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63rd out of 236 books
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249 voters
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Black is for Beginnings (Blue is for Nightmares #5)
It's happening again... The BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series that put a spell on more than half a million readers continues - in graphic novel format Prophetic dreams. Near-brushes with death. Killers pursuing her and her friends. Stacey Brown knows that being a hereditary witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. Stacey's nightmares are back. And all she wants to do is go to C...more
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
September 1st 2009
by Flux
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Reason for Reading: Cybils nominee.
Summary: This is actually the fifth book in a series. The previous four books were regular novels; this fifth graphic novel can also be considered a prequel as it tells the story of how the two main characters, Stacey and Jacob, met through the prophetic dreams they both share.
Comments: I enjoyed this book. It's an odd situation coming into the series with the fifth written book but since this tells the backstory of the two principle cha...more
Summary: This is actually the fifth book in a series. The previous four books were regular novels; this fifth graphic novel can also be considered a prequel as it tells the story of how the two main characters, Stacey and Jacob, met through the prophetic dreams they both share.
Comments: I enjoyed this book. It's an odd situation coming into the series with the fifth written book but since this tells the backstory of the two principle cha...more
Rebecca
added it
I've read the first two books in the Blue is for Nightmares series and they kind of helped me to understand Black is for Beginnings. I wasn't really sure where this book stood in the scheme of things to do with the novels. I think that if you want to read the books but don't want spoilers then you should wait until you've read the books. Basically, Black is for Beginnings tells you the story of what happens in the four novels. I wasn't bothered by this because I already knew what happened in the...more
I like is book because in the book the people have prison that are called pizza prison and they get anything they want. The pizza prison is were teens can hang out and adults give them anything they want. They ask you if you want anything and if you dont even want more of it. Sometimes there are teenagers give the food out. The promble in my book is the if you have a nigthmare about someone or you but it is mostly about a person that you know are some one you have never kewn in your life. So...more
The Blue is for Nightmares series has involved murders, stalkers, psychic phenomena, magic and all kinds of dramatic things. Then it was announced that the fifth book would be a graphic novel, a direct sequel to the other four books, and a delighted squeal went up from the fans.
Given the strong reviews for this book, I found it a little disappointing. It's a nice little add-on to the four novels, but not a great story on its own. Newcomers to the series will not find this to be a good jump...more
Given the strong reviews for this book, I found it a little disappointing. It's a nice little add-on to the four novels, but not a great story on its own. Newcomers to the series will not find this to be a good jump...more
Courtney
rated it
For a graphic novel this book was really good! I don't like graphic novels at all, but I read this because it was part of another series I have read and loved, and I wanted to know what happens. I still hope that it's not just going to be a graphic novel and that it will become a regular novel, but all in all this was really good! Really enjoyed it. And I love the ending! Totally cute and awesome!
Kereesa
rated it
Recommends it for:
If you've read the Blue is for Nightmares Series and have some extra cash
While not truly part of the main series, Black is for Beginnings is a side story that offers and clears up any questions you might have had at the end of the series. I was happy with the ending Red is for Remembrance gave us but this added feature was a fun, quick read as well.
Characters? It's the old gang so I won't say much other than it was quite funny to see them in graphic novel form. A little surprising too since none of them really fit the picture I had in my head. (but really I sho...more
Characters? It's the old gang so I won't say much other than it was quite funny to see them in graphic novel form. A little surprising too since none of them really fit the picture I had in my head. (but really I sho...more
I really really liked the first four books of this series- I thought they were all really good. I ordered Black is for Beginnings actually not realizing it was a graphic novel. When I got it in the mail I tried it out. I did not like it at all. It took me not even a half hour to read. The information was good- I liked knowing more about the characters and what happened after the fourth book, but I just really don't understand why it was made into a graphic novel. I think it should have bee...more
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This isn't a book review since I don't have the whole book. It's just a bound preview edition that's the first 99 pages of the book itself. I figured why not put in some cents on it, right? It's not going to get a rating or anything since I don't think it's fair to rate something based on a portion of it. But I can give an impression of it.
I know with this series I'm not coming in in the right place and in all honesty, I don't know if I'm the best person to be judging graphic novels. I...more
I know with this series I'm not coming in in the right place and in all honesty, I don't know if I'm the best person to be judging graphic novels. I...more
Jacob LeBlanc has returned to Colorado, recovering from amnesia. But even while he was living in Massachusetts, there was one thing he "forgot" to tell Stacey Brown about - his girlfriend back home.
An epilogue to the fabulous Blue Is for Nightmares series, this graphic novel lacks the tense suspense that made the first four text-only books so awesome. The dreams and magic are here, as are Stacey's pals, but this romance really could've used a plot that wasn't just about the...more
An epilogue to the fabulous Blue Is for Nightmares series, this graphic novel lacks the tense suspense that made the first four text-only books so awesome. The dreams and magic are here, as are Stacey's pals, but this romance really could've used a plot that wasn't just about the...more
Stolarz creates a typical teen romance in this intriguing graphic novel. Though the story may be typical and the characters stereotypical, Stolarz uses intriguing art to further her story. Her unique panels on the sides which brings insights to readers and creates an intriguing experience. A very short read lacking in depth and imagination. Teens will probably very much enjoy but with a short read time of 1 hour many teachers and parents might object to its literary value. Entertaining but lacki...more
I'd like to know why Stolarz decided to make the fifth installment of the Blue is for Nightmares series a graphic novel. I hope she writes more, just not in graphic novel format. I know it would draw more readers, like the Vampire Kisses series, but make it a parallel series, not part of the set.
I was disappointed in the type-set for the journal entries, it was too small to read. She also spent almost two-thirds of the book re-capping the last four books instead of moving on with th...more
I was disappointed in the type-set for the journal entries, it was too small to read. She also spent almost two-thirds of the book re-capping the last four books instead of moving on with th...more
I enjoyed the book but it left me feeling a bit disappointed, especially after I've waited so long for this next installment in the series. I was intrigued by the notion of the 5th book being published as a graphic novel, but I believe that may have been what butchered this book for me. The story felt rushed and a bit too short; I literally finished reading this book in less than an hour. Also, the art wasn't that exceptional either. I've read alot of high quality graphic novels and manga, so my...more
Sarah Stumpf
added it
Is this book the weakest in the series or the strongest? Well the graphic novel format and short length mean that most of the bullshit melodrama plot holes that are a hallmark of the series never even get a chance to start. If that is good or bad largely depends on your point of view. This was my favorite in the series since it focused the most on character and the least on nightmares and killers. It was nice to take a break from the action scenes that often made no sense and to instead just...more
I'm a big fan of the BIFN series, and when I first heard about Black Is For Beginnings, I was super stoked. When I heard it was going to be a thin graphic novel, a little less stoked. After I read it, not so stoked and wanting more.
I liked getting to see more about Jacob's past and a glimpse into his family life, but besides this and my excitement over getting to see what the characters were meant to look like, I felt like most of the book was just a recap. Yes, we know about Stacey'...more
I liked getting to see more about Jacob's past and a glimpse into his family life, but besides this and my excitement over getting to see what the characters were meant to look like, I felt like most of the book was just a recap. Yes, we know about Stacey'...more
I feel like I wanted to give this book about 2.5 stars. The story was pretty good and I'm glad to see closure with the relationship between Stacey and Jacob, because it was really open in the last book, Red Is For Remembrance. I'm just curious as to why the last book is a graphic novel. The first four were in traditional novel form and the last is a graphic novel. I don't understand why the format would be changed for just one book. Don't get me wrong, I love graphic novels, they can be really g...more
Awwwww!!! The series is over now :-( *heart break*
I thought I was going to dig the graphic novel the most because I love reading this type of media...however, the books were way better.
The graphic novel really just wrapped up what ended up happening with Stacey and Jacob, which of course I wanted, but I would have enjoyed more new storyline. Over half the novel was just recapping what happened in the books.
Anyway, I still liked it and I still cried at the end!...more
I thought I was going to dig the graphic novel the most because I love reading this type of media...however, the books were way better.
The graphic novel really just wrapped up what ended up happening with Stacey and Jacob, which of course I wanted, but I would have enjoyed more new storyline. Over half the novel was just recapping what happened in the books.
Anyway, I still liked it and I still cried at the end!...more
The fifth book of this series is a graphic novel. Stacey is dealing with relationship issues (won’t say anything further as I don’t want to spoil earlier books) and also dreaming about a little girl she once knew a long time ago. She’s confused about everything in her life, and her friends are trying to help her come to terms with everything.
I must admit I was a little disappointed with this GN. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t enough. A good half of the book was spent recapping the other ...more
I must admit I was a little disappointed with this GN. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t enough. A good half of the book was spent recapping the other ...more
In a way I feel like the author kind of cheated by having the fifth book be a graphic novel, it kind of didn't fit in with rest of the stories. Considering that, I'm not sure you can call it a companion piece either. It was nice to catch up with the characters though. All in all, it was okay but the other books in the series (specifically the first two) are much better and to me can be read a stand alones if you don't want to go through all four.
This book was set up as a comic book novel. It was really weird and I did not like the plot at all. Very disappointed. I'm not sure if this is the last book in the series. It seems that it is. I've read all 5 books. I looked at the author's website and she indiciated that she wasn't sure how many books would be in the collection. Being I've read this far into them, I would buy the next book, but I would hope it would be in novel format and not comic book.
This had been something I'd wanted to read for a while but had put off for one reason or another. After locating a copy at a used book store, I finally hunkered down to read it.
My first thought was that I liked how well the artwork fit the characters. It's a little "simplistic", but one of the things I loved about the previous books was how Stolarz had created a world that was complicated yet simple.
My second thought was that this was a pretty boring book when...more
My first thought was that I liked how well the artwork fit the characters. It's a little "simplistic", but one of the things I loved about the previous books was how Stolarz had created a world that was complicated yet simple.
My second thought was that this was a pretty boring book when...more
I loved this whole series and I guess if you want to have it on your self to complete the series then by all means buy it. For me I was dissapointed like everyone is saying it is a comic book and worthy of an hour to read but I wish we would have gotton a great book to end this series. I didnt buy it so I dont feel so jipped, I got it from the library so I suggest you do the same before buying.
I read this book before finishing the series, my mistake. This book had spoiled things for me though for the following books in the series,but it was pretty meaningless. This book is an animated book, it is a comic book. This book contains information from every book in the series, thus you don't really have to read it, its pretty pointless. This 'book' contains the most information from Red is for Remembrance. I would suggest that you not read this.
For me, this book ruined the series. I have nothing against this style, but I don't like how this was the only one that was like this. On top of that, I didn't like how Laurie Stolarz finished it either. The entire book showed that she only wrote it because she wanted people to buy it, not because she actually cared about what happened to the characters.
Emmilee
marked it as to-read
I really want to read this, just because it's in the series i liked a lot and have been waiting what seems like years for a next book, but manga? ugh i wish it was a novel like the other 4, it seems to tie in better. Manga are too quick of a read too..i hope she makes an entire new book, not a prequel, to the series, i'd be pumped =]
I enjoyed it. However, I think I need to read the rest of the books in the series. I find it really interesting that this is the 5th book in the series and the only one that is a graphic novel. However, it is somewhat a prequel I believe so maybe that has something to do with it.
Either I missed one of the BiFN books somewhere along the way or I completely blocked the plot of one from memory. Even with that, I still adored BifB. The artwork is gorgeous. The story works for the format and I'm going to have to hunt this one down at the store and buy it soon.
Meh. I haven't read the others in the series but I could tell this was just a regurgitation of the earlier books in the series. It was all back-story and no action. There were flashes of brilliance with the artistry but for the most part was unimpressed.
I'm thankful for the wrap-up of the story lines, however I feel like this one was phoned in. Maybe I'm just not a fan of graphic novels, I know I'm not a fan of $10 books that I can read in an hour. Disappointed.
This was entertaining enough, if a little too teen-angsty. The main character looks like a younger, better groomed version of me. I just wish I could make my nightmares go away by lighting a few candles.
I just loved the Blue is for Nightmares series; so, I cannot tell you how dissappointed I was with Black is for Beginnings. This "graphic novel" is nothing more than a 160 page glorified comic strip that retells what happened in the first four books and yields very little new information. There is no action, no intrigue and no solid plot. Laurie Faria Stolarz should have just ended the series with the fourth book if this is all her creative juices could come up with.Fans of Blue Don...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cover... | 3 | 20 | Jun 10, 2011 10:49pm | |
| I don't understand... | 2 | 12 | Jun 10, 2011 10:47pm | |
| the cover | 1 | 17 | Jul 13, 2009 06:26pm |
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Laurie Faria Stolarz grew up in Salem, MA, attended Merrimack College, and received an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College in Boston.
Laurie Faria Stolarz is an American author of young adult fiction novels, best known for her Blue is for Nightmares series. Her works, which feature teenage protagonists, blend elements found in mystery and romance novels.
Stolarz fou...more
More about Laurie Faria Stolarz...
Laurie Faria Stolarz is an American author of young adult fiction novels, best known for her Blue is for Nightmares series. Her works, which feature teenage protagonists, blend elements found in mystery and romance novels.
Stolarz fou...more
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