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Crystal Cadets
Crystal Cadets
Cadets Go! Join this team of darkness-fighting, world-saving, power-packed teen girls from all over the world on their first adventure!
Zoe has always felt out of place; her foster parents are great and all, but she's long felt like something was missing. That is, of course, until she discovers a mysterious gem left to her by her birth mother and her whole universe gets flipped around! When the crystal grants Zoe mysterious powers of light she becomes the Diamond Cadet, and she's not the only one; suddenly she's meeting new friends who shoot flames and glowing green arrows. It's all fun at first, but when The Darkness possesses Zoe's foster parents her only choice is to join this wild group of action-hero girls, traveling the globe to defeat The Darkness and find a cure!
128 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2015
9 people are currently reading
598 people want to read
About the author
Anne Toole
83 books20 followersAnne Toole is a WGA-nominated writer for computer games, one-hour television, comics, and short fiction. Anne started her career writing for DAYS OF OUR LIVES, then became Head Writer for a game based on the STARGATE SG-1 series. She's written a number of game titles, including the dark fantasy RPG, THE WITCHER, which earned her a Writers Guild nomination. Anne has spoken extensively on games and entertainment and contributed to books from the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). "
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
September 19, 2021
An all-girl team comic that will only appeal to the youngest of girls. A bunch of girls get gems left to them from their mothers that give each girl special abilities along with an avatar they can ride. It almost felt like this was made by a toy company. It's really generic and basic stories.
September 3, 2016
I wish I could rate it higher! This was adorable, and I loved the idea and the diversity. I may have enjoyed it more if I was younger (think: 12), but it didn't have a whole lot of depth to it. The plot goes by really fast, with awkwardly interjected moral lessons that are very poorly done. An example: one girl yells at another girl in one panel (out of nowhere? for no reason?) and two pages later they're apologizing for another single panel, and somehow this is supposed to be a moral lesson on working together. Ehhhh.
The girls also learn to use their powers very quickly, and a lot of things aren't explained. At one point they float into a cave that's a hologram? a delusion? and it teaches them about their powers? What? Why? What is going on?
I wish it had slowed down and not tried to cram in so much (action, transformation sequences, twists, morality, friendships) all at one time. Let us get to know the characters and let them build real friendships. Also, and this might be nitpicking... but there was only one genuinely funny laugh out loud moment for me. Kids' stuff should be FUN, and while this was full of exciting action (that I as a jaded adult probably didn't appreciate much because it was very obvious the girls were never in any real danger and would obviously save the day in the end), it didn't have anything really fun.
So, while I'd love to pass my copy along to a much younger girl who might appreciate it, I don't think this is a good read for adults at all, not even adults who love comics and superheros and girls with magic powers and cheesy kid fun. It just didn't quite work very well.
The girls also learn to use their powers very quickly, and a lot of things aren't explained. At one point they float into a cave that's a hologram? a delusion? and it teaches them about their powers? What? Why? What is going on?
I wish it had slowed down and not tried to cram in so much (action, transformation sequences, twists, morality, friendships) all at one time. Let us get to know the characters and let them build real friendships. Also, and this might be nitpicking... but there was only one genuinely funny laugh out loud moment for me. Kids' stuff should be FUN, and while this was full of exciting action (that I as a jaded adult probably didn't appreciate much because it was very obvious the girls were never in any real danger and would obviously save the day in the end), it didn't have anything really fun.
So, while I'd love to pass my copy along to a much younger girl who might appreciate it, I don't think this is a good read for adults at all, not even adults who love comics and superheros and girls with magic powers and cheesy kid fun. It just didn't quite work very well.
January 10, 2017
Actual rating: 1.5 stars
I am so, so sad to be giving this such a low rating. It has everything I love: girl-centric kids comic, magical girls, diverse cast, and adorable art. Sadly though, the dialogue and writing really made this tank for me.
The first, and biggest, problem I had was the pacing. It was at a breakneck speed, which isn't always a bad thing and is pretty common in these types of narratives (gotta get right in the action!) but here, it felt rushed, instead of fast-paced.
Secondly, there was a lot of really weird contrivances in the plot. A few examples:
- The Crystal Cadets run off to Puerto Rico (!?!) to try to find another member of their group. There, they run into a boat and on the boat is a boy (Antoine) that they met back home (which is presumably the US, though they don't say where). Why is this boy suddenly in Puerto Rican waters on a boat with his dad? Shouldn't he be back home in school?
- Later in the story, they have to rescue one of their friends who's been captured. When searching a coastline (near where she was taken), one of the girls finds a random tag for some lab/company place?? How fortunate that it's from a company that Antoine's dad runs and will grant you access inside the building! It's ALSO where their friend is being kept!
The list goes on and on and on. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but these were so glaring while I was reading that I couldn't help noticing.
Toole is obviously a skilled writer (she wrote for the Lizzie Bennett diaries), but there seems to be a lack of knowledge for comics writing. For example, when the girls are looking for the Pearl Cadet, they get a tip from Antoine (the boat guy) that she "suddenly left town". Without any transition, the girls are suddenly at a skateboarding tournament? There was no sense of time passing, or change of setting. It felt very rough and definitely needed some smoothing out.
Lastly, I want to point out how incredibly CORNY and silly the main antagonist in this was. The Crystal Cadets are magical girls who must the evil forces of THE DARKNESS (I'm sorry, that name is so unoriginal and LAZY) which is created when people lie, cheat and have.... wait for it... BAD MANNERS (this is literally stated in the text, I'm not lying). I'm sorry, but there is absolutely no sense in urgency when your villain is so LAME. Maybe Toole was going for the nostalgia factor here, but this didn't read that way. If you want corny/silly that's also FUN (and also features magical girls) Zodiac Starforce does it right.
I will say that I loved the art. It's super cute and colourful and perfect for something like this. I also have to give props for having such a diverse cast of characters (2 out of the 8 characters prominently featured are white - everyone else is POC. Yay!) However, it couldn't save the subpar writing.
I am so, so sad to be giving this such a low rating. It has everything I love: girl-centric kids comic, magical girls, diverse cast, and adorable art. Sadly though, the dialogue and writing really made this tank for me.
The first, and biggest, problem I had was the pacing. It was at a breakneck speed, which isn't always a bad thing and is pretty common in these types of narratives (gotta get right in the action!) but here, it felt rushed, instead of fast-paced.
Secondly, there was a lot of really weird contrivances in the plot. A few examples:
- The Crystal Cadets run off to Puerto Rico (!?!) to try to find another member of their group. There, they run into a boat and on the boat is a boy (Antoine) that they met back home (which is presumably the US, though they don't say where). Why is this boy suddenly in Puerto Rican waters on a boat with his dad? Shouldn't he be back home in school?
- Later in the story, they have to rescue one of their friends who's been captured. When searching a coastline (near where she was taken), one of the girls finds a random tag for some lab/company place?? How fortunate that it's from a company that Antoine's dad runs and will grant you access inside the building! It's ALSO where their friend is being kept!
The list goes on and on and on. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but these were so glaring while I was reading that I couldn't help noticing.
Toole is obviously a skilled writer (she wrote for the Lizzie Bennett diaries), but there seems to be a lack of knowledge for comics writing. For example, when the girls are looking for the Pearl Cadet, they get a tip from Antoine (the boat guy) that she "suddenly left town". Without any transition, the girls are suddenly at a skateboarding tournament? There was no sense of time passing, or change of setting. It felt very rough and definitely needed some smoothing out.
Lastly, I want to point out how incredibly CORNY and silly the main antagonist in this was. The Crystal Cadets are magical girls who must the evil forces of THE DARKNESS (I'm sorry, that name is so unoriginal and LAZY) which is created when people lie, cheat and have.... wait for it... BAD MANNERS (this is literally stated in the text, I'm not lying). I'm sorry, but there is absolutely no sense in urgency when your villain is so LAME. Maybe Toole was going for the nostalgia factor here, but this didn't read that way. If you want corny/silly that's also FUN (and also features magical girls) Zodiac Starforce does it right.
I will say that I loved the art. It's super cute and colourful and perfect for something like this. I also have to give props for having such a diverse cast of characters (2 out of the 8 characters prominently featured are white - everyone else is POC. Yay!) However, it couldn't save the subpar writing.
November 11, 2017
This is a really cutesy and cosy read all about friendship. I would say I definitely think this is aimed at the younger generation, particularly kids, as it feels like a very simple storyline. We follow a group of girls who are all the owners of Crystals and each can summon a magic power/beast to fight the Darkness. Over the course of the book we meet more of the Crystal Cadets and presumably this is the first in a longer-running series.
For me, the story was far too easy and simple, it felt like it just didn't have the surprise factor I would have wanted. However, with that said the artwork is beautiful at times and so I really appreciated the strong colours and fun ideas.
A 3*s read overall, but one I would recommend more heavily to children.
For me, the story was far too easy and simple, it felt like it just didn't have the surprise factor I would have wanted. However, with that said the artwork is beautiful at times and so I really appreciated the strong colours and fun ideas.
A 3*s read overall, but one I would recommend more heavily to children.
October 20, 2016
I received the unpublished ARC of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alright so this was CUTE. Like, real cute. It was a funny and breezy read overflowing with girl power and hearts and an actually unicorn. Adorable comic, and would be perfectly appropriate for kids to read - which is always a good find.
Alright so this was CUTE. Like, real cute. It was a funny and breezy read overflowing with girl power and hearts and an actually unicorn. Adorable comic, and would be perfectly appropriate for kids to read - which is always a good find.
August 19, 2021
This was absolutely perfect for its target middle-grade audience. Adorable girls and their magical mounts, including a unicorn of course, battle the evil darkness and its shadow creatures. It's a fun adventure reminiscent of Sailor Moon but sweeter and less dark (seriously!) As an adult reader and NOT the target audience, it was a bit overly sweet and too heavy handed in the life lessons but I think a 12 year old would totally eat it up.
August 30, 2021
I liked the young girls team of heroes that all have their own powers, which are not strictly based on the primary elements. The disagreements within the group were realistic but the specific ways those spats played out felt passive aggressive. I liked the last new cadet the most, and I like that not all the questions about their powers are answered by the end of the book. I like how the new cadets had to test and experiment with their powers to find what worked and what they liked best.
February 21, 2017
Upon first glance, one would think that Crystal Cadets would have all of the makings of being yet another Sailor Moon rip-off. You've got a squadron of girls uniting to fight the forces of evil, all in cutesy school-girl outfits. There's a faceless, yet ominous Darkness that threatens to take over the world. All we need is a little bit of Moon Tiara Magic to get this crossed over into Sailor Moon territory, right?
Wrong. Crystal Cadets' strengths lie in many other ways that set it apart from that quintessential magical girl story. O'Neill and Ganucheau's art is absolutely beautiful, which drew me in from the start. While on first glance, the whole aesthetic feels like a watered-down version of Ganucheau's other magical girl-themed comic, Zodiac Starforce (also great and highly recommended), however, it's perfect for the younger, middle-grade audience for which it's reaching. Furthermore, the story isn't filled with the most substance and is fairly predictable, yes, but younger readers always could use more feel-good stories promoting positive friendships between girls. And, hey, the Crystal Cadets squad is far, far more diverse and inclusive than the Scouts who started it all.
If you're looking for a graphic novel series that will challenge your pre-conceived notions of society, then Crystal Cadets probably is not for you. But if you're wanting a cute story that empowers girls of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, then definitely give this book a try -- or at least pass it to your little sister.
Wrong. Crystal Cadets' strengths lie in many other ways that set it apart from that quintessential magical girl story. O'Neill and Ganucheau's art is absolutely beautiful, which drew me in from the start. While on first glance, the whole aesthetic feels like a watered-down version of Ganucheau's other magical girl-themed comic, Zodiac Starforce (also great and highly recommended), however, it's perfect for the younger, middle-grade audience for which it's reaching. Furthermore, the story isn't filled with the most substance and is fairly predictable, yes, but younger readers always could use more feel-good stories promoting positive friendships between girls. And, hey, the Crystal Cadets squad is far, far more diverse and inclusive than the Scouts who started it all.
If you're looking for a graphic novel series that will challenge your pre-conceived notions of society, then Crystal Cadets probably is not for you. But if you're wanting a cute story that empowers girls of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, then definitely give this book a try -- or at least pass it to your little sister.
August 15, 2017
I found the story extremely underdeveloped and this wasn't helped by the confusing panel design and jarring jumps in time and place from page to page. A lot of moments in the comic just seemed a little too convenient and therefore I was pulled out of the story, unable to suspend my disbelief.
I found the storyline to be weirdly (and slightly creepily) moral - and not in a good way. It actually made me feel quite uncomfortable and I'm unsure whether I'd be happy with a child reading this. It's very much black & white good vs bad which is a little too clear cut - and I'm not sure if the association of bad manners with darkness and badness was intentional... but this also felt a little archaic.
Lastly, the attempt at representation here seemed a little lazy and stereotypical. Definitely give this one a miss.
Received for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I found the storyline to be weirdly (and slightly creepily) moral - and not in a good way. It actually made me feel quite uncomfortable and I'm unsure whether I'd be happy with a child reading this. It's very much black & white good vs bad which is a little too clear cut - and I'm not sure if the association of bad manners with darkness and badness was intentional... but this also felt a little archaic.
Lastly, the attempt at representation here seemed a little lazy and stereotypical. Definitely give this one a miss.
Received for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2015
Crystal Cadets is full of friendship, teamwork and super cute artwork! I was lucky enough to get my wish granted by the publisher and get a sneak peek of the book and I was not disappointed! The artwork is so beautiful and the story is super original. All I can say is I hope to read more!
January 12, 2021
I read this because I am a huge Katie O’Neill fan, but she only did the art for this graphic novel. I did not care for the flow of this storyline. It just jumped around too much and lacked any real character development.
December 22, 2017
Didn't really like this. Was a bit bored by it and wasn't super interested in the story as a whole. I suppose it was a bit underwhelming. The art wasn't the greatest either.
April 12, 2020
Oof. Well. There was a lot of potential in this story, these characters etc, but it just went to waste in my opinion.
A lot of people mention this is more appropriate for children, and maybe that’s why I really really disliked this, but I’m not sure.
The art was really really lovely and I loved certain plot aspects but:
It went so so fast? There was no buildup, no depth in the plot, there was just nothing that made me invested in this story at all.
It just felt whimsical and illogical to me.
There is a lot of potential here, and I love the idea of this comic, but the execution is just not well done.
Maybe if they’d gone a bit more into detail, took some more time to explain things and get the story going, I’d sing a different tune.
But this was just a big disappointment.
A lot of people mention this is more appropriate for children, and maybe that’s why I really really disliked this, but I’m not sure.
The art was really really lovely and I loved certain plot aspects but:
It went so so fast? There was no buildup, no depth in the plot, there was just nothing that made me invested in this story at all.
It just felt whimsical and illogical to me.
There is a lot of potential here, and I love the idea of this comic, but the execution is just not well done.
Maybe if they’d gone a bit more into detail, took some more time to explain things and get the story going, I’d sing a different tune.
But this was just a big disappointment.
March 2, 2017
Very cute! Very middle-grade-y, but not in a bad way. The art is just so adorable, and I love how diverse the gang of magical girls is. Nothing like incredibly memorable/unusual about this, but -- adorable magical girls! Their crystals make giant magical creatures appear that they can ride on into battle! What more do you need?
I got this as an ARC from Netgalley. But I think it's out now normally, or soonish it will be?
I got this as an ARC from Netgalley. But I think it's out now normally, or soonish it will be?
October 13, 2017
Fiercely derivative, which is a shame, because this could have been fun rather than a game of "spot the trope."
Read
January 3, 2021Super generic magical girl story. Nothing special about it. I'll forget all about it soon. Not offensive in any way, but mainly because it lacks personality.
December 18, 2018
Cute, though sad it was discontinued. What should I expect from a Lion Forge title, though?
August 3, 2023
Das war irgendwie nichts für mich, ich bleibe dann eher bei den komplett Cozy Graphic Novels 😄
March 22, 2017
A cute take on the magical girl subgenre.
December 29, 2015
I've read the summary for this comic-series on NetGalley a few... months ago(?) and I became somewhat interested to see how the characters would be and the whole mythology behind these little gems that gives them magical abilities.
I grew up watching magical-girls tv shows and whatnot, so I'm kinda familiar with the general concept that is normally used when a person is trying to create a new work: a girl/boy not that popular finds him/herself facing a particular dangerous situation awakens his/her hidden magical abilities and begins to learn how to control them while battling the enemy.
Even though it's a concept not that surprising and, I still liked it for the most part in Crystal Cadets. The artwork was not that bad and it did help to keep me interested in the story and it even showed a couple of diverse characters along the way - which was great!
But I did have some issues with how the whole story was structured and how little there was in terms of worldbuilding and such. It felt more plot-driven that anything else, and it definitely shows. Almost no character development was featured and because of that, the characters felt a bit flat and kinda empty for me. I didn't feel any particular connection towards any of them and that alone tells me that something is off with this. And the lack of worldbuilding in Crystal Cadets just gives way more questions than answers that would actually make up for a lot of things that didn't work very well.
All in all, Crystal Cadets is a very quick read and it does entertain a bit so don't miss a chance to check this out.
I grew up watching magical-girls tv shows and whatnot, so I'm kinda familiar with the general concept that is normally used when a person is trying to create a new work: a girl/boy not that popular finds him/herself facing a particular dangerous situation awakens his/her hidden magical abilities and begins to learn how to control them while battling the enemy.
Even though it's a concept not that surprising and, I still liked it for the most part in Crystal Cadets. The artwork was not that bad and it did help to keep me interested in the story and it even showed a couple of diverse characters along the way - which was great!
But I did have some issues with how the whole story was structured and how little there was in terms of worldbuilding and such. It felt more plot-driven that anything else, and it definitely shows. Almost no character development was featured and because of that, the characters felt a bit flat and kinda empty for me. I didn't feel any particular connection towards any of them and that alone tells me that something is off with this. And the lack of worldbuilding in Crystal Cadets just gives way more questions than answers that would actually make up for a lot of things that didn't work very well.
All in all, Crystal Cadets is a very quick read and it does entertain a bit so don't miss a chance to check this out.
January 12, 2016
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This is definitely geared towards younger readers, but I think it's headed in the right direction. There's diversity and also appeal for parents who might have been on a Sailor Moon kick in their younger days. ;)
Most of the cadets are adopted, because their birth mothers gave them up to protect them. Their power crystals are passed down from mother to daughter, and they fight the darkness in the world. The darkness comes any time we make a choice to do the wrong thing -- lie, cheat, steal, etc. I liked the message that you can win or you can cheat, but you can't truly do both. (Winning by cheating isn't winning.) Great lessons and messages for kids, and also finding your confidence and that you can do what you set your mind to.
I want more in depth for the characters and to learn more about each one, but this is the first volume, and hopefully there are more to come. It took awhile in other cartoons and things I remember from my childhood before we got the 'individual' episodes that dealt more with each character in depth and you learned more about them as a person and not just as a member of the team.
Definitely one I would like to share with my nieces when they get older...it's a little beyond newborns. ;)
This is definitely geared towards younger readers, but I think it's headed in the right direction. There's diversity and also appeal for parents who might have been on a Sailor Moon kick in their younger days. ;)
Most of the cadets are adopted, because their birth mothers gave them up to protect them. Their power crystals are passed down from mother to daughter, and they fight the darkness in the world. The darkness comes any time we make a choice to do the wrong thing -- lie, cheat, steal, etc. I liked the message that you can win or you can cheat, but you can't truly do both. (Winning by cheating isn't winning.) Great lessons and messages for kids, and also finding your confidence and that you can do what you set your mind to.
I want more in depth for the characters and to learn more about each one, but this is the first volume, and hopefully there are more to come. It took awhile in other cartoons and things I remember from my childhood before we got the 'individual' episodes that dealt more with each character in depth and you learned more about them as a person and not just as a member of the team.
Definitely one I would like to share with my nieces when they get older...it's a little beyond newborns. ;)
November 2, 2016
Crystal Cadets is not particularly original in plot - a group of young girls, each with their own power sourced through a crystal inherited through past generations, fighting together against evil (and darkness). In terms of their interaction - all about friendship and girl power, things I love - and the way events unfold, there's not much to surprise a reader. However, I am also aware this is a comic targeted towards a younger audience (not sure the exact age group) so I wasn't expecting much of the plot. What I wanted from this was a similar feeling to a comic I used to read as a kid, "W.i.t.c.h.", which I definitely got - there's the slight humorous tone while in peril which I enjoyed and readers of Lumberjanes would possibly also enjoy this comic as I think it's got a similar vibe.
It seems to be finished, although the end felt open enough to be continued. Even as it is, about 8 issues I think, it's pretty satisfactory and fun to read. What I love the most about this comic is the art - I am very picky with art and I tend to prefer comic art that is targeted towards younger readers, that have more of a cartoon-y style a la cartoons from the 90s, with soft lines and lots of colour and badass ladies in the forefront. It's exactly what I got! I definitely recommend it if you want something fun to read and you enjoy stories like Lumberjanes with young girls with magical powers going on adventures to save the world.
It seems to be finished, although the end felt open enough to be continued. Even as it is, about 8 issues I think, it's pretty satisfactory and fun to read. What I love the most about this comic is the art - I am very picky with art and I tend to prefer comic art that is targeted towards younger readers, that have more of a cartoon-y style a la cartoons from the 90s, with soft lines and lots of colour and badass ladies in the forefront. It's exactly what I got! I definitely recommend it if you want something fun to read and you enjoy stories like Lumberjanes with young girls with magical powers going on adventures to save the world.
November 17, 2016
I grabbed this trade because Paulina Ganucheau was an illustrator for it and I LOVED her work in Zodiac Starforce, so I expected to enjoy Crystal Cadets too. Sadly, I was wrong. If you’ve read both you will know that Crystal Cadets pales in comparison to Zodiac Starforce, especially because they have similar story concepts. It may be unfair to compare here, but I couldn’t help it.
I think that Crystal Cadets is the kiddie version of Zodiac Starforce, which is totally fine. When I think about the story and artwork from that point of view, I think it would deserve more stars. Besides the art being lackluster, I also thought the story was underdeveloped. There was a lot of opportunity where character development could’ve been incorporated and it wasn’t. It also had moments that felt pretty convenient to the plot. It came across as lazy storytelling in my opinion.
If you are interested in the concept of this story, go read Zodiac Starforce. Trust me, you will be much happier with that decision.
I think that Crystal Cadets is the kiddie version of Zodiac Starforce, which is totally fine. When I think about the story and artwork from that point of view, I think it would deserve more stars. Besides the art being lackluster, I also thought the story was underdeveloped. There was a lot of opportunity where character development could’ve been incorporated and it wasn’t. It also had moments that felt pretty convenient to the plot. It came across as lazy storytelling in my opinion.
If you are interested in the concept of this story, go read Zodiac Starforce. Trust me, you will be much happier with that decision.
April 6, 2016
The Crystal Cadets is a group of girls with special gifts that have been passed down through the generations by a stone that each family has. Zoe discovers she is a part of the Crystal Cadets on her birthday, when she receives a gem from her birth mother, and it is learned that she is the Diamond of the group. Along with her friends, the magical girls are chosen to defeat the Darkness, and guard earth. This is a great comic for elementary and middle school kids. It's a fun quick read with action, mythology, friendship, and diversity. I liked the concept, but it lacked in many aspects ranging from depth, character development, and pace. There is a lot of potential with the premise, but there was not enough time and detail put into establishing the story, so I did not really enjoy this.
I received a digital copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.
I received a digital copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.
August 13, 2021
The art was cute, but the plot was confusingly fast-paced and many things were brought up in passing that were never explained or elaborated on, making for a confusing story that was at times not easy to follow. Also not a huge fan of the leader of the group being a person of color who then stepped back to allow the white protagonist to be the leader.
July 24, 2020
I liked this a lot but parts could have benefited from more story/explanation. The art is cute though and I love the diversity.
June 1, 2021
enjoyable but I cant bring myself to engage(?) more with the story, maybe because I'm way older than the targeted readers. but this has pretty cool characters & premise though!
March 18, 2021
Zoe has always known she’s adopted, but she didn’t know that her birth mother was from a long line of superheroines – the Crystal Cadets. When some new girls arrive at her school and Zoe is attacked by a creature of darkness, she soon finds out that she is the Diamond Cadet. Along with her new friends Jasmine, Olivia, Gwen and Nahla, they will set out to find the three remaining Crystal Cadets to fight the darkness together and free Zoe’s adoptive parents from the darkness that has taken them over.
With diamond lightning-speed we move from Zoe discovering her heritage, to the girls seeking out the other Cadets, to discovering that finding the source of the darkness hides some big secrets. The pace never lets up, and the bright color palettes make for a speedy read. However, it does also mean that there is no room to breathe or get to know the various Cadets, and if you blink you might even miss when character’s names are said. It felt like there was too much going on and not enough fleshed out between these eight issues as we find all the Cadets and fight the darkness. There’s definitely room for more issues, but somehow I doubt that they might happen any time soon (as it seems Kay O’Neill is quite busy with other projects such as the Tea Dragon Society).
On the plus side, there’s a good amount of diversity in the characters, both easily noticeable in skin tones and hinted-at in what little we can infer from family relationships and vague cultural references. Anne Toole tries to insert some moral lessons about friendship, as well as understanding when to trust that someone else knows what they are doing (even when it is an unorthodox way) to get the job done. There is also acknowledging when someone else is better for a different job, and knowing when to step back so that everyone can work to their strengths – how it’s not always about taking charge, but also realizing when to let someone else take charge instead.
With diamond lightning-speed we move from Zoe discovering her heritage, to the girls seeking out the other Cadets, to discovering that finding the source of the darkness hides some big secrets. The pace never lets up, and the bright color palettes make for a speedy read. However, it does also mean that there is no room to breathe or get to know the various Cadets, and if you blink you might even miss when character’s names are said. It felt like there was too much going on and not enough fleshed out between these eight issues as we find all the Cadets and fight the darkness. There’s definitely room for more issues, but somehow I doubt that they might happen any time soon (as it seems Kay O’Neill is quite busy with other projects such as the Tea Dragon Society).
On the plus side, there’s a good amount of diversity in the characters, both easily noticeable in skin tones and hinted-at in what little we can infer from family relationships and vague cultural references. Anne Toole tries to insert some moral lessons about friendship, as well as understanding when to trust that someone else knows what they are doing (even when it is an unorthodox way) to get the job done. There is also acknowledging when someone else is better for a different job, and knowing when to step back so that everyone can work to their strengths – how it’s not always about taking charge, but also realizing when to let someone else take charge instead.
February 24, 2019
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Very similar to Sailor Moon/magic girl squad set up, but with its own special twists. I really liked that the characters are not all super girly and stereotypical, which is so common in magic girl squad stories. There are sparkles and unicorns, but also flaming phoenixes. Good balance. I tend to lose interest when the group is all about fashion and makeup and girly spy accessories. This book does a great job presenting a group of girls with diverse traits and personalities while acknowledging that not all girls are into unicorns. I picked this up from the library, because I absolutely loved Katie O'Neill's Princess Princess Ever After and The Tea Dragon Society and wanted to see more of her artwork. I really enjoyed the artwork in this book. Just the right amount of cutesy for me. Storywise, this one was engaging and interesting. It was a wonderful adventure going out and finding all of the cadets. I did have a hard time keeping all of the characters straight since there are a lot of main characters (and I'm horrible with names), but luckily there was a character guide at the end (wish I'd found that sooner). It goes through each cadet's powers, summon, crystal, and a basic description. Very helpful. Overall, I thought this was a good introduction to an interesting story and engaging characters that I'd like to learn more about. I liked the book and will definitely be continuing the series.
January 30, 2018
3.5 STARS!!!!!!
This was cute. I did enjoy the characters and the differences in their strengths and weaknesses. I’m a bit of a sucker for saving the world through the power of love and friendship (Sailor Moon, My Little Pony, Gotham Academy, etc.), so I very much enjoyed that. The art was cool, thought not the best I’ve seen, and overall I think the story idea was really great.
I would have liked to see a bit more background about the cadets. I would like to know their history, and the stories behind each of the characters heritage. I’d like to see them spend time together not saving the world, or getting an education, or something normal. It also moved way too fast. I think I would be super excited to find out I had superpowers, but I would also need answers. There wasn’t enough questioning going on. Everything was just taken in stride. And then it just ended!!!! There wasn’t any real resolution or fixing of the issues.
Hopefully, there will be a second volume at some point so things can get resolved better. It’s an interesting and entertaining enough story to where I’d like to see more.
This was cute. I did enjoy the characters and the differences in their strengths and weaknesses. I’m a bit of a sucker for saving the world through the power of love and friendship (Sailor Moon, My Little Pony, Gotham Academy, etc.), so I very much enjoyed that. The art was cool, thought not the best I’ve seen, and overall I think the story idea was really great.
I would have liked to see a bit more background about the cadets. I would like to know their history, and the stories behind each of the characters heritage. I’d like to see them spend time together not saving the world, or getting an education, or something normal. It also moved way too fast. I think I would be super excited to find out I had superpowers, but I would also need answers. There wasn’t enough questioning going on. Everything was just taken in stride. And then it just ended!!!! There wasn’t any real resolution or fixing of the issues.
Hopefully, there will be a second volume at some point so things can get resolved better. It’s an interesting and entertaining enough story to where I’d like to see more.
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