WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING/ ROOM OF SWORDS REVIEWS

[ 22 A&E ] “Where the Crawdads Sing” film retells timeless story, does not reach same depth as novel

BY GRACE CAPPAS [reporter]

Recently publicized in the media, “Where the Crawdads Sing” is a story based off of a book and made into a movie, taking place in the late ‘50s through ‘60s. It follows Kya Clark (Daisy Edgar Jones), better known as “Marsh Girl,” as she navigates her way through a childhood of abandonment, living alone in the marshes. Eventually, two men become entranced with her– Tate (Taylor John Smith), and Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson). The love story takes a dark twist as it becomes a murder mystery when Chase winds up dead– and all eyes turn to Kya.

Having read the book and watched the movie, I feel that the story itself is somewhat of a love poem to nature as a whole. The author, Delia Owens, uses many forms of writing and even uses nature as a tie to Kya’s feelings and mental processes, and Kya’s story seems to be a tribute to the fact that at the end of the day, you can persist. The story has many twists and turns and runs a chill down your spine towards the end, but overall, I recommend it due to the fact that not only does it entertain, but it touches the hearts of the reader/watcher on a deeper level. That being said, I will admit I prefer the book to the movie, because you get a more thorough look into all of the characters’ souls, and are able to analyze them a little more. I feel that the movie stayed on a somewhat shallow level when it comes to character development. There were also critical details in the book that improved the story which were left out in the movie.

Moreover, Jones’s acting was beautiful, and she was able to bring Kya off of the pages and give the character an accurate visual and emotional representation for watchers (though I’m not sure if I can say the same for some other actors).

I believe that with this story, Owens has made more than just a book– she has made a gateway into another world, and she has created a character that is not so much a character as much as a mirror, because pieces of Kya can be found in all of us. Overall, the story is beautiful, the book was better, and I give it four out of five stars.

“Room of Swords” masterfully blends science fiction, romance and drama

BY ARIEL MOORE [reporter]

“Room of Swords” is a webcomic that is centered around the main character Gyrus who wakes up in an unknown area, and he has to collect 12 swords in order to escape. This may seem like a generic plot line that doesn’t have much depth to it, however this is an absolute masterpiece that is filled with a great amount of foreshadowing and build up. This leads to immaculate twists and turns that completely flows with the course of the story.

The mystery element of Room of Swords is also a great aspect of the comic. As a reader, you have no idea what is going on and why Gyrus is trapped in this unknown location. Throughout the story, we learn the secrets of the world, meet other characters who are in similar yet different situations and face off against unexpected foes. This can be a rather suspenseful story that has continuous situations that leave you on the edge of your seat, however there are plenty of sweeter moments to enjoy as well.

We find out the backstories of the cast and each background is so uniquely specific to each character. In the comic, the characters come from different backgrounds, countries, and even different periods in history which is reflected their personalities and abilities. There’s a character from the ‘60s and she is a hippie that can create illusions using smoke and a character from Ancient Egypt that can foresee the future which involves the mythical beliefs of the time.

Despite being a Sci-fi comic, it has a generous amount of cute, romantic, fluffy moments that aren’t too overbearing, nor lackluster. Romance isn’t normally my cup of tea, however this comic does a great job of balancing out the action, mystery, drama, along with the romantic developments of the main character and his love interest. There is also a beautiful balance between all of the relationships, platonic and otherwise. Each relationship gets attention and development without fail. Everything blends together so nicely, and although it can get slightly repetitive, it is still a great read.

Bestof the B E S T

BY JOSHUA HEDGES [editor-in-chief]

Best App

Spaceteam is a team based game that requires players to communicate various commands that can only be done by another player in a given time. Up to four players can join a game.

Best Follow

Wavetro is a youtuber who makes original comedy skits using the 3D animation software Blender. The videos often put characters in ridiculous yet relatable situations.

Best School Lunch

Coming alongside the classic beans and rice, chicken enchilada dish is the peak of school lunches. It always has just enough sauce and a nice layer of cheddar cheese on top of it. I only wished they served it more often.