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Blood City Rollers #1
Blood City Rollers
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 totally 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?
Ice-skater Mina is on a one-track path to Olympic gold and glory—that is, until she totally 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?
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2024
19 people are currently reading
592 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
June 10, 2024
A cute mix of vampires and roller derby. This could have used a little more development in the end but overall it was a fun story with good illustrations.
November 27, 2023
Vampires! Roller derby! Queer characters! Need I say more?
This was an adorable middle grade graphic novel about Mina, a human girl who gets chosen to be the jammer in a Paranormal Roller Derby league. She’d lost her passion for ice skating, just going along with the plan to try to make the Olympics. But through roller derby, and all her new teammates, she finds a new passion for a different type of skating.
I thought this story was a lot of fun. It was elevated by the super cute art and the amazing colors. I’m such a sucker for a graphic novel that uses vibrant colors. There were seriously a couple of different pages that I’d like to have as art prints, they were that gorgeous.
At times I do think the story was overstuffed with multiple subplots. I think I would have liked the book even more if the plot was a bit more streamlined, and then it could be expanded more if it becomes a series. Some parts just ended up feeling a little rushed.
But overall I had a blast reading this. I’d definitely recommend checking it out!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an adorable middle grade graphic novel about Mina, a human girl who gets chosen to be the jammer in a Paranormal Roller Derby league. She’d lost her passion for ice skating, just going along with the plan to try to make the Olympics. But through roller derby, and all her new teammates, she finds a new passion for a different type of skating.
I thought this story was a lot of fun. It was elevated by the super cute art and the amazing colors. I’m such a sucker for a graphic novel that uses vibrant colors. There were seriously a couple of different pages that I’d like to have as art prints, they were that gorgeous.
At times I do think the story was overstuffed with multiple subplots. I think I would have liked the book even more if the plot was a bit more streamlined, and then it could be expanded more if it becomes a series. Some parts just ended up feeling a little rushed.
But overall I had a blast reading this. I’d definitely recommend checking it out!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2024
This was a really fun little foray into the supernatural world of sports! I love the color palette in this book almost as much as I love the members of this vampire roller derby team, and while I was a bit disappointed to find out less than I wanted, and to be left with so many questions, it just makes me want the next book! It could be that I just really enjoy roller derby in stories, but the idea of a perfectionist ice skater human being basically kidnapped and then adopted by messy, accepting roller derby vampires is a fabulous plot concept, and I can't wait for others to find this.
April 11, 2024
I received this book from TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange of an honest review!
I have had my eyes on this book for a while so I was definitely excited when I could be part of the Tour and review the book! I mean, that premise! Roller derby but darker because vampires! And witches!
In this one we start with Mina going to an audition/competition and things go all the way wrong (poor Mina, I just felt for her and I wish her mom would see that what she is doing is not OK) and then go even more wrong when Mina gets kidnapped! Yes! To vampires! Who apparently run a roller derby team to survive and need humans to complete their team (which I still don’t entirely get, but hey I will roll with it). I loved seeing how well Mina fitted with the team and how hard she worked to get over her fear of falling, getting kick-ass with each new page, getting more stamina (because roller derby is way more intense than ice skating it seems), befriend people in her team (not just the human player but also the vampires). Plus, I loved seeing Mina grow in other parts as well. We see her think back to how she started ice skating, how big her dreams were, but were they entirely her dreams? I loved seeing her discover a new love that still involves the skating that she likes but just without a lot of pressure and parenting hovering. Mina was really a fun character and I was just rooting for her to discover a new side of hers and to feel free after so many years of being thrown into practices, competitions, and more.
The roller derby was such a thrill! It is a sport I would definitely kinda like to check out. Not sure if it is as big as it is in the US, but who knows. Maybe I should check things out. Though without the vampires please. Haha.
I liked to meet all the teens on the roller derby and see their pronouns + so many being LGBT.
Oh, and I just love the dash of romance between Mina and Val! I loved seeing them get closer. They really were cute together and I found myself rooting for these two to get together!
Bonus points as well to the ending (which made me smile and now I need another book, I am happy that Mina decided for this, it fits so well with her and the development she went through in this book), the cute doggo (Bruise Wayne who was just the sweetest and well just a dash bit demonic, teehee), what happens before the ending and which was just drawn so epically, Val saying a Dutch saying/proverb just made me smile so much, oh and the referee ghosts at the derby were just fantastic and I love the diversity not just your normal standard ghost but even one with a hijab.
And of course, all the points to the art! I just love how the vampires were drawn and how the colours used fitted the right scenes and the vampires stuff so perfectly.
HOWEVER, I did NOT like how humans were kidnapped for the roller derby team. It just felt off/weird and not OK. I would have rather have them go to kids who are good at skating (either roller or ice) if they wanted to join a superduper fun team with danger and excitement. Let these kids themselves choose if they want to be part or not. Because hey, the roller derby team does contact the parents with some make-up excuse so I just don’t get why the kidnapping. I am sure there are kids enough who would LOVE to be part of something like this.
Oh, and I was so confused when Mina at one point had way shorter hair yet I didn’t see her doing any cutting of it. I think that would have been such a cool moment to add. See her cut it off, celebrate her freedom/celebrate that she found something new to love.
But all in all, I really enjoyed this one! There is action, excitement, great character development, a dash of romance, fab art, and roller derby!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I have had my eyes on this book for a while so I was definitely excited when I could be part of the Tour and review the book! I mean, that premise! Roller derby but darker because vampires! And witches!
In this one we start with Mina going to an audition/competition and things go all the way wrong (poor Mina, I just felt for her and I wish her mom would see that what she is doing is not OK) and then go even more wrong when Mina gets kidnapped! Yes! To vampires! Who apparently run a roller derby team to survive and need humans to complete their team (which I still don’t entirely get, but hey I will roll with it). I loved seeing how well Mina fitted with the team and how hard she worked to get over her fear of falling, getting kick-ass with each new page, getting more stamina (because roller derby is way more intense than ice skating it seems), befriend people in her team (not just the human player but also the vampires). Plus, I loved seeing Mina grow in other parts as well. We see her think back to how she started ice skating, how big her dreams were, but were they entirely her dreams? I loved seeing her discover a new love that still involves the skating that she likes but just without a lot of pressure and parenting hovering. Mina was really a fun character and I was just rooting for her to discover a new side of hers and to feel free after so many years of being thrown into practices, competitions, and more.
The roller derby was such a thrill! It is a sport I would definitely kinda like to check out. Not sure if it is as big as it is in the US, but who knows. Maybe I should check things out. Though without the vampires please. Haha.
I liked to meet all the teens on the roller derby and see their pronouns + so many being LGBT.
Oh, and I just love the dash of romance between Mina and Val! I loved seeing them get closer. They really were cute together and I found myself rooting for these two to get together!
Bonus points as well to the ending (which made me smile and now I need another book, I am happy that Mina decided for this, it fits so well with her and the development she went through in this book), the cute doggo (Bruise Wayne who was just the sweetest and well just a dash bit demonic, teehee), what happens before the ending and which was just drawn so epically, Val saying a Dutch saying/proverb just made me smile so much, oh and the referee ghosts at the derby were just fantastic and I love the diversity not just your normal standard ghost but even one with a hijab.
And of course, all the points to the art! I just love how the vampires were drawn and how the colours used fitted the right scenes and the vampires stuff so perfectly.
HOWEVER, I did NOT like how humans were kidnapped for the roller derby team. It just felt off/weird and not OK. I would have rather have them go to kids who are good at skating (either roller or ice) if they wanted to join a superduper fun team with danger and excitement. Let these kids themselves choose if they want to be part or not. Because hey, the roller derby team does contact the parents with some make-up excuse so I just don’t get why the kidnapping. I am sure there are kids enough who would LOVE to be part of something like this.
Oh, and I was so confused when Mina at one point had way shorter hair yet I didn’t see her doing any cutting of it. I think that would have been such a cool moment to add. See her cut it off, celebrate her freedom/celebrate that she found something new to love.
But all in all, I really enjoyed this one! There is action, excitement, great character development, a dash of romance, fab art, and roller derby!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
September 7, 2024
This was so cute??? And fun??? And queer!!! Vampire roller derby!! It was a pretty simple story with some interesting depth, but not a ton. Could’ve been a little deeper. Sadish ending that I didn’t like but it sets things up really well for a second story. I almost wish there was a little more magic / super natural rather than just being faster. I also had no clue what the point of roller derby was but this book actually kinda taught me!
Definitely recommend!
Definitely recommend!
September 25, 2025
This graphic novel was cute. It’s definitely for kids and isn’t a work of art with regards to plot or characters, however the artwork was nice and I think this story would do a good job of keeping the target audience engaged. There was some subtle yet present representation for queer characters, which I think is the best approach for this age group (just being present, even if it isn’t addressed; normalizing).
This was fun. I would buy for kids.
This was fun. I would buy for kids.
November 11, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
I get what the core message of the graphic novel was supposed to be--following your own dreams and no one else's--but it got really overshadowed by the million of other things happening in this book. I absolutely loved the colors in the book but it wasn't enough to save the strange storytelling.
I get what the core message of the graphic novel was supposed to be--following your own dreams and no one else's--but it got really overshadowed by the million of other things happening in this book. I absolutely loved the colors in the book but it wasn't enough to save the strange storytelling.
July 18, 2024
Great narrative voice here. Mina has a clear arc, but I didn’t understand her allegiance to the derby girls. None of them seemed super welcoming to me outside of Swan. Honestly, they were pretty rude.
October 11, 2024
A fun middle grade graphic debut about an aspiring Olympic figure skater whose dreams get dashed when she has a terrible fall. Recruited to join a paranormal roller derby team of vampires, Mina finds herself learning how to work with others and finds a new dream to chase. I loved the cast of queer characters and the spotlight on roller derby as a legit sport. The paranormal twist was fun and this actually worked really well as an audio adaptation narrated by a full cast! Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to checking out the print version soon!
October 12, 2024
It was cute! I wanted something low stakes and fun after Helen of Troy, and this was that! It moves pretty quickly, and there's not really any explanation for *anything* beyond a handwavy "it's supernatural, don't worry about it", but I came here for vampires playing roller derby and by god did I get it.
February 22, 2024
As always, thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy !
This took me some time to get through. I enjoyed the premise of it though there were times where it felt like an info dump, and then lore dump and then just minor confusion with character relationships.
Blood City Rollers follows 13 year old Mina as she gets sucked into roller derby with vampires! Mina’s goal is to be an Olympic gold medalist for ice skating, after breaking her arm during an important competition, she gets kidnapped by vampires on roller skates and used to fill their human player spot.
The book itself was enjoyable and I loved watching Mina grow and realize what she wants and come into herself more. There was a lot of representation as well on all kind of fronts. Something I enjoyed is that it showed how to still excel at something even when you’re not full good at it. Mina was great when it came to skating in general but still had a hard time keeping up with her teammates. This didn’t then become some magical “omg I can do it” moment and I really enjoyed that.
This took me some time to get through. I enjoyed the premise of it though there were times where it felt like an info dump, and then lore dump and then just minor confusion with character relationships.
Blood City Rollers follows 13 year old Mina as she gets sucked into roller derby with vampires! Mina’s goal is to be an Olympic gold medalist for ice skating, after breaking her arm during an important competition, she gets kidnapped by vampires on roller skates and used to fill their human player spot.
The book itself was enjoyable and I loved watching Mina grow and realize what she wants and come into herself more. There was a lot of representation as well on all kind of fronts. Something I enjoyed is that it showed how to still excel at something even when you’re not full good at it. Mina was great when it came to skating in general but still had a hard time keeping up with her teammates. This didn’t then become some magical “omg I can do it” moment and I really enjoyed that.
April 10, 2024
Thank you Storygram Tours, Storygram Kids, Random House Kids, VP Anderson, & Tatiana Hill for sending me a copy for tour! 🥰🫶
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I saw vampires and I knew I had to read! The concepts of vampires on a roller derby team sounds so fun! 😍 I don’t know much about roller derby, but I was able to learn a lot from this book. I was also super happy to find out this book is queer! We seem to have the base for a future sapphic relationship as well as many characters with she/they and they/them pronouns! I absolutely love the colors and illustrations! It matches the story perfectly! One of my favorite things in the book is the memes! There are several iconic memes recreated and it cracked me up each time! This book is very current times and I love it! I can’t wait to read more in this series as it leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger. 😊
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Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson & Tatiana Hill is out now!
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I saw vampires and I knew I had to read! The concepts of vampires on a roller derby team sounds so fun! 😍 I don’t know much about roller derby, but I was able to learn a lot from this book. I was also super happy to find out this book is queer! We seem to have the base for a future sapphic relationship as well as many characters with she/they and they/them pronouns! I absolutely love the colors and illustrations! It matches the story perfectly! One of my favorite things in the book is the memes! There are several iconic memes recreated and it cracked me up each time! This book is very current times and I love it! I can’t wait to read more in this series as it leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger. 😊
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Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson & Tatiana Hill is out now!
May 10, 2024
I was excited to read a story about roller derby. I've read a comic series about it before and it was lots of fun. But this unique concept with vampires might have hindered my enjoyment. There are vampires in a roller derby team trying to win a tournament in order not to lose protection against outside forces that would hunt and kill them. They have to have a human in a certain position so they kidnap our main character to help them win. The suspension of disbelief is not happening. I mean I liked learning more about roller derby but my connection to the characters was missing. I learned the backstory of one human and one vampire. There was nothing really tying me to this book to make me love it. I just wish it was a roller derby battle of humans vs. vampires because then the stakes (no pun intended) would be that much more interesting. It was good, I just thought it could be better.
April 15, 2024
So inspiring and the reason why derby is for everyone! You're in for a treat <3
May 14, 2024
Awesome colors. Cool character designs. Good story about living for yourself and not others.
Read
May 27, 2024Very fun, nice color palette!
June 16, 2024
Literally so freaking cute and wholesome. As a derby player, the authors get extra brownie points because the derby play in the book was mostly accurate!!!! 😇🛼
April 14, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Blood City Rollers is a fun, brightly illustrated graphic novel that is sure to entertain middle-grade readers.
The story follows a vampire roller derby team that needs a new jammer, a position that can only be filled by a human. Mia, a figure skater with dreams of competing in the Olympics, is kidnapped by the vampire squad to be their jammer. As she delves into the paranormal world of vampires, ghosts, and witches, she finds a sense of belonging that she never experienced in the human world.
✨Highlights: found family trope, queer representation, strong female friendship (human/vampire), learning self-confidence, power of teamwork, and finding your dream
Blood City Rollers ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, so hopefully, book 2 is in the works.
Blood City Rollers is a fun, brightly illustrated graphic novel that is sure to entertain middle-grade readers.
The story follows a vampire roller derby team that needs a new jammer, a position that can only be filled by a human. Mia, a figure skater with dreams of competing in the Olympics, is kidnapped by the vampire squad to be their jammer. As she delves into the paranormal world of vampires, ghosts, and witches, she finds a sense of belonging that she never experienced in the human world.
✨Highlights: found family trope, queer representation, strong female friendship (human/vampire), learning self-confidence, power of teamwork, and finding your dream
Blood City Rollers ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, so hopefully, book 2 is in the works.
March 8, 2025
Female power! Olympic-hopeful skater Mina has a career-ending fall, only to be kidnapped and recruited by a vampire team of roller derby queens. Mina starts to question what her dreams were in the first place, and who chose those dreams: or did she just go along with them? Roller derby is rough and tumble, but supportive. Can she toughen up and learn to fight for the goal? Can she really fit in and be part of the team?
October 26, 2024
3.5 stars...this was cute with a teeny bit of spooky. I liked a lot of the things I felt this was trying to do...but the execution felt a little clunky and underdeveloped. I'd definitely read another volume...there's a lot of potential here...but I'd wouldn't say this is a new favorite or a book everyone HAS to read.
March 25, 2024
Probably more of a 2.5. There were things that just didn't make sense - was she or wasn't she bitten for one. And ultimately encouraging a 12 year old to run away from home so they don't have to deal with their problems (the problem being they didn't like ice skating!)is not right.
May 5, 2024
This book was an absolute blast. Vampires + roller derby?! What’s not to love?!
March 23, 2025
Vampires, queers, & roller derby! Can I really ask for anything more?
Read
January 17, 2026beggin' for some structure here. but the type of book that definitely has an audience just waitin' for it
June 17, 2024
"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."
💫 representation: Mina is a sapphic lead, queer & BIPOC sides
this was so much fun!! super queer and the art is adorable :)
i just wish it wasn't so rushed.< it could have easily been a four or possibly five-star read. a queer, diverse vampire roller derby team with a sapphic lead? my cup of tea! however. it was choppy. some plot points came out of nowhere. and the end, despite hinting at a book two, didn't feel conclusive enough for me. i also wanted more character development for everyone, especially Val and the other team members. i would have loved to see more Val and Mina moments too because they were so cute!!
i really felt for Mina. she always feels out of place. she tried to fit in everywhere she could, but she fit in nowhere. going through that in middle school is rough. i went through it too, and then went through the process of trying to redefine myself to be seen as more like her. perhaps if i stuck with figure skating i would've found myself in a vampire roller derby team and fallen for a cute vamp gf <3 (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE-)
Val is compelling, and i love her character design (the wings on her helmet !!). aside from her, Van Go and Sam "Swan" Song were my other team favorites.
i'm excited for book two!
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ kin list: Val, Mina
~ Morgan Shadow 🐺👑🏹🌊💫
💫 representation: Mina is a sapphic lead, queer & BIPOC sides
this was so much fun!! super queer and the art is adorable :)
i just wish it wasn't so rushed.< it could have easily been a four or possibly five-star read. a queer, diverse vampire roller derby team with a sapphic lead? my cup of tea! however. it was choppy. some plot points came out of nowhere. and the end, despite hinting at a book two, didn't feel conclusive enough for me. i also wanted more character development for everyone, especially Val and the other team members. i would have loved to see more Val and Mina moments too because they were so cute!!
i really felt for Mina. she always feels out of place. she tried to fit in everywhere she could, but she fit in nowhere. going through that in middle school is rough. i went through it too, and then went through the process of trying to redefine myself to be seen as more like her. perhaps if i stuck with figure skating i would've found myself in a vampire roller derby team and fallen for a cute vamp gf <3 (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE-)
Val is compelling, and i love her character design (the wings on her helmet !!). aside from her, Van Go and Sam "Swan" Song were my other team favorites.
"i always kept myself apart, a metaphorical lone wolf on the fringes. i didn't think i'd be accepted by the pack. ironically, that's what they call a group of skaters coming together in roller derby: a pack. even when they're vampires or humans."
i'm excited for book two!
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ kin list: Val, Mina
~ Morgan Shadow 🐺👑🏹🌊💫
September 30, 2024
Blood City Rollers
Rating: 3
This book was sweet and fun. I’m not the target demographic, and I definitely think young teens will enjoy this graphic novel a bit more than I did. I personally found it a bit heavy handed with its themes and the art style wasn’t my favourite, but it's still very cute! I loved the themes of growing into yourself and finding community, and the slight romance subplot was super cute. The queer rep was effortless and I loved that. I’ll definitely read the next one to see how things play out.
Overall, it’s a fun quick read that I think young readers who are into sports could enjoy.
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If you want more details about my thoughts, check out my tiktok @/meg_mazzaferro
Rating: 3
This book was sweet and fun. I’m not the target demographic, and I definitely think young teens will enjoy this graphic novel a bit more than I did. I personally found it a bit heavy handed with its themes and the art style wasn’t my favourite, but it's still very cute! I loved the themes of growing into yourself and finding community, and the slight romance subplot was super cute. The queer rep was effortless and I loved that. I’ll definitely read the next one to see how things play out.
Overall, it’s a fun quick read that I think young readers who are into sports could enjoy.
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If you want more details about my thoughts, check out my tiktok @/meg_mazzaferro
May 27, 2024
Is this what graphic novels these days have come to? This story feels a bit disjointed and everywhere. I could not tell you one life lesson I learned or even the personality of the main. She is just generic, "let's rebel and not have any consequences for my actions". Also, why are there memes during the story? During what was supposed to be a serious scene, there is a meme in the middle. The main comes off as annoying and her development was weak.
The story didn't have a good conclusion.
tldr: read if you like obnoxious girls with irritating personalities do roller derby tournaments.
(then again, this is my personal opinion, actually read if it seems interesting to you)
The story didn't have a good conclusion.
tldr: read if you like obnoxious girls with irritating personalities do roller derby tournaments.
(then again, this is my personal opinion, actually read if it seems interesting to you)
February 27, 2024
Read via an online reader copy.
While funny, there's some flat jokes. One piece of the story leans towards the "blood" references, that is actually a bit over the top.Overall, it is a neat coming of age story, with supernatural twists. Some information feels miss, probably explored later issues.
While funny, there's some flat jokes. One piece of the story leans towards the "blood" references, that is actually a bit over the top.Overall, it is a neat coming of age story, with supernatural twists. Some information feels miss, probably explored later issues.
October 24, 2025
I tried SO HARD to like this book.
The 'ingredients' of this graphic novel had me hooked - roller derby, vampirism, LGBTQ+ inclusion, colorful art. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way with Blood City Rollers that even if you put everything into the mix, it can still come out wrong.
My biggest question coming out of this novel was who is its intended audience?
I understand it is marked as a Middle Grade GN and I'm not the target demographic, but I wonder who is? The characters speak in a way that would isolate Gen Alpha readers from relating. As a young adult, at times it even feels outdated to MYSELF. I also understand as an author it is easy to bleed yourself into your story, but the result in this novel felt confusing at best and out of character at worst! The main protagonist is a tween, but at times she almost comes off as a 30 year old with all the outdated millennial-era slang and references.
I found this book hard to follow as it felt disjointed at times. So many words and so little substance.
Not to mention, multiple members of the team were cruel and unwelcoming and despite it - we are encouraged to root for our protagonist to stay with them!! If my own roller derby league ever acted that way, I'd be out before the practice was even over.
All in all, I found the idea intriguing but the execution poor. I genuinely think this would have done better if it was either fully committed to being a YA or Adult graphic novel with a focus on the plot and character building,, or a middle grade GN with a focus on introducing the sport in a fun and meaningful way.
The 'ingredients' of this graphic novel had me hooked - roller derby, vampirism, LGBTQ+ inclusion, colorful art. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way with Blood City Rollers that even if you put everything into the mix, it can still come out wrong.
My biggest question coming out of this novel was who is its intended audience?
I understand it is marked as a Middle Grade GN and I'm not the target demographic, but I wonder who is? The characters speak in a way that would isolate Gen Alpha readers from relating. As a young adult, at times it even feels outdated to MYSELF. I also understand as an author it is easy to bleed yourself into your story, but the result in this novel felt confusing at best and out of character at worst! The main protagonist is a tween, but at times she almost comes off as a 30 year old with all the outdated millennial-era slang and references.
I found this book hard to follow as it felt disjointed at times. So many words and so little substance.
Not to mention, multiple members of the team were cruel and unwelcoming and despite it - we are encouraged to root for our protagonist to stay with them!! If my own roller derby league ever acted that way, I'd be out before the practice was even over.
All in all, I found the idea intriguing but the execution poor. I genuinely think this would have done better if it was either fully committed to being a YA or Adult graphic novel with a focus on the plot and character building,, or a middle grade GN with a focus on introducing the sport in a fun and meaningful way.
October 1, 2024
Blood City Rollers is a Middle Grade graphic novel about an ice skater kidnapped and forced to play roller derby for a team of vampires. This was definitely a weird one! The main character is training for the Olympics in Ice Skating when she gets kidnapped by kid vampires and is forced to join their roller derby team. The author very easily breezes over the kidnapping and the MC doesn’t seem to care much about it either.
Despite that, it was quite a fun read. On one hand I enjoyed the explanation of all of the rules of roller derby but it was very heavy info dumping and definitely takes you out of the story. What should be a one-sitting read turned into a 3-sitting read because of the heavy game rule info. I definitely think this would hinder a child’s enjoyment of the book since they’re the intended audience.
I loved the art style and colour palette. The character designs were so cool. The yearbook-style “meet the characters” pages were really cool and had a diverse range of pronouns which was so lovely to see! I think the ending does hint at a second book but I don’t know if the story enticed me enough to continue if it does turn into a series.
Overall, I think this was a very mid read and I do rather enjoy Middle Grade books so it was disappointing. I think the main issue really was the detailed explanation of roller derby rules, it definitely overshadowed the story.
TWs/CWs - Blood, Blood Consumption, Car Accident (past, mentioned), Kidnapping (on-page), Mind Control, Misogyny, Missing Person, Parental Death (past, mentioned), Vomit (mentioned)
Despite that, it was quite a fun read. On one hand I enjoyed the explanation of all of the rules of roller derby but it was very heavy info dumping and definitely takes you out of the story. What should be a one-sitting read turned into a 3-sitting read because of the heavy game rule info. I definitely think this would hinder a child’s enjoyment of the book since they’re the intended audience.
I loved the art style and colour palette. The character designs were so cool. The yearbook-style “meet the characters” pages were really cool and had a diverse range of pronouns which was so lovely to see! I think the ending does hint at a second book but I don’t know if the story enticed me enough to continue if it does turn into a series.
Overall, I think this was a very mid read and I do rather enjoy Middle Grade books so it was disappointing. I think the main issue really was the detailed explanation of roller derby rules, it definitely overshadowed the story.
TWs/CWs - Blood, Blood Consumption, Car Accident (past, mentioned), Kidnapping (on-page), Mind Control, Misogyny, Missing Person, Parental Death (past, mentioned), Vomit (mentioned)
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