What do you think?
Rate this book
Starfish Girl
In a post-apocalyptic underwater dome, there lives a girl with a starfish growing from her head. Her name is Ohime. She is the starfish girl.
Alone in this world, Ohime must fight for her life against lecherous crabmen, piranha people, and a yellow algae that is causing humans to mutate into fish. Until she meets Timbre, a woman with deadly sea anemone hair. Ohime thinks she is safe with her new protector and friend, but Timbre is on the run from a violent past. Now they must escape Timbre's former master, the evil Dr. Ichii, who is determined to conquer the underwater dome . . . and destroy the starfish girl and her friend in the process.
Alone in this world, Ohime must fight for her life against lecherous crabmen, piranha people, and a yellow algae that is causing humans to mutate into fish. Until she meets Timbre, a woman with deadly sea anemone hair. Ohime thinks she is safe with her new protector and friend, but Timbre is on the run from a violent past. Now they must escape Timbre's former master, the evil Dr. Ichii, who is determined to conquer the underwater dome . . . and destroy the starfish girl and her friend in the process.
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2010
4 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
About the author
Athena Villaverde
3 books60 followersAthena Villaverde writes sexy and weird bizarro fantasy tales, often set in wastelands populated by colorful and magical characters. Part cyber-punk, part urban fantasy. Cute and disturbing.
Her interests include Tarot, knitting, fetish fashion, kawaii noir, chaos magick, hair dye, drawing and painting, dancing, Japanese anime, cult films, genetic mutations, parasites, survivalism, cosplay, steampunk, gothic lolita, mythology, burlesque, body modification, new wave, ska, punk rock.
Her interests include Tarot, knitting, fetish fashion, kawaii noir, chaos magick, hair dye, drawing and painting, dancing, Japanese anime, cult films, genetic mutations, parasites, survivalism, cosplay, steampunk, gothic lolita, mythology, burlesque, body modification, new wave, ska, punk rock.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 18, 2011
Inside of an underwater dome in a post-apocalyptic world, Ohime, a young girl with a starfish growing out of her head, meets up with an assassin with sea anemone hair named Timbre. Together, they wander their undersea world, pursued by the fiendish Dr. Ichii, in search of a ship Ohime's deceased parents helped develop, a ship that will take them to the fabled world above the waves. Can Ohime and Timbre reach the ship before Dr. Ichii?
I have to admit, I had my doubts when I first saw the cover but Athena Villaverde's story in the Bizarro Starter Kit made me eager to give Starfish Girl a try. Am I glad I did? Yes. Yes, I am. Starfish Girl is part fairy tale, part cyberpunk, part anime, and all bizarro.
The setting was pretty unique. Even though post-apocalyptic tales are getting more and more common these days, the undersea setting choked by yellow algae is something you don't see very often. The villains were suitably vile, especially the villainous Dr. Ichii and his goons. A shark man with sawblades on his back? A swordfish man with a giant honkin' blade on his head? The barnacle-encrusted Dr. Ichii? Good stuff.
The innocence of Ohime is nicely offset by the violent worldliness of Timbre, the assassin with sea anemone hair. I could understand Timbre growing fond of Ohime despite her rough exterior. I found myself getting attached to Ohime by the end. I thought for sure I knew how the end was going to go down but I was pleasantly surprised.
Even though I described it as a fairy tale, some really weird shit goes on. It turns out the Starfish Girl has some starfish-like abilities. As for Timbre... let's just say you shouldn't make a woman with sea anemone hair do anything against her will. I won't forget the eel-man's fate for quite a long time.
That about wraps it up. I think this would make the perfect first bizarro book for the Bizarro-curious readers in your life.
I have to admit, I had my doubts when I first saw the cover but Athena Villaverde's story in the Bizarro Starter Kit made me eager to give Starfish Girl a try. Am I glad I did? Yes. Yes, I am. Starfish Girl is part fairy tale, part cyberpunk, part anime, and all bizarro.
The setting was pretty unique. Even though post-apocalyptic tales are getting more and more common these days, the undersea setting choked by yellow algae is something you don't see very often. The villains were suitably vile, especially the villainous Dr. Ichii and his goons. A shark man with sawblades on his back? A swordfish man with a giant honkin' blade on his head? The barnacle-encrusted Dr. Ichii? Good stuff.
The innocence of Ohime is nicely offset by the violent worldliness of Timbre, the assassin with sea anemone hair. I could understand Timbre growing fond of Ohime despite her rough exterior. I found myself getting attached to Ohime by the end. I thought for sure I knew how the end was going to go down but I was pleasantly surprised.
Even though I described it as a fairy tale, some really weird shit goes on. It turns out the Starfish Girl has some starfish-like abilities. As for Timbre... let's just say you shouldn't make a woman with sea anemone hair do anything against her will. I won't forget the eel-man's fate for quite a long time.
That about wraps it up. I think this would make the perfect first bizarro book for the Bizarro-curious readers in your life.
May 25, 2011
Great fight scenes. Action, Action, Action. There's a lot to love here. Quest that takes the reader through uniquely imagined landscapes and cityscapes. Great brothel scene. Kick-ass unapologetic mature female hero. Revengeful Vagina Dentata. Completed by a perplexing, yet naively appealing, very well dressed pubescent heroine.
Athena Villaverde is going to have a film-deal someday when this story is optioned/adapted for the screen. It could become a cult classic or with the right budget, soundtrack and direction it could be a blockbuster. In the meantime, I would line up for a graphic novel edition too. PLEASE?
Is it Tolstoy? No, but who cares?! Athena Villaverde's first novel is a one-of-a-kind story that pushes gender boundaries within the genre and isn't dull for a moment.
Athena Villaverde is going to have a film-deal someday when this story is optioned/adapted for the screen. It could become a cult classic or with the right budget, soundtrack and direction it could be a blockbuster. In the meantime, I would line up for a graphic novel edition too. PLEASE?
Is it Tolstoy? No, but who cares?! Athena Villaverde's first novel is a one-of-a-kind story that pushes gender boundaries within the genre and isn't dull for a moment.
July 3, 2011
Great little book. I quite liked the tale, I couldn't help but imagine an anime in my mind the whole time I read it, I could definitely see it being adapted into one, maybe by Miyazaki.
The main character Ohime is such a likable ignorant of the dome world creature, innocent in every way which is a stark contrast to Timbre, the "good person," as labelled by Ohime, who grew up on the streets, is a trained killer and assassin and knows the threats and dangers of the dome world.
The story is Ohime's journey to find good people and escape the increasingly dangerous dome world which will soon be overrun by deadly yellow algae.
The host of characters good and bad is great, I liked the steampunk touches, the mutations caused by the yellow algae and the mechanical implants Dr. Ichii is putting in fish to slow the mutations were pretty cool.
There are some pretty graphic scenes, sexually some people might be put off but hey this is bizarro, and with bizarro you come to expect the unexpected. I didn't see it as a girly bizarro book as some people have said, I mean if you look at the cover you may assume that, but man this thing is action packed, and quite the journey driven book. I like it, good job Villaverde, look forward to your next one.
The main character Ohime is such a likable ignorant of the dome world creature, innocent in every way which is a stark contrast to Timbre, the "good person," as labelled by Ohime, who grew up on the streets, is a trained killer and assassin and knows the threats and dangers of the dome world.
The story is Ohime's journey to find good people and escape the increasingly dangerous dome world which will soon be overrun by deadly yellow algae.
The host of characters good and bad is great, I liked the steampunk touches, the mutations caused by the yellow algae and the mechanical implants Dr. Ichii is putting in fish to slow the mutations were pretty cool.
There are some pretty graphic scenes, sexually some people might be put off but hey this is bizarro, and with bizarro you come to expect the unexpected. I didn't see it as a girly bizarro book as some people have said, I mean if you look at the cover you may assume that, but man this thing is action packed, and quite the journey driven book. I like it, good job Villaverde, look forward to your next one.
June 27, 2011
"Starfish Girl" is what would happen if Studio Ghibli called up an "Ecstasia"-era Francesca Lia Block and asked her to write a demented kawaii-esq post-apocalypic screen play with steampunk-ish mutated sea creatures, violently deranged murders and a frequent mention of vaginas.
I enjoyed the sweetly naive Ohime-the star fish girl herself- and her angry, beleaguered, sea anemone assassin companion, Timbre. Timbre seemed so exasperated with Ohime, that I continually wondered when she was going to abandon her.
They have a cute and slightly disturbing journey and travel to a plethora of odd, but not entirely surprising destinations.
This would be a good recommendation for those more into the sweet/fairy tale sub-genre of Bizarro.
I enjoyed the sweetly naive Ohime-the star fish girl herself- and her angry, beleaguered, sea anemone assassin companion, Timbre. Timbre seemed so exasperated with Ohime, that I continually wondered when she was going to abandon her.
They have a cute and slightly disturbing journey and travel to a plethora of odd, but not entirely surprising destinations.
This would be a good recommendation for those more into the sweet/fairy tale sub-genre of Bizarro.
June 26, 2011
What a cool little bizarro book, set in a world as richly rendered and imagined as you might find in the best fantasy out there. So many cool ideas packed into this little book. Others have mentioned it, and I won't deny that I kept envisioning the fish people from SpongeBob, but that doesn't hurt. In fact, it made it more fun considering what Athena has them do to each other. This book contains two of the most unique and outstanding rape scenes I've ever read. You may ask, how can a rape scene be considered outstanding? Read the book and find out. They're worth the price of admission.
June 28, 2011
3.5 stars
Starfish Girl is a sub-genre stew, a slathering of ingredients from urban fantasy, surrealism, sci-fi, steampunk, dystopia and bizarro. Beneath the sea and under a dome a band of mutants set out on a journey to the surface. Turning cogs, evil doctors, Victorian-like whore houses and a remote population of clowns are discovered along the way by a naive girl and her urban fantasy tough street-wise protector. This is the cast of the future and only 20 are allowed to make it out alive. The story is narrated in the present tense. Usually this narrative decision is made to accelerate immediacy, emotion and action. However, in this case observations take on a mechanical, detached tone, which creates distance, making the introduction of characters involved in the beginning scenes confusing (starfish girl, shark man, man with such and such ect). This may have been the aim of the author, but I was not a fan of the approach. The present tense shifts to the main characters, and when it does, I begin to get into the story. The perspective of Timbre (tough girl) and Ohime (starfish girl) provides a more intimate voice and to my relief, leans away from the 'reporting' of details that I felt in the beginning. However, when writing in the present tense a problem can arise, how to communicate past or provide background. Bits of this come into play mid-way through and although I wish it was given earlier (Timbre's), it was executed in a way that reminded me of comic book flashbacks. Some readers will dig this, while others may not. It will come down to personal taste. Lastly, I really wasn't sure what to think about Ohime. I had a hard time grasping if this girl was slow, mentally-challenged or what, but I think she was just supposed to be gullible. Given that Ohime was fifteen and menstruating, I had a tough time reconciling her childlike dialogue and behaviors as being merely a consequence of a sheltered life. Maybe I'm too jaded and narrowed by my own life experiences.
Starfish Girl is a sub-genre stew, a slathering of ingredients from urban fantasy, surrealism, sci-fi, steampunk, dystopia and bizarro. Beneath the sea and under a dome a band of mutants set out on a journey to the surface. Turning cogs, evil doctors, Victorian-like whore houses and a remote population of clowns are discovered along the way by a naive girl and her urban fantasy tough street-wise protector. This is the cast of the future and only 20 are allowed to make it out alive. The story is narrated in the present tense. Usually this narrative decision is made to accelerate immediacy, emotion and action. However, in this case observations take on a mechanical, detached tone, which creates distance, making the introduction of characters involved in the beginning scenes confusing (starfish girl, shark man, man with such and such ect). This may have been the aim of the author, but I was not a fan of the approach. The present tense shifts to the main characters, and when it does, I begin to get into the story. The perspective of Timbre (tough girl) and Ohime (starfish girl) provides a more intimate voice and to my relief, leans away from the 'reporting' of details that I felt in the beginning. However, when writing in the present tense a problem can arise, how to communicate past or provide background. Bits of this come into play mid-way through and although I wish it was given earlier (Timbre's), it was executed in a way that reminded me of comic book flashbacks. Some readers will dig this, while others may not. It will come down to personal taste. Lastly, I really wasn't sure what to think about Ohime. I had a hard time grasping if this girl was slow, mentally-challenged or what, but I think she was just supposed to be gullible. Given that Ohime was fifteen and menstruating, I had a tough time reconciling her childlike dialogue and behaviors as being merely a consequence of a sheltered life. Maybe I'm too jaded and narrowed by my own life experiences.
May 31, 2011
Excellent book! Amazingly vivid descriptions and inventive characters who are on a quest to escape with "nice" people to a safer world. The wonderful cast of characters include sweet, naive Starfish Girl (Ohime), the fierce assassin who protects her and of course the evil villain who wants to take over the world and his minions. I love how Ohime is full of love and happiness and sees everything in a positive light - even the slums and the toxic yellow algae that is ruining her world. I found this to be a nice change from the brittle, cold heroines I've encountered in other post-apolycalyptic stories. She never loses her relentlessly upbeat attitude no matter what horrors or disappointments they encounter and also inspires others with her generosity. I can't wait for more books by this author!
June 18, 2011
A quest narrative with the elegant watercolor strokes of Yoshitaka Amano concept art. A story with the message that compassion is its own kind of strength. While it takes awhile to really get going, when it does, Starfish Girl takes you in. Since a lot of the target audience for this book is anime fans, you know what this is like. Most anime takes awhile to get you into it, but drags you along for the ride when it does. If you love Final Fantasy and wish it were darker and more grown up and possibly set under the sea (I'm not here to judge), you will love Starfish Girl. It's a treat for the Otaku and the Bizarro fan alike. Surprisingly risque, beautiful and gory.
June 26, 2011
Meet Ohime "Starfish Girl" has a starfish growin` on her forehead. Lives in the underwater sea world. On her travels she meets Timbre an assassin with sea anemone hair. They are in search of a ship built by Ohime`s deceased parents.
Its like Sponge Bob meets the Wizard of Oz... Great book!
Action Fight Scences, strange sex scences... A MUST READ!
Its like Sponge Bob meets the Wizard of Oz... Great book!
Action Fight Scences, strange sex scences... A MUST READ!
June 21, 2011
Have you ever come across an anime series that on the surface looks like you'd never bother with it, but you get hooked within the first ten minutes anyway? Athena Villaverde's “Starfish Girl” is like that, but in written form.
This book reads like an anime series. “Starfish Girl” is a fast-paced story that doesn't bother explaining why things are. You are dropped in the middle of a post-apocalyptic world with the title character, Ohime. All is quiet. Then the mutant crab-men show up. From there the action keeps you firmly planted until the end.
Athena Villaverde writes cute. Not Dr. Seuss storytime-on-the-rug cute. Hello Kitty joins a ninja clan cute. “Starfish Girl” is like a kawaii OVA series crossed with a hardcore hentai, but there is more cute than sex and violence. Ohime's innocence will grab you and make the world around her seem that much more disturbing.
Unlike an anime series, you won't spend thirteen hours or more getting to the final battle. There is no subtext, just a great story that is emotionally gripping. You want Ohime to complete her quest, you want her companion Timbre to be redeemed. You will want to see the villainous Dr. Ichii laid low.
All of the elements of some of the greatest anime stories are present in “Starfish Girl”. Villaverde serves up blood-soaked kawaii goodness with every page. It won't make you think, but it will pull at your heartstrings up to the last sentence. If Miyazaki were to adapt “the Little Mermaid” and add “Ninja Scroll” fight scenes with “La Blue Girl”-style weird sex, this would be it.
“Starfish Girl” is fun, fast, and weird in a cute way. Villaverde is a talent on the rise, and this first offering is definitely a strong start to what will hopefully be a bright career in bizarro.
This book reads like an anime series. “Starfish Girl” is a fast-paced story that doesn't bother explaining why things are. You are dropped in the middle of a post-apocalyptic world with the title character, Ohime. All is quiet. Then the mutant crab-men show up. From there the action keeps you firmly planted until the end.
Athena Villaverde writes cute. Not Dr. Seuss storytime-on-the-rug cute. Hello Kitty joins a ninja clan cute. “Starfish Girl” is like a kawaii OVA series crossed with a hardcore hentai, but there is more cute than sex and violence. Ohime's innocence will grab you and make the world around her seem that much more disturbing.
Unlike an anime series, you won't spend thirteen hours or more getting to the final battle. There is no subtext, just a great story that is emotionally gripping. You want Ohime to complete her quest, you want her companion Timbre to be redeemed. You will want to see the villainous Dr. Ichii laid low.
All of the elements of some of the greatest anime stories are present in “Starfish Girl”. Villaverde serves up blood-soaked kawaii goodness with every page. It won't make you think, but it will pull at your heartstrings up to the last sentence. If Miyazaki were to adapt “the Little Mermaid” and add “Ninja Scroll” fight scenes with “La Blue Girl”-style weird sex, this would be it.
“Starfish Girl” is fun, fast, and weird in a cute way. Villaverde is a talent on the rise, and this first offering is definitely a strong start to what will hopefully be a bright career in bizarro.
June 25, 2011
This is not your normal average everyday little girl. Welcome to bizarro, welcome to the dome - here comes Starfish girl.
Ohime is a literally a starfish girl, a very hypercolored starfish girl. She is purple, she is cute, and as innocent as the day is long. Timbre, her traveling companion and BFF, is the exact opposite in every possible way. Where Ohime is soft and loving, Timbre is a bad mamma jamma.
Ohime has a secret, and she can't share it with just anyone. Only the good people are allowed to know. Well who are the good people? Only Ohime knows, and right now, she's not giving anything away. But when she does, she will try to save the last remaining humans (now mutated to all sorts of fishy types) from the yellow algae that began the mutation process in the first place.
When I first saw the cover of this bizarro book - I really thought it was going to be a fairly girly book. The little girl is too cute, and everything is just so dang girly purple. I didn't even get 10 pages in before my initial idea of this book was shot to pieces. There is no lack of action, blood, gore and interesting copulating activities in between the very purple covers.
I would say if you have no yet read a bizarro book, this could be a good one to start with - it gives you a good feel of what could be out there, but these are not books for the easily offended, nauseated, or pretty much anyone who can't take a joke. There is sex involved, decapitation, and vaginal ordeals. If you ever wanted to know what a starfish would use while on their 'cycle', wonder no longer, that and many other mind boggling questions get answered in this book. Stay tuned for more insight in the lifestyles of the gilled and briney.
Ohime is a literally a starfish girl, a very hypercolored starfish girl. She is purple, she is cute, and as innocent as the day is long. Timbre, her traveling companion and BFF, is the exact opposite in every possible way. Where Ohime is soft and loving, Timbre is a bad mamma jamma.
Ohime has a secret, and she can't share it with just anyone. Only the good people are allowed to know. Well who are the good people? Only Ohime knows, and right now, she's not giving anything away. But when she does, she will try to save the last remaining humans (now mutated to all sorts of fishy types) from the yellow algae that began the mutation process in the first place.
When I first saw the cover of this bizarro book - I really thought it was going to be a fairly girly book. The little girl is too cute, and everything is just so dang girly purple. I didn't even get 10 pages in before my initial idea of this book was shot to pieces. There is no lack of action, blood, gore and interesting copulating activities in between the very purple covers.
I would say if you have no yet read a bizarro book, this could be a good one to start with - it gives you a good feel of what could be out there, but these are not books for the easily offended, nauseated, or pretty much anyone who can't take a joke. There is sex involved, decapitation, and vaginal ordeals. If you ever wanted to know what a starfish would use while on their 'cycle', wonder no longer, that and many other mind boggling questions get answered in this book. Stay tuned for more insight in the lifestyles of the gilled and briney.
June 22, 2011
Upon seeing the cover, I was worried that this book might not be something I'd be into, but I am happy to report, I was wrong. This is one of the better bizarro books I've read. Ohime (aka Starfish Girl) is an innocent girl of 15 who is looking for nice people to bring to the surface in a ship her parents and other scientists built before they were killed. Ohime's underwater dome world is dying due to a toxic yellow algae has mutated most of the population and forced many to get implants from the evil Dr. Ichii to prevent the insanity that the algae causes. When Ohime meets Timbre, a former assassin with sea anemone features, the real adventure begins. Together they face-off with Dr. Ichii's henchmen in a series of kick ass brawls on their way to the ship. Perhaps my favorite of these scenes is when Timbre finishes off Igo.
This book is fast paced and action packed. Also, to it's benefit, Starfish Girl is not so over the top with weirdness that it would turn the average reader off. A good entry point for those unfamiliar with bizarro fiction.
This book is fast paced and action packed. Also, to it's benefit, Starfish Girl is not so over the top with weirdness that it would turn the average reader off. A good entry point for those unfamiliar with bizarro fiction.
June 26, 2011
Athena Villaverde's Starfish Girl is the the story of Ohime, a young girl with a starfish growing out of her head. Ohime lives in a post-apocalytic underwater dome which is dying due to a plague of yellow algae which has mutated the inhabitants into half-fish half-humans who eventually go insane. In Ohime's travels she encouters Timbre, an assassin with sea anemone hair, who saves her from being raped by roving Crabmen. The two team up and are pursued by Timbre's employer, The evil Dr. Ichii and his mutant band of goons. Ichii is after Ohime because she knows the location of a ship to the surface that was built by her scientist parents.
Starfish Girl is an entertaining read. It is a blend of sci-fi, dystopian fiction and Japanese anime, with great action scenes, high and low comedy, and some weird sex. It is a book for readers who are looking for something completely different.
Starfish Girl is an entertaining read. It is a blend of sci-fi, dystopian fiction and Japanese anime, with great action scenes, high and low comedy, and some weird sex. It is a book for readers who are looking for something completely different.
June 18, 2011
"So cute!" Villaverde's first publication follows the story of Ohime, the starfish girl, as she wanders joyfully through the post-apocalyptic wasteland of a corrupt and violent underwater civilisation. In her travels, she meets Timbre, who is a no-holds-barred sea-anemone assassin. She doesn't like to mess around. Together they travel through the dangerous lands of their dome society in an attempt to reach a ship that will take them to the surface to restart civilisation on land.
This book is great for a first novel. It's a fun adventure with some great action sequences and some clever and interesting plot points. The style is gothic bizarro. It's not as messed up as some bizarro books I've read, but it's got a dash of shocking here and there.
I remember reading a while ago that Carlton Mellick III mentored her throughout the process of writing this book. After actually reading this book, I can tell. I've read a number of his books now, but it's not until after I've read Starfish Girl and reading more CM3 that I've noticed the influence. I'm not talking about content, as Athena seems to have her own stylised world building and characterisation down no problem, but her tendancy to transition to backstories on a regular basis is something that Mellick does a lot. And I must say that it's quite an effective story-building technique (considering I didn't notice it until after).
This, I think, is where the novel comes into full form. The characters and the landscape are richly detailed and entertaining, and while the narrative runs in a conventional, linear direction (beginning to end), there is still the impression of dense storytelling through the use of backstories placed in key points throughout the book.
I really enjoyed the book. I read it in one day (and that was taking my time, too), and I must say that I'll be looking for more from this author over the coming years. It's stylistic, it's fun, it's a lovely bizarro book, and it's got a playfully innocent exhubrance similar to Kevin L. Donihe's Washer Mouth. If you've never read bizarro before and you'd like to give it a sample, this book is a great start. It's got a couple of shocking parts, but for the most part, it's surreal and beautiful and gothic, it's captivating and charming, it's short but sweet.
I wrote this review a while ago, and I'm only getting around to putting it up here now. But since then I've started looking into some of the sources of the author's inspiration - anime/studio ghibli films - and I think she's done a great job taking what makes those films (for me, at least) so great; the wild, fantastical, imaginative stories and applied it to a more mature (bizarro) framework.
This book is great for a first novel. It's a fun adventure with some great action sequences and some clever and interesting plot points. The style is gothic bizarro. It's not as messed up as some bizarro books I've read, but it's got a dash of shocking here and there.
I remember reading a while ago that Carlton Mellick III mentored her throughout the process of writing this book. After actually reading this book, I can tell. I've read a number of his books now, but it's not until after I've read Starfish Girl and reading more CM3 that I've noticed the influence. I'm not talking about content, as Athena seems to have her own stylised world building and characterisation down no problem, but her tendancy to transition to backstories on a regular basis is something that Mellick does a lot. And I must say that it's quite an effective story-building technique (considering I didn't notice it until after).
This, I think, is where the novel comes into full form. The characters and the landscape are richly detailed and entertaining, and while the narrative runs in a conventional, linear direction (beginning to end), there is still the impression of dense storytelling through the use of backstories placed in key points throughout the book.
I really enjoyed the book. I read it in one day (and that was taking my time, too), and I must say that I'll be looking for more from this author over the coming years. It's stylistic, it's fun, it's a lovely bizarro book, and it's got a playfully innocent exhubrance similar to Kevin L. Donihe's Washer Mouth. If you've never read bizarro before and you'd like to give it a sample, this book is a great start. It's got a couple of shocking parts, but for the most part, it's surreal and beautiful and gothic, it's captivating and charming, it's short but sweet.
I wrote this review a while ago, and I'm only getting around to putting it up here now. But since then I've started looking into some of the sources of the author's inspiration - anime/studio ghibli films - and I think she's done a great job taking what makes those films (for me, at least) so great; the wild, fantastical, imaginative stories and applied it to a more mature (bizarro) framework.
January 12, 2012
Starfish Girl is the cutest bizarro book I’ve read yet. Now, please don’t go misinterpreting that statement, because somehow Ms. Villaverde has crafted a story equal part ‘AWWWWW’’ and ‘AWESOME’. The cute (or ‘AWWWWW’) comes in the form of the young starfish girl main character, Ohime, and her childish innocence and ever endearing positive attitude. The ’AWESOME’ comes in the form of the red sea anemone dreadlocked assassin, Timbre, and her wicked fighting skills, poison darts and fierce tentacles.
Together the young girl and the assassin travel across an underwater world encased in a giant dome. Every stop along the way is described in vivid and vibrant detail as the two are chased by the evil Dr. Itchii and his crew of sea creature mutant henchmen through a landscape devastated by a strange yellow algae that mutates the dome inhabitants. Our heroines navigate the world encountering strange and dangerous characters every step of the way. The world is bright and colorful despite the apocalyptic feel that permeates the story. As I was reading I felt like I was watching a twisted neon cartoon with sex, violence, and heart.
Like the other story I’ve read from Athena, Clockwork Girl from the incredible Purple Bizarro Starter Kit, Starfish Girl is entertaining and reads quick enough you almost don’t even realize you’ve become emotionally invested until the story reaches its end and you’re left with a bittersweet smile on your face. Bright colors, fantastic scenery, odd and imaginative characters, and a surprising amount of grittiness make for one hell of an entertaining read. I highly recommend Starfish Girl to fans of anime, bizarro, and fish.
Together the young girl and the assassin travel across an underwater world encased in a giant dome. Every stop along the way is described in vivid and vibrant detail as the two are chased by the evil Dr. Itchii and his crew of sea creature mutant henchmen through a landscape devastated by a strange yellow algae that mutates the dome inhabitants. Our heroines navigate the world encountering strange and dangerous characters every step of the way. The world is bright and colorful despite the apocalyptic feel that permeates the story. As I was reading I felt like I was watching a twisted neon cartoon with sex, violence, and heart.
Like the other story I’ve read from Athena, Clockwork Girl from the incredible Purple Bizarro Starter Kit, Starfish Girl is entertaining and reads quick enough you almost don’t even realize you’ve become emotionally invested until the story reaches its end and you’re left with a bittersweet smile on your face. Bright colors, fantastic scenery, odd and imaginative characters, and a surprising amount of grittiness make for one hell of an entertaining read. I highly recommend Starfish Girl to fans of anime, bizarro, and fish.
June 24, 2011
In Athena Villaverde's, Starfish Girl (Eraserhead Press, 2010), industrial fiction meets Hayao Miyazaki's, Spirited Away (Studio Ghibli, 2001). Despite facing constant danger in an underwater town being devoured by a fungus that's turning fish folk psychotic, and where half-men, half-sea creature mob goons donning mechanic appendages wreak havoc without consequence, the little starfish girl's tenacity to find others who are “nice” is as steadfast as Chihiro's devotion in Spirited Away to changing her parents back to their human form.
Unlike Chihiro, Ohime's parents cannot be saved, and with their posthumous instructions for her to try and save humanity, she must set off on an adventure of her own in an unknown landscape that alternates between beautiful and noxious. Although considered by many reviewers as “cute” when compared to other titles in the Bizarro fiction genre, Starfish Girl proves to be just as cut-throat and perverse. Yet, Villaverde craftily placates the gore factor by splattering the blood on a backdrop of elaborate coral buildings and conch encrusted homes, and constantly introduces endearing characters who, however different from one another, have in common the desire for a peaceful and safe civilization.
Bizarro-veteran John Skipp has the right idea in describing Villaverde's style as “emotional” since the budding author leaves no feeling untouched in the spectrum of human psychology. For any reader new to the genre, or Bizarro fans who are curious about Athena Villaverde's Starfish Girl, the novel is as punchy as it is sweet, as innocent as it is ferocious, and damn well worth picking up.
Unlike Chihiro, Ohime's parents cannot be saved, and with their posthumous instructions for her to try and save humanity, she must set off on an adventure of her own in an unknown landscape that alternates between beautiful and noxious. Although considered by many reviewers as “cute” when compared to other titles in the Bizarro fiction genre, Starfish Girl proves to be just as cut-throat and perverse. Yet, Villaverde craftily placates the gore factor by splattering the blood on a backdrop of elaborate coral buildings and conch encrusted homes, and constantly introduces endearing characters who, however different from one another, have in common the desire for a peaceful and safe civilization.
Bizarro-veteran John Skipp has the right idea in describing Villaverde's style as “emotional” since the budding author leaves no feeling untouched in the spectrum of human psychology. For any reader new to the genre, or Bizarro fans who are curious about Athena Villaverde's Starfish Girl, the novel is as punchy as it is sweet, as innocent as it is ferocious, and damn well worth picking up.
June 24, 2011
Athena Villaverde is a very visual writer. Every scene in this book is clearly and lovingly detailed, which helps to create a fully realized, underwater world with fish-people mutations that are also described in incredible detail. THe imagery congered up in the pages is beautiful and surreal. Though the best part about this descriptive style ius that at no point does it become redundant, or overbearing. The author is able to keep the storyline moving, occasionally at a break neck pace, and she has no trouble keeping the story interesting enough to hold the reader's attention.
It is very much a FEMININE book. That sounds bad, but I don't mean it that way. What I mean is that the average male might not be as interested in what the characters are wearing, or how they deal with their periods. Though these things should not be seen as detractors. They should only be seen as my inherent male chauvinism. Which, to be true, I did not realize I had until writing this review.
Anyway I loved this book. It could've used a bit more editing, as a few of the quotation marks were backwards, and I found a few spots where there was a little tense confusion, but nothing so bad as to take away from the overall experience.
To Wit: intensely visual, awesome, movoving storyline, lots of epic battle scenes, real character dynamic, good relationship developments (Timbre and Ohime really blossom as friends and that was a lot of fun to see unfold), and a great sense of foreshadowing, as well as an amazing showdown scene and a rewarding ending.
Fun for almost everyone.
It is very much a FEMININE book. That sounds bad, but I don't mean it that way. What I mean is that the average male might not be as interested in what the characters are wearing, or how they deal with their periods. Though these things should not be seen as detractors. They should only be seen as my inherent male chauvinism. Which, to be true, I did not realize I had until writing this review.
Anyway I loved this book. It could've used a bit more editing, as a few of the quotation marks were backwards, and I found a few spots where there was a little tense confusion, but nothing so bad as to take away from the overall experience.
To Wit: intensely visual, awesome, movoving storyline, lots of epic battle scenes, real character dynamic, good relationship developments (Timbre and Ohime really blossom as friends and that was a lot of fun to see unfold), and a great sense of foreshadowing, as well as an amazing showdown scene and a rewarding ending.
Fun for almost everyone.
March 28, 2012
Starfish Girl is Athena Villaverde's debut novella taking place in an underwater world in the post-apocalyptic future. Many generations down the line the above ground world has been all but forgotten and a glass dome is all people ever really know. The story follows Ohime, which is a cute, naive little girl with a starfish stuck in her head, and Timbre, who is a tentacle haired assassin, while they hunt for a location that has not been poisoned by dangerous yellow algae. Meanwhile the demented Dr. Ishii, who offers unique, mechanical implants to fend against the yellow algae, trails them with a team of assassins hellbent on information that only little Ohime carries; information that can save the entire populace.
While some scenes can be rather disturbing (masturbation+fishbowl+stomach acid) the whole story is very imaginative and flows very naturally. Still, you never really know what's around the next corner and that makes this book very hard to put down. Athena creates a vibrant world that pays attention to detail and it was an absolute pleasure to get lost in.
Athena is the female version of Carlton Mellick III and I love me some Mellick! Filled with "cuteness," vivid colors, geysers of blood, a plethora of distinctive fish people, numerous Japanese influences, a fetishistic brothel and a journey for a world unknown, this book packs a lot of AWESOMENESS into such a short novella.
While some scenes can be rather disturbing (masturbation+fishbowl+stomach acid) the whole story is very imaginative and flows very naturally. Still, you never really know what's around the next corner and that makes this book very hard to put down. Athena creates a vibrant world that pays attention to detail and it was an absolute pleasure to get lost in.
Athena is the female version of Carlton Mellick III and I love me some Mellick! Filled with "cuteness," vivid colors, geysers of blood, a plethora of distinctive fish people, numerous Japanese influences, a fetishistic brothel and a journey for a world unknown, this book packs a lot of AWESOMENESS into such a short novella.
July 4, 2011
Starfish Girl is the Bizarro Literary equivalent of Kip Addatto’s “Wet Dream.” (If you’ve never heard it, you’re missing out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEZG14....) A yellow algae causes humans to transform into sea-mutants. Ohime, a girl with a starfish on her head (and at least some of the attributes of starfishes, like regenerating limbs), tries to find the good people left in the dome under the sea. One person that she’s convinced is one of the “good ones” is ex-assassin Timbre. Ohime follows Timbre as they both run from the evil Dr. Ichii. (The doctor offers the dome residents special implants to assist with survival. But the implants have a costly price.) Eventually Timbre starts to follow Ohime, who sets out on a quest to liberate the good people from the dome.
The interesting backdrop of this story doesn’t get sketched out enough, unfortunately, but the characters at the heart of the story do. If you want a story populated by fish-oriented mutants, this one’s for you. If you want a post-apocalyptic tale with a feminine touch, read this story. If you want a story in which the sentence “She whipped her tentacles away from his fingers, decapitating the dead lobster-dog and its body fell from the ceiling fan” makes sense, check this out!
The interesting backdrop of this story doesn’t get sketched out enough, unfortunately, but the characters at the heart of the story do. If you want a story populated by fish-oriented mutants, this one’s for you. If you want a post-apocalyptic tale with a feminine touch, read this story. If you want a story in which the sentence “She whipped her tentacles away from his fingers, decapitating the dead lobster-dog and its body fell from the ceiling fan” makes sense, check this out!
June 18, 2011
Starfish Girl fills the gaping hole in the bizarro genre that is cuteness! It’s a kawaii-glitter-sea-shell valentine that reads "suck a dick." It also does a service to the squidpunk genre; the most fun you'll have with tentacles outside of Japanese squid fetish porn.
The writing style is generic but the imagery is anything but and it's impossible not to like the characters. Villaverde fit so much action, art and fandoms into one small book that you won't think it's possible to get out without drowning.
The writing style is generic but the imagery is anything but and it's impossible not to like the characters. Villaverde fit so much action, art and fandoms into one small book that you won't think it's possible to get out without drowning.
May 27, 2011
This book was easy to picture as a dark, animated film. I'm all for a whacky female duo going on an important under-the-sea quest to find a way to prevent human extinction. Villaverde has a gift for describing mutated fish people and creating delightfully awkward situations bordering on cringeworthy (underwater brothels, anyone?).
December 27, 2016
This was a fun read. Do not let this cover fool you into thinking this is just a cute tale of a starfish girl that ends up on an epic adventure. Well, it is that, but...it's also filled sex, steampunk and loads of kill bill-ish violence.
February 21, 2018
Bizarro is a bizarre genre. It’s addictive and repulsive at the same time.
Addictive because it challenges the imagination in disturbing ways.
Repulsive because it’s oftentimes gory, ultra-violent or, simply, gross.
Every time I finish a Bizarro book I tell myself it was the last one. And then, after a while, having cleansed my mind from surreal atrocities with the help of “normal” books I’m tempted to challenge my imagination once again and go on dark adventure in distrurbing places.
Starfish Girl reads almost like a fairy tale about chosen one. Except that it’s violent, dark and grotesque. But also optimistic in a way I haven’t seen in other books in the genre. There’s place for moments of happiness here. And they are written pretty well.
The concept, world, and main characters are quite fascinating. The idea of yellow algae causing people to turn into all sorts of aquatic human hybrids feels fresh. The hybrids are done well and their presentation plays with your mind and fish/characters associations you may have. You don’t expect barracuda to be nice, do you? And you’re right. Don’t trust barracudas. Just don’t. Because once you do, you’ll have to witness some very disturbing images.
On the other hand, dolphin bartenders are pretty old-school(ish):
Main character, Ohime is a cute, innocent girl with a starfish growing on her head. She’s sweet and cute. And she remains cute throughout the story. Her cuteness and innocence contrast strongly with brutal and cruel world around that is populated with hybrids who seek to abuse others. Ohime is a chosen one, a savior figure. She doesn't become overpowered. She doesn't have much enhancements or development in the story. She has a knowledge that may save a group of nice people.
There’s also her guardian – Timbre, an anemone woman. Timbre is bad-ass. She’s easy to like and more realistic than Ohime, although she’s also pretty insane and can go really hardcore on others (and trust me that if you get near the end of the book to experience her sea anemone powers, you won’t free your mind easily from these images. They were disturbing. Heck, they were nausea-inducing). Ohime and Timbre dynamics are great. They can make you smile.
The writing was mostly good and the pacing rather fast. On the other hand, some scenes are simply gross and I’m not sure if their serve anything at all except for being there just to shock the reader.
There’s all kinds of violence here, sexual violence (rape scene) included. Some scenes will probably make you feel sick to your stomach. There’s also an explicit and grotesque hybrid sex scene described in quite detailed way. If you're able to accept it, you're fine to go and read this one.
Overall, I liked the book. I think that the author has a vivid imagination. It was a challenging but rather rewarding ride. It’s not perfect. It’s not for everyone. But if you like to challenge your imagination, also in quite disturbing ways, I think it’s worth trying.
It seems Athena Villaverde hasn’t published anything new since 2013 so I guess she’s no longer active as a writer. Her books aren’t available on Kindle. On the other hand, the book can be still bought on Amazon, eBay, and other platforms.
Addictive because it challenges the imagination in disturbing ways.
Repulsive because it’s oftentimes gory, ultra-violent or, simply, gross.
Every time I finish a Bizarro book I tell myself it was the last one. And then, after a while, having cleansed my mind from surreal atrocities with the help of “normal” books I’m tempted to challenge my imagination once again and go on dark adventure in distrurbing places.
The starfish girl steps through clusters of furry pink sea sponges, picking out the ones that would make good tampons.
Starfish Girl reads almost like a fairy tale about chosen one. Except that it’s violent, dark and grotesque. But also optimistic in a way I haven’t seen in other books in the genre. There’s place for moments of happiness here. And they are written pretty well.
The concept, world, and main characters are quite fascinating. The idea of yellow algae causing people to turn into all sorts of aquatic human hybrids feels fresh. The hybrids are done well and their presentation plays with your mind and fish/characters associations you may have. You don’t expect barracuda to be nice, do you? And you’re right. Don’t trust barracudas. Just don’t. Because once you do, you’ll have to witness some very disturbing images.
On the other hand, dolphin bartenders are pretty old-school(ish):
A dolphin man with a black pompadour hairstyle wearing chainmal suspenders over a white wife beater is tending bar. His left shoulder is made of brass and creaks like it’s in need of oiling as he wipes down the clamshell counter with a dirty white rag.
Main character, Ohime is a cute, innocent girl with a starfish growing on her head. She’s sweet and cute. And she remains cute throughout the story. Her cuteness and innocence contrast strongly with brutal and cruel world around that is populated with hybrids who seek to abuse others. Ohime is a chosen one, a savior figure. She doesn't become overpowered. She doesn't have much enhancements or development in the story. She has a knowledge that may save a group of nice people.
There’s also her guardian – Timbre, an anemone woman. Timbre is bad-ass. She’s easy to like and more realistic than Ohime, although she’s also pretty insane and can go really hardcore on others (and trust me that if you get near the end of the book to experience her sea anemone powers, you won’t free your mind easily from these images. They were disturbing. Heck, they were nausea-inducing). Ohime and Timbre dynamics are great. They can make you smile.
The writing was mostly good and the pacing rather fast. On the other hand, some scenes are simply gross and I’m not sure if their serve anything at all except for being there just to shock the reader.
There’s all kinds of violence here, sexual violence (rape scene) included. Some scenes will probably make you feel sick to your stomach. There’s also an explicit and grotesque hybrid sex scene described in quite detailed way. If you're able to accept it, you're fine to go and read this one.
Overall, I liked the book. I think that the author has a vivid imagination. It was a challenging but rather rewarding ride. It’s not perfect. It’s not for everyone. But if you like to challenge your imagination, also in quite disturbing ways, I think it’s worth trying.
It seems Athena Villaverde hasn’t published anything new since 2013 so I guess she’s no longer active as a writer. Her books aren’t available on Kindle. On the other hand, the book can be still bought on Amazon, eBay, and other platforms.
June 29, 2011
Take one sweet but naive Starfish Girl (Ohime), add a sea anemone assassin/mercenary (Timbre), mix in a large bowl full of mutated fish people (the dome), and chase with a barnacle-covered megalomaniac scientist (Dr. Ichii) bent on discovering Ohime's secret, and you have Starfish Girl by Athena Villaverde. Starfish Girl makes me feel like I'm reading a novelization of an anime movie and feels like it was ripped straight from an animator's drawing table. That's not to say that it's bad; not in the slightest. In fact, I would call it a plus because I could vividly imagine each character and sequence in my head as if I were watching it on the screen.
The story moves at an incredible pace. Don't be fooled by it seemingly short 160 pages. This book is packed with action and story, and a lot happens in its 160 pages, more than I've seen happen in some 1000-page books. There's no pausing for descriptions of scenes or people other than what is necessary, which makes the story move so fast that the reader can feel out of breath in just the first half of the book. In fact, at one point I checked the page number I was on thinking that I've got to be close to the end since so much had happened from the start, but was shocked to discover that I was only halfway through. I'll admit that it can get a little exhausting, but it's a good kind of tired, like after a workout, except it's your brain hitting the punching bag, and the punching bag can hit you back.
Two words of warning:
1) Don't expect answers to everything; you won't get them. You will get answers to the important questions concerning the plot, but other than that, when you ask “Why...?” expect the answer to simply be “Because.”
2) In case the previous description hasn't already made you aware of this, despite it's cute cover and innocent title, this is not a book for kids, or for the squeamish. There are several bloody action sequences and highly sexual situations.
You have been warned.
Still, Starfish Girl is great fun, with that anime feel and, while appropriately part of the Bizarro publishing line, still evokes the strong feeling of that classic science fiction tradition.
4 out of 5 stars.
The story moves at an incredible pace. Don't be fooled by it seemingly short 160 pages. This book is packed with action and story, and a lot happens in its 160 pages, more than I've seen happen in some 1000-page books. There's no pausing for descriptions of scenes or people other than what is necessary, which makes the story move so fast that the reader can feel out of breath in just the first half of the book. In fact, at one point I checked the page number I was on thinking that I've got to be close to the end since so much had happened from the start, but was shocked to discover that I was only halfway through. I'll admit that it can get a little exhausting, but it's a good kind of tired, like after a workout, except it's your brain hitting the punching bag, and the punching bag can hit you back.
Two words of warning:
1) Don't expect answers to everything; you won't get them. You will get answers to the important questions concerning the plot, but other than that, when you ask “Why...?” expect the answer to simply be “Because.”
2) In case the previous description hasn't already made you aware of this, despite it's cute cover and innocent title, this is not a book for kids, or for the squeamish. There are several bloody action sequences and highly sexual situations.
You have been warned.
Still, Starfish Girl is great fun, with that anime feel and, while appropriately part of the Bizarro publishing line, still evokes the strong feeling of that classic science fiction tradition.
4 out of 5 stars.
July 29, 2011
Athena Villaverde's bizarro debut is weird, playful, and impressive. It has the style of whimsical anime, similar to the films of Miyazaki, but there is also a grisly and horrific element. It's packed with lots of bloody action, grisly horror, and apocalyptic scenery. The weirdness and the cuteness of it creates a weird blend that proves to be a really fun read.
The landscape is a vast underwater dome that has suffered a collapse. The cities are run down and the scenery is wild and dangerous. In this post apocalyptic setting, the people are slowly morphing into aquatic mutants, and before long everyone will degenerate into a mindless monster. Enter the main characters, Ohime and Timbre. They are on the run from a mad scientist and his mob of fish monsters. Timbre is a cold-blooded assassin and Ohime is an innocent girl who may be the key to escaping the toxic dome.
They travel through the expansive dome, trying to escape and seeing many strange aquatic sights. Villaverde has done a really great job building this world and filling it with all sorts of weird life forms. It adds up to an action-adventure with heart and horror, sort of like Finding Nemo meets Bioshock. There are awesome visuals on every page, and there is a lot of poetry to the characters and the plot. It's weird, violent, sexual, and just plain cool.
The landscape is a vast underwater dome that has suffered a collapse. The cities are run down and the scenery is wild and dangerous. In this post apocalyptic setting, the people are slowly morphing into aquatic mutants, and before long everyone will degenerate into a mindless monster. Enter the main characters, Ohime and Timbre. They are on the run from a mad scientist and his mob of fish monsters. Timbre is a cold-blooded assassin and Ohime is an innocent girl who may be the key to escaping the toxic dome.
They travel through the expansive dome, trying to escape and seeing many strange aquatic sights. Villaverde has done a really great job building this world and filling it with all sorts of weird life forms. It adds up to an action-adventure with heart and horror, sort of like Finding Nemo meets Bioshock. There are awesome visuals on every page, and there is a lot of poetry to the characters and the plot. It's weird, violent, sexual, and just plain cool.
March 4, 2012
Starfish Girl is the debut novella from Bizarro newcomer Athena Villaverde.
The world is a bad place, very bad. The top surface has gone to hell and can’t support human life so everyone has moved into an underwater dome in the ocean. However, a mysterious yellow algae is killing off people left and right and turning the rest of the inhabitants into mutants.
Ohime, a starfish girl, meets a deadly woman named Timbre. Timbre is trying to find a bunker to take refuge in and Ohime hangs onto her every step of the journey.
Ohime shows the cold hearted Timbre that beauty and wonder can be found anywhere even in a dangerous apocalyptic landscape.
Villaverde’s prose is lovely. She expertly paints lush descriptions of the imaginary terrain with her words.
Starfish Girl is a wonderful, touching novella from Athena Villaverde. I whole heartedly recommend picking this book up. It might change your outlook for the better.
The world is a bad place, very bad. The top surface has gone to hell and can’t support human life so everyone has moved into an underwater dome in the ocean. However, a mysterious yellow algae is killing off people left and right and turning the rest of the inhabitants into mutants.
Ohime, a starfish girl, meets a deadly woman named Timbre. Timbre is trying to find a bunker to take refuge in and Ohime hangs onto her every step of the journey.
Ohime shows the cold hearted Timbre that beauty and wonder can be found anywhere even in a dangerous apocalyptic landscape.
Villaverde’s prose is lovely. She expertly paints lush descriptions of the imaginary terrain with her words.
Starfish Girl is a wonderful, touching novella from Athena Villaverde. I whole heartedly recommend picking this book up. It might change your outlook for the better.
July 1, 2011
A bioluminescent sea mushroom forest, poisonous yellow algae, shell magic, mutated fish people and life in an under water dome.
Starfish Girl is a colorful tell from life in a dome under the sea that has been taken over by plague of yellow algae. You follow the unfolding adventure of Ohime, the Starfish Girl and her companion and protector, an anemone woman, Timbre, as they battle for survival including evil villains, crazed mutated fish people and yellow algae.
Athena Villaverde has written a well developed and is easy to follow story. I really enjoy reading about the characters and there journey. The way the tale unfolded was perfect and keeps you reading.
Starfish Girl is a colorful tell from life in a dome under the sea that has been taken over by plague of yellow algae. You follow the unfolding adventure of Ohime, the Starfish Girl and her companion and protector, an anemone woman, Timbre, as they battle for survival including evil villains, crazed mutated fish people and yellow algae.
Athena Villaverde has written a well developed and is easy to follow story. I really enjoy reading about the characters and there journey. The way the tale unfolded was perfect and keeps you reading.
August 9, 2011
Ohime is a cute little starfish kamikaze girl who lives in a dome under the sea. But she’s not a happy echinoderm. A toxic plague of yellow algae is slowly turning everyone into deformed fish monsters. And a mad scientist named Dr. Ichii wants to control all the mutants for his own selfish agenda.
This isn’t the most bizarre book you’ll ever read. Yes, there’s some cruelty and weird fish sex scattered about. But mostly Starfish Girl is what you’d get if Hayao Miyazaki, Walt Disney, and Theodor Geisel drank too much kelpie ale and woke up in Whoville. In other words, it’s like a lost weekend in Bikini Bottom with “Submission” by the Sex Pistols on auto-repeat.
This isn’t the most bizarre book you’ll ever read. Yes, there’s some cruelty and weird fish sex scattered about. But mostly Starfish Girl is what you’d get if Hayao Miyazaki, Walt Disney, and Theodor Geisel drank too much kelpie ale and woke up in Whoville. In other words, it’s like a lost weekend in Bikini Bottom with “Submission” by the Sex Pistols on auto-repeat.
August 5, 2016
The Beatles' "Octopus's Garden" in the form of a novel (with a lot more conflict).
September 21, 2024
Lovecraft on DMT with a pinch of steampunk, a gritty story taking place in a dirty undersea slum where all lowlife looks like Davy Jones' crew from the Pirates of the Carribean.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews