ability to mold teens into leaders; he just wants to survive and graduate. But then a student is murdered and the next day, no one even remembers him existing – except Douglas and the groundskeeper’s family, The Everley’s. In his process to uncover the truth, Douglas pokes at the horror hidden in the woods on the edge of the school’s grounds and begins to unearth secrets hidden for centuries.  

I was invested in this book – until the last quarter of it to be honest. There was so much going on and the explanation of stuff didn’t make sense – which, I know the forest is supposed to be super confusing and cause all that, but the explanations that are given weren’t I guess satisfying enough for me <spoiler> like, why were the creatures still around after </spoiler>.

I also didn’t quite understand the romance aspect of it. Everett went from not talking to Douglas to willing to die to protect him. I just – meh…

Overall, I don’t know if this would be horror? Definitely dark academia with fantasy aspects. I also don’t read enough horror to be the best opinion on it truth be told.