M. S. Harkness

The autobiographical work of M.S. Harkness continues to fascinate and frustrate me. This follow-up to Tinderella and Desperate Pleasures picks up the previously introduced strands of Harness' tangled romantic life, part-time sex work, exercise obsession, substance abuse, and coping as a sexual abuse survivor. I recommend you read those books before jumping into this one.

The longest book yet in the series, it tends to meander and get lost in navel gazing as it slowly circles around to the start of the series with Harkness working on and publishing her her first graphic novel, called Cellphone Cinderella here for some strange reason. I could have done without the confusing layouts of several double-page spreads, especially the trippy drug sequence.

Lots of friends and sequences are dropped into the book without reason or payoff, but it's all worthwhile when Harkness focuses on her emotional growth and her fractured relationship with an MMA fighter.

This sort of feels like a conclusion to the cycle, but I hope Harkness shares more stories from her life in the future.… (más)

The follow-up to Tinderella ditches the wild energy as it goes into darker territory, exploring some of the horrible abuse her father inflicted on their family. In the present day, Harkness is still a college student obsessed with working out, but now she is making some cash by dealing drugs and doing sex work under the euphemism of "paid dates."

The story elements were a bit too disjointed, and I was confused by some of the transitions between scenes. Harkness changes up her art from the first book with a more stylized take that I found less appealing except in the most manic of scenes.

I'd still be interested in checking out a third volume if one is forthcoming.… (más)