Nimona, by: Noelle Stevenson

       Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.
       But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit. 

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My Rating: ★★★★★

       I picked this book up on a whim after only hearing about it a couple of times. I had just read Wires and Nerve, the graphic novel companion to the Lunar Chronicles, and really enjoyed it. So, I decided to try out a standalone graphic novel, and what a great decision it was! I am actually really into art, especially art that tells a story. This one, in particular, was so well done, I couldn't have asked for anything better. It was a quick, fun summer read, and it has also become one of my favorite books.
       First of all, as I was flipping through this book in the bookstore, I loved the style of all the drawings in the book. It really helps convey the emotions of the characters and the world in which they live. I also really liked how each chapter of the book had its own color scheme. This was one of my favorite elements in the book because it gave each chapter its own mood and helped to differentiate between settings and which characters were involved.
       Also, this book was hilarious. I laughed so many times reading this book, it's not even funny. (See what I did there?) There are so many little moments of dialogue that are the kind of funny that take you by surprise. The relationship between Nimona and Blackheart is perfect, and every scene they're in together was a great one. I also loved the unique relationship between Blackheart and Goldenloin. Both relationships are not what you would expect, which I think really adds to the quirkiness and comedy of the novel.
       I'm not sure if it was because this book was such a quick read, but I really took notice of all the little foreshadowing moments throughout the story. There were a lot of small things that happened where I thought, "She referenced that earlier," or "Someone mentioned something like that." Little things like that are what make a book go from good to great for me.

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       Overall, this book was a great story about heroics, and what it truly means to be a hero. If you have read it or plan on reading it in the future, please let me know in the comments!

As she tries to turn into a shark,
Ashton

You can't just go round murdering people. There are rules, Nimona.

― Noelle Stevenson, Nimona